Professional Development

REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN---WTU Professional Learning - FALL 2021 Course Offerings

Make sure you don't procrastinate on recertification requirements!!! Sign up now for amazing, engaging, and informative virtual fall professional development with the WTU ($150 registration fee; 1 FREE class for new members):

Classes starting soon:

• Creating and Managing a Successful School Library Program (starts 10/6)
• English Language Learners 101 (starts 10/2; limited spaces still available!)
• Instructional Strategies that Work for All Disciplines (starts 10/2; limited spaces still available!)
• Integration of Computer Technology (starts 10/2; limited spaces still available!)
• National Board Certification Support Classes (starts 10/5)
• Reading Comprehension Instruction (started 10/2; limited spaces still available!)
• Social and Emotional Learning (started 10/2; limited spaces still available!)
• Universal Design for Learning (starts 10/12)

Learn more and register for all classes HERE.

EmpowerEd Teacher Voice Summit

EmpowerEd invites you to attend their DC Teacher Voice Festival on Saturday October 23rd from 10 am to 2 pm on U Street- this is a fun and family-friendly opportunity to meet educators who care about the same things and want to make a difference and have a great time in the process!  WTU will also be showcasing our teacher leader research at the event!  We'll be joined by many DC council members and members of the DC State Board of Education.  There will be live music, food trucks, face painting and balloon twisting and you can collaborate with educators working on issues from culturally responsive teaching to teacher diversity, retention, reforming school ratings, mayoral control and much more! It's outdoors and open to the public, but for covid protocols and issue interest PLEASE register in advance here to join!

WTU Professional Learning Abroad (2 spaces left!)

There is still time to sign up for the WTU Professional Learning trip to Morocco in July 2022, based on travel guidance. 5% discount through the end of September!!! Check out the itinerary here: https://geeo.org/tour/wtumorocco/.

Anti-Racist Administration and School Leadership (ASL) post-graduate certificate at American University. 

The American University School of Education is offering a post-graduate certificate for educators who are interested in becoming educational administrators. For many, this means school leadership as a principal or assistant principal; the ASL certificate also bolsters careers in central office and student support, among other options. 

If you would like to learn more about this opportunity to grow your skills, please register here for a free virtual open house on Thursday, September 30th at 7 pm EST.  

REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN---WTU Professional Learning - FALL 2021 Course Offerings

Sign up now for amazing, engaging, and informative virtual fall professional development with the WTU including these classes which start within the next two weeks ($150 registration fee; 1 FREE class for new members):

• English Language Learners 101 (starts 10/2)
• Instructional Strategies that Work for All Disciplines (starts 10/2)
• Integration of Computer Technology (starts 10/2)
• Managing Behavior in School Communities (started 9/22; limited spaces still available!)
• Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children (started 9/20; limited spaces still available)
• Reading Comprehension Instruction (starts 10/2)
• Social and Emotional Learning (starts 10/2)

FREE WTU Workshops starting in September:

• Excel with ELL’s (final session on 9/30)

Learn more and Register for all classes HERE.

Virtual Teachers’ Lounge

20 teachers will engage in twice-monthly gatherings online together in large and small groups over two months. Planned meeting dates are October 9, October 23, November 6, November 20, December 4, and December 18. Because of the importance of connections, connectivity and trust, it is our expectation that participants will, absent exigent circumstances, engage in all six gatherings. The participants have the option to decide at the end of the fourth gathering whether they would like to continue the Virtual Teachers’ Lounge. Those on the waitlist will be notified when there is a cancellation or new virtual teacher rooms opening. All participants will receive a $25 Amazon gift card, an educational resource (The Feeling Alphabet Activity Set) and a certificate of participation for volunteering their time.

If you have any questions, please send an email to [email protected]. Register online at http://tiny.cc/mc8iuz

or visit www.virtualteacherslounge2021.com

Professional Development

REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN---WTU Professional Learning - FALL 2021 Course Offerings

Sign up now for amazing, engaging, and informative virtual fall professional development with the WTU including these classes which start within the next two weeks ($150 registration fee; 1 FREE class for new members):

• English Language Learners 101 (starts 10/2)
• Instructional Strategies that Work for All Disciplines (starts 10/2)
• Integration of Computer Technology (starts 10/2)
• Managing Behavior in School Communities (starts 9/22)
• Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children (starts 9/20)
• Reading Comprehension Instruction (starts 10/2)
• Social and Emotional Learning (starts 10/2)
• Successfully Integrating the Arts In Your Classroom (starts 9/25)

FREE WTU Workshops starting in September:

• Excel with ELL’s (9/23 and 9/30)
• The Game Factor (9/25)
• PRAXIS I Core Preparation Class (starts 9/22)

Learn more and Register for all classes HERE.

