Weekly Teacher Download for November 4

District Advisory Committee Nominations: The District Advisory Committee nominations for district and campus-based employees are currently underway until November 8. All campus principals must make a transparent call for nominees and submit nominations to determine one classroom teacher and one campus-based professional (non-teacher) employee to serve on the DAC no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, November 8. For more detailed information, click here.

ALL TEACHERS

Technology Training: Join Instructional Technology for Super Saturday on November 16 from 9 a.m.-Noon at Milby High School (1601 Broadway St., 77012). Come out and learn about various resources offered on the district’s HUB and learn how to take the technology within the classroom to another level. To learn more about Super Saturday, click here.  

Wraparound Survey: The Wraparound Services Department is requesting staff, teachers, parents and students to complete a survey that will ask specific questions to non-academic needs such as physical, food insecurities, housing, and many other challenges that the department can improve to leverage resources that supports students socially, emotionally, and academically.  To complete the survey, click here.

Intro to Grant Writing: Need help writing the perfect grant that could help you receive funds for the classroom? The Grant Development Department will host The Grants 101 – Introduction to Grant Development and Grant Writing course on November 5 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Browning Elementary School (607 Northwood St., 77009). The course will provide participants with an opportunity to learn how to effectively write grant proposals. Participants will also receive information, resources and tools that may assist in obtaining federal, state, foundation, and corporate funding to implement a variety of programs/projects. If interested, register in OneSource, course #1439003. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate in completing four credit hours.

Literacy Trainings for PSI and BSC Teachers: The Office of Special Education Services (OSES) will host two instructional trainings for self-contained classrooms teachers in the month of November. On November 5, middle school behavior support classroom teachers can attend either session at 8:30-11:30 a.m. or 12:30-3:30 p.m., for a literacy supplement training. For this training, register in OneSource, course #1439224. All low incidence teachers of students with multiple impairments can register in OneSource, course #1439225 for the November 12 literacy supplement training.

Kagan Cooperative Learning: HISD will host a five-day Kagan Cooperative Training in November, January and March during the 2019-2020 school year. Day one and two of the training will be held on November 13-14, 2019 at Clifton Middle School (6001 Golden Forest Dr., 77092) from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Participants will explore instructional strategies used to increase cooperative learning opportunities in the classroom environment. Those interested should register by November 11 in OneSource, course # 1439327. For more information, click here. Reimbursement for substitute pay will be provided.

HISD Master Training Catalog: Haven’t found a training suited for you? The HISD Master Training Catalog for teachers and leaders is currently available through December 2019. To view a complete list, click here.

ELEMENTARY

Prekindergarten Guided Reading: Now that the CIRCLE Assessment is complete, prekindergarten teachers should be preparing to implement the Guided Reading small group instruction in the following weeks. For support, there will be a Pre-A Guided Reading sessions offered to all pre-k teachers on November 12 at Ninfa Laurenzo ECC (205 N. Delmar St., 77011) from 4-6 p.m.

SECONDARY

AP Registration Change: The College Board has completely changed the AP exam registration process from previous years. Students must register online for exams by November 15 (in previous years, the deadline was April). If students register after November 15, they will be charged a $40 late fee per test plus the exam fee. The cost for an unused/canceled exam is $40 per exam. The spirit of the fee is to encourage students to follow through on taking the test they signed up for. The district will centrally fund the cost of all exams (including those for students who’d like to take an AP exam such as AP Spanish, but are not enrolled in the course), and campuses are responsible for all incidental/late/cancelation fees.

Advanced Placement Teachers: The deadline for your students to enroll in My AP CollegeBoard online digital courses for fall semester and yearlong courses is Friday, November 15. All students planning to take an AP exam must be digitally enrolled in either (1) a teacher AP course or (2) an exam-only section in My AP CollegeBoard. The student must be digitally enrolled and the exam must be ordered for all fall semester and yearlong courses by November 15, or students will not be able to sit for the exam in May without a late fee. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Christopher Bowser at CBOWSER@houstonisd.org.

Upcoming CTE Trainings: The CTE department is hosting four professional development opportunities during the month of November. For Culinary arts teachers with experienced training in traditional Chinese cooking, register in OneSource, course #1439253.  If you are seeking to learn new strategies for differentiating instruction in the CTE classroom, register in OneSource, course #1439318.  STEM and IT CTE teachers are invited to attend a course in classroom management using PowerUp. Please register in OneSource, course #1439320. Teachers who are new to the CTE classroom can attend a workshop in lesson planning, register in OneSource #1440002.  For specific information regarding date, time, and location, visit the CTE website.