About Us
School Districts may request a specific area for professional development, or teachers may attend prearranged workshops.
Trainees learn to recognize performance on the 19 criteria in a range of educational settings. Participants focus first on the domains of Creating an Environment for Student Learning and Teaching for Student Learning. They learn to analyze written contextual information provided by the beginning teacher, which often provides secondary evidence for these domains. Participants then use this kind of information, combined with a pre-observation interview and either a post-observation interview of written reflections, to evaluate performance in the domains of Organizing Content Knowledge for Student Learning and Teacher Professionalism. Teachers must be Pathwise trained in order for UA Fort Smith to place student teachers in their classroom. Participants are mentored and coached through the process to achieve National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certification. A variety of National Board Teachers are available as resources to help guide teachers through the process of achieving certification.
The IMSE supports local school districts in their efforts to align their content including strategies for scaffolding.
Participants will learn how to prepare an individualized professional growth plan. This plan can ultimately be used as a tool for gathering, collecting and analyzing their professional work in order to prepare themselves for advanced work such as graduate school and National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification.
This workshop is designed to help teachers learn how to organize and present their professional work. The portfolio is a tool that teachers can use to showcase their professional growth plan. It is also a tool for organizing evidence required for domain four of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification.
TI-Nspire and TI-Nspire CAS technology provides the flexibility and versatility to meet different classroom and curriculum needs. Educators and students have the option to use handhelds or computer software, or both, at school and at home – they’re also permitted on college entrance and advanced placement exams. The learning process extends beyond the classroom.
TI-84Technology provides the flexibility and versatility to meet different classroom and curriculum needs. Educators and students have the option to use handhelds or computer software, or both, at school and at home – they’re also permitted on college entrance and advanced placement exams. The learning process extends beyond the classroom.
Take a look at TI’s next-generation handheld designed especially for grades 6-8. The TI-73 Explorer™ joins our popular line of handheld technology, providing a larger screen alternative for teachers who feel limited by the two-line display of other fraction and scientific models. The TI-73 Explorer is completely compatible with existing TI-73 classroom accessories and related curricular materials for upper elementary through lower middle grades, from fractions through pre-algebra. Enhance your students’ learning experience with the new TI-73 Explorer, which serves as a bridge between the TI-15 Explorer™ and the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition.
Participants will learn how to integrate data-collection technology into chemistry, biology, physics, math, middle school science, physical science, and Earth science curriculum. You will have an opportunity to collect data using a variety of science probes and TI graphing calculators.
This session on the use of MS Excel will be centered on its use in the scientific field, but will also provide an overview of common uses of MS Excel including Prep Notes, Building a Budget, Creating Pie Charts and Calculations to name a few. This intense packed session will provide the Excel user with a better understanding of the many uses and possibilities of the program.
With the increasing emphasis on hands-on, minds-on inquiry instruction at all levels in the National Science Education Standards and most state frameworks or courses of study, it becomes more incumbent upon teachers who teach science to be as knowledgeable as possible about laboratory safety issues and their own responsibilities. As teacher and role model, you are expected to display good safety habits at all times and to set appropriate safety expectations for your students. Unfortunately, when you increase the amount of inquiry instruction in your classroom, you also increase the likelihood of an accident. This workshop is intended to educate and reassure you that liability concerns can be minimized when you are knowledgeable of your duties and take appropriate precautions and preventative actions to avoid or minimize foreseeable hazards and accidents. Investigate inquiry-based activities while thinking, recording, and reflecting like a real scientist. As teachers involve students in inquiry-based science investigations, the need to communicate science learning in new ways has become evident. If students are encouraged to communicate their understanding of concepts through science notebook writings, these notebooks can be an effective strategy to help students learn science. Research has shown that science notebook writing may also be a way for students to strengthen their language skills as they develop an understanding of the world around them. Science notebooks allow teachers to assess students’ understanding and provide the feedback students need for improving their performance.
The goal of Dice It Up is to provide educators from Grades 6-8 the skills necessary to incorporate dissection into the curriculum.
This workshop introduces participants to the GEMS (Great Explorations in Math and Science) program. The GEMS program offers guided-discovery activities that are perfect for the busy classroom teacher. The program provides easy-to-obtain materials with carefully written step-by-step instructions including background content information. Discover the power and excitement of the microscope as a tool for inquiry. This GEMS workshop features several learning stations designed to enliven student curiosity in a wide diversity of scientific fields. Using hand lenses and microscopes, students observe, record, and investigate water drop magnifiers, finger print ridges, dollar bills, color printing, fabrics, salts, sand, kitchen powders, insects, spiders, and pond water.
Participants receive up-to-date information regarding science assessment for grades 5, 7, and Biology. Participants will discuss and participate in effective teaching practices that will better prepare students for Arkansas Science Assessments.
Participants create a light box that can be used to teach a variety of concepts such as refraction, reflection, color mixing, prisms, lenses, etc. This program promotes the use of inquiry-based learning strategies.
Participants will create a variety of simple machines using K’NEX model kits. This program promotes the use of inquiry-based learning strategies.
The Arkansas Science Technology Authority, in collaboration with the Arkansas Community Foundation, has made available a $500.00 mini-grant opportunity for science teachers of grades 5-8. The grant focus is to fund materials necessary for teaching an inquiry-based science unit. ASTA has also made available a STUART grant to a team of teachers in the amount of $5,500.00 for utilizing the response system in the classroom. A teacher from each of the 5-8 grade levels can apply. This workshop will give participants the time necessary to begin writing the grant as well as receive valuable information and feedback regarding the writing of the grant itself.
Geolegs is a four-in-one geometry tool for teachers and students. The Geoleg develops a powerful visual and spatial understanding so that all students can experience success in geometry and measurement. In the classroom, the Geoleg allows students to measure angles, polygons, area, circumference and volume. The use of Geolegs as a manipulate keeps students engaged in their own learning through measuring, drawing, and forming geometric language and algebraic conclusions. Geolegs helps teachers build learning strategies for students to form a solid foundation in geometric problem-solving.
Participants will receive training with the revolutionary hands-on equations developed by Dr. Henry Borenson. The program introduces students to algebraic linear equations. Students use game pieces to physically solve equations. Additionally, it builds on brain-compatible learning strategies for a solid foundation in algebraic problem-solving.
Fraction Islands® provide physical models that help children make sense of fractions, from tactile learning to abstract thinking. Fraction Islands® is a comprehensive product that is used for learning everything from what a fraction is, to adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fraction, to decimals and percent. Each participant will receive a Fraction Islands® Teacher Overhead Kit.
The GEMS program offers guided-discovery activities that are perfect for the busy classroom teacher. The program provides easy-to-obtain materials with carefully written step-by-step instructions including background content information.
The AIMS program is designed with busy teachers in mind. Each AIMS lesson integrates mathematics, science, and literacy concepts. AIMS lessons provide real-world authentic investigations that are easy to use. We’ve reviewed all of the AIMS books and magazines to identify activities that meet your standards.
This workshop is fun and challenging and provides teachers a perfect answer to the age old question, “When am I ever going to need to know this stuff?” Get your technology hours while engaging in realistic laboratory activities.
5210 Grand Ave. • P.O. Box 3649