Trainings - Capital Region BOCES

Capital Region BOCES is your partner in professional learning. We help educators meet daily challenges by providing trainings and workshops that expand knowledge and support students. Our courses are offered year-round, both in-person and online, and cover a variety of topics from state-mandated trainings to safety refreshers.

Capital Region BOCES is a state-approved Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) provider.

New trainings are regularly added; please check back frequently.

Current Professional Development Offerings

Custodial Management|DASA Trainings | ELA/Literacy | Equity | Instruction & Pedagogy | Instructional Coaching | Leadership | Math | Project Based Learning | Science | Social Emotional Learning

Professional Development MATTERS: Custodial Management

Basic & Advanced Custodial Technician Certification

The CMI Basic & Advanced Custodial Technician Certification course is a three-day customized onsite certification and training program. This onsite training program offers both lecture based and hands-on training. Upon its completion, participants will earn both CMI Basic Custodial Technician and SMI Advanced Custodial Technician designations.

Presenter: N/A
Date/Time: July 14-16, 2025
Price: $1,000

Custodial Supervisor Training

Today’s custodial professional commands respect, possessing a high degree of knowledge and skill. One of the byproducts in the evolution of the profession is CMI’s Custodial Supervisor Training and Certification Course. The two-day course is divided into four sections, each covering a particular area of maintenance work. The course requires certification exams in each section followed by a final exam.

Presenter: N/A
Date/Time: July 17-18, 2025
Price: $1,000

Professional Development MATTERS: DASA Trainings

DASA July 2025

This workshop will fulfill the training requirements for the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) as required by the New York State Education Department Board of Regents. The workshop is designed for those who are seeking a New York State Certification.

Presenter: Jennifer Case
Date/Time: July 18, 2025 | 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Price: $80

DASA August 2025

Presenter: Jennifer Case
Date/Time: August 15, 2025 | 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Price: $80

Professional Development MATTERS: ELA/Literacy

AP Literature for New Teachers

Designed for new AP Literature teachers, this full-day session offers comprehensive learning about the AP Literature course. The morning session will break down the exam’s key components and review the skill progression outlined by the College Board. In the afternoon, the focus will shift to texts and activities that help students develop the skills necessary for success on the exam and in future college literature courses.

Presenter: Tom Stanton
Date/Time: July 23, 2025 | 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Price: $225 ($175 for Subscribers)

Collaborative Literacy Conversations Network Kickoff

Join us this summer for a regional conversation and networking event where we will discuss improving literacy outcomes for all students across the content areas. The morning is an opportunity for networking, learning, and hearing from colleagues on best practice ideas for evidence-based literacy pedagogy.

Presenter: Laura McDaniel
Date/Time: July 29, 2025 | 9 – 11:30 a.m.
Price: $0

Closing the COVID Reading Gap with Personalized Learning Grade K-6

The concern is widespread: the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed significantly to students falling over a year behind grade level in reading, and a clear, effective solution remains elusive. This educational approach is designed to meet students’ learning needs, adjust to their preferences, and be responsive to their unique interests, backgrounds, and experiences. However, the structure and implementation of this approach can vary from district to district and school to school. In these two half-day workshops, teachers will first learn about the pedagogies and practices that form the foundation of personalized learning. Then, they will have the opportunity to design a delivery model tailored to the specific needs of their school.

Presenter: Ilyne Peters-Weinberg
Dates/Time: July 30 & 31, 2025 | 8:30 – 11:30am
Price: $220 ($180 for Subscribers)

Demystifying Poetry Instruction

This half-day session is designed for middle and high school ELA teachers to address common apprehensions around reading and analyzing poetry. The focus will be on shifting the mindset from “finding the hidden meaning” to “discovering the broader meaning” in poetry.

Presenter: Tom Stanton
Date/Time: August 13, 2025 | 8:30 – 11:30am
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

Science of Reading For Secondary Teachers

Want to learn more about how the Science of Reading can apply in secondary classrooms? In this energizing half-day session, we’ll provide an overview of the main concepts behind the Science of Reading and discuss how this understanding of how students learn to read can help struggling readers in secondary settings. Learn how to pinpoint students’ literacy needs and deliver targeted, effective instruction that drives real results-to help your students grow as readers.

