Increase student choice and engagement in reading and research! Participants will learn how to easily access their school library’s catalog of books as well as research databases, such as PebbleGo, Britannica, Gale in Context, and more! The database content has multiple accessibility features, such as reading text aloud and translating into multiple languages, including Portuguese and Spanish. This is a hands-on session. Bring your laptop.
It can be really hard to get started on any type of project regardless of the subject matter.
Grid journaling is an excellent way to warm up and ignite creative flow—not to mention the satisfaction of pealing away a perfect grid upon completion.
Whether you choose to sample color palettes, experiment with different materials, or explore mark-making, the act of working quickly (and small) will get your mind and body ready for larger endeavors. Use this technique with your students as a daily warm up, early finisher activity, or try it yourself before or after you teach to steady your mental state.
This is not just for art educators -- ALL ARE WELCOME!
Do you have students in your elective classes who may need additional support, adaptive activities, or modified assignments? You may ask or say: How do I do this? How will they meet the course objectives? Can I pair them to work in a group with others? Do I have the time to make these modifications or accommodations? All of these questions will be discussed and workshopped during this NILS session. We will discuss strategies and techniques to help you adapt your curriculum to meet the needs of all of your students.
Starting in May 2025, standard paper testing will be discontinued for 28 AP Exams: these exams will move to the Bluebook digital testing application. Of the 28 digital exams in 2025, 16 will be fully digital and 12 will be hybrid digital. When students are taking assessment assignments (Progress Checks, Practice Exams, and teacher-created quizzes) in AP Classroom, the look, feel, and features will closely match that of Bluebook, the digital AP Exam application. This way students taking digital exams can familiarize themselves with the test-taking tools and features that will be available to them on test day. This session will include an introduction to AP Classroom and its features, an explanation of Bluebook (the digital testing platform), and will give AP teachers the space to work in and/or familiarize themselves with AP Classroom.
Math: I began my math teaching career in 2006 and have been working at Natick High School since 2012. I have taught a large range of high school math courses and levels, and am currently teaching Geometry, Probability & Statistics, and AP Calculus AB.Yoga: I earned my yoga instructor... Read More →
Join us to learn the basics of this new fluency program; MathFactsLab! In this session we will learn about setting up you classroom, including selecting the appropriate program, and making edits to the setting for your whole class or individual students. We will then look at the student interface to understand the models used to help student learn and understand their math facts. We will learn about how students move through the program. Finally, we will explore the data available and how to interpret and use the data to make instructional decisions about your students.
This professional development session explores the distinction between proficiency and performance in second language acquisition. Participants will engage in discussions and activities that unpack how language learners develop practical, real-world communication skills (performance) and internalize deep, enduring language abilities (proficiency). By the end of the session, educators will gain a clearer understanding of how to assess and support learners at different stages of their language journey, tailoring instruction to foster both long-term language mastery and effective communication in diverse contexts.
In this course, we will be working on building a website to complement any class. We will work on all of the basic functions of Google Sites including; uploading documents, videos, and photos, with the goal of creating a functioning basic website that could be easily added to as the course requires. To achieve this, we will begin by outlining the website layout, looking at examples for best practices followed by a focus on executing a custom basic site, that will act as a springboard to the creation of a full website, that can be created on each participants time after the class. Once we have created our individual starter websites we will work in small groups to refine and expand our websites to work on materials that are best for each individual class/classroom. By the end of this session, each member will have a basic website, and the materials to expand this website in any way they see fit to compliment their classroom.
I am a native son of Philadelphia having come up north to Massachusetts in 2017. I am in my second year of teaching History and Business at Natick High School, for a grand total of twelve years of teaching overall. I have worked with Google Classroom and the Google Suite for the better... Read More →
We will review building and sharing rubrics in Google Classroom, look at new additional features that keep assignments organized, and build a catalogue of simple, re-usable rubrics. We will also look at strategies to expedite grading long-form writing assignments and brainstorm best practices in sharing feedback including using the "comments" feature effectively. Teachers will walk away with usable rubrics and feedback strategies for core/major essays.
Bring your classroom to life with engaging games that can be created in under 5 minutes using the power of AI! In this session, you'll learn how to leverage ChatGPT to quickly generate CSV files that can be uploaded into popular learning platforms like Blooket, Kahoot, and Gimkit. We'll walk through step-by-step examples, showcasing how AI can simplify game creation, saving you time while increasing student engagement. After a live demonstration, you'll have the opportunity to create your own classroom-ready activities, all within minutes. Whether you're a tech-savvy educator or just getting started, this session will equip you with practical tools to boost your students' excitement for learning!
