May, 2024 Newsletter
Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment Office
MLP (My Learning Plan) Update
Professional Growth Plan (PGP), formally labeled MLP
Your Professional Growth Plan (PGP) formerly known as My Learning Plan (MLP) is an online platform that the district utilizes to support the documentation of your professional learning. With over 300 users, the Instructional Facilitators at each building will begin to support documentation at the building level. Their knowledge of the wonderful PD in each building, coupled with building leadership support, will assist in making our system more efficient.
It is extremely important for you to assist in maintaining an accurate record of hours that the district submits to PTSB each year. Please reference this document to review your current portfolio. If you notice discrepancies or have questions, please contact your building IF.
Reminders:
Check and enroll in any training you attended during the 2023-2024 school year, prior to summer checkout, as Deidre will be sending the hours to PTSB in June.
Please approach your building IF initially with questions about MLP. They will send you to Deidre if the questions cannot be answered. For instance, IFs have a document shared with me for any trainings staff would like in MLP, they can assist you with enrolling in attended trainings, etc.
All Special Education staff and paraprofessionals are to work through Aimee Collins Kemp in regards to MLP.
The Basics of MLP
If you sign up for PTSB credits offered at the training, please do not have them put in MLP. PTSB receives those directly from the host.
If there is an opportunity for college credits, and you purchase those credits, you must send proof of the college credit transcripts directly to PTSB.
Annually check in on your PTSB transcripts to ensure you are on track for renewal.
I get to meet with IFs once a month and we will definitely celebrate in the wonderful, and sometimes silent, knowledge of your amazing professional growth.
Thank you for your continued growth.
Literacy Updates
Celebration: Our own Cami Kostreva has authored a chapter in the book Cultivating Literate Citizenry Through Interdisciplinary Instruction. We are so proud of you, Cami.
Our district literacy coalition celebrated another year of hard work and focus on PK-12 literacy. We look forward to the 2-24-2025 goals:
1. continuing the K-12 Disciplinary Literacy initiative;
2. solidifying MTSS processes; and,
3. focusing upon learning acceleration over remediation to improve ALL students' access to rigorous grade-level, Tier I instruction.
Summer Teacher Growth Opportunities
Educators Needed for WY-ALT Reviews
In July 2024, the WDE will convene educators to review WY-ALT Assessment Items and to set the new cut scores for the new WY-ALT Math assessment being administered this spring. More information can be found on the Superintendent's Update, WDE Seeks Educators for WY-ALT Reviews. Reviewers can be any general education educator, special education educator, content specialist, academic coach, curriculum director, or administrator.
Apply by completing this survey.
Indian Education for All PD Opportunity
The Buffalo Bill Center of the West is offering an on-site Indian Education for All Teacher Professional Development course from June 2-5, 2024. This is a great chance to connect with Indigenous knowledge keepers, Plains Indian Museum exhibitions, and museum staff. See the attached flier for details. Please share with any interested colleagues.
Cost is $45 and earns 2 PTSB credits. See attached for details. Use this link to register - http://tickets.centerofthewest.org/selection.aspx?item=224.
Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Regards,
Heather
Heather Bender
Native Education Outreach Specialist
p: 307.578.4096
e: heatherb@centerofthewest.org
Indian Education for All Professional Development
The 2024-2025 CTE Professional Development grant is now open!
This grant may be used to send one or more Career and Technical Education (CTE) professionals who teach a Perkins Funded Program of Study to a state or national conference, training or technical assistance related to innovation in CTE, developing career pathways, integration of academics and CTE, federal accountability and reporting requirements for Perkins, or that may result in an industry-recognized credential for the educator. The grant can be used to bring a speaker or trainer to your school or college to facilitate a CTE content-specific training (training must not be one-day or short term). Training must be open to other CTE educators in the state to attend. All costs must be directly tied to the CTE program, as approved in the local Perkins application plan. This is a competitive grant and recipients will be awarded up to $2,000, based on a rubric scoring after the grant closing date. Each grantee must apply separately. The recipient will be reimbursed per an agreement with their district/institution unless otherwise requested. This application will be open for submission until midnight on April 30, 2024. Please note, this grant does not cover food and/or beverages, per diems, fuel, car rental, or mileage. Conference registrataions will only be reimbused at the member rate. **PLEASE NOTE** All professional development opportunities must have a start date later than the effective date of the fully executed agreement and be completed before July 1, 2025. For more information, contact April Wickham, CTE Education Consultant at 307-777-6808 or april.wickham1@wyo.gov
Gardening Grant
Feeding Laramie Valley is administering a grants program in association with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture for Specialty Crop projects throughout the state. Qualifying entities include schools, so if you could help forward this information to the appropriate parties at the schools in your district that would be very helpful. Projects which can be funded include starting new gardens and growing projects and improving existing growing facilities. Please find details about the program attached. For questions specific to the grants program, please contact lina@feedinglaramievalley.org.
