The Best In-person Professional Development- Monarch Teacher Network Workshops 2012

The best cross-curricular professional development I have ever been a part of was the Monarch Teacher Network’s “Teaching and Learning with Monarch Butterflies”.  I first took the workshop back in 2006 and I still volunteer as a staff leader every summer.  It’s fabulous and I can’t recommend it enough!  Below you will find information about this summer’s workshops in the US and Canada.   (Clicking on the link will take you directly to a registration form for that workshop).

US Dates

June

June 13– 14:    Leesburg, Virginia (Loudoun County, DC Area)

June 14-15:    UC-Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara, California

June 18-19:    Lyonia Environmental Center; Deltona; Florida (Volusia County)

June 18-19:    Coyote Hills Regional Park; Freemont, California

June 20-21:    Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park; Gilroy, California (Santa Clara County)

June 25– 26:    Union Mill and Daniels Run schools in Fairfax County, Virginia (Fairfax County, DC area)

June 25– 26:    Charlotte Country Day School; Charlotte, North Carolina

July

July 30-31:    Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center; Sioux City, Iowa

August

Aug 2-3:    Heartland AEA; Johnston, Iowa (Des Moines area)

Aug 2-3:    Quad Cities Botanical Center; Rock Island, Illinois  

Aug 6-7:    Frankfort Square Park District; Frankfort, Illinois (Chicago area)

Aug 13-14:    William Paterson University; Wayne, New Jersey (Passaic County, NYC area)

Aug 14-15:    Interpretive Center in Freedom Park; Williamsburg, Virginia

Aug 16-17:      Raritan Valley Community College; New Jersey (Somerset County)

Aug 20-21:    EIRC facility; Mullica Hill, New Jersey (Gloucester County, Philadelphia area)

Aug 20-21:    The Boston Nature Center; Mattapan, Massachusetts (Boston Area)

Aug 22-23:    Childrens Museum of New Hampshire; Dover, New Hamphsire

For more information or if there is no registration form available: contact: Brian Hayes at bhayes@eirc.org856-582-7000 x110 or write  Monarch Teacher Network™ at EIRC – MTN, South Jersey Technology Park,  107 Gilbreth Parkway, Suite 200, Mullica Hill, NJ 08062.  fax: 856-582-4206.

Canada

• July 10 & 11, 2012, REGINA, Saskatchewan
• July 10 & 11, 2012, SUMMERSIDE, Prince Edward Island
• July 11 & 12, 2012, OTTAWA,  Ontario (in English)
• July 17 & 18, 2012, WINNIPEG, Manitoba
• July 18 & 19, 2012, OTTAWA, Ontario (en Français)
• July 24 & 25, 2012, OSHAWA, Ontario
• July 26 & 27, 2012, CAMBRIDGE, Ontario
• July 31 & Aug. 1, 2012, M’CHIGEENG, Manitoulin Island, Ontario
• July 31 & Aug. 1, 2012, WOODBRIDGE, Ontario
• Aug. 16 & 17, 2012, TATAMAGOUCHE (NORTH SHORE), Nova Scotia
• Aug. 21 & 22, 2012, PORT ROWAN (near Long Point), Ontario

Four Years Ago, I Was In Mexico….

Four years ago this month, I visited the monarch butterfly’s overwintering grounds in Michoacan, Mexico.  Today, the same towns I visited are under attack from drug lords and gangs.  It breaks my heart that travel restrictions prohibit other teachers from traveling there with the Monarch Teacher Network  right now.

To celebrate the beauty and magic of that trip, I wanted to link to the posts I shared after my trip. Join me in reminiscing by reading some of my updates from the trip, linked below.

Monarch Teacher Network: Day 1 in Mexico

Monarch Teacher Network: Day 2 in Mexico

Monarch Teacher Network: Day 3 in Mexico

Monarch Teacher Network: Day 4 in Mexico

Monarch Teacher Network: Day 5 in Mexico 

 

My trip to Mexico, and all of my dealings with the Monarch Teacher Network, made up some of the most powerful professional development I have ever participated in.  I still act as staff at the annual summer workshops here in NJ and I hope to start traveling with some of the workshops in the next few years.  Check out the website- if they are offering a workshop near you I highly recommend it.

Looking for a great read-aloud and some PD

I am at a loss for my next read-aloud. Normally I have a book chosen months in advance, for specific reasons. But for some reason I am stuck this time. We just finished Sonnenblick’s Drums, Girls, And Dangerous Pie. We begin our Holocaust study in a few weeks, so I am looking for a short read-aloud. I am considering The Entertainer and the Dybbuk, but I don’t want to overwhelm them with Holocaust novels. So I need suggestions from the Kidlitosphere! I am looking for a short book (meaning, no 300 page books this time!). Any genre, though I would prefer to avoid sci-fi/fantasy this time around. Hit me with your best shot!!!

I have also spent the last two days searching for some great professional development opportunities. I have a professional development day left and am dying to use it. Unfortunately, I can’t find anything that seems worthwhile! We are only reimbursed for $50 through the district, so it can’t be something too expensive. I would love a reading/writing workshop PD but there don’t seem to be any in the area. What are some of your best PD experiences??

Professional Development

My district has decided to give me district days for my monarch trip in February. That means I have 2 professional development days to put to good use this year! I have spent today scouring the internet for workshops and I am coming up empty! Ideally, I would like two separate workshops- I am looking for something in Responsive Classroom, reading workshop, or writing workshop. It needs to be in NJ and preferably the cost should be $50 or less (we are reimbursed up to $50). Anyone have any ideas or recommendations? I am coming up with nothong, no matter what I google!