HISD | Employee News: HISD’s news for district employees

ALL TEACHERS

Office of Talent

Incentives for Teachers: All teachers should have received a direct email message from Superintendent House on Tuesday, April 5, asking about their plans for next school year and inviting them to stay. To each of our current teachers, we want you to know that we value you and we need you. All teachers should declare their intent for next school year by Friday, May 6, through the Office of Talent’s intent to return form online. The purpose of this form is to gather information on each HISD teacher’s intent to continue employment with HISD for School Year 2022-2023. Any teacher who declares their intent to return for next school year will also have the option to earn an additional incentive if they make a three-year commitment to teaching in HISD. Any teacher who declares by April 15 that they intend to resign or retire at the end of this school year will be eligible for an Early Notification Program incentive. More information is available here. If you have additional questions or feedback, please submit them to the Office of Talent here

Student Enrollment

Open enrollment for students new to HISD begins April 4, 2022. Information on how to find a neighborhood school, required documents, and the online application can be found at www.HoustonISD.org/Enroll. Enrollment this year is exclusively online. Parents and caregivers may still visit their neighborhood school for assistance with the online application. For questions, contact your school’s front office or Student Enrollment at 713-556-4826 or Enroll@HoustonISD.org. 

Social and Emotional Learning

Please be aware of your wellness and needs, especially as we enter testing season. Make time to take stock in YOU through this guided reflective exercise and visit the Social and Emotional Teacher Resource site for more information. Please share this mindful activity with all your friends/colleagues and complete it in partnership or as a group. Consider incorporating this mindful activity into your weekly self-care routine individually as well.

Academic Instructional Technology

Introduction to Canvas Learning Series
The AIT team is facilitating the Introduction to Canvas Learning Series, multiple 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 for course #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 for 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 #12 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

Elementary Math

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

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

Upcoming Assessments Windows

• Grades 3, 4, and 5 STAAR Released Assessment (Year 2021): April 4-22, 2022 
• Grades 1 and 2 Snapshot 4: April 25-29, 2022 
• Kindergarten TX-KEA EOY: April 28–June 1, 2022 
• Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2 District Pre-Approved Assessments (DPA): May 2-27, 2022 
• State of Texas Grades 3, 4, and 5 STAAR Assessment: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 

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.

Grade 5 Spiraled Review Plan: Reflecting on STAAR Data from 3:30-5:00 p.m. April 21: Participants will identify hot spots reflected in outcome data and create a spiraled plan for acceleration. Please have a video camera on and access to HISD resources in the HUB. This event will be held virtually via MS Teams. Register for OneSource #1467041.

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 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.

Elementary Reading

April Coordinators Meeting 3:30-4:30 p.m. April 14: Click here to join the meeting. If you need assistance, contact RGR Implementation Specialist Jill Dickerson at jill@reallygreatreading.com.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Fine Arts—Dance

Middle and high school students are invited to participate in the Dance Connect Film Fest 2022 from Frame Dance Productions. The deadline to submit dance films is May 20, 2022.  The screening and awards will be held June 3, 2022, at Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School at 6 p.m. Students will receive professional feedback and awards for their dance films. Music for the films should be copyright-free. More information and a list of copyright-free music can be found at Dance Connect Film Fest. For questions, contact Frame Dance Productions or HISD Dance Curriculum Specialist Sanja Korman at skorman@houstonisd.org

Career and Technical Education: See this week’s CTE bulletin, April 2022, Volume I. 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.

ALL TEACHERS

Student Enrollment

Open enrollment for students new to HISD begins April 4, 2022. Information on how to find a neighborhood school, required documents, and the online application can be found at www.HoustonISD.org/Enroll. Enrollment this year is exclusively online. Parents and caregivers may still visit their neighborhood school for assistance with the online application. For questions, contact your school’s front office or Student Enrollment at 713-556-4826 or Enroll@HoustonISD.org. 

