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.

New Organization and Upcoming Event: Western Southern Tier Council for the Social Studies

Headed by the folks at our local Teaching American History grant in Jamestown, a new chapter of the New York State Council for the Social Studies has been formed.  Named the Western Southern Tier Council for the Social Studies, the organization covers counties from Chautauqua in the west to Tompkins in the east. 

Because of geography, a lot of things will be done on line, which will provide some great opportunities for teachers across a wider region to communicate with each other.  The site is not complete yet, but if it’s anything like the Teaching American History site, it will be very well done.

The first conference is scheduled for this fall in Ellicottville on Friday and Saturday morning, November 9 & 10.  Some very good events and speakers are planned. 

To access the site and the conference flyer, go to the site here:

Western Southern Tier Council for the Social Studies

For all you social studies teaches who don’t have the local Teaching American History site bookmarked, here’s your chance:

Teachers Discovering History As Historians