Weekly Teacher Download for March 26

ALL TEACHERS

Classroom Management Training: The Department of Social and Emotional Learning will host a Coaching Classroom Management training for classroom-wide positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) to assist teachers in developing effective classroom management through the power of coaching. The two-day training will be held on March 27-28 at Ryan Professional Development Center (4001 Hardy St., Houston, 77009) from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Register in OneSource, course #136003.

New Teacher Appraisal System: All teachers and administrators are invited to attend a session to learn more about T-TESS, our state’s new appraisal system for teachers.  You’ll learn how the new system compares with our locally developed system, TADS, while having the opportunity to ask questions and give feedback regarding the district’s model for teacher appraisals in the future. The first info session will be held Tuesday, March 27 at Waltrip High School (1900 W. 34th St., Houston, 77018) from 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Click here for more information for additional dates and information.

Open Transfer Period: HISD’s annual Open Transfer Period will begin on Monday, April 23, and end at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 18. During this period, eligible teachers and nurses are free to transfer between HISD campuses to fill open positions for the 2018–2019 school year. Please visit the Careers page on the HISD website to view 2018–2019 vacancies. For more information on how to apply and for step-by-step instructions, click here.

Tough Kid Series: Want to learn positive strategies that resolve for problematic behaviors? Participate in The Tough Kid Series, a basic philosophy from Bill Jensen that outlines the causes of ‘Tough Kid’ behavior and how to avoid unproductive educational practices. Examine strategies to decrease the behavioral excesses of noncompliance and arguing. This two-day training will be held on April 23-24 at Ryan Professional Development Center (4001 Hardy St., Houston, 77009) from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Register in OneSource, course #1004001.

Attendance Tip of the Week: Did you know maintaining or increasing attendance is problematic towards the end of the year? Teacher conferences in the spring may prove more critical towards the end of the year. Teachers must make attendance the center of these conversations by sharing the student’s attendance record as well as connecting it to their work. Click here to learn more and how other positive adults in the student’s life, can be included in these conversations. Click here to learn more on Student-led Conferences that provide a creative way for teachers and parents to work closely together.

ELEMENTARY

Professional Development: The Elementary Curriculum and Development Office is pleased to offer a variety of professional learning opportunities for teachers during the month of March, including literacy training to support Literacy By 3. For more info, click the course list here.

SECONDARY

Guided Reading Training: Want to learn how to teach reading to struggling middle school or high school students to read and not sure where to start? Uncover the mystery of the reading process and guided reading as a method for growing your secondary students as readers. A final training will be offered on Tuesday, March 27 at Hattie Mae White ESC. For OneSource course numbers, click here. If you have any questions, contact Kerry McArthur at kmcarthu@houstonisd.org.

STAAR/EOC Science Training:  Are you an eighth grade or high school science teacher that needs help preparing your students for the STAAR? The Secondary Science Curriculum and Development team is offering training sessions on March 29 and April 5 that feature hands-on activities and interactive stations that will allow participants the opportunity to review previously taught content and focus on check-for-understanding strategies to promote student comprehension of content. Middle school science teachers can register in OneSource, course# 1005001. High school science teachers can register in OneSource, course# 1005003.