Social and Emotional Learning

Please be aware of your wellness and needs, especially as we enter testing season. Make time to take stock in YOU through this guided reflective exercise and visit the Social and Emotional Teacher Resource site for more information. Please share this mindful activity with all your friends/colleagues and complete it in partnership or as a group. Consider incorporating this mindful activity into your weekly self-care routine individually as well.

Academic Instructional Technology

Introduction to Canvas Learning Series
The AIT team is facilitating the Introduction to Canvas Learning Series, multiple 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 for course #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 for 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 #11 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

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 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.

Grade 5 Science Instructional Planning: Reporting Categories 1-4 STAAR Review from 3:30-5:00 p.m. April 7: Participants will leverage teacher-facing and student-facing resources to plan for upcoming units of instruction and practice difficult concepts that are noted within data. Please have a video camera on and access to HISD resources in the HUB. This event will be held virtually via MS Teams. Register for OneSource #1461117.

Grade 5 Spiraled Review Plan: Reflecting on STAAR Data from 3:30-5:00 p.m. April 21: Participants will identify hot spots reflected in outcome data and create a spiraled plan for acceleration. Please have a video camera on and access to HISD resources in the HUB. This event will be held virtually via MS Teams. Register for OneSource #1467041.

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 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.

Elementary Reading

Really Great Reading “Ask/Answer” sessions every Tuesday and Thursday:

• 3:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 5: Click here to join the meeting
• 9:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 7: Click here to join the meeting

April Coordinators Meeting 3:30-4:30 p.m. April 14: Click here to join the meeting. If you need assistance, contact RGR Implementation Specialist Jill Dickerson at jill@reallygreatreading.com.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Career and Technical Education: See this week’s CTE bulletin, March 2022, Volume IV. 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.

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.

ALL TEACHERS

Academic Instructional Technology

Tech Tuesdays: The March 22 sessions include BrainPOP: More than Movies and Quizizz LIVE Whiteboard. We will give out swag to random attendees. Register here. Register for OneSource #1461032. 

Introducing Canvas, the new learning management system: Canvas will provide educators, students, and families with a user-friendly, reliable, and supported teaching and learning experience. Beginning March 21, teachers and leaders can start exploring their own sandbox course, access the Training Services Portal for engaging and informative self-paced and live sessions, and even reach out to the 24/7 Canvas support line. Visit Canvas info for details and updates.

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 #9 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

Implementing SEL Resources in the Pre-K Classroom 4:00-5:30 p.m. March 24: PreK teachers and Early Childhood Special Education teachers are invited to take a walk through the materials in the new PK SEL bundles you will be receiving from School Specialty. Participants will explore ways they can be used to support the social emotional skills domains from the Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines. Register for OneSource Course #1464075.

Reminder: ESSER instructional materials for Pre-K teachers: Pre-K, ECSE, and Pre-K/K split teachers serving 3- and 4-year-olds should be receiving instructional materials purchased through ESSER funds to support high-quality instruction and to mitigate learning loss. If any materials are missing, please contact mwaymire@houstonisd.org for assistance.

Teacher Kits from Lakeshore: Look for kits in English or Spanish March 21-31 for distribution to all Pre-K teachers.

The Pre-K Spring Progress Monitoring Language/Math ENG/SPA 2 will be available in OnTrack through April 15 to all Pre-K teachers. It provides an effective way to monitor students’ progress throughout the year and adjust instructional strategies to target and support academic needs in between the CIRCLE Assessment Waves. Please follow the steps in Input Scores for Progress in OnTrack Task Card to enter your Pre-K Progress Monitoring Tool data recorded on the English Progress Monitoring Report Sheet or Spanish Progress Monitoring Report Sheet. For questions, contact Claudia.Azcarate@houstonisd.org or visit houstonisd.org/PKPM. 

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.

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 II. Visit the HISD Career Readiness page here for all CTE bulletins.

