NEA-NH Fall Conference 2020 ONLINE

Presented by Lisa Hayward & Susan Ward, NH DOE Office of Student Wellness. This session provides an overview of why students feel anxiety in a virtual learning environment. We will discuss how to acclimate students to distance learning environments, thereby helping them reduce anxiety, increasing positive behavior and learning through the implementation of best school-wide & classroom practices. The session will include interactive break-out rooms. Topics covered:  Benefits of distance learning  Norming & anxiety in distance learning environments  Setting up consistent expectations through structure in distance learning environments  Establishing presence in distance learning environments  Setting consistent expectations for behavior in distance learning environments  Responsive approaches in distance learning environments

Presented by Karen L. Davis CAGS / BCBA. This workshop will provide beneficial information for teachers and paraprofessionals who work with students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorder (EBD) in the regular education setting. Participants will gain knowledge of positive behavioral strategies that are deemed most beneficial for students with EBD. We will use part of our time to talk about the unique challenges we are all facing with students learning remotely or in socially-distanced classrooms, and how we can best assist those students with behavioral challenges.

Presented by Dr. Robert McLaughlin, Executive Director, National Collaborative for Digital Equity & Irv Richardson, NEA-NH Coord., Prof. Development. In this informal conversation we will explore pressing digital divide challenges your students are facing and resources and allies that stand ready to help you overcome them. We’ll explore both clear digital divide challenges such as access to home broadband, a computer, and tech support, as well as more subtle but nonetheless important barriers, including access to librarian support, quality digital learning content, and support for parents and teachers concerning e-learning pedagogy. We will also consider what can be done to anticipate and minimize the risk of device and social network addiction. Come prepared with your insights, questions and concerns, and we’ll learn together! Also, you are welcome to join us for more in-depth learning and action planning at the annual NH Summit on Systemic Inclusion during October 20-23, 2020.

NOTE THE TIME: 1:00-3:30 (This course fulfills state training requirements.) Presented by Ann Duckless, National Alliance for Mental Illness, NH. School personnel often notice changes in youth behaviors (attitudes, academic performance, or social interactions) that may signal early symptoms of depression, substance misuse, or other risk factors which can lead to suicide. Connect is a unique, community-based prevention and intervention training that helps school communities promote suicide prevention, recognize individuals at risk, and respond to individuals who are thinking about or have attempted suicide. We review National Best Practice protocols for schools as well as sample policies and procedures to guide a school’s response to a suicide incident. We will explore interactive case scenarios based on possible situations and discuss how to integrate key community service providers to develop an effective and comprehensive response. This program is geared for students in grades 6-12 but can apply to younger or older students. Anyone who is interested in this topic is welcome to attend.

Presented by Molly White & Katherine Leswing, NH Dept. of Educaiton, Bureau of Student Wellness. In this 90-minute interactive session, participants will be presented with a comprehensive overview of the 40 Developmental Assets. The Search Institute identified 40 positive supports and strengths, known as developmental assets, that young people need to succeed. Half of the assets focus on the relationships and opportunities they need in their families, schools, and communities (external assets). The remaining assets focus on the social-emotional strengths, values, and commitments that are nurtured within young people (internal assets). Following this overview, participants will apply their learning to relevant situations by collaborating in small break out groups. The groups will finally report their findings within the larger group.

Presented by Cindy Dickinson, School Counselor, Cigna EAP Presenter & Carolyn Eastman, Director of Innovation, NHLI. Does it matter that children think about what matters to them and what they want to learn? How might nurturing children’s curiosity and desire to know more play out in school? How might it play out in a remote learning situation? Does the learning have to be credit-bearing? You decide! Hear from middle school, high school, and post-high school young people about their passions as they address the following:  Why they are passionate about their topic;  How their passion developed;  Who joined in their passion;  Who supported them and how; and,  What comes next. We believe you will find this workshop fun, inspiring, and thought-provoking!

Presented by Jodi Tamayoshi, Digital Learning Coach, Salem, MA. We all know how important it is for students to be engaged and actively involved in their learning. The sudden shift to remote learning has left some educators without the strategies they need to engage young, wiggly students. Making the transition to engage students in a remote learning environment requires transferring effective classroom practices to remote platforms, as well as developing new ways to engage students. Come join veteran educator and digital learning coach, Jodi Tamayoshi as she shares strategies for planning remote learning lessons and engaging young students in an online learning environment.

Presented by Terry Burlingame, K-8 Spanish and ESL Teacher, NEA ESP Committee Member, NEA Director for NH; Jan Santosuosso, Special Educator, Director, Epsom SOAR; Lisa Dillingham, Teacher Dover Middle School & Misty Crompton, Derry Social Studies Teacher. The National Education Association (NEA) and NEA-NH share a vision of great public schools for every student. Through NEA’s Leaders for Just Schools Program, NEA is building a national network of educators who are prepared to advance equitable outcomes for students. Created by educators and for educators, the curriculum allows participants to:  dive into understanding equity;  investigate how bias impacts conditions of teaching and learning; and  explore ways to improve school culture so every student has opportunities to succeed. The curriculum is grounded in real-life experiences in schools across the country, so the content is real, relatable, and actionable. This workshop provides a brief introduction to the powerful NEA Just Schools mission and curriculum. Participants will examine equity and reflect on how their own experiences, actions or privilege may impact learning environments. Materials and opportunities for action to create more equitable and just schools will also be provided.

Presented by Jennifer Berube, Arts Integration & Instructional Coach. Children naturally make sense of their world while engaging in play and creative experiences. The desire to play and create is innate, but taking risks and joining in requires a conducive environment and a guiding facilitator. Play-based and arts-based experiences provide students with low-stakes opportunities for social emotional risk-taking that build the confidence they need to take academic risks as well. Allowing students to learn through play and the arts gives them ownership of their learning. By their very natures, play and the arts give students the roles of critical thinkers, communicators, and problem solvers. In this hands-on, interactive workshop, we will explore ways that play and creative expression help children build social awareness and internalize self-management strategies. Join us to practice ways to cultivate confidence, collaboration, and community among your students. We will talk about how to incorporate these strategies in remote online and socially-distanced classroom environments. We will discuss how to work play into our “new normal.”

NOTE THE TIME: 4:00-6:30 (This course fulfills state training requirements.) Presented by Ann Duckless, National Alliance for Mental Illness, NH. School personnel often notice changes in youth behaviors (attitudes, academic performance, or social interactions) that may signal early symptoms of depression, substance misuse, or other risk factors which can lead to suicide. Connect is a unique, community-based prevention and intervention training that helps school communities promote suicide prevention, recognize individuals at risk, and respond to individuals who are thinking about or have attempted suicide. We review National Best Practice protocols for schools as well as sample policies and procedures to guide a school’s response to a suicide incident. We will explore interactive case scenarios based on possible situations and discuss how to integrate key community service providers to develop an effective and comprehensive response. This program is geared for students in grades 6-12 but can apply to younger or older students. Anyone who is interested in this topic is welcome to attend.