In cooperation with the North Carolina Bar Association Education Section, this program will explore the responsibilities and rights of educators in North Carolina. We also will examine laws regarding issues in education and explore laws that protect the rights of teachers, parents, students, administrators, and school staff.
In years past, the school librarian was expected to build well-rounded library collections and to be an effective circulator and manager of resources. Today’s library media specialist takes an active role in instructional programs, serving not only as program administrator and information specialist, but also as teacher, instructional partner, and resource specialist. Focus will be on strategies library media specialists can use to develop a collaborative teaching role that supports literacy across the curriculum. We also will explore technology tools and digital resources that can be used to grow students’ skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
Designed for educators teaching Math I.
During the adolescent years, engagement is a must to increase student learning. Math I students need opportunities to feel success with course content through instructional strategies that encourage perseverance. This program will provide opportunities for teachers to improve their practices through collaboration, strategies that promote re-teaching, and exploring the needs of students they serve in this critical high school course.
It’s time to start thinking outside the box! Teachers often think projects take too much time to plan or don’t know how to align them with curriculum. Project Based Learning Units (PBLs) are an effective and enjoyable way to learn that allow students to work as a team, reflect, ask questions, build confidence, work with a purpose, problem solve, and learn time management. Investigate essential questions, unit questions, and content questions that will enable you to develop your own PBL unit. Return to your classroom with a PBL unit you create that will excite and engage your students as they claim ownership of their learning.
Instructional coaches have a direct impact on instruction and student achievement in today’s schools. Coaches use their role in the schools to enhance others’ abilities through motivation and support. This role can be an overwhelming and daunting task. This program will offer inspiration, guidance, training, strategies, and evidence-based practices for the 21st century instructional coach.
What should literacy instruction look like in today’s classrooms? High quality literacy instruction promotes and advances critical thinking. This program will investigate intentional instruction that fosters critical thinking skills. Examine strategies to “dig deeper” into the text and discover the art of dialogue and purposeful questions. Utilize multiple media and technologies to support and enhance a student’s critical eye for thoughtful interpretation of ideas.
NCCAT’s Holocaust Education Program works to promote Holocaust education in North Carolina public schools. It is important to continue our efforts to promote student understanding of the ways in which our individual and collective actions shape the direction of the present and the world of the future. Join fellow alumni of our Holocaust Education Program as we explore teaching the Holocaust. This program will help teachers focus on the power of individuals’ personal stories as an effective vehicle for teaching about the Holocaust, so they may involve students in appropriate and powerful study of this difficult topic. The Gathering is open to teachers who have participated in NCCAT’s “Teaching the Holocaust” programs or in comparable intensive Holocaust education programs.
Designed for teachers in grades 4–12.
STEM is an interdisciplinary approach to teaching science, technology, engineering and math. Studies show that girls’ interest in STEM peaks by age 11 and often disappears by age 15. This program will explore the reasons why girls often abandon STEM and investigate ways to capture and maintain their interest. Teachers will examine successful STEM programs and the ways their best practices can be utilized in any school or classroom. With help from experienced educators, teachers will identify opportunities to use STEM in their own classrooms and will learn specific strategies that they can begin using immediately.
Designed for teachers in grades 4–12.
The statistics are consistent: young male readers lag behind their female counterparts in literacy skills. In many instances, the reading scores of boys bring down the reading scores for the entire school. Explore the social, psychological, and developmental reasons why boys lag behind girls. Identify reading materials you can use in your classroom to capture and keep the attention of your struggling readers. Experience a variety of instructional methods such as text selection designed for boys, contests and competitions, focus reading groups, and the latest websites and blogs to boost literacy achievement. Discover solutions to capture the attention of reluctant male readers.
The NC Math Standards emphasize developing conceptual understandings through modeling and application. With this understanding, teachers need to renew their math craft with opportunities for collaboration and strategic planning. This program will develop strategies for student success by delving into the instructional frameworks, learning new critical thinking skills, and exploring resources. Teachers will develop strategies for teaching math conceptually, and learn how to engage students through modeling and application.