Professional Circle for Middle School Pretenure Teachers and Perm Subs:

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

Facilitators:  Kathy Curran Jackie Korsen

15 CTLE hours; 1 inservice credit                                                                                       Grades 6-7-8

Dates:  Tuesday Sept 10                                                                                               Time: 3PM-4PM

Location:   Room #W315 at the LindenhurstMS. Other dates to be determined after we have our first meeting.             Fee:  None

The purpose for this professional circle is to create a professional, supportive and safe environment where new teachers (years 1-5) and permanent substitutes have the opportunity to not only enhance their teaching skills/best practices, but to build confidence.  Participants will have the chance to share their strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, and engage in collaborative problem solving to improve their practice.  The activities and topics will be geared towards need, interest and relevant themes of teaching in today's world (globally and locally).  Valuable solutions to current issues within the classroom environment will be formulated through the group’s participants.  Addressing challenges that teachers face and how to persevere to keep a healthy, balanced and positive mindset will be added to their teacher toolbox as well.  Guest speakers will be incorporated into the program to correlate with the theme of the meeting.  They will be present to offer wisdom, propose questions to reflect on and insight.  The goal is that through committed engagement members will feel a sense of support, belonging and community, which in turn will improve instructional effectiveness with optimal student learning outcomes.

This Circle will meet in person for 11-12 hours, and the remaining 3-4 hours will be spent working independently researching and reflecting on various topics.