Collegial Circles: Going Digital!
Teachers Teaching Teachers
Collegial Circles: An Alternative In-service Program
This is a perfect alternative to attending virtual and in-person workshops
Response from needs assessments indicate that teachers rank the sharing of ideas, teaching strategies and techniques as their highest priority for in-service staff development.
Collegial Circles provide teachers with structured time for collegial support and study as well as an opportunity for reflection on classroom practices. The program enables teachers to identify needs for professional growth and to satisfy these needs through sharing and group problem solving. Therefore, a formal support process, Collegial Circles, is established for sharing expertise and for problem solving through group processes. In-service credit can be earned by active participation and attendance.
Teachers may form groups of eight members by agreed upon interests and needs. Topics may include but are not limited to:
- New York State Learning Standards and Assessments
- Issues related to District Goals
- Addressing the needs of ESL students
- Racism, bias, and equity in education
- Ideas for student empowerment
- Literacy
Need help forming a Collegial Circle? Here are some suggested Collegial Circle topics:
Addressing the Needs of ENL Students:
- Academic Language for ENL Learners
- Inclusive Classrooms for Newcomer ENLs
- Culturally Responsive Classrooms
- Strategies for SIFE Success
- Instructional Supports for English Language Learners
Racism and Bias:
- Institutional Racism: Bias and Solutions
- Facing Racism in Education
- Dismantling Racism in Education
- Understanding Systemic Racism
Equity:
- Best Practices for Equitable Classrooms
- Creating A Welcoming School Environment
- Creating Safe Spaces for All Students
One teacher facilitator of a proposed Collegial Circle must complete a form application, found in the "Navigation" tool bar of the teacher's Frontline Professional Development page under "Forms." Each group must submit the accompanying application to the Teacher Center Policy Board for approval. The Teacher Center Director in conjunction with the Teacher Center Board Chair and the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Instruction and Assessment will approve all applications as they are received. Each participant will receive a written confirmation that the group has been approved.
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW THE DIGITAL COLLEGIAL CIRCLES STRUCTURE AND GUIDELINES