COMPASS for Kids has just released its 2013-2014 professional development training calendar and its workshops are open for registration! There are many new and fun topics this year, so we encourage you to visit their website at www.compassforkids.org to view the schedule and topics, and to register online!
Information Sessions on Building Stronger Centers
(CIF) is looking for providers planning to improve, expand or replace their program space. The Mass. Legislature recently passed a bill authorizing bond financing for capital improvements to nonprofit ECE and OST centers. While they continue working with a coalition of supporters to get the bill through the conference committee, signed and eventually funded, they want to help get projects ready for funding.
Join CIF at an information session to learn more about the potential of the bond bill and Building Stronger Centers (BSC), a unique training program on capital planning for ECE and OST facilities.The information sessions will cover the selection criteria for the training, describe the program and answer your questions. CIF plans to select up to 20 providers to participate in 3½ days of training on how to design, finance and manage a major capital project. BSC training is designed for organizations that plan to improve their program site within the next 2 to 3 years.
- September 19, 1:00 - 3:00 pm at United Way of Mass Bay & Merrimack Valley, Boston
- September 24, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at United Way of Pioneer Valley, Springfield
- September 25, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at United Way of Central Mass, Worcester
Click here to see the flyer for more details on dates and locations for the info sessions and more info on the BSC training. If you have questions, please call Mav Pardee at 617-727-5944.
SAVE THE DATE2013 Clean Energy Curriculum Conference
Friday, October 11: 8:30AM - 12PM, McCarthy Center, Framingham State University
Framingham State University and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center would like to invite you to a Clean Energy Curriculum Conference for middle and high school STEM faculty. Teachers who have developed clean energy curricula through the LIFT Program will be presenting and sharing their clean energy curriculum units. Along with teacher presentations, members of industry will be discussing clean energy careers and the skills needed for success in these careers. The Clean Energy Curriculum Conference has been designed to increase the awareness of a critical mass of teachers, administrators and guidance counselors in: high quality clean energy curriculum; state and national clean energy workforce projections and necessary skills; and strategies for engaging students in exploring clean energy careers.
College and Career Readiness in Science and Technology/Engineering
Friday, October 11: 1:30PM - 4:30PM, Venue TBD
What knowledge and skills do students need in order to be considered college and career ready in science? Are the academic tracks for students entering science and engineering fields different from those who are not?
Please join K-12, college and career representatives for a discussion of College and Career Readiness (CCR) in science and technology/engineering. Discussions of CCR relative to mathematics and English Language Arts (literacy) were critical in defining learning standards to provide all students a preparation for post-secondary success. A similar conversation is needed to inform the revision of the state's Science and Technology/Engineering standards to ensure that all students are prepared for the scientific and technologic aspects of our state's post-secondary opportunities that provide productive and economically viable careers.
Participating in this discussion, hosted by the regional Readiness Center, will help Massachusetts ensure that learning expectations for science and technology/engineering reflect key knowledge and skills that all students should have to be successful in your college or career path. Please contribute!
State Education Funding NewsThe Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies as well as economic issues that affect low- and moderate-income people in Massachusetts.
Interested in the FY14 Budget and where funds are being expended in education? Visit the Budget and Policy Center web site for their Budget Monitor, and get the latest news.
Other STEM-related programs
NASA Night Rover Energy Challenge
Registration is open for teams seeking to compete in the $1.5 million energy storage competition known as the Night Rover Challenge, sponsored by NASA and the Cleantech Open of Palo Alto, Calif.
To win, a team must demonstrate a stored-energy system that can power a simulated solar-powered exploration vehicle that can operate through multiple cycles of daylight and extended periods of darkness.
During the Night Rover Challenge, energy storage systems will receive electrical energy from a simulated solar collector during daylight hours. During darkness, the stored energy will be used for simulated thermal management, scientific experimentation, communications and rover movement. A winning system must exceed the performance of an existing state-of-the-art system by a predetermined margin. The winning system will be the one that has the highest energy-storage density.
The challenge is extended to individuals, groups and companies working outside the traditional aerospace industry. Unlike most contracts or grants, awards will be made only after solutions are demonstrated successfully.
Regular registration closes on Oct. 25, 2013. For information about the Night Rover Challenge and how to register a team, visit http://www.nightrover.org.
Exploration Design Challenge
In March, NASA launched an exciting new partnership with Lockheed Martin to engage students in America's next phase of human space exploration. The Exploration Design Challenge (EDC) invites students from kindergarten through 12th grade to learn more about one of the biggest challenges NASA faces before sending humans beyond low-Earth orbit: space radiation. Through a series of age-appropriate activities, participants will learn about radiation and its effects on humans and hardware destined for asteroids, Mars or other deep space locations. Orion is the vehicle for these space destinations and will make its maiden test flight in 2014.
The youngest explorers (K-4) will complete NASA education activities related to radiation. Upon completion, a teacher or other adult may submit the students' names to be flown on the 2014 Orion flight as honorary virtual crewmembers.
Those same opportunities are open to students in grades 5-8, but they also will design and develop a radiation shield prototype. Instructions, guidebooks and related content are provided on the EDC website.
High school participants have an even greater challenge - and opportunity! In addition to the activities listed above, teams of students will design a radiation shield prototype that meets established criteria and constraints. Teams will submit their designs, and the top five designs selected will be tested in a virtual radiation simulator. The winning team will travel to Florida for Orion's launch and have its design flown aboard the spacecraft!
This is an exciting, hands-on way to get students inspired and interested in what NASA does now and the grand plans ahead! All the details for the EDC are here: http://www.nasa.gov/education/edc.
Massachusetts STEM Summit 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013. 8 AM - 5 PM. Gillette Stadium, Foxboro
This year's event will be the tenth, and thus far the largest Massachusetts STEM Summit, with more than 1,000 attendees expected. Throughout the day, panel presentations and the lunchtime plenary session will address the goals, plans and progress of STEM education, bringing leaders and practitioners from the state's education, business and government sectors together to share information and ideas. Sessions will cover the entire education spectrum, workforce development, economic development, and other key policy issues faced by the Commonwealth.
Hosted by:
Massachusetts Governor's STEM Advisory Council
Massachusetts Business Roundtable
University of Massachusetts / UMass Donahue Institute
For questions and general information about the event, please contact Karen Wilson or visit our website at www.mass-stem-summit.org
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Unfolding the Petal: Science for Preschoolers and Grade K The Education Cooperative, Dedham, MA September 21, 2013: 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM September 28, 2013: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM October 19, 2013: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM Total instruction time: 13 hours. Awaiting approval for 1 CEU from MassAEYC. If you have never taught science to children ages 4-6 or would like to learn new skills in teaching science, this is the course for you!
Instructor: Rita Advani, Director Regional Programming, High Touch High Tech of New England Rita has many years of experience in teaching science to children in preschool - Grade 8, and in training preschool educators to teach science. Who Should Attend: Preschool educators, family child care providers, teachers of 4-6 year old children Fee: $25 To register: Contact Anne Miller at [email protected]. Hands-On STEM for the Early Elementary Classroom Tuesdays, October 1, 8, 15, & 22: 3:30 - 6:00 PM,The Discovery Museums, Acton, MA Science is all around us and accessible to all learners. Explore simple, effective ways to bring hands-on STEM learning to your K-3 classroom using every day, affordable material. Spark your students' natural curiosity and guide STEM content development in the areas of Sound, Light and Color, and Magnetism while helping to instill an appreciation and life-long passion for science learning. Develop strategies for encouraging the development of problem solving skills and reinforce the use of the scientific method. Receive teacher curriculum guides that provide lesson plans for conducting topic based hands-on workshops back in your own classroom and helpful suggestions for accessing and making the most of informal learning center resources in your area. Maximum of 15 participants Earn: 10 PDPs Cost: $25.00 To Register: Contact Anne Miller at [email protected]. The Young Scientist in the Elementary Classroom October 2, 16, 30, November 13, and December 4: 4 - 7PM, Needham Public Schools Science Ctr. This five session course is designed to increase teachers' comfort and effectiveness in teaching science in the early elementary (k-2) classroom. Each class will focus on both science content knowledge and practices. Sessions will model effective science instructional methods as participants learn science through the process of inquiry and cooperative group activities. By engaging in hands-on lessons, participants will have the experience of both a learner and a teacher, thus preparing them to offer more skilled science instruction in their classrooms. Practices aligned in the Frameworks for K-12 Science Education (NRC,2012)including developing and using models, analyzing and interpreting data and engaging in argument from evidence will be focused on. Instructor: Erin Hashimoto Martell is a highly regarded science teacher with an extensive experience base working with teachers and young learners. Materials fee: $25.00. Course is funded through the Great Boston Readiness Center. Earn: one PD credit To register: contact Terry Higgins at ACCEPT, [email protected]. Developing Math and Science Skills for Young Children: Common Core Standards in Early Childhood Classrooms Thursdays, October 10 & 24, November 7 & 21, 2013: 4 - 7:15PM, Heath School, Brookline The Common Core State Standards have implications for practice at the early childhood level. There are also new K-12 science education standards under development at the national level (the Next Generation Science Standards, NGSS) and in Massachusetts. This course is designed to introduce these standards to Kindergarten and pre-school teachers and to model ways to integrate these standards with teaching practices in early childhood education. Teachers will be engaged in active learning experiences around science and math phenomena and in discussions about the implications of these and the Common Core Literacy standards for preschool curriculum and teaching. The course will meet in four sessions, two will focus on science and two will focus on mathematics. Literacy strands will be interwoven throughout. Audience: Early Childhood Teachers and Administrators Registration: For Public School Teachers, contact the Office for Curriculum and Instruction in your district. For Early Childhood Educators, contact EDCO by sending an email to[email protected]. Fee: Registration fee of $35 (tuition supported with grant funds from the Greater Boston Readiness Center). Credit: Participants may choose to register for one graduate credit through Framingham State University for an additional fee of $75. CEUs and PDPs will be available at no additional cost. At the end of the workshop, all participants will receive a certificate documenting the number of hours attended. Register by: October 1, 2013. Registrations received after the deadline will be accepted if space is still available. Questions? Please call the EDCO Seefurth Center at (781) 259-3445. For a complete program listing, please visit www.edcollab.org. Pre-Science: Exploring Indicators of Early Scientific Thinking Saturday, November 2: 9AM - 2:30PM, The Discovery Museums, Acton, MA Children are natural born scientists - always asking questions, trying things out, and experimenting with their surroundings. Yet, many educators struggle with what science "looks like" when working with very young children. Whether confused about what is appropriate developmentally, or hesitant about science topics from personal experience, it is crucial that science is an important component of every classroom every day. Taking a closer look at Pre-Science topics and skills will help educators feel more comfortable planning, teaching, and discussing science topics. An application has been submitted to Mass AEYC for .5 CEUs Cost: $25.00 To Register: Contact Anne Miller at [email protected]. Developments September 2013 In This IssueWhat's Been HappeningNavigating QRISUpcoming Courses & EventsInfo You Might Need to KnowSAVE THE DATEState Ed. Funding NewsOther STEM-related ProgramsQuick Links Greater Boston Readiness Center Early Educators Roadmap to a College Degree Aspire Institute - CASE trainings Educator & Provider Support Grant Region 6 Collaborative Educator & Provider Support Grant Region 2 Collaborative Region 3 Early Childhood Professional Development Partnership (R3P) Rethinking Equity & Teaching for English Language Learners World Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) EDCO Collaborative The Education Cooperative FSU Continuing Education The Christa McAuliffe Center ACCEPT Collaborative Another School Year Has Begun!GBRC offices at 14 Vernon St., Framingham (rear) Where did the summer go?? It is now the beginning of September and the buses are rolling. The school year has begun for many of our colleagues. We at the Greater Boston Readiness Center hope that everyone had a wonderful summer and is ready for the new school year! We remain committed to bringing you the professional development opportunities available to our greater Boston and MetroWest communities. As always, this issue includes:
And don't forget to visit our web site, which is updated weekly to include the most current information. Check it out at http://www.framingham.edu/greater-boston-readiness-center/. What's Been Happening at the GBRC14 Vernon St. (front) We continue to be very busy here at the Readiness Center. A couple of our highlights include: Massachusetts Kindergarten Entry Assessment (MKEA) We are supporting programs and schools in the area in the Teaching Strategies GOLD and Work Sampling assessment tools. If you're thinking of joining the 3rd Cohort of MKEA or if you're interested in receiving technical and/or implementation assistance in this tool please emailBarbara Jacobs at [email protected]. Coursework provided through the Greater Boston Readiness Center In August we sponsored the following courses: Engineering and Design for Elementary Educators Through this course participants became familiar with the Engineering & Design Standards of the Mass. Diagnosis and Remediation of Learning Problems in Mathematics K-9: A Common Core Perspective This course focused on mathematics learning problems, and disabilities such as dyscalculia. Unpacking and Promoting the Standards for Mathematical Practice in Common Core Critical Areas, Grades 4-8 Participants in this course deepened their understanding of math practice indicators aligned with the Common Core critical areas. Navigating the QRIS SystemSo you have heard about the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) and you have been asked to enter your program into the QRIS Program Manager and move your program up the levels, but you don't have a clue how to do this. Navigating the QRIS System training will review the QRIS standards and clearly articulate how to move through the different levels with a focus on assessment and documentation for your program. This workshop will review the entire system for Administrators working in Early Childhood Education including: Family Childcare, Out-of-School Time, Center-based care and public school pre-schools. Participants will have the opportunity to work with the on-line tool and specifically open your QRIS program management files. Maximum of 20 participants Eligible for earning .5 CEUs Thursday, October 17, 2013: 9 - 2:30PM Greater Boston Readiness Center, Framingham State University, Framingham, MA Cost: $15.00 To Register: Contact Anne Miller at [email protected] Hi,
This is a reminder that the Joslin Diabetes Center is holding a Caregivers Class on Tuesday, September 10, from 6:30-8:30, in Room 621. This class is intended for those who take care of children (parents, grandparents, nannies, teachers, etc.) with diabetes. Attendees will learn, among other things, the symptoms of diabetes and how to manage food and insulin intake, and exercise. Please send this email and the attached brochure to those who may be interested in this class. I will be happy to answer any questions. Thanks very much. Mary Foley, MA Pediatric Administrative Coordinator Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Section Genetics and Epidemiology Section Joslin Diabetes Center One Joslin Place Boston, MA 02215 Phone: 617-309-4530 Fax: 617-309-2447 Hello, You may have already received this information, but I am sending it out again to remind you that there are openings in our EPS grant-funded college courses for the upcoming academic year. I encourage your staff to apply right away as the spaces are filling quickly. I have attached a listing of the offerings. All courses have a modest fee of $50. If any of your staff are interested, please contact me ([email protected]) and I will forward more details about the application process. Best regards, Nancy Nancy Railsback MassBay Community College 19 Flagg Drive Framingham, MA 01702 phone: 508-270-4291 fax: 508-270-4131 [email protected] Here are two online webinar sites that AO has recently Dear Early Education Provider, Please join the Bessie Tart Wilson Initiative for Children (BTWIC) at a symposium on early childhood nutrition in Massachusetts. As a provider, you know that healthy food is a critical component of early development. And it’s possible you have faced challenges in providing nutritional meals efficiently and economically for the children you serve. BTWIC invites you to join other educators and advocates in sharing best practices and discussing local- and state-level changes that could improve the health of young children. The two symposia are part of BTWIC’s “Eating to Learn” project. We are particularly interested in looking at the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in Massachusetts. The symposia are free to attend. Early educators who attend an entire event will receive a certificate for two EEC professional development hours. If you participate in CACFP, you may be eligible to receive two DESE-approved training hours as well. To register online, click on a link in the attached flyer or noted below: Saturday, September 21, Boston, MA: www.btwic.org/bosfood