Curriculum and Instruction Office
November 2022 Updates
The Essence of PLC!
“Three Big Ideas That Drive the Work of a PLC The essence of the PLC process is captured in three big ideas: 1. The purpose of our school is to ensure all students learn at high levels. 2. Helping all students learn requires a collaborative and collective effort. 3. To assess our effectiveness in helping all students learn we must focus on results—evidence of student learning—and use results to inform and improve our professional practice and respond to students who need intervention or enrichment.”
― Richard DuFour, Learning by Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work
Student-Friendly Proficiency Scales Big idea #2: Setting Learning Goals
Another student use of proficiency scale is personal goal setting...[this] is an integral part of a standards-based learning environment because it helps focus students on individual needs related to specific learning targets, and that the most important and influential instructional decisions are often made by learners themselves...As students set goals, they track progress about those standards-based learning targets. (Hoegh, 52)
- Student: Currently I am performing at a 1.5 on the proficiency scale for analyzing ideas. My goal is to achieve score 3.0 on the scaled. In order to achieve this goal, I will...
Student-Friendly Proficiency Scales Big idea #1: Reflecting on Learning and Performance
One way that students learn at high levels is through student reflection: "...at any point in time, a student should know where he or she stands in relation to the content on a proficiency scale...(1) reflect on individual current level of performance; (2) set personal goals related to individual learning; and (3) explain how class activities and assignments relate to the scale." -J.Hoegh, Developing and Using Proficiency Scales
Reminder: the district only logs and reports PTSB hours, not credits.
Instruction Tidbits
District Cooperative Learning Training
ICT Day 1 (modules 2-3) Central Office Board Room
November 17: Day 1, module 2 (4:30-6:00pm)
February 9: Day 1, Module 3 (4:30-6:00pm)
November 16 WEO: Day 5, Module 9
K-5 (Diane) at Central Board Room; 6-12 (Deidre) at LMS commons
Central Office Board Room
November 10, 2022 (4:30-6:00pm): Day 2, Module 4,
March 9, 2023 (4:30-6:00pm): Day 2, Module 5,November Fundamental 5 Reminder: Frequent, Small Group, Purposeful Talk about Learning (FSGPT)
John Hattie writes, "There needs to be less teacher-dominated talk and more student talk in order to produce the challenging academic instruction that today's education standards demand (Cain & Laird, 2021, p. 82). FSGPT about Learning is prime time for cooperative learning.
- Question Stems for Different Parts of a Lesson:
- Strategic Warm-up
- Between Direct Teach and & Guided Practice
- Between Guided Practice & Individual Practice
- Talking Close
Cain, S., Laird, M., Cotten, S., & Ellspermann, J. (2021). The fundamental 5 revisited: Exceptional instruction in every setting. Independently published.
October Fundamental 5 Reminder: The PowerZone
Powerzone: the mortar that connects and strengthens the other fundamental practice.
Effective instruction
- monitors FSGPT (Cooperative Learning/Talk) and Critical Writing; and
- seizes the opportunity to Recognize and Reinforce student academic effort, growth, and success.
The two-fold secret of the PZ is to
- maximize time spent working in the PZ and to
- leverage its effect on the other F5 practices.
The PZ is where effective teachers spend 60%-80% (12-18 times/period) of their time working in the PowerZone.
-Cain, S., Laird, M., Cotten, S., & Ellspermann, J. (2021). The fundamental 5 revisited: Exceptional instruction in every setting. Independently published.
September Fundamental 5 Reminder: The Frame
The Objective is
- placed in the classroom where students can see the written objective and product;
- discussed at the beginning of the lesson;
- reasonable to complete the objective in one daily lesson or class;
- stated in "kid friendly" language; and,
- specific enough to clarify the goal.
The closing provides concrete proof to both the student and the teacher that the objective of the lesson was met and should be
- completed by every student;
- occur during the last 5 minutes of class or the end of the lesson;
- a final check for understanding;
- reviewed daily by the teacher to guide future instruction;
- likely to increase the opportunity for a student to retain important learning; and,
- proof for the teacher and student that learning has occurred.
from
Good Reads
Let Families Teach You About New Students
Edutopia Article: Getting to know young students right from the start can begin with asking parents and caregivers these five thoughtful questions.
Disciplinary Literacy in Action
How to Create and Sustain a School-Wide Culture of Deep Reading, Writing, and Thinking:
Authors Releah Lent and Marsha Voight designed a framework that keeps teachers’ subjects at the center of daily classroom life while also helping them pool strengths with colleagues. Based on years of successful implementation, this powerful PL cycle “drops in” seamlessly to any school setting, so teachers schoolwide take on innovative practices of reading, writing, thinking, and doing within their areas of expertise.
Lent, R. L. C., & Voigt, M. (2019). Disciplinary literacy in action: How to create and sustain a school-wide culture of deep reading, writing, and thinking. Corwin, a SAGE Company.
Fun Ways to Get Kids to Generate, and Manipulate, Their Own Data
Edutopia Article: When students generate and graph their own data, they become more engaged in the work—and come to see math as a tool to make sense of their worlds.
I'm Listening: How Teacher-Student Relationships Improve Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening
"...drive deeper, more meaningful learning by integrating relationship building into lesson design."
Bandolpho, B. (2020). I'm listening how teacher-student relationships improve reading, writing, speaking, and listening (drive student engagement and empower learners through teacher-student relationships). Solution Tree.
WDE Assessment Information
AUTHORING TOOL
Item Authoring Tool is Now Available
- Reference the Wyoming Authoring Condensed User Guide to begin creating and sharing assessment items for all 10 content areas of Wyoming Standards.
- The items will align to the Wyoming Content and Performance Standards or the Wyoming Extended Standards.
- The full Wyoming Authoring User Guide is also available for detailed information about using the Authoring Tool.
- The Authoring Tool is located in the “Before Testing” column of the Educators section on the Wyoming Assessment Portal.
Item Authoring Training Webinar Recordings
- The WY-TOPP Item Writing and the WY-ALT Item Writing webinar recordings are available on the Wyoming Assessment Portal.
- View the Authoring Tool Training recording for guidance on how to create items and assessments within the tool.
For more information, contact the Wyoming Help Desk at 888-897-8024 or wyohelpdesk@cambiumassessment.com.
TEST SECURITY WEB PAGE
New Updates for the 2022-2023 School Year
- The WDE has updated the Test Security web page with monitoring information for 2022-23.
- New templates and sample documents have been added for districts to use in preparation for test administration.
For more information, contact Becca Velikaneye, WDE Assessment Consultant, at 307-777-6804 or rebecca.velikaneye@wyo.gov.
WY-TOPP
Speech-to-Text (STT) Embedded Tool
- WY-TOPP Test Delivery System (TDS) includes an embedded STT tool that transcribes a students spoken words into text.
- Students with the STT accommodation documented in an IEP or 504 Plan may use the STT assistive technology tool.
- Students may practice using the tool in the practice tests.
- Review the Wyoming Embedded Speech-to-Text Overview document for more information.
For more information, contact the Wyoming Help Desk at 888-897-8024 or wyohelpdesk@cambiumassessment.com.
WY-ALT Alternate Assessment Student Participation
- The WDE has guidance to help district appropriately identify students to participate in WY-ALT.
- Districts should review this guidance document and video with the relevant staff members.
- IEP teams are required to revisit this decision annually for each student.
For more information, contact Becca Velikaneye, WDE Assessment Consultant, at 307-777-6804 or rebecca.velikaneye@wyo.gov.
WY-ALT
SAVE THE DATE: WY-ALT Test Administrator (TA) Training
- All WY-ALT TAs must attend an online training session in order to administer the WY-ALT assessment. Three sessions will be available.
- 9 a.m.-noon on Thursday, January 19, 2023.
- 9 a.m.-noon on Monday, January 23, 2023.
- 1-4 p.m. on Thursday, January 26, 2023.
- WY-ALT TAs must also complete the Test Administration Certification course before administering the assessments.
- The registration site will be available soon.
For more information about WY-ALT assessments, contact Cat Palmer, WDE Assessment Supervisor, at 307-777-8568 or catherine.palmer@wyo.gov.
Upcoming Assessment Dates
- December 8: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS/K-ACCESS - Managing Paper Test Materials Webinar.
- December 13: ACCESS/ALT-ACCESS/K-ACCESS - Managing Students in WIDA AMS Webinar.
- December 15: Winter Quarterly EL and Title III Webinar.
- January 10-February 2: WY-TOPP Interim Winter (optional).