Presenter: Jennifer Case
Date/Time: July 16 | 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Price: $100 ($80 for Subscribers)

Unlocking Comprehension: The Science of Reading as Your Key to Student Understanding

Reading comprehension isn’t just about understanding the words on a page-it’s about unlocking meaning, building connections, and understanding the deeper ideas behind a text. In this engaging session, we’ll explore how the Science of Reading provides the key to effective comprehension instruction. You’ll gain practical, research-based strategies to support students in analyzing text, determining the central idea, and finding relevant text details to support a claim. Designed for teachers in grades 3-8, this session will equip you with tools to open the door to deeper understanding for all learners.

Presenter: Jennifer Case
Date/Time: July 22 | 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Price: $200 ($160 for Subscribers)

Professional Development MATTERS: Equity

Grading for Opportunity: One-Day Overview

Research shows that grading practices often favor privileged students and disadvantage those with less privilege, including students of color, those from low-income families, students receiving special education services, and English learners (Feldman, 2019).During this one-day program, you will: Gain an understanding of inequitable grading practices in the context of culturally responsive practices. Reflect upon current teacher grading and grade reporting practices to determine the degree to which students receive meaningful feedback and their knowledge and skills are accurately reported. Hear from teachers and leaders regarding their process toward systemic change, policy revision, professional learning and building. Begin to develop a plan for effective and long-term change specific to the needs of the school.

Presenter: Dr. Eva Jones
Date/Time: July 24, 2025 | 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Price: $195

Grading for Opportunity: Year Two

Research indicates that grading practices often disproportionately favor privileged students, while disadvantaging those from less privileged backgrounds. This includes students of color, those from low-income families, students receiving special education services, and English learners (Feldman, 2019). These inequities in grading systems can contribute to gaps in academic achievement and perpetuate systemic disadvantages for historically marginalized groups. As educators, it is essential to explore and address how grading policies and practices can either reinforce or reduce these disparities. Capital Region BOCES is pleased to offer a continued opportunity for educators to engage in a second-year program focused on exploring these inequities in greater depth. This program provides an important chance for educators to build on the knowledge and skills developed during the 2024-2025 Grading for Opportunity sessions. In this second-year cohort, participants will further develop their understanding of standards-based instruction and assessment. The program will focus on classroom and school practices and policies that ensure accurate communication of student progress, allowing for more equitable outcomes. Through guided action planning, participants will identify specific steps to implement in their classrooms and schools, taking into account the unique needs of their students. Together, they will work to foster a more inclusive and fair educational environment that supports all students in reaching their full potential.

Presenter: Dr. Eva Jones
Date/Time: Ongoing throughout the 25-26 school year
Price: $225

Developing a Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Educational Environment

Join us at Capital Region BOCES for a targeted professional development workshop for educators including administrators, teachers, and support staff. Join us at Capital Region BOCES for a targeted professional development workshop for educators including administrators, teachers, and support staff. Equity through Cultural Proficiency helps improve academic instruction by developing effective leaders and teachers that align policies, practices, values, and procedures to meet the needs of all students, regardless of culture, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.

This one-day workshop will cover the guiding principles of cultural proficiency, including the essential elements of cultural competence that serve as guidelines for culturally proficient interactions, and barriers to cultural proficiency.

The training will help to improve the knowledge and skills necessary to increase students’ academic engagement and achievement in an environment that addresses the many components of culture and diversity. Time will also be spent examining research on underlying attributes and identifying ways to change processes.

Presenter: Natalie McGee
Date/Time: August 26, 2025 | 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Price: $225

Professional Development MATTERS: Instruction and Pedagogy

PLC Podcast Club

This series of 4 half day meetings will focus around exploration of pre-selected podcast episodes. Podcasts may include Truth for Teachers: Angela Watson and The Cult of Pedagogy: Jennifer Gonzales. The PLC Podcast Club is suitable for anyone who works with students in a K-12 school setting.

