Calling MSUNER High Schools:

Apply for the recognition you deserve! Help celebrate public education!

#schoolsofopportunity http://schoolsofopportunity.org

The National Education Policy Center just launched the third year of NEPC's Schools of Opportunity recognition project.

The new website http://schoolsofopportunity.org lists the application criteria derived from the book, Closing the Opportunity Gap. The general idea is to recognize schools that are using evidence-based strategies to increase educational excellence and equity.

The Washington Post AnswerSheet provides more detailed information:https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/02/14/more-than-test-scores-schools-of-opportunity-to-recognize-high-schools-that-create-full-learning-experiences-for-every-student/

For more information on how to apply, here is the full press release http://nepc.info/node/8450.

You may also contact:

Kevin G. Welner
Professor and Director
National Education Policy Center

http://nepc.colorado.edu

School of Education

University of Colorado Boulder
(303) 492-8370

'Like' the NEPC on Facebook | Follow @NEPCtweet on Twitter

INFORMATION SESSION ON edTPA

FOR COOPERATING TEACHERS

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

3:45 - 5:00 PM

University Hall, Lecture Hall Room 1050

This session is an opportunity for you to learn about this new NJDOE assessment requirement for certification for all student teachers in New Jersey.

Topics that will be covered include:

• Introduction to the edTPA
• NJDOE Timeline for Implementation
• Acceptable forms of support from Cooperating Teachers
• Video Recording Safety and Security
• Your questions and concerns

 Dr. Connie Donvito, Director of the MSUNER and Samantha Romano, edTPA Teacher Assessment Coordinator, will be facilitating the session.

Register here

Rooted in the initial struggle of community members who staged a successful hunger strike to secure a high school in their Chicago neighborhood, David Omotoso Stovall’s Born Out of Struggle focuses on his first-hand participation in the process to help design the school. Offering important lessons about how to remain accountable to communities while designing a curriculum with a social justice agenda, Stovall explores the use of critical race theory to encourage its practitioners to spend less time with abstract theories and engage more with communities that make a concerted effort to change their conditions. Stovall provides concrete examples of how to navigate the constraints of working with centralized bureaucracies in education and apply them to real-world situations.

TO REGISTER, PLEASE CLICK HERE


BORN OUT OF STRUGGLE: An Evening with David Stovall, Ph.D.
MARCH 23, 2017
6:00-8:00 PM
The Center for Environmental and Life Sciences, Room 120

Co-sponsored by: African American Studies, Center of Pedagogy, Early Childhood, Elementary and Literacy Education, Montclair State University Network Educational Renewal, Newark Montclair Urban Teacher Residency, Woodrow Wilson Fellows Program

TO REGISTER, PLEASE CLICK HERE

Dear Colleagues, Shipmates, and Friends

Attached please find a new contribution, ANTARCTIC ADVENTURES: Life Lessons from Polar Explorers, designed for adolescents and older who would benefit from taking more control of their own lives, setting and achieving reasonable life goals, solving problems, becoming more inquisitive and reflective.

The book is richly illustrated with life lessons from various polar explorers, including the author, NASA astronauts, engineers and leaders in business and sports. It could serve as a resource for a variety of units and as a guide for independent study.

I hope you will consider sharing this announcement within your own networks.

Many thanks for your consideration and best wishes,

John Barell
www.morecuriousminds.com
LT. USN-Ret

Born Out of Struggl

NEPC Launches Third Year of Schools of Opportunity Recognition Project: Public High Schools Encouraged to Apply

Key Takeaway: 2017 Schools of Opportunity Application NOW OPEN. Applications due May 1, 2017.

Find Documents:

Press Release: http://nepc.info/node/8450

Contact:

Kevin Welner: (303) 492-8370, kevin.welner@colorado.edu
Adam York: (303) 735-5290, adam.j.york@colorado.edu

More NEPC Resources on Schools of Opportunity

BOULDER, CO (January 30, 2017) - The 2017 Schools of Opportunity application cycle launched today at www.SchoolsofOpportunity.org. Building on the success of the past two years, the National Education Policy Center at CU Boulder will again recognize public high schools that are creating remarkable opportunities to learn for all their students. The application deadline is May 1, 2017.

Schools that apply are asked to demonstrate how they work to close opportunity gaps across a range of key areas. The NEPC derived this set of opportunity measures from the expertise shared by top researchers in Closing the Opportunity Gap, the 2013 book published by Oxford University Press.

Two criteria are required of all applying schools: (1) broadening and enriching learning opportunities and (2) creating and maintaining a healthy school culture. Applicants also select, from a menu of eight additional criteria, four that best represent how their school is responding to its unique local needs. All ten criteria are described on the Schools of Opportunity website, along with the scoring rubric used by the evaluation teams.

