District Leadership News Amarillo ISD Volume 1, Issue 7
April 12, 2013
Technology to Improve Student Performance By Stephanie Hausen, DLL
During a discussion with a principal I was asked if we had a rubric or anything that would help a teacher know what a teacher new to iPads in the classroom may look like compared to a teacher that has learned to integrate them more effectively…not in these words exactly, but something along these lines. There are two resources that we thought would meet that need. The first example, the Technology Matrix Index, is a great tool to help a teacher with goal setting. The second example is an article that helps explain the integration progression we’re trying to create with our teachers.
In this issue: CSI Glossary
2
Book Review
2
ESL Certification
2
DLM Calendar Feedback
3
Science Links
3
Student GT Summer Camps
3
Blog of the Month
4
Important Dates
4
Professional Development Calendar
4
Metaphors, Models, and Flows Article: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/12717464/ MetaphorsModelsFlows.pdf
These may be good resources to refer to in a faculty meeting or during planning team meetings. If you’d like more information, please contact your Digital Learning Leader.
Technology Matrix Index: http:// fcit.usf.edu/matrix/index.php - Click on the "Matrix" link to look at the different levels of technology integration in relation to what the learner or learning environment may look like. Click on the "Digital Tools Index" link to narrow the search to "mobile devices" and watch quick video clips
Secondary ELAR News The 3-week writing institute (ALI 2) will be 8am-4pm, MondayFriday, June 17-28 and July 812. The course will be open for registration beginning soon after our April DLM, so be watching in Workshop. Both elementary and secondary teachers are encouraged to attend. Our focus will be on the writing process and implementing writing strategies and writing instruction in the classroom. Grammar week will be 8am-4pm, Monday-Friday, July 29-August
By Jennifer Wilkerson
2. All ELAR teachers are encouraged to attend, but I am making a special plea for attendance from middle school teachers. This course will be in Workshop in mid-May to ensure we have instructors available. Please remember to send your campus delegate to our initial meeting on May 28 at the ESC room 334. I will send invitations to those people with instructions about registering in Workshop.
Thank you for your input about the calendar. We have made specific changes to meet your needs, and we will be sharing those with you at the April DLM. I look forward to seeing each of you then. Please let me know how I can help you and your staff.
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Volume 1, Issue 7
CSI Glossary Key Components of the AISD Curriculum Content
Development of the AISD Curriculum Standards Teams
What content should be taught? The Texas Essential Knowl- Teams of teachers and CAS/Learning Leaders meet in grade level and subject teams in the late spring and/or summer to edge and Skills arranged in a logical sequence as determined by discuss and revise the AISD scope and sequence, year at a the AISD standards teams must be the basis for our lessons. glance (YAG), and content resources for the following school What content is actually taught to students in the classroom? year. Content decisions, points of emphasis and the level of underInstructional Leaders Academy (ILA) standing that a teacher has regarding the TEKS determines Content, assessment and instructional leadership training for what is actually taught. campus instructional leaders: principals, assistant principals, What content is tested or assessed? The assessment must be CAS, instructional officers, learning leaders, and department designed based upon the content standards and not the content heads. Instructional Leaders Academy (ILA) might be held taught. during the summer and is held 1 day per semester for each of Assessment the four core subjects at HS, MS and elementary levels. This includes all forms of formative and summative assessment from classroom checks for understanding to the STAAR tests. Curriculum Cadre (CC) Content training for teachers from each campus is provided by The makeup of the assessment and the wording of the quesour core curriculum specialists or experts in the content area. tions that a teacher chooses to use or that the state assessment The cadres typically consist of a teacher representative from Kuses must be aligned with the content standards. 2, 3-5, and each grade level/subject in MS and HS. Curriculum Instruction cadre is held 1 day per semester for each core subject at K-2, 3 Instruction refers to the strategies and methods used to teach 5, and each grade level/subject in MS and HS. Fine arts, elethe content. This includes the instructional decisions made by mentary PE and CTE also use curriculum cadres. Teachers individual teachers about how the content will be delivered to who participate on the cadre teams are responsible for dissemithe student in a manner that results in student learning. nating their learning to other teachers at their campus.
Key Players in the
Book review by Teresa Kenedy, AISD Migrant Services Coordinator During spring break, I read the book, Monday Morning Leadership: 8 Mentoring Sessions You Can’t Afford to Miss, by David Cottrell. It is available for check out from the AISD Professional library. This fictional book was easy to read and is told in a story format. A man named Jeff meets every Monday for 8 weeks with his new mentor, Mr. Tony Pearce, to learn how to become a better leader at work with his staff. They meet to discuss the following 8 mentoring sessions: drivers and passengers, keep the main thing the main thing, escape from management land, the do right rule, hire tough, do less or work faster, buckets and dippers, and enter the learning zone. According to Mr. Cottrell, “When you become a leader, your responsibilities change, just like a driver. As a driver, your focus needs to be on the road and not on the distractions. The passenger is free to do a lot of things that the driver can’t do.” People have different perceptions of what the main thing (in work) is so be clear on what your work focus and goals are and share them with our team. People quit people before they quit companies.” “It is important to hire good employees, coach every member of the team to become better, and de-hire the people who aren’t carrying their share of the load. A typical team has about 30% superstars, 50% middle starts, and 20% falling stars. If you keep piling more work on your superstars, then you can’t expect them to continue to be superstars. As a leader, your job is not to lower the bottom by adjusting and accommodating the falling stars. You need to raise the top superstars by recognizing and rewarding superstar behavior.” “It is important to guard your integrity like it’s your most previous management possession. The only way to fix a problem is to go directly to what’s causing it and fix it. To do less work or work faster, look for small increments of time by prioritizing, limiting interruptions, and effectively managing meetings. There are four ways to fill employees’ buckets of motivation: know the main things, give feedback on their performance, provide recognition to employees, and communicate the team score. The more buckets you fill, the more your bucket is filled. Finally, to enhance your learning zone, get of our the comfort zone, read 10 minutes a day, listen to your people, give back to them, set written goals, and stay positive.” My favorite part of this book is when Jeff learned how to use the bucket of motivation concept to help motivate his staff. For my migrant meeting on 3/20/13, I shared this concept with my team and provided them with colorful pails and small shovels. Each of them wrote on their positive pails of motivation which positive actions and ideas motivate them to do better at work and then they placed them on their desks (see photo). Throughout the week, any team member can put written notes, smiley faces, snacks, etc. in their pails to let them know what a great job they are doing at work and to recognize or thank them. I highly recommend this book to other people who want to improve their leadership skills in working with their employees and other team members.
Don’t Let Teachers Risk their Fees! Do you have teachers working on ESL Certification? Please remind them to email their certification testing date to Ana Arellano
[email protected] by May 1st or they risk not being reimbursed for the testing fees. The ESL Office closes for the summer and the summer budget year change affects the reimbursement process. The ESL office allocates a reimbursement budget only for those teachers who send their testing date by May 1st. Continued communication with the ESL staff ensures a smooth reimbursement process. - Shannon Davis
District Leadership News
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DLM Calendar Feedback Thank you Principals for the candid conver- MS Science Curriculum Cadre dates were sations at our last DLM roundtable. Here modified. Now 8th grade have an entire are some of the changes in response to your day together. 6th & 7th SCI will share feedback. subs on another collaboration day. Add back one day for the fall ILA SciMath ence Secondary (6-12) on 9/12/13 Two trainings have been added to the Curriculum Cadre (CC) Science 5th grade calendar for elementary math. moved later in the fall since they already An Add+Vantage Math Recovery Course have training in early August 1 training will be offered June 11-14, and Thanks for the request for additional 3rd a Course 2 training is scheduled for June & 4th grade Gateways to Science STAAR 17-20. (GTS) training. I am working on sched An Envision Investigations training will uling this training in August prior to be offered later this summer, before school starting. teachers are back on contract. Watch for Social Studies details on that training to come soon. In response to the requests of principals Language Arts at the DLM no high school Social Stud We are pleased with the principal feedies ILA meetings will occur on Monday back regarding the May 20-24 ALI 1 or Friday. training for your campus representative. Also in response to request by 6 middle Our goal for this training is to provide an school principals , on August 16, the in-depth understanding of the gradual DBQ project will train all 7th grade and release model and the purpose for each any 8th grade social studies teachers that component of balanced literacy. The have not already been trained in the DBQ training will include modeling, videos, process. and on-site visits to ensure the partici Dates have not been set for United States pants have a clear picture of how these History DBQ or for those middle school components look in K-12 classrooms. campuses that have other plans on The course is now in Workshop, so be Aug.16. sure that your representatives register as Other instructional development available soon as possible. upon request include, Tools for Thoughtful Assessment, Rigor in the Social StudScience ies Classroom, Integrating Social Studies 7th grade Gateways to Science STAAR into the Elementary Classroom, and In(GTS) training will be May 20-21 instead teractive Lecture. For more information of September 2013 so our teachers can contact Devia Cearlock @ 326-1371 get ready for next year
Science Links
Biology Kid2Kid Videos New science resources are available in Texas Education on iTunes U: OnTRACK(tm) for College Readiness. The Biology Kid2Kid Videos on Cell Transport and Energy Conversions are the first in a series of Biology Kid2Kid videos. Biology Kid2Kid videos are available in English and Spanish and include
Fine Arts
Secondary Principals: Regarding the concern about pulling teachers for an additional training day on August 21st: Teachers must gain your approval to attend the fine art sessions. This additional day meets the training and informational needs of music teachers. Could we use a day before teachers are back on contract for the 2nd staff development training day? Any date before August 16th would interfere with scheduled student activities. Could we use one of the preparation days for 2nd music training day? These days are already used for campus/ cluster preparation and new instrument distribution. Request to provide staff development training for the rest of the secondary fine art teachers on August 21st. We are happy to facilitate collaboration sessions for our nonmusic teachers to continue work on the district common collaborative expectations. Elementary Principals: Here is a recap of scheduled VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies) demonstrations at upcoming cluster principal meetings. May 23rd — VTS Lesson at THS Cluster Meeting, Olsen Park May 23rd — VTS Lesson at AHS Cluster Meeting, Belmar May 31st — VTS Lesson at CHS Cluster Meeting, Sunrise
transcripts. Subscribe to this collection to automatically download Biology Kid2Kid videos as the collection grows! Additional information is available at http:// www.tea.state.tx.us/itunesu/.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have teamed up to create a water-cycle diagram for students and elementary and middle schools. The diagram is also available in Spanish and a number of other languages. Additional information is Water Cycle Diagram available at http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/ The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the watercycle-kids.html.
Student GT Summer Camps GT summer camps will be July 15th-19th and July 29th-August 2nd at AACAL-Invitations will be mailed to GT parent’s homes K-1 Painting the World with Words & Color-art and poetry 2nd Can You Feel the Rhythm & the Beat-music and kinesthetic body movement 3rd Bank On It-banking and budget planning 4th Claymation-script writing and stop animation 5th Director’s Debut-creating a short ad promoting a nonprofit organizations in Amarillo 6th Imaginography-Creative photography 7th Design-ReDesign-engineering 8th Savory Kitchen Chemistry-cooking and chemistry mashup 8th Grade GT students from across the district will be selected for a new Leadership Academy where they will receive training on leadership skills and implement these skills by assisting with some of the younger student GT camps (tentative date July 22 nd-24th)
Blog of the Month Twitter TCEA is a member-based organization devoted to the use of technology in education. Their twitter feed promotes a free educational app each day.
TCEA
https:/
/twitte
r.com/ T
CEA
IMPORTANT DATES COURSE
ENROLLMENT DATES & INFO
COURSE DATE
LOCATION
Fifty Strategies for Teaching ELLs
Registration for BILESL contracting districts to attend at no additional charge. Follow this link to register: http://tinyurl.com/aisd-esl2
May 8th
Region 16
Science Academies
Click to register: http://tinyurl.com/chjqhp3
May 8-9-10
Region 16
This academy is a three day training. Participants will explore the new science TEKS in grades 5-8. Connections to College and Career Readiness Standards, English Language Proficiency Standards, and Response to Intervention will be explored. An in-depth look at instruction via lessons will be taken to highlight overall science instruction and achievement to meet and/or exceed grade level science standards. K-4 Physics
Each participant must register on Region 16 website Session # 347747 http://tinyurl.com/cfgefno
May 13-14-15
Region 16
K-4 Physics
Each participant must register on Region 16 website Session # 347747 http://tinyurl.com/dxxf6d8
June 10-11-12
Region 16
30 Hr GT Online Course
May 27-31
June 10-July 12
Online
GT Update Course
May 27-31
June 18
AISD Boardroom
AP Summer Institute
Click here to register: http://tinyurl.com/dx6vfz4
July 15-16-17-18
Region 16
Real World ScienceFarming Across the Curriculum
Please register by May 30 contact Michael Wied 806-433-1730 or
[email protected]
July 23 8:30-4:00 (lunch provided)
USDA Research laboratory in Bushland
For teachers, grades 1-8 presented by Texas Farm Bureau & USDA Agriculture Research Service 6 hr CPE credit includes 3 hours GT/AAS Credit
For more information contact Cayla Cordell Cielencki, K-12 Science Core Curriculum
[email protected] 2nd Annual Bilingual/ESL Institute
Reading Recovery Training
Attendance is required for all returning bilingual teachers. The focus for the institute will be Building Academic Vocabulary. John Siedlitz (Navigating the ELPS) will be the keynote speaker. Each teacher should register through the Region 16 website. Follow this link to register: http://tinyurl.com/aisd-esl Laura Ramos and Mary Ann Arellano will provide training for all Reading Recovery teachers. The topic will be “Teaching Strategies for Detecting and Correcting Errors while Maintaining Fluency in Continuous Text”.
August 12, 2013
Region 16
August 16, 2013
TBA
Click here for the 2013/2014 Professional Development Calendar