Gender Diversity, Identification and Expression in Children & Youth

Gender diversity, identification and expression are raising many questions and challenges for those that work with children and youth. VT-HEC is pleased to announce our first offering on this topic to be held on March 28, 2017 in Montpelier, VT, titled: The Gender Spectrum: Gaining Understanding and Moving Toward Creating Gender Inclusive Environments.

This introductory workshop will be targeted to educators and other professionals who want to learn more about gender expression and/or identity differences; how to discuss the issues with parents, students and colleagues; and become more aware of how to support and nurture different gender identities and expressions.

The workshop will be led by Lisa Estivill from Washington County Mental Health. Lisa has been Director of Therapeutic Education in Barre, VT since 2010 and has many years experience in the field of mental health and gender diversity.  Lisa will discuss how gender difference can manifest at different developmental stages and some distinct challenges for gender different/trans kids at different ages (i.e. boys playing dress up in kindergarten, middle school communal changing in lockers, sports teams, dating, etc.)

The emphasis will be on an introduction to the concept of gender diversity, being cognizant of the messages we are sending kids and families about gender diversity, engaging families with gender-different kids, and establishing an inclusive culture.

VT-HEC is planning a series of offerings on gender-related topics that will include a focus on challenges for leadership, additional supports for developing gender inclusive environments, and ways of supporting all students related to this topic.

Watch for more information and registration details on vthec.org

Tools To Match Assessments to Content and Students; Develop & Manage Learning Scales & Performance Tasks; Assist With Proficiency-Based Assessment & Grading 

“The most applicable course I have ever taken. I used what I learned immediately”

VT-HEC’s workshops and course Technology Tools to Improve Assessment have been rescheduled.  The series will begin with the first workshop scheduled on February 3^rd, and the second workshop on March 17. During the two workshop days, Chris will explore with you over a dozen tools that will help you tailor assessments to your content and learners. If taken for credit, course meetings will be on February 11^th and April 8^th. Take the course to apply what you learn to your own setting, as well as get personalized support and feedback from Chris.

Join Chris CichoskiKelly in an exploration of how to use technology to:

• design and organize assessments that meet the needs of you and your students
• improve your current assessments and keep your data organized
• make learning goals and progress clearer to students and parents
• help teachers and students better focus their efforts and involve students in the assessment process

Among the tools Chris will be reviewing are: PlayPosit; Socrative; Quizlet; Plickers,  Goobric, Flubaroo and Kahoot.  You will learn how to make creative and tailored use of Google Forms and Sheets, better use Excel for graphing and help make more efficient use of checklists and rubrics.

Chris’s workshops and courses on these topics have gotten rave reviews from past participants:

• This course was amazing!! The knowledge I gained has been so incredibly useful; we can see that it is clearly benefiting the students.
• This class is my favorite one I’ve ever taken as an adult!
• So many skills and tools; all kinds of useful shortcuts and ways I can assess my students and analyze assessment results.
• I immediately began integrating the tools I learned about into my practice. I am so impressed by the breadth of this course.
• I had knowledge of google tools before, but I would say my knowledge tripled or more, and that I have applied that knowledge daily.

for more information and to register go to: vthec.org