Educator Enrichment Express

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Issue 6

Visit us at rvaconnect.org

Happy New Year!  We hope you all had a wonderful holiday break and that your new year is off to a wonderful start.  We hope you had time to relax and renew, and that you are rejuvenated for the second half of the school year.

 

This Educator Enrichment Express newsletter is your regular dose of tips, insights, and inspiration on the latest trends and timeless practices in education.  

 

From AI for educators to social-emotional learning to educator well-being and so much more, we bring you practical strategies and fresh perspectives to enhance your educator journey.

Join us for one or both of these free, virtual professional development offerings this month.

 

Restorative Practices Training

*Transform Your Classroom and School Culture: 5-Week Restorative Practices Series

 

Looking to build stronger classroom communities and reduce disciplinary issues? Join our dynamic 5-week professional development series on Restorative Practices – the evidence-based approach that's revolutionizing school climate and student relationships.

 

These trainings are being offered from 3:30-4:15 PM on the following Wednesdays: 1/29, 2/12, 2/26, 3/12, 3/26.  The trainings will be concise and action-packed 45-minute sessions designed to fit your busy schedule.

 

What you'll gain:

Practical strategies to reduce behavioral incidents and increase instructional time

Tools to build authentic relationships and foster student accountability

Methods to address conflicts before they escalate

Skills to empower students as leaders in peer resolution

Perfect for: K-12 teachers, administrators, counselors, and support staff seeking effective alternatives to traditional discipline.  This training is being offered to educators who attended our 2024 Restorative Practices Training, in addition to educators who did not!

 

*This five part series starts Wednesday, January 29th at 3:30-4:15pm.  Our first focus of the series restorative practices: empathy, honest expression, asking questions, art of requests, and mindfulness. 

 

*Other training dates are the following Wednesday afternoons: 2/12, 2/26, 3/12, 3/26.

Building Teacher Resilience Training

*Turn teaching challenges into opportunities for growth in this dynamic three-part series. Through interactive sessions and collaboration, you'll develop practical strategies to manage stress, maintain work-life balance, and sustain your passion for education. Join fellow educators in building a personalized toolkit of evidence-based techniques you can implement immediately in your classroom. Whether you're new to teaching or a veteran educator, invest in your professional well-being and discover how to not just survive, but thrive.

*This three-part series to professional wellness kicks off on Thursday, January 30th at 12:00-1:00pm.

*Other training dates are 2/18 and 3/18.

It takes all of us! Join Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz and the District Connect team to further understand poverty for your students in the Poverty Paradigm.

Join us for an immersive and transformative experience designed to deepen your understanding of poverty and its impact on students and families. Our day begins with the Poverty Paradigm Simulation, where participants will step into the shoes of those living in survival mode. Over the course of four intense 15-minute weeks, you will role-play the challenges faced by families on the lower economic scale, gaining first-hand insight into their decision-making processes and daily struggles.

Following the simulation, we will engage in a comprehensive learning session that explores the intricate relationship between poverty and adversity, the brain, the body, and the stress response system.

 Key topics include:

Poverty and Adversity: This is a Brain Issue and Not a Character Issue

Discipline vs. Punishment: Learn how accountability and consequences can build trust and foster resilience in the face of adversity.

Classroom Regulation and Behavior Hacks: Equip yourself with practical strategies to support students with big behaviors.

 

Training will be offered on two different dates, in two different locations:

Friday, February 21, 2025 - 8:30am-3:00pm at Wisconsin Dells High School

Monday, February 24, 2025 - 8:30am - 3:00pm at Flambeau High School

It's not too late to sign up for Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit - a GREAT free online conference for teachers.

The summit includes video presentations from fabulous presenters on topics related to tech and solid teaching and learning. Including previous years’ sessions, you’ll have access to more than 90 video presentations!  The summit ends on January 10th, so hurry to get registered so you have acces to recordings and resources before it's too late! 

 

Get registered for free at: DitchSummit.com.

 

HOW IT WORKS: New presentations are released every day. They remain available until the end of the summit so you can re-watch or catch up on any you’ve missed. They’re pre-recorded, so you can watch them whenever you want until the summit closes. After that, the summit ends and the videos are unavailable to watch anymore.

 

FREE PD HOURS: You can get FREE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CREDITS for watching the videos. There’s a form to fill out after each presentation, and you’ll get an automatic PD certificate emailed to you.

 

THIS YEAR’S SPEAKERS: Here’s the lineup for this year …

Trevor MacKenzie (English Teacher, Author: Inquiry Mindset)

Topic: Student curiosity and questioning routines

 

Manny Curiel (Edpuzzle Head of Community, Former Elementary Teacher)

Topic: Perseverance and overcoming setbacks

 

Ed Campos Jr. (Educator, Speaker, Consultant)

Topic: AI and teacher wellness

 

Ken Shelton and Dee Lanier (Authors: The Promises and Perils of AI in Education)

Topic: Cautious steps toward AI implementation

 

Stevie Frank (Learning Integration Specialist, Zionsville Community Schools)

Topic: Student voice through podcasting and more

 

Jorge Valenzuela (Speaker, Author, Educator)

Topic: Project-based and lifelong learning

 

Holly Clark (Author: The AI-Infused Classroom)

Topic: AI literacies for students

 

Students for Innovation (Innovative, Passionate Student Leaders)

Topic: AI in learning and life, student perspective

10. Escape

Looking for a Wisconsin winter escape?  Check out one of these three towns, Bayfield, Cedarburg and Lake Geneva, which all made New York Travel Guides' list of the "110 Coziest Winter Towns in America. 

 

9. Healthy Eating

Try these tips: eat more vegetables and whole grains, eat citrus fruits and bananas, eat soup.  Eat more regularly.  Stay hydrated.  Reduce sugar!

 

8. Quick Exercise

Did you know that even 5 minutes a day can help?  Get moving!

 

7. Only Weekend Exercise?

Too busy during the week - no problem!  Yes, only working out on the weekends helps, too!

 

6. Outdoor Adventure

Try snowshoeing, cross country skiing, ice fishing, ice skating, snowmobiling, sledding, or a nice winter hike!

 

5. Just Hanging in Nature

Get outside - it's good for your brain and blood pressure.

 

4.  Less of this?

Try to eat less processed sugar!

 

3. Practice Mindfulness

Even 5 minutes a day helps!

 

2. Peace of Mind

Did you know - getting organized helps your mental health?!

 

And #1...

JUST DO SOMETHING!  Almost any hobby - birding, collecting, puzzling, skateboarding, cycling, swimming, dancing, learning another language... helps your brain and body!  Have fun!  Delight and surprise yourself!

Melissa Hanson, our Edmentum Representative, will be co-hosting Open Office Hours on the second Tuesday of each month from 11:00–11:45 AM and 3:00–3:45 PM beginning January 14th. This is a great opportunity to bring any questions you have about Edmentum. Ashley will also be available during these times to provide additional support.  

Please connect Ashley Anderson if you are interested in attending or learning more about Edmentum!

 

Please reach out at any time!

cassandra.kulibert@ruralvirtual.org

888-801-2666 ext. 8883