This tool is a game changer! Come see a demonstration of Lightspeed, our student monitoring software for grades 5-12. We will review ways you can get even more out of this amazing tool; and regain control of your students while they are on their Chromebooks. We will cover tips, tricks and pitfalls of this amazing new tool!
MagicSchool AI is an innovative tool designed to assist teachers in creating personalized learning experiences for students by generating lesson plans, quizzes, and learning materials tailored to individual needs. It streamlines administrative tasks, allowing teachers to focus more on student engagement and personalized instruction. With its AI-driven insights, teachers can better track student progress, adapt to diverse learning styles, and provide targeted support where needed.
Neurodivergent learners experience barriers to their education that often go unnoticed by even the most sensitive educators. In this presentation, we will go over some of the barriers that neurodivergent learners experience, ways that they are being addressed already in NPS, and then focus on further strategies to break down these barriers. This is intended to teach and focus on both tier 1 and more individualized interventions that can be used by any staff member, not just those in special education.
Join your colleagues in a restorative circle to gain first-hand experience in a process that proactively builds connections within learning communities. Regardless of your position in the district, this session offers a unique opportunity to witness the impact of restorative practices, envision the planning process for your own work, and workshop your ideas collaboratively.
Discover the power of collaboration in the classroom with "Collaborate to Elevate: Best Practices for Successful Co-Teaching." This interactive workshop is designed for educators looking to enhance their co-teaching experience. Through practical strategies, real-life examples, and hands-on activities, participants will learn how to plan effectively, share responsibilities, and create a seamless partnership that supports student success. Whether you're new to co-teaching or looking to refine your approach, this workshop will equip you with tools to foster a dynamic and inclusive learning environment.
This session will provide resources for how to analyze current events in a polarized political climate. Participants will leave this course with an understanding of how to engage with current events in our partisan times. As part of this session there will be an open forum for participants to share best practices and resources with one another.
Elementary Special Educators will work collaboratively to examine our current service delivery model with the lens of increasing inclusion opportunities at the elementary level. This will be a kick off to this work as we continue this collaborative work as a group throughout the school year. All elementary special education teachers, coordinators and evaluation team leaders are encouraged to attend.
This session will be used to begin a 4 hour asynchronous video that demonstrates instructional strategies for teaching older elementary students to encode and decode, how to spell irregular words, and a syllable division method.
Wayfinder: A Bridge to Student Success Supporting student's social-emotional learning shouldn't feel like an additional piece to an already full plate. In this session, educators will learn tips and tricks on how to incorporate SEL and future-ready skills instruction into their day. Educators will also learn about and interact with Wayfinder's resources through an experiential learning approach. All participants will walk away with a plan for using Wayfinder in their classrooms.
The overarching goal of this session is for teachers to gain a comprehensive understanding of how to integrate play and classroom participation skills into all components of the new IEP format. Participants will learn how these skills influence academic performance, social-emotional development, and communication in early childhood settings
Team Approaches for Supporting Transition Students- Achieve Staff Only This workshop is specially designed for Achieve staff to participate in engaging activities as a team. The goal of this workshop is to build our team's problem solving process, learn how to better support students in the community, and have a refresh on how to effectively support students in employment settings. The Achieve Program offers unique, individualized opportunities for students and this workshop hopes to address the specific staff needs.
How do we teach a wide variety of subjects in limited class time while maintaining a joyful and inquisitive atmosphere? Together we will try hands-on activities that bridge the gap between math and science, literacy, social studies, art, and more. We will use fun, engaging activities to inspire curiosity, build confidence in math and science, and demonstrate how they are present throughout our lives. We will show how the same mathematical principle makes flat maps hard to draw, gives strength to cardboard boxes, and helps us eat thin-crust pizza. Or how physics, biology, and history have all come together to affect how we spell and pronounce words. All activities have been extensively play-tested, meet MA curriculum standards, and are appropriate for a wide range of ages (including adults!)
