Featured Webinar

No commercial benefit may be derived from the viewing, copying or dissemination of this Hidden Sparks content, without prior permission from Hidden Sparks.

Browse by Category

Browse by Track

Search Full Archive

Select track
Select topic
Select presenter

The transition to the start of school is more difficult for some than others. This webinar will consider children who are very anxious about attending school or separating from home and parents for a variety of reasons. Such students may actually refuse to go to school, or tantrum and revolt when parents try to get them to school. Strategies for parents will be included to help all students successfully transition to school.

Date: Sep 03, 2024 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

On the 10 year anniversary of her original webinar, Dr. Novick, a premier expert on bullying, will revisit the topic, its unique characteristics, and impact in the Jewish community. The focus of the webinar will be on what parents and educators can do to help children who are teased or socially excluded, and how we can work with all children to be socially responsible bystanders and create caring communities. 

Date: May 21, 2024 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

This webinar will address best practices for cooperative learning, including: considerations of various grouping arrangements, proactive management techniques, and creative variations of cooperative activities.

Date: Apr 09, 2024 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Laya Salomon

This webinar will teach you practical skills you can use every day to address challenging child behaviors. It will help you to understand better why your child is behaving the way they are, and know what you can do to help. We will focus on balancing behavioral skills, such as limit-setting, praise, and positive reinforcement, with communication tools, such as active listening and reflection, to help you create a structured, calm, and compassionate environment in your home.

Date: Mar 06, 2024 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Estie Reidler

You set the emotional tone for your classroom, and creating calm in the classroom is about equipping you with your own inner toolbox of self-regulatory and self-management tools so you can model and teach them to their students. In this experiential webinar participants will learn evidence-based, relatable, accessible, and fun mindfulness tools and techniques that they will be able to implement into their classrooms.

Date: Feb 06, 2024 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Nancy Siegel

Meirav Kravetz is back to HSWOW for a third webinar, this time to share tools that can be used to encourage and develop authentic Hebrew speaking in your classroom, even among students that are anxious about speaking aloud. Learn how to plan oral assignments, guide your students to success evaluate an oral presentations.

Date: Jan 30, 2024 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Meirav Kravetz

Explore the transformative potential of data-driven instruction in the classroom. Participants will discover practical strategies for collecting, analyzing, and leveraging data to personalize learning, monitor student progress, and make informed instructional decisions. Join us as we unlock the power of data to enhance student outcomes and cultivate a culture of evidence-based teaching.

Date: Dec 19, 2023 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Melissa Truelove

Join this webinar to learn about auditory processing and the difference between auditory and language processing. Perri Hecht will shares classroom strategies as well as guidance for teaching children self-management and self-advocacy tools.

Date: Nov 27, 2023 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Perri Hecht

For many children and parents, staying on top of homework and long-term projects is a never-ending battle. Difficulties with tracking assignments, managing materials, time management and planning are often a major source of conflict at home and lead to missed assignments and under-achievement in school. In this webinar, Dr. Elana Spira provides tips on how to help children build and practice skills for organization, time management and planning.

Date: Nov 14, 2023 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Elana Spira

Learn practical strategies for sharing learning goals with students and incorporating goal setting into the classroom. Gain tools to involve students in reflecting on their progress as a means to facilitate individual growth and increase student agency.

Date: Oct 24, 2023 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Dr. Debra Drang

At Kohelet Yeshiva Lab and Middle School’s inception, the administrative team articulated student-centered Learning Principals, derived from what is known about how children learn. Join this webinar to learn about these principles, how they are implemented, and can drive your pedagogical decisions to create a joyful place of learning.

Date: May 16, 2023 @ 8:30 pm
Instructor: Becky Troodler

Assessments can and ought to be an essential component of the student learning process. This webinar utilizes psychological research to shed light on how educators may maximize the opportunities that assessments offer to foster student growth, in addition to evaluating their progress. 

 
Date: May 02, 2023 @ 8:30 pm
Instructor: Tamar Appel

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a research-based framework that teachers use to design lessons that reduce barriers and increase access to learning for all students. This webinar will introduce the main ideas and key concepts of UDL, which can be used as a springboard for more in-depth study. It is an exciting, innovative and paradigm-shifting perspective on learning, teaching, and planning! 

Date: Mar 13, 2023 @ 8:30 pm
Instructor: Dr. Debra Drang

To be a successful reader, your students’ brains are required to orchestrate a variety of cognitive domains for each part of the reading process. In this workshop you will have the opportunity to look into what cognitive domains are required for reading comprehension, how to identify if students have an asset or challenge in these domains, and specific strategies to move your struggling readers to reading success

Date: Feb 28, 2023 @ 8:30 pm
Instructor: Hollis Dannaham

Learning Gemara is a complex task involving many cognitive functions and academic skills. Lack of experience or a deficiency in any one of these functions or skills can make the experience of learning Gemara an overwhelming task for a student. In this workshop, educators will learn how to identify each of the demands inherent in a Gemara lesson and target instructional goals.

Date: Feb 13, 2023 @ 8:30 pm
Instructor: Rabbi Avi Wasser

To be a successful reader, your students’ brains are required to orchestrate a variety of cognitive domains for each part of the reading process. In this workshop you will have the opportunity to look into what cognitive domains are required for reading decoding and fluency, how to identify if students have an asset or challenge in these domains, and specific strategies to move your struggling readers to reading success.

Date: Jan 11, 2023 @ 8:30 pm
Instructor: Hollis Dannaham

According to research, more than 50% of all struggling readers are not diagnosed with any specific disabilities. Begin to learn how to help them decode Hebrew using a multi-sensory, phonetic approach based on the Orton Gillingham method of instruction. This is an innovative methodology that was developed after extensive research on teaching Hebrew decoding skills to children with dyslexia and other language and reading disabilities.

Date: Dec 06, 2022 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Instructor: Sonia Levin

The transition of going back to school brings change and uncertainty. Model confidence for your children as you create structure and set goals to create a positive tone for a great start to the new school year. In this webinar we will discuss concrete strategies you can use to start the new school year on strong footing.

Date: Aug 29, 2022 @ 8:30 pm
Instructor: Ethel Salomon

In recent years, bestselling authors have published book after book in the pursuit of supporting parents. As a Jewish community, we have the opportunity to tap into the ancient wisdom that Judaism offers into the process of growing up in very real and contemporary ways. Timeless truths about development, from early childhood through adolescence and beyond, can inform the way we relate to the children in our lives. We will examine questions like, “If we encourage the youngest among us to ask questions, like at the Seder, how do we understand their ability to absorb concrete and philosophical information?” and “How do the assumptions about responsibility match up with the developmental realities of a Bar or Bat Mitzvah child?”

Date: May 08, 2022 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am (Eastern)
Instructor: Dr. Aviva Goldstein

What is project-based learning? How is it planned and implemented? What place does it have in Jewish Day schools, especially in the Limudei Kodesh classroom? This webinar will present the pros and cons of using PBL, and share real-life examples from Jewish Day Schools who are adapting PBL to use in their classrooms.

Date: Mar 01, 2022 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Etti Siegel

“You have to wait!” is a phrase that has become harder and harder to implement in a world replete with immediate gratification. In this workshop we’ll explore the underlying mechanisms of delayed gratification and discuss concrete ways in which we can build the skill of delaying gratification within ourselves and in our children.

