Professional Development

Additional PD highlights are posted to the PD Blog at https://www.wtulocal6.net/pdblog

Crowdsourcing a WTU Guide Best Practices for Teaching in a Socially Distant Classroom

Please contribute your best practices via this link as we create a guide to share with all our members. Feel free to also mail [email protected] if you have any questions or specific resources/suggestions to share.

The Importance of Teacher Force Diversity

Educator Panel hosted by Keishia Thorpe, former WTU Teacher Leader and

Winner of the 2021 Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022@ 5:00 PM EST

Studies show that when students can see themselves in their teachers, it leads to better academic performance and lower behavioral issues. That said, we have a long way to go when it comes to creating diverse classrooms. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 18% of teachers aren’t white, even though half of all public school students are POC. During this panel, PGCPS teachers will discuss how we can diversify our teacher force by creating more inclusive schools.

Topics to be discussed include:

• Recruitment and teacher retention
• Benefits of teacher diversity, including male teachers in education
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace
• Making teacher training accessible for everyone

Participate by registering at this LINK and viewing the monthly sessions or watching previous recordings.

WTU Professional Learning - SPRING 2022 Course Offerings

Sign up now HERE for amazing, engaging, and informative virtual spring professional development with the WTU including these upcoming classes (1 FREE class for new WTU members):

• Educating Low Vision Students (starts TODAY 2/7)
• Managing Behavior in School Communities (started 2/2; still spaces available!)

FREE WTU Workshops starting soon:

• The Social Practice of Literacy in Special Education [High School SpEd Educators ONLY] (Orientation on 2/16)
• Learn more and Register for all classes HERE.

Wellness Series with Aetna (all sessions are virtual @ 7:00pm-8:00pm)

Each session below is a one-hour “gift of self care” with unique perspectives and tools. Participants will find value in attending one, a few, or all the sessions to support yourself in creating a robust practice of Self Care.

Use this link to register for all or some of the four sessions:

https://artofliving.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYkf-mgrD0qEtfZQOKQy_UwiRpBfShnBeLC

• March 2^nd - Energy and Breath: Powerful Tools to Increase Your Resilience
• April 6^th - Supporting Your Mental Health and Preventing Burnout
• May 4^th - Making the Impossible, Possible - Setting and Achieving Your Goals
• June 8^th - Courageous Conversations: Healing Conversations about Systemic Racism

Professional Development

Additional PD highlights are posted to the PD Blog at https://www.wtulocal6.net/pdblog

Kudos to Nadia Torney who facilitated an AFT national training on Universal Design for Learning this past weekend at the AFT Winter Academy.

Wellness Series with Aetna 

Each session below is a one-hour “gift of self care” with unique perspectives and tools. Participants will find value in attending one, a few, or all the sessions to support yourself in creating a robust practice of Self Care. Starts Wed. 2/2; all sessions @ 6:30pm-7:30pm.

Each session includes different sets of:

• Powerful physiological tools of the breath that can be incorporated into one’s day to instantly reduce tension;
• Guided relaxation for deep restoration and quieting of the thoughts in the mind;
• Cognitive tools for navigating thoughts and emotions as they arise.

Use this link to register for all or some of the five sessions: https://artofliving.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYkf-mgrD0qEtfZQOKQy_UwiRpBfShnBeLC

• February 2^{nd -} Working Through Change & Uncertainty
• March 2^nd - Energy and Breath: Powerful Tools to Increase Your Resilience
• April 6^th  Supporting Your Mental Health and Preventing Burnout
• May 4^{th -} Making the Impossible, Possible - Setting and Achieving Your Goals
• June 8^{th -} Courageous Conversations: Healing Conversations about Systemic Racism

WTU Professional Learning - SPRING 2022 Course Offerings

Sign up now for amazing, engaging, and informative virtual fall professional development with the WTU including these upcoming classes (1 FREE class for new WTU members):

Educating Low Vision Students (starts 2/7)

Managing Behavior in School Communities (starts 2/2)

FREE WTU Workshops

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (2 Part Series: 2/5 and 2/12)

The Social Practice of Literacy in Special Education [High School SpEd Educators ONLY] (Orientation on 2/16)

Learn more and register for ALL WTU Spring classes HERE.

Black Live Matter at School Week of Action is THIS WEEK!!!

The fifth annual Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action is January 31st - February 4th, 2022. Learn more and sign up to participate, here.

Thank You, Teaching for Change!!!

