Events and Workshops

Engagement and Achievement in Science Education: NGSS and Universal Design for Learning (K-12) - ONGOING REGISTRATION!

ONGOING REGISTRATION! - The authors of NGSS explicitly name Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a necessary tool for the creation of science units that are meaningful, accessible and challenging for all students. This asynchronous course provides participants with opportunities to become familiar with shifts in NGSS instruction and UDL guidelines, as well as opportunities to identify potential barriers and make adjustments to better support all students. Completion takes about 8-10 hours, and participants have two (2) months to finish all of the activities in the course. Note: Day of workshop, instructor will send access link to materials by 9AM. If you enroll after material release date, you will receive access link within five (5) days.

REBOOT TO NGSS - ONGOING REGISTRATION

ON-GOING REGISTRATION - In the first half of this asynchronous course, participants will be reminded of the foundational instructional and mindset shifts in science teaching and learning as they relate to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). In the second half, participants will explore and apply various tools to enhance NGSS-alignment in curriculum and instruction. The course will conclude with the participants utilizing tools to apply to their own personal curriculum and instructional practice. Completion takes about 8-10 hours, and participants have 2 months to finish all of the activities in the course. Note: Day of workshop, instructor will send access link to materials by 9AM.

Library Media Specialists Council

CREC’s Library Media Specialists Council provides a unique opportunity for K-12 Library Media Specialists in the CREC region to come together to share best practices and engage in new thinking about digital literacy for the 21st century. Quarterly meetings will encourage input from participants regarding topics and speaker selections in order to best meet the needs of the council membership. No cost to attend event.

English Language Learners Council (Title III)

English Language Learner district coordinators in the CREC region are invited to attend meetings to share best practices, emerging research on improving outcomes for EL students, and to proactively respond to the instructional shifts demanded by the Connecticut Common Core State Standards (CCSS), assessments, and the Connecticut English Language Proficiency (CELP) Standards. Members will engage in new thinking about instructional practices and collaborate to proactively respond to EL needs in their district. No cost to attend.

Equity Council

CREC's Equity Council provides educators in the CREC region regular opportunities to share policies, practices, and procedures to move toward an equitable system of education. The Council will review strategies that eliminate the predictability of outcomes for students who are racially, linguistically, economically diverse, who identify as LGBTQIA+, and who receive special education services. The group will review successful examples of local districts and districts from across the country that are identifying gaps in opportunities and intentionally dismantling the barriers that exist in their systems.

Social & Emotional Learning / Mindfulness Council

This council will focus on current trends, research, and interventions related to Social and Emotional Learning. Participants will be able to network with staff from other districts, access resources, and learn the most current developments in the field. We will also engage in Mindfulness and yoga practices and will share expertise, valuable resources, and activities that can be used in any setting. No cost to attend.

Social Studies Council

CREC region Social Studies teachers and district coordinators are invited to attend council meetings to share best practices, engage in new thinking about Social Studies instruction, and proactively respond to the instructional shifts demanded by the Connecticut Elementary and Secondary Social Studies Frameworks, Connecticut Core Standards, the SAT and Smarter Balanced Assessments. In addition, input from participants regarding additional topic selections will be encouraged in order to best meet the needs of the council membership. No cost to attend.

ETS® ParaPro Assessment Testing

CREC is now a testing site for the ETS ParaPro Assessment. ETS developed the ParaPro Assessment as a way to satisfy the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, Which requires that Para educators serving in an instruction capacity: 1) Have an associate of arts degree. 2)Have completed two years of college. 3) Have demostrated, through an academic assessment, the knowledge and ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing, and mathematics.

Math Council

CREC’s Mathematics Council provides new thinking about mathematics instruction for K-12 math teachers, coaches, and district leaders in an open forum type setting. Agenda topics are determined by district participants in order to serve the group’s needs. No cost to attend.