Date: Jan 11, 2022 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Dr. Oshra Cohen

In this presentation for parents, in collaboration with Sinai Schools, you will hear from an OT and Psychologist who works with children with sensory challenges as well as an interior decorator who helps parents design sensory-friendly spaces in the home. Deepen your understanding of the daily challenges that children with sensory processing challenges face, strategies for amelioration, and how to tweak your home spaces to make them as comfortable as possible for your children.

Date: Jan 09, 2022 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (ET)

This session will explore best practices for mentoring and supervising colleagues and teachers, supported by the research-based understanding of how people learn and grow. It will include suggestions for setting goals, providing effective feedback and motivating change. Sample evaluation protocol and feedback tools will be shared.

Date: Dec 22, 2021 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Laya Salomon

Every year teachers have the incredible privilege and challenge of teaching students with a range of learning profiles. This session will focus on strategies to teach students with language based learning disabilities. Participants will gain an understanding of what they are and how they impact student learning. A focus of the session will include practical strategies to implement in your classrooms to meet the needs of diverse learners.

Date: Dec 08, 2021 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Naomi Schimmel

In this session we will look into the objectives of Hebrew reading comprehension and the different genres of texts we should expose our students to. We use the UBD method (Understanding By Design) in order to examine different strategies that promote comprehension and encourage more student independence. We will offer a variety of tools that will assist teachers when they use texts as the basis for oral expression

Date: Oct 26, 2021 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Meirav Kravetz

One of the best ways to raise student achievement is through high quality co-teaching with a co-teacher or assistant. Gain practical guidance on applying effective models to your classroom so that you can incorporate station-based learning, observation time and small group instruction.

Date: Oct 12, 2021 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Margaret Searle

What is spirituality and how does it help children and teens grow into strong, resilient adults? This webinar will explore spirituality through the childhood and adolescent years and provide strategies for building it in our students and children.

Date: Sep 13, 2021 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

For Parents and Educators. How often we wonder why some students can achieve milestones while others struggle to keep up, and if these differences are part of typical development or indicators of more significant challenges? Understanding child development can be an extremely powerful and helpful lens for teachers. In this session, we will present child developmental along a continuum, from typically developing children to those with developmental challenges in behavior or learning. Some behavioral and learning issues that are outside the pattern of typical development will be explored and we will discuss the developmental tasks usually mastered at particular ages and phases.

Date: May 25, 2021 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (ET)
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

This workshop will focus on specific strategies to support students who need a variety of strategies to build vocabulary. We will explore various types of graphic organizers, instructional models, targeted strategies and materials to support and enhance vocabulary instruction.

Date: Mar 09, 2021 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (ET)
Instructor: Hollis Dannaham

Vocabulary is the basis for language acquisition. In this webinar, participants will learn a variety of ways to enhance Hebrew vocabulary instruction. They will be exposed to methods that help learners remember words and authentic formats for implementing usage of the new vocabulary words.

Date: Feb 09, 2021 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (ET)
Instructor: Meirav Kravetz

Collaborative Problem Solving® (CPS) is a big shift when it comes to understanding your child’s challenging behavior and what to do about it. It is proven to reduce challenging behavior, improve family relationships, and help your child build the skills they lack. This webinar will introduce you to a method for partnering with your child to identify the triggers for their challenging behavior, and work together to produce a game plan for how to handle problems before they happen.

Date: Feb 02, 2021 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (ET)
Instructor: Tamar Shames

In today’s world, we have an incredible opportunity to provide students with resources and experiences that will help students develop strong creative and critical thinking skills to solve interesting problems in the world. In this session, Michael will share what that innovative practice looks like and how it can better prepare our students for the future .

Date: Dec 01, 2020 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (ET)
Instructor: Rabbi Michael Cohen

This session will  explore the power of questions in the classroom by examining:

  • Questioning as an effective instructional technique;
  • Questioning strategies that ensure active engagement and whole-class involvement;
  • The Do’s and Don’ts in questioning – how to and how not to ask questions;
  • Higher order cognition – the value of higher order questions and examples of questions that range in level of cognition;
  • Research-based strategies for effectively responding to student questions; and
  • Suggestions for creating an environment that supports student questions
Date: Nov 04, 2020 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (ET)
Instructor: Laya Salomon

As we all deal with uncertainty and ongoing reminders of how covid-19 has impacted our lives, how can we determine whether children’s worries are excessive? How can we support children’s healthy development and safety in our new reality? Adult and child strategies for managing the unknown will be discussed.

Date: Oct 27, 2020 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (ET)
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

As the nursery rhyme goes…”all the King’s horses and all the King’s men, couldn’t put Humpty together again.” While that may be true, professionals and parents can by tipping the scale from vulnerability to strengths. This session will explore resiliency as an active ingredient to a life at peace with its past, content with its present and optimistic about the future. It offers field-tested strategies so every child can navigate stormy waters without capsizing and how to create safe harbors for those whose storms continue to crash their shores and toss them about in the surf.

Date: Oct 21, 2020 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (ET)
Instructor: Jeanine Fitzgerald

Self-regulation is a complex set of skills that exert influence over internal sensations and states. These skills are necessary for consistent performance, behavior and school readiness. This webinar explores self-regulatory functions through a developmental lense and offers proven strategies to develop and strengthen them in the early childhood years.

 

Date: May 20, 2020 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Jeanine Fitzgerald

Do you have a few students that you just can’t seem to reach with your instruction? In this webinar, you’ll be learning about why multisensory math is appropriate for ALL learners (K – 12) and why it is essential for students that struggle. We’ll share research, ideas you can implement, and resources to expand your teaching tool kit.
– Multisensory Math Additional Information

Date: Mar 18, 2020 @ 8:30 pm -9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Adrianne Meldrum

This workshop will guide novice and more seasoned classroom-based technology users into integrating technology in a strategic and impactful way. In this workshop participants will review the SAMR Model and Bloom’s Taxonomy, two frameworks used by educators to help design tasks and lessons that use technology, as well as understand how they impact student outcomes. Participants will also be tasked with thinking about the apps and websites they are currently using in their curriculum.

 

Date: Feb 25, 2020 @ 8:30 pm -9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Monica Klein

Mindfulness has shown to effect emotion regulation, focus and awareness, and positive emotions. In this workshop participants will be introduced to mindfulness and how it can improve one’s effectiveness as a teacher both inside and outside the classroom. Mindfulness will be broken down into concrete and practical skills that one can implement immediately following the workshop in your capacity as a teacher.

Date: Feb 05, 2020 @ 8:30 pm -9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Matis Miller

Helping pre-teens, and teens adjust to a new department of schooling and the different expectations that accompany it, is an oft neglected but crucial part of education. This webinar will empower teachers of middle school, junior high, and high school to understand the key changes that occur, as well as some easy ideas for scaffolding and supporting students with intentional lessons and targeted discussions. You’ll explore topics indulging time management, study skills, healthy habits of sleep, changing social dynamics, self-advocacy, coping strategies, stress reduction, the hidden curriculum and understanding key school personnel.

Date: Jan 06, 2020 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Instructor: Zipora Schuck

Angie will be presenting research-based lesson ideas and tools and share web-based learning programs that support the development of Hebrew decoding for students. These ideas are based on her own practice working with students with language-based learning disabilities, where she has adopted multi-sensory components from Orton-Gilingham based reading programs including Preventing Academic Failure and Wilson Fundations to create a powerful and effective Kriah program.

Date: Dec 11, 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Angelina Swenson

The language around struggling learners can be confusing: IEPs, 504s, accommodations, modifications. Even once you know what it all means, it’s not always easy to know which accommodations are best for your child or what they look like in the classroom. You will learn the difference between accommodations and modifications and discuss some commonly-used ones. Then, you’ll explore what they look like in practice, how to know if they’re working well, and ways for families and teachers to partner to track progress and optimize student learning.

