STAC Partners with Center for the Collaborative Classroom

(Sparkill, NY— May 5, 2016) – St. Thomas Aquinas College will host a workshop for teachers and administrators in partnership with the Center for the Collaborative Classroom entitled “Examining the Teacher’s Stance – Facilitating Deep Learning and Rigor in Reading and Writing Instruction”, on Thursday, May 19, 2016, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. in the College’s Romano Student Alumni Center in Sparkill, NY, announces Dr. Michael Shaw, professor of education at the College. The interactive session will share concrete ways to build collaborative classrooms that seamlessly integrate social and emotional learning with academic development.

Peter Brunn, Vice President of Organizational Learning and Communications at the Center for the Collaborative Classroom (CCC) in Emeryville, CA, will lead the workshop that will provide learning opportunities to help students develop a “sense of connectedness” in school, facilitate deep learning in reading and writing lessons and learn ways to craft learning experiences that engage and inspire students. Using the emerging research on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), as well as the research and experience of the Center for the Collaborative Classroom, the session will explore the core principles of a collaborative classroom while giving participants a chance to experience an instructional model that supports teacher learning and student development.

Brunn leads the CCC’s work with schools and districts across the country to support the fostering of students’ academic, social, and ethical development. Prior to coming to CCC, Brunn worked as a staff developer with the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. He is the author of the book The Lesson Planning Handbook: Essential Strategies That Inspire Student Thinking and Learning, published by Scholastic.

"Our first annual St. Thomas Aquinas College Literacy Institute in collaboration with the Center for the Collaborative Classroom will focus on very important methods teachers can implement to develop Deep Learning and Rigor in Reading and Writing Instruction. Nationally recognized literacy expert, Peter Brunn, will create a hands-on interactive workshop to empower teachers to foster student engagement, motivation, and independence. Our Institute will make an enormous impact on teacher literacy instruction that will raise reading achievement for all students," says Dr. Shaw.

The event is open to the public. The registration fee is $99 and online registration is available at bit.ly/peterbrunnNY. Participants will receive all workshop materials and a copy of The Lesson Planning Handbook. There is a complimentary continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. A portion of the registration fee will be donated to the St. Thomas Aquinas College Literacy Fund, which is used to support the Annual Literacy Extravaganza Professional Conference and the Rockland Reading Council’s monthly free after-school professional workshops. STAC also supports free attendance for needy students at its summer literacy program for struggling readers and writers. Contact Dr. Shaw at mshaw@stac.edu or 845-398-4079 mail-in registration form or more information.

St. Thomas Aquinas College is an independent liberal arts and sciences college located on 60 acres in Rockland County, NY which provides education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College’s 2,800 full and part time students can choose from more than 100 different majors, minors, specializations, and dual degree programs across three Schools: Arts & Sciences, Business, and Education. The College is recognized by U.S. News & World Report in the Top-Tier for Regional Universities, by Colleges of Distinction in both its New York and Catholic editions, by Affordable Colleges Online as a top College in New York for Return on Investment, and is included as a Military Friendly School®. St. Thomas Aquinas College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; its School of Education is accredited by National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education(NCATE); and its School of Business is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). For more information, visit www.stac.edu