Morning Classroom Conversations: Get Students Thinking and Learning by Getting them Talking
This book study is designed for 5th-12th grade teachers, school counselors and other conversation leaders to discover the process for incorporating focused Morning Classroom Conversations (MCCs) into a regular part of your homeroom or advisory period in just 10-15 minutes!
You will learn the art of conversation that builds and reinforces social-emotional learning (SEL) skills with an instructional framework of thought-provoking prompts and themes. Preparations include establishing norms that nurture a productive classroom climate and strategies to foster meaningful conversations and active listening skills. Recommendations for individualizing differing cognitive levels, including adaptations for working with ELLs, gifted and culturally diverse students will also be covered. The nuanced meaning of "brave spaces” will be explored for advancing productive and meaningful conversations with ideals that embody "controversy with civility”, "owning intentions and impact”, "respect for one another's personhood” and agreeing not to intentionally inflict harm by leading and modeling through equitable and consistent example.
Alternative options to work around common barriers for conversations to regularly occur are provided. Suggestions for conducting short-term, small group skill development for students with behavioral, emotional or social skill development needs or for use during extra-curricular activities are shared. MCCs follow a three-year developmental progression for widening students' cognitive and social awareness that includes an Appendix for each of the three years with daily prompts that factor in adolescent development through a Better Me - Better School - Better World - focus. Modifications to this three-year sequence are offered as well as implementation considerations for lead teachers and/or administrators.
FORMAT: Asynchronous online learning
DATES: 7/14/24 - 8/18/24
FACILITATOR: Susan Alviene, Retired Teacher & Intervention Specialist, Schenectady CSD
GCRTC CONTACT: Lorena Hurst, GCRTC Teacher Leadership Coach for Elementary Education
FEE: None. Registration is required.
CTLE HOURS: 15
REGISTRATION: https://tinyurl.com/mryptc3p