BASD Coaching Rundown
January 2022
Happy New Year, BASD!
Monthly Raffle Winners
Mary Boyle-Fedor (Learning Support Teacher, BAHS)
Christa Calabro (3rd Grade Teacher, Benner)
Jeff Hodgson (Reading Specialist, Pleasant Gap)
Sabrina Sandoval (Gifted Teacher, District-Wide)
Nicole Tucker (Art Teacher, BAMS)
Amy Wilson (2nd Grade Teacher, Bellefonte)
Prize Selection Form: https://forms.gle/b5gfarRmo11utZoW8
WORDLE in the Classroom?
The New York Times for the cute tale.
Of course, as teachers, we're always trying to hijack the latest trends for our own (nefarious?) use in the classroom. WORDLE is surely a game students of all ages will be interested in playing! Visit the following link (shoutout to Sarah Rodgers to finding this!) to create a custom WORDLE related to your own content: https://mywordle.strivemath.com/?word=yijwzq
In addition to the link above, there are a number of different adaptations for use in the classroom, including similar games that incorporate math concepts (number sentences, order of operations, times tables, prime numbers), and even a Spanish version of WORDLE. Variations are summarized in this blog post: https://learninginhand.com/blog/wordle-games-for-the-classroom
Lastly, check out this brief ASCD article written by Nell Duke that summarizes what WORDLE reminds us about effective phonics and spelling instruction.
MAP Testing, Round Two
The official Winter MAP Testing Window is scheduled for the week of February 7th. Teachers in grades 1-8 will assess their students in Math and Reading. Grade 4 and Grade 8 teachers should also assign and plan to administer the Next Generation Science Standards Assessment during this window. The Language test is available and optional for teachers to pilot as well.
The tests to administer are listed below:
Grade 1: Growth Math K-2, Growth Reading K-2
Grades 2-5:Growth Math 2-5, Growth Reading 2-5
Grades 4: NGSS Science 3-5
Grades 6-8: Growth Math 6+, Growth Reading 6+
Grade 8: NGSS Science 6-8
Please take some time this week to review the MAP testing procedures in order to be ready to test. Please reach out to Allison or Dr. Vancas if you any questions leading up to the assessment.
For additional help, please check out the tutorials found at https://login.nwea.org/login/. Once on the Professional Learning tab, click on Courses. Here the "Get Yourself Ready to be a Proctor" and the "Get Your Students Ready" courses may be most helpful for those that need a refresher.
Data! Data! Data!
With the second round of MAP testing on the horizon, it's important that we learn the data available to us and how to use it to for future planning. While not all teachers will have MAP data at their fingertips, we all have assessments of some sort! Therefore, we encourage you to give data-driven decision making a particular focus during the month of February.
Newsletter Challenge
- Reflect upon a recent assessment via this brief form.
- Set up a time to chat one-on-one with a coach about data. The chat can be geared to your specific data/assessment needs.
- Stop by one of our "Open Door Data Days" during the month of February. We will be traveling to each building and will bring snacks! More information will be shared soon.
- Visit this Youtube Playlist and watch one or more of the videos. There are several informative videos that address common questions, such as: Is growth dependent on prior years' growth? Is it possible for high achieving students to show growth? There are also many videos that review how to navigate the various reports within the PVAAS system. Send an email to a coach with the link to the video you watched along with a brief reflection. You might also consider using the videos as an external trade time opportunity if you're still in need of hours.
STEM Spotlight
Some people consider themselves naturally creative, and others don't, but in reality every person has a creative spot in their brain that can be nurtured. Coming up with new, novel ideas takes some out-of-the-box thinking and letting your brain have space to explore. Encouraging all our kids to brainstorm, think big, use different resources, and really just give them time and space to come up with new ideas is important in the STEM process. Some of the top companies in the world give their employees time to simply be creative and some great ideas (post-its, gmail) have come from that time. Encouraging creativity in problem solving at all grade levels will make our students better employees and problem solvers in the world. Check out two articles below that address the importance of creativity:
Creativity in the Real World @ Google and 3M
Creativity is the Secret Sauce to STEAM
Also, if you haven't had a chance to check them out yet, click on the links below to access the recent STEM newsletters:
Bellefonte READS...about The National Parks!