NEPC designed the Schools of Opportunity project as a way to highlight the nation’s best schools and practices, shifting away from the nation’s imbalanced focus on standardized test scores. “Even in the face of stark inequities across our social and economic systems, as well as our education system, every school can adopt research-based best practices,” says Project Co-Director, Dr. Linda Molner Kelley. “The 37 Schools of Opportunity recognized over the first two years of the project illustrate how all schools can work to provide great opportunities for their students.”

Along with Dr. Kelley, who is the former Assistant Dean of Teacher Education and Partnerships at CU Boulder, the project is led by Dr. Adam York, the Project Manager, and by NEPC director and CU-Boulder School of Education Professor Kevin Welner. The Ford Foundation and the NEA Foundation both provide funding to support the project.

Each school’s application will be reviewed by a team of evaluators from across the nation, including educational researchers and current and former school leaders. Finalists are selected based on narrative responses as well as data and other evidence submitted. Site visits to top schools are also a vital part of the project. Educators have found that the application process provides a rich opportunity for high school teams to work together to reflect on their strengths, assets and areas of potential improvement.

Recognized Gold and Silver schools will be announced in winter 2017 in the Washington Post Answer Sheet blog and other media outlets. Applications are welcomed until May 1, 2017, with all nomination information and forms available online at: www.SchoolsofOpportunity.org

To Register Click Here - these events are free to msuner members

Montclair State University, the largest four-year Hispanic-Serving Institution in New Jersey, is offering a Hispanic Student College Institute on August 1-3, 2017 for rising high school juniors and seniors.

There will be no cost for your students to participate and attend.

Through the Hispanic Student College Institute, they will:

• Engage in career exploration and goal-setting initiatives
• Attend college-planning workshops
• Participate in a majors fair and mock college interviews
• Live on campus in Machuga Heights

Institute participants will be eligible for scholarships to attend Montclair State University in the future and will receive certificates of completion to include on their résumés. Academically committed students who identify as Hispanic are encouraged to apply online. Applications are now available, and space is limited.

For more information, please contact Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions Jordanna Maziarz at hsci@montclair.edu.

Montclair State University
Educators’ Exchange

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Registration is Open!

The Center of Pedagogy and CEHS Career Services at Montclair State University will be hosting their annual Educators’ Exchange on Tuesday, April 4, 2017.

This event provides a valuable resource for your organization as you will have the opportunity to interact with and screen for potential hires.  In addition, students will gain real-life interview and job search experience.  Your organization will be assigned a table to set up displays, distribute handouts, and speak to students.

Registration is free of charge to all the Montclair State University Network for Educational Renewal (MSUNER) member school districts.  The event will take place from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.  Lunch and parking will be provided. 

Register online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EdExchange_2017

For questions regarding this event, please contact CEHS Career Services at 973-655-7866 or CEHScareer@mail.montclair.edu

Accelerated Hybrid Masters of Reading Program

The Early Childhood, Elementary and Literacy Education Department at Montclair State University is now offering an Accelerated Hybrid Masters of Reading Program.  The program is designed for those who wish to pursue a master’s degree through a shorter, intensive period of study.  Students enrolled in the program complete their Masters in 15 months, beginning in the summer and ending the next summer.  The 11 courses in the program will all be offered either in hybrid format or fully online, and the program is designed with working teachers in mind.

We are currently accepting applications for the first cohort, starting in May of 2017.

Applications must be received by April 14, 2017.

We will be at the Graduate School Open House on February 26th, and additional information can be found on the program website.

Contact Information

If you have questions about the Accelerated Hybrid Master in Reading please contact:

Dr. Erik Jacobson, jacobsone@montclair.edu or 873-655-3471

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact the g

Graduate School at Montclair State University at graduateschool@montclair.edu or 973-655-5147.

***

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CLICK BELOW FOR THE ACCELERATED HYBRID PROGRAM WEBSITE:

https://www.montclair.edu/cehs/academics/departments/ecele/academic-programs/ma-reading-accelerated-hybrid/

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/gsdiversity

The Early Childhood, Elementary and Literacy Education Department at Montclair State University is conducting a survey to better understand the ways that schools and districts provide literacy-related training and coaching.  In particular, the department is interested in assessing employment conditions for Reading Specialists and teachers who have received a Masters of Reading.  The department is also exploring developing new literacy-related Masters and Certificate programs that are responsive to needs identified by those working in the field in New Jersey. In addition, the department would like to expand the type of professional development opportunities it offers, and so is interested in hearing about what types of topics and structures would be attractive to people working in different contexts.

If you are interested in sharing your thoughts about these topics and completing the survey, please click on this link

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Erik Jacobson, Graduate Program Coordinator of the Masters of Reading, at jacobsone@mail.montclair.edu

Thank you for your time.

Masters of Reading

Early Childhood, Elementary and Literacy Education Department

Montclair State University

Dr. Erik Jacobson, Program Coordinator

jacobsone@montclair.edu

(973)-655-3471

Overview

Two different degrees are offered:

• Masters of Reading (with Reading Specialist Certification)
• Reading Specialist Certification (for students who already have a Masters)

The MA in Reading (33 credits) and the Reading Specialist Program (30 credits) prepare educators to meet present and future demands as literacy specialists.  The program emphasizes practice informed by current theory and research and provides a range of learning experiences that enhance candidates’ understanding of what it means to be an effective literacy educator.  Program graduates will be prepared to serve in a wide array of educational roles in a variety of settings.

It is expected that students will graduate with a broad and multifaceted understanding of literacy, including key developmental, cultural and sociopolitical dimensions. Students will also be able to identify and respond to important shifts in literacy practices, such as those involving the use of digital technologies. Program graduates will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to effectively provide literacy instruction, engage with colleagues about ways to enhance practice and advocate for the field as a whole.

Beginning in May 2017, we will be offering an Accelerated Hybrid version of the Masters of Reading (enabling students to complete the degree in 18 months).

Sample Courses

READ 500    Literacy Foundations   

READ 501    Techniques of Reading Improvement in Secondary Schools                           

READ 502    Administration and Supervision of Reading Programs                                    

READ 503    Literature for Adolescents                                                                   

READ 524    Teaching Multiethnic Literature in P-8 Classrooms                                        

READ 508    Critical Thinking and Literacy

READ 511    Case Studies of Reading Difficulties                                        

READ 513/514    Supervised Clinical Practicum

READ 505     Research Seminar in Literacy

READ 515      Literacy Strategies for the Inclusive Elementary Classroom

READ 519      Language and Early Literacy Development

Faculty Areas of Interest

Tina Jacobowitz (Department Chair)

Literacy in the content areas / Teacher dispositions for democracy / Teaching for critical thinking / Teaching an and for a democracy

Melissa Collucci         

Emergent literacy / The development and implementation of successful, authentic language arts blocks / Linguistically responsive teaching

Margaret Freedson

Early literacy development and bilingualism / literacy instruction / teacher preparation

Erik Jacobson

Adult literacy practice and instruction / Supporting adolescent writers / Literacy and technology / Content area literacy / Teaching with graphic novels and manga

Michele Knobel

New literacies and digital technologies / In-school and out-of-school literacy practices

Dierdre Paul

Teaching and learning with multiethnic children’s literature / Popular culture literacy / The Millennial morphing of the digital divide / Closing the school discipline gap

Erik Weiner

Critical literacy / Cultural studies / Critical pedagogy / Social theory

Linda Wise

Social context issues in literacy development / Teacher education

RELG 273                         

HOLOCAUST:  RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES                    

Wednesdays  5:30-8:00pm - January 18 - May 10, 2017

Dr. Kate Temoney, specialist in genocide studies, Department of Religion at Montclair State

This course examines the preconditions, perpetration, and prosecutions of the systematic extermination of Jews by the Nazi regime in Germany, 1933-1945.   The class will explore intimate portraits of both Holocaust survivors and the perpetrators of violence during this unprecedented period of human destruction.  Students will examine historical scholarship on the religious, psychological, and legal aspects of these mass killings. 

There are still available seats in the course and the Department would be happy to provide permits for visiting students to take it. See flyer below for further information. 

For pre-req or permit info, email religiondept@mail.montclair.edu

Montclair State University
Educators’ Exchange

Save the Date

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

The Center of Pedagogy and CEHS Career Services at Montclair State University will be hosting their annual Educators’ Exchange on Tuesday, April 4, 2017.

This event provides a valuable resource for your organization as you will have the opportunity to interact with and screen for potential hires.  In addition, students will gain real-life interview and job search experience.  Your organization will be assigned a table to set up displays, distribute handouts, and speak to students.

Registration is free of charge to all the Montclair State University Network for Educational Renewal (MSUNER) member school districts.  The event will take place from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.  Lunch and parking will be provided. 

You are eligible for priority registration. Last year we reached capacity for this event, and registration for all districts will open up on January 9. Register soon to reserve your spot.

Register online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EdExchange_2017

For questions regarding this event, please contact CEHS Career Services at 973-655-7866 or CEHScareer@mail.montclair.edu

Dear MSUNER Colleagues,

Here is the live link to the letter CEHS Dean Tamara Lucas wrote to the editor of the New York Times regarding President-elect Trump's choice for Secretary of Education in Betsy DeVos.  The letter speaks to our need to uphold public education.  It is online Monday and Tuesday and also in the print edition of Tuesday's paper.  Here's the live link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/opinion/donald-trumps-nominee-for-education-secretary.html?mwrsm=Facebook&_r=0

Please feel free to share this with your colleagues.

Connie

Please consider registering for  the 2017 New Jersey Educational Technology Conference on Jan. 10 at Montclair State University. Our keynote is Alice Keeler, Google for EDU Guru and we have over 100 teacher led presentations and workshops on topics ranging from blended learning to MakerSpaces and includes two great strands focused on using technology in the library and the gifted classroom. The 2017 New Jersey Statewide Educational Technology Conference