Professional Training & Development:

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• Orton-Gillingham Math Training for Teachers: OG Math is a multisensory approach that leads the student through small increments of understanding toward unifying themes in mathematics.

• Orton-Gillingham Fluency Training for Teachers: Fluency is the ability to read effortlessly and automatically with enough speed, accuracy, and expression to comprehend. Teachers spent two days training to equip themselves with new instructional techniques, resources, and instructional activities for their classrooms to help students continue to grow as readers. This was a great addition and extension to the OG phonics trainings teachers have already received. 

• Kagan Cooperative Learning for Teachers: Kagan Structures are instructional strategies designed to promote cooperation and communication in the classroom, boost students' confidence, and retain their interest in classroom interaction.

 

Student & Classroom Support:

• The Voyage: This character education program connects to all grade levels and multiple standards such as reading, writing, speaking, and listening and is incorporated into daily lessons. Engaging lessons inspire students to have a positive impact in their classrooms and community. 

• 5th Grade Organization Classes: Natalie Collins, M.Ed., is a learning specialist and former teacher who comes to our school with tools and tips for our 5th graders to help them become more organized and to teach them how to study. A fall class was held for the students, and a spring class was held for students as rising 6th graders, and their parents, to prepare them for the transition into middle school.

• Next Step Guided Reading Assessment Kits: This program is a tool for teachers to use in the classroom that gives teachers detailed information about each student, breaking skills down and isolating exactly where the student is lacking or where their strengths lie. The program contains four main components - the Reading Interest Survey, the Developmental Word Knowledge Inventory, Listening Comprehension Assessment, and Individual Reading Assessment Conferences.

• Patterns of Power Plus Grammar Kits: This process is a classroom routine developed to provide an opportunity for students to think about grammar and conventions in a new way. Patterns of Power encourages students to think about the patterns of language and the meaning that the conventions create. Authentic texts are used to illustrate the language patterns and illuminate the purpose that each convention holds in a sentence, which, in turn, creates more proficient writers. Mt. Bethel had 10 teachers (2 from each grade level) pilot this process using grade level specific Patterns of Power Plus kits to support and guide their daily instruction. The kits provided teachers with resources and a detailed plan for instruction that were easily woven into the academic day.

• SeeSaw: Seesaw for schools gives students the ability to have a comprehensive digital portfolio of their learning as they move through Mt. Bethel from class to class and year to year. Staff at Mt. Bethel take pictures or videos of work they have created and share in their portfolio. Parents can then log in to an app and view their students’ work at anytime.

• ABCya: A tool for students to learn a range of school subjects in gamified educational lessons, ABCya is an app used by teachers to help keep learning fun. 

• Freckle: A personalized adaptive online learning platform that allows students to practice math and reading skills at their level, Freckle is a digital learning tool that supported virtual and digital learning this year. Freckle reaches students at their various levels, is research-based to improve student growth, and saves time for teachers by having the differentiated instruction all in one place.

• STEM Supplies

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Technology Updates:

• iPads for Target Program: Students in the Target program use these iPads for research, projects, lessons, and peer-to-peer collaboration

 

Instructors:

• Technology Resource Coordinator: Shawn Lieth is an invaluable tool in education and technology for Mt. Bethel. Ms. Lieth keeps Mt. Bethel’s technology up and running by managing hundreds of tech devices on campus and manages the Learning Lab, where she prepares students to be 21st Century tech-savvy learners and spearheads initiatives to promote seamless technology integration into the classroom. Read more about Ms. Lieth here. 

• STEAM Assistant: Melissa Pumpian provides invaluable support to the school, its students, and the teachers. She unifies Mt. Bethel’s STEM, Art, and Music programs as she coordinates and delivers all materials for schoolwide STEM days, preps materials for art projects and for the Art Show in the Spring, and assists with curriculum implementation in Specials classes. Read more about Ms. Pumpian here.

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