For your convenience, direct links to sign up for all sessions in My Learning Plan are under each session description. Teachers must sign up through My Learning Plan, attend the correct session, AND complete the session survey (GVSD PD Feedback Form 2/14/20) located in My Learning Plan to receive ACT 48 credit. For directions and screenshots on where to find the session survey in My Learning Plan, click HERE.
If you need to make a change to a session you previously signed up for, please make the change in My Learning Plan. Once a session is closed, we cannot allow for additional participants.
Location: GVHS B110
Presenter(s): Jess Palo & Kristine Beighley
Session Description: This session will be an extension of the first session allowing participants time to engage with the FastFlix videos, set up progress monitoring for students and explore the program further.
Location: GVHS A123
Presenter(s): Brittany Hagan
Session Description: Join this session to learn how to use Google Slides to create your own personalized bulletin board letters, materials, posters, and signs to create an engaging environment where your students feel comfortable and confident to learn in.
Location: GVHS A142
Presenter(s): Stefanie Owens & Claudia Buchanan
Session Description: Participants will learn about the benefits of creating art to promote mindfulness for both the educator and students. Research in the fields of Art Education and Art Therapy strongly suggests that mindfulness can be achieved through creating art. Participants will learn about the benefits of activities such as adult coloring, doodling and creating mandalas as a way to practice mindfulness. Participants will also receive resources in becoming artistically mindful.
Location: GVHS A125
Presenter(s): Brian Quindlen and Rosie Carey
Session Description: This session will focus on how classrooms can incorporate the outdoors and environmental education into their instruction. Also, we will take a walking tour of the newly constructed GVHS Nature Trail! Please bring proper footwear and layers for walking on the nature trail (weather permitting.)
Location: GVHS B129
Presenter(s): Caitlin Jones
Session Description: Have you explored the world of Podcasts? Whether you're interested in learning new things, getting into a good story, or getting some free professional development, this is a good place to start. Come join in and see what might work for you. Please bring a device that can download a Podcast. Preferably a phone.
Location: GVHS Library (VR Area)
Presenter(s): Katy Ferry
Session Description: Tools and information to fight fake news with news media & information literacy.
Location: GVHS Library Quiet Study Area (Behind Glass)
Presenter(s): Kevin Finan
Session Description: This session will be almost completely silent. There will be time set aside for mindful yoga, Qi Gong, sitting meditations and body scan practice. Please do not sign up if you have no prior experience with meditative practices. Also, please bring a yoga mat.
Location: GVHS B128
Presenter(s): Julie Devine
Session Description: This session will explore best teaching practices with the integration of technology to design and deliver instruction to students. Participants will have an opportunity to work on their own course in order to implement effective digital instruction practices.
Location: GVHS Main Gym
Presenter(s): Dan Schemmer and Rebecca Brown
Session Description: In this session, teachers will be introduced to the Parrot Mambo and DJI drones available in the GVSD. Teachers will have the opportunity to fly the drones, plan on how they can incorporate drone use in the classroom, and see how they are currently being used in the K-12 classrooms
Location: GVHS B127
Presenter(s): Moira Jackson
Session Description: Google forms make data collection easy! Google forms can be customized to meet a variety of data collection formats, specifically annual IEP goals and behavior data. Google Forms can be opened and used on iPads or computers; so, paraprofessionals and teachers don't need to have an overwhelming amount of paperwork for data. Once a google form is submitted, the time/date is logged and a graph is automatically generated and updated. Progress monitoring and reporting are made easy through google forms because all you have to do is copy and paste the automatically generated graph; you don't need to input numbers and manually create graphs anymore!
Location: GVHS Library (Main Area)
Presenter(s): Jess Sangiorgio, District Strategy Consultant at Nearpod
Session Description: In this workshop, participants will learn Advanced Tips for the Nearpod Platform which will include Nearpod Notes, How to best utilize the +Add Activities Tab, incorporating Student-Paced Lessons, Nearpod for Subs, Nearpod integrations with other platforms and our Professional Learning Networks. In this session, participants will also explore supplemental packages such as: Nearpod EL, Historical Perspectives and Literacy, College and Career Exploration, Digital Citizenship and Literacy and Social and Emotional Learning. Also, get a sneak peek of what is coming for back to school 2020!
About the Presenter: Jess Sangiorgio is a District Strategy Consultant at Nearpod. She resides in Manhattan, but is originally from Denver, Colorado! Jess is a former teacher, coach and admin who is passionate about using educational technology and 21st-century learning to enhance student achievement. Before becoming a DSC for Nearpod, Jess led trainings for Flocabulary. She loves showcasing how both platforms can be utilized together to bring joy and academic rigor to every classroom.
Location: GVHS B130
Presenter(s): Kerri Flatau
Session Description: Teachers & staff members will learn about trauma-informed practices and how many GV students deal with these adverse experiences that negatively impact learning. Participants will also receive practical strategies that they can begin using immediately to help students in their classrooms and schools.
Location: GVHS A115
Presenter(s): Meghan Kotch & Chris Tate
Session Description: Elementary and Secondary level Emotional Support Teachers and/or Guidance Counselors will collaborate to create a scope and sequence of skills and goals to support students with emotional needs across the district. It is intended that this session lay the groundwork for further development of specific goals, collective resources, consistency in instruction, and collaboration within the social-emotional programming.
Location: GVHS B123
Presenter(s): Stephanie Bolden
Session Description: K-12 Counselors will plan our Spring Act 339 Presentation
Location: A121
Presenter(s): Lauren Hopkins & Greg Hilden
Session Description: The objective of this session is to provide teachers with strategies and interventions to assist students struggling academically. The strategies and interventions would align with those typically utilized in a pre-referral process for special education services. Teachers will work with current research in order to identify best practices with regard to academic interventions. Upon completion of this session teachers will have created a resource document for reference.
