News You Can Use
Office of Digital and Professional Learning
CCPS Fall Professional Learning Opportunities
TEACHING WRITING USING THE WRITING WORKSHOP FRAMEWORK
Seeking an opportunity to improve your understanding of writing instruction? Space is still available to enroll in the Teaching Writing Using the Writing Workshop Framework course. This blended learning opportunity for teachers K-5 uses professional articles and classroom footage to demonstrate how a writing workshop approach motivates students and helps them become proficient and independent writers. Ten teachers from across the country model teaching strategies and share reflections on their practice. Six nationally known experts in writing instruction comment on teaching and using the writing workshop approach with elementary students. 3 MSDE credits are available. Register in Eduphoria for more details.
For more information click on the following link: Writing
If you have questions concerning this event, please contact Leanne Meisinger at meisingerl@calvertnet.k12.md.us
All Kindergarten and Grade 1 Teachers
Attention ALL Kindergarten and Grade 1 Teachers: Would you like to learn how to structure literacy centers in a simple way? Need help grouping for targeted instruction? Come join Kate Graham, creator of KinderWheel, to learn how to structure literacy choices during the ELA block. Kate will be presenting on Saturday, Sept. 10th and Sept. 17th from 9-11 am at the BOE. Limited materials will be provided.
Registration is limited so sign up in Eduphoria today!
If you have questions concerning this event, please contact Leanne Meisinger at meisingerl@calvertnet.k12.md.us
SIOP MODEL: AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR LESSON PLANNING AND TEACHING ALL LEARNERS
SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) is a model originally developed to support English Language Learners; however, it is much more than that! SIOP is useful for ALL learners and advocates good teaching through attention to Lesson Preparation; Building Background; Comprehensible Input; Learning, Scaffolding, and Questioning Strategies; Opportunities for Interaction; Practice and Application; Lesson Delivery; and Review and Assessment. Within the SIOP model, teachers will address strategies for how to get your students cooperatively reading, writing, speaking, and listening, using the language of your content - whether that is Social Studies, Science, Math, English, World Language, Fine Arts, etc... This workshop will be held for 5 evening sessions and between sessions there will be a Moodle Rooms component. This is used as an opportunity to share activities you have used and gain ideas from others taking this course. Participants will receive 2 MSDE credits for taking the course.
Sessions will be held in the evenings on September 6, 12, 19, 26, and 29
Register in Eduphoria!
If you have questions concerning this event, please contact Britta Sparks at sparksbr@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Taking a Stand in History Webinar
National History Day has announced the date for their first webinar in a series of webinars that they hold in the fall. The first webinar is all about the theme of this year's event. This webinar will help to provide a great explanation of theme and is open to all audiences.
Teachers also have the ability of assigning this webinar as homework to their students; NHD provides a code at the end of the webinar that students have to present to their teachers to prove they watched it. All webinars are recorded and posted on YouTube and School Tube the following day.
Wednesday, September 7th at 7PM EST.
Register at bit.ly/2017NHD
If you have questions concerning this event, please contact Cecelia Lewis at lewiscl@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Personalized Professional Development Opportunities
The Department of Instruction has complied a list of professional development opportunities to share with teachers as schools move to a personalized PD model in their buildings for the 2016-2017 school year. An excel document with hyperlinks was created with input from all supervisors. This document is located in the Professional Development folder in Office365. This is a living document that will grow as other opportunities are available. There are links to readings, webinars and book studies listed as a part of this document. There are resources to support all grade levels and all content areas. Please use the following link to access the document: Link
CEC 2016 Webinars
Co-Planning: The Keys to Student Success in the Co-Taught Classroom
Thursday, August 25th
4:00-5:00 PM
Through this step-by-step plan, co-teachers will collaboratively identify the instructional standards, assess student knowledge and learner requisites, tailor lessons to meet the individual needs of the students, and promote success for all. You will see how critical conversations between the teachers will promote a collegial environment to become a unified team for the success of the student learners.
After this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Establish parity between co-teachers through conversations resulting in a framework of co-teacher shared beliefs, roles and responsibilities.
- Analyze curriculum standards and identify critical components to meet the needs of the diverse learners in the class.
- Select effective assessment tools to help in identifying the background knowledge and needs of the students.
- Plan lessons to meet the individual needs of the students while addressing the mandated standards.
Who should attend: Special education teachers, general education teachers; school/district administrators
Eduphoria registration link: https://eduphoria.calvertnet.k12.md.us/wshop/default.aspx?cid=7152
Please copy and paste this link into Chrome or Firefox browser.
From Philosophy to Practice: Enacting Authentic School Inclusion
Thursday, Sept. 15
4-5 p.m. ET
This webinar is for educators who are interested in creating authentically inclusive communities in PreK-12 classrooms in which all students are valued and have access to meaningful education in the general education setting. We will provide many strategies related to changing mindsets about students, increasing expectations and student engagement, and maximizing learning for all students. Join us to explore topics of differentiation, humanistic behavioral supports, fading adult support, and increasing independence and peer interdependence.
After this webinar, participants will be able to:
- List 5 rationales for inclusive education.
- Implement 5 strategies to create inclusive learning experiences.
- Discuss new ways to assess the authentic inclusion of students.
Who should attend: Special education teachers, general education teachers; related service providers; school/district administrators
Eduphoria registration link: https://eduphoria.calvertnet.k12.md.us/wshop/default.aspx?cid=7154
Please copy and paste this link into Chrome or Firefox browser.
Addressing Challenging Behaviors and Mental Health Issues: What We Need to Know
Wednesday, Oct. 5
4-5 p.m. ET
This webinar will highlight the important topics discussed in the book Addressing Challenging Behaviors and Mental Health Issues in Early Childhood. You will learn the best practices for recognition of mental health issues in children, sources of challenging behaviors, and promoting social emotional health and appropriate behaviors in children.
After this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify the major causes of mental health issues and challenging behaviors.
- Understand the effects of trauma and individual development on behavior.
- Implement simple strategies to address mental health issues in early childhood
Who should attend: Special education teachers, general education teachers; paraeducators; related service providers; school/district administrators
Eduphoria registration link: https://eduphoria.calvertnet.k12.md.us/wshop/default.aspx?cid=7155
Please copy and paste this link into Chrome or Firefox browser.
Teaching Emotional Regulation: Essential Skills for Students with Disabilities
Tuesday, Nov. 15
4-5 p.m. ET
Schools are faced with a growing population of students who require significant behavioral interventions. However, current special education supports are not designed to address the complicated needs of students with ASD and other emotional and behavioral disabilities. Join us and learn about new compelling research in the area of Emotional Regulation that shows impacted brain region leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the type of therapies needed. We present a comprehensive review of the recent research (2014-2015) and then discuss relative to their treatment implications for educators. New methodologies, backed by current research, will be presented to teach the missing skills needed to manage Emotional Regulation.
After this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Describe emotional regulation and new research on emotional regulation.
- Explain how emotional regulation impacts students with ASD and EBD and leads to difficulty remaining in classrooms.
- Summarize of the limitations of the current programs in place to support students with emotional regulation and will understand why new programs are needed.
- Demonstrate new methods to support students’ emotional regulation.
Who should attend: Special education teachers, general education teachers; school/district administrators; related service providers
Eduphoria registration link: https://eduphoria.calvertnet.k12.md.us/wshop/default.aspx?cid=7157
Please copy and paste this link into Chrome or Firefox browser.
Support Executive Function in the Classroom: Improve Student Learning
Thursday, Dec. 8
4-5 p.m. ET
Executive function describes a set of skills that allow humans to plan, organize, reason, initiate tasks, and self-regulate. These skills develop over an extended period of time, making them vulnerable to interference or challenge. Executive dysfunction greatly impacts student achievement and is often an associated feature of developmental or learning disabilities, or caused by a mismatch between a student's neurodevelopmental stage and the demands of their environment. This webinar will focus on ways in which teachers can use appropriate strategies to support children’s developing executive skills, while helping improve academic performance as well.
