Weekly Teacher Download for the week of Jan. 16, 2017

ALL TEACHERS

• Register now for classroom management training: The Department of Social and Emotional Learning will host classroom management training for instructional staff and administrators. CHAMPS is tailored to K-8 teachers and administrators, while Discipline in Secondary Classrooms (DSC) is tailored to grades 9-12 teachers and administrators. School staff will explore comprehensive and practical strategies to improve their current classroom management plan. These trainings are designed to help teachers manage student behavior more positively with the end result of engaging students in the learning process. Both are two-day training sessions, and both are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CHAMPS training will take place Feb. 13-14 at the East Field Office or March 21-22 at the Ryan Professional Development Center. Use OneSource Course Number 136001 to register. The DSC session is set for March 21-22 at Ryan. Use OneSource Course Number 136001 to register.
• Webinars help teachers maximize use of Goalbook Toolkit: Sign up today for trainings that will help you apply instructional best practices with Goalbook Toolkit. This month, we have two of our often-requested webinars on incorporating Social and Emotional Learning and the principles of Universal Design for Learning. At 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, the webinar will cover Designing Instruction with a Focus on Behavior and Social & Emotional Learning. The next webinar, From Knowing to Doing, Four Ways to Incorporate the Principles of Universal Design for Learning in Your Classroom, is set for 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25. Click on the webinar titles to register.
• Teach Like a Champion session to focus on Checking for Understanding: Enhance your instructional strategy toolbox and join our TLaC Teacher Leader Specialists on Tuesday, Jan. 17, one of five locations near you. The sessions, titled 2.0 Effective Checking For Understanding, supports gathering data constantly and being able to act on it immediately. Attendees will practice Reject Self-Reporting, Targeting Questioning, and Standardize the Format. The session is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at all locations, which are outlined in OneSource. Register using Course Number 147001.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

• Scale new heights at math, science summit: Mark your calendars for Elementary Curriculum & Development’s upcoming Elementary Math and Science Summit. This year’s event is set for 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21.  Teachers can choose from a variety of sessions facilitated by TDS, our math/science external partners, and some of HISD’s most effective teachers. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Anthony Nottingham. Click here for more information. The summit is at Kingdom Builders Center, 6011 W. Orem Drive. Register in OneSource using Course Number 235004.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

• See Literacy in the Middle in action: As part of our Literacy in the Middle work, the Secondary Curriculum & Development team is offering tours of model campuses and classrooms to showcase great literacy instruction. The next tours are scheduled for Friday, Jan. 20, and will include visits to two middle schools that are showing tremendous growth. Those interested in going can meet at 8 a.m. Friday at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center’s west parking lot before heading to campuses. Please register for the tour in OneSource using Course Number 104005.
• Social Studies conference for teachers by teachers: The Secondary Social Studies Department will host a teacher-led conference on Saturday, Jan. 21, centered around the theme “For Teacher By Teachers.” Social studies teachers from campuses across the district will facilitate sessions that focus on the integration of the social studies adopted instructional resource, Active Classroom, into instructional practices. The Active Classroom platform includes resources such as leveled text, ESL supports, visuals, music, videos, geographic tools, etc. An example of sessions titles include but are not limited to “Maps, Charts, and Graphs: Oh My! Using a Digital Atlas in U.S. History,” “Making Life Changing Decisions in History,” and “All the World’s a Stage: Utilizing Simulations to Reteach, Review, and Reach Deeper.” The conference is scheduled from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center. Register in OneSource using Course Number 9002.

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS

• Sign up now for Review 360 training: Review 360 is the required web-based, behavior-management system for students in the BSC. Review 360 supports progress-monitoring of IEP goals that address skill deficits in social and/or emotional learning. Review 360 was recently revised and updated. The Office of Special Education Services has scheduled training for BSC teachers on Thursday, Jan. 19. This vendor-led training will show teachers the specific updates, including new navigation tools that were not present in the previous version. Training sessions are 8:30-11:30 a.m. or 12:30-3:30 p.m. at the South Field Office, 4040 W. Fuqua. Register in OnceSource using Course Number 152001. If there are conflicts that prevent a teacher from participating, please contact Dr. Joan Anderson at 713-556-7025 or email her at jander13@houstonisd.org to make other arrangements for training.

NEW TEACHERS

• New Teacher Workshop & Focus Group: This workshop will include TLAC 2.0 strategies for Checking for Understanding, address blended instruction (technology integration), and help you recalibrate your classroom organization to facilitate small–group instruction. There will be time for a brief TADS Talk with Desiree Sabari-Lancaster, and the workshop will close with some focus-group time. The course is scheduled for 4-7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Ryan Professional Development Center. Check back for the registration link in OneSource, which will use Course Number 319002 or 296002 once activated. Day-of registration also will be allowed.

READ OF THE WEEK

• Education is not a marketplace you can game with vouchers

TEACHER DEAL OF THE WEEK

• Container Store: Sign up for the “Organized Teacher Discount Program” for various special offers throughout the year.