Professional Development

Additional PD highlights are posted to the PD Blog at https://www.wtulocal6.net/pdblog

WTU Professional Learning - SPRING 2022 Course Offerings

Sign up now for amazing, engaging, and informative virtual fall professional development with the WTU including these upcoming classes (1 FREE class for new WTU members):

Educating Low Vision Students (starts 2/7)

Managing Behavior in School Communities (starts 2/2)

FREE WTU Workshops starting soon:

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (2 Part Series: 1/29 and 2/12)

IMPACT PD Workshop (2 Part Series: 1/29 and 3/5)

The Social Practice of Literacy in Special Education [High School SpEd Educators ONLY] (Orientation on 2/16)

Learn more and Register for all classes HERE.

Black Live Matter at School Week of Action

The fifth annual Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action is January 31st - February 4th, 2022. Learn more and sign up to participate, here. Thank you Teaching for Change!!!

Other PD

Next Generation Personal Finance Virtual Conference: Innovate to Educate (Virtual Conference Date: 1/29/2022)
Fund for Teachers Grant (Extended Deadline: 2/24/22)

Individuals may apply for up to $5,000 and teams may apply for up to $10,000 (while team members may be from different schools, districts or states, all members must meet the eligibility criteria). Upon award, Fellows will receive 90 percent of their grant, the remaining 10 percent to be disbursed upon completion of post-fellowship requirements.

White House History Institute (Deadline: 2/27/22)

Air Camp (applications open 3/1/22)

Constitution Center Summer Educator Institutes

Air & Space Museum Summer STEAM Innovator Educator Institute [educators in grades 5-8] (Deadline: 2/15/2022)

Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms (applications opened 1/12/22)

Tulane University Stone Center Summer Teacher Institute in Panama (Deadline: 4/4/2022)

Professional Development

Additional PD highlights are posted to the PD Blog at https://www.wtulocal6.net/pdblog

Martin Luther King Day Resources

Monday, Jan. 17^th, we celebrated Martin Luther King Junior day in recognition of the civil rights icon’s contributions to American society. See below for resources from DCPS Social Studies Department’s Scott Abbott to support teaching students about Martin Luther King well beyond the holiday.

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Zinn Education Project resources for teaching beyond the “I Have A Dream” speech about Martin Luther King Jr.
• Liberation Curriculum: Classroom Resources: Stanford Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute Liberation Curriculum provides document-based lessons, online education and historical materials about the African American Freedom Struggle and Dr. King’s vision for a just and peaceful world.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Resources: The best of Martin Luther King Jr. Resources curated by Learning for Justice.
• On This Day: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Life, Death, Legacy: 6 video clips and lesson guidance from C-SPAN Classrooms
• Doing Justice to Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Young Children: A short article offering ideas for early childhood educators to honor King in a historically accurate and developmentally appropriate way.
• Examining Nonviolence in Context: The National Endowment for the Humanities offers a multi-part lesson plan for discovering the influences and impact of King’s nonviolent social activism. The site also offers lessons for younger students, including Let Freedom Ring: The Life & Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Grades 3–5) and Dr. King’s Dream (Grades K–2).
• Civil Rights Teaching Booklists: Curated booklists to teach diverse civil rights histories with book titles for children to young adults.

WTU Educators’ Guide to Best Practices in Socially Distant Teaching

Please take 5 minutes to provide suggestions and resources HERE to be added to a WTU guide for what really works pedagogically in a socially distant classroom. Or simply email me any materials, websites, or ideas that have worked for you at [email protected].

WTU Professional Learning - SPRING 2022 Course Offerings

Sign up now for amazing, engaging, and informative virtual fall professional development with the WTU including these classes which start this month (1 FREE class for new WTU members):

English Language Learners 101 (Starts 1/22)

FREE WTU Workshops starting this month:

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (2 Part Series: 1/29 and 2/12)

Dimensions of Wellness (1/22)

IMPACT PD Workshop (2 Part Series: 1/29 and 3/5)

Learn more and Register for all classes HERE.

Professional Development

Additional PD highlights are posted to the PD Blog at https://www.wtulocal6.net/pdblog

Upcoming Certification Deadline???

Many educators received an extension to March 2022 to submit recertification materials. Please begin the process now. Attached is an infographic that can help guide you.

Also, there is an upcoming tech support session on 1/19. 

WTU Educators’ Guide to Best Practices in Socially Distant Teaching

Please take 5 minutes to provide suggestions and resources HERE to be added to a WTU guide for what really works pedagogically in a socially distant classroom.

