Orleans-Niagara Teacher Center

ONLINE COLLABORATIVE BOOK STUDIES

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SUMMER PROGRAMS - REGISTRATION CLOSES JUNE 20

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B24-18 The Energy Bus for Schools (K-12)

Using Google Classroom and the text, "The Energy Bus for Schools: 7 Ways to Improve your School Culture…" by Jon Gordon, participants will investigate strategies and powerful stories to help build a positive school culture. The book study will focus on 7 ways to improve school culture, decrease negativity, empower students and energize yourself!

7/15-8/5/24, (15 hours, $45), Kari Ernst

 

B24-19 Rooted in Joy (K-12)

Rooted in Joy: Creating a Classroom Culture of Equity, Belonging, and Care by Deonna Smith, is a powerful research-based book that addresses deeply ingrained challenges in school culture while providing practical guidance for navigating daily classroom dynamics. Participants will build a toolbox for cultivating an inclusive and joyful classroom culture while acknowledging the significant roles that culture and race play in the educational system.

7/22-8/11/24, (15 hours, $45), Tina Oddy

 

B24-20 Why Don't Students Like School? (K-12)

Cognitive psychologist Daniel Willingham turns his research on the biological and cognitive basis of learning into workable teaching techniques. It reveals the importance of story, emotion, memory, context, and routine in building knowledge and creating lasting learning experiences. How can you teach students the skills they need when standardized testing just requires facts? Why do students remember everything on TV, but forget everything you say? How can you adjust your teaching for different learning styles? Read this book for the answers to these questions and for practical advice on helping your learners learn better. Discover easy-to-understand, evidence-based principles with clear applications for the classroom.

7/22-8/23/24, (15 hours, $45), Audrey Stafford

 

B24-21 Healthy Teachers, Happy Classrooms (K-12)

How many of us are concerned with teacher burnout? Who needs to work on their physical and emotional well-being? Dr. Marcia Tate delivers 12 brain-based principles for avoiding teacher burnout and increasing health and wellness for teachers. These research-backed strategies will help you thrive personally and professionally. Each chapter digs into the benefits of these self-care and stress management tips and offers suggestions for bringing the practice to life in the classroom to help improve climate and culture.

7/29-8/16/24, (15 hours, $45), Karen Pax

 

B24-22 Daring Greatly (K-12)

In her book, Dr. Brown challenges everything we think we know about vulnerability. Based on twelve years of research, she argues that vulnerability is not weakness but rather, our clearest path to courage, engagement, and meaningful connection. Understanding these concepts can help a teacher in teaching learners and with classroom management. It's an opportunity to dig deep and get real. This book study will have discussion questions, activities, and videos to view. *A PDF of the book will be provided for no cost.

7/29-8/16/24, (15 hours, FREE), Lisa Fletcher

 

B24-23 Teaching In Sync (K-12)

Teachers will participate in a collaborative study based on the book, "Teaching in Sync: The Ultimate Playlist for Co-Teacher Success", by Erica Terry. Participants will use Google docs to answer questions and share information, while they read, and will be able to read and comment on other answers. Together we will learn to foster a harmonious relationship with your co-teacher to select the best co-teaching method to amplify your strengths.

7/29-8/26/24, (15 hours, $45), Amanda Plant

 

B24-24 Social Emotional Learning and the Brain (K-12)

Today's teachers face a daunting challenge: how to ensure a positive school experience for their students, many of whom carry the burden of adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse, poverty, divorce, abandonment, and numerous other serious social issues. Spurred by her personal experience and extensive exploration of brain-based learning, author Marilee Sprenger explains how brain science—what we know about how the brain works—can be applied to SEL.

