SERC Library is OPEN!!!!

If you do not, we do ------ Have POWER, INTERNET and we are OPEN --- until 6:30 pm!  Come on in and see us, if you are looking for somewhere to go today, if you do not have power or even if you do ----- we will be happy to see you!

SERC Library CLOSED, Tuesday, October 30th!

The SERC Library will be CLOSED on Tuesday, October 30th!  Please check back on Wednesday, October 31st to see if we are open.  You can check here, check the main page of the Library catalog (www.ctserc.org/library and click on the catalog) or call 860.632.1485 x 267.  

If you have resources that were due back to the Library Monday or today, do not worry you have "Sand-y free" days!   Be safe and for those without power ---- be extra safe and we know what you are dealing with ---- several of us remember last year at this time!!!!

I truly hope that the graphic is correct, we would like to see more sun!

SERC Library CLOSED - Monday, October 29, 2012

The SERC Library will be CLOSED on Monday, October 29, 2012 due to the storm.  Please check back to see if we will be open on Tuesday, October 30th either here on the blog, the home page of the SERC website at www.ctserc.org or you can call 860.632.1485 x 267. 

Be safe, be careful and we will see you soon!

Free Webinar from PreK-3rd Grade National Work Group

Looking Inside Classrooms: Teacher Effectiveness

Date:   Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - 3:00pm to 4:30pm

Far too many young children are deprived of effective teaching—a critical foundation for children’s future academic success. In the early years and early grades, practitioners, policymakers, and parents need to broaden and enhance the understanding of what constitutes high quality teaching. Teaching practices must be associated with improved school experiences and outcomes for children, both academically and in the social-emotional domain. In this webinar we will explore the use of observational measures to assess and inform teacher effectiveness in a PreK-3rd grade context. Addressing a broad range of instructional practices and priorities, these measures examine how teachers create opportunities for children to interact with their physical environment, their peers, and their teachers in ways that promote intellectual engagement and provide a social-emotional foundation for learning. This webinar will provide examples from schools districts and individual schools that are using these observational tools in novel and effective ways to promote better teaching.

To register:  http://www.prek-3rdgradenationalworkgroup.org/node/14

Military Child Education Coalition's Professional Development - October 23-24, 2012

On October 23-24, 2012 at the Four Points Sheraton in Meriden the Military Child Education Coalition's Professional Development Institutes will offer Living in the New Normal Institute:  Helping Children Thrive in Good and Challenging Times.  Registration and Breakfast: 8 am to 8:30 am, Institute training:  8:30 am to 4 pm including a working lunch.  There are CEUs available, 95% attendance is required to receive Institute credit and course materials.  There is no cost to participants.  For more information and to register visit https://netforum.avectra.com/eWeb/DynamicPage.aspx?Site=MCEC&WebCode=EventDetail&evt_key=85942418-447c-44a5-9ac5-d9d1a62f6639  or go to http://www.militarychild.org/ and click on the Training tab and scroll down to the date for the Institute.

Happy Columbus Day U.S. and other countries and Happy Thanksgiving Canada!!!

Wow ---- did you know that many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas anniversary!  The anniversary is October 12, 1492 and like the U.S. it is an official holiday!  In the United States it is Columbus Day, in many countries in Latin America it is Dia de la Raza, in the Bahamas as Discovery Day, Spain - Dia de la Hispanidad, Fiesta Nacional, in Argentina as Dia del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural (Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity) and in Uruguay as Dia de las Americas (Day of the Americas). The holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century and then officially in various areas since the 20th century!

According to United State observance, Columbus Day first became an official state holiday in Colorado in 1906 and a federal holiday in 1937 ---- although people have celebrated Columbus' voyage since the colonial period!  In 1971 the holiday has been fixed to the second Monday in October, the same day as Thanksgiving in neighboring Canada (this date was fixed to Thanksgiving in Canada in 1959). 

So Happy Columbus Day to the United States and other countries and Happy Thanksgiving Canada!