ALICE ISC- Curriculum Gazette
October 2018 • Alice, Texas
The October "Blues"?
Though October usually brings to mind fall colors such as orange, yellow and brown, October can also be associated with "the blues". It is easy to feel overwhelmed in October. Back-to-school optimism gets replaced with "reality", there have been many full weeks of school with no break, and the end of the year seems really far away.
The October blues can be combated by realizing that may be thinking farther ahead than necessary. Remember to take the days one at a time and sometimes even take them moment by moment. Also, look for ways to focus on the "good stuff". Perhaps you have a student or two who made some real progress (no matter how small...progress is progress). It could be that you planned a really great lesson that went really well. Maybe your failure rate is decreasing because of all the great things you are putting in place to support students.
Teaching is ALWAYS busy and ALWAYS challenging, but ALWAYS important. Recognize your importance, value your achievements and, as always, build those relationships.
And always remember that you are appreciated. Happy Fall!
Around the District
Noonan Mustangs
AHS BAND
Schallert Tailgates for Literacy
WAMS Holds Student Led Conferences
Memorial Intermediate Starts a Safety Patrol
Students will assist with AM and PM school duty. Safety patrol officers had to submit an application, which included having passing grades, zero discipline referrals, and two open ended questions that centered around “What and Why” they should be considered as a Memorial Intermediate Safety School.
Salazar Roadrunners
ISTATION- Screener to be done in reading and math every month (K-8)
Nationally normed Istation’s Indicators of Progress (ISIP™) measure student growth with engaging, computer-adaptive diagnostic and screening programs.
Our district uses ISTATION as a universal screener and progress monitoring tool. The FIRST time a student logs on during the month, IStations Indicator of Progress or ISIP will be administered to the student.
This will help us track progress for our students and that progress will be reported monthly to the school board.
ALL students K-8 should take the ISIP each month in reading and math. In addition, the program can be used in math once a week for 30 minutes to help close gaps.
Remind the student that when clicking on wrong answers, the lessons are taught again. To move through the program quickly and have more fun, click on as many right answers as possible! Tell the student not to click on the Stop Sign until the teacher says to do so!
Staff Development - (Click the pictures to see the schedule)
Thursday, Oct. 25
Friday, Oct. 26
Depth of Knowledge
DOK-1 is content-specific, focusing on the specific text or topic being taught and learned.
DOK-2 and DOK-3 is item-oriented, focusing on how and why learning can be transferred and used to attain and explain reasons, relationships, and results.
DOK-4 is extensive and practical, focusing on how and why learning can be transferred and used across the curriculum and beyond the classroom.
August staff development provided training in DOK to all teachers. Each created a journal in which to keep notes about DOK. We encourage you to revisit this topic.
Click here to read the article.
Seeking Texas Educators as IMQE Reviewers
TEA is seeking Texas educators to participate in the Instructional Materials Quality Evaluation (IMQE) pilot by becoming a reviewer of instructional materials. As part of this select group, reviewers will have the opportunity to broaden their impact, work with a talented group of peers in a supportive environment, and receive continuing professional education (CPE) credit and a stipend of $1,250 to review materials for ELAR grades 3-8. If you are interested in being nominated please email or call Marta Salazar @ 664-0981 or marta.salazar@aliceisd.net.
Alice ISD is looking to nominate teachers who have:
- Deep content knowledge and experience with English language arts and reading, including an understanding of the TEKS in ELAR
- A proven track record of achieving ambitious results with students
- Passion for increasing educator capacity to seek, develop, and demand the highest quality materials
- Commitment to ensuring Texas students have access to high-quality instructional materials
- The ability to participate in both in-person and virtual conferences and collaborate with fellow reviewers as often as once a week during the review cycle
Reviewer Commitment
Review teams are expected to complete at least one review from January 2019 to May 2019, with the majority of the work taking place between February and April. In some instances, a review team may be asked to review changes to a set of materials that have been updated by a publisher.
Team leads and reviewers will commit to:
- 1 hour weekly meeting (virtual)
- Individual review of materials (at most 6-8 hrs. weekly)
- Attend a three-day training mid-January (dates TBA)
Travel, lodging and meals for the January training will be paid by Safal - the company contracted by TEA to conduct the independent analysis of grades 3-8 ELAR materials.
English Language Arts Textbook Adoption Process Grades K- 8
The State Board of Education (SBOE) issued Proclamation 2019 at its April 2017 meeting. The adoption of materials under Proclamation 2019 is scheduled to occur in November 2018. The adopted materials are scheduled to go into classrooms in the 2019–20 school year.
Proclamation 2019 calls for instructional materials for English language arts and reading, grades K–8; Spanish language arts and reading, grades K–6; spelling (English and Spanish), grades 1–6; handwriting (English and Spanish), grades K–5; English Learners Language Arts, grades 7–8; and Personal Financial Literacy.
We will begin forming Alice ISD committee teams during the month of November to begin reviewing materials approved by TEA. For more information on Proclamation 2019 and to review pre-adoption samples visit the link below.
New ELAR and SLAR TEKS Implemention
The State Board of Education gave final approval on May 10, 2017, to new English and Spanish language arts and reading TEKS for Kindergarten - 8 to be implemented in classrooms beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.
For high school, the new TEKS will be implemented in classrooms beginning with the 2020-2021 school year.
TEA also created vertical alignment documents to reflect the alignment of the new ELAR & SLAR TEKS across grade levels, Kindergarten to Grade 12. Click here for links to the documents and for additional information on the implementation of the new TEKS.
Our TEKS Resource Portal also has new documents reflecting the newly adopted TEKS. Updates are being made monthly as they roll out new curriculum documents. Keep in mind we implement the new TEKS next year.
For a list of all ELAR & SLAR TEKS for grades K-12 please visit the TEA link:
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter110/index.html
Math Achievement Academies
The last few summers the state has held reading and math academies. These sessions were great opportunities to learn about math instruction and get some additional resources and methods. This summer there will be repeat sessions for academies for K-1, Grade 2 and Grade 3. These are for teachers who have NOT previously attended a Math Academy. In addition, if a teacher has attended a math academy for another grade level and has changed, they cannot attend an additional academy.
If you are interested in attending this summer let Anna Holmgreen know.
- Gr. 3 will be held June 11-13
- Gr. 2 will be held June 25-27
- Kinder - 1st Grade will be held July 16-18.
Registration is open from Oct. - January.
In addition there will be Math Blended Learning Opportunities for those teachers who have attended a prior academy. The Region has 30 spots, so it is likely that we may just have one or two folks attending for our district. Training for 3rd grade teachers will be Fall 2018 - Winter 2019 and will require a half-day for initial training and then 6-8 weeks to complete on-line modules. A half-day closing session will be held as well.
Contact Anna Holmgreen for more info.
Economics Resources
If you need resources to teach financial literacy and economics, check out this site for many resources and lessons and videos available for Kindergarten through grade 12.
There are lessons on Cybersecurity, Macro and Micro Economics, basic savings and interest and even a section on "Teaching the News".
Science Resources
Region 11 Science Resources
https://www.esc11.net/Page/5255
Discovery Education- Young Scientist Lab
https://www.youngscientistlab.com/teachers/lesson-plans
EdTech Labs
https://edtechteacher.org/tools/science/biology/
Region 13 Resources
https://www4.esc13.net/science/resources-science/manipulatives/
TEA Links and Resources for Science
https://tea.texas.gov/index2.aspx?id=5483
LiveBinders
http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=1115070
Texas Gateway
The Teacher Toolkit
Social Studies Resources
Reading Like a Historian
https://sheg.stanford.edu/history-lessons
History Labs
https://www.umbc.edu/che/historylabs/index.php
History Labs Lesson Plans
https://www.umbc.edu/che/tahlessons/
ProCon.org
Historical Thinking That Matters
http://historicalthinkingmatters.org/why/
Historical Thinking Skills Interactives
https://www.learner.org/courses/amerhistory/interactives/
PBS History Detectives
Advanced Academics
TAGT Online Reminder
TAGT 6-HOUR UPDATE
Registration Code: u9003AISD10343
Link: http://txgiftedcourses.responsivelearning.com/SelfRegistration/
TAGT 30-HOUR INITIAL
Registration Code: c9002AISD10343
Link: http://txgiftedcourses.responsivelearning.com/SelfRegistration/
Certificates should be turned into your campus secretary. Secretaries will then collect and forward to our Advanced Academic Department no later than December 14th.
Destination Imagination
Our DI coaches have been working very diligently in gathering teams and preparing them for their first DI Kids’ Workshop and Team Managers’ Challenge Dig set for Saturday, November 10th at Grant Middle School in Corpus Christi. Good luck to all challenge team participants.
ESC Technology
The ESC is trying to take their technology workshops to a new level and be very responsive to needs of educators. To do that they have created a survey and would like information from teachers.
Please go to bit.ly/ITneeds4u to take the survey and give your input.
Technology Corner
Meet the newest member of Alice ISD, Yolanda Abrigo. Ms. Abrigo serves as the Technology Director and will work closely with AISD departments and schools to deliver quality leadership, training, and support.
Parent & Youth Cook Off Contest
William Adams Middle School PTA is hosting a BBQ Cook Off Friday, November 9th from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
If you are interested in competing in the event please pick up a registration form at WAMS. The following competitions will be available to enter:
- Pork Steak Cook off - $30 entry fee (you keep bbq grill)
- Best Salsa - $5 entry fee
- Best Guacamole - $5 entry fee
- Best Brownies - $5 entry fee
- Best Cookies - $5 entry fee
1st place for pork steak cook off - $50 gift card; 2nd place earns a ribbon
1st place for each of the other contests - $25; 2nd place finishers earn ribbons
Come by and enjoy school club booths, jewelry booths, cake walk, toy walk etc. Vendor booth spaces are still available for $25 fee. You must register in advance.
Registration forms are due November 7th! For more information call the WAMS front office @ 660-2055. You may also obtain the forms from the WAMS school website - Click here to access.
7th Annual Family Engagement Conference
Conference will be held Saturday, March 2, 2019 at Alice High School from 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. More to details to come. If you are interested in setting up a booth contact Sandra Smithwick or Marta Salazar.
SPECIAL EDUCATION CHILD FIND FLYERS 2018-2019
Federal and Special Programs
Sheltered Instruction Training
TELPAS
Sharing the Good News About Alice ISD
Read a bit about her here.
"I am an energetic, self-motivated individual. My superior skills as an award-winning journalist and 19 years experience in the media industry has allowed me to develop a great rapport with coastal bend organizations and media outlets. My career in communications has taken me from television to newspaper, radio and currently public relations.
My formal education includes Bee County College, Texas A&M University- Kingsville with a double major in Communications in Journalism and Speech.
Born and raised in Alice, this is my community and I stand and support our city and county, especially our school district, which prepares our students for higher education, vocational careers and the workforce.
My goal as a Public Information Officer (PIO) is to recognize our students in all of their achievements including academics, band, UIL, sports and represent Alice Independent School District to educate our residents of what AISD has to offer. I will work hand-in-hand with Superintendent Dr. Carl Scarbrough and other departments to show the positive happenings in our campuses."
Alice ISD Curriculum
Email: anna.holmgreen@aliceisd.net
Website: www.aliceisd.net
Location: 2 Coyote Trail, Alice, TX, USA
Phone: 361-664-0981
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliceISD