"Engaging High Achieving Students in the Classroom" Workshop

Activity: "Engaging High Achieving Students in the Classroom"
Place: IS 145 Teacher Center Room 258
Time: 2:40 - 4:40 PM
Dates: 8 Sessions on Tuesdays - February 2 & 9, March 2 & 9, April 13 & 20, May 4 & 11

There is limited seating so applicants will be taken on a first-come basis. Training rate of $19.12 will be paid per hour. Teachers who sign up will be expected to attend all 8 sessions. Teachers will inter-visit classrooms to support and discuss the strategies and will use ARIS community for discussion purposes.

Our objectives will include:
· Learn to recognize the characteristics of high achieving students
· create lessons that include strategies to engage the higher achieving student
· differentiate for all the students in their classroom
· learn techniques to group students to accelerate learning

SEE KELLY RUSSELL IN ROOM 258 TO SIGN UP NO LATER THAN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST.

Curriculum Topic Study for Educators at the Museum of Natural History

Curriculum Topic Study at the Museum is a day-long class designed to help K-12 educators focus on what adults and students at all grade levels should know about specific scientific content areas.

Each session focuses on a different science topic. You will learn:
about the science content you teach;
how a developmentally appropriate grade-level hierarchy of concepts leads to adult science literacy; ways to take advantage of AMNH media and exhibits;
how local standards and curriculum relate to national standards and benchmarks;
effective strategies for teaching concepts and skills;
how to identify potential learning difficulties, common misconceptions, and developmental considerations; how to use curriculum topic study as an effective tool for curriculum design.

Cost is: $35 per participant. Includes a light breakfast and lunch.

For more information and to sign up: http://www.amnh.org/education/teachers/program.php?id=437

UFT Declares Impasse in Contract Negotiations

The UFT, saying that talks to replace its expired contract had reached an impasse, asked the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) on Jan. 15 to intervene in the negotiations.
If PERB finds that an impasse exists, the state agency will appoint a mediator to bring the sides together. If mediation fails, PERB would then appoint a fact-finding panel to hold hearings and make a recommendation for a settlement.
UFT President Michael Mulgrew said, “Despite weeks of meetings and discussions, we have not been able to make real progress in our efforts to reach a new contract with the Department of Education. The UFT has no choice but to reach out to a neutral third party to help resolve the differences that are preventing us from a new agreement that is fair to our members and to the parents and children who rely on the New York City public schools.”
At the request of the 300-member negotiating committee, the DA passed a resolution at its November meeting that authorized the union leadership to file for impasse if necessary.
The UFT's most recent contract was a two-year pact that expired Oct. 31, 2009.
If mediation were to fail, a fact-finding panel would have three appointees. Fact-finding produces non-binding recommendations designed to help the parties craft a final settlement.
Under the Taylor Law that governs relations between management and public employee labor unions, wages, benefits and all other provisions of contracts continue in place until new agreements are reached, including during the impasse/mediation/fact-finding process.
Three times in the last 17 years — in 2005, 2002 and 1993 — the recommendations of fact-finding panels have helped the UFT and the DOE/city reach agreements to replace expired teacher contracts.

To read the remainder of the article, go to: http://www.uft.org/news/issues/press/uft_declares_impasse_in_contract_negotiations/

Taking Action: Larry King Live - How You Can Help the People of Haiti

LARRY KING LIVE - HAITI: HOW YOU CAN HELP
As relief efforts to aid victims of Tuesday’s earthquake gather momentum, CNN’s Larry King Live airs a two-hour special Monday night (8pm ET) on how you can help. Below are some organizations specifically helping Haiti. Full Haiti Coverage Tips to Giving Feeding Haiti How to Help Haiti

An International Red Cross spokesman warned that up to 3 million people may have been affected by Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti. Below are some organizations specifically helping Haiti. Full Coverage Tips to Giving Feeding Haiti
-->• More details on how you can help: Who's doing what, how you can contribute • More aid reaching quake victims • Watch out for scams • Mia Farrow: What you can do for Haiti's children • Social networks, texts fuel Haiti fundraising • Stay informed: Follow Impact Your World on Twitter
How you can help:In addition to providing emergency relief, these organizations are providing the following aid to those in need:
Providing Basic Needs:• AMERICAN RED CROSS • UNICEF • CLINTON BUSH HAITI FUND • CARE • OXFAM AMERICA • SAVE THE CHILDREN • UNITED NATIONS FOUNDATION/CERF • ADRA International • Adventist Development and Relief Agency • American Jewish World Services • Catholic Relief Services • Church World Service • Concern Worldwide • Episcopal Relief & Development • Evangelical Lutheran Church in America • International Relief Teams • International Rescue Committee • God's Littlest Angels • Kids Alive International • Lions Clubs International • Love a Child • Mercy & Sharing • Mercy Corps • Operation Blessing International • Population Services International • Project Hope • Samaritan's Purse • Salesian Missions • United Way Worldwide • World Concern • World Neighbors • World Vision • World Relief • Yéle Haiti
Providing Shelter: • Habitat for Humanity International • International Organization for Migration • Pan American Relief • Shelterbox Providing Medical Aid: • PARTNERS IN HEALTH • INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS • American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee • Americares • Catholic Medical Mission Board • Cure International • Direct Relief International • Doctors Without Borders • Friends of the Orphans • Haitian Health Foundation • Healing Hands for Haiti • Heart to Heart International • Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti • International Child Care• IMA World Health• MAP International • Medical Teams International • MedShare • MerlinUSA • Operation Smile• Operation USA • Project Medishare • World Health Organization Providing Food: • WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME • Action Against Hunger • Compassion International • Food For the Hungry • Food for the Poor • The Salvation Army • World Water Relief
Organizations accepting international currencies: • The International Committee of the Red Cross • British Red Cross • UK: The Disasters Emergency Committee • The French Red Cross • UK: Merlin • Germany Red Cross • Italian Red Cross • Ireland: Concern Worldwide • Oxfam Great Britain • Plan Canada

WELCOME

I'd just like to welcome everyone at IS 145 to the Joseph Pulitzer IS 145 UFT Teacher Center Blog. The purpose of this blog is to keep an open line of communication to professional development offered in our building as well as outside opportunites, websites of interest, and school & UFT news.

I look forward to having you drop in for a visit.