Professional Learning Teams (PLTs) meet one time per month over the academic year. PLTs are small teams of teachers who meet together monthly to collaboratively learn, investigate, and implement best practices. Participating in a PLT is a deliberate process that requires attention, focus, and a willingness to move beyond sharing lessons and ideas to critically examining practice, research, and implementation.
Currently on sabbatical.
This PLT is for teachers who teach or might be teaching AP Chemistry. This group meets monthly. This group focuses on teaching ideas, including labs and online materials, and are shared. This year, the focus will be creating a smooth transition to the new AP Chemistry curriculum. As the PLT discusses new ideas and strategies, NGSS standards will also be added to drive student learning through investigation of observable events. Non-Master Teacher AP Chemistry teachers are invited to join in these monthly meetings. This PLT will be facilitated by Jean Gallo.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
September 17, 2019
October 15, 2019
November 19, 2019
December 17, 2019
January 21, 2020
This PLT will focus on the interdisciplinary nature of the Climate Change crisis. Investigating and sharing learning activities across multiple grade levels in math and science disciplines will be the primary focus of the group. Increasing student engagement with issues related to the data of climate change is the secondary focus of our group.
Primary Focus: We will be investigating strategies and techniques for incorporating climate change into multiple academic disciplines, thereby forming a thematic component of urgency for our students. Strategies for teaching climate change, along with ideas to successfully integrate related topics into our curriculum, will be discussed and shared at each meeting.
Secondary Focus: Increasing student engagement in action related to climate change will be an important area of focus for us. To help achieve this, we are preparing for the fourth annual Western New York Youth Climate Action Summit, planned for May 30, 2019. As we build up to this event, we will be looking for ways to engage with the WNY community around climate change, climate science, and building a sustainable future and climate-resilient community. ways to incorporate climate change into multiple academic disciplines, thereby forming a thematic component of urgency for our students
This PLT is facilitated by Adam Gollwitzer.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
September 18, 2019
October 3, 2019
November 6, 2019
December 5, 2019
January 9, 2020
February 5, 2020
March 5, 2020
March 26, 2020: ZOOM
April 2, 2020: ZOOM
April 30, 2020: ZOOM
This PLT will focus on the development of strategies to implement NYSSLS aligned lessons/activities in our classrooms. Members will be researching different NYSSLS websites and curriculums for resources to supplement their lessons including Amplify, Kesler, McGraw-Hill and many more. Members will work collaboratively to understand the scope of SEPS, cross-cutting skills and discipline content. Members are creating NYSSLS inquiry and engineering lessons, implementing them in class and sharing results. This PLT will also connect K-6 educators with 9-12 teachers for the purpose of enhancing pedagogical and content knowledge related to the implementation of NYSSLS. K-6 teachers can access content specifics from their 9-12 colleagues while learning activity design and pedagogical insights will be provided by the K-6 educators. This PLT will be co-facilitated by Rob Atkinson and Terrilynn Woodhouse.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
November 5, 2019
December 3, 2019
January 7, 2020
February 4, 2020
March 3, 2020
April 7, 2020: ZOOM
May 5, 2020: ZOOM
Research differentiated instruction (DI) strategies and develop differentiated lessons and materials. Members will take turns each month presenting DI strategies used and group will discuss modifications necessary to implement in their classroom. Share strategies and reflect by looking at student outcomes.This PLT is facilitated by MaryAnn Bolles.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
November 13, 2019
December 11, 2019
January 15, 2020
February 12, 2020
March 11, 2020
April 13, 2020: ZOOM
May 13, 2020
Members of this PLT will walk away with design challenges ready to implement in their classrooms. Participating Master Teachers will work on design challenges that they can use in their classrooms. Our goal of the PLT is to create working models of each design challenge along with rubrics and instructional materials so that each member can use the challenge in their classroom, regardless of the subject area or grade level. We will share curriculum integration, learning how design challenges can enhance learning in different subject areas. Also, this will be great space for teachers to gain confidence with tools they may not be familiar with. Meetings will take place at Grand Island High School and will be facilitated by Matt Samarak, Carl Koppmann and Stan Skotnicki.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
October 8, 2019
November 6, 2019
December 4, 2019
January 8, 2020
February 5, 2020
March 4, 2020
March 25, 2020: ZOOM
May 6, 2020
The Flipped Classroom PLT is for anyone interested in using technology to enhance the learning experience for students and teachers, especially extending the reach of instruction outside of the school day. We will share methods that are currently being used and will look into new ideas as the number of applications continues to increase. We will investigate the benefits and potential pitfalls of different applications in regards to efficiency, reliability, ease of use as well as other parameters. This is also a welcoming place for teachers who are on the fence about making the leap into digital learning. Facilitators are Timothy Shrout and Omer Bitar.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
October 24, 2019
November 21, 2019
December 5, 2019
January 9, 2020
February 6, 2020
March 26, 2020: ZOOM
April 30, 2020
May 14, 2020
The Middle School FAL PLT will meet monthly over the course of the school year, following an established protocol
for math teacher professional development focused on engagement in Formative Assessment Lesson (FAL)
activities, and a study of classroom video excerpts of the FAL. Meetings will center on in-depth discussion regarding
implementation of formative assessment lessons from the perspective of the mathematical content; cognitive
demand; equity and access; and agency, ownership and identify. The professional development materials that will be
the focus of each meeting are available at https://tle.soe.umich.edu/MFA/ Teachers in this PLT include NYS Master
Teachers and math teachers from the Western New York region. The PLT is facilitated by Denea Czapla. The work is
supported in part by a National Science Foundation Grant titled Building a Teacher Knowledge Base for the
Implementation of High-quality Instructional Resources Through the Collaborative Investigation of Video
Cases. For additional information please contact David Wilson at wilsondc@buffalostate.edu.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
September 26, 2019
October 17, 2019
November 7, 2019
December 19, 2019
January 16, 2020
February 13, 2020
March 12, 2020
April 2, 2020: CANCELLED
The High School FAL PLT will meet monthly over the course of the school year, following an established protocol for
math teacher professional development focused on engagement in Formative Assessment Lesson (FAL)
activities, and a study of classroom video excerpts of the FAL. Meetings will center on in-depth discussion regarding
implementation of formative assessment lessons from the perspective of the mathematical content; cognitive
demand; equity and access; and agency, ownership and identify. The professional development materials that will be
the focus of each meeting are available at https://tle.soe.umich.edu/MFA/ Teachers in this PLT include NYS Master
Teachers and math teachers from the Western New York region. The PLT is facilitated by Mary Plumb and Nilam
Yagielski. The work is supported in part by a National Science Foundation Grant titled Building a Teacher
Knowledge Base for the Implementation of High-quality Instructional Resources Through the Collaborative
Investigation of Video Cases. For additional information please contact David Wilson at wilsondc@buffalostate.edu.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates: September 19
October 24, 2019
November 14, 2019
December 12, 2019
January 16, 2020
February 27, 2020
March 19, 2020: CANCELLED
April 23, 2020: CANCELLED
The MAKE PLT provides time and resources for teachers who are interested in learning how to integrate do-it-yourself projects into their teaching. We design and build a variety of projects to use as testing apparatus, instructional aides, or as demonstrations for your students. We follow the technological/engineering design process to identify problems, brainstorm ideas, develop solutions, and redesign using prototypes to develop a final product. Some projects lead to Make & Take opportunities that are shared at cohort meetings. This PLT is facilitated by Kelly Schurr.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
October 7, 2019
November 18, 2019
December 9, 2019
January 14, 2020
February 10, 2020
March 9, 2020
April 20, 2020: CANCELLED, Hoping to reschedule for later in the year. Please check back for updates.
May 11, 2020: CANCELLED, Hoping to reschedule for later in the year. Please check back for updates.
Manifest is software that visualizes mathematics using a new set of representations and simulations. The Manifest Inquiry Group explores these representations and simulations with an eye toward using them in our instruction to provide students with conceptual understanding of a wide range of math topics. We learn the functionality of the software, engage with lessons that have already been written using Manifest, and write our own lessons using it. After using Manifest in our instruction, we look at the student work that results from it and have discussions about how the work shows evidence of the understanding and skill we aimed to achieve. These discussions help us rethink the direction of our work and refine it. This PLT is facilitated by Harry O'Malley.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
November 26, 2019
December 17, 2019
January 14, 2020
February 25, 2020
March 24, 2020
April 28, 2020
UPDATE: Sharing distance learning strategies and exploration of a physics/math do-it-at-home project.
