Teaching & Learning Newsletter
April 8, 2016
C2E
Choose to support yourself, help yourself and others get through difficult times, encourage yourself and others to do the good things that you each want to do, remind yourself of your good qualities, remind others of their good qualities, remind yourself and others to embrace the special moments that you now have together and alone, remind yourself and others of what you each have the potential to be, and remind yourself and loved ones to embrace opportunities and simple things that lift you. This will free you to enjoy parts of every day and every pursuit, even when facing extremely difficult challenges.
Terry Orlick, PhD, In Pursuit of Excellence
Affirmations
Katie Buckley helped put together the first book fair Bryan HIgh has had in ten years. During the book fair Katie came across a special needs student who wanted to buy a $20 book but only had $5. Katie “sold” him the book for $5 and covered the rest of the cost herself. Her compassion is appreciated.
Coaching Tip
When an IC moves through the components of coaching with a teacher, both the teacher and the coach should be learning. The teacher is learning a new teaching practice. At the same time, the coach could be learning any number of new skills or insights related to working with students, providing model lessons, enrolling teachers in the instructional coaching process, building relationships, addressing teachers' core concerns, or any other aspect of instructional coaching. Every day provides numerous learning experiences for even the most experienced coaches.
Jim Knight, Instructional Coaching: A partnership approach to improving instruction.
Action Required Items
Core Content Area News
ALL ADMINISTRATORS
All Principals
Edgenuity Training
Edgenuity training for the 2016-2017 school year will take place August 11 at the Bryan High School Blue Campus in the computer lab, room 6142, for any teachers, administration, and representatives who need a refresher or just want to learn more. There are two sessions available to attend, 8:30 am to 11:30 am click here and from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm click here.
My Path Training
For those that just need a refresher in MyPath, a Lunch and Learn session is available and will take place August 11 at the Bryan High School Blue Campus in the computer lab, room 6142, for any teachers, administrators, and representatives from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm. MyPath is an extension of Edgenuity that assesses students and places them in a program that matches their learning level to help them either keep up with a class or get ahead. Click here.
Summer School
Application links for teachers and paraprofessionals were sent out through BISD News this week. The deadline for applying is Friday, April 15, at 4pm. Click here for an updated list of offerings.
DDRT Meetings
DDRT Meetings continue to take place each Monday. Click here to access sign up sheet. Please note that you are asked to input whether the concern is academic or behavioral as well as if the primary concern is in reading or math. This helps with scheduling support in the meeting. Finally, thank you for continuing to document RtI in Aware as this helps ensure communication of student information.
Instructional Coaches
Better Conversations Training
Please sign up for Better Conversations with Peter Dewitt on August 1. In this workshop, Peter DeWitt delivers a framework for improving professional dialogue that is so clearly signposted, you might as well call it a day planner. Participants will learn how through self, peer, and team coaching to master Better Conversation Beliefs and Habits. Click here for registration.
High School
Dates for Pulling Benchmark Data for Accountability Predictions
Data from secondary spring benchmarks will be pulled on April 12. Teachers planning to use scores for grades should retrieve those scores by April 11 since questions over SEs that have not been taught are zero weighted at this time. Adjustments to the weighting of test questions will be made the morning of April 12. All questions will be weighted in order to obtain the most accurate prediction possible. Principals should expect to receive index score predictions by April 15.
Middle Schools
OPAS Schedule for 2016-2017
OPAS coordinator, Shanna Wright, has shared this information for next year to help you begin to plan for field trips. Please contact JoLyn Bricker if you have any questions.
MSTAR Universal Screeners
End of Year MSTAR Universal Screeners will be available from April 4th to May 13th. Please be sure that all students being considered for early-entry Algebra 1 take the MSTAR Screener prior to April 22nd so that the Matrix for your campus is complete by April 25th. All other students need to complete testing by May 13th. Should an extension be needed, please notify Lauren Wooldridge.
Dates for Pulling Benchmark Data for Accountability Predictions
Data from secondary spring benchmarks will be pulled on April 12. Teachers planning to use scores for grades should retrieve those scores by April 11 since questions over SEs that have not been taught are zero weighted at this time. Adjustments to the weighting of test questions will be made the morning of April 12. All questions will be weighted in order to obtain the most accurate prediction possible. Principals should expect to receive index score predictions by April 15.
2015-2016 Algebra Pre-Entry Program
Important deadlines are on the horizon. See the link below to ensure your campus is on the right track. Click here
Elementary Schools
OPAS Schedule for 2016-2017
OPAS coordinator, Shanna Wright, has shared this information for next year to help you begin to plan for field trips. Please contact JoLyn Bricker if you have any questions.
EOY DRA/EDL testing windows
All students in grades K - 2 will be given the DRA/EDL test during the April 11 - 22 testing window. Students in grades 3 -5 will be given the DRA/EDL from May 12 - 25. Students in bilingual and dual language classes in grades 3-4 will be given both the DRA and EDL. 5th grade students in 2 way dual language classes and bilingual 5th graders who will possibly be retained will be given both the DRA and EDL. All other 5th graders will just be given the DRA. Please contact JoLyn Bricker or Alma Velez if you have any questions.
Early Reading Indicator Codes
Students in grades K-2 must have an Early Reading Indicator Code. After the April testing window for DRA/EDL, campuses will make sure that each student has an Early Reading Indicator Code. More information will come later from Jolyn Bricker and Soila Hernandez.
PD Opportunity for Pre-K Teachers
Dr. Jean will be hosting a one day seminar in Austin on April 21, 2016 titled: Active Learning Adventure: Let's make it purposeful, plan-ful, and playful. This would be a beneficial training for your teachers. Please consider sending some of your teachers. For more information, contact Schronda McKnight, PreK Coordinator at 209-1061 or schronda.mcknight@bryanisd.org
Professional Development
Principals & APs
CKH Open House
Please remember to mark your calendars for either 4/14 or 4/18 so that your campus leadership team and your Process Champions can attend one of the CKH Showcase Open House sessions at Johnson Elementary. It is not necessary that you all come together, but instead, choose a date that works best for each of you. We will meet from 4-5 pm both dates, and you will come away with a clearer vision of how your Process Champions can become a dynamic force to build CKH momentum on your campuses! Please access this LINK to RSVP for your team members.
Principals
Process Champions
Please take a look at which of your Process Champions are returning to campus next year to determine if you need to solicit other CKH rock stars to join your team. The goal is that for every 20-25 teachers, you have at least 1 PC; however, that number is not always possible for every campus. We are only going to be able to offer one PC training this summer, so I chose the date (June 28 & 29) that is after summer school ends so that our SS teachers would not be left out. Please fill in the names of any new PCs that you'd like to be trained using this LINK and then I will contact them directly about the training and the commitment. Note: If you are at a campus that already has enough PCs to meet the 20:1 ratio, please leave the slots for other campuses to use as we only have 30 spaces available.
Mentor Coordinators
Please fill in the names of the Mentor Coordinators for your campus. Each campus has 5 slots, but our smaller campuses do not need to designate that many. 2 or 3 should work for most elementaries. The Mentor Training will be held Friday, July 29 from 8:30-3:30.
Elementary Principals
CHAMPS TOT
Please fill in the names of the CHAMPs trainers for your campus. Each campus has 3 slots, but our smaller campuses only need to designate 2 trainers. Also, please mark your vote for either doing it on Wed, May 18 or within the month of June
Advanced Academics
Scholars Academy
The Bryan ISD Scholars Program will be offered at Rudder High School from June 12 – June 23, 12:30pm to 3:30pm, Monday through Thursday. In addition, Scholars will meet four Saturdays in the fall prior to the PSAT test, which will be given in October. Dates, times, and location for the Saturday meetings will be given to students in June. The cost to students will be $80 ($40 for Free and Reduced Lunch).
Advanced Academics programs in Bryan ISD have an exciting spring semester ahead of them. Check out the newsletter for a rundown of upcoming events and celebrations of success and tips for engaging gifted students. Please click here to view the Advanced Academics Newsletter.
Bilingual Education
Elementary School Principals
Bilingual Framework
The week of April 11th is a B week for the bilingual framework.
Principals
ESL
Building academic vocabulary requires not just having students memorize word lists, but also giving them opportunities to practice structured classroom dialogue and to think about and clarify word meanings. (August, Carlo, Dressler, & Snow, 2005)
Curriculum & Instruction
Email: leslie.holtkamp@bryanisd.org
Website: www.bryanisd.org
Phone: 979-209-1049
Twitter: @bisdambassador