Saturday, October 5, Worcester, MA: www.btwic.org/wosfood Please sign up for only one event. For any questions about registering, please call BTWIC at 617-425-0002. We look forward to seeing you there! Educator Workshops July & August 2013 NATURE CONNECT! Connect your students to the best classroom in the world: NATURE! Join colleagues in hands-on workshops that infuse an innate understanding of teaching and learning in the outdoors. All of the following programs are being held at Heritage Museums & Gardens, 67 Grove Street, Sandwich, MA 02563. For a full schedule of 2013 workshops, click here. For additional information, contact Tobey Eugenio at[email protected] or 508.888.3300 x. 159. Wednesday, July 10, 2013 Fee: $40 for one workshop, $70 for both workshops Using Your Outdoor Classroom, 9am - 12pm Learn interesting techniques for using outdoor classrooms as an integral part of children's daily learning. Find out how well-designed outdoor spaces facilitate healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and social development in a variety of settings (from schools to early childhood programs to public spaces). Discover strategies for assessing children's learning, meeting teaching standards, alleviating challenging behaviors and bringing more joy to learning. Documenting Children's Learning With Nature, 1pm - 4pm Discover effective methods for supporting and documenting children's learning indoors and outdoors and for helping children with behavioral challenges and verbal-language delays become more successful. Learn how to "listen" to children's visual-spatial language, and explore helpful tips for successfully using a documentation tool called "Nature Notes" to record children's learning in outdoor classrooms. Click here to register for one or both of these workshops. Thursday, July 11, 2013 Fee: $55 Using Nature to Engage Preschoolers in Authentic STEM and Literacy Experiences, 9am - 4pm Explore connections between STEM, literacy, and the outdoors during this interactive workshop. Experiment with a curriculum-writing template that will help you to discover practical strategies for matching great books with outdoor learning experiences. Leave with tools, a lesson plan, and great ideas to implement in your classroom the very next day! Click here to register for this workshop. Tuesday, July 30, 2013 Fee: $55 Splish, Splash, Buzz: Teaching in the Outdoors, 9am - 4pm Learn the benefits of teaching with nature, and explore techniques for creating hands-on, multidisciplinary learning centers that utilize the outdoors. This interactive workshop will introduce you to achievable ways to use available materials and simple techniques to engage your students with nature while meeting teaching standards. Gather ideas that will help you develop integrated lessons on topics such as trees, insects, soil and plants. Click here to register for this workshop. Saturday, August 10, 2013 Fee: $55 Using Nature to Engage Preschoolers in Authentic STEM and Literacy Experiences, 9am - 4pm Explore connections between STEM, literacy, and the outdoors during this interactive workshop. Experiment with a curriculum-writing template that will help you to discover practical strategies for matching great books with outdoor learning experiences. Leave with tools, a lesson plan, and great ideas to implement in your classroom the very next day! Click here to register for this workshop. Monday, August 19, 2013 Fee: $40 for one workshop; $70 for both workshops Nature-Inspired Indoor Environments, 9am - 12pm Be inspired to think deeply about how well-planned indoor environments can better support children's healthy growth and development as well as decrease behavioral issues. Discover research-based, field-tested ways to create more beautiful and calming spaces by decreasing visual "clutter" and adding interesting materials from the natural world. Choosing Effective Indoor & Outdoor Materials, 1pm - 4pm Discover strategies for effectively using a variety of motivating yet inexpensive indoor and outdoor materials, including materials from nature. Explore why adults need to understand the properties of children's materials to best support in-depth, hands-on learning. Experience joyful ways to enhance children's creativity through exploration of natural materials. Click here to register for one or both of these workshops. Tuesday, August 20, 2013 Fee: $40 for one workshop; $70 for both workshops Moving to Learn, 9am - 12pm Discover effective techniques for providing indoor and outdoor movement activities that help children develop body control, gain knowledge about the world, and enjoy an outlet for emotional expression. Explore how motor development is important for children's neural processing, especially for kinesthetic learners. Learn ways joyful movement experiences can help support children's individual needs and behavior challenges. Music & Nature, 1pm - 4pm Explore interesting techniques for using the inspiration of nature to strengthen children's musical understandings. Discover nature-based musical experiences that help children develop both their love for music and their delight in the natural world. Click here to register for one or both of these workshops. 