Structured Literacy Series: Systematic Teaching of Basic Literacy Skills

Join us for this FREE, virtual workshop sponsored by CSDE. Learn systematic, structured methods for teaching decoding, encoding, oral, and written expression to students with learning disorders and specific language disabilities. Participants will: Define and model strategies to teach students who have specific reading disabilities; Identify skills needed to develop basic proficiency in reading and spelling; and Learn the developmental progression of oral language skills that prepare students for reading proficiency. This workshop will begin with one, “live”, synchronous day of instruction. The rest of the coursework will be completed asynchronously by June 1. Asynchronous instruction will cover the following: federal and state definitions; the detection and recognition of, and evidence-based structured literacy interventions for students with, or at risk for, SLD/Dyslexia or other reading-related learning disabilities; structured literacy lesson design and implementation; virtual structured literacy instruction; and assistive technology. Provided books include Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers by Louisa Moats Ph.D. and Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills by Judith Birsh Ed.D. and Suzanne Carreker. Participants are responsible for picking up books needed for the course from CREC, 111 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford, CT 06106. You wiill be notified when books are available for pick-up.

Science Council

Science educators, coaches and administrators are invited to attend quarterly, virtual council meetings to share best practices, engage in new thinking about science education, and continue to proactively respond to the demands of the Next Generation Science Standards. No cost to attend!

IM Math: Pilot Curriculum Overview for Teachers 6-12

This module provides a preview of the IM Math curriculum to prepare teachers to pilot one or more units in the curriculum. It provides a survey of the IM curriculum with a focus on the philosophy and instructional shifts and the resources available in the curriculum around student understanding and discourse, planning, assessment, and instructional routines.Learning Goals •Describe the structure of a lesson and the purpose of each component: warm-up, activity, activity synthesis, lesson synthesis, cool-down •Locate resources and opportunities to support access for students with disabilities and English learners

IM Math: Pilot Curriculum Overview for Teachers K-5

This module provides a preview of the IM Math curriculum to prepare teachers to pilot one or more units in the curriculum. It introduces participants to problem-based instruction and how it can be implemented in a classroom using the IM K–5 Math curriculum. Participants learn about the overall structure and design of the curriculum. They see an outline of a lesson plan and are exposed to other various components of the curriculum including centers, support for English language learners, support for students with disabilities, and routines. After this session, teachers will be ready to explore and pilot a single unit in their classrooms. Learning Goals: •Describe the structure of a lesson and the purpose of each component. •Describe what instructional routines are and how they are used in the curriculum. •Locate resources and opportunities to support access for students with disabilities and English learners.

Structured Literacy Series: Systematic Teaching of Basic Literacy Skills

Join us for this FREE, virtual workshop sponsored by CSDE. Learn systematic, structured methods for teaching decoding, encoding, oral, and written expression to students with learning disorders and specific language disabilities. Participants will: Define and model strategies to teach students who have specific reading disabilities; Identify skills needed to develop basic proficiency in reading and spelling; and Learn the developmental progression of oral language skills that prepare students for reading proficiency. This workshop will begin with one, “live”, synchronous day of instruction. The rest of the coursework will be completed asynchronously by June 1. Asynchronous instruction will cover the following: federal and state definitions; the detection and recognition of, and evidence-based structured literacy interventions for students with, or at risk for, SLD/Dyslexia or other reading-related learning disabilities; structured literacy lesson design and implementation; virtual structured literacy instruction; and assistive technology. Provided books include Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers by Louisa Moats Ph.D. and Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills by Judith Birsh Ed.D. and Suzanne Carreker. Participants are responsible for picking up books needed for the course from CREC, 111 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford, CT 06106. You wiill be notified when books are available for pick-up.

