Professional Development
GEAR UP offers teachers several resources for developing and enhancing teaching skills. Most of these programs are offered free of charge to GEAR UP teachers.
Literacy Across the Curriculum
African Summer Institute for Teachers
Discover new ways to integrate social, cultural, historical, economic, and political themes about Africa into your classroom. Collaborate with other teachers to create a classroom unit that will be implemented in the fall. The African Summer Institute was held in July 2018. Learn more.
Inquiry and Design Institute for Connected Learning
Plan, design, and do inquiry-based learning within a caring classroom community. Students “doing” inquiry are challenged to ask real questions, find relevant resources, construct meaning and report new understandings. What we teach and how we teach matters so learn more about this energizing approach to learning. The Inquiry & Design Institute was held in June 2018. For more information about the Inquiry & Design Institute click here.
YAL - Young Adult Literature Conference
Since 2000 the Young Adult Literature Conference (YAL) through Center for College Access and Success of Northeastern Illinois University has offered interactive workshops highlighting engaging books for adolescent readers and high quality literacy instruction. The conference was held at the Q Center in St. Charles in October 2018. Start with a visit to the YAL site to learn more about teaching using young adult literature.
YAL - Young Adult Literature Workshops
The Center for College Access and Success repeats the Saturday YAL Conference workshops individually throughout the semester. If you missed a workshop you wanted to attend or were unable to attend the conference, check the event calendar to sign up for one of these high interest workshops offering strategies you can use in the classroom. Workshops are generally held from 5:30 - 7:30 at the Center for College Access and Success, 770 N Halsted, Suite 420, Chicago, IL 60642. For more information, contact J. Manuel Lopez, 312-563-7208 or j-lopez6@meiu.edu. All workshops are free, but you must register in advance. There are currently no workshops scheduled. Check back after YAL 2018 in October for follow up workshops.
Units for Books
Here’s a great opportunity for you and your students! Attend a GEAR UP professional development event and write a unit plan for your students using what you learned. We’ll give you a class set of books so you can implement your completed unit in your classroom. Contact us for more information and assistance.
Learn more about Units for Books - UfB
For more information about these programs, contact Susan Garr, Interim Professional Development Manager, at s-garr@neiu.edu
STEM Resources
Units for Materials
If you want to incorporate a novel science-teaching tool to your curriculum, but lack the materials to do so, then apply for a Units for Materials Mini-Grant! The Center for College Access and Success awards materials to teachers as a way to help teachers motivate students to develop a love of science. A successful application will combine instruction that is rigorous, relevant to students, rooted in trusting relationships, and promotes reflection for teachers and students.
(STEAM)² Conference
Thinking creatively and finding new approaches to teaching, learning, and communicating STEM! That’s what we hope to foster during our conferences. Participants will be immersed in rich, hands-on, thought-provoking activities that integrate the best of what we know about instructional strategies. Our purpose is to work with teachers to prepare our students for success in this global environment. So let your imagination fly, rekindle that sense of wonder. CPDUs offered. Note: Through 2017 the conferences were known as iMATHination. Find information and resources about past iMATHination Conferences.
Intensified Algebra
A program developed to help those students most at risk of failing freshman year Algebra. Beginning the fall of 2012, GEAR UP began sponsoring a two year implementation of Intensified Algebra I for participating GEAR UP high schools. For more information.
MathFLIX
Math Support Online
Check out the MathFLIX website for 24/7 math support-- free movies and companion worksheets available at http://mathflix.luc.edu/.
For more information about STEM, contact Syreeta Brown at s-brown55@neiu.edu
Support for Continuing Education
Tuition Reimbursement
GEAR UP provides partial tuition reimbursement for teachers taking graduate courses for endorsement, certification, or graduate degrees in target areas from GEAR UP partner universities.
School-Based PD with Classroom Support
Workshop Series - You choose the topic
Work with our team to design an on-site workshop series, combined with classroom support that meets your needs. Possible topics: reading and writing across the curriculum, vocabulary development, math, technology, essay writing, and much more. CPDUs offered. Contact us for more information.
Schedule a GEAR UP Mini-Conference at Your School
Schedule a GEAR UP Mini-Conference at your school on a staff development day. We will work with you to provide engaging workshop choices for your teachers, combined with follow-up sessions that work for their schedules. CPDUs offered. For more information, contact Susan Garr, Interim Professional Development Manager, at s-garr@neiu.edu
African Summer Institute for Teachers
Discover new ways to integrate social, cultural, historical, economic, and political themes about Africa into your classroom. Collaborate with other teachers to create a classroom unit that will be implemented in the fall. The African Summer Institute was held in July 2018. Learn more.
Inquiry and Design Institute for Connected Learning
Plan, design, and do inquiry-based learning within a caring classroom community. Students “doing” inquiry are challenged to ask real questions, find relevant resources, construct meaning and report new understandings. What we teach and how we teach matters so learn more about this energizing approach to learning. The Inquiry & Design Institute was held in June 2018. For more information about the Inquiry & Design Institute click here.
YAL - Young Adult Literature Conference
Since 2000 the Young Adult Literature Conference (YAL) through Center for College Access and Success of Northeastern Illinois University has offered interactive workshops highlighting engaging books for adolescent readers and high quality literacy instruction. The conference was held at the Q Center in St. Charles in October 2018. Start with a visit to the YAL site to learn more about teaching using young adult literature.
YAL - Young Adult Literature Workshops
The Center for College Access and Success repeats the Saturday YAL Conference workshops individually throughout the semester. If you missed a workshop you wanted to attend or were unable to attend the conference, check the event calendar to sign up for one of these high interest workshops offering strategies you can use in the classroom. Workshops are generally held from 5:30 - 7:30 at the Center for College Access and Success, 770 N Halsted, Suite 420, Chicago, IL 60642. For more information, contact J. Manuel Lopez, 312-563-7208 or j-lopez6@meiu.edu. All workshops are free, but you must register in advance. There are currently no workshops scheduled. Check back after YAL 2018 in October for follow up workshops.
Units for Books
Here’s a great opportunity for you and your students! Attend a GEAR UP professional development event and write a unit plan for your students using what you learned. We’ll give you a class set of books so you can implement your completed unit in your classroom. Contact us for more information and assistance.
Learn more about Units for Books - UfB
For more information about these programs, contact Susan Garr, Interim Professional Development Manager, at s-garr@neiu.edu
STEM Resources
Units for Materials
If you want to incorporate a novel science-teaching tool to your curriculum, but lack the materials to do so, then apply for a Units for Materials Mini-Grant! The Center for College Access and Success awards materials to teachers as a way to help teachers motivate students to develop a love of science. A successful application will combine instruction that is rigorous, relevant to students, rooted in trusting relationships, and promotes reflection for teachers and students.
(STEAM)² Conference
Thinking creatively and finding new approaches to teaching, learning, and communicating STEM! That’s what we hope to foster during our conferences. Participants will be immersed in rich, hands-on, thought-provoking activities that integrate the best of what we know about instructional strategies. Our purpose is to work with teachers to prepare our students for success in this global environment. So let your imagination fly, rekindle that sense of wonder. CPDUs offered. Note: Through 2017 the conferences were known as iMATHination. Find information and resources about past iMATHination Conferences.
Intensified Algebra
A program developed to help those students most at risk of failing freshman year Algebra. Beginning the fall of 2012, GEAR UP began sponsoring a two year implementation of Intensified Algebra I for participating GEAR UP high schools. For more information.
MathFLIX
Math Support Online
Check out the MathFLIX website for 24/7 math support-- free movies and companion worksheets available at http://mathflix.luc.edu/.
For more information about STEM, contact Syreeta Brown at s-brown55@neiu.edu
Support for Continuing Education
Tuition Reimbursement
GEAR UP provides partial tuition reimbursement for teachers taking graduate courses for endorsement, certification, or graduate degrees in target areas from GEAR UP partner universities.
School-Based PD with Classroom Support
Workshop Series - You choose the topic
Work with our team to design an on-site workshop series, combined with classroom support that meets your needs. Possible topics: reading and writing across the curriculum, vocabulary development, math, technology, essay writing, and much more. CPDUs offered. Contact us for more information.
Schedule a GEAR UP Mini-Conference at Your School
Schedule a GEAR UP Mini-Conference at your school on a staff development day. We will work with you to provide engaging workshop choices for your teachers, combined with follow-up sessions that work for their schedules. CPDUs offered. For more information, contact Susan Garr, Interim Professional Development Manager, at s-garr@neiu.edu