ALL TEACHERS

Social and Emotional Learning: Please join the HISD Social and Emotional Learning Department in the countdown to International SEL Day on March 11.  The theme, Finding Common Ground, Pursuing Common Good, celebrates the importance of promoting children’s social-emotional and character development. This flyer will connect you with various ways we can all celebrate with students, teachers, and communities all over the world.  Please share this information with colleagues and friends.

Self-affirmation is the concept that people are motivated to maintain views of themselves as well adapted, moral, competent, stable, and able to control important outcomes. Self-affirmations are a healthy self-care exercise to fuel positive self-view. While sitting, driving, walking, or meditating, fill your mind with positive thoughts such as, “I’m going to make this a great day. I am capable and highly qualified to do what lies before me. I’ve got this! and I am amazing!” According to Olympian and gold medalist Valarie Allman, self-positive talk improves mind-body connection and performance.

Student Assessment

DDIS Cohort 2022: Charting the Course—Are you interested in learning more about the Data-Driven Instruction Specialist (DDIS) program? Student Assessment is hosting the DDIS Cohort 2022: Charting the Course virtual sessions to help develop leadership skills and enhance data-driven best practices in aspiring DDIS.  Apply online by March 8 at http://tiny.cc/DDISCohort2022. Accepted applicants will receive notification on or before March 10, including details about the informational session scheduled for 4:30 p.m. March 22. 

Academic Instructional Technology

Tech Tuesdays: The March 8 sessions include STAAR Review with Elementary Imagine Literacy and Secondary Imagine Literacy. We will give out swag in certain sessions to random attendees. Register here and for OneSource #1461032. 

Introducing Canvas, the new learning management system: Canvas will provide educators, students, and families with a user-friendly, reliable, and supported teaching and learning experience. Beginning March 21, teachers and leaders can start exploring their own sandbox course, access the Training Services Portal for engaging and informative self-paced and live sessions, and even reach out to the 24/7 Canvas support line. Visit Canvas info for details and updates.

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 Thursdays from 3:30-5:00 p.m. to assist with saving content before access to the HUB ends in July. Register for HUB open labs in OneSource #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 #8 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: The Pre-K Spring Progress Monitoring Language/Math ENG/SPA 2 will be available in OnTrack March 7 through April 15 to all Pre-K. It provides an effective way to monitor students’ progress throughout the year and adjust instructional strategies to target and support academic needs in between the CIRCLE Assessment Waves. Teachers and administrators will use the OnTrack system to access student performance data across the literacy and mathematical domains. Please follow the steps outlined in Input Scores for Progress in OnTrack Task Card to enter your Pre-K Progress Monitoring Tool data recorded on the English Progress Monitoring Report Sheet or Spanish Progress Monitoring Report Sheet. For questions, contact Claudia.Azcarate@houstonisd.org or visit houstonisd.org/PKPM.        

Elementary Math: Share your experiences via Twitter and tag @HISD_ElemMath #MathMatters.

Virtual: Campus Administrator Collaborative March 10: Explore research-based ideas and strategies that assist with coaching and developing all math teachers. Collaborate with district math administrators on best practices that support and develop strong instructional mathematical thinking. Register for One Source #1443815. 

Virtual: Math Lead Teacher Collaborative March 10: Math lead teachers are tasked to enhance the school’s instructional math leadership team; participants will serve as liaisons between the curriculum math department and campuses. Participants will engage in activities aligned to district curriculum, assessment, and resources throughout the school year. This course is designed to support appointed elementary math lead teachers, but all math teachers are welcome. Register for One Source #1443822. 

Elementary Science

Spring 2022 Elementary Science Sessions: Sessions will be offered synchronously after school. To view spring science sessions, see this link. Share your experiences via Twitter and tag @HISD_ElemSci.

Grade 4-5 Houston Museum of Natural Science Field Experience: In partnership with the Houston Museum of Natural Science, HISD is resuming virtual field trips for grade 4-5 students through March 11 that will focus on exploring the life cycles of plants and animals. Contact Gloria Martinez at gmarti13@houstonisd.org to schedule your campus. 

