Ms. Alewine will attend the “Learning and the Brain” conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which will incorporate the neuroscience of the brain with the learning styles and abilities of students.  Experts and specialists in the fields of education and ... more »

Participants in the “Students' Good News Station” project will produce monthly thirty minute newscasts highlighting the positive, inspiring, and heartwarming stories of children and youth in Memphis.  Students will create 30 second Public Service ... more »

Mrs. Sutherland will participate in the Trainer of Trainers Academy, a three day institute in Comfort, Texas that will provide her the knowledge and understanding necessary for the proper use of visual and kinesthetic manipulatives during instruction.  The workshop ... more »

Ms. Ronan and Ms. Kimble will lead “Write On!,” a unique opportunity for NYOS Elementary staff to meet in a K-5 vertical team to deepen and improve their knowledge of writing instruction with the goal  of improving the writing skills of NYOS students.  ... more »

Mrs. Golden and Mr. Brox’s fifth grade students will choose environmental topics and conduct research on their chosen issues.  In this multimedia project, students will use iPods to view green videos, listen to podcasts related to green topics, and text and email ... more »

Through “Get Caught Engineering,” students will become investigators for engineering problems that are integrated into the daily curriculum.  Activities will be introduced in grades kindergarten through sixth that support the school’s STEM ... more »

Mrs. Evangelista and Mrs. Marshall will lead the creation of “Intervention Kits.”  The kits will provide an alternative, sensory based curricula for at risk learners throughout the district.  After presenting professional development sessions to ... more »

“Kindles for Kids” will act as a supplemental reading program intended to increase reading motivation and strengthen skills in third grade students.  Students in Mrs. Hauck’s and Mrs. VanWyk’s classrooms will be placed in small, flexible reading ... more »

Spina and colleagues at Robinson Elementary School will participate in a collaborative arts professional learning community, “Arts Come Alive!” (ACA), held at the Flynn Center for Performing Arts in Burlington, Vermont.  ACA is based on research ... more »

Lessor will attend a SMART Training certification event in Chicago, Illinois, which will allow him to be trained on the use of Notebook software and the SMART Board interactive whiteboard.  Upon completing the training, Mr. Lessor will conduct professional development ... more »

In the “Math Masters” program, third, fourth and fifth grade students use Digitz interactive devices to gain mastery of basic math skills.  With the ability to be used in the classroom and at home, “Math Masters” also promotes parental ... more »

Collaborating with the North Cascades and Olympic Science Partnership of Western Washington University, Ms. Schaff, Ms. Carroll, and Ms. Rohrer explore, create, and implement innovative science content and professional development models. Participants study ... more »

Ms. Rosenthal, who was formally trained in chemistry but teaches physics, enrolls in several courses to increase her content knowledge of physics. Using what she learns, Ms. Rosenthal broadens the topics in her course and develops lab work and problem-solving ... more »

Ms. Kochalka leads grade-level study groups to investigate best practices for literacy instruction. The group analyzes student data, research-based instructional approaches, and develops an action plan for enhancing the reading and language arts program. Throughout ... more »

Ms. McMillan and her partners establish a study group to examine best practices for implementing literacy instruction across curricula. Collaborating with a consultant, the team designs action research projects and assesses the effect various reading strategies have ... more »

Dr. Craig and her partners form a study group to learn about teacher portfolios. The group, which includes new teachers, analyze research and reflect on their instructional strategies to develop portfolios. To share what they learn with colleagues, participants make ... more »

Ms. Oscarson and her partners examine their courses to incorporate geriatric studies into curricula. During monthly meetings, participants discuss and compare pedagogical strategies and learning resources for teaching gerontology. Team members also share examples of ... more »

Ms. Peterson and her partners examine how to best use personal digital assistants (PDAs) to support and assess student learning. After learning how to use the technology, the participants implement a local history project in their classes. Participants use PDAs to ... more »

Ms. Manges leads a study group to learn best practices in language arts instruction. Using a literature circle format, the team reads and discusses research-based strategies that improve writing and reading skills. The participants share their knowledge with ... more »

Ms. Mallatt and her partners establish a study group to learn how to use guided reading for a balanced literacy program in the classroom. The group reads and discusses several texts on guided reading and shares successes and challenges of implementing literacy ... more »

To help students understand technology choices and the effects of technology on society, Ms. Huff researches Amish society and culture to develop a unit on technology and Amish culture. She observes and interviews people in Amish communities to explore why they have ... more »

To gain fluency in Spanish and support her English language learners, Ms. Goggins attends the Cervantes Institute in Manhattan. At the institute, she enrolls in several advanced Spanish courses to develop her oral and written communication skills. Because few ... more »

The language arts teachers at Smithtown High School form a study group to analyze effective strategies for collaborating with secondary special education teachers on writing instruction. The participants collaborate with university writing center directors, use peer ... more »

To improve student achievement, instructional strategies, and curriculum presentation, Ms. Hukee leads a study group on the needs and feelings of immigrant children. Participants read professional books and discuss best practices for instructing English language ... more »

Ms. Tibaldi, Ms. Gotshall, and Mr. McGee form a lesson study group with physical education teachers in all grade levels throughout the district to analyze and refine lessons on cardio-respiratory endurance and the benefits of physical activity. The team meets ... more »