I am a scientist/educator. I am passionate about sharing my love of math and science with others and giving them the tools to learn and explore their favorite topics. I have a PhD in Biochemistry and extensive experience designing and running STEM programs. I visit preschools for... Read More →
In this workshop, educators will learn how to streamline their work using Google Classroom. Discover practical tips and time-saving strategies for organizing assignments, grading efficiently, providing feedback, and enhancing communication with students. Whether you're a beginner or looking to optimize your current use, this session will equip you with tools to simplify your workflow and reclaim valuable teaching time. Perfect for busy teachers seeking to enhance their productivity and create a more organized digital learning environment.
Puppetry has been a part of performance traditions for thousands of years. The ability to bring an inanimate object to life and tell a story strikes at the core of imagination. Puppetry invites us to work creatively and collaboratively. This workshop will focus on the bunraku style puppets from Japan and ask participants to work as teams to bring their puppets to life. This interactive work will allow for an exploration of how puppets can help students experience SEL in a unique and fun way.
With a group workshop model, visual art teachers from all grade levels will be given the time and space to re-think and re-evaluate the work they are doing in regards to at least one specific unit or project that is taught. The time will be allocated for brainstorming and collaboration amongst various grade levels to extend the current work art teachers are doing to provide spaces for problem solving, independent thinking, and success amongst artists in the studio.
Do you have students in your elective classes who may need additional support, adaptive activities, or modified assignments? You may ask or say: How do I do this? How will they meet the course objectives? Can I pair them to work in a group with others? Do I have the time to make these modifications or accommodations? All of these questions will be discussed and workshopped during this NILS session. We will discuss strategies and techniques to help you adapt your curriculum to meet the needs of all of your students.
Make College Board AP Classroom your friend with these tips and tricks for how to navigate this very useful tool. AP classroom is a great way to assign quizzes, review material, assign classwork, and much more. With more and more AP tests going online, this is a helpful tool to simulate the testing environment in May! Topics to be discussed: - Creating and assigning assessments - Assigning and navigating review material - Downloading and using the "lockdown browser" for secure assessments - Tracking student progress - Differentiating assignments - Assigning test corrections for maximum retention and understanding I also look forward to discussing practical best practices that are used in classrooms!
This session is designed for elementary teachers who have little/no experience playing chess and would like to introduce students to chess. Participants will learn about: 1) Benefits of chess; 2) The pieces and rules; 3) How to gradually introduce pieces to students; 4) Mathematical applications of chess, and; 5) Basic strategy. Experienced players might not benefit from this session. Chess is a wonderful game and its principles help with learning mathematics-- if you have not played before, you will enjoy this session! All beginners are welcome!
Director of Digital Learning, Natick Public Schools
Grace Magley is the Director of Digital Learning for the Natick Public Schools in MA. An experienced, educational leader and expert in digital, blended and personalized learning. Grace is happiest when she is able to collaborate, coach, lead, learn, and create with passionate teachers... Read More →
In this interactive workshop, participants will explore how to effectively integrate specific vocabulary into song creation using Magic School and Suno. Attendees will learn techniques to engage students in vocabulary development through music, enhancing their overall language skills. By the end of the session, educators will have practical strategies and resources to create original songs that reinforce vocabulary in a fun and memorable way. Participants will leave with ready-to-use materials that can be immediately implemented in their classrooms to enrich students' learning experiences. Join us to discover the power of music in education!
Interesting Things to Explore: Dancing, food, cooking, travel, photography, movies, lifestyle, workout, fashion, gardening, pets, audiobooks, cosmetics, and new technology.
In this session, high school educators will learn all there is to know about our Student Information System, PowerSchool. PowerSchool is not just a gradebook, nor does it just track attendance. There are many features in PowerSchool that can make life a lot easier for teachers! Running individual and group reports, collecting useful data about class performance, and navigating the various applications within PowerSchool (i.e. PowerTeacherPro, Records, Special Programs, etc.) are some of the many topics that will be covered during this session. With several new tweaks to PowerSchool being introduced this academic year, even veteran teachers can learn something new at this session!
Educators will learn how to create more engaging review activities for their classes using material that they already have or using new AI technology. The session will cover how to lead/play each review game and templates of each will be shared via Google Slides. In addition, we will learn how to use your current material and AI tools to minimize teacher workload. Time will be provided at the end of the session so teachers can explore and create their own activities that are best suited for their classes.
Many of us have strong feelings surrounding the idea of students using AI in school. In this session, we will discuss how and why you can begin incorporating AI into your curriculum, our thoughts surrounding student AI usage, the best way to approach this new technology, and how we can best ensure it's not negatively impacting student learning.
