A
New Program! Read, Reflect, Relate
The Tioga County Teacher Center is initiating a new
program called “Read, Reflect, Relate.” It’s
perfect for teachers who do not have enough time to participate
in a study group. It’s simple: A teacher
who elects to be a facilitator selects a professional book
to read. That title is announced to the faculties at
Candor, Newark Valley and Tioga. Teachers (no fewer
than two, no more than five excluding the facilitator) express
their interest in participating within the following two
weeks. In the meantime the books are purchased by the
Teacher Center. Once the books are distributed, the
facilitator—with the help of the Teacher Center Director—will
arrange a meeting date and location conducive to all participants. Participants
must commit to meet for a minimum of two hours. The
facilitator (who will receive a $50 stipend) is responsible
for submitting a summary report that will be posted on the
Teacher Center blog.
Teacher Center Director George Lohmann, acting as
the first facilitator, will kick off the program by calling
for participants to read and discuss An Ethic of Excellence by
Ron Berger. The Teacher Center already has the books
and you can participate even if you have already read the
book.
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What Is VTS: Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), is a school curriculum and teaching method that:
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Uses art to develop critical thinking, communication and visual literacy skills
- Asks educators to facilitate learner-centered discussions of visual art
- Engages learners in a rigorous process of examination and meaning-making through visual art
- Measurably increases observation skills, evidential reasoning, and speculative abilities
- Engenders the willingness and ability to find multiple solutions to complex problems
- Uses facilitated discussion to enable students to practice respectful, democratic, collaborative problem solving skills that over time transfer to other classroom interactions, and beyond
- Uses eager, thoughtful participation to nurture verbal language skills, and writing assignments to assist transfer from oral to written ability
- Produces growth in all students, from challenged and non-English language learners to high achievers
- Underscore connections to art and strengthens the role of museums as a valuable resource in students’ lives
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