AETNA Wellness Webinar

The Self-Care Playbook, September 22, 3:00PM-4:00PM

What does it mean to practice good self-care? In this seminar, learn about how you can put together your own personal self-care playbook to make sure you are tending to every aspect of your overall wellbeing in order to feel happier, be more productive and support the ones you love.

Meeting Link: https://lcah.webex.com/lcah/j.php?MTID=m967b90c7fd6549bc01a35069472a3662
Access Code: 1805 56 6538; Password: J9Fcetrfu24

Please Congratulate our SY2021-22 WTU Teacher Leaders

• Staci Adams, Smothers ES
• Fatima Baig, Reed ES
• Dawn Brodus-Yougha, Beers ES
• Amanda D'Angelo, Seaton ES
• Julia DiPiazza, Langdon ES
• Dorothy Graves, Langdon ES
• Hsuan-Ying Liu, Bard Early College HS
• Shaunta Morris, Stanton ES
• Joy Newman, McFarland MS
• Daniel Osborne, CW Harris ES
• Raymond Pyle, Murch ES
• Katie Phillips, Anacostia HS
• Desiree Raught, McKinley Tech HS

“Underreported Stories from Latin America”

During Hispanic Heritage Month, Join the WTU and Pulitzer Center for “Underreported Stories from Latin America” Series (5:30-6:30pm) featuring journalists who have extensive experience reporting on underreported issues facing communities throughout Latin America. The journalists are fluent in English and Spanish, and plan to utilize both languages for the presentations. The reporting they will feature is also available in both English and Spanish.

Underreported Stories from Latin America

• Thursday, September 23 (Ana Maria Arevalo- Exploring the criminal justice system in El Salvador and the impact of the system on women)
• Thursday, September 30 (Pablo Albarenga- Elevating the stories of Indigenous rainforest defenders in the Amazon)

RSVP HERE: https://forms.gle/ma9rNQwZWubQqBNAA

WTU Professional Learning Abroad

There is still time to sign up for the WTU Professional Learning trip to Morocco in July 2022, based on travel guidance. 5% discount through the end of September!!! Check out the itinerary here: https://geeo.org/tour/wtumorocco/.

Energy Curriculum: Energizing Student Potential

Pepco and the Exelon Foundation, in partnership with the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project, are offering the Energizing Student Potential (ESP) program all schools in DC. Designed for grades 3-8, but flexible for early elementary or high school grades, this program brings together a standards-based energy curriculum for use by educators and afterschool program leaders. ESP is designed to help educators bring energy into the school and provide all the tools and resources necessary for students and educators to learn together, explore energy together, and teach their local communities about energy while learning about energy careers as well. The program includes teacher training, hands-on materials kits, grants for classrooms, and lots of great opportunities for networking and engaging with STEM professionals in the region. Visit www.need.org/programs/espdcmd/ to learn more and apply by Oct. 1, 2021.

Planet Word’s Night for Educators

Planet Word’s special evening event just for educators will be 9/30 @ 5:30pm. You can read more about the event here: https://planetwordmuseum.org/events/planet-word-loves-teachers/

Additional PD Opportunities are available by clicking on the PD Blog.

