News

Coming September 11-15 in Ocracoke. In this seminar, we will examine how to introduce various writing techniques to your students while providing valuable, timely feedback that doesn't overwhelm the student or teacher. We will also examine ways to balance utilizing available technology and getting students to write off-screen. Participants will practice producing different modes of writing, receiving and giving feedback, and collaborating on best practices for supporting teenage writers.

Join NCCAT for Canvas: Time to Design September 5-8 in Ocracoke. Canvas is a useful tool whether it’s for fully online courses or to create modules for a blended teaching approach, but who has the time and support to craft great Canvas resources? This program will give teachers exactly that - the time and support needed to accomplish their Canvas design goals. Teachers will learn best practices for building lessons, assignments, discussions, and modules, while being supported in their work. Come with ideas for lessons that need an online component.

Is your school interested in using the NC STEM Schools of Distinction Rubric for school improvement or to receive the STEM School of Distinction designation? Join us in September in Cullowhee for "STEM Schools of Distinction." During this planning institute, schools will review the overarching principles of the Rubric, consider what each principle means in the context of their individual school, assess the school’s readiness, draft a strategic plan and develop the next steps for school improvement or apply for the NC STEM Schools of Distinction. The institute will include group discussions to learn from best practices across the state and individual school team planning.

Unlocking the Secrets to Student Engagement is a one-week program designed for K-5 educators who are looking for new ways to captivate their students' attention and motivate them to learn. Through a combination of hands-on workshops, collaborative discussions, and engaging sessions, teachers will explore a range of topics related to student engagement, including the importance of building positive relationships, using technology and multimedia to enhance learning, and promoting active participation through student-centered activities. By the end of the program, teachers will walk away with a toolkit of instructional strategies and resources that they can implement in their classrooms to engage their students and inspire a love of learning.

Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 3 p.m. via in-person and Zoom. The meeting may be accessed at the following link: https://www.nccat.org/, The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) Cullowhee Campus Building Project Committee will convene a meeting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, via zoom and at 276 NCCAT Drive, Cullowhee, NC 28723. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the NCCAT Cullowhee Campus Capital Project.

Please join NCCAT for The Maker Mindset in Cullowhee August 14-18. A current trend in education uses the maker mindset to encourage students of all ages to build, design, program, solve problems, collaborate, and innovate. Learn to plan lessons that teach the maker mindset and pull in content as diverse as engineering, reading, and math! In this hands-on session you'll explore how you might use maker activities in your classroom to promote learning, foster engagement, and build innovation and creativity in your students. Topics include: design, 3D printing, building, invention, robotics, programming, electronics, app smashing, and more! This program is open to teachers in grades 3-12.

Join NCCAT for "Let's Up Your Physical Education Game" this August in Ocracoke. Physical education plays an important role in the overall educational process. An effective program can help boost academics for the entire school. While games have played a central role in modern day physical education, we should remember that less than 25% of adults will actively participate in sports as adults. This program will introduce a wider range of healthy lifestyle activities that students can experiment with, learn to enjoy and play, and potentially continue throughout their lives. This session is designed for K-12 physical education teachers who want to learn new and exciting ways to up their classroom “game.” 

Please join NCCAT in August for "Building Thinking Classrooms in Secondary Mathematics" in Ocracoke. Now more than ever, middle and high school students need math classroom structures that honor their strengths and promote mathematical thinking. Join us as we explore highly effective teaching practices that get students up out of their seats and engaged in thinking mathematically. Sessions for this program will examine selecting math tasks, strategies for engaging learners in mathematics, and formative assessments. This program is open to math teachers in grades 5-12. 

Join NCCAT August 7-10 in Cullowhee for - Environment and Genetics: The Science Connection. Our physical, psychological, and emotional well-being are interconnected. Through experiential lessons learn about the latest research on the connection between our environment and our genetics. Participants will study light, circadian rhythms, genetics, body systems, macromolecules, and more found in science standards grades 3-12. Literacy, science, and social studies will be featured in our activities as we discover how to make science standards applicable to our student’s lives.

The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) hosted the 2023 Inclusion Summit in June. The Inclusion Summit was hosted by Western Carolina University. The Annual Inclusion Summit brings various disability inclusion stakeholders together to discuss current practices and future innovations. Invited participants included presenters from among educators, school administrators, and related service providers. This year’s theme, Transitioning Across the Lifespan, reflected on the understanding that every step of life development involves small and large transitions. Events helped equip participants to practice and advocate for better inclusion of individuals with disabilities.

Teachers from across North Carolina joined us for "K-5: Literacy for Multilingual Learners" recently at NCCAT Ocracoke. The five components of effective literacy instruction are of particular importance to our Multilingual Learners and include Phonological Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension. Writing is also a key component and is one avenue for meaningful use of language. Multilingual Learners can often participate in writing activities, even when their speaking skills are limited. These Elementary ESL teachers explored these components while collaborating with colleagues and a former district ESL coach to learn how to help their students improve their literacy skills based on reading science.

The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) was proud to once again host the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership at N.C. State University Summer Institute. This year there are 38 outstanding K-12 educators from North Carolina public and charter schools who make up the 2023-24 Kenan Fellows. These educators, hailing from 25 counties across the state, represent diverse grade levels and subject areas including math, science, Career Technical Education (CTE), special education, and English Language Arts. The Kenan Fellows Program provides teachers with invaluable experiences in industry and research settings and supports them in translating their internship experiences into a wealth of instructional resources that are shared with their schools, districts, and communities.

Excited to have a great group of educations with us for The Maker Movement program at Ocracoke. The Maker Movement empowers colleagues to become inventors, engineers, and designers. A current trend in education uses the Maker mindset to encourage students of all ages to build, design, program, solve problems, collaborate, and innovate. These educators from across North Carolina learned to plan lessons that teach the Maker mindset and pull in content as diverse as engineering, reading, and math.

Twenty-four teachers from across North Carolina have been selected as finalists for the 2023 North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year Award in honor of their dedication, innovation, and ability to inspire students to achieve. One of these talented educators will be named the NCCAT 2023 NC CTE Teacher of the Year. The award is scheduled to be presented on October 19, at the Western Carolina University campus. The finalists will be at the NCCAT campus in Cullowhee for professional development the week of October 16-20.

NCCAT was pleased to host the Clinton City Schools Dark Horse Fellows to our Cullowhee campus. The school district effort seeks to encourage more students to become teachers. The Dark Horse Fellows is a teacher preparatory program designed to support Clinton High School students in Sampson County with a passion for education. The Dark Horse Fellows Program is available to successful Clinton High School rising juniors and seniors with a strong passion to become educators.