Atrium School Hosts Summer Professional Development Institutes

WATERTOWN, Mass.––Since opening its doors nearly four decades ago, one of Atrium School’s (PreK-8th grade) founding principles has been lifelong learning. As a leader in fostering professional development for educators, Atrium will host four different professional development institutes this summer, including the school’s own Summer Math Institute for Middle School Teachers. Each of these four programs will be held on the Atrium School campus at 69 Grove St. in the East End of Watertown.

“Every day, teachers at Atrium and across the country ask their students to rise to new challenges, sharpen their skills, and make meaningful connections to new ideas,” said Marshall W. Carter, Atrium’s Head of School. “At Atrium, we believe that teachers must also constantly renew and challenge themselves. These four summer institutes do just that. In total, we’ll host more than 125 educators here this summer, and they’ll return to their own schools reinvigorated. We’re particularly excited that our partnerships and the topical range of these institutes all align so well with Atrium’s mission.”

The inaugural Atrium School Math Institute for Middle School Math Teachers will be held from August 7–9, led by three math educators with 75 years of combined experience. Forty educators from public, independent, and charter schools across the country will focus on three primary threads, including Visual Algebra: Access and Challenge for All Through Hands-On Approaches; Using Desmos to Increase Engagement and Understanding; and Designing Projects that Challenge and Contextualize. Fees for the three-day Institute are $425; to register, visit: www.atrium.org/summer-math-institute.

In addition to the Math Institute, Atrium is also hosting three educator institutes facilitated by partner organizations, the first of which is Crossroads of Culture: The Islamic World, led by Watertown-based Primary Source. From July 22–26, participants will explore the early history of Islam’s rise and geographic expansion, Islamic and pre-modern empires and their contributions, and the cultures of trade and interconnection between Muslim civilizations in Asia, Africa, and Europe. This seminar is for teachers of grades 6–12. To register, please visit: www.primarysource.org.

From July 29–30, nationally recognized multicultural educator Dr. Liza Talusan is leading a Master Class in Equity and Inclusion. In this two-day master class, participants will dive deeply into matters of equity, justice and inclusion as they relate to personal and professional goals as educators. Registration fees slide from $250 to $500; for more information, visit: http://www.lizatalusan.com/master-class.

From July 30–August 1, Facing History and Ourselves will present Democracy at Risk: Holocaust and Human Behavior at Atrium School. In this three-day seminar, teachers of grades 6–12 will learn current scholarship on the history of the Holocaust, and explore new research focused on human behavior, group dynamics, and bias, as well as how to skillfully facilitate classroom discussions on difficult issues such as racism, antisemitism and other forms of exclusion. Registration is $450 at www.facinghistory.org.

Located in Watertown, Mass., Atrium School’s PreK–Grade 8 progressive education encourages academic curiosity, creativity, and exploration while fostering each child’s intellectual growth and promoting Excellence with Joy. Our students develop confidence in themselves and respect for others within a joyful, vibrant community of nurturing teachers, engaged parents, and enriching partnerships.