Grade 5 Science Instructional Planning: Unit 14, Animal Adaptations and Cycle 5 Cumulative Project from 3:30–5:00 p.m. on March 10: Participants will leverage teacher-facing and student-facing resources to plan for upcoming units of instruction and practice difficult concepts that are noted within data. Please have a video camera on and access to HISD resources in the HUB. Register in OneSource for #1461116.

Grade 5 Backwards Planning using STAAR Release Blueprints from 3:30–5:00 p.m. on March 10: Participants will use STAAR Release blueprints to plan lesson review considerations, leveraging district and/or campus historical data. Register in OneSource for #1467040.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Career and Technical Education (CTE): Please view this week’s CTE bulletin, March 2022, Volume I. Visit the HISD Career Readiness page here for all CTE bulletins.

ALL TEACHERS

Social and Emotional Learning: Integrate Social and Emotional Learning into Academics through the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning framework. CASEL helps cultivate skills and environments to advance student learning and development. This framework consists of areas in interrelated areas of competence and provides examples of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Check out reThink Ed on Clever under Teacher Resources, which provides lesson plans, activities, guided discussion questions, and more. Locate lessons under each of the competencies to help integrate SEL into your classroom. Also, please refer to this information, which focuses on Self-Awareness.

Student Assessment

DDIS Cohort 2022: Charting the Course—Are you interested in learning more about the Data-Driven Instruction Specialist (DDIS) program? Do you enjoy supporting teachers in PLCs and using data to inform instruction? Student Assessment is hosting the DDIS Cohort 2022: Charting the Course virtual sessions to help develop leadership skills and enhance data-driven best practices in aspiring DDIS.  They are seeking interested candidates for the DDIS cohort and possible candidates for future DDIS support in schools. Apply online by March 8 at http://tiny.cc/DDISCohort2022. Accepted applicants will receive notification on or before March 10, including details about the informational session scheduled for 4:30 p.m. March 22. 

Student Enrollment

Do you know a family with 3- and 4-year-old children? Please help us inform parents that HISD is offering one-on-one support for those seeking help enrolling their child in pre-K for the 2022-2023 school year. All elementary schools will assist parents with the application process for pre-K—available in person, by phone, and online—to ensure families have one-on-one options. The event will take place on Thursday, March 3, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. For applications and more information, see HoustonISD.org/Pkfair.

• In person: Visit any HISD elementary school or early childhood center with all required documents
• By phone: Call the HISD hotline at 713-556-6734
• Online: Join a virtual information session on the Pre-K Fair website or sign up for a 15-minute consultation with a team member

Academic Instructional Technology

Tech Tuesdays: The March 1 sessions include STAAR Review with Kahoot!, Elementary Imagine Math, and Secondary Imagine Math.We will give out swag in certain sessions to random attendees. Register by clicking here. Register for OneSource #1461032. 

Introducing Canvas, the new learning management system: Canvas will provide educators, students, and families with a user-friendly, reliable, and supported teaching and learning experience. Beginning March 21, teachers and leaders can start exploring their own sandbox course, access the Training Services Portal for engaging and informative self-paced and live sessions, and even reach out to the 24/7 Canvas support line. Visit Canvas info for details and updates.

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 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.

Office of Special Education Services

Issue #6 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

Informational Meeting for Early Childhood Specialist Positions: PreK teachers and teacher assistants are invited to join us 3:30-4:30 p.m. on March 2 to learn about the Early Childhood department and current job opportunities in the department. Register for OneSource Course #1469089.

Elementary Math

Share your experiences via Twitter and tag @HISD_ElemMath #MathMatters.

Virtual: Campus Administrator Collaborative March 10: Explore research-based ideas and strategies that assist with coaching and developing all math teachers. Collaborate with district math administrators on best practices that support and develop strong instructional mathematical thinking. Register for One Source #1443815. 

