Every educator is facing an unprecedented challenge this fall. This is why the American Federation of Teachers has partnered with Turnaround for Children to bring you a series of professional learning opportunities to help in supporting students through the lens of relationships and understanding the strategies to help every student succeed.
Turnaround for Children translates scientific knowledge about how children develop and learn in context into evidence-based integrated tools and strategies that enable all children to reach their full potential and prepare them for the lives they choose, no matter how much adversity they experience.
To accomplish this, we must adapt our systems and practices so that learning can move with the learner, wherever that learner may be. It is more important now than ever before for educators to be able to design and establish calm, safe, supportive environments and experiences for children that support each and every student with strength, humanity and confidence, even as schools reopen remotely—by focusing on three R’s: relationships, routines and resilience.
We invite you to take advantage of this meaningful four-part learning opportunity. REGISTER NOW! Participants must attend all sequential sessions, with the same group, to receive a certificate of completion. Your session will be specially designed to meet the needs of your grade level and position.
Kickoff session: Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m. EDT
All participants must attend this session to participate in the learning series. Turnaround for Children founder and senior science advisor Pamela Cantor, M.D., will draw on discoveries from the science of learning and development to answer these questions: How do young people discover what they are capable of? What is any young person capable of under the right conditions? Is all stress bad for you? What is going to happen to learning development in the era of COVID-19? Are there opportunities and, if so, how can we optimize them?
Relationships: Learn about the science behind the human relationship—and the power of positive developmental relationships as the “active ingredient” in any learning environment; they boost oxytocin and activate the learning centers of the brain. Participants will learn both the “why’” and “how” of practical strategies for strengthening and maintaining relationships, both in the classroom and in distance learning settings.
Routines: Our brains are prediction machines that like order; when our environments are orderly, the brain is calmer. In this session, participants will learn practical strategies for building routines in all learning settings.
Resilience: Building resilience is likely the most important task we have, for ourselves and our children during this time. AFT members will learn about the Building Blocks for Learning framework and how to build on the existing strengths of all learners to bolster the skills, mindsets and habits to regulate emotions, actions and behavior—so that all children have an opportunity to thrive this fall and well beyond.
For Early Childhood and Elementary School Educators | REGISTER
Introductory Session: Sept. 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m. EDT
Relationships: Sept. 29, 6-8 p.m. EDT
Routines: Oct. 27, 6-8 p.m. EDT
Resiliency: Dec. 1, 6-8 p.m. EST
For Secondary School Educators | REGISTER
Introductory Session: Sept. 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m. EDT
Relationships: Sept. 30, 6-8 p.m. EDT
Routines: Oct. 28, 6-8 p.m. EDT
Resiliency: Dec. 2, 6-8 p.m. EST
For School Support Staff | REGISTER
Introductory Session: Sept. 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m. EDT
Relationships: Oct. 1, 6-8 p.m. EDT
Routines: Oct. 29, 6-8 p.m. EDT
Resiliency: Dec. 3, 6-8 p.m. EST
Space is limited! Join the AFT Professional Learning Community to learn more or register using the links above.
We look forward to your participation!
