Kerry L. MacDonald

Digital Portfolios:

This course will explore Google Sites as a Digital Portfolio tool. Participants will discuss different ways portfolios can be incorporated into the learning experience, examine models of websites used to create student portfolios and create a portfolio template that can be shared with students. This course will review basic features of creating a Google Site, so prior Sites experience is not required.

Literature Circles For Grownups:

Join us as we practice common literature circle activities that are used with our students. For this course, we will flip the script and discuss a bestselling book for adults! Participants will practice taking on different learner centered literature circle roles, practicing discussion techniques, and experimenting with different activities. For this session, the chosen book will be The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Participants should have read the book in its entirety prior to this session.

Newsela for ELA Content:

New this year! All ELA teachers in grades 5-12 will have access to Newsela’s English Language Arts content. These expanded resources include numerous selections of fiction and nonfiction texts, as well as poetry, opinion, multimedia and primary sources. Participants will explore how to access these materials and how to align these new resources with the current curriculum. Prior experience with Newsela is suggested but not required.

Creating Effective Teacher Teams:

This course will help individual and teams of teachers work more effectively together. Participants will examine the importance of strong teacher teams in schools. We will discuss the benefits and challenges of working as part of a team, and analyze our own personality styles to recognize what we bring to a partnership or group. Participants will gain strategies to create effective teams that will foster a strong, empowered, and positive educational environment for students.

Google Classroom:

This workshop will guide teachers through using Google Classroom with their students, focusing specifically on changes and updates that have been made since last year. Teachers will learn how to create classes, have their students join, use the class stream, and post assignments, announcements and materials. Teachers will also be able to discuss and determine the level of student involvement in their Google Classroom page.

Google Sites

This workshop will guide teachers through the creation of an effective teacher site. We will discuss the purpose of a teacher website, look at different ways teachers use their websites and review the basics of creating a teacher site.

Responsive Classroom

This workshop will guide teachers through the initiation of Responsive Classroom strategies. Teachers will experience effective Morning Meeting activities, discuss the positive benefits of Responsive Classroom, and work collaboratively with colleagues to create a framework for the coming school year.

Student Goal Setting and Conferencing

This workshop will focus on how teachers can begin goal setting with their students and how to effectively conference about that goals throughout the year. Strategies for leading discussions, providing feedback, creating rubrics and utilizing portfolios will be shared.

*This workshop was presented in collaboration with Leaders in Learning colleagues

Fun With Forms

This workshop is designed to guide teachers through the basic creation of a Google Form, exploring the different ways forms can be used in the classroom. Participants will review how to create and customize forms to suit their needs. This workshop will also explore how forms can be used as online quizzes for students and as a way to quickly collect, sort and analyze data.