Date: Nov 20, 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Amanda Morin

This webinar will discuss predicting and noticing signs of escalating behavioral difficulties in students. It will provide participants with strategies to engage students in these most challenging moments, and strategies to help de-escalate and calm difficult situations. Participants will learn about identifying inappropriate behaviors and how to cultivate appropriate behavior. Strategies for students of all ages will be presented.

Date: Nov 13, 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

Reading is a critical skill and one of the most important goals of early schooling. This webinar will explore how to support young students as they learn to read. Participants will gain an understanding of how the brain reads, and some of the key components that are necessary for successful and fluent reading. A focus of the session will include practical strategies to support students both at home and in school.

Date: Sep 17, 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Naomi Schimmel

Too many of us dread giving feedback whether it be to our students or faculty. That changes with “feedforward,” a partnership approach to managing people and performance. Based on proven communication and coaching techniques, feedforward shifts the message and methods of traditional feedback through powerful, two-way conversation. Educators at all levels will become more skilled at developing a dialogue focused around their students’ and employees’ goals, growth, and long-term contribution. You will gain actionable insights into the neuroscience of effective feedback, and develop practical tools to recognize and develop the full potential of those with whom you work.

Date: May 13, 2019 @ 8:30 - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Joe Hirsch

We all know that uncomfortable feeling – we have to have one of those uncomfortable conversations with our children or our students. Whether it is discussing substance use, challenging behaviors, dealing with peer pressure, family issues, loss and trauma, or substance abuse, it can be difficult to find the words, tone, and context. This webinar will consider how to set the stage for having meaningful and successful conversations even around difficult topics. You will learn about timing, language, the critical role of empathetic listening, and validation. Developmental issues as they impact how much we say to children of various ages will also be included.

Date: Apr 02, 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

Many of us have heard about the Montessori approach but don’t know much about it, or don’t think that it’s applicable to a typical yeshiva classroom. This session will provide teachers with an understanding of the methodology and approaches presented by Montessori Education while adapting those methods and approaches into the framework of the traditional day school. The result is engaging, differentiated, and independent activities to build motivated, informed and independent learners in grades EC-2nd.

Date: Mar 06, 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Yona Glass

Are you looking to differentiate instruction to meet the diverse needs of your students Do you have concerns about it being too time consuming and complicated, or about it not being “fair”? In this webinar these concerns and obstacles to differentiation will be removed. You will walk away with a plethora of simple, low or no time ideas, strategies, modifications, and accommodation to empower you to support the success of all of your students.

Date: Feb 26, 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Hollis Dannaham

Are you looking to differentiate instruction to meet the diverse needs of your students Do you have concerns about it being too time consuming and complicated, or about it not being “fair”? In this webinar these concerns and obstacles to differentiation will be removed. You will walk away with a plethora of simple, low or no time ideas, strategies, modifications, and accommodation to empower you to support the success of all of your students.

Date: Feb 12, 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Hollis Dannaham

Reading comprehension involves a complex process of your student’s interaction with the texts that they read. This webinar will help you explore the differences between narrative (involving story grammar and causal events) and expository (focused on text organization and structure) text and the varied ways that you can teach the two. You will focus on effective strategies for teaching comprehension skills that are appropriate and beneficial for each type of text in grades 1-6.

Date: Jan 08, 2019 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Naomi Schimmel

This presentation will introduce you to the core social skills, communication tools, and conflict resolution techniques necessary to help students solve problems independently of teacher intervention. You will learn how to create socially safe classrooms with unified rules and expectations, integrate problem solving skills into daily lessons, discuss the importance of ‘seeking first to understand’, explore different problem solving models, and include parents in the appropriate scaffolding and support of students’ social development.

Date: Dec 19, 2018 @ 8:30 pm -9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Zipora Schuck

Modern learning needs modern learning spaces. As we look to craft curriculum and instruction to prepare our students for further education and careers, it is essential that they have an opportunity to learn in spaces that support this mission. Designing excellent learning spaces isn’t about decorating, but it is about having intentionality. Prepare to leave with a variety of ideas and first steps that can be used to transform your space with very little budget.

Date: Nov 28, 2018 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Robert Dillon

Many children have times when they struggle with homework. Understanding the challenges your child is facing can help you defuse homework battles before they start. From homework contracts to breaking down assignments, you will learn tips, strategies and resources to help you and your child establish good study habits and stop homework hassles before they begin.

Date: Nov 13, 2018 @ 8:30 - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Amanda Morin

The ability to run an ordered classroom is commonly ranked as one of the most important teacher dispositions, whether at the elementary, middle, or secondary grade level. We now know what tactics help students regulate emotions, engage them, and promote a pro-academic class culture. This webinar will introduce you to techniques gained from Dr. Finley’s experience teaching at an urban K-12 school, and will introduce abundant neuroscience and social science research related to classroom management. By adding new tools to your classroom management approach, this session will boost your effectiveness and confidence.

Date: Oct 29, 2018 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Instructor: Todd Finley

Positive self-esteem can make a big difference for children with learning disabilities and attention challenges. When children value themselves, they’re more likely to self-advocate and ask for the help they believe they deserve. When they’re confident and secure about who they are, they’re better able to face and manage their learning challenges. Learn practical strategies that can be used with your children and students to help them develop and maintain positive self-esteem.

Date: May 01, 2018 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Amanda Morin

Have you ever had a student who demonstrated strong verbal and thinking skills but when put to the task of independently reading and/or writing they can’t seem to succeed at the task? This could be the result of weak executive functions, a set of processes that involve mental control and self-regulation. In this webinar participants will not only gain a deeper understanding of the executive functions and how they impact reading and writing, but they will also walk away with interventions and strategies to help.

Date: Apr 24, 2018 @ 8:30-9:30 (Eastern)
Instructor: Hollis Dannaham

We all know that being able to concentrate and focus for sustained periods is a skill that students need to develop in order to be successful in school. Fortunately, teachers and parents can teach and implement strategies that will help encourage and build this ability in children. In this webinar, you will gain a deeper understanding and a wealth of strategies for supporting your students in this skill.

Date: Mar 06, 2018 @ 8:30-9:30 (Eastern)
Instructor: Mindy Rosenthal

Like most educators, you probably have children in your class who struggle with anxiety. When children and teens are anxious in school they may have a hard time absorbing new information or retrieving previously learned information. This webinar will offer you a basic understanding of anxiety along the developmental trajectory with a focus on how it manifests in a school setting. Tips, strategies and techniques will be offered to facilitate students learning to ‘live in the gray,’ relax and gain from classroom instruction.

Date: Feb 21, 2018 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Zipora Schuck

Teachers have to teach Chumash skills to diverse learners, so one-size-fits-all strategies do not always work. In this practical and creative workshop, learn about ways of teaching all of your students the skills they need to master the Chumash lesson, ways to check for understanding, and tips that turn the daily lesson into a course that leaves children of all levels engaged and enthusiastic. Mrs. Siegel will share the energizing techniques she has used in her own classroom and has brought to countless classrooms across the tri-state and beyond.

Date: Feb 06, 2018 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Etti Siegel

If you have discovered that your child has difficulties with learning or paying attention, or you are beginning to suspect that he or she does, you might be wondering what you can do to make sure that your child is getting the best support possible at school. Even though we may know each of our child’s strengths and challenges, as parents we sometimes feel powerless when it comes to push for the resources our child needs to succeed. There is actually a lot we can do to take action, and this webinar will provide with the basics for being strong advocates on behalf of your child.

