Weekly Teacher Download for the week of Jan. 30, 2017

ALL TEACHERS

• Are your teaching practices inclusive? Inclusion is about all learners being able to feel expected, respected, and reflected in the learning environment. We know that we will have learner variability in our classroom, and with the tools available in the Inclusive Services HUB course, you can continue to plan for the diverse learners in yours. The course features resources on Universal Design for Learning, guidance on inclusion implementation (which can also be found on HISD Special Education Operating Guidelines) and PD materials from inclusion trainings. To find Inclusion resources, enroll in the “Inclusive Services” HUB course. For additional support, you can also reach out to Dr. Barbara Mullen at bmullen@houstonisd.org.
• Are you seeking Texas bilingual or ESL certification? Texas A&M University is providing an opportunity for HISD teachers to take advantage of free online preparation and professional development courses for those seeking a bilingual or ESL certification. Project Empowering Teachers of English Language Learners (ETELL) is a professional development and research project to help certify and prepare bilingual and ESL teachers for Texas classrooms. All participants will receive free bilingual or ESL online certification prep courses, with opportunities for reimbursement of their exam fees and to earn professional development hours. Additionally, the project will reimburse teachers’ exam fee(s) upon successful passage of the exam(s) and provide free instructional materials for the courses. Classes begin Feb. 13, 2107. Click here for more information.
• ‘Scratch and Beyond’ builds on your coding knowledge/lessons: The Advanced Academics Department, STEM Teacher Development Team will present Scratch and Beyond: An Advanced Experience in Computer Coding for grades 3–8 teachers from 8-11 a.m. Feb. 2 at the Ryan PD Center. Skills in computer coding and computational thinking are essential to strengthening students’ problem-solving abilities and have a direct effect on math and science success for the Global Graduate. This advanced course is designed for those who are interested in the integration of computational and logical thinking and computer coding into all content areas. Participants will explore the Scratch platform at an intermediate to advanced level and leave with an understanding of strategies to integrate coding into reading, writing, math, and science. The focus of the session is using Scratch to create interactive games, both as instructional tools and student products. Please bring a laptop and personal headphones to the session. To register for “Scratch and Beyond,” log into OneSource and sign up using Course Number 80005.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

• Speakers to highlight best Literacy By 3 practices: The Elementary Curriculum and Development Department is proud to offer 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 invaluable 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

• Free Mexican-American Studies conference approaching: The University of Houston Center for Mexican American Studies is hosting its spring conference March 31-April 1, titled “Implementing Mexican American Studies in Texas Public Schools: The Power of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy.” HISD’s Advanced Academics Department encourages high school educators – including current and possible future Mexican American Studies teachers – to attend this free conference. Campus administrators should also consider attending, especially if their campus intends to offer Mexican American Studies as a course during the 2017-2018 academic year. Interested attendees can RSVP by sending an email message to cmas@central.uh.edu, and should include their name, title, and campus affiliation in the message. Conference participants may also attend a kick-off reception at Talento Bilingüe de Houston (TBH), March 30, 2017, beginning 5:30pm.
• Calculator skills not adding up? Attend these trainings: Register today for TI Calculator Training for Middle School STAAR Mathematics Courses, hosted by Fondren Middle School on Monday. Grades 6, 7, and 8 mathematics teachers will learn more about focusing on questioning strategies and calculators that will be useful for STAAR remediation/reteach lessons. The sessions are scheduled for 4–5:30 p.m., and there will be follow-up coaching sessions available for teachers who want to reflect on their implementation of the questioning strategies and activities. Register in OneSource using Course Number 333001 for 6th grade, 333003 for 7th, and 333005 for 8th grade level. Click here for additional calculator training sessions and registration information.

READ OF THE WEEK

• Ten techniques that help students control their emotions

TEACHER DEAL OF THE WEEK

• University of Houston Basketball Teacher Appreciation Night: Educators get $5 tickets to the Feb. 1 game against the University of Central Florida. Use code COOGSTEACH.