Mindfulness Teacher Workshop:
Free Preview of the Educator Summer Camp
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Lead by Erin Woo, M.Ed., this session will introduce how the practice of mindfulness provides the foundation for bringing our best intentions to our teaching – connecting with our students, compassion, self-awareness and ability to respond skillfully to whatever arises in each moment rather than reacting in habitual and sometimes unhelpful ways. Teachers will learn about mindfulness, the latest brain science, engage in mindfulness practices and leave with tools and techniques to cultivate mindfulness in the classroom.
As noted below, a comprehensive training for educators to implement mindfulness practices in their classroom is planned for this coming summer. This free session is a great opportunity for potentially interested educators to get a better sense of what would be entailed in integrating mindfulness practices in the school setting.
Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2018 (postponed from January)
Time: 4:00 to 5:00
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
Cost: Free
Register: Online or by calling 603-466-5437 M-F 8-4
Read more about the instructor, Erin Woo, below.
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Mindfulness for Educators Summer Course
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Mindfulness for Educators is an experiential learning program for teachers interested in incorporating mindfulness into the life of the classroom. Mindfulness complements social emotional learning practices by promoting stress management, emotional well-being and cognitive performance. In this course you will explore mindfulness in a way that enhances your own innate capacities for resilience, focus and well-being.
Mindfulness is a powerful approach to working with daily physical and emotional stress. Brain scans show the regular mindfulness practice significantly alters the functioning and structure of the brain. Studies show that teachers who practice mindfulness reduce feelings of burnout and ineffectiveness, and increase their sense of well-being, happiness, and empathy in the classroom. Students who use mindfulness strengthen their concentration and improve their ability to regulate their emotions.
Teachers will have the opportunity to develop a personal mindfulness practice during the online portion that takes place in the four weeks leading up to the course. This emphasis on a personal mindfulness practice will continue in 3-day live course and will provide the foundation for learning how to integrate mindfulness into the classroom. During the three day-long classes we will explore topics such as neuroscience, stress physiology, embodied teaching, mindful listening communication, and mindfulness practices to share with students, through dialogue, individual reflection, and practice teaching.
This course consists of 8 hours of online work and 3 days of instruction. The in-person instruction will take place at NCES on July 16 - 18, 2018 from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm. The online coursework will require approximately 2 hours per week for 4 weeks and will run June 17 - July 13. The online portion will contain two optional live video sessions that will be held June 24 and July 8 from 7 - 8 pm. These sessions will be recorded and posted online for those who can't make it.
Course Dates
On-Site Classes: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday July 16 - 18, 2018 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Pre-Session Online Coursework: June 24 - July 13
Online Live Classes: June 24 and July 8, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Cost: $435 staff from NCES member school, $500 associate members, $600 all others
Register: Online or by calling 603-466-5437 M-F 8-4
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
Instructor
 Erin Woo, M.Ed., loves sharing mindfulness with teachers because it combines her passion for teaching children with her delight in sharing mindfulness with adults. She works as a Program Developer and Lead Teacher at the Center for Mindfulness at UMass Medical School where she also did her training. She is certified to teach mindfulness throughout the Mindfulness in Schools Project and did the Mindful Schools Year-Long Teacher Training. She teaches mindfulness to students in local elementary and high schools.
Erin is the director of White Pine Montessori, the school she founded in 2008. She is Adjunct Professor of English at NHTI Community College where she teaches a mindfulness-based communications course. She teaches Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and leads a weekly meditation group. She has been practicing mindfulness since 2006 and is dedicated to sharing the benefits of mindfulness with others.
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Tech Users Monthly Virtual Meeting
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 The Tech Users Group is a statewide group of K-12 educators who share how they are successfully using technology in their classroom. Meetings are held monthly through Zoom, a video conferencing app that is free to download and use. All you need is a computer with audio that connects to the internet.
If you are interested in attending, wish to join the mailing list, or have questions email Brenda Tilton at b_tilton@sau58.org or matt@ncedservices.org.