Date: Nov 01, 2017 @ 8:30 pm -9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Susan Schwartz

Neuroscientists and educators have carefully studied how the introduction, proliferation, and extensive usage of technology are impacting how children think and learn. This HSWOW session will share the latest findings to help parents and educators understand the way today’s children think and learn. Suggestions for creating healthy habits of technology use and for adapting our adult teaching and parenting strategies to best fit the changing minds of our technologically savvy children.

Neuroscientists and educators have carefully studied how the introduction, proliferation, and extensive usage of technology are impacting how children think and learn. This HSWOW session will share the latest findings to help parents and educators understand the way today’s children think and learn. Suggestions for creating healthy habits of technology use and for adapting our adult teaching and parenting strategies to best fit the changing minds of our technologically savvy children.

Date: Oct 25, 2017 @ 8:30-9:30 (Eastern)
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

In this webinar, we will explore the who, what, where, when, why, and how of separation anxiety. Educators and parents alike will learn a proactive, strategy-based approach to utilize for a host of separation situations and consider the vast opportunities for life-skill development during separation. Upon completion, attendees will have the necessary tools to become empowered to turn the “goodbye blues” into the “Yippee-Yahoos”!

Date: Aug 29, 2017 @ 8:30-9:30 (Eastern)
Instructor: Randi Goldfarb

Every child will face challenges, whether because of their own learning profile or temperament, or outside factors such as illness, family stress, and tragic events. Even seemingly mundane bumps in the road, such as a lost ballgame, failed test, or waning friendship, require children to be resilient, to manage even when life is not how you would want it to be. Resilience is supported by a set of teachable skills that parents and teachers can help children develop. This webinar discusses those skills and the strategies that can help children use them as tools throughout their lives.

Date: May 16, 2017 @ 8:30 - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

Language influences every aspect of the curriculum, affecting the way children learn and teachers teach. This webinar will focus on the role language plays in learning, including decoding and comprehension, vocabulary and concept knowledge, thinking and reasoning, narrative development, writing and social skills. Participants will learn techniques and strategies for enhancing language learning in the classroom.

Date: Apr 26, 2017 @ 8:30 - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Claire Wurtzel

Are you exhausted from managing every assignment? From solving every conflict? From never having time to yourself? We all want our children to be happy, successful, and well-supported, but it’s hard to know how much to be involved in our children’s lives – and when to step back. This workshop will help you think about how to find the right balance for your family between giving your children the space they need to become self-reliant and still making sure that they are able to cope with the challenges of today’s world.

Date: Mar 21, 2017 @ 8:30 - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Dr. Yoni Schwab

Help your students and children find their own meaning in tefilla and establish stronger connections to their davening. During this webinar you will gain a better understanding of the development of prayer in children and adolescents and be provided with some practical strategies for enabling students to find their own voice, all within the context of using the texts of the Siddur.

Date: Mar 01, 2017 @ 8:30 - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Rabbi Jay Goldmintz

Current cognitive research has shown that there are three specific nonacademic skills that are essential for student success. In this workshop participants will learn about the research on Grit, Growth Mindset, and Motivation and how this information can be translated into classroom practice to facilitate these skills and maximize student success.

Date: Feb 22, 2017 @ 8:30 - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Hollis Dannaham

This webinar will provide you with crucial information regarding the technology that our children are accessing. While a healthy exposure to technology is beneficial, we also want to recognize the risks and possible pitfalls that are present. In addition, this presentation will inform you of the ins and outs of many popular apps so that you can feel up to date on tools your children might be logging on to.

Date: Feb 08, 2017 @ 8:30 - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Rabbis Efrayim Clair and Dov Hochbaum

Tests and quizzes are part and parcel of almost every learning environment, and information gleaned from assessment goes far beyond the letter or number grade. Teachers will learn how to use assessment information to effectively direct instruction both for the class and for individual students. This interactive workshop will help build your skills so that you can facilitate instruction for real student retention, teach study and test taking skills, use formative and summative assessments, and design alternatives to testing.

Date: Jan 03, 2017 @ 8:30 - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Zipora Schuck

Many people think the words “tantrum” and “meltdown” mean the same thing, and they can look very similar when you see a child having one. But for children with sensory processing or self-regulation challenges, a meltdown is very different from a tantrum. This webinar, in partnership with Understood.org will help you understand the differences and will provide you with strategies so that you can respond in a way that better supports your child.

Date: Dec 13, 2016 @ 8:30 - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Amanda Morin

How can we use the science and knowledge of human behavior to support our children in all areas? This webinar will address myths about rewards and punishments and offer suggestions regarding motivating rewards that have No Salt, No Sugar, and Cost No Money.

Date: Nov 16, 2016 @ 8:30 - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

Get off to a strong start this year when it comes to classroom management. This workshop will cover specific strategies, procedures, and teaching techniques to effectively prevent classroom disruptions and allow for effective teaching.

Date: Nov 03, 2016 @ 8:30 - 9:30 pm (Eastern)
Instructor: Mindy Rosenthal

Today’s culture of entitlement and privilege erodes our natural inclinations towards gratitude.  This webinar will provide information on many benefits of gratitude, and offer direct strategies to inculcate the attitude of gratitude in families and schools.  The developmental challenges across childhood, pre-teen, and adolescent years will be carefully considered.

Date: May 31, 2016 @ 8:30 - 9:30 PM
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

Do you suspect that your student’s reaction to sights, sounds, or touch is over the top? Does your student have trouble tuning in at  circle time, maintaining personal space, or transitioning  smoothly? This webinar will focus on the unique sensory challenges that surface in school. Participants will come away with practical and effective strategies targeted to individual students and the classroom as a whole to help children modulate their behavior and thrive socially.

Date: May 18, 2016 @ 8:30 - 9:30 PM
Instructor: Chaye Lamm Warburg

When most people are asked “What is dyslexia?” the typical response is “Isn’t that when you reverse your letters and numbers?” It’s a common misconception and one that we will address in this webinar.  We will consider what dyslexia is and what it isn’t and what are some of the remarkable strengths that may accompany this language based learning difference.  We’ll also describe some of the latest research on dyslexia and see what are effective interventions and accommodations.

Date: Apr 05, 2016 @ 8:30 - 9:30 PM
Instructor: Karen Kruger

As a teacher or parent, are you confused by children who seem very capable, yet have difficulty concentrating, sitting still and listening, or finishing something they start- unless it’s very exciting? Do you find they have the ability to concentrate well on some things but not others? We tell them to ” pay attention “, but they can’t seem to always look or listen to the right thing at the right time. In this session you will learn about attention- the complex system of brain controls that energizes us and regulates our thinking and our ability to complete tasks- and strategies to support children who struggle in this area.

As a teacher or parent, are you confused by children who seem very capable, yet have difficulty concentrating, sitting still and listening, or finishing something they start- unless it’s very exciting? Do you find they have the ability to concentrate well on some things but not others? We tell them to ” pay attention “, but they can’t seem to always look or listen to the right thing at the right time. In this session you will learn about attention- the complex system of brain controls that energizes us and regulates our thinking and our ability to complete tasks- and strategies to support children who struggle in this area.