Presenter: Amy Bennett
Date/Time: July 8 & 22, August 5 & 25 | 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Price: $440 ($360 for Subscribers)

Claim/Evidence/Reason for Elementary Teachers

In this hands-on workshop, elementary teachers will be introduced to the skills, concepts, pedagogy, and practices based on the innovative “Read.Inquire.Write” (RIW) framework, designed to promote inquiry-based learning. By establishing consistent routines across various content areas, RIW enhances students’ ability to engage deeply with complex concepts, while building stamina, confidence, and proficiency in critical thinking, reading, discussion, and writing.

Presenter: Tom Stanton & Ilyne Peters- Weinberg
Date/Time: July 9, 2025 | 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Price: $225 ($175 for Subscribers)

Claim/Evidence/Reason for High School Teachers

In this hands-on workshop, secondary teachers will be introduced to the skills, concepts, pedagogy, and practices based on the innovative “Read.Inquire.Write” (RIW) framework, designed to promote inquiry-based learning. By establishing consistent routines across various content areas, RIW enhances students’ ability to engage deeply with complex concepts, while building stamina, confidence, and proficiency in critical thinking, reading, discussion, and writing.

Presenter: Tom Stanton & Ilyne Peters- Weinberg
Date/Time: July 10, 2025 | 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Price: $225 ($175 for Subscribers)

Spark Student Engagement: Innovative Teaching Strategies for Elementary Educators

In this hands-on workshop, elementary teachers will explore creative methods to boost student engagement. Participants will: Discover fun ways to spark curiosity; Use technology to make learning interactive; Foster a growth mindset in students; Tailor lessons to different learning styles; Encourage teamwork through collaborative activities.

Presenter: Julie Carroll
Date/Time: July 23, 2025 | 8:30 – 11:30 am
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

Creating a Welcoming Learning Environment for ELL’s

This professional development session is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and strategies necessary to create a welcoming learning environment for English Language Learner students (ELLs). The session will focus on fostering a classroom atmosphere where all students, regardless of their cultural background or language proficiency, feel valued and supported. Participants will explore practical approaches for integrating culturally responsive teaching practices, building empathy, and promoting a sense of belonging in their classrooms.

Presenter: Cara Bronner
Date/Time: August 4, 2025 | 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscriber)

Spark Student Engagement: Innovative Teaching Strategies for Elementary Educators

Presenter: Julie Carroll
Date/Time: August 13, 2025 | 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscriber)

Empowering New Educators: Tools and Techniques for Classroom Success (Elementary Teachers)

This workshop series is designed to equip new elementary teachers with essential tools and strategies for a successful start to their teaching careers. Participants will explore: Engagement Techniques: Discover methods to capture and sustain student interest; Classroom Management: Learn effective ways to maintain a positive and productive classroom environment; Instructional Strategies: Gain insights into planning and delivering impactful lessons; Use of Technology: Explore digital tools that can enhance teaching and learning.

Presenter: Julie Carroll
Dates/Times: August 19, 20, & 21, 2025. Four one hour sessions will follow throughout the 25-26 school year | 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Price: $330 ($270 for Subscribers)

Empowering New Educators: Tools and Techniques for Classroom Success (Secondary Teachers)

This workshop series is designed to equip new high school teachers with essential tools and strategies for a successful start to their teaching careers. Participants will explore: Engagement Techniques: Discover methods to capture and sustain student interest; Classroom Management: Learn effective ways to maintain a positive and productive classroom environment; Instructional Strategies: Gain insights into planning and delivering impactful lessons; Use of Technology: Explore digital tools that can enhance teaching and learning

Presenter: Julie Carroll
Dates/Times: August 19, 20, & 21, 2025. Four one hour sessions will follow throughout the 25-26 school year | noon – 3 p.m.
Price: $330 ($270 for Subscribers)

Manageable and Meaningful Feedback

Feeling buried under a mountain of grading? You’re not alone-and there’s a better way. Manageable and Meaningful Feedback is designed for educators who want to reduce grading overload without sacrificing impact. In this energizing session, you’ll learn how to streamline your grading practices, prioritize high-impact feedback, and design efficient systems that support both student growth and teacher well-being. Walk away with time-saving strategies, real-world examples, and a renewed sense of purpose around assessment.

Presenter: Jennifer Case
Dates/Times: July 14 | 1-2 p.m.
Price: $25 ($0 for Subscribers)

Build on What They Learned: Using Processing Activities to Enhance Direct Instruction

Does it sometimes feel like your students are hearing your instruction but not retaining it? Do you ever find yourself thinking “I just taught you this!” during your lessons? In Build on What They Learned, discover how to use simple, effective processing activities that deepen student understanding and boost retention after direct instruction. Walk away with easy-to-implement, classroom-ready strategies that transform “I taught it” into “they got it.”

Presenter: Jennifer Case
Dates/Times: July 29 | 10-11 a.m.
Price: $25 ($0 for Subscribers)

Powering Student Success: Strong Core Instruction for All Learners

Looking for new strategies to help boost student success? Join us for a dynamic, hands-on session that unlocks the power of Strong Core Instruction: research-based strategies that drive student achievement. You’ll walk away with practical, research-proven strategies that improve student achievement and work across all classrooms and learners. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your toolkit or spark new growth, this training will energize your teaching and elevate student achievement in your classroom.

Presenter: Jennifer Case
Dates/Times: August 13 | 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Price: $100 ($80 for Subscribers)

Professional Development MATTERS: Instructional Coaching

Cognitive Coaching for Teacher Mentors: Harnessing the Power of Strategic Questioning (PK-5)

Mentoring informed by Cognitive Coaching empowers teachers to become more self-directed and adaptive learners. This approach involves a series of structured conversations between a mentor and mentee, where the mentor uses targeted questioning techniques to explore the mentee’s thoughts, beliefs, and goals. The objective is to help the mentee build greater awareness, confidence, and autonomy in their teaching practice. With a more guided approach to mentoring, teachers will enhance their critical thinking skills by examining their assumptions, identifying knowledge gaps, and considering different perspectives. Mentors will find that these strategies can be effectively applied to both veteran and novice teachers alike.

Presenter: Illyne Peters- Weinberg
Date/Time: August 6, 2025 | 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

Cognitive Coaching for Teacher Mentors: Harnessing the Power of Strategic Questioning (6-12)

Presenter: Illyne Peters- Weinberg
Date/Time: August 7, 2025 | 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

Instructional Coaching Academy 25-26

In our third annual Coaching Academy series, instructional coaches will choose from a variety of tailored, year-long clubs to meet the distinct needs of districts, buildings, and individuals. Once registered, individual coaches will sign up for one club that will run for the 2025-2026 school year. Every session will also include whole-group time, as well as time to share out between clubs. Year-long Clubs include:

Datawise Protocol Club
Coaching Podcast Club
Measuring High Impact Teaching Strategy (HITs) Club
Foundations of Coaching Club

Presenter: CRB Instructional Coaches
Date/Time: Ongoing throughout 25-26 school year
Price: $440 ($360 for Subscribers)

Professional Development MATTERS: Leadership

Thought Leadership Meetings for Principals & Assistant Principals Series

Capital Region BOCES is pleased to host a series of meetings to provide the opportunity for principals to collaborate and share ideas with peers. Discuss topics of interest such as social emotional learning, curriculum and instruction, and others as determined by the group Assistant principals are also encouraged to attend. Please note: the October and May meetings will be held in person; the January and March meetings will be held via Zoom.

Presenter: Laura McDaniel
Date/Time: Ongoing throughout 2025-26 school year
Price: $180 ($0 for Subscribers)

Professional Development MATTERS: Math

Student Choice in Math

Explore effective strategies for integrating student choice into your math classroom! This session will begin with a collaborative discussion on using center and station models to promote student choice while incorporating movement into math instruction. Afterward, participants will break into elementary and secondary groups to collaborate with colleagues, review practical resources, and share ideas for implementing these strategies. Leave with fresh insights and actionable tools to enhance your math instruction.