This Professional Collaboration is for science and math teachers interested in exploring how a better understanding of each other’s curriculum can enrich the classroom experience for teachers and students alike. Participants will center the discussion around a major concept of physics and examine the mathematics necessary for its derivation and computation. In addition, there will be consideration of historical events leading up to important discoveries, common language amongst disciplines, available technologies, and connections to the real world. This group is facilitated by Erik Zobel and Brian Dena.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
September 24, 2019
October 15, 2019
November 12, 2019
February 25, 2020
March 24, 2020
April 2, 2020: ZOOM
April 28, 2020: ZOOM
May 12, 2020: ZOOM
This PLT is formerly referred to as Number Strings PLT. In this PLT we will be implementing mathematical investigations to build communities that are safe places for thinking, foster communication skills, and deepen math strategies within our students. Our work will draw upon the "Contexts for Learning" (Fosnot, et al., 2019) series of books written to support the integration of investigations into existing curricula across grades K-5. Our goal is to incorporate models that help students progress through stages of development while deepening their mathematical understanding and number sense. We look for them to make connections, see big ideas, generalize mathematical principles, and build their own strategies. We will read, digest, develop, practice, and evaluate the use of mathematical investigations in our teaching and examine our student's number sense, strategy use and ability to generalize mathematical principles during the year. This PLT is co-facilitated by Jamie Cinelli and Adrienne Moran.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
October 21, 2019
November 18, 2019
December 16, 2019
January 13, 2020
Fabruary 10, 2020
March 9, 2020
March 30, 2020: ZOOM
May 4, 2020: ZOOM
UPDATE: During the CoVID-19 "Break", this PLT will be comparing and contrasting the NYSSLS and MST standards in order to help science teachers navigate the curriculum and remain on "pace" during the next four years of transition.
We will be utilizing the five tools process to unpack the standards and design aligned unit plans for each content area in science K to 12. We will also be discussing resources in best practices for implementing these unit plans in our classrooms, collecting data and evidence of student learning, and reflecting on student achievement. This PLT is co-facilitated by Annette Miller and Katie Agen.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
September 30, 2019
October 28, 2019
November 25, 2019
December 16, 2019
January 27, 2020
February 24, 2020
March 30, 2020: ZOOM
May 4, 2020
This PLT gives teachers the opportunity to collaborate and discuss best practices for taking the science classroom outdoors. Teachers involved, participate in outdoor field trips around WNY. Master Teachers then take the information learned on the trip back to the students in terms of labs related to the field trip or students actually taking the field trip. The PLT also involves the uses of books related to outdoor science activities. Items discussed also include strategies to address the management of resources, time, budgets and scheduling. This PLT is facilitated by Alison Moran.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
February 25, 2020
March 24, 2020: ZOOM
April 8, 2020: ZOOM
May 12, 2020: ZOOM
This PLT will be focused on the development and implementation of formative and summative assessments in science that utilize phenomena. These assessments will be 3 dimensional in nature, reflective of the three strands of the NYSSLS. The PLT will first answer the question, “What does a 3 dimensional assessment look like?” We will investigate assessments currently available including, but not limited to SNAP, Through Course Task, STEM Teaching Tools, and EQuIP/Achieve. Then, the PLT will work to develop assessments that will be implemented in the classroom. Finally, we will bring our assessment data back to the group to reflect upon and discuss revisions that may need to be made. The Phenomenal Assessment PLT will be facilitated by Kim Ferguson.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
October 5, 2019
November 16. 2019
December 7, 2019
January 25, 2020
February 8, 2020
March 7, 2020
April 25, 2020
May 16, 2020
In this PLT, we will form grade-level and content groups that will work in the fall to produce classroom video of the science practice of developing and using science models. We will also be studying literature about the science practices and that implementing them in the classroom looks like. We will start this study by reading Ambitious Science Teaching (Windschitl, Thompson and Braaten, 2018). Using the videos, we will facilitate professional development workshops where teachers explore the practice progression, observe the lesson clip and have rich discussion in order to provide (1) evidence that the students are engaged in the practice (2) dialogue about best practices to develop the practice at an age appropriate level (3) teachers who are new to NYSSLS with possible tools they can use in their classrooms. This PLT is co-facilitated by Dave Henry and Lisa Brosnick.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
Sept 7, 2019
October 1, 2019
October 11, 2019
February 6, 2020
March 5, 2020
April 9, 2020: CANCELLED
April 14, 2020: ZOOM
May 14, 2020: TBA
This PLT will infuse lessons using John Almorode’s work on the 8 Characteristics to Engagement. We will redesign current lessons to increase levels of engagement, recall and make connections to math and science. Our investigation will be supplemented with materials from Almorode’s work including information gained from the cohort meeting, book and internet resources. After modifying lessons, based on our work and we will then implement them in our classrooms. Finally, we will reflect on what we learned in the classroom. This PLT is appropriate for all MT's K-12. This PLT will be facilitated by Aaron Pietro.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
February 24, 2020
March 23, 2020
April 27, 2020
May 18, 2020
Professional Collaborations includes small teams of teachers who gather in regional discussions, collaboration, and planning, as well as Professional Interest Group Meetings, Collegial Circles, and Book Studies.
