Weekly Teacher Download for Jan. 24, 2022

ALL TEACHERS

Multilingual Programs

Bilingual & Dual Language Summit 8:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Jan. 29: Registration for “Cultivating a World of Possibilities for Bilingual Minds” is now open. Visit the Online Course Selection Guide and register in OneSource. Session links will be made available at least two hours prior to the event.

Student Assessment

2022 Data All-Stars Summit, 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Feb. 5: These sessions will include state accountability, designated supports, TEKS monitoring, and data-tracking systems, as well as critical reports for teachers and leaders. Lead4ward Rockin’ Review and other partners will count down to STAAR. Register for OneSource #1464042. For more information, see 2022 Data All Stars Summit and this flyer.

Academic Instructional Technology

Tech Tuesdays
On Jan. 25 learn about a new digital tool or get a refresher on a particular platform to engage your students and enhance their learning while incorporating technology into instruction. Each virtual session lasts 30-45 minutes and features the digital tool’s basic functionality and specific features, along with interesting tips and techniques to increase learning or formative assessment. This week, we explore Clevertouch, BookCreator, and Adobe Acrobat DC. Check these offerings here. Register for OneSource #1461032 and you will receive a link. Some lucky attendees will win prizes.

Free access to Adobe Software

HISD is providing high school teachers and their students access to the most popular applications of Adobe Creative Cloud and the premium version of Adobe Creative Express, both at school and at home. HISD is providing elementary and middle school teachers access to the entire collection of Adobe Creative Cloud applications and their students with access to the premium version of Adobe Creative Express, both at school and at home. For Creative Cloud, once you’ve logged in, you can choose the apps you’d like to download. Please visit the website at www.HoustonISD.org/Page/192234 for guides and tutorials. You can use Creative Suite in any browser. To access Creative Express, you can sign in through Clever or from your web browser. Go to www.adobe.com/express/. On the top right corner of the browser select “sign in.” This will bring up a new page. Select “log in with school account” on the right side of the page and enter your school email and password. For Adobe Creative Express, please visit our website at www.HoustonISD.org/Page/192202 for guides and tutorials. You can use Adobe Creative Express in any browser, including Chromebooks.

Social and Emotional Learning

Educators are incredibly busy and in fact, research shows that educators make more minute-to-minute decisions throughout the day than neurosurgeons. This means that teachers need to take some time to take care of themselves. This could be a breathing break or a moment of mindfulness, which can help them re-center, decompress, self-regulate after a busy day, and model self-care for their family and/or students. Mindfulness practices can be implemented throughout the day, either alone or in the classroom. Please visit seven ways mindfulness can help teachers to learn more.

Office of Special Education Services

Issue #2 of the Instructional Digital Download, which supports teachers, leaders, and staff with timely, relevant research-based instructional strategies, mini-model lessons, resources, and coaching, is now available. The bite-sized lessons are designed to model digital tools and designated supports and accommodations appropriate to identified TEKS. It contains examples of how to support students with disabilities and those who struggle with learning.

Fine Arts–Dance

Dance Connect “Days of Dance”: Fine Arts is offering professional development for dance teachers and workshops for students in collaboration with prominent Houston dance organizations. The Arts Connect Houston dance organizations listed on this flyer will offer a variety of dance styles and stream live dance classes as follows:

• Jan. 25: 6 virtual classes for early childhood and elementary dance (these classes will be made available to all dance and physical education teachers).
• Jan. 26: 5 virtual classes for middle school dance programs
• Jan. 27: 5 virtual classes for high school dance programs

To register, email SKorman@HoustonISD.org.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Early Childhood

Discovering the Spring Season from 4:00-5:30 p.m. Jan. 25: PreK and early childhood special education teachers will learn interactive activities for students to use in the spring, as well as engaging lessons including hands-on sensory, science, and more exciting opportunities to promote student outcomes. Register for OneSource #1464060.

2021-2022 Virtual Early Childhood Conference: Save the date for the conference scheduled for 8:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Feb. 12. Breakout sessions will address various domains of instruction in early childhood to build a unique and innovative learning experience. Sessions will focus on implementing best practices in PK using the recently purchased instructional materials funded through ESSER. Click here for more information.

Elementary Math

See this flyer for 2022 January Math sessions and One Source course numbers. Share your experiences via Twitter and tag @HISD_ElemMath #MathMatters.

HISD 100^th Day of School: Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022

Kindergarten TX-KEA Assessment MOY Window: Jan. 10–Feb. 11, 2022

Elementary Science

Spring 2022 Elementary Science Sessions: Sessions will be offered synchronously (facilitator-led) after school. To view spring science sessions, see this link. Share your experiences via Twitter and tag @HISD_ElemSci.

Lead Teacher Collaborative: Join us 4-6 p.m. Jan. 25 or 26 at Alliant Group to learn trends outlined to district and state data, collaborate on best practices for increasing science outcomes, and plan for delivering learning to build campus capacity. Register for OneSource #1464090. 

Grade 5 Backwards Planning Using the Snap 2 Blueprint: Join us via MS Teams from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Feb. 3 to learn how to use the upcoming assessment blueprint to plan lesson considerations, including Do Nows and Exit Tickets.  Register for OneSource #1467039.

Virtual Learning Opportunities for Students and Families: Students and their families are encouraged to engage in hands-on, minds-on science investigations at home. The Houston Museum of Natural Science and Elementary Science Curriculum & Instruction present a series of videos and activities aligned to tough-to-teach standards in grades K-5. Click here to access these resources. Click here for the Science at Home Symbaloo web mix.

Elementary Reading

The TX KEA MOY window (Jan. 10-Feb. 11) is open. All kindergarten students must be tested during this administration window. If you have any questions, email Tasha Howard at thoward1@houstonisd.org.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Social Studies, German, and Dance Teachers

Arts Integration for Social studies, German language, and dance teachers: Texas Holocaust Remembrance Week is Jan. 24-28, and the Holocaust Museum Houston has teamed up with the Jewish Community Center to present a special arts-integration opportunity from Carolyn Dorfman Dance–The Legacy Project: Dance of Hope. The Legacy Project utilizes 40 minutes of pre-recorded narrated performances accompanied by songs in the German language, providing an opportunity for German language learners to exercise their knowledge. This program is addresses questions about human rights, active citizenship, contemporary genocide, immigrants, racism, xenophobia, and cultural diversity. A live Q&A Zoom session with Carolyn Dorfman will be offered on Jan. 27 at 2:00 p.m. for students who would like to participate. Digital resources, including a study guide, are available through the HUB Library (search The Legacy Project) until April 1. For more information, please email skorman@houstonisd.org.

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Please view this week’s CTE bulletin, January 2022, Volume II. Visit the HISD Career Readiness page here for all CTE bulletins. The next Teacher Service Day (no students) for CTE is Monday, Feb. 21, 2022.

Spotlight on CTE: To bring awareness to the district’s CTE programs of study and post-graduation opportunities, campus personnel are invited to showcase campus events, student work, and more. Please submit using the CTE Spotlight Form. You may enter:

• Photos
• Videos
• Event flyers
• Business partnerships
• Campus initiatives
• Professional learning
• Best practices and more!

Submissions will be highlighted on the Career Readiness website and social media platforms (Instagram, Twitter, YouTube). Contact your campus’s designated senior CTE program specialist with any questions.