Professional Development Highlights 

September 12, 2021

REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN---WTU Professional Learning - FALL 2021 Course Offerings

Sign up now for amazing, engaging, and informative virtual fall professional development with the WTU including these classes which start in September ($150 registration fee; 1 FREE class for new members):

• Accessible Literacy Framework (Starts 9/18)
• CLASSIC: Foundations: Organizing the Classroom for Teaching & Learning (starts 9/18)
• The Hispanic Culture and Spanish Language I (starts 9/18)
• NEWLY ADDED: Managing Behavior in School Communities (starts 9/22)
• Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children (starts 9/20)
• Successfully Integrating the Arts In Your Classroom (starts 9/25)

FREE WTU Workshops starting in September:

• The Game Factor (9/25)
• PRAXIS I Core Preparation Class (starts 9/22)
• Learn more and Register for all classes HERE.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, Join the WTU and Pulitzer Center for “Underreported Stories from Latin America” Series (5:30-6:30pm)

Please join Washington Teachers Union (WTU) and Pulitzer Center for a series of webinars featuring journalists who have extensive experience reporting on underreported issues facing communities throughout Latin America. The journalists are fluent in English and Spanish, and plan to utilize both languages for the presentations. The reporting they will feature is also available in both English and Spanish.

Underreported Stories from Latin America

• Thursday, September 16 (Perla Trevizo- The role of poverty and intergenerational trauma in fueling migration from Guatemala)
• Thursday, September 23 (Ana Maria Arevalo- Exploring the criminal justice system in El Salvador and the impact of the system on women)
• Thursday, September 30 (Pablo Albarenga- Elevating the stories of Indigenous rainforest defenders in the Amazon)

RSVP HERE: https://forms.gle/ma9rNQwZWubQqBNAA

WTU Professional Learning Abroad

There is still time to sign up for the WTU Professional Learning trip to Morocco in July 2022, based on travel guidance. 5% discount through the end of September!!! Check out the itinerary here: https://geeo.org/tour/wtumorocco/.

WTU Professional Learning - FALL 2021 Course Offerings

Sign up now for amazing, engaging, and informative virtual fall professional development with the WTU including these classes which start in September ($150 registration fee; 1 FREE class for new members):

• Accessible Literacy Framework (Starts 9/18)
• CLASSIC: Foundations: Organizing the Classroom for Teaching & Learning (starts 9/18)
• The Hispanic Culture and Spanish Language I (starts 9/18)
• NEWLY ADDED: Managing Behavior in School Communities (starts 9/22)
• Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children (starts 9/20)
• BRAND NEW: Reclaiming Assessments: Using a Balanced Classroom Assessment System to Strengthen Student Learning (started 9/4)
• Successfully Integrating the Arts In Your Classroom (starts 9/25)

FREE WTU Workshops starting in September:

• Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (9/11)
• Flagway Math League (soft launch 9/8)
• The Game Factor (9/25)
• PRAXIS I Core Preparation Class (starts 9/22)

Learn more and Register for all classes HERE.

FREE SERIES: Excel with ELL's

Working with ELL’s one-on-one or in small groups to accelerate learning? Then this workshop series is for you! Register HERE if you are interested!). Thursdays @ 5-6pm; 9/9, 9/23, 9/30 (2 PLU’s possible per session)

• 9/9-“Foundational Reading Skills”
• 9/23-“Academic Vocabulary”
• 9/30-"Building ELL Background Knowledge”

Based on research by Dr. Diane August, participants will learn research-based practices on how to support the literacy development of English Language Learners with digital learning resources and individualized instruction. Dr. August and other researchers have found that remote individualized instruction and mentoring coupled with small-group instruction for children struggling in reading has been effective in improving educator capacity and student learning. For more information, email [email protected]

SEL & Journalism Series (5:30-6:30pm)

Please join Washington Teachers Union (WTU) and Pulitzer Center for a series of webinars with award-winning journalists on journalism skills that students can apply to tell underreported stories from their communities. The sessions will also explore how journalism skills can support students' social-emotional learning.

1. Visual storytelling with photojournalist Allison Shelley (September 8)
2. Interview skills with Politico reporter Brittany Gibson (September 9)

RSVP HERE: https://forms.gle/k7MPqir2WJxW2cu99

Professional Development

Together We Can Heal Webinar (in partnership with Kaiser Permanente)

Thursday, August 26, 4pm – 5pm (1 PLU). Register here.

WTU Professional Learning - FALL 2021 Course Offerings

Sign up now for amazing, engaging, and informative virtual fall professional development with the WTU.

Early Bird Discount available until 8/27!!! Learn more and Register HERE.

Math Teacher Advisory Council

Are you looking to connect policy to practice, elevate teacher voice and grow your leadership at the state level this SY? In partnership with @OSSEDC, DCCTM is launching the inaugural cohort of the Math Teacher Advisory Council. Apply HERE by Sept 10th!