Presenter: Amy Bennett
Date/Time: July 29, 2025 | 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Price: $225 ($175 for Subscribers)

Professional Development MATTERS: Project Based Learning

Project Based Learning Launch

This half-day session is designed for educators interested in exploring Project-Based Learning (PBL). Participants will receive an overview of PBL, including its principles and how it can be effectively implemented in K-12 classrooms. Attendees will also discover valuable resources and examples to support the initiation of their own PBL journey.

Presenter: Amy Bennett & Lisa Saccocio
Date/Time: July 17, 2025 | 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

Project Based Learning in Practice

Join fellow K-12 educators with experience in Project-Based Learning (PBL) as they share their successes and insights. Engage in meaningful discussions on implementation strategies, challenges, and your aspirations for PBL. Explore new resources designed to enhance and elevate both current and future PBL projects.

Presenter: Amy Bennett & Lisa Saccocio
Date/Time: July 17, 2025 | noon – 3 p.m.
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

Project Based Learning in Practice

Presenter: Amy Bennett & Lisa Saccocio
Date/Time: August 11, 2025 | 8 a.m. – noon
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

Project Based Learning Launch

Presenter: Amy Bennett & Lisa Saccocio
Date/Time: August 11, 2025 | noon – 4 p.m.
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

PBLA Cohort 25-26

Empower your students to actively create, innovate, and own their learning through Project Based Learning and Assessment (PBLA). Join the 2025-26 Cohort for an immersive workshop-model experience designed to help you launch and refine PBL in your classroom. Work alongside forward-thinking educators to learn, build, implement, and refine a captivating project tailored to your students and subject, regardless of grade or discipline. Gain practical strategies and unwavering support to bring PBL to life!

Presenter: Laura McDaniel
Date/Time: Ongoing throughout 25-26 school year
Price: $550

Professional Development MATTERS: Science

NYSSLS Chemistry: It’s Getting Real

The NYSSLS implementation timeline for chemistry is finally here. Join your colleagues from across the region as we dive into the New York State Science Learning Standards for Chemistry. How do these standards differ from the Core Curriculum that we know so well? For teachers new to the standards, this session is for you! Together we will find ways to integrate the science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts into your instruction and assessments, as well as take a peek into the new NYS required investigations for chemistry.

Presenter: Lisa Saccocio
Date/Time: July 15, 2025 | noon – 3 p.m.
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

NYSSLS Physics: It’s Getting Real

The NYSSLS implementation timeline for physics is finally here. Join your colleagues from across the region as we dive into the New York State Science Learning Standards for Physics. How do these standards differ from the Core Curriculum that we know so well? For teachers new to the standards, this session is for you! Together we will find ways to integrate the science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts into your instruction and assessments, as well as take a peek into the new NYS required investigations for physics.

Presenter: Lisa Saccocio
Date/Time: July 16, 2025 | noon – 3 p.m.
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

Deconstructing the New Bio and ESS Regents Exam

What can we learn from the first run of the NYSSLS Regents exams in science? Do you remember when New York State first announced the new science standards? With that announcement came a timeline leading to a brand-new Regents exam aligned with those standards. After years of anticipation-and a global pandemic thrown into the mix-we’ve finally arrived! Whether your students have already taken the first NYSSLS Regents in Biology or Earth and Space Science, or they will for the first time next year, the missing piece science teachers have been waiting for is finally here: the exam itself. In this session, we’ll work together to answer your questions.

Presenter: Lisa Saccocio
Date/Time: July 22, 2025 | noon – 3 p.m.
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

Exploring Elementary Science

Join your elementary colleagues to exchange ideas, explore resources, and ask questions related to the science standards, state investigations, and any other topics you’d like to discuss.