Karin started as a Technology Director way back in 1999 (yes we had computers back then) but soon found her love for teaching, first through adult ed and then with K-12 students. She has taught a variety of technology and art-based classes at both the high school and middle school... Read More →
Have you struggled with keeping students on task during your classes? The draw of technology is strong, and it's easy for kids to wander to a game or YouTube as an escape, and as a teacher, you spend precious time managing the student's technology usage instead of instructing. Get those minutes back by implementing Lightspeed Classroom in your classes. You will leave the workshop knowing how to organize your classes, start and end a session, and options/functions while monitoring. We will also explore how Web Rules work!
This session is tailored for BIPOC educators seeking to explore how an educator's identity influences students. Key topics will align with themes and concepts shared by the BIPOC Staff Affinity Group. Participants will engage in reading a concise article and reflecting on their personal experiences with BIPOC educators. By the end of the session, attendees will gain a deeper insight into the effects of educator identity on student outcomes.
Empowering Every Learner: Navigating Accommodations in the Classroom is a session designed for high school general education teachers. This session will provide practical strategies to effectively support special education students in the classroom. Participants will learn to understand and implement common accommodations and modifications in their classrooms to enhance student engagement and success. Through interactive discussions and real-life examples, educators will gain the tools needed to create an inclusive learning environment. Join us to empower every learner and foster a culture of understanding and support in your classroom.
No more timekeepers! In this session, we will look at team-building and collaborative strategies to make task-oriented group work more effective and engaging while increasing the rigor of small-group independent work.
In this session, teachers will learn strategies to make their lessons and activities accessible to multilingual learners. We will provide ideas to engage multilingual learners at all levels in different content areas. Session leaders will provide examples of activities, modifications, and ideas for lessons. We will also work with teachers to modify assignments and assessments so students can access the content at their language level. Please bring assignments and/or assessments as there will be time to work during the session. Geared for Grades 5-8 Content Area teachers.
This session is designed for LGBTQ+ educators who want to learn more about the impact that an educator's identity can have on students. Some of the topics discussed will reinforce themes and ideas discussed by the LGBTQ+ Staff Affinity Group. We will read a brief article and reflect on our own experiences with LGBTQ+ educators. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the impact that educator identity may have on students.
It's hard to ignore that visual media is all around us...and with that comes a lot of questions. WHY are our students so addicted to their screens? HOW does visual media impact the way they learn? WHAT can I do to help my students in the age of visual media being, well, everywhere?
In this panel, we will learn some basics about what counts as visual media and how visual media has developed over the years. We will then expand our conversation around how those developments are impacting the social-emotional development of our students. Most importantly, we will end by talk about the role that WE hold as the adults in their lives and how we can help our students grow even amongst the noise that visual media adds to their world!
All are welcome to join this panel, regardless of position in the NPS district. Media affects ALL of us, so I am eager to host this conversation with all who are interested!
Hello! My name is Katerina Kelly, and my pronouns are they/them/theirs. I currently work at KMS as a Grade 7 Paraprofessional and I also assist in the ACCESS program. I also just happen to be on the Autism Spectrum (official diagnosis of PDD-NOS). Aspiring to be a Clinical Mental... Read More →
Outward Bound, Project Adventure and others teach SEL skills Experientially to students from schools all over the world. We can't always take a day or a week for a field trip but we can get some of the same benefits from our classrooms. I'll demo some of the experiential SEL activities working for me in my classroom. We will play a few ice breakers, try some activities that work well for choosing partners and see some ways experiential games can be adapted to teach content areas. Then we'll discuss any areas where someone wishes they had an activity and try to send folks home with activities you need. We can't all have acres of land to explore with our students but we can get them enjoying connecting and learning in some of the same ways. Come give it a try!
In this lesson we will discuss how to better navigate and support mental health in student athletes. This course is designed to give you the tools to identify mental health challenges, manage a team's mental health, and familiarize yourself with community resources for additional mental health support and referrals. Please be ready to discuss, share and build upon our current knowledge to best support our students. **Completion of this 75 minute course enables you to train others if desired. Great session for coaches and school admins.
