The summer edition of Core Connection is available online and has been distributed to every constituent educator through our Building Ambassador network.

Elementary and Intermediate Testing Dates

2010–11 School Year New Elementary- and Intermediate-level Testing Schedule announced by David Abrams, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Standards, Assessment and Reporting

Testing Schedule

The NGA Center and CCSSO released the first official draft of the college- and career-readiness standards. Feedback on the draft is being accepted until October 21, 2009. Please click here to view the standards.

Coordinators: Capital Region BOCES, and the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center, in collaboration with Hamilton Fulton Montgomery BOCES have developed a six day institute to provide instruction on designing and facilitating strategic professional learning.

Location: Capital Region BOCES, 900 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12205

Dates/Times:  8:30AM -3:30PM

August 17, 18, 19, 2010 (Tues.-Thurs.) – Registration on day 1 at 8:00 AM

October 19, 20, 21, 2010 (Tues.-Thurs.)

Event Description: The Institute will be led by a nationally recognized expert from the National Staff Development Council, Dr. Lea Arnau. On-site follow up will be conducted by experienced facilitators from the greater Capital Region Teachers Center, Capital Region BOCES and Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES.

Heather Adams, Capital Region BOCES, 464-3995 & Carol Forman-Pemberton, Greater Capital Region Teacher Center, 399-7545

Questions about registration: 

Ronda Kearns, Capital Region BOCES, rkearns@gw.neric.org  (518) 464-3983

The Tech Valley Teacher Externship Program provides middle- and high-school teachers with first-hand work experience at technology companies. The program is designed to expose teachers to careers in the math, science and technology fields, and educate them about the skills that are needed for the future workforce in Tech Valley.

The program runs from four to six weeks, depending upon the needs of the company, and will provide teachers with the opportunity to work side-by-side with leaders in cutting edge technology companies from throughout the region. Teachers will be paid at stipend of $3,500, for a full-time working schedule, and will be granted professional credit.

The Teacher Externship Program has established itself as a highly sought professional development experience.
Externship Program Description and Application Information
If you are a teacher and are interested in the program for the summer of 2010, contact Amanda Corneau at  518.431.1436  518.431.1436 . DEADLINE EXTENDED!

Gov. Paterson will visit Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School (Albany CSD) for a Town Hall Meeting to provide information and answer questions for our entire community regarding New York State ' s preparations for a possible re-emergence of H1N1 influenza during the upcoming flu season. This event will begin Gov.
Paterson’ s statewide awareness tour to inform parents and all New Yorkers about this important topic. 2:30 p.m.

Dr. David Milton Steiner, elected New York State Education Commissioner, July 2009, See NYSED.GOV

The Greater Capital Region Teacher Center Effective Teaching Program provides funding to enable educators to develop useful activities aimed at improving learning and teaching. These activities provide instructional or professional development resources which are available to colleagues for loan through the GCRTC Resource Collection. The GCRTC Resource Collection is a library for teachers and educators containing over 800 outstanding teacher-created projects on all aspects of education. These projects, created through funding from the GCRTC Effective Teaching Program, are available by request online at www.teachercenter.org in a database catalog titled GCRTC Resource Collection Guide.

The GCRTC Effective Teaching Program is open to any educator associated with a private or public district, school, or institution affiliated with GCRTC. Funding is designated to support teachers seeking unique professional growth opportunities and not to substitute for a school district’s obligation to provide staff development activities. A certain percentage of projects awarded each round will be those addressing an annually established theme. There is no restriction on the number of proposals an applicant may submit. GCRTC must reject applications identical to or closely resembling those funded previously and already housed in the GCRTC Resource Collection.

GCRTC Effective Teaching Project Applications are due May 7, 2010. Download application forms at:

http://www.teachercenter.org/programs/grant-center/documents/2010WEBGRANTRFP.pdf

Projects will be funded on a competetive basis pending funding of New York State Teacher Centers.

Instruction for Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE)- Contact BETAC for info.

STEM 2010 Expo

A Sharing of Best Practices for 21st Century K-12 Teaching and Learning in the Tech Valley Region

Register online at www.bscsd.org

Friday, March 26, 2010

 Ballston Spa High School

Registration tables/refreshments at 7:00 AM; Conference begins promptly at 8:00 AM

This conference is a regional initiative sponsored by Ballston Spa Schools in partnership with other agencies, organized through the spirit of sharing best practices to promote high quality professional development in K-12 STEM teaching and learning and Tech Valley workforce readiness.

Conference registration is free of charge for all attendees. In partnership with business, industry, government and higher education, please join us spending a day with colleagues to discuss the importance of current STEM teaching practices, learning what works in our region's classrooms and examining workforce needs in the heart of New York's Tech Valley.

ENRICH YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF EAST ASIA!

History, Social Studies, Art, English/Language Arts Teachers, and Media Specialists are INVITED TO APPLY

National Consortium for Teaching about Asia (NCTA) Seminar - Expanded Participation blended ONLINE AND LIVE PROGRAM

This seminar, organized and sponsored by the Five College Center for East Asian Studies is funded by the Freeman Foundation and hosted by the School of Education at Union Graduate College and the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center.