ESTEEM: Engaging Students Through Equity, Education and Motivation:

This four part virtual synchronous series is designed to assist students in re-engaging with classwork expectations. ESTEEM uses the concept of short-term behavior modification and motivational interviewing to bring the student into the process for reengaging in their education. A combination of surveys and inventories will be selected to assess the student’s needs. These assessments may focus on ecological, sleep, and attendance barriers as well and reinforcer and career interest inventories. More than 5,000 CT students have not logged on a single day of class. The skyrocketing absenteeism rate since COVID-19 closed schools in March of 2020 raises concerns about the opportunity gap in education impacting achievement even further. This series is designed for teachers, administrators, social workers, counselors, paraeducators, and others that may be struggling to address chronic absenteeism. Each ESTEEM cohort will walk away with the skills to foster engagement, honor equity and increase motivation with even their most unengaged students.

Advanced Instructional Coaching Institute

This four-week virtual institute is for experienced instructional coaches, who have either attended Instructional Coaching training or have at least five years or more coaching experience. Participants will have the opportunity to build their skills around adult learning theory, network with colleagues, engage in coaching conversations, and identify ways to provide feedback to their coaches.

Bridge to Kindergarten Series: Play-Based Storytelling

This workshop will explore the various ways early childhood teachers can foster a love of storytelling by young writers in their classrooms. The focus will be on sharing engaging strategies for incorporating the program’s goals in developmentally appropriate ways.

RESC Alliance Curriculum Council

As Connecticut’s top educational leaders continue to expand their administrator networks and to ensure a consistent understanding of CSDE and legislation expectations, the RESC Alliance will begin collaboratively hosting the RESC Alliance Curriculum Council meetings this year. Each meeting will be structured to balance the following: CSDE and legislative updates, Statewide networking and problem-solving, and Local agency updates, networking, and discussions. We look forward to supporting and collaborating with all of our curriculum leaders! No cost to attend this workshop.

ETS® ParaPro Assessment Testing

CREC is now a testing site for the ETS® ParaPro Assessment. ETS developed the ParaPro Assessment as a way to satisfy the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, which requires that Para educators serving in an instruction capacity: 1) Have an associate of arts degree. 2) Have completed two years of college. 3) Have demonstrated, through an academic assessment, the knowledge and ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing, and mathematics.

Aligning Social and Emotional Learning to Multi-Tiered Systems of Support

Social and emotional learning provides the structure and process for students to develop skills in understanding and managing emotions, setting goals, showing empathy, maintaining positive relationships and making responsible decisions. Participants will learn strategies and interventions to promote social and emotional learning based on standards. It will focus on Tier 1, 2 and 3 interventions.

Structured Literacy Series: Systematic Teaching of Basic Literacy Skills

Join us for this FREE, virtual workshop sponsored by CSDE. Learn systematic, structured methods for teaching decoding, encoding, oral, and written expression to students with learning disorders and specific language disabilities. Participants will: Define and model strategies to teach students who have specific reading disabilities; Identify skills needed to develop basic proficiency in reading and spelling; and Learn the developmental progression of oral language skills that prepare students for reading proficiency. This workshop will begin with one, “live”, synchronous day of instruction. The rest of the coursework will be completed asynchronously by June 1. Asynchronous instruction will cover the following: federal and state definitions; the detection and recognition of, and evidence-based structured literacy interventions for students with, or at risk for, SLD/Dyslexia or other reading-related learning disabilities; structured literacy lesson design and implementation; virtual structured literacy instruction; and assistive technology. Provided books include Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers by Louisa Moats Ph.D. and Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills by Judith Birsh Ed.D. and Suzanne Carreker. Participants are responsible for picking up books needed for the course from CREC, 111 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford, CT 06106. You wiill be notified when books are available for pick-up.

Charting the LifeCourse/Person Centered Planning

Participants in this workshop will become familiar with the Charting the LifeCourse Materials and learn how to utilize them for futures planning. Workshop Schedule Hours: Session 1 - 9:00-11:00 am; Session 2 - 12:30-2:30 pm. No cost to attend.

Early Childhood Education Council

Early Childhood educators (Pre-K) in CREC districts meet monthly to share best practices and engage in new thinking about instruction. Early Childhood educators are encouraged to attend these monthly meetings. Topics and speaker lists are developed by the group. No cost to attend.

