"I feel like it is such a rare opportunity when teachers get this caliber 

of professional development. Without sounding like I'm gushing, it was 

quite literally inspiring. The workshops had a lot of practical advice -- 

things I'm genuinely excited to go back and try. The keynotes just make
me want to be a better teacher. I haven't been inspired by
professional development 
in a long time, and I feel rejuvenated and excited 

about what I'm going to do next week."

 

Jolene Cronin, fifth grade teacher, Franklin, MA     

  

 

On Saturday, January 11th hundreds of educators filled the Rhode Island Convention Center with enthusiasm and curiosity at The Teaching Studio's first Educators' Institute. The Teaching Studio, The Learning Community's professional development consulting practice, gathered over 300 people from Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Texas, and Rhode Island. Generously funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and the Rhode Island Foundation, highlights included:

 

 

"I have learned many new and meaningful lessons to bring back to my own teaching."    

 

Eighteen dynamic, hands-on workshops by Learning Community teachers during the morning and afternoon focused on sharing practical tools and enabling participants to share with one another. Topics ranged from Building Comprehension through Interactive Read Alouds in K-2 to Mental Math: Improving Our Students' Number Sense and Computations Skills in Just 15 Minutes a Day. 

 

 

 

"I loved that the featured speakers were both informative AND humorous. I learned a lot but also leave feeling lighthearted. I feel like that doesn't happen enough at teacher events."

 

Keynote speakers packed the convention center ballroom with new ideas. National expert Kathy Collins spoke about building strong and thoughtful readers, Peter Johnston highlighted the importance of the social aspects of learning and gave compelling examples of the academic impact it has, and Ralph Fletcher shared his perspective on writing and particularly encouraging boy writers.  

 

   

"This was the 'piece of positive' I needed for myself so I can keep working hard for my students."  

 

Local policy experts, parents and community leaders joined teachers and students for a special lunch forum featuring learning expert Peter Johnston and a video visit to the fifth grade classroom of Learning Community teacher Graham O'Halloran to see engaged dialogue at work.  

 

 

  

This event was one more way The Learning Community is serving as a catalyst for success and critical dialogue in public education. Our thanks to all of the participants and presenters who made the day such a thoughtful and rigorous one. Next year's Educators' Institute will take place on March 14, 2015. Stay tuned!  

 

The Teaching Studio is a nationally-recognized professional development center based at
The Learning Community, a K-8 public school with 87% poverty rate. The professional 
development offered through the Teaching Studio is led by practicing classroom teachers 
who have tested and refined the material in real, urban classrooms and work collaboratively

with colleagues in other schools to share what works.

                                       
We are extremely grateful to the Rhode Island Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation
 for their investment in teachers and their support for this event.