PD for teachers

In this session we will look at ways to incorporate ideas from Peter Liljedahl's "Building Thinking Classrooms" for your K-5 class in math.  This session is for teachers with little to no experience or knowledge about "Building Thinking Classrooms" and attendees will come away with ideas for incorporation into their own classes.  

In this session we will look at ways to incorporate ideas from Peter Liljedahl's "Building Thinking Classrooms" for your Grades 6-12 class in math.  This session is for teachers with little to no experience or knowledge about "Building Thinking Classrooms" and attendees will come away with ideas for incorporation into their own classes.  

 In this session, attendees will learn effective ways to teach high school mathematics courses in a block schedule.  Participants will come away with a plan for their own class to implement in the fall, examples of activities to include, and shared experience from transitioning from a daily math schedule to a block schedule.  

This session will explore integrating productive struggle into math in grades 3-8.  We will engage in content tasks, discuss features of effective implementation of productive struggle tasks, and discuss what works in an ideal math class incorporating productive struggle in learning.  Attendees will learn about the value of integrating productive struggle into their lessons and the effective placement of these tasks within a lesson.  Takeaways will include activities and tasks that can be used in the classroom.

Stop wondering how to make the NGSS shift and start experiencing it. Our four-day OpenSciEd Launch for grades 6-12 is more than just a training. It’s an immersive deep dive into the future of your classroom. Instead of just hearing about the Framework for K–12 Science Education, you’ll step into the shoes of your students to engage in actual unit lessons, watch real-world classroom footage of the materials in action, and hear candid reflections from teachers who have already made the leap. From mastering the Anchoring Phenomena Routine to building coherent storylines, you’ll gain the practical routines and 3D assessment tools needed to spark genuine student sensemaking. Leave the "tell-and-test" era behind and walk away with a clear, supported roadmap to foster a classroom where students don't just learn science—they do it.

*If you are unable to attend all four days but would like to join for the first and/or second, please reach out to edwcohen@rutgers.edu to get support with registering and the pricing. 

FYI: Standard $700 and NJSTEM Pathways Affiliate $500
June 23 - 26, 2026

This session will explore integrating productive struggle into Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Pre-calculus classes through open-ended collaborative tasks.  Attendees will learn about the value of integrating productive struggle into their lessons and the effective placement of these tasks within a lesson.  Takeaways will include activities and tasks that can be used in the classroom.

In this session, we will focus on building elementary math teachers' skills in multiplying and dividing fractions.  We will focus on how to teach the fraction operations of multiplication and division for deep understanding, emphasizing the connection of the concept to the procedures and creating models and diagrams.

This K–5 professional development supports teachers in addressing Climate Change Education: New Jersey Student Learning Standards by exploring how human activities affect Earth’s systems and climate. The session focuses on water flow, watersheds, aquifers, and clean drinking water, emphasizing systems of thinking, cause-and-effect relationships, and local climate impacts. Teachers will engage in developmentally appropriate activities that model how students can use observations, simple models, and evidence to understand environmental change. Participants will leave with classroom-ready strategies and resources that integrate science instruction with NJ’s climate literacy expectations. A 5th grade OpenSciEd unit will be used as a Case Study to show how to build your classroom storyline as well as show how it can be adapted for different local watersheds. This case study will serve as a template for teachers to create their own climate-based units. 

FYI: This PD is targeted for K-5th grade.
This PD is only open to New Jersey Public School Teachers and is sponsored by the NJDOE Climate Change Grant, allowing for there to be no charge for the PD. Stipends are available for NJ Public School Teachers at $50 an hour for non-contractual hours, or sub-pay is available for contractual hours at $62.50 for a half day and $125 for a full day.

In this session we will look at how to engage elementary students in fractional reasoning with attention to creating a positive environment around fractions.  We will look at how to introduce fractional concepts with attention to meaning and visuals before procedures, rules, and symbols.  This session will also serve as a great way to brush up on fraction operations and fraction understanding for the elementary school teacher.

Come one, come all! A dance workshop for ALL content areas! This session will focus on the latest New Jersey climate change standards, and how you can use movement as the key to bring them to life in your classroom through arts strategies, arts enhancement, and arts integration. You will walk away with a reinvigorated approach to your teaching and lesson ideas you can implement immediately.

FYI: This PD is only open to New Jersey Public School Teachers and is sponsored by the NJDOE Climate Change Grant, allowing for there to be no charge for the PD. Stipends are available for NJ Public School Teachers at $50 an hour for non-contractual hours, or sub-pay is available for contractual hours at $62.50 for a half day and $125 for a full day.

Climate Change, Farming, & Solar! Teachers will explore the effects of shifting climate patterns on agriculture and renewable energy, getting an overview of climate change data and research. Then teachers will have the opportunity to tour the Rutgers Snyder Research Farm. During the tour, we will also be stopping at the Solar panels that have been placed on the farm and are part of the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program. Part of the research team from the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program will be there to present on the research taking place at several of Rutgers farms with solar panels, including A.J Both (Extension Specialist, Department of Environmental Science), Peter J. Nitzsche (Director, Snyder Research and Extension Farm), and James Schope (Assistant Extension Specialist, Department of Environmental Science). There will be a focus on blue/green jobs in the solar industry and farming, if 1% of the United States farms had solar systems, that would be enough to power the US!  

