Winter 2025 Virtual Professional Learning
Join the AFT Professional Learning team this February for an engaging series of virtual workshops designed exclusively for AFT members. These dynamic sessions aim to energize you for the winter season and equip you with practical, ready-to-use strategies for your classroom. With a wide array of topics—ranging from differentiated instruction and integrating technology to engaging civics lessons—there’s something valuable for everyone. Don’t miss this opportunity to refresh your skills and enhance your teaching toolkit.
Note: These workshops will take place on Zoom. Please plan to join through a device that accommodates Zoom interaction.
Space is limited, so be sure to secure your spots! Learn more about the workshops below and register here.
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Note: With the exception of Trauma-Informed Strategies to Help Students Heal, the schedule of workshops allows you to register for multiple sessions.
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Feb. 3
Trauma-Informed Strategies to Help Students Heal
National trainers will host this graduate-level, interactive professional learning on Monday-Friday in February (3-7, 10-14), in 10 ninety-minute blocks from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET. Participants will learn and practice 10 research-based trauma-informed practices to boost student resilience as well as to gain a deeper understanding of how adversity can impact children’s developing brains, bodies and behaviors. They will also explore universal primary prevention (Tier 1) strategies that promote healing after various traumatic events. This is not a training of trainers.
Participants engage course content in three ways: real-time sessions via Zoom each evening; an aligned AFT eLearning community webpage where "Home Play" assignments are mostly readings and paired discussion questions; and a workbook and select other resources that AFT ships for participants to keep. The course concludes with a Capstone assessment of 20 questions on eLearning. Altogether, the union estimates a 20-hour commitment and issues certificates to participants who complete the course. Participants also have the opportunity to pursue continuing education graduate credit through Trinity College.
Facilitators: Jim Arey and Kimberly Harmon Welch
Maximum Capacity: 35
Dates and Times: Monday-Friday, February 3-7, and 10-14, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. ET
Students with Challenges
In education, currency is a medium of exchange, and any behavior students use to acquire knowledge and skills functions as currency. However, students who are “wired” differently or face traumatic experiences may not possess this currency. This session demonstrates how to meet students where they are to ensure success.
Facilitators: Jerelle Hendon and Lois Lofton-Doniver
Maximum Capacity: 35
Dates and Times: Monday, Feb. 3 (Part 1) and Tuesday, Feb. 4 (Part 2), 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. ET
Feb. 4
Civics 101
Join two AFT National Civics trainers for a virtual professional development session on “Civics 101”. We’ll dive into the core tenets of civics education, the pillars of democracy and tackle the question “What Is truth?” Be prepared to engage with other members in discerning misinformation from disinformation as we equip you with the tools and strategies to be informed digital citizens. You will walk away with strategies you can implement the next day in your classroom, worksite and in daily life. Each session is 2 hours. Please plan to attend the session on a device that will allow you to fully maximize participation as we will be in breakout rooms at various points throughout our time together.
Facilitators: Tia Costello and Tim Krueger
Maximum Capacity: 30
Date and Time: Tuesday, Feb. 4, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET
*Offered again on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET
Feb. 5
Differentiating Instruction
Despite the fact that students learn at different rates and have different interests and levels of motivation, many instructors overlook these differences and treat students as if they are all alike. This Strategies for Student Success module will examine three models of differentiated instruction: Tomlinson’s tiered lessons, Conklin’s choice boards and Sternberg’s triarchic model.
Facilitators: Rebecca Salazar-Fierst and Carol Villarreal
Maximum Capacity: 35
Dates and Times: Wednesday, Feb. 5 (Part 1) and Thursday, Feb. 6 (Part 2), 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. ET
Feb. 10
Teach Them to Think
There seems to be little time to teach the soft skills that standards and curricula have always demanded. But students need these skills, attitudes and dispositions, particularly for 21st-century success in learning and living. In this SSS module, we will show educators how to make decision-making, problem-solving and assessing the reliability of a source more explicit during instruction.
Facilitators: Lisa Beck and Dr. Thalassa Tonks
Maximum Capacity: 35
Dates and Times: Monday, Feb. 10 (Part 1) and Tuesday, Feb. 11 (Part 2), 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. ET
Feb. 11
Civics 101
Join two AFT National Civics trainers for a virtual professional development session on “Civics 101”. We’ll dive into the core tenets of civics education, the pillars of democracy and address the question: “What Is Truth?” Be prepared to engage with other members in discerning misinformation from disinformation as we equip you with the tools and strategies to be informed digital citizens. You will walk away with strategies that you can implement the next day in your classroom, work site and in daily life. Each session is 2 hours. Please plan to attend the session on a device that will allow you to fully maximize participation as we will be in breakout rooms at various points throughout our time together.
Facilitators: Tia Costello and Tim Krueger
Maximum Capacity: 30
Date and Time: Tuesday, Feb. 11, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET
*Offered again on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. ET
Feb. 12
Students, Advanced Technology and Learning
Today’s students are regularly using advanced technology as they tap into their natural inclination to access information, communicate and create. Many of these advanced technology tools and platforms are appearing in classrooms regularly. The use of advanced technology as an instructional tool is no longer a new phenomenon, and many educators have already found success through careful planning and preparation.
It is essential for all educators to have the opportunity to build their own knowledge and skills with advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence, in order to use it most effectively for instruction. In doing this, they are building their repertoire of instructional strategies to ensure that they use them most effectively as tools toward students achieving their learning goals.
Facilitators: Sarah Elwell and Robin Vitucci
Maximum Capacity: 35
Dates and Times: Wednesday, Feb. 12 (Part 1) and Thursday, Feb. 13 (Part 2), 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. ET