Date: Mar 15, 2016 @ 8:30 - 9:30 PM
Instructor: Claire Wurtzel
Topic: Attention

What neurodevelopmental demands are made on a child when we ask them to find and put their finger on the place in a Chumash , read and translate a Pasuk? What strategies can be employed for students who have challenges in attention, memory, language or other areas of neurodevelopment? In this webinar, you will learn to analyze and design your Judaic Studies lessons using a neurodevelopmental lens allowing for maximal success for all your students.

Date: Feb 23, 2016 @ 8:30 - 9:30 PM
Instructor: Tamar Bauman

This webinar will focus on practical strategies for helping parents of adolescents find the balance between love and limits in effectively parenting their teen. Current thinking about adolescent development will be discussed with an emphasis on new findings from the fields of neuroscience and developmental psychology. How parents can differentiate between minor irritants and more serious problems that might warrant professional attention will be presented as well as practical recommendations on how parents can effectively deal with common adolescent behavioral problems.

Date: Feb 09, 2016 @ 8:30 - 9:30 PM
Instructor: David Pelcovitz

The results of ground-breaking brain research now play a role in early detection of future math learning disabilities allowing for targeted early intervention. This workshop will look at the spatial ordering system which governs qualitative number sense, how challenges manifest in the classroom and what strategies can be employed to support struggling students. We will also touch on how parts of memory, higher order cognition, language, and executive functions can affect performance in math, along with tools for intervention.

Date: Jan 06, 2016 @ 8:30 - 9:30 PM
Instructor: Hollis Dannaham

Do your students have trouble taking notes effectively? Are their notes acting as study tools? Become a game-changer  in the life of your students! This webinar will help you simplify and effectively give instruction for the use of guided notes, Cornell notes, and two column note- taking.  The webinar will also include  mnemonic  and review strategies that will turn student notes into study tools, and listening and summarizing techniques into effective communication tools for life.

Date: Nov 17, 2015 @ 8:30 - 9:30 PM
Instructor: Zipora Schuck

Do some of your students jump from one activity to another while others are so persistent that they have a hard time transitioning? Do you like to introduce new activities into your lessons but find that some of your students are hesitant or resistant? Based on the research of Stella Chess and Alexander Thomas, there are nine innate temperament traits that can affect a child’s behavior in the classroom and in life. In this workshop you will learn what these temperaments are and the five components of classroom ecology that you can adjust to better support your students.

Date: Nov 04, 2015 @ 8:30 - 9:30 PM
Instructor: Hollis Dannaham

Teaching adolescents presents challenges and opportunities. When educators understand adolescent development, and appreciate teens’ approach to learning, their belief systems, their notions about rules and authority, and their passion for meaning and belonging, they can increase the effectiveness of their teaching. Learn to harness teens’ strengths to support the remarkable learning and growth for which teens and educators alike yearn.

Date: Oct 27, 2015 @ 8:30 - 9:30 PM
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

This webinar will explore anxiety and the forms it takes in children and teens. Causes and situationally specific anxiety, such as test anxiety and speaking anxiety will be discussed. Strategies for parents and teachers to help those children and teens who struggle with anxiety will be offered, as well as metacognitive approaches that children and teens can learn to self-regulate their worries.

Date: May 12, 2015 @ 8:00 - 9:00 pm ET
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

This webinar is geared to help teachers use effective communication to solve common classroom challenges. Strategies to increase student participation and clarity of expressive language will be modeled. This webinar will also offer numerous techniques to empower teachers to reflect, validate, and reduce emotionality of student responses.

Date: Apr 29, 2015 @ 8:00 - 9:00 pm ET
Instructor: Zipora Schuck
Topic: Attention

This workshop will explore the various aspects of self-esteem with practical and research based strategies for building genuine self-worth. Redefining a child’s image, training them in an “optimistic explanatory style”, and priming them for success are some techniques that will be covered. This webinar will also address avoiding the common pitfalls of, perfectionist thinking, mental filtering, and mistaking feelings for facts.

Date: Apr 14, 2015 @ 8:00 - 9:00 pm ET
Instructor: Mindy Rosenthal

Do you suspect that your child’s over-reaction to sights, sounds, touch, or crowds is over the top? Does it seem like your child doesn’t tune in to what is going on around him/her? Does your child violate personal space, resist change and transition poorly? Have difficulty learning a sport or shy away from playground equipment? Welcome! This webinar will focus on the unique sensory challenges that arise at home. Participants will come away with specific strategies designed to modulate children’s responses to sensory input, regulate their behavior and boost motor planning. Learn how to select practical and effective activities you can use immediately to target your child’s unique challenges and capitalize on his/her strengths.

Date: Mar 17, 2015 @ 8:00 - 9:00 pm ET
Instructor: Chaye Lamm Warburg

What do we expect from our students when teaching Rashi in the elementary school classroom? What demands and expectations are built into a child’s decoding and comprehension of Rashi and where are the breakdowns for children who struggle? This webinar examines the neuro-developmental systems that students need in order to be successful in reading and understanding Rashi. It suggests ways to reach more of our students and provides strategies to help the children who struggle.

Date: Feb 24, 2015 @ 8:00 - 9:00 pm ET
Instructor: Sara Chaya Farbstein

If he is so bright, why does he struggle with keeping his materials organized? How can it be that she knows all the answers when I call on her but doesn’t pass a test? Why does he keep bothering his peers and then get upset when no one wants to play with him? This webinar will begin to answer these questions and present strategies so that you can help children like this stay focused, control their impulses, and keep themselves organized so they can be successful academically and socially.

Date: Jan 07, 2015 @ 8:00pm - 9:00pm
Instructor: Mindy Rosenthal

This webinar designed to give parents tips, tools and strategies to transform the homework experience. Using organizational ideas, life skill lessons, empathy, understanding, and creativity – parents will be able to help both themselves and their children successfully and more calmly get through daily homework.

Date: Dec 02, 2014 @ 8:00 - 9:00 pm ET
Instructor: Zipora Schuck

An important goal of education is to help children become readers. Summer is a perfect time to help children experiences the pleasures and benefits of reading. This webinar explores what parents can do at home to support and cultivate the joy of reading.

Date: Jun 11, 2014 @ 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm ET
Instructor: Elizabeth Fox

Guided Reading, a teaching approach used with a small group of students, is designed to help individual students read increasingly challenging texts over time. This webinar will focus on the specific elements of a guided reading lesson. Participants will learn how to use meaning, language structure, and visual phonic cues (the three cueing systems) to assist students in successfully engaging with texts.  Practical examples of guided reading lessons utilizing various level texts will be explored.

Date: May 13, 2014 @ 8:00-9:00pm
Instructor: Hadassah Berg

For twelve and thirteen year olds with learning differences and disabilities, the preparation for bar and bat mitzvah can be more stressful than joyous.   For some, a learning process focused on Hebrew decoding, memorizing and speech writing can be an obstacle.  For others, the celebration, often marked in the context of a “packed” synagogue on a Shabbat morning, can be terrifying. This webinar will help you prepare for this important life cycle event by tapping into your child’s interests and strengths, and introducing approaches such as adaptive technologies, music and art to help make the process more enjoyable for all.

Date: May 07, 2014 @ 8:00-9:00pm
Instructor: Howard Blas

Part 3 of 3 – for middle and high school age

As children age, they begin to use technology to connect with peers. With the right guidance, peer-to-peer learning online can have very positive effects. However, recent trends of online bullying and harassment highlights the potential downsides of social networks. Participants of this workshop will learn about the impact of online bullying on young adults, how to recognize the signs of online bullying and what the requirements are for educators re: reporting.