Autism Toolbox Part 2

Participants will learn strategies to help students on the autism spectrum into general education classrooms in further detail then Part 1. Attendance in Autism Toolbox Part 1 is not required to participate in this workshop. This workshop is designed for educators in grades K-6.

ETS® ParaPro Assessment Testing

CREC is now a testing site for the ETS® ParaPro Assessment. ETS developed the ParaPro Assessment as a way to satisfy the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, which requires that Para educators serving in an instruction capacity: 1) Have an associate of arts degree. 2) Have completed two years of college. 3) Have demonstrated, through an academic assessment, the knowledge and ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing, and mathematics.

Structured Literacy Series: Systematic Teaching of Basic Literacy Skills

Join us for this FREE, virtual workshop sponsored by CSDE. Learn systematic, structured methods for teaching decoding, encoding, oral, and written expression to students with learning disorders and specific language disabilities. Participants will: Define and model strategies to teach students who have specific reading disabilities; Identify skills needed to develop basic proficiency in reading and spelling; and Learn the developmental progression of oral language skills that prepare students for reading proficiency. This workshop will begin with one, “live”, synchronous day of instruction. The rest of the coursework will be completed asynchronously by June 1. Asynchronous instruction will cover the following: federal and state definitions; the detection and recognition of, and evidence-based structured literacy interventions for students with, or at risk for, SLD/Dyslexia or other reading-related learning disabilities; structured literacy lesson design and implementation; virtual structured literacy instruction; and assistive technology. Provided books include Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers by Louisa Moats Ph.D. and Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills by Judith Birsh Ed.D. and Suzanne Carreker. Participants are responsible for picking up books needed for the course from CREC, 111 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford, CT 06106. You wiill be notified when books are available for pick-up.

Coaches Council

Instructional Coaches in the CREC region are invited to attend bi-monthly council meetings to share best practices and engage in new thinking about coaching. Topics will be determined based on participant interests. No cost to attend this workshop.

Assessment of Afterschool Program Practices Tool (APT) for 21st CCLC Programs

The Assessment of Afterschool Program Practices Tool (APT) was developed by the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST) with 21st Century Community Learning Centers in mind! The APT provides a way for after school staff to access the quality of their services and use data to make program improvements. Quality after school programs produce positive outcomes in youth!

LEADERSHIP FOR EQUITY INSTITUTE

An interactive professional learning opportunity made up of six half-day sessions designed for education professionals who work with Hartford youth enrolled in their suburban school districts via the Hartford Region Open Choice program. Designed for teams of 3 to 8 from the same school to attend.• Identify racial barriers within schools at the institutional and systemic levels and strategies to address them.• A principal describes incorporating culturally responsive practices in her middle school and the outcomes five years later. Learn how their information collection and analysis of school policies, practices, structures, philosophies and systems impacted their practice.• Select a goal within your school or district and develop an action plan, working as a team to identify and address systemic challenges impacting students of color.• Learn about the role implicit bias plays in the opportunity gap for students of color, along with strategies to counteract these biases.• Unpack terms such as institutional racism, white fragility, white privilege, color blindness, redlining and the role these play in supporting a structural racism framework.• Hear Hartford parents describe their experiences with suburban schools and how staff actions (or inactions) increased either trust or mistrust, along with their suggestions. Q & A opportunity.• Work on local district efforts as a team; also network and brainstorm in small groups with other suburban school district educators; generate strategies together to address existing inequities.

Equity in Science Education: NGSS for All Students (Secondary)

This 2-day blended learning workshop exposes participants to current student achievement in science, how biases impact instruction, and how the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) can support removing barriers to set all students up for success. Real teaching scenarios written by teachers on the NGSS Diversity and Equity Team will be reviewed, and student-centered instructional strategies will be examined in collaborative, discussion-based groups. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a stronger understanding of their how biases impact student success, and be able to better address them within their own classrooms and schools. Note: Optional Text "NGSS For All Students."

Introduction to Math Workshop

This half day virtual workshop offers an overview on how to initiate, support and sustain math workshop in the elementary classroom. This workshop is an introduction to math workshop. Participants should have no prior training of math workshop and are looking for practical first steps to begin implementation. Participants will learn how to support content and differentiation to meet the needs of diverse learners using the workshop model. We will address different structures, routines and rituals, and connect to state standards in the workshop model.

Anti-Racist Educator Framework Series

Join us for this important workshop series focused on how to become an Anti-racist Educator. Throughout this series we will learn how to: · Engage in productive conversations about race · Apply an anti-racist equity lens to policy and practices· Develop a professional learning plan for culturally relevant pedagogy · Take a leadership role on equity and social justice projects in the community

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Cohort 2

UDL is a framework designed by CAST to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn. Participants will learn how UDL connects to CTE educators and how it supports all learners, especially non-traditional students and special populations.One registration is required to gain access to all three webinars. All participants must be approved by SDE and agree to attend all sessions. You will receive an email indicating that your enrollment is pending approval. You will receive another e-mail confirming your enrollment at a later date.

When English Learners Struggle: Strategies for General Education Teachers

This workshop is the first in a non-sequential series of workshops about instructional strategies to support English Learners (ELs). The content and activities will build the capacity of general education educators to support ELs in their school or district using Sheltered Strategies through the lens of Second Language Acquisition. Teachers who attend this workshop may be looking for ways to support EL students in all content areas of the regular education classroom. The session will give educators various ways to build their “bag of tricks” while learning about how ELs learn and develop language.

ETS® ParaPro Assessment Testing

CREC is now a testing site for the ETS® ParaPro Assessment. ETS developed the ParaPro Assessment as a way to satisfy the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, which requires that Para educators serving in an instruction capacity: 1) Have an associate of arts degree. 2) Have completed two years of college. 3) Have demonstrated, through an academic assessment, the knowledge and ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing, and mathematics.

Structured Literacy Series: Systematic Teaching of Basic Literacy Skills

Join us for this FREE, virtual workshop sponsored by CSDE. Learn systematic, structured methods for teaching decoding, encoding, oral, and written expression to students with learning disorders and specific language disabilities. Participants will: Define and model strategies to teach students who have specific reading disabilities; Identify skills needed to develop basic proficiency in reading and spelling; and Learn the developmental progression of oral language skills that prepare students for reading proficiency. This workshop will begin with one, “live”, synchronous day of instruction. The rest of the coursework will be completed asynchronously by June 1. Asynchronous instruction will cover the following: federal and state definitions; the detection and recognition of, and evidence-based structured literacy interventions for students with, or at risk for, SLD/Dyslexia or other reading-related learning disabilities; structured literacy lesson design and implementation; virtual structured literacy instruction; and assistive technology. Provided books include Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers by Louisa Moats Ph.D. and Multisensory Teaching of Basic Language Skills by Judith Birsh Ed.D. and Suzanne Carreker. Participants are responsible for picking up books needed for the course from CREC, 111 Charter Oak Ave., Hartford, CT 06106. You wiill be notified when books are available for pick-up.

When English Learners Struggle: More Strategies

This workshop is the second in a non-sequential series of workshops about instructional strategies to support English Learners (ELs). Attendance in the first session is not necessary to attend this session. The content and activities will further build the capacity of general education educators to support ELs in their school or district using Sheltered Strategies through the lens of Second Language Acquisition. Teachers who attend this workshop may be looking for ways to support EL students in all content areas of the regular education classroom. The session will give educators additional ways to build their “bag of tricks” while learning about how ELs learn and develop language.

ETS® ParaPro Assessment Testing

CREC is now a testing site for the ETS® ParaPro Assessment. ETS developed the ParaPro Assessment as a way to satisfy the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, which requires that Para educators serving in an instruction capacity: 1) Have an associate of arts degree. 2) Have completed two years of college. 3) Have demonstrated, through an academic assessment, the knowledge and ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing, and mathematics.

Creating a Culture for Writing for English Learners

Writing can be intimidating for any student; that anxiety is heightened in English Learners. Participants in this workshop will learn how to create a safe place for writing as well as many instructional strategies for engaging English Learners in the Writing process.

ETS® ParaPro Assessment Testing

CREC is now a testing site for the ETS® ParaPro Assessment. ETS developed the ParaPro Assessment as a way to satisfy the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, which requires that Para educators serving in an instruction capacity: 1) Have an associate of arts degree. 2) Have completed two years of college. 3) Have demonstrated, through an academic assessment, the knowledge and ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing, and mathematics.

Equity Council

CREC's Equity Council provides educators in the CREC region regular opportunities to share policies, practices, and procedures to move toward an equitable system of education. The Council will review strategies that eliminate the predictability of outcomes for students who are racially, linguistically, economically diverse, who identify as LGBTQIA+, and who receive special education services. The group will review successful examples of local districts and districts from across the country that are identifying gaps in opportunities and intentionally dismantling the barriers that exist in their systems.

AARC and AARC TVI Open House Informational Session

The AARC program is a comprehensive program geared toward general education teachers who would like a special education cross endorsement (165) added to their certification. The AARC Teachers of the Blind and Visually Impaired (TVI) program is a comprehensive program geared towards special educators who hold a current 065 or 165 certifications. Qualifications: • Current special education teaching certificate ( TVI certification program) • Must be a certified teacher in an approved area for AARC program (e.g. elementary education, mathematics) • Have three years teaching experience (substitute experience will be considered)•Have a desire to work with students with disabilities.

ETS® ParaPro Assessment Testing

CREC is now a testing site for the ETS® ParaPro Assessment. ETS developed the ParaPro Assessment as a way to satisfy the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, which requires that Para educators serving in an instruction capacity: 1) Have an associate of arts degree. 2) Have completed two years of college. 3) Have demonstrated, through an academic assessment, the knowledge and ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing, and mathematics.

ETS® ParaPro Assessment Testing

CREC is now a testing site for the ETS® ParaPro Assessment. ETS developed the ParaPro Assessment as a way to satisfy the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act, which requires that Para educators serving in an instruction capacity: 1) Have an associate of arts degree. 2) Have completed two years of college. 3) Have demonstrated, through an academic assessment, the knowledge and ability to assist in the instruction of reading, writing, and mathematics.

Math Council

CREC’s Mathematics Council provides new thinking about mathematics instruction for K-12 math teachers, coaches, and district leaders in an open forum type setting. Agenda topics are determined by district participants in order to serve the group’s needs. No cost to attend.

Social & Emotional Learning / Mindfulness Council

This council will focus on current trends, research, and interventions related to Social and Emotional Learning. Participants will be able to network with staff from other districts, access resources, and learn the most current developments in the field. We will also engage in Mindfulness and yoga practices and will share expertise, valuable resources, and activities that can be used in any setting. No cost to attend.

A Whole New World: Exploring Virtual and Augmented Reality in Education

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are the wave of the future, and the future is now! In today's world, our students are often the ones teaching us about the latest and greatest technological innovation, and it takes work to keep up. In this session, participants will learn about and experience demonstrations of the most cutting edge VR and AR platforms, services, tools, and technology. Participants will explore how VR and AR can be implemented in educational settings to provide unique learning opportunities and capitalize on student interest and motivation. Participants will also engage in thoughtful discussions about the pros and cons of this style of learning. Learn how to unlock all the potential and experience that the outside world offers, right from within the comfort of your classroom!

English Language Learners Council (Title III)

English Language Learner district coordinators in the CREC region are invited to attend meetings to share best practices, emerging research on improving outcomes for EL students, and to proactively respond to the instructional shifts demanded by the Connecticut Common Core State Standards (CCSS), assessments, and the Connecticut English Language Proficiency (CELP) Standards. Members will engage in new thinking about instructional practices and collaborate to proactively respond to EL needs in their district. No cost to attend.

