Weekly Teacher Download for September 20, 2021

ALL TEACHERS

Social and Emotional Learning: Join the Sandy Hook Promise for national “Start With Hello Week” Sept. 20–24, 2021, which raises awareness about social isolation and educates students on how to prevent it through training, activities, student contests, and more. Here are some sample activities to inspire students to Start With Hello. Download the free and easy Start With Hello guide for activities your class can do virtually during the week. Click here to register and join thousands of schools doing this amazing work together. Contact Kevin Jackson at kevin.jackson@houstonisd.org for more information.

International Exchange Program: Join AFS-USA and HISD Abroad this week for an information session on how you can host an international exchange student this fall and beyond. There are two sessions to choose from. About 25 students around the world still need to be matched with a host family in the next two weeks before they can enroll in HISD this fall. Register here to learn more about how you can become part of a growing global family.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Early Childhood: The Early Childhood team has prepared a variety of professional development sessions that cover the PK domains for the fall semester. Principals, Tier II Leaders, PK lead teachers, and PK teachers are welcome to register for training sessions this week, which are listed here.   

HB3 Reading Academy Virtual PLC: From Sept. 27-Oct. 1, the Reading Academy will facilitate Virtual PLC #1 (Literacy Community). We want to foster a relationship with participants by meeting, talking, and exchanging reading/writing ideas. We are going to share strategies that will help develop a literacy community in your classroom and tips for creating explicit instruction lessons. Participants will receive their campus’ PLC date/time in their Canvas and Outlook emails.

Elementary Math Sessions: September math sessions will be offered synchronously (facilitator led). To access the sessions, see this flyer. Join the Do the Math sessions for K–Grade 2 on Sept. 20 and Grade 3–5 on Sept. 22. Collaborate in a high-impact learning experience and practice engaging research-based strategies to increase student achievement. Register via OneSource for Do the Math K-2 course #1458086 and Do the Math 3-5 course #1458090. Share your experiences via Twitter and tag @HISD_ElemMath #MathMatters.

Elementary Science Sessions: Campus lead teachers, Tier II leaders, expert teachers, and those new to grade level and/or content are encouraged to register and attend the fall professional development opportunities. For a complete list of offerings, click here.

Elementary Career and Technical Education: The Career Ready Wagon (CRW) is gearing up for virtual visits that will bring a highly engaging, interactive, and informative career experience to Pre-K-Grade 5 students. During the 2020-2021 school year, the CRW virtual visits engaged with over 5,000 elementary scholars across our six regions. Volunteers read a short story about a career (book provided) and engagd in a Q&A with students about their own profession. Sign up for the book you would like to read and complete the HISD VIPS onboarding. More information on Story Time is here.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

EF Education First Global Symposium (virtually or in-person)
EF Education First is hosting its annual Global Education Symposium in November as a way to gather virtually with educators from across North America to discuss the impact and importance of “The Power of Human Connection: Building a Global Community.” Through its relationship with EF, HISD is pleased to offer this scholarship opportunity to HISD secondary educators. Visit the HISD Abroad and EF website here and click on the Global Education Symposium link to complete the application. The virtual deadline is Oct. 15, and the in-person deadline is Sept. 22. Contact HISD Abroad Senior Manager Kian Zare with questions at kzare@houstonisd.org. 

Career and Technical Education (Secondary Schools)

Each month, CTE will showcase the excellent work of CTE students, teachers, and campuses to inform students, parents, and stakeholders about the programs of study the district offers. This will also bring awareness to post-graduation opportunities in the workforce. Campus instructors and personnel can submit videos, pictures, and/or student work to CTE via https://bit.ly/2X76UKV.  The work will be showcased on the CTE website and social media platforms. For more info, see this flyer.

Please view the September 2021 CTE Bulletin, Volume III. Visit our Career Readiness page here for all weekly bulletins. Find a repository of professional development opportunities and view our 2021-2022 Career Cluster Calendar. See this flyer for CTE supplemental learning opportunities. Greater Houston Job Leads and Resources from Disability Solutions offers great job opportunities for talent with disabilities, including veterans with disabilities at our employer partners. Please share these opportunities with jobseekers, colleagues, and external partners. If you have any questions or applicants, email Director of Partnership Development Kevin McCloskey at kevin.mccloskey@disabilitytalent.org.