Date: Mar 26, 2014 @ 8:00-9:00pm
Instructor: Jeannie Crowley

This webinar provides a practical overview to the Collaborative Problem Solving approach to working with children who lack the skill to behave well. All children, parents and teachers want to do well. But even with the best intentions, unpleasant confrontations may arise at home or in school with children who have social, emotional  and behavioral challenges. These children can be exasperating to parents, and teachers who are involved in dealing with the consequences of children’s inability to meet expectations.

Date: Mar 05, 2014 @ 8:00-9:00pm
Instructor: Claire Wurtzel

It’s never too late to become more organized! By this point in the school year teachers have covered large amounts of curriculum and students have progressed in many academic areas. However, many of these same children have difficulty maturing in regards to organizing themselves, their time, their books, and their belongings. This webinar will offer teachers practical classroom based strategies to help children master  systems, routines, schedules, and ‘their stuff’ throughout the school day.

Date: Feb 12, 2014 @ 8:00-9:00pm
Instructor: Zipora Schuck

Do you try to avoid threats, bribes, and punishments, but find yourself using them anyway, just to survive the day? Join us for a webinar with parenting expert Joanna Faber and learn how to help your child cope with difficult feelings, engage your child’s cooperation without sacrificing good will, and resolve conflicts without punishment. You’ll come away with new skills you can use immediately to make your life with children easier and more satisfying.

Date: Jan 13, 2014 @ 8:00 - 9:00 pm
Instructor: Joanna Faber

Part 2 of 3 – for elementary school age

Not all screen time is created equally. Some screen time for young children can be harmful and other uses of technology can help young learners expand their critical and creative skills. Participants in this webinar will learn how to distinguish between passive and active uses of screen time and develop a toolkit of resources to use with young children.

Date: Jan 07, 2014 @ 8:00-9:00pm
Instructor: Jeannie Crowley

Ever wonder about how to encourage and support your child’s motivation?  Is there a possibility that your child will do her chores without nagging or his homework without needling?  In this webinar we will explore the differences between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. We will discuss strategies for increasing intrinsic motivation and techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of the external reinforcers, such as praise, behavior charts, rewards and punishments  that parents and teachers often utilize.

Date: Dec 17, 2013 @ 8:00-9:00pm
Instructor: Meryl Silver

Part 1 of 3 – for young children

In today’s technology-enhanced world, there are many options available for our children: children’s shows, apps, movies on Netflix and more. Participants in this webinar will learn about the effects (both positive and harmful) of screen time for different age ranges: birth to 2, early elementary and late elementary/beyond. Participants will evaluate their own use of screen time with children, discuss the different types of screen time, and develop practical strategies for using screen time with children of all ages.

Date: Dec 11, 2013 @ 8:00-9:00pm
Instructor: Jeannie Crowley

In this webinar, teachers will consider pro-active approaches that build a sense of community and caring in the classroom.  Particular attention will be paid to the unique contribution the teacher can and should make in setting the emotional tone in the classroom.  Teacher responses in social conflict will also be considered, as they help build a caring classroom where all students feel valued and welcomed.

Date: Nov 05, 2013 @ 8:00-9:00pm
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

Why is my child able to remember the names of all the students in his class and all the teachers in his school, but he can’t recall the multiplication facts? Or, why does my daughter remember all her cousins’ and aunts’ and uncles’ birthdays, but she can’t remember to brush her teeth before she goes to bed?  We have all been puzzled by seemingly inconsistent memory performance as exhibited by our children and worried by our own memory lapses.  In this webinar, we will consider the different kinds of memory and how it is possible to have both strengths and weaknesses in this pathway of learning.  We will also discuss memory strategies to help our children at home and ways to support our own memory challenges.

Date: May 21, 2013 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Instructor: Karen Kruger

For the shy and anxious child- a child whose fearful or nervous thoughts and feelings impede their academic functioning- school can often be overwhelming and frightening.  This webinar will help teachers better understand children who struggle with anxiety and present strategies to empower teachers to support these students.

Date: Apr 17, 2013 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Meryl Silver

You’ve had a comprehensive evaluation of your child’s functioning….now what?!  In this webinar, we will review the different areas of a typical psychoeducational assessment report.  The goal is to help parents understand the different areas assessed, including cognitive, academic, language, executive processes, and social-emotional functioning. Additionally, we will discuss how to digest and use the information that is provided to help your child.

Date: Apr 09, 2013 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Instructor: Dr. Orit Goldhamer

A variety of free, online technologies exist to help scaffold the writing process for students of all ages. This HSWOW webinar will show teachers a toolkit of websites to help them differentiate their instruction for learners who are struggling with organization, grammar, expressive language, sequencing and other writing difficulties. Participants will learn how to effectively use creative technology solutions to engage struggling writers and to give them the tools to succeed.

Please note that the facilitator will be “sharing” her desktop with participants as she goes to various websites and demonstrates online activities. As such, this particular session of HSWOW does not lend itself to phone-only participation.

Date: Mar 13, 2013 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Jeannie Crowley

Do you ever wonder about your child’s attention? Do you often hear yourself requesting (or begging) your child to “Pay attention,” “Stop day-dreaming,” or even “Stop moving around!”? Have you ever wondered (or been told by your child’s teacher) that attention issues might be getting in the way of your child’s success in school? In this one-hour session parents will have an opportunity to examine the three major attention controls (mental energy, processing and production) and how they manifest in behaviors. With the understanding that attention is a dynamic construct with many variables, we will develop a deeper understanding of our own children’s attention profiles. We will also look at the ways strengths and weaknesses in attention can affect a child’s academic success, how to talk to our children about attention, and develop strategies that can be used at home or at school to increase success.

Date: Mar 05, 2013 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Instructor: Kate Sussman

Frequently misunderstood and always a concern of school administrators, Higher Order Cognition (HOC) is a very important pathway of learning.  Teachers want to emphasize the importance of higher order thinking in their lesson planning but often they don’t understand the different aspects of this construct.  In this webinar, we will explore the 7 different categories of higher order thinking and gain an understanding of how it is possible to have both areas of strengths and areas of challenges in this learning pathway. We will consider ways to enhance students’ higher order thinking skills and how to support students who struggle with these subsets of thinking.

Date: Feb 13, 2013 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Karen Kruger

Why do some children whimper quietly while others howl?  Why are some children timid, and others gutsy?  And why does a child who is so comfortable in one situation become distressed in another?  This workshop will explore the factors of temperament that influence our behavior.  While temperament need not limit a child’s life, parents’ understanding and appreciation of a child’s temperament can make daily life, and learning, easier and more successful.

Date: Dec 19, 2012 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

As partners in your child’s education, understanding the art and science of study skills will help you support your child’s learning process. This webinar offers an in-depth look at the skills students need to function in school and in the real world, including organization, time management, planning, listening and summarizing for notes, communication, stress reduction, test taking and goal setting. This session will help parents in these crucial areas with practical tips and hands-on ideas.

Date: Dec 18, 2012 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Instructor: Zipora Schuck

You would like your child to be more organized, get homework done before midnight, and remember to take his/her books to school each day. For some children, organization comes naturally, but for the others, organization skills need to be directly taught and continually reinforced. Learn strategies to make your child’s life and yours less stressful and more productive.

Date: Nov 20, 2012 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Instructor: Dr. Jane Gertler

Interactions between people and their environment, also known as ecology, must also be considered when thinking about student success in the classroom. Classroom ecology has a major impact on student achievement. Now that school has been underway for a few months, we will reflect on what components of a positive classroom culture we have established, and what else we can do to establish an optimal learning environment.

Date: Nov 14, 2012 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Kate Sussman

In every classroom there will be students struggling with some of the crucial executive functions – the tasks that help us execute our daily activities. These processes such as organization, time management, planning, transitioning and attention are key components to a successful educational experience. Late, Lost but Not Lazy is a webinar designed to enhance teachers’ understanding of children who struggle with executive functioning challenges and help strategize practical classroom based interventions that really work.

Date: Oct 24, 2012 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Zipora Schuck

How often we wonder why some children seem to easily accomplish tasks and achieve milestones while others struggle to keep up.  As parents, the dilemma is whether to assume these differences are part of typical development or indicators of more significant challenges.  Understanding child development can be an extremely powerful and helpful lens for parents. In this webinar, we will present child development along a continuum, from typically developing children to those with developmental challenges in behavior or learning. Some behavioral and learning issues that are outside the pattern of typical development will be explored and we will discuss the developmental tasks usually mastered at particular ages and phases.

Date: Oct 23, 2012 @ 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

Spring is an excellent time to begin to prepare 7th grade students for their transition to high school. This HSWOW webinar will cover how to teach students about their personal learning styles, and how to become effective communicators and self-advocates for success in high school. The course will include different types of communication skills necessary for helping 8th graders write to their future high school teachers, plan and run meetings with high school teachers, and communicate the content of their IEPs (Individualized Education Program).

Date: May 02, 2012 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Karen Kruger

This HSWOW course offers an in-depth look at the skills students need to function in school and the real world. Study skills include organization, time management, planning, listening and summarizing for notes, communication, stress reduction, test taking and goal setting. This workshop will help teachers in these crucial areas with practical tips and hands-on ideas that can be embedded throughout their curricula.

Date: Mar 21, 2012 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Zipora Schuck

Reading comprehension, the process of constructing meaning through active interaction with a text, is the ultimate goal of reading instruction. This HSWOW webinar will focus on various areas of reading comprehension, such as predictions and prior knowledge, questioning, summarization, think-aloud and visualization, and will include strategies and techniques that may be utilized within each area. Participants will learn explicit approaches to helping students develop and apply these comprehension strategies.

Date: Feb 29, 2012 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Hadassah Berg

Technology can assist students to overcome difficulties with academic tasks, from accessing information to processing information and creating output. Computer based technology can help students read, write and organize. In this HSWOW course we will focus on several ways to use a computer and other devices, such as smartphones, MP3 players and tablets with students. Skills instruction will include techniques for reading text aloud, creating text from speech, taking annotated notes on the screen and using basic organization tools, such as online calendars.

Date: Feb 08, 2012 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Shannon Stringer

Every teacher and educator knows the behavior and learning of children and teens are impacted by their moods. From irritability to anxiety to sadness, moods can alter the interactions among students, peers and teachers. This HSWOW webinar offers an understanding of common moods that can be challenging to students and educators, and provides guidelines for how they can be recognized and addressed. The role of the teacher and environmental stimuli in contributing to difficult student moods as well as techniques for helping children shift from unproductive to healthier moods will be discussed. Tools for teaching children to recognize and modulate their own moods will be included, along with reflective practices to prevent teachers’ moods, beliefs and expectations from escalating challenging moods.

Date: Dec 14, 2011 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

Technology plays a major social and educational role in schools today. This HSWOW webinar will show teachers how to capitalize on their students’ love of technology to improve their educational outcomes. An abundance of FREE educational resources and web 2.0 tools will be introduced to help engage students. Participants will learn how to give students technology projects as an alternative to writing assignments, create video stories and animated comic strips.

Please note that the facilitator will be “sharing” her desktop with participants as she goes to various websites and demonstrates online activities. As such, this particular session of HSWOW does not lend itself to phone-only participation.

Date: Nov 30, 2011 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Faigy Ravitz

Students who struggle in school are often very receptive to understanding their individual learning styles: where they have strengths, what are their weaknesses, and which strategies help them become successful in school.

This HSWOW webinar will focus on different ways to teach students about their learning profiles and how to communicate this information. We will look at strategies that are effective with students who struggle with language, memory, attention, higher order thinking and how to help these students become self-advocates of their learning needs.

Date: Nov 02, 2011 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Karen Kruger

For differentiation to happen, teachers need to gather and utilize information about their students. Information should relate to students’ readiness, interests, and learning profiles. Pre-, formative and summative assessments provide teachers with the data to plan meaningful learning experiences for all students. This webinar will focus on the role of assessments in differentiated instruction and strategies to develop and implement quality assessments.

Date: May 17, 2011 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Dr. Jane Gertler

Do you want to add more games and other fun activities to your classroom repertoire? Research shows that kids learn better when they enjoy what they learn. When students play games with material that they are learning, they take ownership and generalize to other subjects. Join us for this creative webinar and learn techniques for creating hassle-free games and activities. Participants will come away with a variety of new game ideas that they can immediately implement in their classrooms. All games can be used with virtually any classroom topic.

Date: Mar 02, 2011 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Rivkah Dahan

This course will focus on the complex skill of reading. The stages of reading development will be explored as well as the various methods to teach reading to children at different levels. A focus of the session will be on the creation and implementation of purposeful reading groups to address the range and levels of readers in your class.

Date: Feb 09, 2011 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Amy Goldman

It’s December. Now that you’re familiar with your students, this is the perfect time to step back and ask “How can I modify my classroom to further enhance my student’s success?” Using a neurodevelopmental lens, we will consider the demands involved with classroom configuration and discuss how you can adjust your physical classroom to accommodate your diverse learners and encourage their success.

Date: Dec 15, 2010 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Karen Kruger

Good teaching utilizes a number of core instructional techniques to manage individual student difference in the classroom. By identifying and utilizing these core strategies, and understanding their neurodevelopment underpinnings, both targeted individual students and whole classes will benefit.

Date: Nov 17, 2010 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Judah Weller

When you hear an expert teacher question students it may sound deceptively easy. It is not. Learning how to ask powerful questions of students is a very valuable skill and like any other skill, takes time and deliberate practice to develop. In this session we will explore various kinds of questioning techniques and the multiple reasons for questioning students such as: to stimulate and provoke them to think creatively; to help them clarify their thinking; to encourage them to think critically; to teach students to be reflective and to develop self-control. In addition, educators will discuss ways to be good listeners that validate students’ ideas and builds a strong sense of community in a group.

Date: Nov 03, 2010 @
Instructor: Claire Wurtzel

Cooperative learning is an approach to learning that has attracted national attention. It is designed to support high levels of engagement within carefully designed small groups of learners. Many teachers need support in order to develop and implement effective cooperative learning strategies. This two-session webinar is designed to introduce educators to this approach to learning and will provide a range of strategies to support the group process in your classroom.

Date: May 10, 2010 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Harriet Lenk

Cooperative learning is an approach to learning that has attracted national attention. It is designed to support high levels of engagement within carefully designed small groups of learners. Many teachers need support in order to develop and implement effective cooperative learning strategies. This two-session webinar is designed to introduce educators to this approach to learning and will provide a range of strategies to support the group process in your classroom.

Date: May 03, 2010 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Harriet Lenk

Reading is about understanding and processing; therefore, without comprehension, real reading does not occur. Learn effective comprehension strategies to help your students access prior knowledge, set a purpose for reading, organize information and make meaningful connections to narrative and expository text. This workshop is for Judaic and general studies teachers of grades 3 through high school.