8/5-88/19/24, (15 hours, $45), Darcy Allender

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NEW COURSE ADDED:

B24-33 Happy Teacher Revolution Online Book Study (K-12)

Happy Teacher Revolution is the summer read you are looking for to learn practical techniques to build self-care practices that prioritize your well-being. Danna Thomas uses her experience as a teacher and latest research to help the reader set boundaries, build self-worth and be a happier person. This book will help you be proactive about your self-care, so you can begin a new school year fresh and ready to take on another year! For more information about the Happy Teacher Revolution, visit their website. August 12-26, 2024, 15 hours, $45 fee, Amy Girard

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FALL PROGRAMS - REGISTRATION CLOSES SEPTEMBER 18

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B24-25 The Morning Meeting Book (K-12)

Participants will explore the practice of Morning Meeting and its four components: Greeting, Sharing, Group Activity, and Morning Message. Morning Meeting is a transformative practice that can change the environment in your classroom and help you build strong relationships with your students- both of which help to make a great place for learning (and teaching) to take place! The book by Kriete and Davis is required.

9/30-10/21/24, (15 hours, $45), Andrea Armstrong

 

B24-26 Bringing Words To Life (K-12)

Grounded in research, this book by Beck, McKeown and Kucan, explains how to select words for instruction, introduce their meanings, and create engaging learning activities that promote both word knowledge and reading comprehension. Participants will use their learning to help students enlarge their vocabulary and get involved in noticing, understanding, and using new words both within and outside the classroom.

10/7-10/28/24, (15 hours, $45), Tammy Roy

 

B24-27 AI in Education (K-12)

In this study, we will use the book by Matt Miller to learn what Artificial Intelligence is; what it means to education; and best practices and strategies for using AI in the classroom.

10/7-10/30/24, (15 hours, FREE), Cheryl Herman

 

B24-28 The Way of Mindful Education (K-12)

With attention spans waning and stress on the rise, many teachers are looking for new ways to help students concentrate, learn, and thrive. This book, by Daniel Rechtschaffen, is a practical guide for cultivating attention, compassion, and well-being not only in these students, but also in teachers themselves. Why Mindful Education Matters, explains what mindfulness is, the science behind its benefits for students and educators, and the inspiring work that is already underway in the Mindful Education movement.

10/14-10/28/24, (15 hours, $45), Summer Chapman

 

B24-29 Tell Your Story: Teaching Students to Become World-Changing Thinkers and Writers (K-12)

In this book, Pam Allyn and Ernest Morrell explores how to help students see themselves as writers and storytellers. Strategies found here will help teachers create an environment that fosters creativity and confidence, demonstrates the value of oral and visual storytelling, has methods of teaching story structure, and offers a variety of exemplars, which will allow students to gain interest and confidence in writing. When we help students unlock their stories they want to tell, their anxiety and resistance toward writing fades.

10/21-11/4/24, (15 hours, $45), Jessica Bruno

 

B24-30 Teach for Authentic Engagement (K-12)

Authentic engagement is a choice students make every day to bring themselves to their learning, work, and relationships—rather than simply go through the motions of school. Through this book by Lauren Porosoff, participants will learn how to design instruction that lets students with diverse interests, strengths, needs, identities, and values connect to their learning. Included are strategies, tools, and classroom anecdotes that help students engage with the content, engage with their work, and engage with each other.

10/21-11/11/24, (15 hours, $45), Lori Hurtgam

 

B24-31 Braiding Sweetgrass (K-12)

“Braiding Sweetgrass”, by Roin Wall Kimmerer, is a call to action that combines memoir, storytelling, and scientific knowledge. The book demonstrates how all living things provide us with gifts and lessons on how to heal ourselves and the world around us for our students, for ourselves, and the generations yet to come. The teachings gained from this book will inspire us to act with generosity, kindness, and empathy and give us resources to incorporate indigenous knowledge and histories into every grade level/content area.

11/4-11/25/24, (15 hours, $45), Melissa Elliott

 

B24-32 The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety: Defining the Path to Inclusion and Innovation (K-12)

Explore workplace psychology while reading the book "The 4 Stages of Psychological Safety: Defining the Path...," by Timothy Clark. Through this study, participants will: dissect crucial stages for fostering inclusion and innovation; gain practical strategies and real-world examples to cultivate psychologically safe environments in classrooms and teams; and understand how psychological safety enhances creativity and collaboration, empowering transformation in professional relationships and student connections.

11/4-11/25/24, (15 hours, $45), Rachel Smith