June eBook Top 5 Collection OCM BOCES Instructional Support would highlight these selections from our eBook Professional Library. View Professional eBook Library.

The Principal 50: Critical Leadership Questions for Inspiring Schoolwide Excellence Guides school leaders through 50 self-reflection exercises designed to yield a deeper understanding of the meaning behind the work that they do. Read more

5 Myths About Classroom Technology: How Do We Integrate Digital Tools to Truly Enhance Learning? Explains how you can assess and answer your students' technology needs in terms of access, purpose, and audience. Read more

Differentiation in Middle and High School: Strategies to Engage All Learners Explores how to use differentiated instruction to help students be more successful learners--regardless of background, native language, learning style, motivation, or school savvy. Read more

How to Make Decisions with Different Kinds of Student Assessment Data Identifies the critical elements and nuances of assessment data and how that information can best be used to inform improvement efforts in the school or district. Read more

Real-World Projects: How Do I Design Relevant and Engaging Learning Experiences? Describes how to connect with real-world experts, allies, and audiences; and what practical, field-tested strategies are essential for planning, assessing, and using technology to support successful projects. Read more

June 03, 2016

Does your district have a vision for your graduates? Take a look at this rubric and think about it as your graduates cross the stage. Are they ready?

USDOE has released a draft of a new accountability system. State, in turn, would construct (and seek approval for) their application of these guidelines. You can read all of the draft or this summary from Education Week.

Share this “parents’ guide” with your families to clarify the importance of 21st Century Skills and how they fit into your school’s programmatic goals.

With the critical shortage of teacher librarians, districts are considering supplementary certifications as a way to fill these critical positions. Two opportunities to attend an informational session with SU’s iSchool will occur on June 15th, at 9a or at 4p. Certified teachers who may be interested in exploring the opportunity to become a school librarian should attend.

Hey! Your professional book collection now includes Solution Tree and Corwin titles in addition to all of the ASCD titles that you’ve had access to via the OCM BOCES Instructional Support e-library. Enjoy free access to books about RTI, literacy, PLC, social studies, technology, STEM, assessment, PBL, leadership, classroom management, motivation, and much more!

This superintendent applies Adaptive Leadership to her implementation of initiatives and innovation.

We’ve all heard of flash mobs, but have you ever heard of a flash lesson? This principal uses them for a variety of reasons.

Plan deep for deeper learning! Special facilitated planning days are scheduled for June 9 or June 22 when leadership teams from districts can evaluate current status, explore desired outcomes, and identify next steps for a building’s or district’s plan for deeper learning and 21st Century readiness.  Districts that participate in the planning day(s) can then register up to 8 planning participants for Making Learning Happen @PBLNY 16, August 2-5 at a 50% discounted rate.

Check out the “It’s a Project-Based World” campaign. Why? Because it is a project-based world and we need to prepare our students for it. There are blogs, articles, resource lists, links, videos, and more.

The Buck Institute for Education is teaming up with OCM BOCES to offer a four-day conference on the research-driven success of Project-Based Learning. The one-of-a-kind event embraces the Maker Movement and offers a long list of inspiring speakers and workshops aimed at bolstering your understanding and success with student-centered, inquiry-based learning. Don’t miss out on this chance to connect with fellow educators, renowned experts, and PBL trailblazers for an event guaranteed to spark creativity, collaboration, and innovation in the classroom.

Support for leadership sessions for Deeper Learning is scheduled for the summer:

• July 19th, PBL 401 – As with any effort, having a vision and a plan increases the likelihood of a positive implementation. During this day, participants will solidify their understanding of deeper learning and consider implementation with a school-wide perspective.
• July 20th, PBL 402 – Picks up where 401 left off and focuses on building culture.

Image CC Chesapeake Bay Program

If you do project work with your students at the end of the year, look at this list of suggestions to see if you can fine-tune your plans.

A summer PBL 101 session begins July 25th (no additional charge from component districts).  If that doesn’t fit with your schedule, PBL 101 is available at PBLNY (with conference registration).

Especially for math and science teachers, there is a one day, July 29th session on Problem Based Learning for Math and Science teachers.  This session can either be an introduction for math and science teachers or a refinement on how math teachers might implement deeper learning for their content areas.

As you finalize your schedule for next year, take one last look at it with an eye toward teacher isolation and collaboration. Which does your schedule emphasize: teachers working independently or teachers working interdependently? There’s a big difference!

Image CC Franco Folini

The Teacher Centers in our area are providing the poverty simulation free of charge for teacher leaders and administrators. There are two sessions to choose from on August 11th. The object of the experience is to sensitize participants to the realities faced by low-income people and motivate them to become involved in activities which help reduce the stresses of our students and ways to support the families.

It all comes together in a good unit plan… a good, standards-based unit plan. This is the focus of Standards Based Planning for the 21st Century: Instruction for All course. A summer cohort has been scheduled.

Google Camp 2016 is coming up on August 11th and 12th!  CNYSLibs and SLS are excited to partner again this year for the event. It’s a chance to learn from others and to share your expertise.