Education Week is hosting several webinars in the coming weeks that address the Common Core and the preparations of people who work with children in after-school or recreational programs. See full descriptions and registration information below.
From Paper to Practice: Implementing the Common Core State Standards in English/Language Arts
May 1, 2012 @ 2:00 pm EST
The Common Core State Standards in English/language arts make new demands on both students and teachers. They ask that students become masters at “close reading” of text, build their argumentation skills, and be able to marshal evidence to defend their positions. Teachers learn how to lead students in that work, with new kinds of questions, new types of readings, and new ways of thinking about literacy. Teachers in two districts in Kentucky are on the leading edge of working with new instructional tools designed for the standards. Join us for a compelling discussion with two educators overseeing the implementation in these districts.
Presenters:
• Gary McCormick, secondary school literacy consultant, Kenton County Schools, Ky.
• Regina Pelfrey, elementary school instructional coach, Erlanger-Elsmere Schools, Ky.
Moderator:
• Catherine Gewertz, assistant editor, Education Week
Register for this webinar now.
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Should Out-of-School Staff Be Trained Like Teachers?
May 14, 2012 @ 3:00pm EST
Since many out-of-school programs face limited funding and their staff members tend to be young, part-time workers who rarely commit to the job for long, providing high-quality, cost-effective professional development can be a challenge. While emerging research points to positive effects after-school programs have on students’ academic performance, debate is stirring over what core competencies these workers should possess. Some members of the after-school community believe staff need to be seen by others, and themselves, as professionals who require defined skills—with some competencies overlapping those of classroom teachers and others unique to after-school workers. Yet increasing numbers of professional-development efforts in the out-of-school realm resemble those used to improve the quality of classroom teachers. How can professional development for staff members be provided that increases their effectiveness while maintaining their distinctiveness from the traditional teacher? Join two experts on the out-of-school community as they discuss the latest ideas on providing professional development for staff members.
Presenters:
• Nancy Peter, director, Out-of-School Time Resource Center, Philadelphia
• Charles Smith, Ph.D., executive director, David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality, vice president for research, Forum for Youth Investment, Ypsilanti, Mich.
Moderator:
• Nora Fleming, staff writer, Education Week
Register for this webinar now.
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Implementing the Common Core Math Standards
May 16, 2012 @ 2:00pm EST
Across the nation, big shifts are afoot as 45 states and thousands of school districts gear up to implement the Common Core State Standards in mathematics. The new standards introduce some concepts earlier for students, push aside other topics altogether to achieve greater depth, and ask students to engage in a set of eight “mathematics practices” to show their understanding, from making sense of problems to reasoning abstractly and constructing viable arguments. We’re joined by math experts in two school districts, one urban and one suburban, to share their strategies and early experiences in preparing schools for the new standards.
Presenters:
• Kay Sammons, elementary math coordinator, Howard County School District, Md.
• Matt McLeod, math coordinator, Chicago School District
Moderator:
• Erik Robelen, assistant editor, Education Week
Register for this webinar now.
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The following webinar took place earlier this month, but I attended and thought the discussion was very good—so I’m sharing it here. You can download the materials and view a recording of the webinar (see links below).
What Can Be Done To Improve Teacher Satisfaction?
This webinar took place on April 19, 2012 @ 2 p.m. ET
With schools throughout the country facing leaner budgets, the threat of layoffs, and increasingly demanding accountability measures, teachers are experiencing new and varied workplace pressures. And according to the 28th annual MetLife Survey of the American Teacher, released in March, these pressures may be taking a toll. The percentage of teachers who are “very satisfied” with their jobs has dropped from 59 percent in 2009 to 44 percent, bringing teacher job satisfaction to its lowest point in more than two decades. And in another indication of declining morale, 29 percent of teachers say they are likely to leave the teaching profession within the next five years—up from 17 percent in 2009. In this webinar, Dana Markow, vice president of youth and education research for Harris Interactive, will outline the survey’s findings, with particular focus on those related to teacher morale. Susan Moore Johnson, professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, will discuss the many factors that influence teacher satisfaction and offer suggestions for supporting and retaining effective teachers.
Presenters:
• Dana Markow, Ph.D., vice president of youth and education research for Harris Interactive
• Susan Moore Johnson, Jerome T. Murphy professor in education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Moderator:
• Liana Heitin, associate editor, Education Week Teacher and Teacher PD Sourcebook
View the on-demand webinar now.
Download the PowerPoint presentation.
