Educational Resource Services is hosting four unique Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) professional learning offerings this year. The trainings are available for math and science educators who are new to BTC as well as those who are seasoned practitioners.  

BTC was created by Dr. Peter Liljedahl, a professor of mathematics education at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. Liljedahl designed the framework to transition classrooms from passive environments — where students mimic procedures — into active spaces driven by deep student thinking and problem-solving.

The first of the trainings is BTC Year 1: Building the Foundation. It will be conducted in three parts, beginning next week on September 8. This training is ideal for educators who are new to the framework. Attendees will learn BTC’s 14 Practices, which are the foundations of program, and gain ready-to-use lessons.

To explore all of the Building Thinking Classrooms trainings, visit tcoe.org/ERS/professional-learning.

TCOE’s Circle J-Norris Ranch is holding an art contest for high school students to create original 24” x 36” signage on a variety of educational topics.

Students are invited to create sign designs that address the topics of biodiversity, invasive species, insects, and Circle J’s oak trees. Winning submissions will be displayed at the ranch to help visitors learn about the topics.

Prizes of $100 will be awarded for up to seven winning designs. To participate, students are urged to register at https://bit.ly/4gddzJM. Original designs must be completed and submitted by September 21.

For more information, email circlej@tcoe.org or call 559-539-2683.

High school athletic directors are encouraged to register their students for the Huddle, a student-athlete sportsmanship development conference on September 24. Athletic directors may select up to six student-athletes to attend.

The conference will feature local boxer and wrestling champion Jennah Creason as the keynote speaker. The conference will also feature group activities and a number of workshops for student-athletes and coaches alike. Workshops will include sessions on topics such as team building, nutrition, how to be a leader/captain, sportsmanship, and building a stronger team and school culture.

The Huddle will also offer Pursuing Victory with Honor (PVWH) trainings for athletic directors and coaches that attend.

Lunches are provided to attendees. The registration deadline for the Huddle is September 10. Space is limited so register today at https://forms.gle/oCn2CAKZxEdNXXWU9.

Members of the Sportsmanship Action Team Youth Council will present the student-athlete workshops. The council is a volunteer organization of high school student-athletes from throughout the county that plans this and the middle school Huddle conference.

The Huddle Jr. for middle school student-athletes will take place on February 23, 2027.

For more information about Huddle or Huddle Jr., contact Zoty Briceño at miozoty.briceno@tcoe.org or 559-737-6349.

Nominations for the annual Kids of Character Awards are open and will remain open through September 25 for students in Tulare County schools who are exhibiting great character. Teachers, parents, and family members are encouraged to nominate Kids of Character as part of the 31st annual CHARACTER COUNTS! Week Celebration (October 18-25).

The nomination form can be found at tcoe.org/kidsofcharacter.

The Six Pillars of Character that students can be nominated for are:
TRUSTWORTHINESS - Being honest, telling the truth, and keeping promises
RESPECT - Treating others the way you would like to be treated
RESPONSIBILITY - Doing what you are supposed to do
FAIRNESS - Playing by the rules
CARING - Being helpful, kind, and generous
CITIZENSHIP – Doing your share in your family and community

Editor: Robert Herman, Communications Director
Contributors: Nayirah Dosu, Jennifer Fisher, Jaime Burnitzki, Evelin Lopez, Amanda Driver, Zoty Briceño, Kathleen Green-Martins