Location: GVHS B126
Presenter(s): Carin Zecca & Christine Gumpert
Session Description: This session will focus on the appropriate and authentic use of online assessments as well as alternative assessments to the standard paper and pencil test. Bring materials with you to work on and come ready to learn how to maximize the use of your assessments.
Location: GVHS B122
Presenter(s): Jeanne Flanagan & Tanya Geier
Session Description: Elementary teachers will gain knowledge about diverse titles that can be added to their classroom libraries and learn tools to help them analyze their classroom libraries' needs.
Location: GVHS B128
Presenter(s): Patty Lafferty, Liz Murphy, Kyle Croll, John Huber
Session Description: Do you want your computer to run faster? Need some additional love and care? Documents not loading fast enough? A most likely cause is an outdated operating system and updates. Our tech department will facilitate a session to help teachers learn how to best troubleshoot and update their device. This session will also install the newest Adobe Pro software and Virus Protection.
If you sign up for this session, YOU MUST UPDATE YOUR LAPTOP TO THE NEWEST OPERATING SYSTEM “10.15 - CATALINA,” PRIOR TO THE SESSION.
1. Make sure you have your computer plugged in and charging during this update.
2. Backup any important files or data to Google Drive.
3. To update your operating system, click system preferences and then click software update and update to Catalina.
NOTE: This update can take an hour or more, so please plan accordingly. Also, there may be some software compatibility issues after the upgrade, but we will assist with these at the session.
You will receive an email from the presenters prior to this session, but please see your building Tech Support if you need assistance or have any questions.
Location: GVHS Library VR Area
Presenter(s): Sam Mormando and Erin Cleary
Session Description: Join us to see how Virtual Reality (VR) can be used in all classrooms and in all content areas. This session will review how VR is currently being used in K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 classrooms and give participants lots of hands-on experiences using the newest equipment. Studies show schools that provide opportunities to interact with VR have students that are better engaged, are more active in the learning process, and retain key concepts due to the combination of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning formats.
Location: GVHS A115
Presenter(s): Tim Murray & Tara Allen
Session Description: Participants will review texts and responses to text that will help them help their students see possibilities to make a difference in the world.
Location: GVEC Board Room
Presenter(s): Marc Bertrando
Session Description: Through watching this movie, participants will learn how trailblazers in pediatrics, education, and social welfare are using cutting-edge science and field-tested therapies to protect children from the insidious effects of toxic stress—and the dark legacy of a childhood that no child would choose. For more info on the movie: https://kpjrfilms.co/resilience
Location: GVHS A118
Presenter(s): Kim Hassel-Kloss & Ashley Leach
Session Description: Participants will learn to identify different behavioral levels and the response/intervention that is appropriate for each. There will be opportunities to practice skills to avoid, decelerate, and/or de-escalate crisis situations.
Location: GVHS A117
Presenter(s): Jenn Lavender
Session Description: Participants will explore strategies to maintain cohesion in a blended class. Current or future blended teachers will explore ideas and apps that help build and maintain a sense of community that fosters collaboration and partnerships in this type of class format. Current blended teachers can share their own best practices with the group.
Location: GVHS A116
Presenter(s): Daniel Provence and Tyler Lonergan
Session Description: How can we get our students more engaged in their own learning? Research shows student involvement in the learning process is vital to success. Students should be setting goals, tracking their progress, and reflecting on their journey as learners. During this presentation, participants will discover more about individualized student goal-setting as well as student-led conferences.
Location: GVHS B120
Presenter(s): Kimberly Griego-Boruch and Joe Brangiel
Session Description: Getting to Know AP Classroom will be a work session for AP teachers to explore the new tools provided by the College Board. The session will include a tour of the AP Classroom and discussion about how to use these tools effectively with students.
Location: GVHS Library Quiet Study Area (Behind Glass)
Presenter(s): Kevin Finan
Session Description: Participants will be introduced to mindfulness and discussion of potential misconceptions. There will also be time set aside for gratitude and self-compassion practices.
Location: GVHS B123
Presenter(s): Jonathan Jasper & Renee Tracewell
Session Description: We will be presenting on some strategies that we learned during our time at the Teachers College on their reading and writing workshop. We will provide a brief overview of the conference, present strategies to enhance reading workshop conferences, allow time to create toolkits, and discuss and share the many benefits of utilizing graphic novels in the classroom.
Location: GVHS B122
Presenter(s): Marissa Kimmel & Outside Speak Up Facilitator
Session Description: Speak Up! is a night event held on March 31st where students, parents, and educators come together to discuss difficult topics in the lives of teens. The night is planned by the students and what they find are the most difficult things to talk to adults about. Each break out group is facilitated by a professional facilitator and teachers who are interested in attending the event will have the option to co-facilitate a break out group with a professional facilitator. The purpose of this training is to allow teachers the opportunity to learn valuable skills associated with having open and honest conversations.
Teachers who attend the Speak Up night event will receive Professional Development Flex!
Location: GVHS Auditorium
Presenter(s): Heather Arters
Session Description: Every other performance profession prepares people by practicing and breaking things down into sections but in teaching, most of what we tell teachers is cerebral with no chance to practice with peers before "presenting" it to an audience (students). By practicing good teaching methods in front of other teachers, a teacher can begin to embody good habits and feel successful at once difficult classroom tasks. Ultimately, professional development should make teachers feel that they can perform their jobs better, not merely know cerebrally what they should do differently.
Location: GVHS Cafeteria
Presenter(s): Joseph Kingsborough & Tony Sivo
Session Description: Stop the Bleed is intended to encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to assist in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives.