Professional Development
Syracuse City School District - January 2021
The PL Team is committed to coordinating efforts to provide daily opportunities for training and support for our SCSD Staff that would help them to maintain continuity in communication and learning for our SCSD Students & Families during the Covid19 Pandemic. The following is a summary report of that work for the past calendar month.
Overall Rating: 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent) Stars - 4.59
- I love the diversity of the meeting. The academic shares and the personal shares. It made it more engaging to see the faces and get to know the person.
- It was nice to be able to have a discussion about what the key ideas are to teach our students, as well as have the flexibility to move some topics around to best fit the needs of our students.Was super helpful for setting up my lessons to meet district expectations.
- I appreciate the opportunity to view the demo lessons, share resources and collaborate with my colleagues.
- These demo sessions are a valuable tool to ensure that we are following best practices in presenting/teaching new material to our students. We also exchange ideas on how to navigate new platforms, avoid glitches and learn new practices on how to teach in a digital environment.
- I love the tech tips at the beginning; they are fun and help to add more ways to keep kids engaged in the classroom.
- We were able to collaborate with teachers from all of the buildings which helps tremendously!!!!
- As always, collaboration among the teachers that actually teach each content area, enhancing the quality of the existing units, and supporting each other with best practices and resources.
- I think the canvas module and Nearpods are really helpful.
- The information was very timely and the students were so passionate in their presentation.
- Station Rotation Simulation: informative and provided necessary information to access materials.
- I enjoy the breakout room meetings. It gives me a chance to talk with ENL teachers I don't know that well.
- The coordinator answered questions related to last week’s session which clarified things. We shared helpful information about what we are grappling with in the classroom and how we can improve our performance.
- Presenter took feedback from teachers to plan for 2nd semester curriculum mapping. ·
- After watching this recorded grading session, I now have more relevant information to use in my Canvas courses.
Constructive Feedback Quotes - January 2021
- Would like more strategies for using these lessons not just what lesson is playing on what day.
- Great content, but I have to do a lot of modifications for my students that can't read or write.
The specific goals of the session were unclear/never stated.
Don't like that sci and math are now alternating weeks - makes me feel unsupported with math. If we're teaching so much math, we need weekly support - not twice a month. If you need to make the meeting longer that's fine.
Would be nice if presenters slowed down speed of presenting.
The Nearpod lessons that are produced do not apply to where I am at in the curriculum.
I think watching longer videos should be 'asynchronous' as it is time consuming. If feedback is due at the end, we should also be given time to complete the feedback form before we are to attend the next session since there is no time in between.
There are not a lot of options for teachers during this time. This time should be optional for teachers or there should be more PDs offered.
- This was focused on Nearpod, Teams, Notebook, etc. that are all geared to remote learning and not very useful to in-person learning. These are also not suitable to young elementary students.
Weekly Demonstration Lesson Sessions
Teacher Highlights
Ms. Salibrici, Grade 5 Demonstration Teacher
Mr. Lois, Grade 8 Social Studies Demonstration Teacher
8th Grade Social Studies, H.W. Smith PK-8
"Hi, I'm Zac Lois and I'm an 8th grade Social Studies teacher at H.W. Smith and the 8th grade Social Studies Demonstration Teacher. As a demonstration teacher, my role is to create Nearpod lessons that are aligned with and support the 8th grade U.S. History curriculum.
The best part of the job is getting to see (virtually) and collaborate with the other 8th grade teachers on a weekly basis. This is something we normally don't get to do and it's nice to see how other teachers are approaching the content and current events in their classes. The challenge of being a demonstration teacher is managing my time creating lessons while still teaching my 8th-grade classes, administrative tasks have risen exponentially this year, yet time is a limited resource.
The rewarding part of creating these Nearpod lessons is that I plan on using them for years to come, not just this year. The feedback and support from my Social Studies Director Nick Stamoulacatos has been great. In the beginning, I felt perplexed about what content areas I should specifically focus on, but he has provided me the proper resources to design a road map. The highlight of this has been getting to know the other 8th grade Social Studies teachers, normally it feels like we operate in a bubble within our own schools, so it has been great to have conversations about our shared passion for social studies."
Weekly Choice Sessions
January Choice PD Session Topics
The following professional learning offerings were available to staff in December:
- Weekly Demo Lessons by Content/Grade Level (296)
- AVID Strategies (6)
- Social Emotional Learning Integration (6)
- Trauma Informed Instruction (3)
- Zearn Math (1)
- Station Rotation Simulation (8)
- SCORE: Student-Led PD (1)
- Kindergarten CBM (2)
- Grade 2 Integrated ELA/SCI (2)
- Self-Paced PL Playlist (4)
- PL-LC 101: Learner Champion (2)
- PL-LC 102: Flexible Learning Environments (2)
- The Person You Mean To Be Book Study (36)
- SCSD PL Coach Office Hours
Breakdown by the Core 4 Elements of Personalized Learning
SCSD Personalized Learning Office Hours
SyraFuse Fellowship Highlights
Fuse Syracuse (SyraFuse) strives to implement and scale personalized and blended learning across the Syracuse City School District by creating and training teacher leaders as change agents. The Fuse Syracuse initiative recruits a group of educators called Fuse Fellows for a 1-year fellowship. Fellows will be trained on personalized learning models and best practices, blended learning tools and strategies, coached on classroom implementation, and supported to establish their own “Lighthouse Classroom” to serve as a model of personalized and blended instruction in their building and district.
Fuse Fellows are passionate, curious innovators in their schools who model a growth mindset, and are open to trying new things and taking their practice to the next level. They are natural change agents for their schools, and welcome the opportunity to advance the field through their own leadership and instructional innovation. We are now working with cohort 5 of the fellowship!
Melicia Edwards, Syracuse Latin School
"Hi! I’m Melicia Edwards. I am in my 12th year teaching and am currently a fully remote second-grade teacher at Syracuse Latin School. I also help to plan and record re-paced second-grade math lessons aired on WCNY. I am currently working towards National Board Certification in Early and Middle Childhood/Literacy: Reading Language Arts. I mentor two prospective teachers who attend Cortland, University and I am a Cohort 5 SyraFuse Fellow.
My building administrator suggested that I apply for the Fellowship. I also have two colleagues/friends who are former fellows. After learning more about this wonderful opportunity, I decided to apply. I am so happy I did! This Fellowship has truly enhanced my virtual instruction.
Over the summer, we read Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond. This reading helped me to fine-tune my pedagogy of teaching. It has also inspired me to dedicate time each week to celebrate our differences and learn about cultures represented in our class.
I also enjoy collaborating with teachers and teacher leaders around the Syracuse City School District.
I have learned the value of truly getting to know my students and helping them take ownership of their virtual learning. I created three Seesaw Activities to learn more about interests, work habits, and strengths/challenges. I use this information to help my students reflect and set relevant goals. I also include their interests in our learning.
Learner Profile-Part 1 Interests
Learner Profile-Part 3 Challenges
I hope to continue learning about best practices and ways to empower my young learners."
Madeleine "Mads" Goc, Lincoln Middle School
ELA Teacher & SyraFuse Cohort 5 Fellow
"I originally applied to be a Fuse Fellow because personalized learning really intrigued me, but I didn’t know how to put it into practice. Since becoming a Fuse Fellow, I’ve gotten the opportunity to work with teachers all across the district; we brainstorm together, problem-solve together, and witness true classroom magic happen when we visit each other! I appreciate being part of a community of educators that stretches beyond our current cohort too, and getting the chance to pick the brains of teachers from all grade levels and contents!
When it comes to personalized learning, every decision made and best practice boils down to one factor: your students. Once you get to know your students as people, their learning styles, and their academic needs, approaching the learning experience through a personalized lens makes a lot more sense! It always, always, always comes back to doing what’s best for your students and making sure their voices are heard along the way.
This year, I have tried a lot of new strategies that would work for auditory, visual, and tactile learners. I have implemented accountability partners to help students authentically reflect on their data & set goals. Now, I’m approaching the writing process with flexible tools! I’m excited to keep working with this cohort to prioritize and implement even more personalized learning strategies in our virtual and hybrid classrooms."
Student & Family Support provided by SCSD School Librarians
Prekindergarten – Grade 12 Library Media Specialists in the SCSD provide helpdesk support to students and families in the SCSD. They are available between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday – Friday each week. Families are able to sign up for virtual help directly on the Syracuse City Schools Website.
Elementary Support Calendar & Stats
Elementary LMS Highlight
Sarah Marie, Webster Elementary School
Being a Library Media Specialist has been so rewarding, before and during Covid-19. This year looks a lot different, and I miss a lot from Pre-Covid-19 teaching. Some days I am a teacher, a problem solver, a psychologist, a friend, a mentor, a customer service representative, a student, a housekeeper, a techie, a shoulder to cry on, the glue that holds it all together, and so many more things. I have learned so much, personally, since Covid-19 and have watched our students, families and staff learn and grow so much this year in so many ways.
Sometimes, in life, you have to go down a lot of roads to find the right one. I’m glad I finally found the right one here with #SCSDlibraries."
Secondary Support Calendar & Stats
Secondary LMS Highlight
Thaddeus Sohoski, ITC High School
"Where can you find credible information from around the world on any topic, create a presentation to inform others, kick-back and read a fictional tale about a computer game gaining consciousness, get help solving an Algebra problem, learn how to use technology responsibly to improve your life and the lives of others, play a game of chess, or discuss serious and some not-so-serious topics? The library.
Being a librarian is a fantastic job. I have the pleasure of working with students and staff from a variety of backgrounds. In one moment I might be helping a student with a research project, in the next the same student might be teaching me about their journey moving to Syracuse from Somalia. Beyond helping students with school work, I enjoy helping them learn more about topics that they are passionate about. Learning who they are, and their hopes and fears helps me grow in a ways to better meet the needs of others. The dynamic nature of bringing together people and information is exciting and I have the opportunity to do this every day with students and staff, in the physical library and online.
Each day brings something new and I am always looking forward to learning and encouraging others to expand their own knowledge."
Coming March 8 - 26: Learning Walks 21
How can we collaborate around best practices for personalizing in-person, hybrid & virtual learning? What practices, strategies & tools are successfully engaging our students in learning this year?
Watch the video below to learn more from two 2020 Learning Walk participants:
Andrea Nicolette, PSLA Library Media Specialst
Saraann Williams, Henninger ELA Teacher
Manami Tezuka
Syracuse City School District
Email: mtezuka@scsd.us
Website: http://www.syracusecityschools.com/districtpage.cfm?pageid=585
Location: 1005 West Fayette Street, Syracuse, New York 13204, USA
Phone: (315) 435-6358
Twitter: @SCSDPL