Presenter: Amy Bennett & Lisa Saccocio
Date/Time: July 24, 2025 | 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

Summer Science unConference 2.0

Presented by STANYS, CASSA, Capital Region BOCES and NYS Master Teachers. Unconferences throw away the rule book and allow for empowered conversations, voice, choice, and autonomy in learning. An unconference is a bottom-up approach where participants drive the agenda and propose and lead sessions, dictating the schedule and content to be shared based on their interests and expertise. Join science teachers from across the region in another great opportunity to grow our practice as we shift toward full NYSSLS implementation! Gain insights from each other in ways to integrate the cross-cutting concepts, science and engineering practices, and disciplinary core ideas seamlessly to your practice, evaluate and develop 3-dimensional assessments, and more! Together we will work to answer questions related to curriculum and instruction, NYS science investigations, assessment.

Presenter: Lisa Saccocio
Date/Time: July 30 & 31, 2025 | 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Price: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Third Grade ESS: How Do Weather and Climate Affect our Lives?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students learn why and how scientists measure weather. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: July 21, 2025 | 11:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Price: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – 3rd Grade PS: How Can We Predict Patterns of Motion?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students explore how objects can exert forces on other objects and predict an object’s future motion based on observations of patterns of motion. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: July 21, 2025
Price: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Second Grade LS: How Can We Find the Best Place for a Plant to Grow?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students investigate what plants need to live, grow, and reproduce, and how these factors are parts of a system that work together in each plant’s habitat. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: July 22, 2025 | 8-11 a.m.
Price: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Second Grade ESS: What Can Maps Tell Us About Land And Water?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students explore the patterns of land and water on Earth and how they can represent those patterns with models, including maps. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: July 22, 2025 | 11:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Price: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Second Grade ESS: What Can Maps Tell Us About Land And Water?

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: July 23, 2025 | 8-11:00 a.m.
Price: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Third Grade ENG: How Do We Protect Animals When Their Habitat Changes?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students explore the topic of what animals need to survive and how animals are affected when their habitat changes. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: July 23, 2025 | 11:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Price: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Second Grade PS: How Can We Change Solids and Liquids?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students explore how solids and liquids can change by heating, cooling, building up, carving, and taking apart. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: July 24, 2025 | 8-11 a.m.
Price: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Second Grade ENG: How Do We Keep Soil From Washing Away?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students explore and collect evidence on the fast and slow ways water and wind can change the shape of land. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: July 24, 2025 | 11:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Price: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – First Grade ENG: How Can We Send a Message Using Sound?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit. How can we send a message using sound? Using a variety of methods and media, students solve this problem. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: July 28, 2025 | 8-11 a.m.
Price: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Fifth Grade PS: How Can We Identify Materials Based on Their Properties?

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: July 29, 2025 | 8-11 a.m.
Price: $0

Register for Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Fifth Grade PS: How Can We Identify Materials Based on Their Properties?

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Fourth Grade PS: How Does Motion Energy Change in a Collision?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students explore how motion energy can move and change in a collision. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: July 29, 2025 | 11:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Price: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Fourth Grade ESS: What Is Our Evidence That We live on a Changing Earth?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students identify, analyze, and communicate evidence that we live on a changing planet. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: August 6, 2025 | 8-11 a.m.
Price: $0

Register for Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Fourth Grade ESS: What Is Our Evidence That We live on a Changing Earth?

