SIEC Notes
Southern Indiana Education Center Summer 2016 Newsletter
MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR
Hello!
It is spring, the school year is drawing to a close, and Indiana testing will be over soon. As educators, we are always relentlessly hopeful. Hopeful that we have done the best we can for our students, hopeful that we can do even better next year, hopeful for education in general and that at some point in the near future we will have waded out of the madness to a more rewarding experience for us and our students. The passing of ESSA has given us the idea that could be possible.
I so hope that this is true. I hope that educators have thought seriously about what is needed and are able to articulate that well. I hope that we discover that we do have a voice and there is no better time than now to use it and that ultimately we begin a new path that is rewarding to our students, to us and to our communities. I hope that legislators and all "powers that be" make decisions based solely on the interest of our students. I am excited about the possibilities.
As always, I look forward to serving the SIEC region in ways to empower you to increase morale and find success with your students. Like you, I remain steadfast and relentlessly hopeful. :) Judy
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Professional Development Surveys
In our endeavor to continue to offer high-quality, effective professional development, every year the Indiana Education Service Centers send a PD survey to all of their member schools. There is always advanced planning and many topics are in the works or are being scheduled as this is being written, but we would love to know what YOU think as we continue to plan! Please complete the survey that applies to you (either teacher or admin) and submit by May 6. (See links below.) Completing the survey should take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes, depending on additional comments. We are here for our member schools and any professional development should be shaped to your needs. We look forward to seeing the results!
- High Ability Series with Sue Brady: 05/10/16 (1 remaining day)
- Instructional Coach Networking Click to Register 05/06/16
- Indiana Math Assessments 2015-16: Grades 6-10 (Preparing, Prioritizing, and Practicing) 05/12/16
- Math Best Practices for Grades 7-10 05/13/16 with Bill Reed, IDOE Secondary Math Specialist
- Effective Grading Practices for Secondary Teachers with Dave Nagel 05/13/16
- Special Education Networking Click to Register 05/17/16
- Technology Coach Networking Click to Register 05/20/16
- Active 8: Indiana Process Standards for Mathematics (ICTM) 06/02/16
- SIEC Technology Integration Certification for Teachers, Principals, and Curriculum Directors 06/07/16 through 06/10/16
- Redefining the Principal's Council 06/09/16
- SIEC Help! 504 Plans 06/09/16
- Keys to Content Writing Grades 4-12 06/15/16 through 06/29/16
- Content Literacy with Karen York: Content Literacy Standards and Strategies for the Classroom 06/16/16
- Strategic Thinking in the ELA Classroom for Primary Grade Teachers: Developing & Supporting DOK 3 & 4 with Sandy Adams 06/27/16 & 06/28/16
- Conscious Discipline: A Brain-Based and Practical Approach for Early Learning 07/15/16
- PBIS in Your School: Positive Behavior Interventions and Support 07/19/16 through 07/21/16
- Food Service Seminar 07/21/16
- A Framework for Understanding Poverty with Ruby Payne 07/22/16
- Grading for Learning: Using a Standards-Based Assessment Mindset for Grades 7-12 07/26/16
- Learning with LEGO: Tool or Toy? (GrK-5 Teachers) 07/28/16
- Learning with LEGO: Tool or Toy? (Gr6-8 Teachers) 07/29/16
- Strategic Thinking in the ELA Classroom for Middle & HS Level Teachers: Developing & Supporting DOK 3 & 4 with Sandy Adams 08/01/16 & 08/02/16
- Global Learning Legal Impacts and World Languages 2016 and Beyond with Jill Woerner (IDOE) 08/03/16
- Gathering and Interpreting Evidence of Teacher's Professional Practice: Inter-Rater Reliability 08/19/16
- Content Literacy with Karen York: Content Literacy Standards and Strategies for the Classroom 8/23/16
- Providing Effective Feedback in the Teacher Evaluation Process: Taking it to the Next Level 08/24/16
- Developing Assessments for Student Learning Measures 08/29/16
- New Administrator Teacher Evaluation Training 09/08/16 & 09/09/16
- Save the Date! Special Education Professional Development 09/12 & 09/13/16, 09/23/16
- Project Success! Academic Success for Students with Significant Disabilities 09/14/16
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Save the Dates!
August 30: Making the Most of your Coaching Impact (Instructional Coaches)
August 31/Sept 1: Grades 6-12: Motivate, Collaborate, Differentiate, Celebrate!
September 12 & October: Effective Strategies for Closing the Achievement Gap for Special Education: K-5
September 13 & October: Effective Strategies for Closing the Achievement Gap for Special Education: 6-12
September 16: WIDA -- Digging Deeper into the WIDA ELD Standards and Tools
September 20: IDOE Specialists -- John Wolf (Elem ELA) & Nick Flowers (Elem Science)
September 22: IDOE Specialists -- Jarred Corwin (Sec Science) & Melanie Martz (Sec ELA)
September 23: Effective Special Education Teams: Best Practice for Paraprofessionals and Teachers (Elementary level)
September 26: Test Coordinator Networking
September 29: WIDA -- Academic Language
November 8: Connecting Coaching Leaders and Administrators
November 9: Grades K-5: Making Homework Meaningful
November 10: Grades 6-12: Making Homework Meaningful
SIEC Notes: Summer 2016
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Starlab Scheduling
The SIEC has three Starlab portable planetariums available for loan to member schools. Starlab is an educational tool and a great way to take students on an in-school field trip to study the night sky. Information will be emailed to principals in early May regarding Starlab scheduling for 2016-17. Each school that plans to use Starlab must have a teacher who has been trained in Starlab operations. Details are not yet finalized, but a one-day Starlab Training Workshop will be held in September. Contact Amy at the SIEC if you have questions.
SIEC Notes: Summer 2016
Good to Great
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Google Expeditions/Cardboard
In the video you will see students using Google Cardboard. Although the viewer is made of cardboard and it contains a smartphone (which is included in the beta kit), Google Cardboard is also an APP that can be downloaded to experience all kinds of virtual experiences. Want to experience Paul McCartney on stage in concert? How about experiencing gorillas in the Congo or New Orleans jazz through a 360° immersive video? Just go to the 360° YouTube channel. You can find more information on Cardboard at: https://www.google.com/get/cardboard/apps/. (You don't need the Cardboard viewer to get these to work, but it does enhance the experience.) Be sure to use the arrows on the video to force the video to show you what you would like to see!
Pretty amazing, isn't it? Google has enabled every one of us to take our classrooms to places in the world beyond our budget and our wildest dreams. To get started right away with a more basic approach, if you haven't had your students look at Google maps, this is a good place to start as well. Go to https://www.google.com/maps/streetview/ to see 360° views of places all over the world.
We would love to hear about any virtual trips you take with your classroom! Feel free to share on the SIEC Facebook or Twitter pages. ~DeAnne
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Southern Indiana Education Center
Email: dtaggart@siec.k12.in.us
Website: www.siec.k12.in.us
Location: 1102 Tree Lane Drive, Jasper, In 47546
Phone: 8124826641
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Southern-Indiana-Education-Center/130321986441
Twitter: @SoInEduCtr