Preschool
To learn math concepts, children must go through a process that begins with the concrete (doing), moves to the representational (seeing) in order to understand the abstract (symbolic) stage (CRA Instructional Approach) Teachers will explore the conservation of number, number relationships, subitizing, and using anchors in activities that go through this CRA process. According to Jean Piaget (1896-1980) “children begin to understand symbols and abstract concepts only after experiencing the ideas on a concrete level, through a reconstruction of reality, not through an imitation of it.”
In this workshop participants will be actively engaged in hands-on activities that will help students have a better understanding of math concepts. Preschool students need a strong understanding of these concepts and how they are integrated into the real world. Making connections of math with everyday life will make learning more meaningful. During the workshop, teachers will use simple, inexpensive, and recycled materials to implement strategies that will support their teaching. An emphasis is placed in developing critical thinking skills.
The development of early literacy skills in preschool has a great impact on reading comprehension and fluency. There is a definite connection between oral language development and phonological awareness. The teaching of phonological awareness is a sequential process that should be taught in a predetermined sequential order, from simple to more complex. According to the NRP (National Reading Panel, 2000), “Phonemic awareness and letter knowledge are the two best school entry predictors of how well children will learn to read during their first 2 years in school.” During this workshop, teachers will be engaged in hands on activities that they can apply in the classroom right away.
Executive functions direct the rest of brain functions and strengthen them in our students to give them the ability to use their brain at its maximum potential. Participants will learn how to strengthen skills such as inhibition, change, emotional control, and working memory among others. They will have the opportunity to apply practical strategies to use with their students in the classroom.
To learn math concepts, children must go through a process that begins with the concrete (doing), moves to the representational (seeing) in order to understand the abstract (symbolic) stage (CRA Instructional Approach) Teachers will explore the conservation of number, number relationships, subitizing, and using anchors in activities that go through this CRA process. According to Jean Piaget (1896-1980) “children begin to understand symbols and abstract concepts only after experiencing the ideas on a concrete level, through a reconstruction of reality, not through an imitation of it.”
In this workshop participants will be actively engaged in hands-on activities that will help students have a better understanding of math concepts. Preschool students need a strong understanding of these concepts and how they are integrated into the real world. Making connections of math with everyday life will make learning more meaningful. During the workshop, teachers will use simple, inexpensive, and recycled materials to implement strategies that will support their teaching. An emphasis is placed in developing critical thinking skills.
The development of early literacy skills in preschool has a great impact on reading comprehension and fluency. There is a definite connection between oral language development and phonological awareness. The teaching of phonological awareness is a sequential process that should be taught in a predetermined sequential order, from simple to more complex. According to the NRP (National Reading Panel, 2000), “Phonemic awareness and letter knowledge are the two best school entry predictors of how well children will learn to read during their first 2 years in school.” During this workshop, teachers will be engaged in hands on activities that they can apply in the classroom right away.
Elementary school teachers
This interactive workshop is an introduction to teaching writing while maintaining a high degree of motivation for young writers. It is based on the student-centered writer’s workshop model that focuses on students writing frequently for extended periods of time. Teachers experience firsthand what it means to be a writer by participating in their own writing process. Practical advice is shared on how to carry a project from start to finish and what it means to support and challenge our developing writers.
Would you like to hook your most reluctant writers? Would you like to convince kids that writing is a fun thing to do? Teach them to write poetry! Poems are short, can be about any topic, and are free from the strict rules of other genres. This workshop takes a look at how using poetry can help children gain confidence in their writing ability. Participants will learn how to motivate students to experiment, have fun with words and become successful writers. Practical ideas for planning poetry units will be shared.
Keep a poem in your pocket
and a picture in your head,
and you’ll never feel lonely at night when you’re in bed.
Beatrice Schenk
Keep a poem in your pocket
and a picture in your head,
and you’ll never feel lonely at night when you’re in bed.
Beatrice Schenk
A meaningful and creative lesson plan will develop lifelong learners and critical thinkers. During this workshop participants will learn how to use planning to impact teaching and learning. Writing big ideas, essential questions, and skills is an important component of this training. Participants are encouraged to develop higher level thinking skills by incorporating Bloom’s taxonomy in their planning.
Pre-K – 6th
Making mistakes and being persistent are a welcome part of the learning process. Carol Dweck, Stanford University researcher, has found that students who have positive mental attitudes towards learning and challenges and believe that intelligence can be developed, are more successful in school. She calls this set of beliefs Growth Mindset. Discover if you have a fixed or a growth mindset with practical, hands-on lessons and strategies. Help your students acquire a growth mindset and understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching, and persistence. What procedures need to be in place in order to become a more effective teacher? How can routines and structures in a classroom optimize student learning?
This workshop explores the factors that contribute to being a successful teacher. Participants will consider the impact of teacher attitude, classroom routines, and positive discipline plans on student learning. Practical strategies on how to set up and maintain a well-structured class will be shared.
What are the skills needed by students as they face an uncertain future? Which habits are needed to prepare for the challenges of the 21st century? This workshop will explore the answers to these and other questions proposed by Arthur Costa and Bena Kallick. Participants will see how sixteen Habits of Mind can provide a focus and direction for a school wide values program.