The seminar meets over a series of seven Saturdays from 9:00 – 3:00 and will consist of in-class and live web-based presentations. Speakers will include Asia experts from local colleges as well as presenters from the Five College Center. Twenty-five Capital Region teachers will participate in a combination face-to-face and online seminar. Teachers outside the Capital Region will participate live online using WebEx software. For more information or an application email Catherine Snyder at the Union Graduate College School of Education at snyderc@uniongraduatecollege.edu.

Application deadline extended. APPLY IMMEDIATLY!

Participants Receive the following BENEFITS:

• $200 in materials and texts for the seminar are provided.
• $500 stipend over the course of the two year program.
• Graduate credit is available for a small fee.
• $300 mini-grant to school district for curricular resources.
• Eligible to apply for a study tour in 2011 (pending funding).

Requirements:

• Participants must attend all sessions either face-to-face or online.
• Participants must complete an implementation plan at the end of the seminar series, oversee the selection and placement of the mini-grant, and attend a required follow-up session in early 2011.
• Participants must teach a course where East Asian can be covered and must plan to stay in teaching for at least three more years.

SCHEDULE:

East Asian Philosophy - January 9 (meet in Schenectady), Chinese History and Culture - January 23 (online), Contemporary China - Feb 6 (online), Reunion Day with NCTA Alumni (Capital Region participants only) - Feb 27, Ancient and Contemporary Japan - Mar 13 (meet in Schenectady), Korean History - Mar 27 (online), Geography - Apr 10 (meet in Schenectady).

Call 518-525-2659 for info. See Grants Center for details and application.

GCRTC announces the Learning in the Learning Profession Partnership Project opportunities.

APPLICATION DEADLINE MARCH 26.

GCRTC proposes to award each professional learning project up to $2000 for the design and development of projects and programs that improve professional practice and student learning. All Partnership Awardee's will be required to attend an implementation and assessment seminar on Thursday, April 29, 2010 prior to being awarded funds.

Download your Learning in the Learning Profession Application (RFP)here

One day introduction providing tools and strategies for all educators implementing Service Learning projects.

Participants will leave this workshop with tools, strategies and enthusiasm to begin a KIDS model service-learning project in their school and community.

Objectives:   

To understand the difference between the KIDS model of SL and other community-oriented educational experiences

To learn about a variety of SL projects and see the benefits of SL

To learn the steps in a KIDS service-learning project

To understand how to start a KIDS model service-learning project

To understand the importance of community partners

Participants new to Service Learning will understand what it is, learn content area project ideas, and how to balance academic integrity and student ownership. They will learn approaches to solving community needs and problems with 'Three Pathways to Solutions.' Participants will receive the book, 'KIDS as Planners'

Location: University at Albany - East Campus, Rensselaer, NY

Date: December 5, 2009

Time: 8:30-3:30; 7 hrs. inservice

Code: IS 3269

This workshop is supported by grant funding from the Education Department.  There is no fee; however, registration is required by Deadline: December 1st.  Space is limited so register early!

Register for this course

The New Teachers' Mini-Grant Deadline has been EXTENDED!

Since School had a Late Start and Since the GCRTC Moved, the Deadline for the Application has been Extended until the First Friday in November.

This enables all new teachers with one to five years of teaching experience to still write their application for a grant to enhance their teaching. Don't delay! Apply now or call Vickie Parker, 525-2659 for more information.

Fall 2009 GCRTC

New Teachers’ Mini-Grant

Deadline for Application: First Friday in November, 2009

Awards Announced: Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Due Date for Final Project: First Friday in June

This workshop will provide elementary school teachers with the tools they can use to teach science concepts. Experiments tied to lesson plans will be demonstrated and teachers will receive materials including the experiment lesson plans and presentation power points on a CD. Additional support will be provided throughout the school year as teacher workshop participants will become part of the 'Adopt a Scientist' initiative and will be able to ask a scientist questions about science concepts or career issues.

Some of the experiments, in biology, include 'sugar rush', isolating isopods, and mealworm metamorphosis. Chemistry experiments include chromatography separations, 'slime making' and 'elephant toothpaste.'

For further information, contact Karen Fox, Project Manager, Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce

p.(518) 431-1435, karenf@acchamber.org. Oct 22 (Thurs) 4-6 PM.

Contact your Union President to register

Activities and discussions designed for new mentor teachers. 15 hours, inservice.

Mentor teachers are exemplary classroom teachers who are able to model excellent instructional practice. Their role is challenging and complex and demands particular support and assistance. As instructional leaders, mentors are asked to acclimate new teachers to the culture of their schools and communities, serve as sponsors, coaches and guides and give objective feedback about their teaching.

This program will offer information and assistance for those involved in mentoring. Topics will include:

• understanding and articulating the role of the mentor
• phases and stages of teacher development
• identifying new teacher needs
• characteristics of adult learners and learning styles
• coaching and conferencing new teachers and differentiating support strategies
• recognizing attributes that are essential in building a successful mentor/new teacher relationship, and more....

Dates: (Mon.) September 21 & (Tues.) September 22

Location: GCRTC, University at Albany - East Campus

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4p.m. 15 hrs. / 1 inservice credit

Instructor: Alexia Ryan, GCRTC Coordinator of Induction, Mentoring and New Teacher Programs

Code: IS 3210

Register for this course