Essential Bulletin for Educators
March 2024
“Look around, everybody on mute.”
It’s a line Beyoncé uses during her performance of “Energy” to get the crowd to go silent, and it’s one teachers have started incorporating into their classroom management practices.
In this two-minute video, one teacher shows how she uses the phrase in her class and talks about the benefits of incorporating pop culture into the classroom to improve student engagement.
Use your time intentionally to rest and recharge.
It’s important to use your time in an intentional way. It’s so easy to get sucked into activities for others’ sake – your kids, your spouse, and so on. But what about you? How can you use this time to rest and reset your mental health? Read the article below for some self-care activities to put on your to-do list!
Teach effectively by creating your own interactive learning experiences - or adopt exemplars made by teachers and Smithsonian experts!
The Smithsonian Learning Lab is a free, interactive platform for discovering millions of digital resources, creating content with online tools, and sharing in the Smithsonian’s expansive community of knowledge and learning. Support deep, meaningful learning for learners of all ages with an online universe of authentic resources and tools for making them your own!
APR Learning Institute for Educators: Strengthening Professional Relationships to Increase Student Success
Join this in-person workshop and discuss how to prioritize conversation topics with colleagues, families, and administrators when advocating for students! Teachers will learn and practice strategies to enhance day-to-day interactions with peers and build healthy professional and productive relationships. Resources and ideas for problem-solving will be shared. Come to this session to refine the tools you already possess and learn new tools to end the year strong!
This Learning Institute will be in-person from 1:00 PM – 4:15 PM at the following locations:
- March 13, 2024 - PaTTAN Central
- March 14, 2024 - PaTTAN East
- March 26, 2024 - PaTTAN West, Midwestern IU 4, Northwest Tri-County IU 5, Appalachia IU 8, Seneca Highlands IU 9, Central Susquehanna IU 16, BLaST IU 17 Canton Office, BLaST IU 17 Williamsport Office, Colonial IU 20, Carbon-Lehigh IU 21, Bucks County IU 22, Montgomery County IU 23, and Schuylkill IU 29
These sessions are part of PaTTAN’s Attract-Prepare-Retain (A-P-R) efforts, and are offered to learn, problem-solve, and share ideas with job-alike colleagues. Together we will create “takeaways” to apply immediately! View the flyer on the A-P-R Repository or click the button below to register on the PaTTAN Training Calendar.
Are you up for the challenge to inspire the next generation of special educators?
Details for the 2024-2026 Developing Future Special Educators Grant will be announced shortly. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) that design and implement programs for secondary and post-secondary students to promote working with students with disabilities and special education career pathways will be eligible to apply for up to $20,000 for the two-year grant. Check the APR Repository often for more information!
COMING SOON: Statewide Required Training of All LEAs and Schools Serving PASA-Eligible Students
Coming soon during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years, the Bureau of Special Education has directed a required training entitled “Building Capacity and Promoting Instruction through PASA DLM."
“Building Capacity and Promoting Instruction through PASA DLM” is intended to build statewide capacity of standards-aligned instruction for students with significant cognitive disabilities through the use of Essential Elements (EEs) and a comprehensive set of DLM instructional resources.
Participants will learn how EEs build a bridge from the general education standards and academic expectations to modified content and expectations for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Instructional and professional developed resources to support lesson and unit planning will be provided. "Building Capacity and Promoting Instruction through PASA DLM" is about instruction, not statewide assessment.
The targeted audience includes:
- LEAs with students eligible for the PASA DLM (Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment Dynamic Learning Maps).
- Special education teachers of PASA DLM-eligible students and designated administrators (designated administrators include those responsible for instructional programming and/or oversight.)
- Additional educational professionals who support instruction for students with significant cognitive disabilities may also participate (e.g., teachers of visual impairment, general education teachers).
Intermediate units (IUs) are providing this training to their school districts and charter schools. Your local IU will provide further information on dates and participant requirements in the near future.