So far the committee has raised over $14,000 via grants and business donations this year, which will be used to provide 1,300+ copies of the books below for FREE to our community! Check out the link below for a YouTube playlist featuring the big book reveal and a few personalized videos from this year's authors:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXHsutd1oY8J3OvXvrL6VOeBNqTCeFT18
Say Cheese!
Taking a Gamble with STEM
Students on the BAMS Destination Imagination team recently solved an intense instant challenge. They had 5 minutes to build a structure using limited unconventional materials (straws, index cards, pipe cleaners, etc.) that would support 10 poker chips at 3 different heights. SUCCESS!
Spirit of Bellefonte Masks
Students in Kat Momenzadeh's 10th grade English class read the novel Things Fall Apart. In the book, tribal elders wear masks during judicial hearings that represent the spirits of the clan. Students had to figure out what constituted the "spirit of Bellefonte" and depict it symbolically on a mask.
BAMS Hot Chocolate Bar
Strawberry DNA
Snow STEM
Bocce Team Unites!
Trade Time Reminders
The purpose of Trade Time is to encourage you to take ownership of your own professional growth by engaging in learning experiences that are directly applicable to you and your students. In a nutshell, Trade Time provides you with the opportunity to attend sessions outside of contractual hours and then “trade” the time you earn in place of the last district-wide Professional Learning Day. The 2021-2022 Trade Time day is scheduled for May 27th, which is the Friday before Memorial Day. Please click on the document below to view important trade time reminders and links to the various forms you may need to complete the process.
Upcoming Trade Time Opportunities
Internal Trade Time Opportunities:
Marketing via Instagram
Thursday, April 7th
3:30-4:30 p.m.
In this session, participants will learn strategies on how to use Instagram as a marketing tool. They will also receive tips on how to teach students these skills and provide students with the knowledge that Instagram can be a business tool and not just a hobby activity.
The Art of Photography Composition and Editing
Thursday, April 21st and Thursday, April 28th
3:30-4:30
In this session, participants will learn the art of taking a photograph and the basic composition behind it. They will also learn how to professionally edit a photograph using Photoshop and the average editing software. This practice of creativity can then be transferred to lesson planning, point of view discussions, and photo journalism.
Recognizing Gifted Learners (Gifted PL Series, Part 1)
Self-Paced via Pear Deck
In this session, participants will engage in a self-paced Pear Deck presentation to learn more about the characteristics of gifted students. Not only will they learn critical info about recognizing and supporting gifted learners, but they'll see how the student-paced version of Pear Deck works. Additionally, participants will reflect upon the most prevalent myths in gifted education and understand why it's important to differentiate for this unique group of learners.
*Note: This is the same presentation offered at district-wide PL days over the past 2 years. If you already attended this session on a district PL day, you can not participate in this for trade time. You must attend this session BEFORE before attending Part 2 or Part 3 of the Gifted PL Series.
Differentiating for Gifted Students (Gifted PL Series, Part 2)
Self-Paced via Pear Deck
In this session, participants will engage in a self-paced Pear Deck presentation to learn about best practices for differentiating for gifted learners. A variety of strategies that can be implemented with this unique group of students will be shared.
*Note: This session is an extension to a previously offered training titled, "Recognizing Gifted Learners." Teachers signing up for the gifted differentiation session must have attended the first session in the series (see description above).
Developing a Gifted Differentiation Plan (Gifted PL Series, Part 3)
In this self-paced session, participants will develop a Gifted Differentiation Plan for one of their current gifted students. Samples and a template for completing the plan will be provided as part of the session.
