Teaching the Whole Child: Systemic Approaches to Student Support during COVID

Description:

This continuing education module has been designed for teachers in elementary schools (K-5 or K-8) who are seeking the benefits of a systemic approach to supporting students and families in the context of COVID.

Teachers are looking ahead to school re-entry in the context of COVID, in some cases with new models of school engagement and instruction. This continuing education module addresses key questions: What systems and processes can teachers and schools use to gain a deeper understanding of the strengths and needs of all students in this context? Who can help teachers with these reviews? What are practical ways to act on information about student and family needs? What tools can facilitate connections to the right supports?

This continuing education module will provide opportunities for teachers to:

• Identify and apply tools and techniques for holistic review of all students’ strengths and needs
• Create a plan for carrying out a holistic review and connecting students to needed supports

Teachers will identify and apply practical tools and techniques for collaborating on a holistic review of all students in the transition to a COVID context of school re-entry. They will create plans to work with principals, school counselors, and others in the school and community to develop approaches to connecting all students and their families with needed supports based on their individual strengths and needs.

Course Dates and Format:

Self-paced continuing education online module (asynchronous) available for 3 weeks between September 28th - October 16th, 2020. All participants will receive the option to join a 1 hour synchronous Zoom session. Zoom sessions will be offered on the following dates. Participants will be asked to register for one of the two virtual sessions: 

• October 15th from 3:00-4:00pm
• October 16th from 12:00-1:00pm

All participants are encouraged to attend the Zoom session which will provide a collaborative learning environment for practitioners to connect with each other and deepen their understanding of the module content.

Certification of Completion:

Participants will receive 4 PDPs for the online module with an optional 5th PDP through participation in the Zoom session. For this module, participants can choose from one of two virtual session times to receive the 5th credit hour. 

Fee and Policies:

All instructional materials will be provided upon registration. Participants registered in the State of Massachusetts will receive a certificate of participation and professional development points (PDPs).

Course registration closes September 25th. Registration for each course entails a self-guided online learning component found on your Canvas page, as well as an invitation to a one hour synchronous Zoom session. In order to receive full credit for the course, the online module must be completed and you must attend the Zoom session that corresponds to your course. In addition to the online learning module and Zoom session attendance, you must also complete the quiz offered at the end of the learning module as well as the feedback survey provided by the Boston College Lynch School of Education’s Office of Professional and Continuing Education.

Certificates of completion and PDP Certificates will be sent to you after you have completed the preceding requirements, and will be sent approximately 3-4 weeks following the closure of the course on October 16th.

We are thankful for the generous support of local foundations who recognize the importance of supporting teachers and counselors in their work with students during this challenging time.

Related programs: Teaching The Whole Child: Supporting Students During COVID