Bridge to Kindergarten Series: Playful Math

This workshop will explore the various ways early childhood teachers can integrate play-based numeracy experiences throughout the day. The focus will be on sharing engaging strategies for incorporating the program’s goals in developmentally appropriate ways.

Library Media Specialists Council

CREC’s Library Media Specialists Council provides a unique opportunity for K-12 Library Media Specialists in the CREC region to come together to share best practices and engage in new thinking about digital literacy for the 21st century. Quarterly meetings will encourage input from participants regarding topics and speaker selections in order to best meet the needs of the council membership. No cost to attend event.

Science Council

Science educators, coaches and administrators are invited to attend quarterly, virtual council meetings to share best practices, engage in new thinking about science education, and continue to proactively respond to the demands of the Next Generation Science Standards. No cost to attend!

Social Studies Council

CREC region Social Studies teachers and district coordinators are invited to attend council meetings to share best practices, engage in new thinking about Social Studies instruction, and proactively respond to the instructional shifts demanded by the Connecticut Elementary and Secondary Social Studies Frameworks, Connecticut Core Standards, the SAT and Smarter Balanced Assessments. In addition, input from participants regarding additional topic selections will be encouraged in order to best meet the needs of the council membership. No cost to attend.

Love, Laughter, and Learning — Promoting Social Emotional Learning and Mindfulness for Student Success

The social and emotional well-being of students and staff is fundamental to drive school success. With so many competing priorities, how do we incorporate these essential skills into our everyday experience in schools? This event will focus on social emotional learning, mindfulness, and self-care with workshops taught by a variety of experienced practitioners. Join us for a day of learning beneficial wellness practices you can incorporate into your daily life as well as share with your students. Go to https://www.crec.org/mindfulness/conference.php to learn more.

Early Childhood Education Council

Early Childhood educators (Pre-K) in CREC districts meet monthly to share best practices and engage in new thinking about instruction. Early Childhood educators are encouraged to attend these monthly meetings. Topics and speaker lists are developed by the group. No cost to attend.

Coaches Council

Instructional Coaches in the CREC region are invited to attend bi-monthly council meetings to share best practices and engage in new thinking about coaching. Topics will be determined based on participant interests. No cost to attend this workshop.

Language Arts Council

CREC’s Language Arts Council provides Language Arts teachers in the CREC region monthly opportunities to share best practices and engage in new thinking about literacy instruction. Kindergarten to grade 12 Language Arts educators including teachers, literacy coaches, literacy coordinators, directors and department heads are encouraged to attend the bi-monthly meetings. Input from participants regarding topic selections will be encouraged in order to best meet the needs of the council membership. No cost to attend this event.

RESC Alliance Curriculum Council

As Connecticut’s top educational leaders continue to expand their administrator networks and to ensure a consistent understanding of CSDE and legislation expectations, the RESC Alliance will begin collaboratively hosting the RESC Alliance Curriculum Council meetings this year. Each meeting will be structured to balance the following: CSDE and legislative updates, Statewide networking and problem-solving, and Local agency updates, networking, and discussions. We look forward to supporting and collaborating with all of our curriculum leaders! No cost to attend this workshop.

Wilson Reading Training

This workshop provides an overview of the Wilson Reading System.

Charting the LifeCourse/Person Centered Planning

Participants in this workshop will become familiar with the Charting the LifeCourse Materials and learn how to utilize them for futures planning. Workshop Schedule Hours: Session 1 - 9:00-11:00 am; Session 2 - 12:30-2:30 pm. No cost to attend. No cost to attend.

English Language Learners Council (Title III)

English Language Learner district coordinators in the CREC region are invited to attend meetings to share best practices, emerging research on improving outcomes for EL students, and to proactively respond to the instructional shifts demanded by the Connecticut Common Core State Standards (CCSS), assessments, and the Connecticut English Language Proficiency (CELP) Standards. Members will engage in new thinking about instructional practices and collaborate to proactively respond to EL needs in their district. No cost to attend.

