Western Suffolk Boces

THE SCIENCE OF READING FOR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS TOOLKIT BRIEF #5 The Science of Reading in Multilingual K-12 Classrooms VIRTUAL 2-Day Workshop facilitated by Dana Brown - 8:30-2:30pm
2027-03-02 08:30 - 2027-03-03 14:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual Conference
In this workshop, we will spend the first day unpacking the full article of the brief to understand the data and research presented while absorbing the classroom examples, reviewing the conclusion and recommendations, as well as the references and resources so we can work together to reflect and apply the revised instructional practices during the second day. Participants will work throughout this two day long workshop to link practical classroom resources, engage in example teaching and learning activities, and focus on planning and preparation to implement this brief with the following outcomes: -Identify the Big Six (phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, oral language) -Understand different pedagogical approaches such as learning to read versus reading to learn -Learn how to create a comprehensive literacy instructional program that goes beyond the Big Six to encompass linguistic and cultural assets for multilingual learners (I.e. english language development, metalinguistic awareness, cross-linguistic connections, oracy and social justice and culturally relevant pedagogy) -Use screener data appropriately -Gather instructional strategies for the Big Six that incorporate ELL and ML considerations Eligible for 12 hours CTLE credit. If district pays, district approval must be confirmed prior to start of session.
Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13iVWPlk22CbZvpwXWPZVaQHq30bjsGl6/view?usp=sharing
Registration: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=13208&I=5404470

Promoting Teacher Retention Through the Power of Psychological Ownership *IN PERSON* facilitated by Robert Feirsen, Ed.D, and Seth Weitzman, Ed.D.-8:30-11:30am
2027-03-03 08:30 - 11:30 | JEA Alternative School, 31 Lee Ave, Wheatley Heights, NY, 11798-1837, United States
In this interactive workshop, participants will develop an understanding of how to harness the transformative power of psychological ownership to retain the best teachers, build individual and collective expertise, and strengthen relationships. Psychological ownership explains why one teacher exudes enthusiasm, while a colleague fills out applications for another job. Originating from the field of social psychology, psychological ownership offers strategies that instill a superior degree of job satisfaction and commitment, anchoring staff to their schools. Teachers experiencing psychological ownership of their workplace report superior feelings of agency, belonging, expertise, and accountability. Psychological ownership -increases the likelihood of retaining the very best teachers, -increases the impact of new teacher induction, -adds value to professional development, and -builds school capacity by enabling staff to sustain high levels of performance. Ultimately, motivated and engaged staff are best equipped to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of the students they serve. Participants in the workshop will examine school environments that constrain the development of psychological ownership. Attendees with then develop strategies that encourage employees to grow a deep commitment to their work and to the school community at large, as well as empower them to meet the challenges of schooling in today’s demanding climate. Eligible for 3 hours CTLE credit. If district pays, district approval must be confirmed prior to start of session.
Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GrLg0lbLJ9lD5cToh-JWN5gEF_r84Aa5/view?usp=sharing
Registration: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=13208&I=5415794

The Reluctant Learner Toolbox: Techniques for Turning Resistance into Progress *IN PERSON* Facilitated by Consulting that Makes a Difference - 8:30-2:30pm
2027-03-10 08:30 - 14:30 | JEA Alternative School, 31 Lee Ave, Wheatley Heights, NY, 11798-1837, United States
In every classroom, there are students who seem uninterested, unmotivated, or disengaged. They may be quiet and withdrawn or defiant and disruptive. They often resist participation, avoid challenges, or give up before they even begin. These reluctant learners are not failing because they lack intelligence or ability; they’re struggling because something-academic fear, past experiences, unmet needs, or emotional barriers-is standing in the way of their engagement. This powerful, strategy-rich workshop is designed for educators seeking practical, research-informed approaches to reconnect with these hard-to-reach students. Whether you teach elementary or secondary students, general or special education, this session will equip you with applicable tools and strategies to transform resistance into resilience and passive learning into active participation. Eligible for 6 hours CTLE credit. If district pays, district approval must be confirmed prior to start of session.
Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tGP1-VNL5DZJSd_hovHh6IjbIznA9Jte/view?usp=sharing
Registration: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=13208&I=5409261

