DISCOVERY EDUCATION OFFERS NO COST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO EDUCATORS IMPLEMENTING COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS
-- Nationwide Professional Development Effort Demonstrates How to Use Digital Content and Educational Technologies to Support Integration of New Standards into Classroom Instruction --
October 2, 2013
Silver Spring, Md. (October 2, 2013) - As teachers and administrators across the country continue grappling with the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, Discovery Education, the global leader in standards-based digital content and professional development for K-12 will be providing its Common Core Academies to educators nationwide at no cost through the end of the school year.
These free, hands-on, professional development sessions will demonstrate how educators can use the latest technologies to support the integration of the Common Core State Standards into classroom practice. Designed specifically to support educators using digital media to enhance instruction and engage students, the Common Core Academies provide practical strategies and tactics that support long-term action planning as well as immediate implementation.
"The Discovery Education Common Core Academy is a powerful professional development event. The wealth of strategies, tactics and resources I learned during the Academy helped me leverage the digital tools in my classroom to quickly change my instruction to meet the new standards," said Benjamin Sung, Fifth Grade Math and Science Teacher, Natick Public Schools, Natick, Mass. "In addition, it's a great forum for discussing practical and immediate implementation ideas and collaborating with other educators from different districts and schools."
Understanding that effective implementation requires a focus on the fundamentals of curriculum, instruction, assessment and leadership, Discovery Education's Common Core Academies utilize expert practitioners and thought leaders with years of experience in professional development. Each Academy's sessions are research-based and personalized, addressing educator-identified needs including:
- Literacy and the Common Core in a Digital World: This session offers English Language Arts (ELA) instruction and assessment strategies to support the development of digitally literate students that are ready for college, careers, and citizenship.
- Teaching and Assessing Common Core Math in a Digital World: An exploration of the Standards for Mathematical Practice and their successful implementation with assessment strategies, this session will support the development of mathematically proficient students.
- Leadership Strategies to Support Digital Literacy and the Common Core: This session will offer practical leadership approaches for administrators that will help support teachers in their implementation of digital literacy instruction and assessment.
"We understand the challenges educators are facing as they implement the Common Core, and Discovery Education is pleased to offer this free professional development opportunity to support teachers and administrators nationwide," said Karen Beerer, vice president, Discovery Education. "I encourage all educators to join us for this collaborative, hands-on professional learning opportunity."
Beginning October 18, the Common Core Academies will take place in North Carolina, Colorado, Ohio, Missouri, Georgia, Oregon, Maryland, Michigan and Pennsylvania, and will expand into other states in the new year.
For more information about upcoming Common Core Academies or to register for an Academy, please visit http://www.discoveryeducation.com/CommonCoreAcademies.
For more information on Discovery Education's other services and initiatives, visit www.discoveryeducation.com.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core, professional development, assessment tools, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Available in over half of all U.S. schools, community colleges and in 50 countries around the world, Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that accelerate academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world, Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.