The MTA offers free professional development for members to earn up to 15 PDPs toward license renewal. These member-designed workshops cover different areas, including special education and English learners.
For more information, please email the Division of Training & Professional Learning at events@massteacher.org.
Special Education
Format: Asynchronous course from September 30 to November 4. Must participate in activities each week. Participants must procure their own copy of Inclusive Learning 365 before the course begins. This asynchronous book study will consist of reading the exceptionally organized and resource-packed text Inclusive Learning 365: EdTech Strategies for Every Day of The Year by Christopher Bugaj, Karen Janowski, Mike Marotta, and Beth Poss. The workbook can be purchased on Amazon, Bookshop.org or ISTE.org. As we explore the text, we will develop an inclusive learning mindset and replace traditional instructional methods with strategies that engage all learners in your classroom. We will also discover and explore educational technology strategies to support foundations, as multiple components of the curriculum will follow. Using Google Classroom, participants will complete weekly reading assignments, participate in discussion boards, and complete the culminating final project to demonstrate key take-aways and ideas for implementing the course’s learning into your classroom. The final project may be a reflection essay/blog/journal, video, interactive slideshow, or curated collection of resources for embedding UDL and educational technology strategies throughout the learning experiences of your classroom. This program meets DESE requirements for 15 PDPs in Special Education during each 5-year Professional License Renewal cycle.
Full: Sign up for waitlist
Format: Zoom meetings on Wednesdays 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, & 11/20 from 4pm-5pm. Completion of additional work.This Professional Development course is designed to empower educators with the tools to enhance their robust practice by creating cohesive and inclusive learning environments through the strategic use of language. Participants will explore a variety of vocabulary strategies to deepen students' connections with words, enhance vocabulary acquisition and retention, and strengthen their ability to engage with texts. The course will emphasize the importance of classroom culture, focusing on methods that seamlessly scaffold learning to ensure content accessibility for all students. Additionally, educators will bolster their existing management techniques, fostering strong relationships while maintaining clear and firm classroom expectations. Through this course, participants will gain practical skills to enhance writing instruction and conferencing, ultimately supporting the diverse needs of their students.Associated reading and coursework will take place between Zoom classes.Participants will receive 10 PDPs in English Language Arts/Literacy.
Format: Zoom meetings on Wednesdays 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, & 11/20 from 4pm-5pm. Completion of additional work.This Professional Development course is designed to empower educators with the tools to enhance their robust practice by creating cohesive and inclusive learning environments through the strategic use of language. Participants will explore a variety of vocabulary strategies to deepen students' connections with words, enhance vocabulary acquisition and retention, and strengthen their ability to engage with texts. The course will emphasize the importance of classroom culture, focusing on methods that seamlessly scaffold learning to ensure content accessibility for all students. Additionally, educators will bolster their existing management techniques, fostering strong relationships while maintaining clear and firm classroom expectations. Through this course, participants will gain practical skills to enhance writing instruction and conferencing, ultimately supporting the diverse needs of their students.Associated reading and coursework will take place between Zoom classes.Participants will receive 10 PDPs in English Language Arts/Literacy.
Format: Zoom meetings on Wednesdays 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, & 11/20 from 4pm-5pm. Completion of additional work.This Professional Development course is designed to empower educators with the tools to enhance their robust practice by creating cohesive and inclusive learning environments through the strategic use of language. Participants will explore a variety of vocabulary strategies to deepen students' connections with words, enhance vocabulary acquisition and retention, and strengthen their ability to engage with texts. The course will emphasize the importance of classroom culture, focusing on methods that seamlessly scaffold learning to ensure content accessibility for all students. Additionally, educators will bolster their existing management techniques, fostering strong relationships while maintaining clear and firm classroom expectations. Through this course, participants will gain practical skills to enhance writing instruction and conferencing, ultimately supporting the diverse needs of their students.Associated reading and coursework will take place between Zoom classes.Participants will receive 10 PDPs in English Language Arts/Literacy.
Oher Topics
Format: Asynchronous course from September 30 to November 24. Must participate in activities each week. This course is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) tools in their teaching practice. It focuses on how AI can enhance lesson planning, differentiate instruction, and meet the diverse needs of students in the classroom. Participants will explore various tools and practical applications of AI, including personalized learning, data-driven decision-making, and innovative approaches to student engagement. Participants will receive 15 PDPs in Technology.
Full: Sign up for waitlist
Format: Zoom meetings on Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29, and Nov. 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Completion of additional work.In the ongoing pursuit of equitable education, reflective practice centered around antiracism is essential for educators committed to creating inclusive and supportive learning environments. This opportunity for reflective practice, "Antiracism Begins With Me," invites educators to engage in deep self-examination and ongoing learning to confront and dismantle racial biases within themselves and their teaching practices."Antiracism Begins With Me" is a reflective practice framework designed to help educators examine their own racial beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. It emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and personal growth as foundational steps towards fostering a more equitable and just educational setting.By committing to this course on reflective practice embodied in self-awareness, educators not only enhance self-awareness, but also contribute to a larger movement towards educational equity. "Antiracism Begins With Me" is a call to action for educators to recognize their role in shaping a more inclusive and just educational landscape, starting with their own perspectives and practices.Participants will receive 15 PDPs in Safe & Supportive Schools.