The Media Library of Genesee Valley BOCES

Looks at some of the historical homes and people that made up the Underground Railroad. Examines the routes taken by slaves, the system of signals that indicated which houses were safe to approach, where they were hidden within houses, and addresses many of the obstacles slaves faced on their journey

Macroeconomics looks at the economy as a whole, including inflation, recession, unemployment, economic growth, and gross domestic product (GDP). In this session, lectures, simulations, and exercises help explain these great forces and show how they fluctuate

Learn how the government controls demand with fiscal policy affecting tax and spending and monetary policy involving the Federal Reserve, interest rates, and the banking system. See how these policy tools are developed and how they work in practice

Explores how innovation and entrepreneurship can flourish in and enliven a free-market economy. See why the good old days were not all that good, what entrepreneurs do, and what makes countries richer over time. Discover the tradeoff for innovation

Includes 3 15-minute programs. Part 1: "Alcohol, Tobacco, and Marijuana," Using animation as well as dramatic vignettes, this program focuses on the damage these these substances cause damage to the body and the brain. Part 2: "Dangers in Your House," focuses on the dangers of common household products that can be inhaled or huffed, as well as prescription and over-the-counter drugs found in the family medicine cabinet. Part 3: "The Power of No," focuses on 4 short dramas in which elementary students are confronted with a decision on whether to try a substance or not.

The workshop's 10 novels are examined to see why they appear on recommended reading lists and why they have earned numerous awards. The program looks at the essential elements of good writing and storytelling and explores positive reasons for reading. It also examines ways in which novels are challenged by students and communities

A novel can transport readers to other places and times, real or imaginary, allowing the readers to meet people and experience life in many different ways. In this program, teachers explore ways to help students respond to novels on deeply personal levels

In this summary, teachers examine their effectiveness in helping students comprehend and appreciate novels and become lifelong readers. Teachers also discuss and demonstrate strategies for evaluation

Understanding is more than simply knowing. This workshop sets the stage for the entire series by examining what it means to understand, and explores how teachers can design a set of performance tasks to fairly and accurately assess the levels of understanding that their students have or have not achieved

This session examines the foundations of early literacy through a review of research-based principles for explicit and effective teaching of word study and fluency. Teachers will critique a word study lesson plan and compare approaches to teaching phonics