Weekly Teacher Download for April 25, 2022

ALL TEACHERS

Summer School Opportunities
HISD invites teachers to join the Summer School 2022 team. The dates are June 13–July 7. The Summer School OPT-IN process for teachers and nurses is open through May 20, 2022. For details, see this story.

Social and Emotional Learning
STAAR testing season is here, and learners may be exhibiting signs of test anxiety. Efforts to help students build self-confidence must counteract daily academic struggles. According to Safe and Civil Schools, one way to offset this effect is to reinforce the student’s strengths with positive praise. When he or she is working through difficult tasks, ask them easy questions they are certain to get correct. Reinforce this by asking more easy questions to build momentum before asking more challenging questions. This creates a positive learning environment, decreases frustration levels, and allows the learner to build confidence. 

Academic Instructional Technology

Canvas Champion Teacher Leaders: AIT, in partnership with Career Pathways, introduces the Canvas Champion Teacher Leader incentive program for the 2022-2023 school year. The Canvas Champion incentive program will create a cohort of teacher leaders who will help facilitate the adoption of Canvas as the district’s learning management system at their campus. Each Canvas Champion will receive a stipend of up to $4,000. Apply today via the AIM Portal. For more information, visit the Canvas Champion page.

Introduction to Canvas Learning Series: The AIT team is facilitating the Introduction to Canvas Learning Series, multiple one-hour live virtual workshops that include modeling and guided practice of foundational skills to help you start strong with Canvas. Sessions will be held each Tuesday and Thursday through the end of May (excluding Focusweeks). Begin with Canvas 101: Getting Around by registering via OneSource for Course #1470019, and visit the Canvas info website for details and updates.

Growing with Canvas is another training option for teachers and leaders interested in getting a jump start learning the Canvas Learning Management System. It is a series of self-paced modules that leads participants through foundational and advanced skills in Canvas. Once the coursework is complete, participants will receive six hours of OneSource credit, as well as badges we received through Canvas. Register for OneSource #1471008.

HUB Phase Out Support: HUB access will end in July 2022. The AIT team has created a series of videos and how-to guides as HUB phase out resources, and Educational Technology Specialists will also be hosting weekly open labs each Thursday from 3:30-5:00 p.m. to assist with saving content before access to the HUB ends in July. Register for any of the HUB Phase Out open labs in OneSource using course #1468031.

Free access to Adobe software: See the complete WTD linked below for details.

Office of Special Education Services
Issue #14 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.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Early Childhood
Early Childhood has partnered with Region 4, Rice School Literacy & Culture, and Scholastic to offer the following targeted professional development for PK and ECSE teachers, as well as teacher assistants, in using new materials provided by the ECH department.

Region 4: Phonological and Phonemic Awareness in the PK Classroom for PreK and EC Special Education teachers. Participants will review the components and progression of the phonological awareness skill sequence, learn strategies and activities to support students’ development, and get examples of strategies to implement authentic assessment to measure student progress and inform instruction.

• 4:00-6:00 p.m. on April 28, virtual, OneSource Course #1473018
• 4:00-6:00 p.m. on May 2, face-to-face at Sinclair ES, OneSource Course #1473021
• 4:00-6:00 p.m. on May 3, face-to-face at Memorial ES, OneSource Course #1473019

Scholastic: Getting Started with PreK EDGE for PreK and EC Special Education teachers. Learn how to implement individualized instruction using engaging, authentic text. During this interactive webinar, participants will learn how EDGE connects striving readers to relevant and essential content needed for future academic success. Register for OneSource Course #1472051. Choose one of the following dates for virtual instruction: 3:30-5:00 p.m. April 25-28 or May 2-5.

Rice SLC: Finishing Strong: Practical Ideas for End-of-Year Pre-K Workstations for PreK and EC Special Education teachers. Participants will experience engaging hands-on activities to promote children’s independence using new materials related to end-of-year themes. Register for OneSource Course #1472093. Choose one of the following dates and locations for face-to-face instruction:

• April 28 at Laurenzo ECC
• 4:00-6:00 p.m. May 5 at Farias ECC
• 4:00-6:00 p.m. May 9 at MLK ECC

Elementary Math Upcoming Assessments Windows

• Grades 3, 4, and 5 STAAR Released Assessment (Year 2021): April 4-22, 2022 
• Grades 1 and 2 Snapshot 4: April 25-29, 2022 
• Kindergarten TX-KEA EOY: April 28 – June 1, 2022 
• Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2 District Pre-Approved Assessments (DPA): May 2-27, 2022 
• State of Texas Grades 3, 4, and 5 STAAR Assessment: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 

Elementary Science
Sessions will be offered synchronously after school. To view spring science sessions, see this link. Share your experiences via Twitter and tag @HISD_ElemSci.

Grade K-5 Science Curriculum Feedback: Reflection and Preview: Join us face to face from 4:30–6:30 p.m. May 31 at Alliant Group Headquarters, 3009 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 2000, for the next lead teacher collaborative session. Participants will preview modifications to 2022-2023 school year documents to provide feedback, revisit STAAR 2.0 item types, and preview proposed changes to the new science TEKS. Register in OneSource for Course #1473013.

Grade K-5 Building Blocks of Science 3D (BBS3D): District campuses are receiving new resources to support engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Each campus will receive one set of kits per grade level and an accompanying technology package. To utilize the kits and learn the navigation of BBS3D digital resources, access the Get Ready Professional Learning video library.

Virtual Learning Opportunities for Students and Families: The Houston Museum of Natural Science and HISD 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.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Fine Arts—Dance
Middle and high school students are invited to participate in the Dance Connect Film Fest 2022 from Frame Dance Productions. The deadline to submit dance films is May 20, and the screening/awards will be held at 6 p.m. June 3 at Meyerland PVA Middle School. Music for the films should be copyright-free; more information and a list of copyright-free music can be found at Dance Connect Film Fest. For questions, contact Frame Dance Productions or HISD Dance Curriculum Specialist Sanja Korman at skorman@houstonisd.org.

Career and Technical Education: See this week’s CTE bulletin, April 2022, Volume III. Visit the HISD Career Readiness page here for all CTE bulletins.

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. 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.