Weekly Teacher Download for April 3
ALL TEACHERS
Pre-K/Pals PD April 22: The Elementary Curriculum Department is pleased to announce a special professional development event for Pre-K/PALS teachers scheduled for Saturday, April 22, at Kingdom Builders’ Center. As a kick-off for Week of the Young Child (WOTYC), two well-known national speakers will address the critical importance and impact that dramatic play and music and movement have on our youngest learners and how these components complement oral language and literacy development. Teaches can register through OneSource #437001. Pre-K/PALS teachers will receive a $100 stipend for attending as well a book bundle of 35 books to start, or enhance, a classroom check-out library to further support the home-school connection and parent engagement. These books align to Frog Street resources and include parenting suggestions for the read aloud at home. Teachers will also receive recommendations for how to use these books to reinforce classroom instruction.
Special Education Conference registration now open: Registration is now open for the 4th Annual HISD Special Education Conference. The conference is July 18-19 at Pin Oak Middle School from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. both days. All K-12 teachers are invited. This year’s conference will focus on “Design with the End in Mind,” and will feature presentations that will support the academic achievement of students with disabilities and other learners who may be struggling or at risk of not achieving academic success. During the conference, participants will hear about evidenced-based instructional practices and strategies that work for building inclusive school cultures, and supporting all learners. Register now in OneSource using Session ##446002If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Kelli Charles at 713-556-7025 or kcharle1@houstonisd.org.
Is it possible to love OnTrack? HISD teachers say yes, and so do their students. Find out why staff say they are in love with this new HISD tool that gives students the ability to monitor their own progress and take control of their learning. Check out the reaction and “love-o-meter” ratings from students and staff at the High School for Law and Justice in this video
ELEMENTARY
Useful Spanish content for your classrooms: “Targeting the 2 Percent” on the Texas Gateway has been updated to include Spanish versions of reading intervention lesson s for grades K-5. This resource can be used by teachers to improve the instruction, content knowledge, and academic achievement of students transitioning from assessments based on modified standards to the general state assessment. Locate these resources at: https://www.texasgateway.org/binder/targeting-2-percent
SECONDARY
Review of math and ELA Scope and Sequence documents: The Secondary Curriculum and Development office is requesting feedback regarding the mathematics and English language arts Scope and Sequence documents from all secondary mathematics and ELA teachers. As planning for next year begins, we invite teachers to review their data and look for units of study that might benefit from time allotment adjustments. Additionally, suggestions about which TEKS should be grouped, removed, or added to a unit will be appreciated. Click here for the dates, times, and OneSource information for each session. If you are unable to attend, please feel free to provide mathematics input via the mathematics Google form and ELA input via the ELA Google form.
Advanced Placement Studio Art Opportunity: High school teachers are encouraged to let their students know about a free innovative program available to help them develop photography-based portfolios for Advanced Placement Studio Art submission. Through The Lens-Houston is offering a free afterschool program that specifically targets students at HISD campuses that do not currently have a photography-based AP Studio Art program. Eligible students include rising juniors and seniors who qualify for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program and who have maintained a minimum of a “C” average in all classes. Interested students can learn more and apply at http://ttl-houston.org/. Accepted students attend an onboarding session in late May 2017, complete a series of practical summer assignments, and attend weekly after-school educational sessions during the academic year. Through The Lens-Houston convenes most sessions at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, though monthly field trips are also part of the program. Accepted students may check out the necessary photography equipment to complete assignments, and there is no cost for students to participate in the program. Through The Lens-Houston can provide vouchers to students who need to use public transportation to attend sessions. Contact Terry Merwin at TMerwin@HoustonISD.org for details about this unique program.
READ OF THE WEEK
Study: A teacher’s encouragement gives students a lasting boost
