Weekly Teacher Download for the week of Jan. 23, 2017

ALL TEACHERS

• Training offered to help schools increase parent/community engagement: Need innovative ideas to increase parent and community engagement? Attend one of the online courses created by Family and Community Engagement. Sessions include Family and Community Engagement Fundamentals, Two-Way Communication, and Parent-Teacher Conferences. All HISD school faculty and staff members are invited to participate for professional development credit hours. The sessions are offered January through June 2017. Please register for your preferred session through OneSource. The Fundamentals Course Number is 29022, Two-Way Communication is 29023, and Parent-Teacher Conferences is 29030. If you have additional questions, contact Luis Flores at luis.flores2@houstonisd.org.
• Summit to feature insight into sports–media industry: All HISD teachers, staff, and students are invited to attend the Summit on Sports Media, where speakers will share candid insights about the emerging technology, trends, and best practices shaping media communications. The day-long conference on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at University of Houston will feature thought leaders from the sports industry who will discuss topics such as Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, and how sports brands are applying this new tech to engage Gen Z and Millennial audiences. To see a list of speakers, a schedule, and register, go to the conference website at http://houstonsportssummit.com. Tickets are $10 for the day, including lunch, for anyone in education. If teachers would like to bring their classes for any part of the day, please contact Temple Northup at temple@uh.edu, and free passes will be arranged.
• Webinars help teachers incorporate UDL in classroom: Sign up today for a webinar that will help you apply instructional best practices with the Goalbook Toolkit. At 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, teachers can tune into the session From Knowing to Doing, Four Ways to Incorporate the Principles of Universal Design for Learning in Your Classroom. Click on the webinar title to register.
• Learn how to get students active at HPE Professionals conference: The Health/Physical Education (HPE) Winter Conference PK-12 event is for HPE professionals and will cover a variety of topics relevant to advancing professional practices related to health, physical education, physical activity, and outdoor recreation. The conference will feature one general session and choice breakout sessions. The conference begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at Revere Middle School. Be sure to dress for physical activity. Register in Once Source using Course Number 161001.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

• Speakers to highlight best Literacy By 3 practices: The Elementary Curriculum and Development Department is offering the HISD Elementary Literacy Leader Speaker Series, which is aligned to Literacy By 3 best practices. Pam Allyn, Lester Laminack, and Donalyn Miller are three nationally recognized literacy authors, educators, and public speakers who will offer sessions for elementary teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders this spring. For more information, including training dates, times, locations, and registration information, click here. Seating is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

• Register for presentation by noted author, literacy advocate: Kylene Beers is a former middle school teacher who has turned her commitment to adolescent literacy and struggling readers into the major focus of her research, writing, speaking, and teaching. Beers has published numerous articles in state and national journals, served as editor of the national literacy journal, Voices from the Middle, and was the 2008-2009 President of the National Council of Teachers of English. She is an invited speaker at state, national, and international conferences and works with teachers in elementary, middle, and high schools across the U.S. Beers will speak from 9-11 a.m. at Pin Oak Middle School. Register for the event in One Source using Course Number 297002.
• Discuss Social Studies curriculum with campus leaders: Teachers are invited to join other social studies campus leaders as they learn of curriculum and assessment updates, examine intervention strategies that support ELLs and struggling readers, and engage in a shared writing process to support writing in social studies classrooms. In addition, our community partners from Perfection Learning and the World Affairs Council will share new resources, as well as teacher professional development and travel opportunities. The meeting is at 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, in rooms 1E01 and 1E02 at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center. Register in OneSource using Course Number 4001.

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 to 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. Register in OneSource using Course Number 319002 or 296002. Day-of registration also will be allowed.

 

READ OF THE WEEK

• Five ways to improve the quality instruction, assessment in your classroom

 

TEACHER DEAL OF THE WEEK

• Scholastic: The Teacher Store has special educator-only pricing