Weekly Teacher Download for March 29, 2022

ALL TEACHERS

Social and Emotional Learning

Self-care is a mindful practice that may include shorter or longer intervals of time. While these periods of time can be pre-planned, we often find ourselves in just the right moment to make a deposit into our well-being bank. These rich moments may be minutes, hours, or an entire weekend! Regardless, please remember to take care of yourself. To help you plan your moments of self-care, please see the SEL Self-Care Calendar, which can serve as a guide to your self-care practices.

Academic Instructional Technology

Tech Tuesdays: The March 29 sessions include “Mastering the Lead-Up to STAAR with Book Creator” and “Making Learning Accessible Using Pear Deck.” Register here and in OneSource for course #1461032.

Introduction to Canvas Learning Series
The AIT team is facilitating the Introduction to Canvas Learning Series, one-hour, live, virtual workshops that include modeling and the 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 Focus weeks). Begin with Canvas 101: Getting Around by registering via OneSource #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 was developed as 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 in OneSource #1471008 for instructions for enrollment and navigating the course.

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: HISD is providing high school teachers/students access to Adobe Creative Cloud and the premium version of Adobe Creative Express. HISD is providing elementary and middle school teachers access to the entire collection of Adobe Creative Cloud applications and their students access to the premium version of Adobe Creative Express. For Creative Cloud, visit this link. For Adobe Creative Express, visit this link.

Office of Special Education Services

Issue #10 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

Making Effective and Purposeful Workstations in Pre-K 4:00-5:30 p.m. March 31: PreK and Early Childhood Special Education teachers are invited to learn how to use effective and purposeful workstations. Participants will learn how to implement literacy, math, and other content related opportunities to develop activities based on skills and knowledge and learn ways to differentiate them. Register for OneSource #1464107.

Elementary Math

See this flyer for Cumulative Review Math sessions. Share your experiences via twitter and tag @HISD_ElemMath #MathMatters. 

In-person Grade 3-5 Math Cumulative STAAR Review: Participants will gain a better understanding of the STAAR assessment and how to leverage HISD’s Cumulative Review Unit. Join us to engage in highly tested TEKS review, reteach and maintenance best practices, research-based content strategies practice, and leveraging of recommended free resources. 

• Grade 5: March 31, 4:00-5:30 p.m., OneSource 1472004
• Grade 4: April 7, 4:00-5:30 p.m., OneSource 1472003
• Grade 3: April 7, 4:00-5:30 p.m., OneSource 1472002

In-Person Grade K-2 Math DPA Review: Participants will review best practices and engage in activities to prepare students for upcoming District Pre-Approved Assessments (DPA).

• Grade 2: April 19, 4:00-5:30 p.m., OneSource 1472007
• Grade 1: April 20, 4:00-5:30 p.m., OneSource 1472006
• Kinder: April 19, 4:00-5:30 p.m., OneSource 1472005

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.

2022 Elementary Science Teacher Award Finalists

We are pleased to announce the six finalists for the 2022 Elementary Science Teacher Award (ESTA) sponsored by Alliant Group. The finalists and honorable mention recipients will be recognized at an upcoming luncheon sponsored by Alliant group where the grand prize winner will be announced. In addition, Culture Map Houston will profile and highlight the finalists inspiring work in the classroom. Congratulations again to these outstanding science teachers! 

• Lynell Dillard, C. Martinez ES, representing A180 Elementary School Office
• Ruth Giles, Cornelius ES, representing Elementary School Office 3
• Melanie Jenkins, Smith ES, representing Elementary School Office 2
• Mimi Munoz, Seguin ES, representing A180 Elementary School Office
• Gerjuan O’Neal, Twain ES, representing Elementary School Office 1
• Leticia Sifuentes, Bonner ES, representing Elementary School Office 3

Honorable Mentions: Eddie Clemons, Burres ES; Sonia Guevara, Bonner ES; John Jefferies, Benavidez ES; Helman Ledesma, Rodriguez ES; and Namrata Singh, T.H. Rogers ES

Grade 4 Houston Museum of Natural Science Field Experience: In partnership with the Houston Museum of Natural Science, HISD has resumed face-to-face field trips for fourth graders during the Spring 2022 semester. Contact @gmarti13@houstonisd.org to schedule your campus.

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 HomeSymbaloo web mix.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Career and Technical Education: See this week’s CTE bulletin, March 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.