Teachers, Parents, Students: Free Access to MetaMetrics Lexile and Quantile Career Database
The Wyoming Department of Education, in partnership with MetaMetrics, provides free resources to Wyoming teachers, parents, and students to help engage students in learning that will support their career path. Lexile and Quantile measures are reported on the WY-TOPP Individual Student Reports (ISRs) that schools send to parents or guardians. Gain free, premium access to the Lexile & Quantile Hub.
As students explore possible career choices, sometimes as early as middle school, Lexile and Quantile measures can help them understand the difficulty of reading materials and math tasks they will likely encounter when they enter a field. These resources can help motivate students and structure their path forward. More information about the Lexile and Quantile Career Database is available here.
Other recent additions to the Hub include the Lexile Find a Decodable Book tool and Lexile Decodable Passages, which are specially designed reading materials intended to help early learners develop their phonics skills and become proficient readers.
Several short, asynchronous training videos on how to access and use the Hub’s tools are available here.
For more information, contact Lori Pusateri-Lane, WDE English Language Arts Consultant, at 307-777-8595 or lori.pusateri-lane@wyo.gov.
Native American Education Conference
The Native American Education Conference registration link is now live. We ask that each of your staff register themselves individually, and they can use this promo code: FremontSchoolStaff.
Earn 2 Wyoming PTSB credits or 28 Montana OPI Renewal Units! Seats filling fast!
Registration Link
Teacher Short Reads
AI, Cooperative Learning, Fundamental 5
Fundamental 5 PowerZone: Commit yourself!!
ChatGPT and Beyond: How to Handle AI in Schools
View our Solar Eclipse Wakelet collection!—This collection has resources broken up by grade level. There are teaching resources for K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12 as well as resources specific to viewing the eclipse.Canva News — You can now make elements appear or disappear at specific moments with element timing!
2023-2024 Administration and Teacher Reads
Recalibrate the Culture: Our Work, Our Why, our Values
This book provides the necessary strategies and tools to assist all teachers, principals, and district office administrators in exploring our inner selves to understand the role we each play in how we can impact the climate and culture of an entire campus when we are strategic and aligned in our practices (Amazon 2023).
Redefining Student Accountability: A Proactive Approach to Teaching Behavior Outside the Gradebook
Author and trusted assessment expert Tom Schimmer shares a three-tiered framework and trauma-informed, restorative, and schoolwide approaches to teaching responsibility, nurturing student accountability, and addressing student behavior in a way that teaches students the life skills they need to thrive in the classroom and in the larger world (Amazon 2023).
The AI Infused Classroom by Holly Clark
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of artificial intelligence (AI) models, like ChatGPT?
- How do ChatGPT and other large language models change things like the writing process?
- What do we need to understand about large language models (LLMs) and AI’s ability to transform how—and how quickly—we can communicate with our students and peers?
- How can we teach students to use AI appropriately and in ways that enhance their learning experiences?
Amazon.com, 2024
FCSD #1 Instruction and Behavior
FCSD #1 Instructional Framework
“Three Big Ideas That Drive the Work of a PLC The essence of the PLC process is captured in three big ideas:
1. The purpose of our district is to ensure all students learn at high levels.
2. Helping all students learn requires a collaborative and collective effort.
3. To assess our effectiveness in helping all students learn we must focus on results—evidence of student learning—and use results to inform and improve our professional practice and respond to students who need intervention or enrichment.”
