Are You Expanding Your Toolbox This Summer?

As an educator, building your professional portfolio isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Choice realizes that teachers deserve quality and professional skill-building courses.

Choice is currently offering free professional development sessions for teachers in East Lansing to support the development of all of our Choice educators.

There are currently only two sessions remaining of the three developmental sessions, and seats are limited. From data to classroom techniques, our Choice teachers have an opportunity to benefit from some of the best in the education world – all free of charge.

On Tuesday, July 12, Choice teachers and administrators from across the state gathered to learn about Data Driven Instruction and easy ways to track student data. Together, teachers learned how to use NWEA data reports to monitor student progress and decide where interventions are needed.

“I have been on the journey to understanding achievement data for sixteen years. No pun intended, but the Data Driven Instruction professional development was the sweetest experience,” explained Dove Academy of Detroit Assistant Principal, Rodney Deal. “I say that because the session was streamlined in the most meaningful way as a hands-on learning experience. For example, we used real Dove achievement data from NWEA/MAP to create a colorful surface as a tool to stimulate data-informed decisions about the changing achievement needs of our students from fall to winter and winter to spring learning. The data graphic organizer we created is a tool to secure triangulated accountability for students, teachers, and parents, and most importantly, it’s user-friendly.”

Rodney D. Deal is the Assistant Principal at Dove Academy of Detroit.

“I thought the method for tracking this data was amazing. I’m definitely going to be using this for the upcoming school year,” said Kristy Rebar who is a 4-6 teacher at Macomb Montessori Academy. “I also want to have my students as part of that process, so I might use the school’s student numbers (to hide the names) and have a display in the classroom. That way students can see where they need to go but still have privacy.” Ms. Rebar added, “Our school leader, Ms. Ogonowski, and I will be showing the other teachers this method during our teacher boot camp.”

Kristy Rebar is a 4-6 Grade Teacher at Macomb Montessori Academy.

Are you interested in benefiting from these free sessions? There are still two sessions left:

[title maintitle=”Tomorrow – Tuesday, July 26, 2016″ subtitle=”East Lansing Hannah Community Center”] [imagebox maintitle=”Effective Classroom Questioning” subtitle=”Presenter: Connie Hamilton” image=”https://choiceschools.managed.brouser.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/class2.jpg” color=”white” space=”60″ link=”no link”]

This Classroom Questioning for the Common Core workshop is based on the growth mindset that good questioners aren’t just born; they develop the skills through learning and intentional practice. Teachers ask questions every day; this workshop will allow teachers to create an environment that engages students through questioning and will help teachers to plan their questions in the right cognitive order so they have the maximum impact on learning. If you ask questions in your classroom then this session is appropriate for you. The workshop is not content specific so it is suitable for K-12 teachers in core and elective/exploratory subjects.

Participants will walk away with practical knowledge they can implement immediately without feeling like there’s “one more thing” on their plate.

[button content=”LEARN MORE & REGISTER >” color=”green” text=”white” url=”https://choiceschools.managed.brouser.net/tag/summer-teacher-series/” openin=”_self”] [separator type=”thin”] [title maintitle=”Tuesday, August 9, 2016″ subtitle=”East Lansing Hannah Community Center”] [imagebox maintitle=”Formative Assessment Classroom Techniques” subtitle=”Presenter: Jacque Melin” image=”https://choiceschools.managed.brouser.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/class3.jpg” color=”white” space=”60″ link=”no link”]

Spend time focusing in on the five keys to using quality Formative Assessment in the classroom. These keys include: clear purpose, clear targets, sound design, effective communication, and student involvement.

  • Formative Assessment takes place WHILE the teaching/learning is happening;
  • Coaching students to hit a series of learning targets;
  • Making students partners in their learning;
  • Descriptive feedback and part of instruction;
  • Assessment FOR learning
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