To register for any PD listed below, please use this RSVP Link.

The Secret Stories of Phonics

K-2 Teachers

A great “catch” to help kids learn their essential phonics skill. All attendees will receive a set of secret stories materials. For more information visit: www.thesecretstories.com

When: October 21st at 4:30

Or

December 8th @ 4:30

Where: Heritage Trails Elem.

1801 S. Bryant

Moore, OK 73160

Phonics and Spelling with Phoneme-Grapheme Mapping

K - 6 teachers

How to teach spelling/phonics/word study with the “Science of Reading”. This training goes in depth on how you can take your instruction to the next level to reach all learners. All attendees will receive their own copy of the book. For more information visit this link.

When: November 2nd at 4:30

Where: Southgate Elementary

500 N. Norman Ave

Moore, OK 73160

Heggerty Phonemic Awareness

Heggerty is a daily systematic phonemic awareness program. We encourage this use in all PK- 3 classrooms. For more information visit this link. Participants will receive a book, if they don’t already have one.

November 9th at 4:15

Zoom

K20 Instructional Strategies Bank

Below are eight tips to help you conduct masterful, action-oriented parent-teacher meetings.

Be Proactive: Sometimes, it can be difficult to find time to meet with parents who can't attend at standard times. Try and overcome some of the obstacles by finding appropriate ways to welcome families and encourage them to become active participants in your classroom. Send invitations in a parent's native language. Encourage them to meet via Zoom or phone call if needed. If childcare is a problem, let parents know they can bring young ones to the meeting. Communication is the best way to create and maintain a relationship with the parents.

Be Welcoming: Set the right tone for your parent-teacher meeting by stating your name and mentioning how happy you are to be teaching their child. Smile warmly, and offer them a seat if in person. If you're looking for an easy way to break the ice, share a positive anecdote about their child. For example, "Did Jeremiah tell you he was the first one to solve the difficult math problem yesterday?"

Explain Objectives and Expectation: Give parents an overview of the goals/expectations for your class. Provide parents with a copy of the classroom policies to review. This often helps avoid any confusion in the future.

Be Prepared: Parents want to see that the teacher knows their child and has a plan for their success. Review your students report cards, STAR Reports and any portfolios before the conferences. Jot down notes about each student, anticipate questions or parental concerns, and reread any prior parent communication so you don't miss a beat.

Create an Action Plan: State the problem you see and explain the plan you have for them to improve. Clearly review what is expected of the parents in order to help you with their child’s plan.

Use the Good-Bad-Good Sandwich: Start by highlighting something positive then move on to the issue. Discuss your action plan, as well as the family plan to correct the behavior or performance, and finish up with another positive statement.

Don't Tolerate Abuse: If a parent becomes abusive (threatens to call principal/superintendent/whoever), simply end the meeting; explain how they can take up the matter with the principal. There's no reason to allow a parent to bully or intimidate you.

Keep Lines of Communication Open: Explain to parents how they can get in touch with you after the meeting, and ask the best way to reach them. Encourage them to ask questions, provide updates, and express concerns as they see fit.

Often times relationships can improve simply by having a conversation, and making parents feel welcome to come to you if something is going on.

RSA Information

RSA Plans need to be signed during Fall Conferences, if meeting in person. If meeting via zoom or phone, please indicate that under the signature section. RSA Plans stay at school and only a copy should ever be sent home. If your school runs out of Yellow RSA APP Forms, email Chelsie Dean for more forms.

There has been some anxiety about implementing the revised 2021 ELA standards. This year's OSTP will be aligned to the 2016 standards, not the revised ones. Please know that I plan to offer professional development on the revised standards this year so we will be prepared. In the meantime, here are some suggestions and considerations offered by the SDE:

• The 2021 standards are based on the 2016 standards and the revisions represent an improvement in clarity, coherence, and purpose.
• You can use the elementary crosswalk document to see the differences between the 2021 and 2016 standards.
• You might identify a handful of the 2021 standards that you want to teach in the 2021-2022 school year in addition to the 2016 standards.
• Since the OSTP will be aligned to the 2021 standards in spring 2023, you will need to teach of the 2021 standards in the 2022-2023 school year.