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

• Reclaiming Assessments (new start date: starts 3/19)
• Successfully Integrating the Arts (starts 3/19)

Free WTU PD Workshop:

• Flagway Math League (next session TODAY 3/14)
• Learn more and Register for all classes HERE.

Donors Choose Information Session (April 4 @ 6:30-7:30pm via Zoom)

Register HERE to attend a Donors Choose Information Session with Donors Choose Ambassador & DCPS Teacher Claire Battle who has gotten 87 projects funded!!!

Ignite My Future Spring Global Innovations Project

This spring our Global Innovations Project will focus on Green Infrastructure using the Ignite My Future lesson Resilient Cities as a basis for the project. Students will use computational thinking to design solutions to enhance their communities leveraging green infrastructure. Please reach out if you have any questions. More details and info session meeting links will be shared with teachers that register for the project.

• (Optional) Info session - March 16^th
• Kickoff Meeting for Teachers- March 22^nd
• If you're interested in joining us for this project please register here

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

• Reclaiming Assessments (new start date: starts 3/19)
• Successfully Integrating the Arts (starts 3/19)

Free WTU PD Workshop:

• Flagway Math League (next session 3/14)

Learn more and Register for all classes HERE.

DMV Black Educators Story Lounge

D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice and EmpowerEd are co-hosting a DMV Black Educators Story Lounge on Thursday, March 10th from 6pm - 8pm at Tsehay Ethiopian Restaurant and Bar (3630 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20010)! Register to attend and D.C. area Black educators, sign up to tell your story.

The Center for Inspired Teaching March Institute, “What Else Might Be Possible?”

Over the course of this FREE program, participants will learn techniques to balance achieving students’ academic goals with nurturing their inquiry, imagination, and integrity. Along with renewed motivation, participants will leave the Institute with four student-led projects ready for implementation in their classroom.

We’re offering three sessions of “What Else Might Be Possible?”:

• Wednesday, Mar. 9 at 4 PM (ONLINE)
• Wednesday, Mar. 9 at 7 PM (ONLINE)
• Saturday, Mar. 12 at 10 AM (IN PERSON | NATIONAL ARBORETUM)

Professional Development

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

Discovery Education: Read Across America Day

Discovery Education will be hosting a Virtual Read Aloud event on March 2, 2022 featuring Alice Walker and her book, Sweet People Are Everywhere. Registration is OPEN! Please share with your colleagues, we can’t wait!  https://www.discoveryeducation.com/learn/read-across-america/

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):

• English Language Learners 101 (starts 3/5)
• Instructional Strategies (starts 3/5)
• Reading Comprehension (starts 3/5)
• Reclaiming Assessments (starts 3/5)

FREE WTU Workshops starting soon:

• IMPACT PD Workshop on EP’s 3-5 (3/5)
• Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (2 parts: 3/5 and 3/12)
• Flagway Math League (next session 3/7)

Learn more and Register for all classes HERE.

Ignite My Future Spring Global Innovations Project

This spring our Global Innovations Project will focus on Green Infrastructure using the Ignite My Future lesson Resilient Cities as a basis for the project. Students will use computational thinking to design solutions to enhance their communities leveraging green infrastructure. Please reach out if you have any questions. More details and info session meeting links will be shared with teachers that register for the project.

• (Optional) Info sessions - March 10^th and March 16^th
• Kickoff Meeting for Teachers- March 22^nd
• If you're interested in joining us for this project please register here

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

• English Language Learners 101 (starts 3/5)
• Instructional Strategies (starts 3/5)
• Reading Comprehension (starts 3/5)
• Reclaiming Assessments (starts 3/5)

FREE WTU Workshops starting soon:

• IMPACT PD Workshop on EP’s 3-5 (3/5)
• Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (2 parts: 3/5 and 3/12)
• Flagway Math League (next session 3/7)

Learn more and Register for all classes HERE.

Read about AFT National trainer & WTU Teacher Leader Donald Thompson Jr.'s MindPrint action research project Case Study: Teacher Engagement for Formative Assessment

Click here: https://mindprintlearning.com/case-studies/teacher-engagement

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

Professional Development

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

AFT Civics Design Team

Shout out to the following WTU members who were selected to be on the AFT Civics Design Team:

Raphael Bonhomme

Valerie Sewell

Rachel Thomas

So proud of you and your contributions to this critical work!!

Educator Panel hosted by Keishia Thorpe, former WTU Teacher Leader and Winner of the 2021 Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize

Wednesday, February 23rd, [email protected] 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 (started 2/7; spaces still available!)

Managing Behavior in School Communities (started 2/2; spaces still available!)

FREE WTU Workshops starting soon:

Strategies for Student Success (Next session Teach Them to Think on 2/19)

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

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, [email protected] 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)