WTU Teacher Leader Program SY2021-22

The Washington Teachers' Union invites you to participate in the Teacher Leaders program for school year 2021-2022. Educators from the District of Columbia Public Schools who are union members with full-time responsibilities will be selected to join a nationwide teacher leaders' network. We are seeking teachers who would like to take an active role in influencing policy.

Virtual Info Session this Wednesday, 8/25 @5-6pm.

RSVP here: https://forms.gle/EUZa5T5zve383THb8 

We will provide teachers with opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills to influence policy locally, statewide, and nationally. This will include framing practical policy positions that relate to improved student achievement; conducting research in classrooms and schools; engaging the public and elected officials in community conversations about education; participating on advisory boards, panels, and task forces; developing policy recommendations based on research conducted; and publishing and disseminating findings and recommendations nationwide.

Apply by 9/3/21. Click for additional information, including mandatory workshop dates and to Apply.

Days of Action: Educators Pledge to Teach the Truth

From August 27 - 29, educators and allies will pledge to teach the truth in actions across the country. In the face of right-wing attacks on the teaching of history and antiracism, we are coming together to say we won’t lie to children and we will teach the truth. Learn more.

Day of Action for Washington, D.C. Malcolm X Park. Friday, Aug. 27, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm EDT.

Additional Professional Development opportunities are also posted regularly to the PD Blog at https://www.wtulocal6.net/pdblog.

Professional Development

WTU Professional Learning - FALL 2021 Course Offerings

Sign up now for amazing, engaging, and informative virtual fall professional development with the WTU.

Early Bird Discount available until 8/27!!! Learn more and Register HERE.

WTU Teacher Leader Program SY2021-22

The Washington Teachers' Union invites you to participate in the Teacher Leaders program for school year 2021-2022. Educators from the District of Columbia Public Schools who are union members with full-time responsibilities will be selected to join a nationwide teacher leaders' network. We are seeking teachers who would like to take an active role in influencing policy.

We will provide teachers with opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills to influence policy locally, statewide, and nationally. This will include framing practical policy positions that relate to improved student achievement; conducting research in classrooms and schools; engaging the public and elected officials in community conversations about education; participating on advisory boards, panels, and task forces; developing policy recommendations based on research conducted; and publishing and disseminating findings and recommendations nationwide. ·

Apply by 9/3/21. Click for additional information, including mandatory workshop dates and to Apply.

Next Generation Personal Finance Back to the Classroom PD Conference 8/21

Next Generation Personal Finance is hosting their annual back-to-school conference on Saturday, August 21, 2021, from 10AM - 4:30PM EST. The event will be held virtually and is free for all educators to attend. Learn more and register HERE

Think Local, Crank Global: Go-Go Workshop for Educators 

Through this 2 1/2 hour virtual workshop, educators will learn how to:

- Use instruments we shake, scrape, and strike to enhance curriculum and teach the art of go-go music

- Make music from items within their environment using the JunkYard Band as an example

- Make something out of nothing; go-go through body percussion, tables, and more!

Tuesday, August 17, 2021 (10:00 AM  12:30 PM). Learn more and register here. 

Math Alliance Announcements

In Class with Carr and Hunter, episode 73, on YouTube - to view their discussion of Bob Moses, scroll forward to 1 hour, 6 minutes and 10 seconds into this episode: https://youtu.be/xY8xPkabX0I

Caste in the Classroom - a documentary film by the Data for Better Schools group with the Young People’s Project - has been selected for the Bronze Lens Film Festival August 17th -22nd, 2021 (in Atlanta)! To register for the 2021 Bronze Lens Film Festival, please visit: https://bronzelens.com/registration/. To see Caste in the Classroom and related resources, visit: https://www.typp.org/dbs. This is recognized as a leading film festival for especially African-American film-makers.

NCTM Annual Meeting & Exposition - empowering the voice of teachers - from critical conversations to intentional actions, Atlanta, GA, Sept. 22-25, 2021. See: https://www.nctm.org/atlanta2021/

Additional Professional Development opportunities are also posted regularly to the PD Blog at https://www.wtulocal6.net/pdblog.