Writing instruction is not only important but also vital for today’s students. Finding the time to teach writing in the elementary classroom, however, can prove challenging. Teachers will explore the various purposes for writing, the writing process, and strategies to integrate writing in other content areas. Additionally, teachers will investigate creative strategies to motivate students to write.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW.

Designed for lateral entry beginning teachers

Open to lateral entry teachers in their first, second, or third year of teaching, this program supports motivated beginning teachers by strengthening their knowledge base and classroom expertise. Through experiential learning, teachers will explore pedagogical concerns including differentiated instruction, classroom management, formative and summative assessment, the effect of poverty on achievement and behavior, class procedures and expectations. Come prepared to build professional competence and confidence, improve student achievement, and reinforce your commitment to this critically important profession.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW.

A strong foundation for reading often requires access to a variety of high-interest materials. Come ready to load your literacy tool kit with information about grant opportunities for purchasing books, digital devices, and other materials for enhancing literacy instruction. You will learn about successful funding opportunities other teachers have used to secure literacy-related donations. In addition, you will have the opportunity to discover open-access materials and to prepare small grants to enhance your literacy instruction. Finally, participate in the sharing of strategies for the effective use of these resources with reluctant readers.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW.

A digital educator uses technology to enhance their students' learning practice. In this program, educators will become familiar with a wide spectrum of tools and practices to help change their classroom into a digital learning environment. A partial list of digital resources will include BreakoutEdu, Virtual Reality, Twitter, CoSpaces, Edpuzzle, Educreations, and Google Suites. Create a digital learning environment that is personalized for each student with project-based learning. Using these digital resources, you will learn how to create and plan for learning that is blended, interactive, and flexible for student-centered instruction. Leave with plans on how to implement student-centered instruction in your classroom or school.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW.

Designed for teachers of grade level K–3

Foundational skills are critical to early literacy education. Examine literacy initiatives and discover the best practices for developing a welcoming and enriching reading and writing environment for the early childhood classroom. Create engaging read-aloud experiences and support emergent reading and writing. Learn teaching strategies that link literacy and play, develop phonological and print awareness, and embed literacy instruction in the basic activities of early learning.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW.

Designed for teachers of grades K–8

MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) is the umbrella under which all educational practices fall. It has two main pillars: RtI (Responsiveness to Instruction/Intervention) and PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports). These two areas incorporate all academic and behavioral learning. What have we learned from the experts over the past decades? What does the research tell us about optimal teaching behaviors that equate to maximum learning outcomes? How can we change our behavior to ensure positive and thriving student behaviors? This program is intended to offer the big picture—the major areas that will yield the biggest impact, some of the latest research, as well as practical implementation suggestions and resources. Plan to leave with ideas, resources, and a game plan for your classroom and possibly your school!

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW.

Designed for Teachers, Media Specialists, Instructional Technology Facilitators, and Instructional Coaches

Teachers, media specialists, and instructional technology facilitators recognize the benefits of technology in the classroom. Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) identifies the relationship between technology, content, and pedagogy. The purposeful blending of them is critical to enhancing instruction. We will discuss the relationship between the classroom teacher, media specialist and instructional technology specialist when it comes to using the TPACK model to develop strong teaching practices. Together we will look at the Follett Destiny library system and ways to incorporate digital research into classroom lessons. Participants will explore a variety of other digital resources and investigate ways pedagogy and content interweave with technology to best support student learning.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW.

Open to teachers in their first, second, or third year of teaching, this program supports motivated beginning teachers by strengthening their knowledge base and classroom expertise. Through experiential learning, teachers will explore pedagogical concerns including differentiated instruction, classroom management, formative and summative assessment, the effect of poverty on achievement and behavior, class procedures and expectations. Come prepared to build professional competence and confidence, improve student achievement, and reinforce your commitment to this critically important profession.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW. CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW.

Designed for teachers of grades 4–12

Teaching reading skills in English/Language Arts classes and across the disciplines is an almost guaranteed way to help students retain content. Unfortunately, the tendency to focus on the content is a real enemy to the ultimate goal of building reading skills. Without a repertoire of reading strategies that can be applied to any text, reluctant, struggling and disengaged students are not assured enough opportunities to read throughout the school day. In order to teach students to read effectively, teachers must be sure that they are not simply suppliers of information about a particular text but also instructors of techniques to build reading skills using materials that are relevant to their students. Participants in this program will review ideas about how to incorporate reading skill lessons into their curriculum so that they are enticing to struggling, reluctant, and disengaged learners.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW.

Invitations will be emailed to system level Teachers of the Year in March 2019

North Carolina’s 2018-2019 Teachers of the Year are invited to join us to examine educational leadership and positive responses to institutional change. Engage in the study and discussion of leadership principles, personal leadership traits, teacher leadership in schools, group dynamics and other aspects of leadership. Discover how to continue your growth as an educational professional. Look into your leadership strengths and areas of growth by focusing on challenges inside and outside the educational realm. Join in our dialogue about how teachers can spread their enthusiasm for learning to other members of the school community.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW.