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Instructional Support Services

Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES

InstructionalSupport Services Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES

January 2023

Issue 4

About Our Newsletter

The Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego BOCES Instructional Support Services Newsletter is a platform that we use to provide you with curated resources, things to know, tools to use, and ideas to explore.


If we share them, it's because we have looked at them and we think they might be worthy of your limited time! Click on the things that you think will help you and skip the things that won't. And remember, we are here if you need us! Here's a link to our website.

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Trauma Informed Practices (Asynchronous)

Trauma-Informed Practices begins on January 30th. This course is designed to be self-paced and you will work independently on these assignments.

The learning intentions of this course are to define trauma and develop an understanding of how trauma impacts the brain and impacts students in school. Participants will also learn to identify and determine the next steps in responding and reacting to trauma as well as to apply the knowledge to their practice as an educator.

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Classroom Management

Classroom Management PD is on January 31st, 8:30 AM -3:00 PM

This session will focus on classroom management through a lens of social, emotional, and behavioral expectations. Participants will leave with knowledge about how the social, emotional, and behavioral expectations that we set for students can impact the classroom dynamic and environment.

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Cultivating a Sense of Belonging in the Classroom

Cultivating a Sense of Belonging in the Classroom is on February 15, 12:00-3:00 PM

Are your students struggling to connect to the content? This session will introduce teachers to strategies that can be implemented to create a sense of belonging for students. Creating and cultivating a sense of belonging will encourage curiosity and inquiry mindsets. Current research reveals a direct link between the sense of belonging students experience and their persistence in their classes.

Content & Pedagogy

Maslow before Bloom

Check out this video for 5 ways to check in with students and make sure you Maslow before you Bloom.
More Than a Check-In: Maslow Before Bloom Throughout the Day

Learning & Grading

Check out this article from Edutopia on "How to Help Students Focus on What They're Learning, Not the Grade.

"Work that emphasizes students’ developing skills instead of a graded product reminds them to see learning as their goal."


What is QFT?

Developed by the Right Question Institute, the Question Formulation Technique, or QFT, is a structured method for generating and improving questions. It distills sophisticated forms of divergent, convergent, and metacognitive thinking into a deceptively simple, accessible, and reproducible technique.


The QFT builds the skill of asking questions, an essential — yet often overlooked — lifelong learning skill that allows people to think critically, feel greater power and self-efficacy, and become more confident and ready to participate in civic life.

QFT in Action

Partnering with the Mohawk Regional Teacher Center

The Instructional Support Services is partnering with the Mohawk Regional Teacher Center to offer two paid book studies this Spring semester. The first begins February 1st and is called Tackling the Motivation Crisis, click the title to sign up. The second begins March 1st and is called Healthy Teachers, Happy Classrooms, click the title to sign up.

Other News

Introducing our "NEW" Instructional Coach

Kelly earned her bachelor's degree in Community Health from SUNY Potsdam in 2001 and a Masters's Degree in Special Education from Touro College in 2013. Kelly Cave joins our team with an eight-year background of teaching in Special Education. Kelly also spent 13 years as a counselor with Catholic Charities. Kelly enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors. Kelly is excited to collaborate with teachers and have a larger impact on student success.