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Fifth Grade ESS: How Can We Use the Sky to Navigate?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students use models and observations to collect evidence that gravity is directed to the center of a spherical Earth, and that Earth rotates once on an axis every 24 hours. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: August 6, 2025 | 11:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Price: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Fourth Grade ENG: How Can We Provide Energy to People’s Homes?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students explore how energy moves and changes, and how people obtain sources of energy and convert them for practical purposes. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: August 7, 2025 | 8-11 a.m.
Price: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – 5th Grade ENG: How Can We Provide Freshwater to Those in Need?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students explore the topic of water scarcity and the various ways humans have attempted to get water to where it is needed. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: August 7, 2025 | 11:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Cost: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – 5th Grade LS: How Can We Predict Change in Ecosystems?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students explore how plants and animals get the matter and energy they need to live and grow, how they interact in food webs, how change in one part of an ecosystem can have multiple effects, and how newly introduced species become invasive. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: August 11, 2025 | 11:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Cost: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – 4th Grade LS: How Can Animals Use Their Senses To Communicate?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students investigate how animals use their internal and external structures to sense the world around them, process information, communicate information to others, and react accordingly. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: August 11, 2025 | 8-11 a.m.
Cost: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Kindergarten Grade LS: What Do Plants And Animals Need to Live?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students investigate 2 phenomena and propose solutions to 3 problems related to what plants and animals need and how Earth’s systems support them. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: August 12, 2025 | 11:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Cost: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – 1st Grade PS: How Do We Light Our Way in the Dark?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit. In this module, students investigate how light interacts with a variety of materials and explore ways that humans and other animals use such interactions to help them survive. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: August 12, 2025 | 8-11 a.m.
Cost: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Kindergarten Grade ESS: How Can We Get Ready For The Weather?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students explain 2 weather-related phenomena and propose solutions to weather-related problems. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: August 13, 2025 | 11:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Cost: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – First Grade ESS: How Can We Predict When The Sky Will Be Dark?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students begin to build an explanation for the phenomenon of the daytime and nighttime skies. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: August 13, 2025 | 8-11 a.m.
Cost: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Kindergarten Grade PS: How Can We Change An Objectʾs Motion?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students explain 2 phenomena-related to the games of air hockey and miniature golf-and solve a problem related to air hockey. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: August 14, 2025 | 11:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Cost: $0

Smithsonian Science Kits Workshop – Kindergarten Grade ENG: How Can We Stay Cool In The Sun?

Join Heidi Aupperle to cover the basics of this Smithsonian Science Kit in which students solve 2 problems caused by sunlight warming surfaces-a playground surface too hot to sit on, and a person who gets warm while out in the sunlight. Teachers will have the opportunity to view assembled experiments and observe the use of the kit, with time to ask direct questions.

Presenter: Heidi Aupperle
Date/Time: August 14, 2025 | 8-11 a.m.
Cost: $0

Professional Development MATTERS: Social Emotional Learning

Executive Functioning Skills and Impactful Teaching Strategies for SD Students

This half day professional development session focuses on understanding and enhancing executive functioning skills-such as organization, time management, task initiation, and self-regulation-in students with special needs (SD). Participants will explore evidence-based strategies and practical tools to support students in developing these critical skills, leading to increased independence, academic success, and overall well-being. Through interactive discussions and hands-on activities, educators will learn how to implement impactful teaching strategies tailored to meet the unique needs of SD students, fostering an effective learning environment. The session will provide practical techniques to promote self-regulation, cognitive flexibility, and problem-solving skills, ensuring all students can thrive in both academic and social settings.

Presenter: Cara Bronner
Date/Time: July 15, 2025 | 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

Teacher Wellness and Self Care

This professional development opportunity is designed to give educators a chance to reset during the summer. Participants will have time to reflect, learn, and discover new strategies to support their wellness and self-care.

Presenter: Amy Bennett
Date/Time: July 16, 2025 | 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

Executive Functioning Skills and Impactful Teaching Strategies for SD Students

Presenter: Cara Bronner
Date/Time: August 12, 2025 | 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

Teacher Wellness and Self Care

Presenter: Amy Bennett
Date/Time: August 14, 2025 | 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Price: $110 ($90 for Subscribers)

Constructing a Positive Classroom Culture

A positive classroom culture doesn’t happen by accident-it’s built with intention, consistency, and care. In Constructing a Classroom Culture, you’ll learn practical, research-based strategies for building strong relationships with students, proactively preventing misbehavior, and responding effectively when challenges arise. This session will equip you with tools to create a learning environment where respect, responsibility, and connection thrive-helping you foster not just better behavior, but better learning outcomes too.

Presenter: Jennifer Case
Date/Time: August 6 | 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Price: $25 ($0 for Subscribers)