T6 Technology Conference:
The Educational Computing Program at Buffalo State College, in conjunction with Erie 1 BOCES, is offering PreK-12 teachers, administrators, technology coordinators, and anyone involved in a PreK-12 educational technology setting in the Western New York area an opportunity to enhance their computer technology skills in education. The focus of the conference, called T6 (Transforming Teaching with Technology Tools for Today and Tomorrow), is to enable educators to become more proficient in using technology in the classroom and office. link
Psycho-Educational Workshops available free of charge to PDS partners to assist educators in Program Development
1. Developing comprehensive programs to combat childhood obesity.
2. Common mental health problems in children, recognizing their impact on classroom behavior and academic functioning, making appropriate referrals.
3. Working with parents who have mental health problems: conferencing, communicating, coordinating behavioral management of children.
4. Developing comprehensive, age-appropriate character education and community service programs.
5. Teacher-student boundary violations: students dating teachers, inappropriate teacher-student interactions; psychological reasons for the increased incidence, what parents should know to protect their children, and what teachers should be taught in order to avoid such relationships.
6. Sexual abuse of children: what teachers and parents should know about the Child Safety Act, local and state efforts to protect children, how to talk to children about sexual victimization, how schools can develop programs to keep children safe, update on Megan's Law.
7. Grandparents as parents: how the schools can support grandparents as primary caregivers, special concerns that children may have with aging caregivers.
8. Special needs of children with parents in the military.
9. Developing emotional intelligence in the classroom (Daniel Goleman's work).
10. Anti--bullying programs; developing comprehensive, developmentally appropriate interventions.
11. Zero tolerance for violence policies in the schools: implications and outcomes.
12. Partnering with businesses in the schools: selling naming rights, pouring rights, cost-benefits analysis.
13. Effects of cutting art, music, sports, and possible alternatives.
14. Dating violence: school-based interventions to prevent such violence.
15. Working with children in foster care, assisting children in transition.
16. ADHD and learning disabilities: working with parents and school administration to make appropriate referrals for assessment and services. Differences between screening and comprehensive neuropsychological or psycho- educational testing, insurance non-reimbursement and potential costs.
17. Lead poisoning: implications for potential difficulties with attention and learning, lead poisoning liability cases, teaching children and parents about avoiding lead paint hazards.
18. Children's response to traumatic events on the news: Hurricane Katrina, tsunamis, earthquakes. How much time should be spent discussing these topics, and methods to empower children to cope with feelings of helplessness and anxiety.
19. Lessons learned from 9/11 for parents and schools; appropriate responses to disasters.
20. The transition to middle school: this is the second most frequent time for referrals to mental health professionals based upon the potential for previously undiagnosed learning and attention problems to become apparent, lack of organizational skills, lack of time management skills and social difficulties often overwhelm the child's ability to cope.
21. Providing guided discussions of important contemporary topics in the news and important new books such as Dan Kindlon's work, "Too Much of a Good Thing," or James Garbarino's work on "Lost Boys," etc.
22. School shootings: identifying students with the potential for violence, psychological profiles of children who bring weapons to schools, and school based interventions to prevent shootings.
If interested in pursuing these topics in your school contact:
Nanci M. Monaco
Licensed Psychologist and Associate Professor
(716) 878-4304
Campus Address: Bacon Hall 312G
monaconm@buffalostate.edu