This PCG will work on rolling out the NYSSLS standards aligned within the Amplify program. Amplify features interactive digital tools and hands-on activities which are structured to support teachers and students as they transition to the new standards. Connecting with other teachers and looking at the key concepts and activities at each grade level will strengthen the instruction delivery of this program and ultimately student learning. This connection will allow conversations across grade levels as to how this program is being used and what we can expect our students to know and be able to do as they move from grade to grade.
With anything new there is always a better way to streamline and maximize the instructional focus for our students. This PCG will offer a great opportunity for teachers at all grade levels to look at best practices, and strengthen their instructional delivery, with the support of other teachers. Facilitators are Debbie Wehrlin and Nancy Claxton.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
March 18, 2020: CANCELLED
March 25, 2020: ZOOM
This Interest Group will explore new ways to improve our knowledge of content, pedagogy, and students through the critical evaluation of currently published texts. We will evaluate our own thinking, practices, and strategies after introducing ourselves to new ideas and concepts as presented by published authors and by discussions amongst our Interest Group members. We hope to continue our progress towards being life-time learners by keeping up with current trends, studies, and teaching theories that are developed and available to dissect. We will read several books and discuss how the given book relates to teaching practices and how our reading and discussions will affect and change our thoughts and teaching in our classrooms. Discussions will be focused on how to relate what we’ve learned from our reading to help improve our students, ourselves, and our classrooms. This Interest Group will be co-facilitated by Kathy Ellis and Kelly Przybyla.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
September 26, 2019
October 17, 2019
November 21, 2019
December 19, 2019
January 23, 2020
February 27, 2020
March 19, 2020: ZOOM
April 23, 2020
May 28, 2020
This Professional Collaboration will provide a forum for teachers to share their mentoring experiences with each other in order to gain insight into one another’s practices and grow their mentoring knowledge and skills. Mentoring of preservice teachers in their early field experience, mid-level experience and student teaching, as well as mentoring early career teachers, will be the focus. Issues including implementing co-teaching models, high-leverage practices, assessment of candidates in their field experience, and other related issues will be discussed. Local college faculty are invited to participate in this interest group to promote secondary-tertiary communication. Shelley Bochicchio and Kelly Bohlen will be facilitating this interest group.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
October 8, 2019
November 12, 2019
January 14, 2020
Feb 11, 2020
March 10, 2020
April 21, 2020
May 12, 2020
The Robotics Interest Group provides time and resources for teachers who are interested in learning how to integrate robotics projects into their curriculum. In this PLT we will be designing, building and programing a variety of different robotic platforms. These educational tools will be utilized as instructional aides, demonstration prototypes or exemplar models. We follow the technological/engineering design process to identify problems, brainstorm ideas, develop solutions, and redesign using prototypes to develop a final product. This Interest Group will be facilitated by Ray Cooper and Noah Raymond.
2019-2020 Meeting Dates:
October 28, 2019
November 25, 2019
December 16, 2019
January 27, 2020
February 24, 2020
March 23, 2020: CANCELLED
March 31, 2020: ZOOM
April 27, 2020
May 18, 2020
In order to continue our personal learning and help to deepen the learning of our students, we have created a virtual PCG on Science Learning from Home grades K - 5 as the focus. This does not mean we would exclude any MT from other grades who wanted to be a part of this learning and growing together. The more, the better. In other words, all are welcome!!!
The idea we would like to propose really hits the three pillars of Master Teachers. We will deepen our knowledge of our stem content, deepen our knowledge of our pedagogy and how to successfully implement practices into our “new normal” work lives, and stretch our knowledge of our students, their families and our local communities. This interest group will be facilitated by Michelle Layer and Kirsten Provenzano.
2020 Meeting Dates:
March 25, 2020: GOOGLE MEET
April 1, 2020: GOOGLE MEET
Algebra Strings
Big Science Uploads
Coaching
Common Language
Computer Science
Mathematics Sharing
Calculus Sharing
International Teacher Professional Developent
Literacy
Outdoor Science
Gamification and Technology
GIS in the Classroom
Problem Posing and Problem Solving
Growth Mindset in the Math Classroom
Teacher Networking Team
