Educator Enrichment Express

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Issue 7

Visit us at rvaconnect.org

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.

Help us build a better future, one idea at a time!

This is a hands-on STEM event is designed for middle and high school students who love to explore. Participants will engage in a series of exciting and interactive activities throughout the day that will challenge their critical thinking skills, enhance their problem-solving abilities, and inspire creativity.

Join us for a day of hands-on fun and discovery that will leave you inspired and excited about the possibilities of STEM.

Events will be held at:
Barlow Planetarium in Menasha

Middle School, February 20, 2025 (10:00 am - 2:00 pm)

High School, February 21, 2025 (10:00 am - 2:00 pm)

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 started January 29th, but please join us for the remaining four sessions!

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 started January 30th, but please join us for the last two sessions - 2/18 & 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

Diffit is an AI-powered tool that helps teachers create differentiated learning materials for their students. It can: 

*Rewrite text at different reading levels

*Translate content

*Generate definitions and questions

*Provide vocabulary lists

*Create comprehension questions

*Generate open-ended prompts

*Provide references to resources

*Create interactive slides and graphic organizers

 

Diffit can help teachers: Save time generating content, Create differentiated activities, Tailor assessments to the needs of their students, Stimulate classroom discussions, and Promote a deeper understanding of the material. 

 

Check out an informational video here.

Start the new year on the right foot with ‘Just One Step’ — a 30-day New Year Reset for your wellbeing.  'Just One Step' is a 30-day mental health journey to help you recharge, restore, refresh & reconnect. All it takes is Just One Step each day.

Each step is grouped into a weekly theme and has been designed with progression in mind. You’ll start small with short activities then work up to slightly longer practices at the end of the week so you can build your stamina and cultivate habits that last.

Week 1: Recharge

Week 2: Refresh 

Week 3: Restore

Week 4: Reconnect

Week 5: Review

It's already time to start thinking about Summer School... Can you believe it?!  Here is information for each of the three options offered:

 

RVA Live Courses

*Mandatory attendance 

*Summer school 2025 catalog will be updated in early February 

*Most commonly used for credit advancement as these courses are VERY intensive

*Cost: $150 per course

 

Independent Options
Districts may use our independent solutions and locally oversee them throughout the summer months: 

-Odysseyware 

-Edmentum 

-Buzz

*Cost: Regular yearly rates apply

 

Asynchronous Summer School
RVA does not offer oversight for independent courses throughout the summer. However, WEN does offer some oversight for but they are more limited.

*Cost: Regular yearly rates apply

 

Any questions, please contact Ashley Anderson (ashley.anderson@ruralvirtual.org)

 

Please reach out at any time!

cassandra.kulibert@ruralvirtual.org

888-801-2666 ext. 8883