Virtual: Math Lead Teacher Collaborative March 10: Math lead teachers are tasked to enhance the school’s instructional math leadership team; participants will serve as liaisons between the curriculum math department and campuses. Participants will engage in activities aligned to district curriculum, assessment, and resources throughout the school year. This course is designed to support appointed elementary math lead teachers, but all math teachers are welcome. Register for One Source #1443822. 

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 4-5 Houston Museum of Natural Science Field Experience: In partnership with the Houston Museum of Natural Science, HISD is resuming virtual field trips for grade 4-5 students during the spring semester. Feb. 28-March 11 will focus on exploring the life cycles of plants and animals. Contact Gloria Martinez at gmarti13@houstonisd.org to schedule your campus. 

Grades 5 Elementary Science STAAR 2.0 Item Types from 3:30–5:00 p.m. on March 3: Participants will learn about the new item types, implications for checking for understanding, and practice creating using Google slides. Register in OneSource for #1464076.

Grade 5 Science Instructional Planning: Unit 14, Animal Adaptations and Cycle 5 Cumulative Project from 3:30–5:00 p.m. on March 10: Participants will leverage teacher-facing and student-facing resources to plan for upcoming units of instruction and practice difficult concepts that are noted within data. Please have a video camera on and access to HISD resources in the HUB. Register in OneSource for #1461116.

Grade 5 Backwards Planning using STAAR Release Blueprints from 3:30–5:00 p.m. on March 10: Participants will use STAAR Release blueprints to plan lesson review considerations, leveraging district and/or campus historical data. Register in OneSource for #1467040.

Virtual Learning Opportunities for Students and Families: 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.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Please view this week’s CTE bulletin, February 2022, Volume IV. 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.

ALL TEACHERS

Student Enrollment

Do you know a family with 3- and 4-year-old children? Please help us inform parents that HISD is offering one-on-one support for those seeking help enrolling their child in pre-K for the 2022-2023 school year. All elementary schools will assist parents with the application process for pre-K—available in person, by phone, and online—to ensure families have one-on-one options. The event will take place on Thursday, March 3, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. For applications and more information, see HoustonISD.org/Pkfair.

• In person: Visit any HISD elementary school or early childhood center with all required documents
• By phone: Call the HISD hotline at 713-556-6734
• Online: Join a virtual information session on the Pre-K Fair website or sign up for a 15-minute consultation with a team member

Academic Instructional Technology

Teacher Service Day sessions
Please join us on Feb. 21 to learn more about saving content from the HUB, using H5P to create new STAAR item types, and building books using Book Creator. Access the flyer here for titles, details, and OneSource numbers. 

Tech Tuesdays
Please join us for Tech Tuesday sessions on Feb. 22 that include Clevertouch Unplugged for Secondary, Video and Publishing using Adobe Creative Cloud Express and Writing Across the Curriculum with Book Creator. We will also give out swag in certain sessions to random lucky attendees! Register for these offerings here and in OneSource using course number #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 and HUB access will end in July 2022. The AIT team will 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.

Learning.com Keyboarding Contest
All students in grades 3-12 may enter the Learning.com keyboarding contest, which runs through Feb. 28. Learning.com is the district’s technology application curriculum resource that promotes keyboarding practice and skills. To participate, students must complete the initial diagnostic test and actively practice in the Learning.com Adaptive Keyboarding application to increase their word-per-minute (WPM) accuracy. In addition, campuses must post at least one promotional tweet with the hashtag #HISD_DigLitStrong and tag @HISD_Inst_Tech to be in the contest. The top two schools per Schools Office with the highest WPM accuracy and a Tweet will be awarded a prize. If you have questions or need additional information, contact AIT at InsTech@HoustonISD.org.

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.

Office of Special Education Services

Issue #6 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 Math

Every Day Counts PreK: Implementation with Ease! PreK teachers, early childhood special education teachers, and teacher assistants are invited to join us Feb. 21 to learn how to implement the Every Day Counts program in the classroom to help students develop the language of math, explore mathematical relationships, and communicate their thinking. Register for OneSource course #1467037.          