Date: Apr 14, 2010 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Dr. Jane Gertler

Helping children to understand how they learn is as important, if not more important, than the content they are learning. In this webinar, we will explore ways to incorporate “learning about learning” into lessons we are already teaching and also discuss developing lessons designed specifically to help children understand their own learning. How do we decide on what parts of learning to focus on? What are the essential components of these lessons? What kinds of questions can we pose to help children reflect on their own learning practices? We will explore these issues and more in an effort to incorporate metacognition into our daily lives with students.

Date: Mar 17, 2010 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Kelli Pollack

How often we wonder why some students can achieve milestones while others struggle to keep up, and if these differences are part of typical development or indicators of more significant challenges? Understanding child development can be an extremely powerful and helpful lens for teachers. In this session, we will present child developmental along a continuum, from typically developing children to those with developmental challenges in behavior or learning. Some behavioral and learning issues that are outside the pattern of typical development will be explored and we will discuss the developmental tasks usually mastered at particular ages and phases.

This course will be offered two times: the first session will focus on primary school students and the second will focus on secondary school students.

Date: Feb 23, 2010 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

How often we wonder why some students can achieve milestones while others struggle to keep up, and if these differences are part of typical development or indicators of more significant challenges? Understanding child development can be an extremely powerful and helpful lens for teachers. In this session, we will present child developmental along a continuum, from typically developing children to those with developmental challenges in behavior or learning. Some behavioral and learning issues that are outside the pattern of typical development will be explored and we will discuss the developmental tasks usually mastered at particular ages and phases.

This course will be offered two times: the first session will focus on primary school students and the second will focus on secondary school students.

Date: Feb 16, 2010 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

Transitions happen all the time. Most adults have learned to cope and strategize, either from past experiences or by seeking support from people and resources. Children, on the other hand, require the teacher’s leadership, support and explanation to cope with the variety of transitions they encounter throughout the school day. Efficient and developmentally appropriate transitions and expectations are key to a ‘steady’ classroom (especially for students with learning issues). This seminar will focus on the many kinds of transitions that students must pass through at school. We will explore the teacher’s role in teaching transitions and knowing how and when to transfer the responsibility to the students. We will offer and share tips for creating transitional practices and activities for the whole class as well as for individual students, in an effort to maintain efficient and focused instruction.

Date: Dec 09, 2009 @
Instructor: Andrea Rousso

By understanding the neurodevelopmental demands of Kriyah, participants will be able to pinpoint specific weaknesses and develop a comprehensive management plan for building skills. Considerations for second language learning (decoding only) will also be discussed.

Date: Dec 01, 2009 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Judah Weller

Helping children understand their unique strengths and struggles is an essential part of teaching and learning. Utilizing short case scenarios, we will discuss such topics as how to help a child understand complex ideas regarding their learning; How to personalize learning as part of everyday conversations with students; How to use a student’s strengths and hobbies to discuss and develop strategies for their weaker areas; How does my learning profile influence these discussions?

Date: Oct 28, 2009 @ 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m
Instructor: Kelli Pollack

This course will discuss the various pathways of learning and how they interact with each other to form a learning profile of strengths and weaknesses. The pathways include attention, memory, language, organization, social cognition, neuro-motor functioning and higher-order thinking. Utilizing hands-on activities, teachers will learn more about their own learning profiles and those of their students. This Course is a pre-requisite to Exploring Learning Processes in a Judaic Studies Curriculum and is highly recommended for Analyzing a Lesson.

Sorry, no recording available.

Date: Mar 30, 2009 @ 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Instructor: Claire Wurtzel

Participants will briefly analyze their own neuro-developmental profiles. They will identify strengths weaknesses and strategies that they use in their teaching and consider the primary neuro-developmental demands of their teaching style for either the subject that they teach or an upcoming lesson. The material from the previous “Analyzing a Lesson” webinar will be incorporated. Finally, participants will identify strategies for students who struggle with the neuro-developmental demands of their teaching style. Pre-requisite for this class is participation in the March 18th Hidden Sparks Without Walls class, Analyzing a Lesson.

Date: Mar 25, 2009 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Karen Kruger

Participants will use the neuro-developmental constructs to examine which constructs are primarily demanded in one of their lessons. They will also prepare strategies for their students who struggle with the primary neuro-developmental demands of the lesson. The class will analyze a lesson together and come up with strategies for that lesson. The participants will then work on their own lessons and strategies. Results from some of the participants will be shared.

Date: Mar 18, 2009 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Karen Kruger

“Pay Attention!”; “You’re not trying”; “You re just lazy”; “You re so hyper!” Frequently, teachers and parents make these comments to students who have attention problems. In this two-session, Participants will begin by looking at their own attention strengths and struggles as a way to explore the three major attention controls—mental energy, processing and production controls. Understanding the impact on a student’s academic life of a weakness in any one of the control systems, and strategies to support the student, will be the focus of the session.

Date: Dec 09, 2008 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Naomi Weiss

Language influences every aspect of the curriculum, affecting the way children learn and teachers teach. This two-session course will focus on the role language plays in learning, including decoding and comprehension, vocabulary and concept knowledge, thinking and reasoning, narrative development, writing and social skills. Participants will learn techniques and strategies for enhancing language learning in the classroom.

Date: Dec 03, 2008 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Claire Wurtzel

Memory plays a key role in students’ success in school. In this two-session we examine memory from two points of view: the typical memory demands made on students in school and what it is like for a student who struggles with some aspect of memory. Participants will learn about some of the mind’s systems for taking in and storing information, and making it available as needed.

Date: Nov 25, 2008 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Claire Wurtzel

Memory plays a key role in students’ success in school. In this two-session we examine memory from two points of view: the typical memory demands made on students in school and what it is like for a student who struggles with some aspect of memory. Participants will learn about some of the mind’s systems for taking in and storing information, and making it available as needed.

Date: Nov 18, 2008 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Claire Wurtzel

This two-session course will discuss predicting and noticing signs of escalating behavioral difficulties in students. It will provide participants with strategies to engage students in these most challenging moments, and strategies to help de-escalate and calm difficult situations. This course will introduce participants to the Positive Behavior Support approach on individual, class, and school-wide levels. The core practices of PBS, such as defining expectations, teaching children how to meet expectations, and acknowledging student success will be addressed. Participants will learn about identifying inappropriate behaviors and how to cultivate appropriate behavior. Strategies for students of all ages, and in all settings, will be presented.

Date: Nov 13, 2008 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

This two-session course will discuss predicting and noticing signs of escalating behavioral difficulties in students. It will provide participants with strategies to engage students in these most challenging moments, and strategies to help de-escalate and calm difficult situations. This course will introduce participants to the Positive Behavior Support approach on individual, class, and school-wide levels. The core practices of PBS, such as defining expectations, teaching children how to meet expectations, and acknowledging student success will be addressed. Participants will learn about identifying inappropriate behaviors and how to cultivate appropriate behavior. Strategies for students of all ages, and in all settings, will be presented.

Date: Nov 06, 2008 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Instructor: Dr. Rona Novick

Parent/Teacher communications can take many forms. Whether they are informal chats or written report cards, these parent/teacher communications can be complex. In this session, Participants will discuss effective communications with parents using a rubric to guide the conversation and non-judgmental language to describe observed behaviors. Embedded in the session are ways to form alliances with parents and project a sense of optimism. In addition, teachers will plan and practice a form of Parent/Teacher communication.

Date: Oct 29, 2008 @ 8:00 - 9:00 PM
Instructor: Molly Warner