Core Connection Course Catalog

Write Now & Write On Book Study
This book study is designed to help you help your students up their writing game, while making literacy applicable, beneficial, and original. According to Rebecca G. Harper: "Your students may not realize it, but they're already writers. All those informational text messages, Instagram captions, and Facebook posts have given them the skills they can use as a springboard to the formal, content-specific writing they'll need for success in school and college and throughout their careers.”

Experience the Magic with Magic School AI
In this course, educators will learn how to effectively utilize the MagicSchool platform to enhance their teaching experience and streamline their daily tasks. MagicSchool is a cutting-edge AI platform designed specifically for educators, offering over 60 individual tools to support teachers in various aspects of their work…

New Mentor Training August 2025
This course guides veteran teachers through the analysis of the knowledge and attributes critical to teacher mentoring. It will consist of asynchronous assignments with feedback provided by the facilitator weekly…

Anne Frank Exhibition Site Visit: Experience History, Transform Teaching
This guided site visit of the Anne Frank Exhibition offers teachers a unique opportunity to engage with one of history's most powerful stories while developing practical strategies for bringing these essential lessons back to their classrooms and communities. Participants will explore the exhibition together, experiencing the narrative and educational materials firsthand. Following the museum visit, we will convene for a structured debriefing session focused on translating this experience into meaningful classroom instruction, school-wide initiatives, and regional educational opportunities…

Quiet Wisdom: In-Person Summer 2025 Session
In this 3-hour in-person session, participants will have the opportunity to explore the practices from the virtual meditation in a live community setting. Practices to be explored include breathwork, movement meditation, silent nature immersion, compassion meditation, live sound bath, and more…

National Board Certification - Introduction and Planning Session
Join GCRTC coach Geoff Bizan for an introduction to the process and benefits of certifying for National Board. Identify free resources and networking opportunities to guide and support your growth in all domains of teaching and learning…

National Board Certification - MOC Maintenance of Certification Introduction and Planning Session
Join GCRTC coach Geoff Bizan for an introduction to the process and benefits of maintaining your current certification. Identify free resources and networking opportunities to guide and support your growth in all domains of teaching and learning…

Movement & Sound Meditation Circles
In this course, participants will be invited to gather in six synchronous virtual circle gatherings. When we take time to replenish ourselves and fill our own cup, we are able to serve others from the overflow. This allows us to show up to our classrooms feeling supported, sustainable, and impactful for the students we work with everyday. A guided movement sequence and flow will be offered at every circle, with modifications offered throughout to make the practice accessible to everybody…

New Mentor Training Fall 2025
This course guides veteran teachers through the analysis of the knowledge and attributes critical to teacher mentoring. It will consist of asynchronous assignments with feedback provided by the facilitator weekly…

Teaching Assistant and Aides Support Series 2025: The Artificial Intelligence Playbook
This professional learning series is specifically designed for Teaching Assistants and Aides who want to understand and integrate artificial intelligence tools into their daily practice. Through a guided book study of The Artificial Intelligence Playbook (Hargrave, Fisher & Frey, 2024), participants will explore practical AI applications regardless of their current comfort level with technology…

Teaching Writing From Content Classroom to Career, Grades 6-12
Based on the principles outlined in Teaching Writing from Content Classroom to Career, this dynamic professional learning course empowers middle and high school teachers to integrate effective writing instruction across content areas, preparing students for both academic success and future careers…

Math 6-8 Support Network: Numeracy Briefs Series
NYSED has launched a Numeracy Initiative, which will continue through the 2025-26 school year. This Initiative will provide information and resources to support high-quality, culturally responsive mathematics instruction designed to help students to advance their numeracy skills and achieve the expectations of the mathematics learning standards. This session is an overview…

Developing Mathematical Reasoning Avoiding the Trap of Algorithms By Pamela Weber Harris Book Study
This book is a valuable resource for educators looking to reach more students by building a strong foundation of mathematical thinking in their students. By addressing common misconceptions about math and providing practical strategies for teaching real math, this book shows that everyone can use the mathematical relationships they already know to reason about new relationships…

AI as a Cognitive Mirror: Using AI Prompts to Analyze Teaching and Learning
Through engaging digital activities designed to fit your busy schedule, you'll develop the skills needed to craft purposeful AI prompts that generate meaningful insights into your teaching practices and students' learning…

Digital Drawing for Educators: Teaching with Chrome Canvas
Learn the skills to confidently use Chrome Canvas to create dynamic, visually rich instructional materials and have student creatively engaged…

Dynamic Teacher 2025: The AI Revolution
Step into the future of education with Dynamic Teacher 2025: The AI Revolution. This fully asynchronous online course is designed to empower educators to confidently navigate and harness the power of artificial intelligence in the classroom. Developed and facilitated by the cross-curricular team of Teacher Leadership Coaches at the Greater Capital Region Teacher Center, this course provides practical strategies and critical insights for today's rapidly evolving educational landscape…

Empowering Students through Contemporary Art: Building Confidence and Self-Expression
This professional learning course empowers K-12 art educators to design inclusive and inspiring art activities that foster student confidence and self-expression…

The Art and Sound of STEAM
Through practical examples and collaborative exploration, you'll discover natural opportunities to incorporate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while preserving the creative core of your art and music lessons. The course will equip you with concrete strategies for accessing cross-disciplinary resources, building meaningful connections with colleagues, and developing sustainable community partnerships to enhance student learning…

Quiet Wisdom: Continuing our Exploration of Contemplative Practices in Teaching- Fall 2025 Series
Inspired by Quiet Wisdom: Exploring Contemplative Practices in Teaching, this all new session of Quiet Wisdom will dive deeper into some previously explored contemplative practices for educators, as well as expand our repertoire of self-care for transitions, new seasons, and holidays. Both new and past participants are encouraged to attend…

Captivate Engaging and Empowering Students in a World of Digital Distractions by Marc Isseks, PhD, Book Study
In this book study Captivate Engaging and Empowering Students in a world of Digital Distractions by Marc Isseks, PhD, participating educators will learn how to not just teach, but CAPTIVATE their students…