The NCCAT Research and Development program offers educators an opportunity to meet in a residential setting devoid of distraction to create and advance departmental, school, or district-wide projects. These projects might consist of new programming, research, planning, or curricula. Gather a team together to create or refine your own innovative approaches to early grades literacy or digital learning. Early grades literacy or digital learning projects will be given preference. All projects will be considered. Come prepared to share your knowledge and progress with other teams from around our state.
The application process requires submission of a project proposal from your team, and an NCCAT application from each individual. Teachers, administrators, central office personnel and district coordinators are encouraged to apply.

One of the most difficult parts of math instruction is convincing children that learning math skills has some real connection to their lives. The reality of economics is that everyone needs to have a certain level of financial literacy and a certain level of mathematical competency in order to successfully navigate a modern landscape filled with credit offers, loan terms, savings accounts, payment cards, and more. Teachers will be introduced to the “Math behind the Market” curriculum by our partners at the North Carolina Council for Economic Education, and will learn about research-tested strategies for increasing student engagement in mathematics.


This is a cooperative effort with NCCAT and the North Carolina Council for Economic Education (NCCEE).
Please click to register electronically with NCCEE..

New technologies and related initiatives have been arriving in the classroom with alarming frequency: Chrome books, iPads, Interactive white boards, web 2.0 and 3.0 tools, student response systems, and countless apps. In an effort to remain current, many teachers may find themselves in a classic tail-wags-dog scenario; their curriculum is driven by the technology, when it is the technology that should support the curriculum. During this program, teachers will receive instruction in how to use digital tools to support and enhance their reading, writing, speaking, and listening instruction.

The aim of this program is to gain an understanding of the precursors, events, and consequences of the Holocaust and to grapple with the problem of how best to convey this history and the meaning that it can have in the lives and civic practices of our students. To accomplish this goal, we will explore the exhibits and other resources of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. Participants will meet our bus at predetermined locations across the state and then journey together to Washington for this intensive week. Under the guidance of museum staff, we will study in the museum which has earned an international reputation for the quality of its contents, presentations, architecture, and technology. This program is for educators involved or interested in teaching about the Holocaust to students eleven years of age and older. (Two participants to a room. Participants must be physically able to walk up to 1/2 mile over level ground, stand for extended periods, and ride for up to 8 hours on an excursion bus without detriment to their health.)

Substitute teacher reimbursement covered on Tuesday, November 11 and Wednesday, November 12.

Student engagement in science and engineering brings advances in systematic thinking, mathematical reasoning, computational understanding, and the ability to succeed in a world that is increasingly controlled and measured by digital means. Join us as we learn from master teachers who use creative and engaging methods that have an effect on the real world. Engineer real solutions to real problems using a combination of digital methods and real-world technology that is inexpensive and easy to deploy or reuse for student purposes. See how abandoned technologies can be used to create new learning projects. Learn the basic methods and discover how to get your students involved with the “Maker Movement.” See how coding and simple robotics can be used as a way of learning science and math that “sticks beyond the summer.” Return to your school with ideas and plans for engaging your students.

Whether or not your school or district has adopted a Google Chromebook environment, if your LEA infrastructure allows for the use of Google Tools, the “Googlesphere” can be an immense help in engaging students, keeping in touch with parents, automating feedback and assessment, sharing documents, and more. Hone your skills with the Google Chrome Browser, with Google Apps, with Android Apps, and with Chrome OS so that you can engage your students using freely available tools on almost any platform.

Children who do not speak English at home represent one of the fastest growing subgroups in North Carolina classrooms. This program will bring together ELL teachers with experts in the field of language acquisition. Teachers will expand their knowledge in order to improve their students’ reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. In addition, they will be challenged and supported in addressing systemic or philosophical issues that impact these skills: levels of parental engagement; tolerance among faculty and students outside this population; and understanding and responding to legislation aimed at language minorities. Participants are encouraged to come with an action-research teaching focus for evaluation.

Substitute teacher reimbursement covered on Tuesday, October 28 and Wednesday, October 29.

Let NCCAT help you meet the challenges raised by the North Carolina Read to Achieve Program (a part of the Excellent Public Schools Act). Join us as we examine literacy initiatives and discover the best practices for developing a welcoming and enriching reading and writing environment for the early childhood classroom. Open to teachers in grades K–3, the program will focus on developing teaching strategies that link literacy and play, develop phonological and print awareness, embed literacy instruction in the basic activities of early learning, create engaging read-aloud experiences, and support emergent reading and writing.

A series of studies measured the practice of using real life financial simulations like “The Stock Market Game” on NAEP math scores and other summative math scores, and found a significant improvement for students from grades 5–12 who participated in financial simulation games. Learn to integrate “The Stock Market Game” into your math curriculum using proven methods for engagement and success. This program is a cooperative effort between NCCAT and the North Carolina Council for Economic Education.


This is a cooperative effort with NCCAT and the North Carolina Council for Economic Education (NCCEE).
Please click to register electronically with NCCEE..

One of the most difficult parts of math instruction is convincing children that learning math skills has some real connection to their lives. The reality of economics is that everyone needs to have a certain level of financial literacy and a certain level of mathematical competency in order to successfully navigate a modern landscape filled with credit offers, loan terms, savings accounts, payment cards, and more. Teachers will be introduced to the “Math behind the Market” curriculum by our partners at the North Carolina Council for Economic Education, and will learn about research-tested strategies for increasing student engagement in mathematics.


This is a cooperative effort with NCCAT and the North Carolina Council for Economic Education (NCCEE).
Please click to register electronically with NCCEE..