MIDDLEBOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Professional Development
Middleborough Public Schools is proud to offer an in-house professional development series titled A Taste of Universal Design for Learning: How to Reach and Teach All Students. These workshops will run from 4:00-5:30pm on the dates listed below and will take place in the media center at the Henry B. Burkland Elementary School. While the elementary school is hosting this workshop series, all district staff are encouraged to attend. Please see below for descriptions of each presentation. For questions about the content of the sessions please contact Jennifer Castanhinha, Team Facilitator Grades 1-5.
The district will be awarding 12 professional development points for those who actively participate in every session, forum discussions that will take place through Aspen, and a final product. For each presentation there will be a discussion question posted on a group page in Aspen. Each person will respond to the discussion board prompt and also reply to one colleague for each presentation. The final product can be based one or more of the strategies learned during the workshop series. Examples may include: behavior charts, lesson plans incorporating UDL, log book of sensory and or behavioral strategies learned during the workshop series, social thinking posters, etc. For details on the issuing of professional development points please contact Melanie Gates, Director of Secondary Education for STEM.
If you would like to participate in this workshop series and earn professional development points, please email Melanie Gates to register. While we are hoping that many of you will participate in the whole workshop series, we welcome those who wish to participate in one or more of the workshops without earning professional development points. We also ask that you email Melanie Gates to register. Please specific which workshop you wish to attend so that our presenters are best able to prepare for their audience.
Please register for this series or individual sessions as soon as possible, as the deadline has passed, but they are still accepting anyone who is interested.
Jennifer Castanhinha
jcastanhinha@middleboro.k12.ma.us
508-946-2040 x4312
Melanie Gates
melaniegates@middleboro.k12.ma.us
774-766-6481 x6191
Professional Development
Workshop Descriptions:
January 27, 2014
Overview of Universal Design for Learning
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an approach to curriculum design that gives all students
equal opportunities to learn. There is a tremendous amount of variability among our learners which
means that our curriculum cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach. Curriculum must be flexible so
that it can be adjusted and customized for individual needs. This introduction to UDL will present
on the three main networks of the brain and the connection to the three principles of UDL.
February 3, 2014
Emotional & Behavioral Regulation for School Function
Come hear about how emotional issues affect the brain and impact learning. Understand how
those emotional issues are connected to behavior. Explore classroom strategies that help support
students.
Sensory Regulation for School Function
Everyone uses activity and sensory information in order to regulate their alertness so they can
attend and learn. With just the right amount of alertness, we can function in a skillful, efficient
and self-confident way. Come explore sensory regulation and applications for your class.
March 10, 2014
Linking Core Social Thinking Concepts to Universal Design for Learning
This presentation will discuss basic elements of Universal Design for Learning and provide tools
to link Core Social Thinking principles to your classroom.
March 24, 2014
Dealing with Anxiety in the Classroom
Participants will learn about the symptoms of anxiety and how they present in the
classroom. Interventions and accommodations to deal with stress and anxiety in the classroom will
also be discussed.
Effective Behavior Management & De-escalation Techniques
Effective behavior management systems create positive classroom environments. This leads to
higher levels of student engagement and achievements. Come find out how to manage the ever-
changing student populations and what to do in a crisis by responding with effective de- escalation
techniques.
April 7, 2014
Why Doesn’t He Show Us What He Knows?
If you have students who seem to understand the information, but task completion is poor, they
may have trouble with executive functioning. Many students have trouble organizing materials,
shifting from one activity to the next, monitoring/editing their work, getting started on
tasks, planning/organizing their plan for working, and/or following all the steps. Attendees will
understand more about executive functioning and leave with some simple strategies for
