www.RAPSA.org

RAPSA Professional Development Events

ttenoever2@mindgruve.com — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 01:00:00 +0100

National Charter Schools Conference - June 30, 2013

Preconference Session:
Appropriate Accountability for High-Quality Dropout Recovery Charter Schools

Join the discussion on how accountability measures should be applied to dropout recovery schools, and what we need to do to make sure they're recognized for delivering quality educations to students in need.

SIATech's BTSA Induction Program

For new teachers who need to clear their credential [...]

RAPSA Chats Archive

groenewoldsh@siatech.org — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:52:56 +0100

Check out these recordings of past RAPSA Chats!

RAPSA Chat Recording (4/30/10): "Successful Mainstreaming of Special Needs Students," Facilitated by Carole Fisher
https://siatech.ilinc.com/register/bxpyvwm

RAPSA Chat Recording (5/05/10): "The Lighter Side of Classroom Management," Facilitated by Coleen Armstrong
https://siatech.ilinc.com/register/bxyvkwr

RAPSA Chat Recording (5/12/10): "From At-Risk and Challenged to [...]

RAPSA Chats Series

groenewoldsh@siatech.org — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:00:00 +0100

RAPSA Chats are

FAST – Get right to the heart of the matter in a 1-hour block designed to easily fit into your busy schedule. CONVENIENT – Participate from the comfort of your home or office.EASY – A telephone and computer are all the equipment you need. Just dial in, punch in your access code, and you're in. That's it.FREE!
Register today!

Did you miss a past chat? Click here to check out the RAPSA Chats Archive!

December 2, 2010 (10:30 - 11:30 [...]

Successful Mainstreaming for Special Needs Students � Part II

groenewoldsh@siatech.org — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:53:28 +0100

Friday, April 30, 2010 -- NEW DATE
3:00 - 4:00 pm (PST)

More discussion on successful mainstream programs and how to

- Forge a relationship with a special ed and/or general educator
- Set up regular meetings
- Discuss student needs and possible strategies
- Use one collaborative strategy from your meeting
- Reflect and record discussion for follow- up chat

You may come prepared with strategies you have tried.

Take ONE piece of your mainstr [...]

Grants and Funding Opportunities

groenewoldsh@siatech.org — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:58:49 +0100

Listen to a Life Contest

Deadline: April 29, 2010

The American Legacy Foundation will give a free Lenovo TinkCentre computer, iPod, and Orchard software to a young person who produces an essay about intergenerational learning.

http://www.legacyproject.org/contests/ltal.html

Learn about more grants and funding opportunities here!

RAPSA Teacher Makes Headlines

groenewoldsh@siatech.org — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:48:56 +0100

Gwynne Toellner, from Shreveport, Louisiana, made headlines in her local community for her exemplary efforts working with at-promise students. Ms. Toellner, a teacher at the Academic Recovery & Credit Discovery Center, is the recipient of the 2010 RAPSA Best Practices Award for Educators.

http://www.ktbs.com/news/local-teacher-receives-national-recognition/

Influencing a teen's self-image

groenewoldsh@siatech.org — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:06:28 +0100

How can we as teachers, parents, counselors, and volunteers help teens fit in and feel comfortable in their own skin? Teen self-esteem can determine their ability to succeed in school and through adolescence in general. Wavering confidence and uncertainty about their own abilities, their body image, and their family life can draw negative feedback from peers, leading students to withdraw from activities and from developing relationships.

What do you do in your classroom or a [...]

The Ideal Learning Environment

groenewoldsh@siatech.org — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:56:34 +0100

Being a parent is always easier when you’re not one. The same can be true with teaching.

Really? How hard can it be? The students just come into class, ready and eager to work. Everyone is focused and on task, materials and homework proudly displayed.

What? That’s not the case? So, what are teachers to do? How can you create a place where your students want to come in, learn, share, and create?

Think about your ideal classroom envi [...]

Building Trust

groenewoldsh@siatech.org — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:34:51 +0100

How can you have a classroom where students make their own deadlines and are responsible for their own actions? It’s all part of building trust and community. In Teach like Your Hair’s on Fire, Rafe Esquith shares his ideas on creating an environment of respect, learning, and motivation. RAPSA recommends this book focused on a classroom in Los Angeles, where ninety-two percent of the students live below the poverty level. He continually strives for success [...]

