Page 157 - Microsoft Word - Annual Report 2016

● Mindful, Not Mind Full
● ESL- Making Content Comprehensible
● Close Reading
In addition to courses, teachers have been engaged in various workshops to improve and enhance their
professional skills. Although not exhaustive, the following describe many of the key workshops offered
during the past year.
Tech Talk: The Tech Talk workshop series is currently in its third year. A variety of new topics are being
addressed in addition to many in-demand repeat sessions being offered for those unable to previously
participate. Currently there are many offerings related to Google applications as our teachers work to
more fully utilize Google applications for education. We look to continuously update these workshops,
and continue to focus on improving student learning as a focus of this teacher development opportunity.

W.I.S.E: The W.I.S.E. (Workshops in Education) is in its second year. There are a wide variety of topics
offered related to special education and meeting the needs of diverse learning styles. Sessions take place
weekly throughout the school year and are led by Tri-Town educators.

Professional Development Grant: Both schools received a professional development funding from
BEST and PTO to support teachers in the study of “Effective Use of Teacher Language”. The total
amount received from these two organizations was $15,391.55. Teachers finished working with
consultant Mike Anderson to study this topic using the following two books: The Power of Our Words by
Paula Denton and Mindset by Carol Dweck. This past fall, Mike Anderson came back to Cole and
Spofford Pond Schools to lead workshops on the power of giving students choice in their own learning
using his recent book called Learning to Choose Choosing to Learn.

Science from Scientists: Now in its second year, Spofford Pond School has received $7,500 in funding
through the granting process of BEST and New England BioLabs to support a “scientist-in-residence”
program for grade five students. The students have a year-long relationship with two scientists that lead
the learning in their science classroom twice a month with in-depth and hands on science lab lessons.
These lessons serve to deepen the students’ understanding and knowledge of the fifth grade science
curriculum. This program was a big success in 2015, when it was fully funded by a BEST/New England
BioLabs grant, and will need to be evaluated for full inclusion in the school budget if it is to be
maintained in future years.

Response to Intervention

Teachers and staff at both the Harry Lee Cole School and Spofford Pond School continue to support
students through the Response to Intervention (RTI) process in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. The
RTI program uses district and state assessments, AIMS Web, and teacher recommendations and
observations, to identify struggling learners. We support students with identified needs through additional
targeted math and language arts intervention either by a math coach or reading/literacy specialist, or
writing coach in addition to instruction from the classroom teacher. Math, Reading and Writing
Specialists meet with classroom teachers at regular intervals throughout the year to discuss progress and
revise student goals and plans.

At the Cole School, the “What I Need” (WIN) Block is a 30-minute period each day in which students
receive Differentiated Instruction in the core areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics.
Differentiation is a mindset or philosophy in which the teacher knows the curriculum and standards, has
an understanding of the uniqueness of his or her learners, and then – using an array of instructional