Writing with Students with Disabilities VIRTUAL Three-hour session facilitated by Dana Brown - 8:30-11:30am
2027-03-11 08:30 - 11:30 | Virtual Conference
Provide explicit instruction, consistent demonstrations and descriptions, and intentionally scaffold the steps or processes needed to understand writing concepts -Reduce scaffolds as the student models skills independently and fluently -Design, provide, and assess the effectiveness of specially-designed instruction to provide students with disabilities with access to participate and progress in the general education curriculum -Facilitate capacity building and effective implementation of evidence-based learning practices that meet the needs of students with disabilities -Ensure students with disabilities are being given the accommodations and supports needed to ensure success in writing, including assistive technology Eligible for 3 hours CTLE credit. If district pays, district approval must be confirmed prior to start of session.
Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UBZQEr1rwY6fIdZB2OQUJlGYne2AGOdj/view?usp=sharing
Registration: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=13208&I=5404496

NYSED Biology Investigations Refresher: Building Student Skills and Maximizing Student Agency *IN PERSON* Facilitated by Glen Cochrane - 8:30-2:30pm
2027-03-11 08:30 - 14:30 | JEA Alternative School, 31 Lee Ave, Wheatley Heights, NY, 11798-1837, United States
Are you and your students still navigating the nuances of the required investigations? This workshop focuses on using the investigations to foster student-centered learning, emphasizing the 3D aspects and the most challenging components for classroom management and student learning. It will serve as a refresher for the three mandated NYSED Biology Investigations. During the first and even the second year of implementation, classroom management, student agency (student-centered learning), and student skills proved challenging. We will address how to shift to student-centered implementation with minimal teacher support and develop prompts that encourage students to test solutions. The investigations assess performance expectations that cannot be evaluated at proficiency on the Regents exam. Students are expected to plan and conduct an investigation, use a model to explain a phenomenon, and compare gene frequencies with and without selection factors. Deficiencies in students’ prior learning and skill mastery that underpin high school expectations have added to the challenges to student success. Student activities to develop the skills needed before conducting the investigations will be provided. ***PARTICIPANTS MUST BRING PAPER COPIES OF EACH BIOLOGY INVESTIGATION’S DOCUMENTS. THESE CANNOT BE PROVIDED. **B.Y.O.D. (Bring Your Own Device) – Participants should bring a fully charged laptop, iPad, or tablet to download resources and access websites during the workshop. Eligible for 6 hours CTLE credit. Can use 1 consortium seat. If district pays, district approval must be confirmed prior to start of session.
Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w8I7Q1hjsBr3kU8HijAsSSoqFLvPTozd/view?usp=sharing
Registration: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=13208&I=5414140

Conflict Agility: Turning School Tensions into Collaboration and Capacity *IN PERSON* facilitated by Robert Feirsen, Ed.D. and Seth Weitzman, Ed.D. - 8:30-11:30am
2027-03-15 08:30 - 11:30 | JEA Alternative School, 31 Lee Ave, Wheatley Heights, NY, 11798-1837, United States
Conflict in polarized school communities is a continuing challenge for today’s school leaders. Administrators routinely encounter intense, emotional conversations involving parents, educators, students, and community members-often around high stakes issues such as curriculum, student services, equity, and school climate. When perspectives are deeply dissonant, conflict can constrain problem solving, erode trust, and constrain efforts to meet student needs. Too often, leaders respond by avoiding contentious issues or relying on authority based approaches that escalate tension rather than resolve it. This interactive workshop will help school leaders develop the skills and mindset needed to lead through conflict rather than around it. Drawing on research from peace studies, education, organizational psychology, and design thinking, participants will explore the roots of conflict in schools and examine why polarization intensifies under pressure. The session will emphasize how conflict-when skillfully engaged-can become a catalyst for collaboration, trust building, and increased organizational capacity. Participants will engage in realistic case studies addressing common leadership flashpoints. They will apply a structured framework for navigating complex, emotionally charged disagreements while keeping student needs at the center of decision making. Participants will leave with practical strategies they can immediately apply in their schools, as well as tools to turnkey professional learning for their leadership teams-helping create cultures where constructive dialogue replaces avoidance and conflict becomes a driver of school improvement rather than division. Eligible for 3 hours CTLE credit. If district pays, district approval must be confirmed prior to start of session.
Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DRB7h8t0c8aKoo07uGyf5mkrncC4TCbW/view?usp=sharing
Registration: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=13208&I=5415835

Building Skilled Writers: Research‑Aligned Strategies for K-6 Teachers *IN PERSON* facilitated by Lauren Kolbeck Szulc and Deborah Linscott-Feinstein - 8:30-2:30pm
2027-03-16 08:30 - 14:30 | JEA Alternative School, 31 Lee Ave, Wheatley Heights, NY, 11798-1837, United States
Audience: Classroom teachers grades 1-6, reading teachers, literacy coaches, ELL teachers and administrators Unlock the research‑backed principles of effective writing instruction in this focused workshop designed for K-6 educators. Grounded in the latest literacy science-and informed by key practices drawn from The Writing Revolution and The Writing Rope-this session equips you with powerful, practical strategies for planning and teaching writing units that truly engage young writers. You’ll explore the essential components of high‑quality writing instruction, examining how foundational skills such as transcription, handwriting, and spelling support higher‑level abilities like sentence construction, paragraph development, and genre structures. Throughout the day, you’ll engage in hands‑on activities and guided practice that demonstrate how systematic, explicit instruction strengthens both linguistic and cognitive skills. You’ll learn how intentional scaffolds and carefully sequenced tasks can reduce cognitive load, enabling students to focus on the right skills at the right time and experience greater success. The workshop also highlights how to embed recursive opportunities into your yearlong writing plan so students revisit and deepen key skills over time. By the end of the session, you’ll walk away with actionable tools you can immediately apply to support confident, capable writers Eligible for 6 hours CTLE credit. If district pays, district approval must be confirmed prior to start of session.
Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ha8bbArQRDG5LVmj-o5WelNnJgG1n5J1/view?usp=sharing
Registration: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=13208&I=5393028

Neurodivergent Learners: What Educators Need to Know to Help Them Thrive VIRTUAL 3-hour Workshop facilitated by Joan Fretz - 8:30-11:30am
2027-04-07 08:30 - 11:30 | Virtual Conference
Neurodiversity is a word used to explain the unique ways people’s brains work. Being neurodivergent means having a brain that works differently from the average or “neurotypical” person. This may be differences in social preferences, ways of learning, ways of communicating and/or ways of perceiving the environment. Because of this, a neurodivergent person has different struggles and unique strengths.” (Cleveland Clinic, June 6, 2022.) Neurodivergent school age children are often diagnosed with ADHA, autism, dyslexia and other conditions. They might talk about a narrow range of topics, have difficulty expressing their feelings or understanding how others feel, seem uninterested in starting a conversation, and have difficulty noticing social cues. They often possess unique strengths, exceptional memory, creative problem-solving, and in-depth expertise in their specialized interests. They frequently demonstrate innovative thinking, pattern recognition, high energy, and a strong sense of justice or honesty. When educators learn more about Neurodiversity, they can help all of their students develop their strengths and live happy and healthy lives. Eligible for 3 hours CTLE credit. If district pays, district approval must be confirmed prior to start of session.
Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WbJNe8uOMVgDKKr6jpX9hzY19wYUB31h/view?usp=sharing
Registration: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=13208&I=5406239

Taking the Challenge out of Conversations: How to Communicate so You'll Both Feel Heard VIRTUAL 3-hour Workshop facilitated by Joan Fretz - 8:30-11:30am
2027-04-13 08:30 - 11:30 | Virtual Conference
Challenging times call for school adults to communicate issues and needs without judgment or blame. This workshop introduces a simple 4-step process for improving our ability to: 1) say what we are observing without evaluation, 2) listen for and acknowledge the feelings and needs of others, 3) state our needs, and 4) make requests instead of demands. Developed by Marshall Rosenberg (Non-Violent Communication) and further developed by Oren J. Sofer (A Mindful Approach to Non-Violent Communication) this process serves as an effective way for school adults to communicate without judgment and have their own needs met as well. Creating schools where people want to teach and learn begins with how we communicate. Eligible for 3 hours CTLE credit. If district pays, district approval must be confirmed prior to start of session
Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Iy6tFdlq3vIX_yHix-gkqHNyUYmVmhT3/view?usp=sharing
Registration: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=13208&I=5406328

Writing with Linguistically Diverse Learners VIRTUAL Three-hour session facilitated by Dana Brown - 8:30-11:30am
2027-04-15 08:30 - 11:30 | Virtual Conference
-Understand the key similarities and differences between a child’s home language and English (e.g. phonology, grammar, vocabulary) and leverage the use of cognates to bridge language gaps and enhance language acquisition -Encourage home language discussions with same language peers to support building context knowledge -Allow students to write in their home language when appropriate and provide authentic writing (e.g. writing about personal experiences) and publishing opportunities Eligible for 3 hours CTLE credit. If district pays, district approval must be confirmed prior to start of session.
Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bdf_q0xwSGgverP_4RnmAt0EUgXvH5m2/view?usp=sharing
Registration: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=13208&I=5404519