67 Grove Street Sandwich, MA 02563 508-888-3300 www.heritagemuseumsandgardens.org Dear NAA conference attendees, This is merely a follow-up to a previous email regarding the Safer 3 Water Safety Education Curriculum and USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative introduced at this year’s NAA Conference. The Safer3 Water Safety downloadable materials can be found at safer3.org under the "Programs & Services" menu, it is the last option. The site requests contact information for tracking interest in the curriculum, and submission of contact information will generate an email with an access link to the materials. I have taken the liberty of generating the link for you, and you can access the materials by clicking the link below then selecting “Safer 3 Program Binder” at the bottom of the page. http://www.swimforlife.org/online_documents/early_education/ To access the Safer3 online demo with embedded audio, video, etc., please click on the “smartmovesplanner” link and follow the directions outlined below: Safer3 online curriculum - demo www.smartmovesplanner.com username (not case-sensitive): “NAA” and your last name (ex: NAAYoung) password (all lower-case): safer3demonaa Click on "Safer 3 Lessons" "All Classes" (pre-k-2nd grade works too) "Safer 3 Lessons - Pre-K thru 2nd Grade - Lesson 1" You can browse through the various sections. The actual lesson is found in #4 Lesson Content L1 - eBook. Click on "Activity Details", then Materials 1 "Safer 3 Curriculum - LESSON 1.pptx" You can Open or Save to your hard drive. BE SURE TO VIEW IN "SLIDE SHOW" MODE (open in PowerPoint). Otherwise the animation and links won't work. Cindy Johnson is the primary contact for the Safer3 Water Safety Curriculum, if you are interested in purchasing materials, or in full online access to the curriculum, please contact Cindy directly at [email protected]; let Cindy know you have been referred by USA Swimming Foundation and the National Afterschool Association. Additionally, I have attached some information on USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash Initiative for your review, and our Make a Splash Local Partner Finder (to locate lessons providers in your area) can be found at http://usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=2078&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en&LearnToSwim=1 Simply enter your zip code and the radius you would like to search and the finder will populate the Local Partners (learn to swim providers) in your area. As mentioned at the convention, if the Finder does not show a Local Partner in your area, please let us know who your preferred provider would be and we will provide you with information to bring to them, or we can contact them directly on your behalf. I hope your summer is going well, and please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have. Sincerely, Tina Dessart Make a Splash Program Manager 1 Olympic Plaza Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Desk: 719.866.3520 Cell: 719.332.7845 Fax: 719.866.4669 [email protected] http://www.makeasplash.org Continuing Professional Education Programs Dear Colleague, Explore Focusing and Mindfulness in June and learn to Curate your Life in July: Focusing and Mindfulness: Awareness Practices for Psychotherapy Friday, June 21, 2013 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Joan Klagsbrun, PhD Ronald Siegel, PsyD This workshop presents the theories and practices of Focusing and Mindfulness and demonstrates the application of these complementary methods in psychotherapy and in the self-care of therapists. This workshop is appropriate both for clinicians not yet familiar with either of these therapeutic practices as well as for those already experienced with Focusing and/or Mindfulness. FM04 | 4 CE Credits | $85 Curate your Life: Awaken Your Essence and Dissolve Stuck-ness Through Play and Art! Friday, July 12, 2013 9:30 am - 4:30 pm AND Saturday, July 13, 2013 9:30 am - 12:30pm Ligia Buzan, PhD In this workshop, the participants explore how play, art and creative techniques can improve life and performance for individuals and communities. Games have fun elements built-in and create positive emotional states even as they simulate difficult situations with obstacles to overcome. PA90 | 9 CE Credits | $195 REMINDER: Spaces Still Available for this Friday, June 14: Cultural Perspective and Spiritual Meaning: Shaping Helping Interventions Moderator: David G. Satin, MD, DLFAPA Speakers: Khawla Abu-Baker, Ph.D., Mari Carmen Bennasar, Psy.D., and John McDargh, Ph.D. EL36 | 2.5 CE Credits | $35 Open to the professional community and public - No Admission Charge |
What I believe..."We need to be the change we wish to see in the world" Archives
April 2016
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