Humanities Voice
Monthly Newsletter - Professional Learning April 2018
Teacher Appreciation Week - May 7 - 11, 2018
We want to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week and #ThankATeacher!
Teachers provide so much to our students—inspiration, motivation and, ultimately, their futures. Teachers change the lives of millions of children every day, and their work and impact extends far beyond the boundaries of the classroom. Thank you for all you do, not only during school hours but after school, weekends and days off!
Click here for offers to verified brands/travel/food with discounts to teachers year round.
Here to Hear
Here to Hear Response: Membean at GCISD
Thank you to one of our middle school teachers for reaching out to us about increasing student engagement, with Membean, in the classroom. Our investigative team researched some options and are working on a future podcast. Teachers, if you have an idea you would like to share, email us! In the interim, please consider:
1) Writing assignments with a meaningful twist.
2) How can students use what they learn in Membean to design their own student-created vocabulary podcast? Examples of podcasts.
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We are always looking for your questions and areas of interest to help guide the topics for our monthly screencasts. Wondering how to incorporate word study into your already packed ELA block? Questions about unpacking Embedded Assessments with your students? Wondering what type of food is best for the brain? Send in your questions here.
CLICK HERE to see a list of humanities summer learning opportunities.
Please stop by these their new home and find a great book for your summer reading or other learning purposes! Click here for details.
Click here for entry form and Click here for official rules.
Teachers and Supervisors, we hope you will bring your class and join PBS for a live discussion with Ken BurnsFree Vietnam Webinar/Film! This event is specially designed for middle school to high school students. PBS will deliver a memorable experience that allows students to form deeper, more personalized connections to the Vietnam War era through asking live questions with Ken Burns.
This free webinar will take place on May 1st at 11:30 AM Central Standard Time.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-classroom-qa-with-ken-burns-i-the-vietnam-war-tickets-44851886199
Celebrate Freedom Week - May 21 - 25, 2018
Reminding all Social Studies Teachers that May 21 - 25, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD will be celebrating Freedom Week.
K-5 Teachers, click on Link to see the mandates for schools.
This year, students had three challenge levels from which to choose. Students may have chosen to complete one challenge or all three!
Challenge 1: Book Challenge (Audiobooks allowed)*
Read 25 books of your choosing (minimum 100 pages per book) or read 100 books of your choosing (an option for K-2 students only).
Challenge 2: Page Challenge*
Watch your pages add up as you read (1500 for K-2, 2500 for 3-5th, 5000 for 6-12th).
Challenge 3: Genre Challenge*
Explore a wide variety of genres - 3 biography/autobiography, 3 non-fiction/informational (any topic/form), 3 fantasy, 3 poetry, 3 mystery, 3 historical fiction, 3 fiction (any topic/form), 4 free choice.
*As part of our new eBook initiative in the GCISD Learning Commons, students meeting any of the challenges (1, 2, and 3) must read at least 2 of their books as eBooks!
Click HERE to complete the form when your student's challenge/s have been completed!
K- 5 Humanities Curriculum/ Assessment Reminders
April 30 - May 25th is the window for EOY Assessments K-8 ELA. Please refer to Required District Assessments link.
May 22nd - We are looking forward to working with the K-5 curriculum revision team to continue revising our K-5 Humanities curriculum! K-2 will be in the morning and 3-5 is in the afternoon.
- Routines and Procedures for Reading/Writing Workshop
- Building Independent Readers and Writers
- Keeping Mini Lessons Mini
- Daily Read Aloud Tips
- Benefits of Word Study vs. Spelling
- And many more
Humanities Voice - Previous Newsletters
GCISD Humanities Department
Email: jacqueline.vanhorn@gcisd.net
Website: http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Domain/3242
Location: 3051 Ira East Woods Avenue, Grapevine, TX, USA
Phone: 817-251-5937
Twitter: @GCISDHumanities