“We want our children to develop those habits that lead them to become lifelong learners, effective problem solvers and decision makers, able to communicate with a diverse population and to understand how to love successfully in a rapidly changing, high tech world.” Arthur Costa
Participants will explore new research on the development of cognitive, language, social, and emotional skills in the school setting. Warm relationships set a fertile ground for supporting children's learning, communication, and behavior regulation. Participants will discuss strategies on how to build responsive, affective relationships with children that will serve as powerful mediators for the learning process.
This workshop is to help parents to see how they can encourage their children to be life-long readers. Years of research studies have shown the importance of reading to children in the home. Results of some of these studies will be shared. Parents will be encouraged to develop the daily practice of reading to their children. School success has a lot to do with the foundations that are set up in the home environment.
Middle school
During the workshop we explore the writing process for Middle School and High School students through a hands-on approach. Teachers examine their own process in order to understand what their students will undergo as they move forward with writing projects. We analyze the connections to the philosophy of IB teaching, learning, and language and examine the steps of the writing process with practical advice on how to keep students actively engaged at each stage.
This workshop focuses on the developmental characteristics of adolescents in the social, emotional, and cognitive areas. The science behind the adolescent brain will be reviewed to distinguish it from children's and adults'. Participants will explore the teenager's needs in order to respond to them using effective, appropriate strategies.
Elementary school teachers
This interactive workshop is an introduction to teaching writing while maintaining a high degree of motivation for young writers. It is based on the student-centered writer’s workshop model that focuses on students writing frequently for extended periods of time. Teachers experience firsthand what it means to be a writer by participating in their own writing process. Practical advice is shared on how to carry a project from start to finish and what it means to support and challenge our developing writers.
Would you like to hook your most reluctant writers? Would you like to convince kids that writing is a fun thing to do? Teach them to write poetry! Poems are short, can be about any topic, and are free from the strict rules of other genres. This workshop takes a look at how using poetry can help children gain confidence in their writing ability. Participants will learn how to motivate students to experiment, have fun with words and become successful writers. Practical ideas for planning poetry units will be shared.
Keep a poem in your pocket
and a picture in your head,
and you’ll never feel lonely
at night when you’re in bed.
Beatrice Schenk
Keep a poem in your pocket
and a picture in your head,
and you’ll never feel lonely
at night when you’re in bed.
Beatrice Schenk
Pre-K – 6th
Making mistakes and being persistent are a welcome part of the learning process. Carol Dweck, Stanford University researcher, has found that students who have positive mental attitudes towards learning and challenges and believe that intelligence can be developed, are more successful in school. She calls this set of beliefs Growth Mindset. Discover if you have a fixed or a growth mindset with practical, hands-on lessons and strategies. Help your students acquire a growth mindset and understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching, and persistence. What procedures need to be in place in order to become a more effective teacher? How can routines and structures in a classroom optimize student learning?
This workshop explores the factors that contribute to being a successful teacher. Participants will consider the impact of teacher attitude, classroom routines, and positive discipline plans on student learning. Practical strategies on how to set up and maintain a well-structured class will be shared.
What are the skills needed by students as they face an uncertain future? Which habits are needed to prepare for the challenges of the 21st century? This workshop will explore the answers to these and other questions proposed by Arthur Costa and Bena Kallick. Participants will see how sixteen Habits of Mind can provide a focus and direction for a school wide values program.
“We want our children to develop those habits that lead them to become lifelong learners, effective problem solvers and decision makers, able to communicate with a diverse population and to understand how to love successfully in a rapidly changing, high tech world.” Arthur Costa
“We want our children to develop those habits that lead them to become lifelong learners, effective problem solvers and decision makers, able to communicate with a diverse population and to understand how to love successfully in a rapidly changing, high tech world.” Arthur Costa
Participants will explore new research on the development of cognitive, language, social, and emotional skills in the school setting. Warm relationships set a fertile ground for supporting children’s learning, communication, and behavior regulation. Participants will discuss strategies on how to build responsive, affective relationships with children that will serve as powerful mediators for the learning process.
This workshop is to help parents to see how they can encourage their children to be life-long readers. Years of research studies have shown the importance of reading to children in the home. Results of some of these studies will be shared. Parents will be encouraged to develop the daily practice of reading to their children. School success has a lot to do with the foundations that are set up in the home environment.
Middle school
During the workshop we explore the writing process for Middle School and High School students through a hands-on approach. Teachers examine their own process in order to understand what their students will undergo as they move forward with writing projects. We analyze the connections to the philosophy of IB teaching, learning, and language and examine the steps of the writing process with practical advice on how to keep students actively engaged at each stage.
This workshop focuses on the developmental characteristics of adolescents in the social, emotional, and cognitive areas. The science behind the adolescent brain will be reviewed to distinguish it from children’s and adults’. Participants will explore the teenager’s needs in order to respond to them using effective, appropriate strategies.
You are interested but not sure where or how to start?
Do not hesitate to send us all your questions. According to your needs we will suggest a workshop or workshops.
You are interested but not sure where or how to start?
Do not hesitate to send us all your questions. According to your needs we will suggest you a workshop or workshops.