Pre-A Guided Reading for Pre-K Teachers and Teacher Assistants: Please join us Feb. 24 to learn how to utilize the Pre-A Guided Reading strategies and framework during small group instruction. Register for OneSource Course #1458019.      

Elementary Math

See this flyer for 2022 February Math sessions. Share your experiences via Twitter and tag @HISD_ElemMath #MathMatters.

Teacher Service Day Math Sessions:  Join us for Feb. 21 for STAAR 2.0 (new item types), TX-KEA Reports, and Region IV Resource Overview. If you register and attend a Region IV session, you will receive a personal copy of the resource. Region IV sessions in English or Spanish include K-5 Engaging Mathematics, G2-5 Closing the Distance, and G3-5 STAAR Workstations.

See this document for the Feb. 21 Teacher Service Day math sessions. 

Virtual HB3 Math Academies Grade 2 Math Fluency Part 4: Join us 3:30-5:00 p.m. on Feb. 22to gain a better understanding of math fluency and engage in activities from the fluency plan that builds students’ ability to be fluent in math. Walk away with just in time fluency plans (e.g., addition and subtraction) dependent on grade 2 HISD scope and sequence. Register for OneSource Course #1463008.

Virtual HB3 Math Academies Grade 3 Math Fluency Part 4: Join us 3:30-5:00 p.m. Feb. 22to gain a better understanding of math fluency and engage in activities from the fluency plan that builds students’ ability to be fluent in math. Walk away with just in time fluency plans (e.g., addition and subtraction) dependent on grade 3 HISD scope and sequence. Register for OneSource Course #1460066.

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.

Grades K-2 Science Instructional Planning—GK/G1: Unit 9/10 Living Organisms and Nonliving Objects; G2: Unit 10 Physical Characteristics and Needs of Plants: Join us 9:00–11:00 a.m. Feb. 21 to learn how to leverage teacher-facing and student-facing resources to plan for upcoming units of instruction and practice difficult concepts that are noted within data. Register for OneSource #1464072.

Grades 3-4 Science Instructional Planning—G3: Unit 11 Part 1, Plant Life Cycles; G4: Unit 12 Part 1, Animal and Plant Growth: Join us 12:00–2:00 p.m. Feb. 21 to learn how to leverage teacher-facing and student-facing resources to plan for upcoming units of instruction and practice difficult concepts that are noted within data. Register for OneSource #1464073.

Grade 5 Science Instructional Planning—Unit 13 Food Webs and Unit 14 Inherited Trait: Join us 2:00–4:00 p.m. Feb. 21 to learn how to leverage teacher-facing and student-facing resources to plan for upcoming units of instruction and practice difficult concepts that are noted within data. Register for OneSource #1461119.

Grades K-5—Using the Discovery Education Experience to Support Flexible Science Learning Environments: Join us 12:00–1:00 p.m. Feb. 21 to learn how to use the DE platform for instructional modifications to reach varied student learning types. Register for OneSource #1467086.

Grades 3-5—STAAR 2.0 Redesigned: Join us 9:00–10:00 a.m. and 12:00–1:00 p.m. Feb. 21 to gain understanding on upcoming 2022-2023 STAAR 2.0 Technology Enhanced Items (TEI) and explore sample items and get a preview of new item types for 2023 spring STAAR assessment. Register for OneSource #1467081.

Elementary Science Lead Teacher Collaborative for lead science teachers and campus leaders: Join us 3:30 -5:30 p.m. Feb. 22 or 23 to learn trends outlined to district and state data, collaborate on best practices for increasing science outcomes, and plan for delivering learning to build campus capacity. Session will be styled within a ToT model. Register for OneSource #1458054. 

Virtual Learning Opportunities for Students and Families: 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.

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Please view this week’s CTE bulletin, February 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. 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.