Current Course Descriptions
2009/2010
The Skillful Teacher:
Understanding Teaching I
Grades K-12
Instructor: Kathy Spencer
4.5 CEUs through USM
Optional graduate credit through Fitchburg State college is available at an additional cost of $255. Graduate credit cost may be reimbursable as per your negotiated contract.
Dates:
Friday, January 15th
Saturday, February 6th
Friday, March 5th
Saturday, March 13th
Friday, March 26th
Saturday, April 10th
8:30 to 3:30
All classes will be held at the York Public Library,
15 Long Sands Road, York
What characterizes schools that make a significant impact on student achievement? How do we help students exert effective effort to meet demanding performance standards? What do communities of skillful teachers do to help students acquire essential skills and knowledge? We will use current research, case studies, collaborative inquiry and problem solving, video clips, and ongoing reflection about our experiments and data to construct powerful understandings about what makes a difference for our own students in our own classrooms.
In this practical, highly interactive course, participants will:
Instructor Kathleen Spencer has served in public education for 35 years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and recent member of the Commission on Public Secondary Schools for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. She has assisted school districts in strategic planning, improvement of instruction, and curriculum development. Her particular areas of interest and expertise include teacher induction, creation and fostering of vital professional learning communities, supervision, and evaluation.
New Teacher Mini-Course Slated for Four Sessions
A mini-course for all new York educators will provide 10 hours of contact time to explore a variety of topics including special education and 504 regulations, technology integration, curriculum and assessment, and teacher certification. This course is designed to support new educators with information and interaction time with their colleagues. It is expected that all new staff will attend these five two-hour after-school sessions from 3:15 to 5:15 at the York School Department Central Office. Classes will be held on Thursday, September 17th; Thursday, November 12th; Tuesday, January 12th; Tuesday, March 9th; and Tuesday, May 11th. Please mark your calendars to avoid conflicts with these dates. On-line registration is currently taking place. To register go to http://osrs.yorkschools.org/Courses/new_record.htm