National Board Certification Institute

This year-long institute is for teachers who have met the prerequisite requirements set forth by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and have completed three years of successful teaching in one or more early childhood, elementary or middle schools. The process is a rigorous journey for accomplished teachers to showcase their expertise and improve student learning with the goal of achieving National Board Certification. This institute (7 full days; 4 half days) provides mentoring and structured feedback for candidates seeking this distinction.

Working with a team of National Board Certified Teachers, participants will explore in depth the Five Core Propositions of What Teachers Should Know and Be Able To Do. Participants will learn the advanced standards for their particular field of certification and will use them to strengthen their own teaching practice and leadership skills. Teachers will prepare their portfolio entries for submission with support for creating clear and convincing evidence of their significant impact on teaching and learning.

Foundations of Teaching Inquiry Math Institute

Participants in this 5-day institute will advance their understanding on student comprehension when math is taught using an inquiry approach. Based on the information found in How Students Learn, Mathematics In The Classroom developed by the National Research Council, teachers will explore the importance of addressing misconceptions, creating a balance of conceptual and procedural awareness, and engaging students in meta-cognition.

Through hands-on experiences, reflections, case studies and research, teachers will examine how to identify math tasks that engage all students and learn how science and math can be integrated to support deeper conceptual knowledge. Best practices for teaching math, including the use of math notebooks, will be incorporated. ASSET math notebooks will be available for purchase.

ASSET E&E Toolbox Series

ASSET Environment & Ecology Toolbox Series is a collection of standards-based lessons, thematic field study units and materials. Each toolbox is designed to enhance specific Full Option Science System (FOSS) or Science and Technology for Children (STC) modules so students have additional opportunities to meet more of Pennsylvania’s Environment and Ecology Standards. Distinctive features of the E&E Toolboxes is that every lesson links directly to the content, concepts and skills introduced within a FOSS/ STC module and each toolbox contains enough materials for a class of 30 students.

Developed in partnership with the Heinz Endowments, the ASSET E&E Toolbox Series includes the following toolboxes available for rent:

• PA Trees Toolbox (K)
• PA Flora and Fauna Toolbox (grades K-1)
• PA Butterflies/Insects Toolbox (2nd grade)
• PA Plants Toolbox (3rd grade)
• PA Animals Toolbox (4th grade)
• PA Ecosystems Toolbox (5th grade)
• PA Plant Experiments Toolbox (6th grade)

 
Measuring ASSET Program Effectiveness (MAPE)

The result of a research and development project last year, Measuring ASSET Program Effectiveness (MAPE) is a feedback mechanism that gauges the impact of the ASSET program on improved teaching and student learning.

Free of charge to ASSET members, MAPE consists of: 

• ASSET End-of-Module Assessments
• Classroom Observation Protocol
• District Satisfaction with Materials Refurbishment
• Teacher Satisfaction with Professional Development Sessions

School districts will receive data on these four components each year to help them assess the impact of the ASSET program in their district. MAPE will also provide ASSET with district feedback for continuous improvement.