Culturally Relevant Curriculum

groenewoldsh@siatech.org — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 07:11:23 +0100

We’re talking about race and culture, but what does it mean to have “culturally relevant curriculum”? In 1994, Gloria Ladson-Billings defined the term as “a pedagogy that empowers students intellectually, socially, emotionally, and politically by using cultural referents to impart knowledge, skills, and attitudes.” Essentially, teachers enhance the curriculum and state requirements to include connections between the students’ home and school l [...]

Foundations for Successful Learning

groenewoldsh@siatech.org — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:31:03 +0100

Mentoring and support are the foundations for successful learning. So, what’s going on at your school site to keep your students engaged? Post your comments below.

Not sure where to get started? Check out this guide published by the National Mentoring Center on effective relationship development.

Will the Race to the Top Leave At-Risk Kids Behind?

ttenoever2@mindgruve.com — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:22:44 +0100

RAPSA’s Global Professional Learning Communities invite you to attend a FREE Collabinar.

Title: Will the Race to the Top Leave At-Risk Kids Behind?

Date: TBD

Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Pacific Time

Register: Reserve your Collabinar seat now at: http://bit.ly/F0JT2

The National Governor's Association has been asked to develop a set of National Standards for all States applying for Race to the Top funds. While consistency [...]

Can we close the Achievement Gap?

groenewoldsh@siatech.org — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:14:00 +0100

Schools have struggled to close a minority achievement gap. A report published by the Education Trust-West (August, 2009) states that in California, despite some progress, the gaps in achievement separating Latino, African-American, and low-income students from their more advantaged peers are not closing but in some cases, are actually widening.

What are you doing in your classroom to address this issue? What is being done at your district and state level?

Leave your c [...]

RAPSA Collabinar Series a Hit with Educators!

groenewoldsh@siatech.org — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:51:14 +0100

Did you know that RAPSA kicked off its Collabinar series this week? Our first online collaboration was a great success! The informal discussion format and free-flowing conversation allowed educators thousands of miles apart to share strategies and easy-to-implement classroom management techniques. As one participant put it, "“This is a great format. I’m in Florida and meeting with teachers in California! I would never be able to meet with you all [...]

You are Invited to Attend a FREE Collabinar

groenewoldsh@siatech.org — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:15:56 +0100

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
3:00 – 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time)

Power up your Personal Learning Network with RAPSA’s GLOBAL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY COLLABINARS!

Straight talk…good conversation…inventive ideas

Why join in?

A collabinar is an easy and convenient way to add professional development to your day.You’re tired of being talked at during lackluster webinars.You crave a professional development platform th [...]

Do you know how to transform your school culture?

groenewoldsh@siatech.org — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:49:31 +0100

Positive vs. Negative School CulturesBy John S. Bell

How can you create a school culture to embrace learning? Are you up for a challenge to reap rewards for your staff and students? John S. Bell describes what successful leaders do.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE.

Join the Conversation:

In what kind of environment do you work? How will you effect change for the benefit of your colleagues and students?

Introducing �Global Professional Learning Communities� for RAPSA

groenewoldsh@siatech.org — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:04:58 +0100

What’s a Global Professional Learning Community, you ask? Global PLC’s are interactive and informative sessions for you to swap ideas and strategies – just straight-talk conversations with your colleagues and friends about teaching.

So, what do you want to talk about? Send an email to info@rapsa.org to let us know what topics interest you, and let’s get this discussion started!

RAPSA Membership 2-for-1

ttenoever2@mindgruve.com — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:37:28 +0100

Join the only online community dedicated to solutions for working with at-risk youth. Now get a two year membership for the price of one! Just $45 for year -round professional development, strategies, and motivation.

*new members only

F.I.L.M. Project

ttenoever2@mindgruve.com — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:24:33 +0100

Promoting literacy, service, and learning with film: http://bit.ly/3IuWRd

Common standards?

ttenoever2@mindgruve.com — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:54:12 +0100

What are your thoughts on the proposed core standards for math and LA? http://bit.ly/TLZAR