After this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Define executive function and executive dysfunction.
- Identify the impact of executive dysfunction on reading comprehension and math ability.
- Demonstrate knowledge of classroom supports for executive function.
- Demonstrate knowledge of evidence-based practices for facilitating the development of executive function.
Who should attend: Special education teachers, general education teachers; school/district administrators; related service providers
Eduphoria registration link: https://eduphoria.calvertnet.k12.md.us/wshop/default.aspx?cid=7158
Please copy and paste this link into Chrome or Firefox browser.
External Professional Learning Opportunities
MSDE Fall Online Professional Development Courses
Fall Online Course Booklet: Click Here
Registration for MSDE online courses will run from July 25 through September 14. All courses offer CPD credit. These asynchronous online courses allow for learning in a flexible way.
The Digital Harbor Foundation's Maker Workshops for Educators
The Digital Harbor Foundation's Maker Workshops for Educators are designed to introduce educators to emerging technologies so that they can help their students to be creators, and not just consumers. The knowledge gained in the workshops can be applied to a variety of age groups and across content areas from math and science, to art and technology. Making for Educators* is an introduction to the maker movement that shares best practices for creating your own makerspace and introduces a variety of maker projects, materials, and methods. Teach storytelling and entry level coding after Interactive Games for Educators and learn how to collect and analyze data about the surrounding world using simple electronics and networks in Internet of Things (IoT) for Educators. Help your students visualize and start making in three dimensions (and bring home a 3D printer for your school) in 3D Printing for Educators*. Prepare your students for a creative, technical world, and have fun learning how to do it! Workshops generally take place Friday evening and Saturday during the school year, and are held mid-week during the summer. To view workshop details, dates, and registration, please visit http://bit.ly/DHF5edu
*Workshops approved for MSDE CPD credit
From the Office of Digital Learning
Digital Tools for the Classroom
Have you started having those back to school dreams? You know the ones where you are standing in front of the classroom and have no idea what you are supposed to do next? We have some ideas for exciting activities that will help you to get to know your students and that are guaranteed to make those dreams disappear!
QR code Scavenger Hunt – do your students bring a device with them in the classroom? Post QR codes in different spaces of your classroom. Have students work in pairs or groups to scan the QR code to find out more about your class policies and procedures. You can create public service announcements quickly using Office Mix on your Powerpoint and upload them to YouTube. From there, create a QR code of the You Tube URL and have your students scan it. You can create a QR code that goes to your class website. The sky is the limit.
Padlet Chat – Students have spent the summer doing lots! Why not create a padlet and let them share their stories of summer adventures? You can download or save, or even export the Padlet as a .csv for later. Not keen on what they did this summer as a topic? Pick your own. Sky is the limit.
Word Clouds – have your students use a word cloud generator to tell you and the class more about themselves. The more times you enter the word the bigger it gets in the cloud. So, if they love soccer, typing the word soccer 5-6 times would make it very prominent in the cloud. You can use Worlde.net or Tagxedo.com. Personally, we like the varied options in Tagxedo a bit better than Wordle.
Interview your friends – Give students a list of questions and have them interview one another. Then, pick a way to have them create a short presentation about each other. Students can do a gallery walk or present another way. Some options: iMovie w/ iPads, PPT w/ laptops, PowToon on computers. The sky is the limit.
Video Time Capsule – Do you love the way that TV shows turn the camera on the actors and they do a “confessional” type self-interview? (Think Modern Family, Parks and Rec, The Office) Have students create a message to their future end-of-the-year self. Ask them to talk about their goals, hopes for the year, and concerns. Archive the videos and take them out at the end of the year to show how they have grown.
About Us
Jackie Jacobs, Supervisor of Digital Learning, Professional Development, New Teachers
Heidi Kaminsky, Online Learning Teacher Specialist
Wynne Maksimovic, Assistive Technology Specialist
Jennifer Sturge, Library Media and Digital Learning Teacher Specialist
Email: jacobsj@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Website: calvertnet.k12.md.us
Phone: 410-535-7621
Twitter: @ccpsdigital