To help staff make the best use of available technology, Ms. DeJong forms a study group to research best practices for integrating technology into the classroom. Participants work across content areas to inform their colleagues on available technology and effective ... more »

To incorporate Russian and Ukrainian literature into her world literature classes, Ms. Strauss travels to Odessa, Ukraine, to establish an international exchange program. She studies Russian literature while teaching American literature, particularly focusing on ... more »

To tie local historic assets to the social studies curriculum realignment, Mr. Koerber conducts archival research at state historical repositories. Mr. Koerber studies local history within the broader context of national history. From what he learns, he teams with ... more »

Ms. Durham and her partners establish a study group to improve methods for recognizing, understanding, and teaching students with learning differences. Analyzing Dr. Mel Levine’s phenomenological approach to understanding learners’ neurodevelopmental ... more »

To support their high-risk learners, Ms. Thomas and Ms. Crawford study the most effective strategies for reading instruction. The participants analyze research-based approaches, conduct action research in their classrooms, assess their instruction, and develop a ... more »

Ms. Hofer and her partners, who include special education teachers, form a lesson study group to improve mathematics instruction. Participants analyze research-based approaches to develop lessons on geometric problem solving. After teaching and observing each ... more »

Mr. Braack leads a team of seventh- and eighth-grade mathematics teachers in lesson study on problem-solving and fractions. Participants conduct classroom observations and collect and analyze data on student learning. Based on these data, the team develops and ... more »

To increase her students’ drafting skills, Ms. Hamilton studies the Rhino Level 4 Advanced Nonuniform Rational B-Splines modeling. Ms. Hamilton integrates this computer-aided modeling software into her curriculum and shares her knowledge with colleagues.

Ms. Gackenheimer and her partners collaborate to develop individualized professional development plans. After reading professional literature on best practices for instructional strategies, participants use classroom data and research to modify classroom instruction. ... more »

Analyzing data from the Northwest Evaluation Association and the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress, Ms. Browne and Ms. MacBain identify differentiated instructional strategies that improve reading and mathematics skills. The teachers provide ... more »

Ms. Smith and her partners engage in lesson study to improve their science curriculum design and instructional strategies. The participants examine which inquiry-based activities enhance student learning, then videotape and analyze their instructional approaches. To ... more »

Through “Honoring the Past to Preserve our Future,” Ms. Wamboldt and Mr. Liska implement a historical preservation project to increase the problem-solving and historiographical skills of their eighth-grade students. Students research, write tour descriptions, ... more »

Ms. Jones and her partners collaborate with university professors to analyze reading and writing strategies that improve student achievement across disciplines. After identifying strategies, participants incorporate instructional approaches into their curricula and ... more »

Collaborating with California State University—Sacramento, Ms. Gallagher leads a study group on web design using Microsoft FrontPage®. The members of the group use their knowledge to create class websites with resources their bilingual students can use to ... more »

Mr. Meersman and Mr. Roybal increase the writing and communication skills of their English language learners through a unit that combines history and technology. Students create storyboards and use video cameras and video editing software to record their own speeches, which ... more »

Ms. Foster and her partners team with Project Spera, an organization that promotes global education, to develop curricula on international topics and issues. Participants develop plans for incorporating international issues into existing lesson plans. Team members ... more »

Mr. Kelly, Mr. Hornick, and Mr. Sable develop students’ problem-solving skills while preparing them for careers through a unit on technology and global information systems. After studying the history and applicability of global positioning systems (GPS), students use ... more »

Ms. Pevzner and Ms. Carson connect science to their students’ everyday lives while improving reading and writing skills. Students conduct scientific experiments using common products, such as bubble gum and paper towels. With the data analyses from these experiments, ... more »

Dr. Gingold and Ms. Lawson integrate art, literature, and science to teach students about the solar system. Students read nonfiction books, write reflective essays and poetry, create murals and mobiles, and stage dance productions about the universe. At the project’s ... more »

Ms. Moore, Ms. Kirby, and Ms. Noblin, first-grade mathematics teachers, collaborate to improve students’ problem-solving skills. Students investigate geometry problems with Geoblocks, a set of wooden rectangular and triangular prisms and pyramids designed in ... more »

Ms. Calloway and Ms. Rae have created the interdisciplinary unit “China: Bridging the Wall” to increase students’ higher-level thinking skills and global understanding. In literature circles students read and discuss articles and stories about Chinese ... more »

Through hands-on activities and cooperative learning, Ms. Altman and Ms. Floyd enhance the problem-solving and mathematics skills of their eighth-grade students. Students apply geometric properties as they design and paint ceramic tiles, create dream catchers and ... more »

Mr. Reed and his partners implement a program called “Who Am I? Using Multimedia and Performing Arts for Self Discovery and Making Literacy Connections” to improve their students’ reading and critical-thinking skills. Teachers collaborate with parents, ... more »

Ms. Pieri, Ms. Fowler, and Mr. Hober combine storytelling and the arts to create an intergenerational and cross-cultural curriculum. Communicating with a sister school in Germany and local World War II veterans, students explore the story of Lieutenant Arthur Sauler, a ... more »

Ms. Myers and Ms. Mayberry collaborate with local high schools to offer a poetry writing workshop. Students explore poetry by attending a coffeehouse where professional writers and poets read their work.