― Richard DuFour, Learning by Doing: A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work
Win Win Discipline Pillars
When one understands the three pillars of Win Win, the students and the teachers Win.
It is crucial to classroom management to identify and respond to student behaviors and position with a range of carefully crafted Win Win procedures and structures (Kagan, 2004)
Fundamental Five
The Fundamental Five provides a concrete guideline to help teachers improve instruction. "F5" increases the level of cognition in a classroom by channeling teachers actions into tangible practices which improve student retention of content.
"Super Star Teachers do not teach dramatically different; the slight differences create huge increase in student achievement." - Sean Cain (2022)
Professional Development Updates
School Counselors and Principals!
GEAR UP is hosting a Why Host A Wyoming College Application Campaign event webinar for high school counselors, principals, and GEAR UP staff on Friday, April 5 at 10 a.m. via Zoom.
Annual Native American Education Conference
The 15th Annual Native American Education Conference (NAEC) will be held at Central Wyoming College in Riverton, August 6–8. This year's theme is Community Wisdom and Engagement: Teaching Resilience to Our Indigenous Youth. Presentation proposals are being accepted through April 1. Registration opens soon, check the 2024 NAEC page.
WYO Education Professional Development Portal
The WDE has partnered with PTSB and UW to launch the new WYO Education Professional Development Portal. Every Wyoming educator has an account that will be used to register for professional development opportunities and track completions.
WDE Latest News, Professional Development, Etc.
The WDE aims to meet you where you are to keep you informed on the latest news, professional development, and other opportunities for educators and students in Wyoming. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (Twitter).
Standards Updates
UPCOMING REVIEWS OF STANDARDS:
- The World Language Standards are currently in committee for review.
- Standards in ELA, Social Studies, or Career & Vocational Education. The SBE is currently evaluating the timeline of future standards reviews, including ELA, SS, & CTE (CVE). Once that timeline is finalized, it will be presented for approval at a future SBE meeting and will be updated on the WDE Standards page in the Standards Review Process paragraph.
District and State Assessments
WDE Assessment Windows (Different Form)
WYTOPP Dates and Authoring Tool
Important information has been released about the WY-TOPP Writing Assessments. The Assessment Calendar has been updated and all state testing windows can be found on the Assessment Calendar page
The 2020 Wyoming Math Extended Standards, for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, must be fully implemented at the start of the school year in the curriculum, instruction, and district’s assessment system. The WY-ALT Math test, to be administered in spring 2024, will assess students for the first time on these standards. Refer to the 2024+ WY-ALT Math Assessment Blueprint for curriculum planning.
WYTOPP Assessment Authoring Tool
Write Classroom Assessments
- Reference the Wyoming Authoring Condensed User Guide to begin creating and sharing assessment items for all 10 content areas of Wyoming Standards.
- The items will align to the Wyoming Content and Performance Standards or the Wyoming Extended Standards.
- The full Wyoming Authoring User Guide is also available for detailed information about using the Authoring Tool.
- The Authoring Tool is located in the “Before Testing” column of the Educators section on the Wyoming Assessment Portal.
Item Authoring Training Webinar Recordings
- The WY-TOPP Item Writing and the WY-ALT Item Writing webinar recordings are available on the Wyoming Assessment Portal.
- View the Authoring Tool Training recording for guidance on how to create items and assessments within the tool.
For more information, contact the Wyoming Help Desk at 888-897-8024 or wyohelpdesk@cambiumassessment.com.
Content Support
ELA, Social Studies, Science
Newsela (ELA, Social Studies, Science)
We're creating new back-to-school resources and weekly programming for your teachers throughout the school year with recommendations to drive the best outcomes with Newsela, to:
- Build background knowledge to see greater confidence in your learners
- Practice literacy skills to improve student reading comprehension
- Bring more diverse perspectives into your instruction to experience a more lively and inclusive classroom
This month, we are excited to offer a variety of resources to help teachers enhance their skills, as well as engage students post-testing season. I am confident you and your teachers will find As the end of the school year approaches, we know you're working hard to wrap up the year on a high note. Here are some resources and tips to help your teachers and students finish the year strong:
Using Newsela during summer school - Using Newsela during summer school can support educators looking to elevate student connections to learning. Here are three ways that you can use Newsela to spark joy in learning for your students over the summer.
