Weekly Teacher Download for September 8

ALL TEACHERS

TADS Feedback and Development Tool via AIM Teacher Support: The Appraisal and Incentive Management (AIM) Portal will now integrate TADS Student Performance/Grow and TADS Feedback and Development. Join a live webinar overview of the AIM Portal via Microsoft Teams. Due to the unanticipated district closure on Aug. 25 and Aug. 26, the two previously scheduled AIM Portal live webinars were rescheduled for the week of Sept. 8. If you are interested, please register here. Alternatively, watch a navigational video recording of the Feedback and Development section of the AIM Portal in the TADS Toolbox. To access the video, click on the link to the TADS Toolbox and then click on the Feedback and Development tool option under Resources.

SEL and Rethink Ed: We have compiled a few resources to assist you as you plan for the first few weeks of school. The attached resources will help teachers and counselors address student concerns, specifically about COVID-19 and trauma and will help teachers use Rethink Ed resources. Check out the HISD Rethink Communication page. If you need assistance, please visit the SEL Google Site or contact us at SEL@HoustonISD.org

SEL Trauma Sequence: This scope and sequence provides educators, counselors, etc. with a roadmap to easing students back into school via direct instruction in the areas of Emotions, Stress Management, Support Systems, and Resilience. If taught in pieces throughout a single week, this scope and sequence will carry educators through the first four weeks (view the video on Monday, discuss on Tuesday, and complete activities on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday). Educators and counselors will filter the Emotions/Stress Management/Support Systems/Resilience SEL areas in the program by grade level (using the filters shown in the lesson library). To prep, the educator/counselor should watch the educator video on trauma, located in the My Training area section of the platform. The educator can use the guided lesson plans and activities to situate students in today’s environment and climate. Click here to view the Trauma Toolkit Curriculum flyer.

SEL Social Story (Wearing a Mask): This social story will be for students who required differentiated instruction in wearing masks for COVID-19. It is a PDF document you can share electronically or via an online platform.       

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Sanford Harmony: Available at no cost, Sanford Harmony is a social emotional learning program for Pre-K-6 grade students designed to foster intergender communication and understanding, connection, and community both in and outside the classroom and develop boys and girls into compassionate and caring adults. The Online Learning Portal empowers Pre-K-6 grade teachers with everything they need to successfully integrate our social emotional learning program into their classroom, including one-click navigation for all classroom activities, SEL stories, role-playing games and sing-along songs.The SEL department is providing an asynchronous training option. Completing this course is equivalent to attending the live session and participants will be certified to implement the program in their classroom. Click here to join the course page.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Professional Development Enrichment Opportunities: The Career Readiness Department will offer two professional development training sessions on Sept. 28: “Expanding Learning Opportunities Through DiscoverU” and “A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience (ASPIRE),” hosted by the MD Anderson Department of Behavioral Science. ASPIRE is a virtual bilingual autonomous curriculum program that teaches students about the dangers of traditional nicotine products and emerging products, such as e-cigs, hookah, and marijuana. We will discuss the dangers of vaping and nicotine products, introduce ASPIRE, and outline the benefits of implementing the program for CTE teachers and their students. Click here to view the professional development sessions. Click here for more sessions and OneSource course numbers.

Drone Competition Planning Session: Join the Career Readiness Department to receive more information about the various events expected to take place during the 2021 Drone Competition at Booker T. Washington High School, including how to register your team. Do you want to make STEM engaging and fun for your students? Do you want to find out how to provide a hands-on experience using drones and a competition that will make STEM learning a complete blast? If you answered yes to these questions, look no further! All middle school STEM educators and high school STEM educators are welcome!