Kristin Murcott and the value of being mentored

Shirley Smith | May 16, 2017

You might think visiting the second-grade classroom of a second-year teacher in the middle of a science lesson—at the end of the day near the end of the school year, no less—would be a bit chaotic. But if you’re talking…..

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First Aid in Your First Month

Shirley Smith | October 6, 2015

Immediate help for beginning teachers to improve their teaching practice was the focus of the first of six seminars scheduled for this year, starting on October 1. Teachers from nine school districts sat at tables with colleagues in similar grade levels, taking turns with a partner to…..

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The snowy, cold weather with accompanying bad driving conditions kept many beginning teachers from attending the January 8, 2015 seminar on the PDP Process, Part One.

A snowy night for PDP Part One

Shirley Smith | January 21, 2015

Despite the cold and snowy weather, nearly half of the 92 beginning teachers who registered for the January 8, 2015 seminar on the PDP (professional development plan) braved the miserable conditions to attend. Teresa Voss and Jen Murphy, both of Verona Area School District,…..

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Snapshots from “Assessing Student Learning,” November 6

Shirley Smith | November 13, 2014

How do you know if, and what, your students are learning? The beginning teacher seminar in Fitchburg on November 6 focused on techniques to assess student learning, including determining the difference between summative and formative assessment. 80 beginning teachers were present.  …..

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