Hudson Valley Writing Project

Hudson Valley Writing Project
Connect With Us
PD Workshops for Teachers

HVWP Connect
Spring 2024

The Hudson Valley Writing Project ​​workshops bring teachers together to learn, write, and connect with one another as they experiment with new practices.  

 
APPROACHING TOUGH CONVERSATIONS IN THE CLASSROOM

Sensitive social issues and conversations arise from curricular study and student curiosity. Discussions about and around race, gender, identity, and current events can take place without warning. These topics can feel overwhelming when teachers feel that they don’t have the necessary tools to engage students in challenging conversations.

 

In this three-session workshop, HVWP teachers Sam Mossman, Caitlyn Robillard, and Simone Shook will guide our writing and discussion as we consider questions such as:

  • How can we use the Courageous Conversations and other protocols to enable teachers to feel confident in facilitating unexpected conversations?
  • What strategies can a teacher employ when talking about tough topics with their students?
  • Why are these conversations so important to have in the current world climate?

 

Learning new teaching practices, we will explore ways to engage students in meaningful conversation and learning through low-stakes writing, collaborative activities, and guided discussion. Our goal is to provide teachers with support for addressing contemporary issues and modeling civic discourse in our classrooms.

 

Facilitators: Sam Mossman teaches 8th graders at Crispell Middle School in Pine Bush, Caitlyn Robillard teaches humanities to 6th-8th graders at San Miguel Academy of Newburgh, and Simone Shook teaches 9th and 10th graders in Global and AP World History at Pawling High School. All three teachers are current participants in the HVWP's Invitational Institute, Leadership in the Teaching of Writing.

March 20, April 3 & April 10 | 4:30-6:30 pm | SUNY New Paltz

Cost: $30 ($5 for college students). Financial assistance is available.

Participants may receive certificates documenting 6 CTLE/inservice hours.

 

HVWP is a NYSED-approved sponsor of CTLE. 

Certificates documenting 6 CTLE hours are available upon request.

 

REGISTER NOW

 

WELCOMING OUT MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS

Join us as we share ways to welcome, get to know, and best support the multilingual students in our classrooms.

This new virtual workshop is for all teachers who wish to better meet the diverse needs of multilingual learners (MLLs). In three sessions, we will explore culturally-responsive practices that support language learners’ development as speakers and writers and invite them to contribute their stories to the curriculum. Together, we will identify where MLLs' needs are highest and explore how strategies like mapmaking, translanguaging, mentor texts, and animated shorts can meet these needs.

Facilitators: Lucía Brea is an ENL and STEAM teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in New Rochelle and an adjunct instructor at The City College of New York. Naomi Schachner is an English teacher currently working with English language learners at Beacon High School. She is pursuing a pre-K-12 Advanced Certificate in TESOL at Mercy University. Both educators are current participants in the HVWP's Invitational Institute, Leadership in the Teaching of Writing.

April 2, 8 & 15, 2024 | 4:30-6:30 pm | On Zoom

Cost: $30 ($5 for college students). Participants may receive certificates documenting CTLE/inservice hours.

Register here