FYI: Please note if you took this PD last year, you are not able to attend this year to allow for new participants to take part.
This PD is only open to New Jersey Public School Teachers and is sponsored by the NJDOE Climate Change Grant, allowing for there to be no charge for the PD. Stipends are available for NJ Public School Teachers at $50 an hour for non-contractual hours, or sub-pay is available for contractual hours at $62.50 for a half day and $125 for a full day.

During this interactive webinar, learn climate change impacts. Learn how to create habitats native to New Jersey through place-based learning.

FYI: This PD is targeted for K-5th grade.
This PD is only open to New Jersey Public School Teachers and is sponsored by the NJDOE Climate Change Grant, allowing for there to be no charge for the PD. Stipends are available for NJ Public School Teachers at $50 an hour for non-contractual hours, or sub-pay is available for contractual hours at $62.50 for a half day and $125 for a full day.

Teachers learn how to offset climate change impacts of flooding and drought while supporting natural habitats and agriculture through experiential, place-based learning. 

FYI: This PD is targeted for K-5th grade.
This PD is only open to New Jersey Public School Teachers and is sponsored by the NJDOE Climate Change Grant, allowing for there to be no charge for the PD. Stipends are available for NJ Public School Teachers at $50 an hour for non-contractual hours, or sub-pay is available for contractual hours at $62.50 for a half day and $125 for a full day.

A Standards-Aligned Approach to Integrating Informational Text in Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies. 

FYI: This PD is targeted for K-5th grade. Please note if you took this PD last year, you are not able to attend this year to allow for new participants to take part.
This PD is only open to New Jersey Public School Teachers and is sponsored by the NJDOE Climate Change Grant, allowing for there to be no charge for the PD. Stipends are available for NJ Public School Teachers at $50 an hour for non-contractual hours, or sub-pay is available for contractual hours at $62.50 for a half day and $125 for a full day.

This will build off of Year 1 & Year 2 Introduction to Project Based Learning PD and provide you with the chance to continue working on Climate PBLs for your curriculum. Come with lessons, activities, and ideas on how to integrate climate change into the classroom. We are going to be working as teams in the STEM or Humanities areas to share what we have been doing in the classroom, as well as the chance to work on a new climate curriculum.  Rutgers faculty will be supporting this work as well.  We will also be showcasing our lending library and all the materials you have assess to be able to use with your curriculum.  

FYI: This PD is targeted for K-5th grade.
This PD is only open to New Jersey Public School Teachers and is sponsored by the NJDOE Climate Change Grant, allowing for there to be no charge for the PD. Stipends are available for NJ Public School Teachers at $50 an hour for non-contractual hours, or sub-pay is available for contractual hours at $62.50 for a half day and $125 for a full day.

Teachers learn about place-based climate change education from those who know it best - the teachers who are doing it. This five-hour session will bring you together with other K-12 educators teaching about climate change in a place-based way in their schools. Includes speed-dating sessions to learn more about our respective experience and knowledge, brief sessions on the basics of justice-oriented climate change education, and the EcoSchool place-based education platform.

FYI: This PD is only open to New Jersey Public School Teachers and is sponsored by the NJDOE Climate Change Grant, allowing for there to be no charge for the PD. Stipends are available for NJ Public School Teachers at $50 an hour for non-contractual hours, or sub-pay is available for contractual hours at $62.50 for a half day and $125 for a full day.

A Standards-Aligned Approach to Integrating Informational Text in Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies 

FYI: This PD is targeted for 6th-12th grade. Please note if you took this PD last year, you are not able to attend this year to allow for new participants to take part.
This PD is only open to New Jersey Public School Teachers and is sponsored by the NJDOE Climate Change Grant, allowing for there to be no charge for the PD. Stipends are available for NJ Public School Teachers at $50 an hour for non-contractual hours, or sub-pay is available for contractual hours at $62.50 for a half day and $125 for a full day

Climate change affects the frequency, intensity, and health impacts of wildfires. We will discuss global trends in wildfires, how climate change affects them, and how we can help improve our wildfire resilience in New Jersey.

FYI: This PD is targeted for 6th-12th grade. Please note if you took this PD last year, you are not able to attend this year to allow for new participants to take part.
This PD is only open to New Jersey Public School Teachers and is sponsored by the NJDOE Climate Change Grant, allowing for there to be no charge for the PD. Stipends are available for NJ Public School Teachers at $50 an hour for non-contractual hours, or sub-pay is available for contractual hours at $62.50 for a half day and $125 for a full day.

This workshop empowers middle school educators to integrate climate change education into social studies by connecting historical lessons from ancient civilizations to contemporary environmental challenges. Through examples and workshop discussions, participants will collaborate with facilitators and each other to identify strategies, resources, and interdisciplinary approaches that foster critical thinking about sustainability, resilience, and the human-environment connection. Attendees will be equipped to inspire students to draw meaningful parallels between historical events and our shared responsibility for a sustainable future. 

FYI: This PD is targeted for 3rd-12th grade. Please note if you took this PD last year, you are not able to attend this year to allow for new participants to take part.
This PD is only open to New Jersey Public School Teachers and is sponsored by the NJDOE Climate Change Grant, allowing for there to be no charge for the PD. Stipends are available for NJ Public School Teachers at $50 an hour for non-contractual hours, or sub-pay is available for contractual hours at $62.50 for a half day and $125 for a full day

This interactive webinar will explore the impacts of climate change on people and the wildlife around us. An experienced RiSC / EcoSchools teacher will share how her students have investigated wildlife impacts. 

FYI: This PD is targeted for K-5th grade.
This PD is only open to New Jersey Public School Teachers and is sponsored by the NJDOE Climate Change Grant, allowing for there to be no charge for the PD. Stipends are available for NJ Public School Teachers at $50 an hour for non-contractual hours, or sub-pay is available for contractual hours at $62.50 for a half day and $125 for a full day.

Day 1: Lesson Pedagogy - How to design and implement a successful, thoughtful lesson. Assessment Styles - How to leverage formative and summative assessment in your classes. Using Data - What to do with data you gather

Day 2: Advanced Lesson Techniques - A deep dive into different lesson styles including group work, BTC, online tools/games, AI, and the importance of keeping this fresh. Lesson Design and Feedback - Group work on setting up lessons and running ideas off of one another and the instructor.

Day 3: Classroom Management - Deep dive into management philosophies and trends. Discipline in the School Community - How to navigate classroom discipline and when to involve administrators, parents, and counselors (this can be viewed through general policies and "best practice" subject to their particular receiving district's requirements, which are hopefully presented to them when they begin). Extra (Everything) - Extra help, IEP and 504 accommodations, involvement in school community, appropriate language in school and online via social media, etc.

Day 4: Managing School Politics - How systems are organized, how to find your "tribe", what to expect from observations. Communication - Focusing on writing and speaking to parents/admin/colleagues. Q&A, Discussion - Closing out concerns. 

FYI: 4 Day Workshop from 8/10 to 8/13

What we do on land does not stay on land. The choices we make on our property can impact the waters nearby, as rain and runoff pick-up and move pollutants from their point of origin to our waterways. In a time of climate change when precipitation is highly variable these pollutants are more likely to affect our local and regional water quality. Join us for a tour of New Brunswick infrastructure and landscape and a boat trip on the Raritan River to learn more about how we monitor water quality in general and pathogen monitoring more specifically, and about solutions to divert the pollutants from our waterways. This full-day workshop will be followed up with a webinar (August 13, 4 PM EDT) to explore instructional resources related to the Lower Raritan watershed, and water quality monitoring. 
 

FYI: This PD is targeted for K-5th grade. Please note if you took this PD last year, you are not able to attend this year to allow for new participants to take part.
This PD is only open to New Jersey Public School Teachers and is sponsored by the NJDOE Climate Change Grant, allowing for there to be no charge for the PD. Stipends are available for NJ Public School Teachers at $50 an hour for non-contractual hours, or sub-pay is available for contractual hours at $62.50 for a half day and $125 for a full day.

What we do on land does not stay on land. The choices we make on our property can impact the waters nearby, as rain and runoff pick-up and move pollutants from their point of origin to our waterways. In a time of climate change when precipitation is highly variable these pollutants are more likely to affect our local and regional water quality. Join us for a tour of New Brunswick infrastructure and landscape and a boat trip on the Raritan River to learn more about how we monitor water quality in general and pathogen monitoring more specifically, and about solutions to divert the pollutants from our waterways. This full-day workshop will be followed up with a webinar (August 13, 4 PM EDT) to explore instructional resources related to the Lower Raritan watershed, and water quality monitoring. 

FYI: This PD is targeted for 6th-12th grade. Please note if you took this PD last year, you are not able to attend this year to allow for new participants to take part.
This PD is only open to New Jersey Public School Teachers and is sponsored by the NJDOE Climate Change Grant, allowing for there to be no charge for the PD. Stipends are available for NJ Public School Teachers at $50 an hour for non-contractual hours, or sub-pay is available for contractual hours at $62.50 for a half day and $125 for a full day.

Join us for a workshop that brings science and history to life—by kayak! Paddling along the South Branch of the Raritan River, educators will explore the interconnected stories of creatures large and small, from American eels to benthic macroinvertebrates and algae, as well as the lasting impact of dams on aquatic ecosystems. Through hands-on water sampling, species identification, and historical site exploration, teachers will gain practical tools to integrate environmental science, local history, and sustainability into their curriculum. This workshop emphasizes place-based learning and real-world connections to their local watershed. Rain Date of August 27th 

FYI: Please note if you took this PD last year, you are not able to attend this year to allow for new participants to take part.
This PD is only open to New Jersey Public School Teachers and is sponsored by the NJDOE Climate Change Grant, allowing for there to be no charge for the PD. Stipends are available for NJ Public School Teachers at $50 an hour for non-contractual hours, or sub-pay is available for contractual hours at $62.50 for a half day and $125 for a full day.