WTU Professional Learning - SPRING 2022 Course Offerings

Sign up now for amazing, engaging, and informative virtual fall professional development with the WTU including these classes which start this month ($125 early bird registration fee through 1/12/21; 1 FREE class for new WTU members):

English Language Learners 101 (Started 1/8)

BRAND NEW: Reclaiming Assessments: Using a Balanced Classroom Assessment System to Strengthen Student Learning (starts 1/15)

Thinking Mathematics, Grades K-2 (starts 1/15)

FREE WTU Workshops starting this month:

10 Trauma-Informed Strategies to Help Students Heal (starts 1/15)

Conversational Spanish (starts 1/19)

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (2 Part Series: 1/25 and 2/12)

Dimensions of Wellness (1/22)

Flagway Math League (continues TODAY 1/10)

IMPACT PD Workshop (2 Part Series: 1/29 and ⅗)

Strategies for Student Success (starts 1/15)

Learn more and Register for all classes HERE.

Professional Development

PD highlights are posted to the PD Blog at https://www.wtulocal6.net/pdblog

WTU Spring 2022 Course Offerings

WTU’s professional development courses are all research-based, peer-to-peer and solution-driven. All WTU courses are aligned to the DCPS IMPACT Teaching and Learning Framework and Essential Practices Standards 1 through 5. We invite you to check out our Spring 2022 Course offerings and earn credits towards your certification.

Click here to learn more about WTU's Professional Learning Program.

Click here for Spring 2022 course descriptions and registration links.

Professional Development

PD highlights are posted to the PD Blog at https://www.wtulocal6.net/pdblog

Register HERE to save your space for amazing FREE WTU spring professional development starting in January!!!

10 Trauma-Informed Strategies to Help Students Heal

Saturdays: January 15, 22 & 29, February 5 & 12; 9am-12noon

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how adversity can impact children’s developing brains, bodies and behaviors. (20 PLU’s)

Conversational Spanish

Wednesdays: January 19 & 26; February 2, 9, 16 & 23; March 2, 9, 16 & 23; April 6, 13, 20 & 27; May 4, 11 & 18; 6pm - 8pm

Expose: Saturdays: February 12; March 12; April 9; May 14; 2 - 5pm

These sessions focus on naturally conversing in Spanish with interpersonal, interpretive, presentational language proficiency. (45 PLU’s)

Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

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.(8 PLU’s)

Series #1 RSVP – Saturday, January 29 and Saturday, February 12 @ 9:30am-12:30pm:

Series #2 RSVP – Saturday, April 2 and Saturday, April 9 @ 9:30am-12:30pm

Strategies for Student Success (Saturdays; 4:00-7:00pm)

Strategies for Student Success includes activities that require reflection on daily practice, debate over research and current practices, utilizing modeling, and experiential learning. The following modules will be offered in this section:

Curriculum Matters - January 15; Teach Them to Think - February 29; The Trio: Inquiry-Based, Problem-Based & Project-Based Learning - April 16; Students with Challenges - May 7. 

Participants will receive 4 PLU’s per session.

Dimensions of Wellness

SESSION 1: Saturday, January 22; 9:30-12:30pm

SESSION 2: Saturday, April 23; 9:30-12:30pm

In this session, learn how to tackle all aspects of “you” to increase the likelihood that you stay well. Taking care of yourself is paramount to your success. (4 PLU’s)

Math Flagway League

Mondays: 5pm-6pm | January 10, February 7, March 14, April 11, May 9

Be a part of a community of DC educators who are transforming the way math instruction is delivered to students!!! (15 PLU’s)

The Game Factor

Saturday, March 29; 9:30am-12:30pm

Explore an instructional design that works for both online and in-person instruction. Caution: We will talk about games, but this module will cover much more.(4 PLU’s)

IMPACT Professional Development

Saturdays: January 29 and March 5 @ 9am – 1pm

In many ways, your career in DCPS is dependent upon the IMPACT scoring system. Learn what the system measures, how it works and much more. (6 PLU’s)

Register HERE.

Professional Development

Additional PD highlights are posted to the PD Blog at https://www.wtulocal6.net/pdblog

WTU Tech Tuesdays Are Back!!!

Next session is tomorrow  Tuesday 12/14 @ 5:30-6:30pm, with PD Instructor Tameshia Henry for a session on Loom.

Register HERE.

Check out the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Institutes HERE.

NEH offers tuition-free opportunities for K-12 educators and higher education faculty to study a variety of humanities topics. Stipends of $1300-$3450 for residential programs and $650-$1725 for virtual programs help cover expenses for these one- to four-week programs. Applications for all programs close on March 1, 2022.

Black Lives Matter at School: December and January curriculum fairs

Learn more and register for the national Black Lives Matter at School Virtual Curriculum Fair on Saturday, January 8th from 10am ET - 12:30pm ET. Apply to present a workshop, here.

The fifth annual Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action is January 31st - February 4th, 2022. Learn more and sign up to participate, here.

If you’d like to participate in a 1 hour planning meeting around Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action on Saturday, January 22nd from 1pm - 2pm, RSVP here.