ESC TODAY
Timely Information and Resources for Region 11 Schools
April 26, 2017
ESC TODAY is published twice a month on the first and third Wednesdays throughout the school year except during holidays and summer break.
Deadline Extended for Teachers to Enter the Real Video Challenge
The deadline for submitting videos to our Real Teaching Video Library has been extended to May 17. We have received many awesome examples of high-impact strategies but would love to see what is happening in more classrooms.
Any teacher who submits a video (even if it’s not selected for the library) will receive two free CPE hours for each video submitted, a t-shirt, and a chance to win a variety of prizes, including an ESC Region 11 coaching contract for the school.
Teachers don’t need any special equipment or editing skills; it is simple to create a 4-5 minute video from a phone or tablet.
More information is available on the Real Video Challenge website.
Connect2Texas: Finishing the Year with Learning and Fun
It's hard to believe the school year is winding down. Are you at a loss for what to do? Should you emphasize fun or attempt to squeeze in some last-minute learning?Connect2Texas can provide both!
If you are looking for STAAR prep, topic reviews, hands-on science experiments, fun art projects, or real-world learning experiences from experts in the field, we have it ALL! Here are just some of the May programs:
- ART TEKS - Matisse Burger Collage (Grades 3-5), Seeing the Wind (Grades 1-6), and American Still Life (Grades 2-12)
- SOCIAL STUDIES TEKS - Conflicting Evidence: 24 Hours After the Kennedy Assassination (Grades 5-8), Tracing Your Family Roots: Beginning Genealogy (Grades 4-7), and Myths & Unsolved Mysteries of the Texas Revolution (Grades 4-7)
- SCIENCE TEKS - STEM in Action: Scribblebots (Grades 4-8), Observing the Sun (Grades 1-12), and Animal Encounters: Reptile Lifestyle (Grades 1-6)
- READING/WRITING/LANGUAGE ARTS TEKS - Hank the Cowdog's Ranching Life & Livestock (Grades 3-8)
- MATH TEKS - Math at the Zoo (Grades 3-5)
- US HISTORY/US GOVERNMENT/WORLD HISTORY TEKS - 28 Days at the Piccadilly: JFK, Dallas, and the Civil Rights Movement (Grades 9-12)
- OTHER FUN + LEARNING OPTIONS - Full STEAM ahead for Summer Break! (Grades 4-12), Mother’s Day Special - Inspired by Mom (Grades K-1), and National Wildflower Week (Grades 2-5)
Connect2Texas has more than 300 programs available in May, so be sure to sure to check out the schedule on the Connect2Texas website. Most programs are also available "by request" to meet specific bell schedules.
Connect2Texas providers help educators enhance classroom content, provide access to resources and customized topics, and work with special scheduling needs. We hope you will utilize these Texas-based providers and their TEKS-aligned program opportunities. Questions? Contact Lori Hamm-Neckar, (817) 740-7516.
Cybersecurity Summit to be held at ESC Region 11 on May 8
This free event is limited to the first 200 participants who register.
Download a flyer for more information.
Math4Texas.org Provides Parent-Friendly Help for Math Concepts
Math4Texas.org is a FREE K-8 website that provides parent-friendly explanations, example problems, digital tools, and videos by grade level to help parents understand the math concepts and skills that their children are learning.
Please add the Math4Texas.org link to your website and include it in communications to parents.
Write4Texas Summer Conference for Secondary Content-area Teachers
2017 TEKS Resource System Conference
The 2017 TEKS Resource System Curriculum Conference, August 1-3, is the premier professional development venue for Texas. Whether you're a teacher or an administrator, this conference has something for everyone. Attendees will experience a variety of sessions related to academic content, leadership, assessment, differentiation, and instructional coaching. The keynote speaker is Aric Bostick.
Registration details are available on the TEKS Resource System Conference website.
What's Happening in Region 11 Schools?
- Emily Eagle, Keller ISD, TEAR Student Scholarship (shown in the photo with Richard Sullivan, teacher of students with visual impairments),
- Kofi Sarkodie, Mansfield ISD, Outstanding Student of the Year, and
- Jill Richards, Birdville ISD teacher, Orientation and Mobility Best Practices Award.
Denton ISD kindergartner Brenden Flowers signed a teaching contract for the 2033-2034 school year as part of TEACH Denton, a program that identifies students who exhibit natural talents and traits used in teaching. A student in Stephanie McNeely’s class at Evers Park Elementary, Flowers signed the intent-to-hire form in front of his fellow kindergarten students.
The promissory letter from the district stipulates that upon graduation from high school and completion of an education degree (including appropriate certifications), the district would accelerate Flowers through the hiring process to begin teaching at the district for the 2033-34 school year.
TEACH Denton, in its second year, serves to raise awareness about teaching as a profession. Read more about TEACH Denton.
Uplifting Educator Stories: Share Your Education Success Story with TEA
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has launched a statewide social media campaign to tell the remarkable stories of Texas educators. Uplifting Educator Stories are those that demonstrate rigorous and rewarding classroom experiences, student achievement, and student human interest going beyond success in a typical class or on a test.
If you have ideas for this project, email the story and photo to Lauren Callahan. A new story will be selected each week and shared statewide via TEA social media accounts using the hashtag #IAmTxEd.
More information is available on TEA's #IamTXEd website.
Congratulations to Sarah Altom, Weatherford ISD!
Join Our Social Community
Stay connected to ESC Region 11 through our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts, as well as our blogs, and email lists/listservs. Join the ESC Region 11 pages, and/or find the specific group that meets your needs. Browse through the list and click on the one you are interested in joining.
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ESC Region 11
Email: communications@esc11.net
Website: esc11.net
Location: 1451 Cherry Lane, White Settlement, TX 76108, United States
Phone: (817)740-3600
Facebook: facebook.com/ESCRegion11
Twitter: @ESCRegion11