The Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) held its 2015 Summer Institute in July at Bowdoin College in Brunswick. Over 70 Maine educators participated in the three-day event where they learned new techniques and strategies to help address proficiency-based learning, teacher accountability and higher order thinking skills.
Continue reading “MLTI Summer Institute promotes PBE through technology”
As the implementation of the Maine suicide prevention law requiring suicide awareness and prevention education for all school personnel moves forward, many schools are also considering what is being taught to students. As part of that implementation, each school is required to have at least two Gatekeeper trained staff and it is recommended each district have two Training of the Trainer (TOT) staff to offer these awareness trainings each year for new staff and as needed in order to maintain compliance.
The Maine DOE continues to support schools as they prepare for a successful administration of the computer-based ACCESS FOR ELLs 2.0, Maine’s English language proficiency assessment for English learners during the Nov. 30, 2015 to Jan. 29, 2016 testing window.
Continue reading “Department provides support for computer-based administration of ACCESS 2.0”
Maine DOE in collaboration with the University of Maine Project Reach is offering blended learning experience for educators of English learners consisting of companion webinars and a face-to-face workshop.
Continue reading “Blended learning experience for educators of English learners”
Over 750 people have participated in the 13 NEO data system training workshops across the state with the final two sessions wrapping up this week.
New and experienced gifted and talented educators will have an opportunity to learn new skills and practices at upcoming mentoring workshops in Augusta and Bangor sponsored by the Maine DOE.
The workshop will consist of two strands: a full-day strand for new educators and an advanced strand for experienced teachers and administrators in the afternoon only.
The new educator strand will consist of a question-and-answer workshop designed for teachers and administrators who have been working in the field of gifted and talented education for only one or two years, or for those in a newly restructured district. Teachers and administrators are encouraged to come with questions and to share resources. The workshop topics will include identification tools; curriculum options; organizing and managing G/T programs; evaluating program effectiveness; and reviewing the application and budget forms new this year. Patti Drapeau, educational consultant in gifted education for the Maine DOE, will be the facilitator for this strand. For more information, contact her at ptdrapeau@aol.com.
The advanced strand will be meeting concurrently with the new educator strand in the afternoon only. It will address particular questions, concerns and challenges that the participants bring to the workshop. The topics should be far-reaching given that experienced attendees will be coming from rural and urban communities, small and large schools, and new or established programs. Examples of topics include dual exceptionalities, K-2 programming, consultation and changing the focus of an established program. Lee Worcester, consultant in gifted education for the Maine DOE, will be the facilitator for this strand. For more information or to suggest a topic for discussion (by Sept. 14), contact her at lee.worcester@yahoo.com or 943-8804 by Sept. 14.
The one-day mentoring workshops will be held on Sept. 24 and 28, free of charge. The same information will be presented on both workshop days. Choose one of the following events:
To register by the Sept. 17 deadline, please complete this online form. Lunch will not be provided at either workshop.
Resources
On August 6 and 7, a conference entitled “ECET2 Maine Teacher Leadership Summit” (Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers) was held at Colby College in Waterville. It was organized by the Maine Teacher of the Year Association, and Maine DOE’s Learning Through Technology Team (LTTT) joined in offering support with social media.
A local history teacher’s passion for the Civil War and his collaboration with his school librarian and local historical society, led him to a week of learning this summer at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.
Continue reading “Blue Hill teacher receives week-long learning in nation’s capital”
A collaborative effort of Maine DOE, MSAD 17, and the University of Maine at Farmington came to life in June at the first of its kind in the nation — math coaching project. UMF’s graduate program, the Maine Mathematics Coaching Project, brought together 15 teacher coaching candidates and their administrators to participate in the summer institute.
Continue reading “A first of its kind in the nation in mathematics coaching”
The following priority notice was sent today to superintendents as a reminder all school personnel must complete suicide awareness and prevention training by the start of the 2015-16 school year.
Dear Superintendents,
Ensuring the safety of our students is a priority and a shared responsibility. Suicide awareness and prevention efforts are a part of safeguarding schools. To increase the potential of recognizing a student (or colleague) is in need of assistance, Maine passed the school-based suicide awareness and prevention law (LD 609, PL 53, DOE Rule Chapter 38) in April 2013.
Continue reading “Reminder to districts: Suicide awareness and prevention training”
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