Keeping students engaged after testing season - Did you miss our workshops on ending the school year strong with Newsela? If so, you can view the recordings here:
Tip of the Month - Did you know that all of Newsela’s articles feature a Write Prompt that teachers can customize to align with their instruction? You can learn more about the Write Prompt feature here.
NewsELA: Social Studies, ELA, Science, World Languages
Efficacy and Impact: We’ve been working closely with customer districts to put Newsela to the test so we can confidently support administrators like you in getting the results you want. We’re proud to report the findings of four ESSA Tier II efficacy studies, which show that users of Newsela products saw the equivalent of 3 additional months of literacy growth in ELA and 10 additional months of social studies instruction.
New! Independent Reading Challenge for authentic skills practice: This March, as spring testing looms over us, I encourage your teachers to ask students to participate in the March challenge to help them practice literacy skills on their own by reading about topics that interest them. Teachers can then see their students’ results on the challenge landing page and learn more about their reading preferences in the Reading Summary tab of their Binder.
Leveraging Newsela for Summer Learning: Summer is going to be here before we know it, which means it’s time to consider how to best engage, excite, and accelerate student learning during those critical summer months. Watch our on-demand recording of Accelerate Summer Learning with Newsela ELA and check out our Novel and Book Studies to pair Newsela texts with your summer reading lists.
SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
The New SPED Teacher Boot Camp will be held July 29–30. New SPED teachers with three years or less experience should attend this pre-WAVE Boot Camp in Riverton to engage in topics like designing and delivering specially designed instruction (SDI), classroom strategies, supporting paraprofessionals, and behavior strategies to support all students. Register here.
The 2024 Week of Academic Vision for Excellence (WAVE) Conference will be held July 31–August 2, at the Central Wyoming College in Riverton. Created for special education directors, administrators, special and general educators, parents, partnering agencies, and other stakeholders the conference will cover topics such as inclusion, literacy, specially designed instruction, behavior, and special education law. Register here.
OUR MYSTERY SCIENCE MEMBERSHIP
Fremont County School District 1 has a membership to Mystery Science until June 30, 2025.
How do I get my free account?
1. Use your school email address to sign up here:
https://mysteryscience.com/start?district_id=86093.
Already have a Mystery Science account? Great - just click the link above to add your existing account to your district's membership.
2. Explore the Mystery Science website:
Standards-aligned science units
Seasonal science & mini-lessons
Activities, assessments, and much more!
3. Choose a lesson to try out with your students by visiting mysteryscience.com!
Social Studies Resources
- The Stanford History Education Group offers research-backed alternatives for assessing students' historical thinking skills and knowledge that can be used flexibly as bell ringers, exit slips, summative tests, and more.
- Thinking Nation offers free resources to help students mature into thinking citizens, equipped with the essential skills to participate in a robust democracy. Relying on constitutional principles as the foundation, students will be empowered to analyze information effectively, think historically, and write persuasively to build a more democratic future.
- March is Women's History Month and here are some resources:
- Women’s History Month Resources (iCivics)
- Women's History Month Resources (Facing History and Ourselves Blog)
- Women & The Vote Educator’s Resources (Women’s National Democratic Club)
- Remarkable Legacies of American Women (National Park Service)
- Women Artists Educator Resources (National Museum of Women in the Arts)
- Women’s History Month (History Channel)
- Women’s History Month Podcast Episode (C-Span in the Classroom)
Student tours of the Judicial Learning Center (JLC) and the Supreme Court building can be scheduled in conjunction with tours of the State Capitol building and the Wyoming State Museum, and offer students a holistic view of Wyoming and its government. The Wyoming Judicial Branch offers educational resources, including a remote JLC experience and supplementary lesson plans. Additional information can be found here.
Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment Director
dmeyer@landerschools.org
Website: https://www.landerschools.org/Curriculum
Location: 863 Sweetwater Street, Lander, WY, USA
Phone: 307-332-4711