Social & Emotional Learning / Mindfulness Council

This council will focus on current trends, research, and interventions related to Social and Emotional Learning. Participants will be able to network with staff from other districts, access resources, and learn the most current developments in the field. We will also engage in Mindfulness and yoga practices and will share expertise, valuable resources, and activities that can be used in any setting. No cost to attend.

Equity Council

CREC's Equity Council provides educators in the CREC region regular opportunities to share policies, practices, and procedures to move toward an equitable system of education. The Council will review strategies that eliminate the predictability of outcomes for students who are racially, linguistically, economically diverse, who identify as LGBTQIA+, and who receive special education services. The group will review successful examples of local districts and districts from across the country that are identifying gaps in opportunities and intentionally dismantling the barriers that exist in their systems.

Implementing Charting the LifeCourse

This is a follow up session to the 2 part introduction series of Charting the LifeCourse. This session will allow participants to become more well versed in the implementation of Charting the LifeCourse using real examples. Participation in the introductory sessions is a pre-requisite for this workshop. No cost to attend.

Library Media Specialists Council

CREC’s Library Media Specialists Council provides a unique opportunity for K-12 Library Media Specialists in the CREC region to come together to share best practices and engage in new thinking about digital literacy for the 21st century. Quarterly meetings will encourage input from participants regarding topics and speaker selections in order to best meet the needs of the council membership. No cost to attend event.

RESC Alliance Curriculum Council

As Connecticut’s top educational leaders continue to expand their administrator networks and to ensure a consistent understanding of CSDE and legislation expectations, the RESC Alliance will begin collaboratively hosting the RESC Alliance Curriculum Council meetings this year. Each meeting will be structured to balance the following: CSDE and legislative updates, Statewide networking and problem-solving, and Local agency updates, networking, and discussions. We look forward to supporting and collaborating with all of our curriculum leaders! No cost to attend this workshop.

Social Studies Council

CREC region Social Studies teachers and district coordinators are invited to attend council meetings to share best practices, engage in new thinking about Social Studies instruction, and proactively respond to the instructional shifts demanded by the Connecticut Elementary and Secondary Social Studies Frameworks, Connecticut Core Standards, the SAT and Smarter Balanced Assessments. In addition, input from participants regarding additional topic selections will be encouraged in order to best meet the needs of the council membership. No cost to attend.

Math Council

CREC’s Mathematics Council provides new thinking about mathematics instruction for K-12 math teachers, coaches, and district leaders in an open forum type setting. Agenda topics are determined by district participants in order to serve the group’s needs. No cost to attend.

Equity in Science Education: NGSS for All Students (Secondary)

This 2-day blended learning workshop exposes participants to current student achievement in science, how biases impact instruction, and how the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) can support removing barriers to set all students up for success. Real teaching scenarios written by teachers on the NGSS Diversity and Equity Team will be reviewed, and student-centered instructional strategies will be examined in collaborative, discussion-based groups. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a stronger understanding of their how biases impact student success, and be able to better address them within their own classrooms and schools. Note: Optional Text "NGSS For All Students."

Early Childhood Education Council

Early Childhood educators (Pre-K) in CREC districts meet monthly to share best practices and engage in new thinking about instruction. Early Childhood educators are encouraged to attend these monthly meetings. Topics and speaker lists are developed by the group. No cost to attend.

Science Council

Science educators, coaches and administrators are invited to attend quarterly, virtual council meetings to share best practices, engage in new thinking about science education, and continue to proactively respond to the demands of the Next Generation Science Standards. No cost to attend!

Coaches Council

Instructional Coaches in the CREC region are invited to attend bi-monthly council meetings to share best practices and engage in new thinking about coaching. Topics will be determined based on participant interests. No cost to attend this workshop.