#INspirEDlit
August 2019 Vol. 17
Back to School Edition!
August means freshly sharpened pencils, crisp folders, new haircuts, and waving goodbye to late summer nights catching fireflies. As we get ready for the first day of school, we must consider educating the whole child.
Did you know IDOE has a team for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) that creates and shares resources for all teachers, counselors, and administrators to implement in their classrooms and schools? If we spend time preparing for academia, we should also spend time preparing for our student's social-emotional needs. For SEL books to incorporate into the classroom, see pages 63-68 of the SEL Toolkit found here.
Decide now what kind of teacher you want to be this year. Need some inspiration?
Literacy Updates from IDOE
Literacy Framework Phase II
The Literacy Framework is a tool you can use to curriculum map and plan for this upcoming school year. Does your school utilize a curriculum map, scope and sequence, or pacing guide? Use the Literacy Framework to dive into each standard through question stems, practical examples, and digital resources!
Addition Literacy Resources:
Elementary Literacy Family Guides
Elementary Academic Vocabulary
Over the course of the 2019-2020 school year, additional resources will be added. Stay tuned!
Have special requests for support? Feel free to reach out to us at any time. That's what we are here for!
Pages to Paradise Summer PD
What a summer of growth and learning! IDOE loved having the opportunity to grow and learn alongside over 1,500 Indiana educators all over the state! From Clarksville to Fort Wayne and everywhere in between, thank you to all the dedicated educators and administrators who spend part of their summer with us!
Over the course of the 2019-2020 school year, your IDOE Literacy team will continue to offer professional development and support. Please do not hesitate to reach out!
Book Suggestions
The First Days of School
By: Harry Wong
This book walks a teacher, either novice or veteran, through the most effective ways to begin a school year and continue to become an effective teacher. This is the most basic book on how to teach.
Hacking Classroom Management
By: Mike Roberts
This book provides 10 quick and easy classroom management hacks to make your classroom the place to be for all your students. It shows how to create an amazing learning environment that makes discipline, rules and consequences obsolete, no matter if you're a new teacher or a 30-year veteran teacher.
What Great Teachers Do Differently
By: Todd Whitaker
Designed to be used by facilitators and participants in seminars, book study groups, or other professional development events, this book guides critical thinking, collaboration, and professional growth.
Fall Conferences to Check Out!
IDOE Office of School Improvement Sailing Toward Proficiency
The Inaugural School Improvement Conference, “Sailing Toward Proficiency," will be held on Thursday, September 5, at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Indianapolis. This conference will feature keynote speaker Gerry Brooks and numerous breakout sessions presented by the Office of School Improvement staff. Register here, as space is limited for this free event. There will be sessions on cultural competency, chronic absenteeism, dyslexia, literacy, math, alternative education, the Opportunity Myth, Root Cause Analysis, and much more. #sailINtogether
IPS Title IX Conference by ATIXA
Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) will host a Midwest region PK-12 school district Title IX Conference led by ATIXA. A nationally recognized attorney with ATIXA will provide three days of specific content including athletic equity, compliance with law and protection for students. Participants will receive certification in PK12 Title IX Administration if they attend all three days. I don’t’ have to tell you how many Indiana schools are involved in legal claims around Title IX issues right now. That conference will be Sept. 11-13th, 2019. IPS is hosting this conference in an effort to provide effective training for PK12 colleagues, especially right here in Indiana. Click here for more information.
ILA Conference
Check out the Indiana State Literacy Association Conference on September 14. For more information, click here.
Indiana Teachers of Writing
Dyslexia Updates
Dyslexia Professional Awareness
IC 20-35.5-6-2(B), as created by SEA 217 (2018) states that Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) will ensure that all teachers working for the school corporations and charter schools receive professional awareness on dyslexia. This professional awareness will include information on: the characteristics of dyslexia, evidence based interventions, and evidence based accommodations for dyslexia. This professional awareness information is offered through IDOE’s Moodle course website. Please visit IDOE’s Dyslexia page under the “Dyslexia Professional Awareness” tab for a link to the professional awareness course and directions on how to set up and log in to IDOE’s Moodle website.
Dyslexia Rapid Naming Screener Information
The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has released multiple new documents and videos to enhance schools’ knowledge and usability of the Arkansas Rapid Automized Name Screener (AR-RAN). IDOE has released: a revised version of the screener, a tutorial video on how to give the AR-RAN, and a frequently asked question (FAQ) document for the screener. IDOE also created a section in the FAQ document giving sample cut scores and explaining how to calculate cut scores for the AR-RAN. For additional clarity IDOE created a video showing how to calculate AR-RAN cut scores in excel. Please visit IDOE’s Dyslexia website to access all of these resources under the “Dyslexia Screeners” tab.
$12,000 Renewal Grants for Indiana K-12 Educators
Lilly Endowment announced its 33rd Teacher Creativity Fellowship Program (TCFP). This renewal program supports Indiana educators to take intentional time to pursue their dreams and passions, explore new areas of interest, and expand existing talents or develop new ones. Renewal times encourage new experiences, exploration and reflection to discover renewed energy and enthusiasm, spark innovative approaches to teaching and leading, and reveal thoughtful ways to enhance creativity in students and classrooms. Up to 100 grants, each totaling $12,000, will be awarded in 2020. Learn more about TCFP at lillyendowment.org.
INAIAC Michael Pace Educators Grant
The Micheal Pace Educators Grant was created to provide funds for teachers to take their students on educational field trips around the state to learn more about Native Americans. There are 25 grants each worth $250. Click here for more information.
Literacy & Tech: Thought of the Month!
Don't have Twitter? Check out this quick tutorial here!
Cheat sheet: Twitter for Teachers
Scholastic article: Twitter for Teachers
A great book to read: 140 Twitter Tips for Educators
Connect on Twitter!
1. Tweet about all things LITERACY using #INspirEDlit
2. Follow the hashtag and connect with other coaches and educators
3. Follow @EducateIN for the latest updates from Indiana Department of Education