Location: Virtual only
Presenters: Sharon Atkinson and Denise Wood, Groveton High School
Date/time: Monday, March 12, 2018 from 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm
Cost: Free
Register: Email matt@ncedservices.org
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Edscorn on Autism Coming in May!
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 NCES is excited to welcome back CarolAnn Edscorn for a full day of professional development on autism spectrum disorders. CarolAnn Edscorn is a dynamic and moving speaker who describes her full life as a person with autism.
CarolAnn will provide a brief review of the updated definition of autism from the from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and then cover sensory integration; behavior management concepts, and social relationships--including Inclusion.
Date: Monday, May 14, 2018
Time: 8:30 to 3:00
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
Cost: $75 staff from NCES member schools, $95 associate members, $115 all others
Register: Online or phone 603-466-5437 M-F 8-4.
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The Vermont Energy Education Program is offering two five-day Summer Institutes for science teachers at Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee, VT. Deepen your skills and understanding around Next Generation Science Standards, energy, and climate through hands-on exploration, discussions with experts, field trips, and collaboration time for unit creation.
Institute #1, June 25-29, 2018, focuses on energy and climate as core disciplinary ideas and is for K-12 teachers of any experience level.
Institute #2, August 6-10, 2018, is for experienced teachers of grades 4-8 who want to make their units three-dimensional and personalized.
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PD Opportunity with Code.org through UNH STEM Collaborative
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 Hey North Country educators, do not miss out on this incredible opportunity!
Applications are now open to become a part of the first New Hampshire teacher cohorts of the CS Discoveries (grades 6-10) and CS Principles (grades 9-12) programs. The 2018 Professional Learning Program for middle and high school teachers begins with a five-day, in-person summer workshop, with four additional one-day follow-up workshops throughout the year. Together with a cohort of teachers from various backgrounds, you’ll enjoy dedicated time to deliver lessons with your colleagues, dive deep into the curriculum and tools, and experiment with inquiry-based approaches to teaching.
Teachers who apply and are accepted to the program commit to:
- Attending the five-day, in-person summer workshop (likely in Phoenix). Registration and travel costs will be provided by Code.org.
- Attending four local one-day, in-person workshops (normally on Saturdays)*
- Teaching the course during the 2018-19 school year
- Supporting the recruitment and enrollment of a diverse group of students in the course, representative of the school’s overall student population.
Principals will need to certify that the school will run the course during the 2018-19 school year, and that the applying teacher is assigned to teach the course. Applications close on March 30, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
If you have questions, please reach out to Laura Nickerson at laura.nickerson@unh.edu.
*Lori Langlois at NCES and Bill Church at WMSI are eager to support a North Country cohort. They have submitted a separate grant proposal to help defray the travel expenses for the Saturday follow-up sessions and there is a possibility of a more northern location if there is a big enough group. If you apply, please let Lori know too at lori@ncedservices.org
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Next Generation of Science Standards and Project Learning Tree
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 This workshop will provide an overview of the three-dimensions of NGSS and how Project Learning Tree activities can help meet the standards. We will explore what is a performance assessment, delve into a few disciplinary core ideas and discuss cross cutting concepts. Project Learning Tree is an activity-based, supplementary curricula that support the teaching of conservation and science concepts. The activities are both interactive and interdisciplinary. As students are intrinsically interested in wildlife, trees and the outdoors, they readily engage in learning. Activities can be readily infused into everyday school subjects and busy classrooms. Come dressed to be outside and bring lunch.
Location: The Rocks, Bethlehem, NH
Date: April 24, 2018 from 9:00 to 3:00
Cost: $45
Register: Online or contact NH Project Learning Tree (800) 677-1499 info@nhplt.org
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Arts in Early Learning Conference
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Pre-school and primary educators, child-care providers, librarians, administrators and college and high-school students interested in early childhood are invited to register now for our Arts in Early Learning conference, "How I Go from Here to There," which will demonstrate creative ways to use the arts to help young children explore how things work in the world and all the exciting ways we move and travel -- in our imaginations, with our bodies through space, as well as travel in cars, sleds, planes -- and rockets!
