Professional Learning Schedule

Professional Learning Opportunities

Free Integrating Literacy Through Graphic Novels

Friday, November 21, from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, at The Steel House - Rockland, ME

From fantasy and humor to history and science, graphic novels are among the most beloved reading choices for students. But they’re more than just entertainment — new evidence-based research shows how the graphic novel format powerfully builds key literacy skills, supporting vocabulary, comprehension, and visual literacy.

Join educator and graphic novel author Marek Bennett for an inspiring full-day workshop! Together, we’ll explore examples of graphic novels, examine the science behind their impact on emerging readers, and even create our own.

Educators will leave with:

• A solid understanding of the evidence-based research that supports this genre as a tool in literacy skill development across disciplines and grade levels
• Inspiration for using graphic novels to create a culture of literacy within the school community
• Concrete strategies to engage students in creating and publishing their own works.

Sign up here

Civics on the Road

Civics on the Road will bring an immersive mobile learning experience to one school per month across the state throughout the 2025-2026 school year. This program provides students with an opportunity to participate in the debates, decisions, and responsibilities that shape our democracy. Learners rotate through interactive, interdisciplinary stations, ranging from mock debates and government games to primary source analysis, media literacy, and voting simulations..

What Schools Can Expect

• Interactive Stations: Activities such as Game Show Government, Meet the Declaration, and Debate and Advocacy bring civic themes to life.
   
• Culminating Town Hall: Students take on roles as speakers, journalists, or campaign designers in a full-group deliberation and vote.
   
• Flexible Scheduling: The core experience can be adjusted to fit the length of time available and can be tailored for elementary, middle, and high school learners.
   
• Professional Learning: Schools receive pre-visit background material to prepare students, plus the option for after-school professional development to help educators extend civic learning throughout the year.

EnGiNE Asynchronous & Synchronous Learning Experiences 

EnGiNE is an online hub designed to engage innovation in education across Maine. The Interdisciplinary Instruction team has developed a library of synchronous and asynchronous learning experiences, which are described below. 

You must have an account to participate in Engine learning experiences. Use this link to learn how to set up an account.