Conversation designed to foster multidisciplinary connections and greater awareness of educational issues and challenges. A typical conversation may include, for example, the head of a foundation, a politician or activist, a neuroscientist, a school principal, the head of a nonprofit that provides educational resources, an educational technology CEO, and a young teacher.Due to being an invitation only event, if you are interested in taking part in this conversation, please email us. We look … [Read more...]
Addressing Challenging Behaviors Proactively
With intense social and behavioral factors affecting the readiness of children to learn, educators and parents are looking for skills to better respond to challenging behaviors. Research has shown that students do not learn better ways of behaving when simply presented with aversive consequences for their problem behaviors. Instead, an increased emphasis on proactive approaches - in which expected and more socially acceptable behaviors are taught directly, practiced often and repeatedly - can … [Read more...]
Creating Differentiated Instruction
The American education population is more diverse than it has ever been. In response, the education systems have to respond with more varied curriculum approaches to ensure that every student has access to the education they need … and deserve. Many strategies are available, but they require strong leadership skills and public advocacy to implement because many of them challenge comfortable assumptions and practices related to learning and teaching. Educators who are exploring ways to create … [Read more...]
Partnering with Parents – Engaging Parents Effectively
Developing positive relationships with parents can be critical to providing the best education possible for students. At times this can be challenging. It is important that when difficult times arise, responses are in place that use the strong and positive relationships already established with parents. Educators and parents who are interested in working together more effectively and seeking alternative ways to connect are encouraged to attend. … [Read more...]
Successful Transition Planning
Many times, concrete action steps must be taken to guide and prepare students for the next step of their lives, whether it is moving from elementary to middle school, high school to college, or from educational life into working life. Parents, educators, social service providers, medical care providers, educational advocates, students, and members of the general community can help play a vital role in ensuring that successful transitions are made at each level. This conversation is designed to … [Read more...]
The Good and the Bad of Rubrics – An Educator Evaluation Framework
The Massachusetts Model System for Educator Evaluation, “encourages educators and evaluators to use rubrics strategically by discussing and agreeing upon certain Indicators and Elements that should be high priorities according to that educator’s role and responsibilities as well as his/her professional practice and student learning needs.” (ESE Model Rubric for Teachers. January, 2012.) With this model gaining traction in the Massachusetts schools, educators must clearly understand what this … [Read more...]
Climbing the Math Mountain and Getting There Successfully
Math troubles can develop at any time during a student's academic development because the subject encompasses such a wide variety of skills and concepts. Memory, language, attention, temporal-sequential ordering, higher-order cognition, and spatial ordering are among the neurodevelopmental functions that play a role when students think with numbers. To succeed students, must be able to have a number of functions work together that become a part of on going process where new concepts and … [Read more...]
Creating Student-Centered Educational Practices
Student-centered education means many things to many people, but it can be agreed that this approach to education focuses on taking into account the great variance in student needs, abilities, interests, and learning styles. The implications on curriculum design, the use of technology, approaches to assessment and testing are but a few of the hurdles to be addressed by those committed to such an approach. Parents and educators interested in developing more student-centered approaches within … [Read more...]
Responding to Trauma and Creating a Trauma Sensitive Environment
Trauma is an unfortunate reality in many children’s lives, and those that experience it are likely to struggle with engaging in curriculum, paying attention in the classroom, dealing with their emotions in interpersonal situations, and communicating with peers and/or adults. Educators and parents who want to better understand how trauma impacts behavior and wish to discuss ways schools can create more sensitive and supportive environments are encourage to attend this conversation.REGISTER … [Read more...]
Television – Balancing the Negative and Positive Influences on Your Child
Television impacts all of us, especially children. With hundreds of channels available and most kids plugged into the world of television long before they enter school, it is hard to know how to balance its use effectively. Individuals who are concerned about and interested in addressing the influences of television on our children are encouraged to attend.REGISTER … [Read more...]