*Note: This session is an extension to two previously offered trainings titled, Recognizing Gifted Learners and Differentiating for Gifted Students. Teachers signing up for the this 3rd session in the series must have completed both of the previous sessions (see descriptions above).
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External Trade Time Opportunities:
Remember that you must submit an External Trade Time Approval Form in advance if you plan to engage in any of the activities for trade time credit.
Developing Strong Readers: Proven Practices for Tier 2 Intervention
Tuesday February 8, 2022 - 4:00pm
Webinar hosted by Core
While most elementary-age children learn to read well when they receive strong Tier 1 instruction based on the science of reading, every classroom has students who need additional help. Join Drs. Carrie Thomas Beck, Michelle Hosp, and Monica Ng for this timely webinar to learn practical solutions for providing Tier 2 interventions to students struggling to learn to read. They’ll share:
- An overview of a three-tiered system of support
- How to use diagnostic data to plan Tier 2 interventions
- The components of effective Tier 2 interventions
- Tips for monitoring student progress in Tier 2 interventions
Spirit Work and the Science of Collaboration
Monday, February 14, 2022 - 3:30pm
Webinar hosted by Corwin
Based around the stories of 8 school districts, this webinar with Michael Fullan and Mark Edwards will share their insights about how deep caring for others linked to collaboration can achieve amazing results under complex conditions. Through powerful case studies and vignettes, the authors will discuss how spirit and collaboration represent revolutionary potential for education and pave the way to a brighter future.
Teaching, Persevering, & Thriving in 2022
Tuesday, February 22, 2022 - 3:00pm
Webinar hosted by Corwin
The continued challenges of the pandemic have brought more unexpected changes to a destabilizing school year. In this webinar, school leaders Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey focus on addressing current demands around student behavior, teacher morale, and compassionate leadership.
Answers to the Most Pressing Questions About Teaching
Monday, March 7, 2022 - 3:30pm
Webinar hosted by Corwin
In this webinar, the authors of the Five to Thrive series will share actionable answers to the most pressing questions about teaching reading, writing, math, and creating a classroom community. New and veteran educators alike will come away with timely, up-to-date guidance that ensures they continue to deliver the best learning experiences for their students. Administrators will also find this session useful as they plan induction programs as well as to learn helpful tools to help support their staff.
Collective Equity
Monday, March 14, 2022 - 3:30pm
Webinar hosted by Corwin
Collective Equity is the catalyst for transforming learning environments into equitable spaces for increasing engagement, accelerating achievement, and enhancing belongingness and self-efficacy for all students. The Collective leverages relational trust where all members can individually and collectively show up in the fullness of who they are. When the Collective Equity Framework is implemented, the learning community is strengthened through a laser-like focus on increasing the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and stamina of educators in order to implement culturally fortifying practices that are visible.Culturally Relevant Math Tasks in the Classroom
Monday, March 21, 2022 - 3:30pm
Webinar hosted by Corwin
In this webinar, the authors of Engaging in Culturally Relevant Math Tasks will explore how teachers can find, adapt, and implement math tasks that engage and empower students by helping them learn and understand math more deeply and make connections to themselves, their communities, and the world around them.
What Adolescent Learners Need for Good Reading Comprehension That Is Often Ignored
On Demand Webinar
Webinar hosted by Core
When it comes to reading comprehension, teachers generally think of vocabulary, comprehension skills, and background knowledge as the critical components for students entering the middle grades. While this is true, we’re learning it’s an incomplete picture. Reading fluency is also vital to becoming a competent reader. During this on-demand webinar, Dr. Claude Goldenberg will discuss reading fluency and aspects of reading fluency that are often ignored once students are no longer in the stage of early literacy development. You will learn:
- Why reading fluency matters for adolescent readers
- Why reading fluency might particularly matter for English learners
- The four key components of reading fluency
- Strategies to help both English learners and non-English learners experiencing reading difficulties due to a lack of reading fluency