Teacher Center - Events & Opportunities

Click here for the flyer (Word document).

 The Teacher Center and BOCES Present:
2 Project Look Sharp Workshops
February 28 and March 27
www.projectlooksharp.org Both workshops will be held at the Olean BOCES center on Windfall Road in Olean. 

Project Look Sharp is a highly regarded media literacy program sponsored by Ithaca College.  The Teacher Center hired Project Look Sharp two years ago.  The program received very high reviews, so we’re highly recommending these workshops.

 Thursday Feb. 28:  8:30-2:45     Appropriate for grade 6-12 teachers, librarians, and specialistsProject Look Sharp Workshop: Youth Culture and New Technologies:  Literacy for the 21^st CenturyLimited to 30 participants. IM, FaceBook, wikis, gaming: How are students using new communication media, why are they so popular, what are our concerns, and what are the implications for our classrooms? This interactive workshop will expose educators to information, influences, concerns and opportunities related to new technologies and evolving forms of youth culture.  We will explore current teen media use, share curriculum integration resources, and discuss implications for our classrooms.  Thursday March 27:  8:30-2:45   Appropriate for K-6 teachers, librarians and specialists.Project Look Sharp Workshop:Integrating Media Literacy and Critical Thinking into the Elementary Curriculum Award-winning teacher and author Chris Sperry will introduce the theory and practice of integrating 21^st century literacy skills into your classroom. This interactive workshop will present models from different subject areas and grade levels and help participants to conceptualize approaches and materials for their classrooms.  Biography:Chris Sperry is the Director of Curriculum and Staff Development for Project Look Sharp.  He has taught social studies, English and media studies in Ithaca, New York, for over 25 years.  He is the author of numerous curriculum kits including All Our Families and Seeing Africa.  He was the 2005 National PTA and Cable Leaders in Learning award winner for media literacy. To register:Email the Teacher Center at catcdirector@yahoo.com.

You can email or call the Teacher Center at 716-376-8381.

NYS Teacher Center Online Academy Winter-Spring 2008   <<<<Click here.
These are courses offered through the Rockland Teacher Center and available to all NYS teachers.

Click here for flyer.
Due to several requests for Step-Up to Writing trainings, we are offering grade level workshops here at the BOCES Center at Blue Bird Square,  from 8:30 - 2:30 pm.  Facilitated time will be available during the afternoon for teachers to integrate Step-Up strategies into their classroom procedures.
Have your Curriculum Coordinator register your teachers by contacting Laurie:
Laurie_Sledge@caboces.org
716.376.8357
Please be advised that districts are responsible for the cost of all Step Up materials: approximately $120 per binder or $300 per classroom set. 
Eisenhower funds may be available for a source of funding.  For more information or questions on funding, please contact Barb Van Wicklin (716) 376-8321

Mary Morris
CA BOCES ISS
(716) 376-8331

Sign-Up Deadline: October 31, 2007

Register your school to participate in Poetry Out Loud!   Administered by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the New York State Alliance for Arts Education (NYSAAE) and sponsored by Time Warner Cable, Poetry Out Loud provides a new and exciting channel for learning in high school English and Theater classrooms by inviting the dynamic aspects of classic world literature and charismatic public speaking into English and theater classes. Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest was created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation to encourage high school students to read a wide range of literature, building an understanding of texts and the world around them. Poetry Out Loud also helps students to master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.  Moreover, Poetry Out Loud satisfies NCTE English Language Arts Standards. 

Upon registration, teachers will receive dynamic teaching tools that will invoke students’ excitement about literature and poetry recitation, including sample lesson plans, audio CDs of poets reciting their own famous works, publicity materials for school competitions, and a DVD of winning student performances from the 2007 Poetry Out Loud National Finals.

Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure that begins in the classroom. Through January 16th, classroom- and school-level competitions will take place across the state. The winners from school-level competitions will advance to regional competitions.  From there, winners will go on to compete at the New York State finals, to be held in Albany, NY on March 13th (snow date March 14th).

The state-level winner will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip with a chaperone to Washington, DC to participate in the National Finals in late April 2008.  The winner will also receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books for his or her school library.  A runner-up will receive $100, with $200 for his or her school library.

If you would like to bring Poetry Out Loud to your high school, please sign up by October 31, 2007.  Learn more about Poetry Out Loud  by visiting www.nysaae.org/appinfo.htm or contact Lainy Slyder at lainy@nysaae.org for further information.