Voting Rights Lesson Plan Competition
*Deadline Extended to April 30
Submit an original lesson plan that integrates the pivotal PBS Documentary Freedom Summer. Learn More at Freedom Summer - WTU Local 6
Ignite My Future TECHademy
Join @TCS and @DiscoveryEd for a free PD on computational thinking (and snag some awesome swag: PearDeck, BreakoutEDU, GooseChase)! The #IgniteMyFuture in School Virtual TECHademy is on April 28th. Sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/TECHademy2021
WTU Wellness Series with Kaiser Permanente
REGISTER HERE for one or all sessions: https://forms.gle/FP45vPqLSWQqTxqo9
WTU Teacher Leader Symposium 2021
PART 1: Thursday, May 13 @ 5-7pm
PART 2: Saturday, May 15 @ 10am-12noon
PART 3: Tuesday, May 18 @ 5-7pm
Please join our WTU Teacher Leaders as they present their culminating research projects from the 2020-2021SY.
WTU Teacher Leaders are full-time educators who have been selected to join a nationwide network through the American Federation of Teachers.
They are taking an active role in influencing policy in a number of areas, including teacher retention, virtual learning, professional development, educator burnout, student discipline issues and overall policy changes that will ultimately help improve educational outcomes for all DCPS students.
Please register HERE.
Register NOW - WTU Professional Development Courses
Foundations: Organizing the Classroom for Teaching and Learning, Registration Fee: $150
Instructor: JoAnn Cornish
9am-1pm; Saturdays: May 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
RSVP here: https://www.wtulocal6.net/spring_2021_foundations
Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, FREE Course
Instructor: Dr. Casey Collins
4-6pm; Monday 4/26 and Wednesday 4/28
Research suggests that students from diverse cultures may need to be engaged differently in ways that support their self-efficacy, esteem and their learning. In this 2-part session, we will establish the connection between culture and learning, and explore research-based strategies, such as cultural competency, high expectations and critical consciousness. Participants will receive 8 PLU’s for attending the two-part sessions. Register* for April 26 & 28: https://www.wtulocal6.net/spring_2021_culturally_responsive_pedagogy_20210322
WTU 2021 Trainer Search
The Spring 2021 WTU Trainer Recruitment Session will be held virtually April 29, 2021 @ 4pm-5pm. Register HERE. There will be opportunities to interview between 5/17 and 5/24/2021.
The WTU/AFT Educational Research and Dissemination (ER&D) Program represents one of the union’s major efforts to improve student achievement by making a difference in practitioners’ performance and professional growth. The WTU ER&D Program is unique because it provides solid, research-based content and is created and delivered by classroom teachers and school personnel. The WTU ER&D Program validates existing practice while encouraging professional growth and building a sense of pride in the quality of union service. Training will be held July 2021 in the Summer Educator Academy (SEA) organized by the American Federation of Teachers, our parent union. You may apply HERE by May 17, 2021.
Teacher Talk Series
The LifeChanger of the Year has developed a TeacherTalk Series where administrators, teachers, and staff can propose topics in education that they would like to share their knowledge in and also to share best practices with their colleagues and others in the education community. Our first talk is on April 23, 2021, at 6 pm. Teachers can REGISTER HERE.
Additionally, please complete the TeacherTalk Interest Form with your interest in participating as a moderator or panelist and share their best classroom practices with students at your school with the education community.
WTU National Board Certification Support Classes
It's exciting that DCPS is finally with the WTU in proclaiming that it is imperative to sustain a teaching workforce defined by accomplished practice through National Board Certification. Our WTU members can develop their instructional practice by becoming NBCT candidates, and after 10 years of advocating for this, DCPS will now pay all component and renewal fees for up to $2,000 if you are at a RISE school.
WTU National Board Certification Support Classes Info Session FREE Virtual Information Sessions
May 11, Tuesday, at 5-6 pm. REGISTER HERE
WTU Professional Learning Abroad
There is still time to sign up for the WTU Professional Learning trip to Morocco either this July 2021 or July 2022, based on travel guidance. Check out the itinerary here: https://geeo.org/tour/wtumorocco/
Outdoor Classrooms Series with the Nature Lab (Next Session: Saturday 5/1)
Please join the Nature Lab to share resources, best practices and lesson plans that leverage outdoor spaces and create a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to learning using the outdoors.
RSVP HERE: https://forms.gle/MakShacEnQ9ytPxj9
WTU Tech Tool Tuesdays
Register HERE for future PD workshops in this series.
Opportunities from the National Math Alliance
Crucero Matemático on April 24 at 1pm ET https://www.jrmf.org/crucero (Press release in English and the promo video (in Spanish) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFEUICBLlxE) - representatives from 22 countries, Latin America, Spain and the US, 4 interactive activities (including a magic show!) and 22 presentations from each of these countries, highlighting one female and one male mathematician, and a mathe educator, something about the country’s history and - 4 hour event, join at any time, so far 470 registered, have space for 1,000 registrants...dropped press release (see above links).
Reminder: NCTM 2021 virtual conf. Closing Session, Saturday, May 1st, 4:45pmET-5:45pmET Connecting Civil Rights to Math Literacy for All: A Conversation with Bob Moses, Nell Cobb, B.J. Walker and Danny Glover - for info and to register, please see: https://www.nctm.org/Conferences-and-Professional-Development/Virtual-Meetings/VAM2021/Schedule/Closing-Session/
Reminder: MSRI online Workshop on Mathematics and Racial Justice - June 9-11 & June 16-18, 2021 - Sessions will explore the role that mathematics plays in today’s movement for racial justice.
April is…
National Poetry Month
30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month in the Virtual Classroom. https://poets.org/national-poetry-month/30-ways-celebrate-national-poetry-month-classroom
Ideas from Reading Rockets. https://www.readingrockets.org/calendar/poetry
Teach Living Poets. https://teachlivingpoets.com/2018/11/07/resources/
Financial Literacy Awareness Month
Check out the amazing FREE resources and FREE online professional development from Next Gen Personal Finance!
Ideas to Celebrate Financial Literacy this Month
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/national-financial-literacy-month-celebrate-learn-share/
Always check out Jump$tart as well for resources and opportunities!!!
Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month
Supporting Students with Autism (Booklet from AFT)
Also, check out resources from the Autism Society
Arab-American Heritage Month
Resources for teaching about Arab-American Heritage from Share My Lesson
And resources from Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance)