The heart of engineering is problem solving and even if your students do not go on to become engineers, problem solving skills are valuable throughout their life. Inspired by a book or text of your choice, join us as we break down the engineering design process, then guide you through building your own active learning, standards-aligned lesson. You don’t need robotics or special materials to bring engineering to your learners, just a mindset and some creativity! Open to K-12 educators in any classroom setting. Please bring your own book of choice to work with in this seminar.

For grades K-12. This is a face-to-face program at our Ocracoke campus.

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Active learners make the best learners.  In the learner role this week, participants will experience a variety of collaborative, engaging, and minds-on strategies.  We will compare and contrast "old school" methods with more inquiry based pedagogy.  In the teacher role this week, we will analyze how to shift traditional good lessons to great lessons.  Tony Wagner s 7 essential survival skills will be highlighted as participants explore PBL practices and implementation protocols to support class management.

For grades 3-12. This is a face-to-face program at our Cullowhee campus.

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Picture books are engaging resources that strengthen instruction across subjects, and social studies is no exception. Join this program to explore how children’s books can serve as entry points to elementary social studies concepts. Using social studies picture books as anchors, we will learn reading and writing strategies that deepen students knowledge of social studies concepts. Teachers will also develop lesson plans to take back to their classrooms. This session is designed for instructional coaches and teachers in grades 3-5.

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Digital learning is a broad category that encompasses the use of digital resources and technology to enhance and differentiate instruction. However, the number of available options can be overwhelming. Participants in this session will gain experience with free, high-quality tools for: video and audio production, blended lessons, curating digital content, formative assessment, and coding. The program will also incorporate hands-on experiences with inexpensive technology that could be used to enhance instruction. Participants will explore these digital tools as students to best determine how to use them effectively as teachers, then leave NCCAT with a virtual toolbox of new techniques to take back to the classroom.

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Makerspace activities promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and real world application. What’s more? Students love to engage in these activities! These hands-on activities do not have to be confined to a dedicated makerspace; they can be a part of classroom lessons. This program s sessions will include activities that can be adapted to multiple content areas and grade levels. Join this program to experience the maker approach as a learner. Time will be spent collaborating with colleagues on adapting these lessons to their classrooms. This program is designed for teachers in grades 5-12.

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Now more ever, middle grades students need math classroom structures that honor their strengths and create problem-solving mindsets. Let s explore strategies that bring engagement and strengths-based teaching to the middle grades classroom. Sessions for this program will include authentic problem-solving strategies, number sense routines, and vocabulary instructional practices. This program is intended for math teachers in grades 5-8.

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Designed for teachers in grades K–3. Discover new ways to turn reading strategies into writing opportunities that deepen comprehension and extend student learning. This in-depth, interactive program will focus on the power of the teacher as the mentor model in exploring multiple tools for unlocking thinking in the classroom—through the process of uncovering your own writing life. Strategies will include the use of journal responses, writing as inquiry across the content areas, and the power of authentic interactions with poetry and prompts.

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Reading doesn’t stop when students leave their English Language Arts classrooms. During this session participants will explore before, during, and after reading strategies to strengthen content area reading. The role of vocabulary and writing will be explored as we learn strategies to engage learners in content literacy. Participants will develop a flexible plan for supporting student engagement in content-area reading. This program is designed for Social Studies and Science teachers as well as instructional coaches in grades 4-9.  

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A wealth of research supports the hypothesis that physical activity can boost comprehension, retention, and self-regulation in students of all achievement levels. Teachers who build movement into their lesson designs will have students who are less disruptive and more engaged. Teachers will learn a variety of strategies for integrating instruction with physical activity, but not at the expense of intellectual rigor. Armed with a collection of techniques you can use immediately, design and create your own physically and mentally active lessons. All teachers from pre-K through 12th-grade are encouraged to attend.

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