Teaching and Learning Institute
Join us for our remake of the Summer Literacy Institute!
July 30-August 3rd each day from 8:30-1:30 at Schenectady County Community College
Number & Operations—Base Ten and Making Sense of Math - Reasoning and Discourse
Grades PreK-2: This course focuses on Number and Operations in Base Ten for students in grades PK–2. The emphasis of this course is on developing a foundation of understanding of place value with whole numbers. Experiences and discussions help participants discern the role of place-value understanding and properties of operations.
Students need to build a deep understanding of mathematics and use that understanding to reason about problems, make sense of new learning, and communicate their thinking to others. This course is designed to introduce participants to the processes and habits of mind students need to develop, with particular emphasis on the role of reasoning and discourse in mathematics. During this course, teachers will engage in reasoning and discourse, and discuss the implications for their students. In addition, teachers will analyze the complexity of mathematical tasks and consider strategies for transforming grade-level tasks to increase the level of rigor.
Strategies for Supporting Fraction Sense and Making Sense of Math - Reasoning and Discourse
Grades 3-4: This course focuses on the priority domain of Number and Operations–Fractions for students in Grades 3-4. The emphasis of the course is on building understanding of fractions as numbers and connections between whole number knowledge and fraction knowledge.
Students need to build a deep understanding of mathematics and use that understanding to reason about problems, make sense of new learning, and communicate their thinking to others. This course is designed to introduce participants to the processes and habits of mind students need to develop, with particular emphasis on the role of reasoning and discourse in mathematics. During this course, teachers will engage in reasoning and discourse, and discuss the implications for their students. In addition, teachers will analyze the complexity of mathematical tasks and consider strategies for transforming grade-level tasks to increase the level of rigor.
Making Sense of Fraction Computation and Making Sense of Math - Reasoning and Discourse
Grades 5-6: This course focuses on the priority domain of Number and Operations–Fractions for students in Grade 5 and continuing on to Grade 6. The emphasis of the course is on building understanding of fraction computation. In this course, participants learn to build on students’ understanding of whole number operations to make sense of fraction computation. Strategies that support the development of fraction operation sense are highlighted.
Students need to build a deep understanding of mathematics and use that understanding to reason about problems, make sense of new learning, and communicate their thinking to others. This course is designed to introduce participants to the processes and habits of mind students need to develop, with particular emphasis on the role of reasoning and discourse in mathematics. During this course, teachers will engage in reasoning and discourse, and discuss the implications for their students. In addition, teachers will analyze the complexity of mathematical tasks and consider strategies for transforming grade-level tasks to increase the level of rigor.
Teaching that Transfers: Utilizing Small Groups & Instructional Tools to Support Independent Readers & Writers (Presented By: Stacy Kaczmarek)
Grades 3-6: Incorporating small group instruction in reader’s and writer’s workshop enables you to meet all of your students’ needs and provide them with individualized teaching tools that help them work with more independence. In this workshop, teachers will explore different types of small group structures and how to match the type of small group instruction with the needs of their students. We will discuss ways to utilize data to inform the composition of a small group and ways to schedule small groups so they are a cohesive part of your workshop. Furthermore, teachers will utilize the learning progressions to identify predictable problems and prepare teaching tools that can be utilized in small group instruction and transfer to independent work. These teaching power tools will make your teaching stick and will quickly become your go-to move for small group instruction.
Imagine the Possibilities: Utilizing Mentor Texts to take your Writing to the Next Level (Presented By: Stacy Kaczmarek)
Grades 3-6: Studying mentor texts is a powerful practice for writing teachers and their students. In this workshop, teachers will read like writers in order to ‘mine’ opinion and information mentor texts. Throughout this process, they will identify the qualities of structure, elaboration, craft and conventions that makes this text one of the best in its genre. After identifying the specific qualities of the mentor texts that we want our young writers to emulate, we will explore specific strategies that can be incorporated into opinion information units of study in writing and give these a try in our own writing. Participants will walk away with demonstration texts, mini-lessons and teaching tools that can be utilized in whole class or small group lessons and individual conference to bring students’ writing to the next level.
Best Practices for Connecting Word Study and Fluency in the K-3 Classroom (Presented By: Matt Hall)
Best Practices for Connecting Word Study and Fluency in the 4-6 Classroom (Presented By: Matt Hall)
Small Group Strategy Instruction in Reader's and Writer's Workshop: Help kids aspire to greater heights and work with more independence (Presented By Kirsten Widmer)
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Balanced Literacy But Were Afraid to Ask (Presented By Kirsten Widmer)
Opinion Talking and Writing: Tap the Power of Mentor Texts to Grow Oral Language and to Use Structured Debate with Our Youngest Learners, and We Will See Power in Students' Informational Writing (Presented By: Sandi Stern)
Literary Essay: From Post-its and Quick Jots to Talking about Text to Literary Essay. Tapping the Power of Mentor Texts and Growing Oral Language and Conversation Experience will Support Student Thinking and Writing about the Books We Read (Presented By: Sandi Stern)
Fostering a Productive ELA Classroom (Presented By: Sarah Buxton)
Fostering a Productive ELA Classroom (Presented By: Sarah Buxton)
Responsive Teaching on the Run: Using formal and informal formative assessments to plan for data-driven instruction one on one and in small groups (Presented By: Erik Lepis)
Grades PreK-2: In this session, teachers will walk away with an understanding of how to use running records to not only assess a student’s reading level but to also plan for follow up teaching and goal setting. Teachers will also learn about tried and true methods for conferring with readers and writers for more targeted, in the moment teaching. The session will also go in depth to cover the strategic actions in reading so that all teachers can feel like successful reading teachers. Further, we will look at the writing process and qualities of good writing to help move writers more effectively.