The Newton Wellesley Hospital Resilience Project Nurturing GROWTH: Building Blocks of Happiness, Innovation, Originality, and Wellbeing Building happiness and wellbeing is both a science and an art. Developing the “building blocks” that lead to growth, development, and improved mental wellness can be taught and learned. How can educators help our young people and themselves develop mental fitness to meet challenges and leverage opportunities? How do we create an environment at school and in the world where mental wellness, emotional and cognitive flexibility, and innovation can flourish? This workshop will present a backdrop of The Resilience Project’s GROWTH Model of Resilience and share tools that can help young people – and the adults who support them – to thrive.
In this hands-on New IEP Workshop, participants will collaborate with fellow special education teachers and district “New IEP Facilitators” to refine and standardize the New IEP writing process. This working session focuses on practical strategies for synthesizing evaluation summaries, aligning goals with services, and creating consistent user-friendly templates for all present-level pages. Having recently collaborated with consultant Allan Blume, this workshop offers a chance for all special educators and service providers to get on the same page and develop the “Natick way” for tackling the new IEP.
Wilson Access Program Workshop for Paras and Behavior Techs The paraprofessionals and behavior techs in the Wilson Access Program will have the opportunity to participate in a comprehensive workshop about supporting students in the Access Program. The goal of this workshop is to provide an in-depth examination of each student's unique needs and progress within the program. During this session, participants will have the opportunity to thoroughly review the behavior intervention plans for the students they work with. This review will ensure a deep understanding of the strategies outlined in the plans and allow for an assessment of their effectiveness in addressing the students' behavioral challenges. Additionally, we will delve into the individual academic data sheets for each student. Participants will receive training on any new instructional programs being implemented, as well as have the chance to clarify any questions or concerns they may have about the current academic interventions in place. By the end of this session, paraprofessionals and behavioral techs will have a strengthened grasp of the specific needs and progress of the students they support within the Wilson Access Program. This enhanced understanding will empower them to provide more effective and tailored support and foster the academic and behavioral growth of the students in the program.
Power School Overall; what is working and what would you: Discuss Process improvement; Ensuring people are doing things the same way; feedback for the new data specialist.
Paras and BTs from the Kennedy Access Program will have the opportunity to take a deep dive on each of the students in the Access Program. We will go through behavior plans to ensure understanding and gage effectiveness. We will also go through individual academic data sheets to provide training on new programs and to clarify any questions on current programs.
Are you assessing a content or method standard? What is the variability of the students in front of you? Finding the answers to these questions can unlock the pathways and flexibility in designing assessments for students. No matter where you are in your UDL journey this session will inform your practice.
In our challenging work in public schools, we are often faced with having difficult conversations. Do you sometimes struggle when needing to have a difficult conversation with a colleague, parent or employee? Come learn some strategies and practice having some difficult conversations!
In this interactive workshop, participants will explore how to effectively integrate specific vocabulary into song creation using Magic School and Suno. Attendees will learn techniques to engage students in vocabulary development through music, enhancing their overall language skills. By the end of the session, educators will have practical strategies and resources to create original songs that reinforce vocabulary in a fun and memorable way. Participants will leave with ready-to-use materials that can be immediately implemented in their classrooms to enrich students' learning experiences. Join us to discover the power of music in education!
Interesting Things to Explore: Dancing, food, cooking, travel, photography, movies, lifestyle, workout, fashion, gardening, pets, audiobooks, cosmetics, and new technology.
Tuesday November 5, 2024 10:50am - 12:05pm EST
TBA
Puppetry has been a part of performance traditions for thousands of years. The ability to bring an inanimate object to life and tell a story strikes at the core of imagination. Puppetry invites us to work creatively and collaboratively. This workshop will focus on the bunraku style puppets from Japan and ask participants to work as teams to bring their puppets to life. This interactive work will allow for an exploration of how puppets can help students experience SEL in a unique and fun way.
Join us for an engaging watercolor workshop designed to equip teachers with creative techniques that can be immediately applied in the classroom. Participants will explore basic watercolor techniques, color mixing, and brush handling to create vibrant, expressive artwork. You’ll also discover how to incorporate watercolor activities into lesson plans, promoting creativity and mindfulness among students. By the end of the session, you’ll walk away with hands-on projects and practical resources that can enhance your teaching, whether in arts education or cross-curricular activities. No prior art experience is required—just bring your enthusiasm to learn and create!
Sepi Golestani graduated from Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (SMFA) with a Master of Arts in Teaching. Sepi is a certified art teacher with more than 20 years background in painting in a variety of media, especially watercolor. She has taught adult... Read More →
Tuesday November 5, 2024 10:50am - 12:05pm EST
TBA
Asynchronous Virtual Phonemic Awareness course. It is a 12.5 hour course that will be started at NILS registered teachers only. The course will not be finished during NILS. So anyone registering is agreeing to complete the rest of the asynchronous course on their own time.
Explore using picture cards as a tool to support all students in phonics instruction for grades K-4. Participants in this class will receive documents of picture cards that align with Fundations units in grades K-2 and will see how to use these cards to differentiate for students in grades K-4. There will be an opportunity to plan activities to use with students right away!
Whooo's Reading is a program that can help students improve their reading comprehension and writing skills. Here are a few benefits of Whooo's Reading: Higher-level questions: Students are asked open-ended questions that help them think deeply and demonstrate their understanding. Owl avatars: Students are motivated by the program's mascot owl, Owlfonso, who provides feedback on their writing. Differentiation: Teachers can adjust the level of questioning for each student. Sharing tools: Students can use sharing tools to recommend books to their classmates. Writing instruction: The activities can help prepare students for writing instruction. Accessibility features: The program includes speech-to-text and text-to-speech features. Free for teachers: Teachers can register their students for free, though some advanced features require a paid subscription.
Book Creator is an easy tool for students to use to bring their ideas and writing to life. Learn about the tool, create exemplars, and learn innovative ways to incorporate it into your curriculum. Come and create!
BrainPOP Jr. - More than just videos! Learn about quizzes, games, concept mapping, make-a-movie, creative coding, and more! We'll explore the many features of BrainPOP Jr. and how they can support your use of the videos. We'll discuss how to create assignments for your class and alternative ways your students can show their learning to you. Please bring your device to explore along with us.
Nina LaPlante is a third-grade teacher at the Bennett-Hemenway Elementary School in Natick, Mass. She has been an elementary classroom teacher for more than 20 years. In addition, Nina is an Elementary Instructional Leader for the third grade across the district. Over the last several... Read More →
Tuesday November 5, 2024 10:50am - 12:05pm EST
TBA
This tool is a game changer! Come see a demonstration of Lightspeed, our student monitoring software for grades 5-12. We will review ways you can get even more out of this amazing tool; and regain control of your students while they are on their Chromebooks. We will cover tips, tricks and pitfalls of this amazing new tool!
Karin started as a Technology Director way back in 1999 (yes we had computers back then) but soon found her love for teaching, first through adult ed and then with K-12 students. She has taught a variety of technology and art-based classes at both the high school and middle school... Read More →
Tuesday November 5, 2024 10:50am - 12:05pm EST
TBA
Introduction to SeeSaw: Teachers will learn how to work SeeSaw through a tutorial (creating various lessons, posting lessons, grading activities, and sharing work with families). Samples will be shown to demonstrate the different features of the app. Then, teachers will be given time to create their own activities and ask questions.
Elementary Special Educators will work collaboratively to examine our current service delivery model with the lens of increasing inclusion opportunities at the elementary level. This will be a kick off to this work as we continue this collaborative work as a group throughout the school year. All elementary special education teachers, coordinators and evaluation team leaders are encouraged to attend.
In this session, teachers will learn strategies to make their lessons and activities accessible to multilingual learners. We will provide ideas to engage multilingual learners at all levels in different content areas. Session leaders will provide examples of activities, modifications, and ideas for lessons. We will also work with teachers to modify assignments and assessments so students can access the content at their language level. Please bring assignments and/or assessments as there will be time to work during the session. Geared for Grades 5-8 Content Area teachers.
This session will be used to begin a 4 hour asynchronous video that demonstrates instructional strategies for teaching older elementary students to encode and decode, how to spell irregular words, and a syllable division method.
Why is Finland continually ranked as the happiest country in the world, and how does this influence their progressive educational system? Attendants to this session will learn about the social and cultural structure of Finland, and how their societal values and dedication to "happiness" are reflected in their public schools, educational ideology, and teacher training programs. The presentation will include actionable steps and activities that can be translated to our Natick classrooms, including outdoor experiences, innovative methods for structuring curriculum and lessons, and unique strategies for social-emotional learning. Attendants will also learn about the application process for the Fulbright program through the US Department of Education/State Department, the responsibilities of becoming a civilian diplomat, and other opportunities and tips for international exchange.
Geared for PK/Elementary classroom teachers who want to create a school branded Newsletter for their home and school communication with Canva. Canva makes it easy to import your school logo and to use Canva templates and easily change them with school branded colors and fonts. We will also discuss Newsletter publishing basics so that communications with families are accessible to all.
Director of Digital Learning, Natick Public Schools
Grace Magley is the Director of Digital Learning for the Natick Public Schools in MA. An experienced, educational leader and expert in digital, blended and personalized learning. Grace is happiest when she is able to collaborate, coach, lead, learn, and create with passionate teachers... Read More →
Tuesday November 5, 2024 10:50am - 12:05pm EST
TBA
Participants will be able to explain SEL and its relevance to real classroom settings. They will be able to apply various strategies to meet their students’ needs. Essential Question: How do we meet the varied needs of our student and promote their well-being AND especially our own?
The Newton Wellesley Hospital Resilience Project Nurturing GROWTH: Building Blocks of Happiness, Innovation, Originality, and Wellbeing Building happiness and wellbeing is both a science and an art. Developing the “building blocks” that lead to growth, development, and improved mental wellness can be taught and learned. How can educators help our young people and themselves develop mental fitness to meet challenges and leverage opportunities? How do we create an environment at school and in the world where mental wellness, emotional and cognitive flexibility, and innovation can flourish? This workshop will present a backdrop of The Resilience Project’s GROWTH Model of Resilience and share tools that can help young people – and the adults who support them – to thrive.
Wayfinder: A Bridge to Student Success Supporting student's social-emotional learning shouldn't feel like an additional piece to an already full plate. In this session, educators will learn tips and tricks on how to incorporate SEL and future-ready skills instruction into their day. Educators will also learn about and interact with Wayfinder's resources through an experiential learning approach. All participants will walk away with a plan for using Wayfinder in their classrooms.
Plan to review new IEP format. Show Power School IEP layout Plan and review what can be addressed in each section Share what's been working so far/challenges
School based assessments for multilingual populations for English speaking psychologists and special education teachers with. Laura Luna - Bilingual Psychologist
As part of this session we will talk about how nature can naturally relieve stress. As part of this session users will take a walk along Dug Pond and admire its natural beauty. During this session we will talk about how using nature could also be used as a classroom tool to aid in SEL practices.
Starting with a focus on the breath and ending with a light meditation, this vinyasa yoga flow will rejuvenate both mind and body. Taught by an E-RYT (a registered yoga teacher with over 1000 hours of instruction), this session is right for beginners to masters and all in between. Vinyasa is a dynamic, flowing style of yoga, so be ready to move! Wear comfortable/athletic clothing and be sure to bring a yoga mat.
Math: I began my math teaching career in 2006 and have been working at Natick High School since 2012. I have taught a large range of high school math courses and levels, and am currently teaching Geometry, Probability & Statistics, and AP Calculus AB.Yoga: I earned my yoga instructor... Read More →
Tuesday November 5, 2024 12:10pm - 12:45pm EST
TBA
Join us for a rejuvenating session focused on three essential stretch moves from Wudang, the revered Chinese martial art. Participants will learn simple yet effective techniques designed to relax the mind and invigorate the body. These stretches will not only strengthen your physical form but also help tighten your waist while loosening tension in your back, shoulders, and neck. Additionally, you'll discover how these movements can alleviate headaches and enhance your overall energy levels. By the end of the workshop, you will leave feeling refreshed, empowered, and equipped with tools to incorporate into your daily routine for ongoing wellness.
Interesting Things to Explore: Dancing, food, cooking, travel, photography, movies, lifestyle, workout, fashion, gardening, pets, audiobooks, cosmetics, and new technology.
Tuesday November 5, 2024 12:10pm - 12:45pm EST
TBA
Intermediate/Advanced Knitting Class. Calling all knitters to bring your unfinished projects to work on. Bring your WIPs and knit along with us! There will be copies of patterns to choose from for your next project. If you are stuck we can solve the problem to get you back on track. We will knit through the two lunch blocks (session 4 & 5) and have lunch while knitting!
A total workout, combining all elements of fitness – cardio, muscle conditioning, balance and flexibility, boosted energy and a serious dose of awesome each time you leave class.
We’ll use Google Sheets to estimate retirement savings based on contribution rates and returns, as well as calculating feasible scenarios where one may retire before reaching the maximum 80% pension benefit level. This workshop may also help those on Tier 2 of the MTRS pension plan who reach 80% before turning 60 years old.
