Teaching and Learning News
December 3-7, 2018
ESL, Bilingual, and Languages Other than English
LWHS Spanish
LWHS Spanish Department
Hernandez! Ludwick! Valadez!
Students are exposed to the language and culture of the Spanish-speaking world at LWHS. Students develop basic proficiency in the four modalities of language learning- listening, speaking, reading, and writing. There is a strong emphasis on vocabulary acquisition and verb conjugation at this level. LWHS Spanish teachers are rocking it!
Bilingual/ESL Important December dates:
Dec. 10 and 12- ESL certification training
Dec. 11- ESL meeting at Collins
Dec. 13- Co-teach/inclusion PD for ELs
Dec. 13- Adult ESL class at miller
6:30-8:00pm
Secondary Math and Science
Enhancing Mathematics through Data Collection Activities for the TI Calculator: CBR & CBL (6-12)
December 11th 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
What does a pendulum look like on a graph? The CBR and CBL are data collection devices that take real-world situations and allow students to look at them quantitatively. Using both TI 84s and Nspire, this day will give teachers a look at the various activities that are available through both devices.
Focus on Algebra: Quadratics Day 1
December 12th 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
How does a three-point shot travel? This and other perplexing questions will be discussed in the interactive session that brings quadratics to life. On day one, participants will explore and take several ready-made activities that will allow students to explore quadratics conceptually.
Focus on Algebra: Quadratics Day 2
January 16th 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
How does a three-point shot travel? This and other perplexing questions will be discussed in the interactive session that brings quadratics to life. On day two, participants will explore and take several ready-made activities that will allow students to explore quadratics conceptually.
Enhancing Mathematics through Desmos: Beginner and Beyond (6-12)
January 17th 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Ever heard of Desmos? Desmos is a free online graphing calculator program that is available on laptops, tablets, and phones. This training will give teachers practical strategies and activities, regardless of whether you are one-to-one or BYOD. Bringing your device is a must!
The Mini-Lesson for Secondary Math (8-12)
January 23rd 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Teachers will utilize the 10-minute mini-lesson for both introductions to new skills and a review of needed skills. This session is appropriate for teachers of eighth-grade math through Calculus. Teachers of diverse learners are encouraged to attend to address the need for differentiation, both with our English Language Learners and our struggling students. The registration fee includes the cost of the book Algebra Problem Strings, which will be provided.
The Law of Exponents and Algebra I Workstations (6-12)
January 30th 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
The STAAR Algebra I data shows that some of the most missed problems this past year involved the law of exponents. This session will focus on ideas and strategies to teach the law of exponents (both with and without technology) with an emphasis on diverse learners. Special education teachers or teachers of resource math are encouraged to attend with their regular ed teachers to help differentiate for our diverse learners. Even teachers of students who strive to achieve the advanced academic rating can benefit from this session. Participants will utilize a plethora of resources for Algebra I Workstations as well.
Upcoming Secondary Science Trainings at Region 11
Literacy in Science
January 29th 8:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.
If you are like many, your students struggle when you ask them to read in the science classroom. Do you wrestle with how to make science relevant when as a content area we are not tested every year? If one or both of those hold true, we invite you to participate in research-based literacy skills designed to increase comprehension in the science classroom. Newly gained skills and strategies can make immediate impacts towards closing the achievement gaps in classrooms and campuses requiring improvement. These newly gained skills also support the students across all disciplines, thus making science more relevant at all grade levels. Participants will receive a copy of the new Gateways to Science Companion Guide: Literacy, written by ESC Region 4. There is a fee for the book for this session. This includes digital access to the content passages.
Secondary Math Person of the Week--Jaime Frame--Howry Intermediate
Secondary Science Person of the Week--Amy Graves--LWHS
Secondary English and Social Studies
Secondary ELAR and Social Studies
Eighth grade ELAR and 7th and 8th grade social studies teachers continue to extend their learning during extended planning sessions this week. ELAR teachers “backwards planned” from their CBA3, looked at data and created a re-teach/reassessment plan from CBA2, and created performance assessments and a formative assessment plan for the upcoming unit. They looked for opportunities for students to practice their learning multiple times before any summative assessments and put those on a calendar. Finally, they began creating lessons for the next unit. Eighth grade social studies spent time with the Lead4ward frequency tables, their TEKs, and their CBA3, looking for ways to spiral back to previous low TEKs and add questions to help students develop test-taking stamina. They also met with Elizabeth Cumbie on Monday to continue their PD on developing focus and using songs, visuals, and other learning tools to anchor in key TEKs.
3rd Grade Reading
Ms. Bates’ third grade students are working very hard to use reading strategies to deepen their understanding of informational text.