Progressive Education in Practice

by | Feb 21, 2018 | Past Events

Join us on March 10, 2018

Overview
Our day-long conference will explore the theme of progressive education in practice. We will look at the way progressive practices live in public and private schools across New York City and learn from each other through workshops. Framing questions for the day include: Why do we need progressive education? What can progressive schools and educators gain from working together? How can we deepen and refine our own practices and expand the reach of progressive education so that more youth can benefit from this approach?

We are pleased to welcome Shael Suransky, President of Bank Street College of Education, as our keynote speaker.

Location & Logistics
The conference will be held at City-As-School at 16 Clarkson Street, NY, NY 10014 (in the West Village). City-As-School is easily accessible by public transportation. Please bring a photo ID with you to sign in.

This event is free and open to the public. Breakfast and snacks will be provided.

PENNY Membership
PENNY, Progressive Education Network New York, connects public, independent, charter, and teacher education schools and individuals of the greater metropolitan area to advance progressive pedagogy and promote equity, access, and social justice. Through collaboration, advocacy and action, our driving purpose is to strengthen and broaden the impact of progressive education in the face of increasing challenges to full access to quality inclusive schooling.

We encourage participants to join PENNY. Individual membership is $20, and organizational membership is $500. To become a PENNY member, click here.

Schedule of Events
8:30-9:15 – registration (lobby) and breakfast (library hallway)
9:15-9:45 – welcome, logistics, and keynote (library)
Keynote Speaker: Shael Suransky, President, Bank Street College of Education
9:45-11:00 – workshop 1
11:00-11:15 – break
11:15-12:30 – workshop 2
12:30-1:00 – reflection/closing (library)

Workshops Session 1:

  • The Impact of Islam on Western Civilization and American Culture: Fighting Islamophobia through social studies and STEAM | Presenter: Nassim Zerriffi, Manhattan Country School, NYCORE, BLM Edu
    Click for workshop description
    This workshop will show how the “Golden Age” of Islam (750-1250) transformed mathematics, science, medicine, music, art, cuisine, and fashion in Europe contributing significantly to the Renaissance. We may also explore the muslim roots of American blues music and other pillars of American culture. We will begin with a brief exploration of the basics of Islam and the controversial issues that tend to come up in schools. [for Middle School, High School]
  • Data Driven: Teaching History and Math Through the 1790 Census and Lies2K | Presenters: Karen Zaidbergand, Manhattan Country School, Robert Berkman, Manhattan Country School
    Click for workshop description
    Data is interdisciplinary!  In this workshop, we’ll demonstrate how we use two interesting data sets – the 1790 first-ever U.S. Census and The Washington Post‘s accounting that President Trump told his 2,000th lie on January 10, 2018 – in open-ended mathematical investigations and progressive social justice discussions with our middle schoolers.  Participants will engage with the numbers and walk through the conversations and activities we do with our students, and will leave with two great lessons to do in school! [for Middle School]
  • Problem Based Learning (PBL) in Mathematics | Presenter: Manjula Nair, Little Red Schoolhouse & Elisabeth Irwin High School
    Click for workshop description
    How do we bring a progressive approach to HS math? One option is through Problem Based Learning. In PBL students strategize and solve problems collaboratively. They present their ideas, work, and solutions to each other and to the teacher who acts as a guide rather than as a sage. PBL will look different depending on the community and the school but there are elements that can be brought into all classrooms to help bring students to see that they are in control of their learning and that their previous knowledge, ideas, and methods are valid and welcomed. [for High School]
  • Engaging Families and Communities: Culturally Relevant Work in a South Bronx Community-based Charter School | Presenter: David Rosas, HEKETI Community Charter School
    Click for workshop description
    Participants will explore the main principles and tenets of culturally-relevant pedagogy.  They will have the opportunity to learn about a school-wide event held at HEKETI Community Charter School in the Bronx as an example of culturally-relevant pedagogy at a whole school level.  They will discuss and explore applications in their home school settings. [for Elementary School]
  • Schooling for and with Democracy | Presenters: Anthony Conelli, Bank Street Graduate School of Education & Doug Knecht, Bank Street Education Center
    Click for workshop description
    The commitment of our public education system to strengthening our democracy is as important as ever. But how do schools approach this work? After collecting data from ten interviews of 13 NYCDOE progressive public school leaders, we will share patterns from those conversations of beliefs and practices that connect education and democracy in the daily life of these powerful schools. Participants will discuss these approaches of schooling for (to strengthen) and with (by using concepts and processes of) democracy and reflect on their own school’s or organization’s ways of building democratic habits and practices in our youth and educators. [for All Levels]

Workshops Session 2:

  • Middle School Math as a Tool for Social Justice! | Presenter: Flannery Denny, Manhattan Country School
  • A Private and Public School Collaboration – The MLK Living the Dream Book Award Project | Presenters: Jay Fung, Manhattan Country School & Jessica Bobbins, Children’s Workshop School
  • Teaching a People’s History through Imaginative Inquiry: Finding and Exploring Stories of Collective Struggle for Justice and Change | Presenters: Elaine Chu, Little Red Schoolhouse & Elisabeth Irwin High School & Jessie Kirk, Little Red Schoolhouse & Elisabeth Irwin High School
    Click for workshop description
    As Howard Zinn said, “What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives.” Including voices from underrepresented perspectives as well as stories of struggles for social justice in the teaching of history can support a critical multicultural/anti-bias education. We will share methods for finding these stories and bringing them to life through Imaginative Inquiry, a drama-based pedagogy which allows students to learn history through a collective process, one that engages their intellectual, physical, social, and emotional selves. Participants will experience this learning firsthand, examining how the tools of Imaginative Inquiry can be used as the underpinnings of progressive teaching, and consider them in their own curriculum design. [for Elementary School, Middle School]
  • When Work is Play is Justice: Student Voice and Agency in Project Time | Presenters: Corinthia Marisol-Spath, Neighborhood School, Laura Tiktin-Sharick, The Riverside School for Maker’s and Artists, & Alisa Algava, Bank Street College of Education/ CUNY Graduate Center
    Click for workshop description
    During Project Time in a diverse NYC public progressive elementary school, students choose, design, and reflect on their own questions, projects, and collaborations. Join us in a Descriptive-Review-of-Work inquiry that pushes back against dehumanizing standardization in our schools. We’ll view photos/videos of Project-Time-in-action, listen to students’ recorded reflections, and explore student work-play and project journals. All students need and deserve the pedagogical/curricular structures and processes that support the inseparability of their social-emotional and intellectual development through play. Both Project Time and Descriptive Review are oriented around seeing, listening, describing, creating, and acting – at their core, these two processes honor students, foster critical consciousness, and promote equity and justice in our classrooms and schools. [for Elementary School]
  • Restorative Justice as a Vehicle for Educational and Social Equity | Presenter: Taeko Onishi, Lyons Community School