Professional Learning Teams (PLTs)

Staying

TRU: Teaching for What Matters

Facilitators: MƒA Master Teachers Abbie Sewall and Mathew Sullivan

TUESDAYS, FEB 14, MAR 21, APR 25, MAY 30 MƒA 

INQUIRY, PRACTICE, AND LEADERSHIP

How might we use the Teaching for Robust Understanding (TRU) framework to better plan for authentic student engagement? Have you ever designed and taught something you thought was great, only to be mystified when it didn’t work out quite how you’d hoped? In this PLT, we will explore how the TRU Framework can be used as a tool to improve our lessons, enrich our classrooms, and make us more effective teachers. We’ll begin our work together by reflecting on our teaching practices through the lens of the TRU framework. In the next session, we’ll share artifacts from our classrooms including lessons, video clips, and student work as we discuss ways to improve our curricula and our practice as a whole. In session three, we will use what we’ve learned to build better lessons, activities, and routines with the goal of classroom implementation. In our final session, we will share additional classroom artifacts and discuss how we might continue to incorporate this work into our planning, future PLTs at MƒA, and within our school communities. All teachers are welcome.

STEM Strategies for Multilingual Learners p

Facilitators: MƒA Master Teachers Izagma Alonso and Luna Ramirez

MONDAYS, FEB 6, MAR 13, APR 17, MAY 15 ONLINE  INQUIRY, PRACTICE, AND LEADERSHIP

How might we engage and support our multilingual learners (MLs)? MLs are not just learning your subject but are also navigating the nuances of a new language.

Join us as we explore strategies designed to specifically meet the needs of and support MLs in their content and language acquisition. In each session, we will discuss, test, reflect on, and refine strategies for MLs and leave with the resources and knowledge needed for classroom implementation. Teachers can seamlessly embed these strategies into any STEM content without taking time away from the syllabus. Likewise, while specifically designed to support MLs, the strategies we collaborate on will enhance content knowledge for all students. The purpose is to support MLs while helping all students master the content. All teachers are welcome—whether you are a seasoned educator or just starting this fantastic adventure, we all encounter students of various language fluencies that need different approaches to the materials.

Teacher as Writer

Facilitators: MƒA Master Teachers Lauren Brady and Brooke Sossin

TUESDAYS, FEB 28, MAR 28, MAY 2, JUN 6 ONLINE  INQUIRY, PRACTICE, AND LEADERSHIP

How might we create space to nurture our creativity and unique voice while also mastering the art of feedback and revision? As teachers, we do a lot of obligatory writing, including lesson plans, emails, and letters of recommendation—and we are constantly trying to improve our delivery of feedback. In this PLT, we will approach writing as a restorative practice and a means for creative expression. Join us in this safe and supportive community as we develop our communication skills by refining our written work and providing feedback to others. In our first session, we will break down the elements of strong writing based on our favorite works, establish the norms of a writing workshop, introduce a feedback protocol, and share our first original piece of writing (on any subject). In sessions two and three, we will start with a theme of interest (e.g., publishing or revision strategies), then continue to share work and implement our feedback protocol, all while refining the workshop process. In our final session, we’ll use the feedback protocol on a fourth original work and close with an “open mic” to celebrate our progress. Not only will we improve our writing, but we will also elevate our classroom practice by refining our delivery of feedback as well as our process of revision. All genres of writing and experience level are welcome.

Teaching Calculus

Facilitators: MƒA Master Teachers Lisa Bueno and Ben Morgenroth

MONDAYS, FEB 6, MAR 13, APR 17, MAY 15 ONLINE

 MATHEMATICS

How might we support our Calculus students to build connections between conceptual understanding and solving problems effectively and efficiently? Join us in this PLT as we explore calculus content, problems, and effective pedagogical techniques through resource sharing, discussion, and collaborative analysis. We will