Weekly Teacher Download for May 13

ALL TEACHERS

Become a diagnostician: Are you currently a teacher and have interest in becoming an educational diagnostician? HISD’s Alternative Certification Program (ACP) will host an information session for teachers interested in becoming an educational diagnostician at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 16 at Hattie Mae White, Room 1ED34 (4400 West 18th St., 77092). Come learn about ACP’s two-year Educational Diagnostician Alternative Certification Program and how it will prepare diagnostician candidates to support students with disabilities across the district. For eligibility requirements and cost, click here.

2019 Texas Community Schools Summit: The Wraparound Services Department is collaborating with the Texas Community Schools Coalition, Save Texas Schools, Austin Voices for Education and Youth, the City of Houston, Communities in Schools of Houston, the Houston Federation of Teachers, and the Texas American Federation of Teachers to sponsor the 4th Annual Texas Community Schools Summit in Houston on June 11-13. The Summit will focus on ways for schools and community partners to leverage their resources to help support students and their families by removing barriers to learning so that they may succeed socially, emotionally, and academically as they work to become a community school. There is no cost to those that attend and they will receive eight hours of credit toward a flex holiday. To register and for more information, visit OneSource and search course #1437213

Houston Public Library Summer Reading Program: HISD is encouraging all students to participate in the Houston Public Library’s Summer Reading Program to prevent summer learning loss and stay engaged while they’re out of school.  Through their Houston Public Library Learning Link card, all students have access to HPL books and resources throughout the school year and summer.  In the summer reading program, students will earn books and prizes all along the way, as they continue reading.  Students can earn even more prizes for visiting a Houston Public Library location and participating in a number of exciting, free programs geared just for kids and teens. Teachers and staff are encouraged to register students here before they leave for the summer break.

Region 4 STEAM Conference: Instructional Technology is inviting teachers, who wish to attend the Region 4 STEAM Conference on June 17 to register in OneSource, using course #1435042. Teachers that register in OneSource will have the conference registration fee covered by Instructional Technology. However, please note space is limited and paid registration seats will be awarded on a first come basis. Participants will explore the power of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) as it applies to real-world connections, creativity through collaboration, and innovation through art and engineering. This one-day conference incorporates workshop-style sessions organized by grade bands and identified by STEAM strands, allowing you to personalize your conference experience. For more information, click here.

STEM Summer Camps: HISD will host a two-week STEM Summer Camp for elementary, middle and high school students at seven campuses across the district on June 10-13 and June 17-21. The HISD STEM Summer Camp was created to provide STEM-based curriculum activities, project-based learning immersion, and field experiences for students. The two-week program emphasizes enriching students’ knowledge and skills in mathematics, science, and technology, while introducing them to the world of coding and robotics. The camp will be provided at no cost to students and will be led by HISD Certified Teachers. To be eligible, students need to be in good academic standing and follow the application process here. All requested documents are due by May 21.

ELEMENTARY

Summer Math Academy Trainings: The Elementary Mathematics Curriculum & Development Department is excited to announce that HISD will host the Texas Education Agency (TEA) math academies during summer 2019 for kindergarten through third-grade teachers. The achievement academies will address effective and systematic instructional practices in mathematics, including problem solving, the place value system, whole number operations, and fractions. To participate, teachers must have an account with Region IV and register here. Please remember that registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. There is also a $350 stipend for eligible teachers. For complete details on the academy trainings, click here.

SECONDARY

WeTeach Computer Science Workshop: WeTeach is helping eighth through 12th grade teachers become certified in Computer Science on August 5-7 at Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy (1700 Gregg Street, 77020). This certification is necessary to teach courses such as Computer Science I, II or III, or AP Computer Science A and can be used to teach Fundamentals of Computer Science and Computer Science Principles.  WeTeach_CS is offering a $1,000 stipend to certified Texas educators who add a CS certification to their resume.  The cost to attend is $400, however scholarships are available for a small group of participants. For more information, contact Rene Flores at rflore19@houstonisd.org.

In Your Backyard: Are you a Pre-AP or AP teacher looking for ways to make your lessons more engaging? The district invites teachers to the second annual “In Your Backyard” workshop on June 17-18. Day one of the workshop will take place at the African American Library, while day two will take place at the Holocaust Museum. If you are interested, please contact Suzanne Acord at suzanne.acord@houstonisd.org. Space is limited to 20 teachers, who are committed to contributing to HISD’s AP, Pre-AP, and IB curriculum efforts. Participants will be asked to commit to both days of the workshop, as well as PD and G/T credit will be provided.