The CBEA EDGE
Educator Development, Growth & Enrichment (December 2015)
Welcome to the EDGE!
This newsletter is created by the CBEA Instruction and Professional Development Committee, a committee dedicated to promoting the educational objectives of the association. These objectives include fostering the continuous improvement of instruction and curriculum in order to assist each student in realizing his or her maximum potential.
Season's Greeting from the Executive Committee Officers
As CBEA heads into the final teaching days of 2015, our officers want to take a minute to wish everyone happy holidays.
As educators, we all face many challenges throughout the day ranging from crazy students to crazy senators. These instances have the power to become either a good story some day or an incredible source of frustration (or maybe both). Hang in there.
Take time over break to recharge your batteries, take stock of the things for which you are thankful, and enjoy the good company of family and friends. These are the support networks that we all rely on to keep things in perspective.
We are educators. We got this.
Bill, Judy, Bob, and Erin
Course Spotlight: Tricia Conn, CB East
This summer I attended two worthwhile educator institutes. Boston University’s Summer Poetry Institute for Educators was a week-long program, led by former United States Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, featuring faculty from Boston University as well as published poets from around the country. Working to expand the classroom tradition of analytical work with poetry, the institute explored poetry from a performative perspective. I also attended Black History 360, a summer education institute offered through the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, a research branch of the New York Public Library in Harlem focusing on African-American, African Diaspora and African experiences. Featuring scholar and curator talks as well as interactive workshops, screenings, and field trips, the week-long institute explored the 100th anniversary of the Great Migration, Afrofuturism, the power of protest music, the pedagogy of hip hop, and the branch’s Black Life Matters exhibit. Both institutes offered compelling information directly applicable to my work in the English classroom, the opportunity to work directly with prominent scholars and artists, and the chance to collaborate with teachers from all over the country.
From CB Staff Development
Staff Development and Curriculum Coordinators are busy planning a professional development conference day for elementary and secondary teachers February 4th. Elementary will take place at Tohickon Middle School and secondary will be at CB South. All teachers will attend 4 breakout sessions throughout the day that will be facilitated by teacher leaders, curriculum coordinators, staff developers, and outside presenters. Information regarding sign-ups and logistics for the day will follow after Winter Break.
Helping Students Focus Through the 2015 Homestretch
All-Star Days at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Spend part of your winter break at All-Star Days! This Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University program runs from December 26-30th. Warm up in Butterflies!, spend some time with their live animals, and visit the scaly exhibit Reptiles: The Beautiful and the Deadly. Celebrate what makes the Academy great with exciting new stage shows, fascinating fossils, hands-on science, and special specimens from our collections. Educators can visit the Academy for free! Download the Educator Museum Pass for free admission (with appropriate ID) to the Academy.
Featured PSEA Member Discount: Theme Park Discounts
Thinking ahead to warmer weather and summer vacation? Theme park discounts are available online through PSEA's partnership with Access Corporation. Tickets are available Hersheypark, Six Flags Park, Sesame Place, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, LEGOLAND, Universal Studios Hollywood, and more! Visit this website or call1-877-504-4488, Option 10.
About the CBEA Instruction and Professional Development Committee
Email: lmancini@cbsd.org
Website: http://www.cbea.psealocals.org
Location: Central Bucks Education Association, West Oakland Avenue, Doylestown, PA, United States
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentralBucksEducationAssociation