Weekly Teacher Download for Jan. 31, 2022

ALL TEACHERS

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
This week, learn more about Quizziz, Kahoot, and Learning.com to engage your students and enhance their learning while incorporating technology into instruction. We will also give out swag in certain sessions to random lucky attendees! Register by clicking here and searching OneSource #1461032. 

Canvas launch and HUB phase out support
AIT is excited to announce Canvas as the new district learning management system for the 2022-2023 school year! Teachers and staff will have access to Canvas beginning March 21, 2022, and HUB access will end in July 2022. The AIT team is here to provide support with saving teacher-created HUB content through June 2022. We have created a series of HUB phase-out resources (videos and how-to guides), and Educational Technology Specialists will be hosting weekly open labs each Thursday from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. to help you save content before access to the HUB is removed. Register in OneSource for #1468031.

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

Please register for spring professional development courses, including De-escalation, Sanford Harmony, Restorative Practices, Crisis Intervention: Trauma-Informed Practices, Mindfulness Adult SEL, Integrating SEL into Academics, SEL Culturally Responsive Classrooms, and Classroom Management: Procedures and Routines for Student Success. Please refer to this flyer for details on how to register in OneSource.

Office of Special Education Services

Issue #3 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.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Early Childhood

Dual Language Instructional Strategies 4:00-5:30 p.m. Feb. 1: PreK teachers and early childhood special education teachers will become familiar with the Dual Language components of the day and planning resources. They will also learn instructional strategies to increase language development in the classroom. Register for OneSource 1464079.                                                                                  

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. Click here for Feb.1 Teacher Service Day math sessions. Share your experiences via Twitter and tag @HISD_ElemMath #MathMatters.

Virtual HB3 Math Academies Grade 2 Building Content Capacity: Fractions, 3:30-5:00 p.m., Feb. 8: Participants will delve deeper into grade-level specific concepts by exploring strategies that build conceptual thinking and teaching of mathematics. Join us and strengthen content knowledge and instructional delivery by exploring TEKS-specific strategies for upcoming mathematics concepts.  

Virtual HB3 Math Academies Grade 3 Building Math Content Capacity: Measurement, 3:30-5:00 p.m., Feb. 8: Participants will delve deeper into grade-level specific concepts by exploring strategies that build conceptual thinking and teaching of mathematics.  Join us and strengthen content knowledge and instructional delivery by exploring TEKS-specific strategies for upcoming mathematics concepts. 

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.

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.

Grade 5 Elementary Science STAAR 2.0 Item Types: Join us via MS Teams from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Feb. 10 to learn about the new item types, implications for checking for understanding, and practice creating using Google slides. Register for OneSource #1464076.

Elementary Science Teacher Award

Nominations are now open for elementary science and STEM teacher awards through Feb. 4. Alliant Group is partnering with HISD to sponsor the ESTA award for outstanding K-5 science/STEM teachers. The sponsorship includes six teachers, with an overall winner to receive a $3,500 cash prize and $500 for classroom materials and supplies. Five additional winners will receive a $1,250 cash prize and $500 for classroom materials and supplies. Exemplary elementary science/STEM teachers can be nominated for the ESTA by a campus leader, colleague or they can self-nominate by completing the nomination form no later than Friday, Feb. 4, 2022. Click here to view the academic memo. 

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

Please attend an “Ask/Answer” meeting provided by Really Great Reading Implementation Specialists Jill Dickerson, Susan Hohertz, and Roxanne Rooney. Use these links to register:

• Feb. 1, 3:30–4:30 p.m.:  Click here to join the meeting
• Feb. 2-3, 9:30–10:30 a.m.: Click here to join the meeting

 For questions, email Tasha Howard at thoward1@houstonisd.org.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Please view this week’s CTE bulletin, January 2022, Volume III. 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.