Participants will experience an array of hands-on activities -- using music, creative movement and drama, and the visual arts -- that can be readily adapted for immediate use in the early childhood classroom, day-care center, library or home. We will pay particular attention to meeting the needs of all learners, including children with developmental and learning differences.
Location: Littleton High School
Date: Saturday, March 17, 2018 from 9:00 to 3:00
Cost: varies by membership level
Details and registration: Online or contact the AANNH by calling 603-323-7302 or email programs@aannh.org.
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Training to become a CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocate
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Abused and neglected children in your community need a caring, compassionate adult to represent their voice. A North Country training opportunity begins on April 6, 2018 in Berlin. Learn more about how you can make a difference in the life of a victimized child and apply today! Visit casanh.org/volunteer for more information.
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TeacherGaming - NH Consortium Partnership
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 TeacherGaming puts great games in the hands of teachers and students who can make the most of them. TeacherGaming matches teachers with suitable lesson plans, developed by a team of Finnish teachers specifically designed for TeacherGaming. TeacherGaming Desk links teaching game activities to real-life soft and hard skills, tracked through an online dashboard. Teachers can give students individually tailored feedback and focus on identified pain points.
A pilot will be open to all public, charter, and private schools in the State of New Hampshire through June 30, 2018. To take part in the pilot you must be currently teaching. Teachers are asked to sign up using their staff email address.
For more information, visit the TeacherGaming NH Consortium.
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Join us Saturday, March 24, 2018 at the Rialto Theatre, Lancaster, NH from 10:00 to 11:30 for the 8th annual student film festival. Congratulations to student filmmakers participating from:
Mildred C. Lakeway Elementary
Monroe Consolidated
Bethlehem Elementary
Lafayette Regional
Lisbon Regional
Gorham Middle School
Stratford Public
Lancaster Elementary
Groveton Elementary
The Greater Good Science Center studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being and teaches skills that foster a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society.
Tips, tools, and resources for educators and parents freely available include topics of:
- Teaching gratitude
- Social-emotional skills
- Self-compassion
- Strengthening democracy
- Science of happiness
- Teaching empathy
- Adopting a growth mindset
- and much, much more
Learn more at ggsc.berkeley.edu
NCES Online Professional Development Library & Educational Student Texts
Want to enhance your ebook collection? Check out the hundreds of educational ebooks available to NCES member schools:
Looking for help with substance abuse or mental illness but don't know where to turn?
Granite Pathways Regional Access Point Services is a statewide network, accessible by phone or in person to help New Hampshire residents struggling with addiction, to get the timely, supportive services they need; helping both individuals and families navigate the complex systems of care to real solutions.
Call 1-844-711-HELP or visit: granitepathwaysnh.org/rap/
Brain Building Basics for Early Elementary Students
Vroom is free app to turn shared moments into brain building moments. Whether it’s mealtime, bathtime, or anytime in between, there are always ways to nurture children's growing minds.
Elementary educators, Vroom also shares various free printable materials to share with parents. Here's an example...
Need information or have parents who need resources?
From health, to housing, to crisis response, 211 is a one stop/call spot for resources and assistance. Visit 211nh.org or call 2-1-1, accessible 24/7 and completely confidential.
Support NCES with a tax deductible donation
Free Training Available with Drug Recognition Experts through NCHC
In an effort to create awareness around the current trends in substance misuse among youth, the North Country Health Consortium has enlisted the help of local law enforcement certified as Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) to provide training to school personnel. NCHC is coordinating the DRE program to share this knowledge to the educational sector. Training can be completed in 90 minutes. For information on scheduling training this free training, please have your school administrator contact Greg Williams, Substance Misuse Prevention Coordinator/Young Adult Strategies Supervisor phone: 603-259-3700 x295 or gwilliams@nchcnh.org.
Contact Information
North Country Education Services
300 Gorham Hill Road
Gorham, NH 03581
ncedservices.org
603-466-5437
nces@ncedservices.org
NCES is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
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