- January 17-February 24: ACCESS and ALT-ACCESS Assessment Window.
- January 19, 23, 26: WY-ALT Test Administrator Training.
- February 7: ALT-ACCESS Field Test Materials Arrive in Districts.
- February 14-April 20: ALT-ACCESS Field Test Assessment Window.
- February 28-April 7: WY-ALT Assessment Window.
- March 16: Spring Quarterly EL and Title III Webinar.
- March 28: ACT Test Opportunity 1 Paper.
- March 28-30 & April 4-6: ACT Online Standard and Accommodated Window.
- March 28-31 & April 3-7: ACT Accommodated Paper Window.
- April 11: ACT Test Opportunity 2 Paper.
- April 11-13, 18-20: ACT Online Standard and Accommodated Window.
- April 11-14, 17-21: ACT Accommodated Paper Window.
- April 11-May 5: WY-TOPP Interim Spring (optional) Assessment Window.
- April 11-May 5: WY-TOPP Summative Assessment Window.
- April 17-28: WorkKeys Spring Window (optional).
- April 25: ACT Test Opportunity 3 Paper - Emergency Window.
- April 25-27, May 2-4: ACT Online Standard and Accommodated Window.
- April 25-28, May 2-5: ACT Accommodated Paper Window.
- May 9: ACCESS for ELLs Interpreting Score Reports Webinar.
- May 18: Summer Quarterly EL and Title III Webinar.
FCSD 1 District Information
WDE Updates for All Contents
SIGN UP FOR CONTENT-SPECIFIC UPDATES
- The WDE Standards Team is creating an email list of interested parties to share content-specific education news and opportunities.
- Please use this form to indicate your interest in being added to communications in your chosen content area(s) regarding professional development opportunities, student and teacher grants, contests, webinars, websites, resources, apps, and other relevant information.
- Some information to be shared may be of a time-sensitive nature and will not always appear in the monthly Standards Updates.
Earth Science Kits Available
Earth Science Kits Available The 2022 Earth Science Week toolkits are now available for Wyoming classrooms. The 50 toolkits, provided by the American Geosciences Institute to the Wyoming State Geological Survey, are available at no cost to Wyoming educators on a first come, first served basis. Earth Science Week is Oct. 9–15 and celebrates the theme, “Earth Science for a Sustainable World.” Request a toolkit by emailing Christina George at christina.george@wyo.gov.
Calling all preservice and alternatively certified CTE educators!
Calling all preservice and alternatively certified CTE educators! ACTE invites you to apply by Sept. 30 to participate in the all-new Advancing Career and Technical Educators Symposium, happening at CareerTech VISION, Nov. 30–Dec. 3 in Las Vegas, Nevada. ACTE will provide 20 selected participants:
Complimentary registration to ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2022 conference
Lunch and dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 30 A $1,500 stipend to help with additional travel and hotel costs
ACTE will provide selected participants (n=20) complimentary registration to the ACTE CareerTech VISION 2022 Conference and lunch and dinner on Wednesday, November 30. All other costs are the participant's responsibility. A $1,500 stipend will be provided to each participant to help with those additional travel and hotel costs.
All requirements of the application must be completed in order to be considered. Please submit your application by the deadline. Successful applicants will be notified once the Advancing Career & Technical Educators Symposium Advisory Group reaches a decision.
If you have any questions or need assistance in completing your application, please contact Lisa Stange, Symposium Coordinator or by phone at 515-491-4355
CSTA WY + UW Teacher Hackathon
CSTA Wyoming and the University of Wyoming have teamed up to bring you the second annual Teacher Hackathon - Titled: Change for Good. Educators across the state will build teams, define a problem, and create change for good. Register HERE.
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From: Info CyberWyoming <info@cyberwyoming.org>
Date: Mon, Sep 26, 2022 at 4:58 PM
Subject: RELEASE: October 22 Cyber Challenge Free to 3 Wyo Schools
To: Patrick Wolfinbarger <patw@cyberwyoming.org>, Laura Baker <laurab@cyberwyoming.org>
Contact Laura Baker Telephone 307-314-2188 Text 307-314-2188 Website
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2022
Curriculum Director
Email: dmeyer@landerschools.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/landerschools.org/ciadirector
Location: 863 Sweetwater Street, Lander, WY, USA
Phone: 307-332-4711
Twitter: @fremont1_cia