AAMU/UAH Regional Inservice Center
April 2021- Honing Your Craft: SU21 Professional Learning
A Note From The AAMU/UAH RIC Director
Greetings #ALRegion3 Educators,
Welcome back from spring break! I hope everyone enjoyed their time off, and received some much needed rest. Wow, can you believe summer is rapidly approaching, and the 2020-2021 school year is coming to a close?!?! For many summer is a time to rest, reflect, renew & refocus. This year, I urge you to commit the gift of summer to engage in all four practices.
Rest (verb) -- cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.
- āRest is not something that the world gives us. Itās never been a gift. Itās never been something you do when youāve finished everything else. If you want rest, you have to take it. You have to resist the lure of busyness, make time for rest, take it seriously, and protect it from a world that is intent on stealing it.ā excerpt from the book Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less ~Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
Reflect(verb) -- think deeply or carefully about.
- āReflection is one of the most underused yet powerful tools for success.ā Richard Carlson
Renew(transitive verb) -- to make like new: restore to freshness
- "Self-renewal is the attention you give towards ensuring that your life is forward-moving, with every step bringing you closer to who you really are. It entails stripping away the old and stale so that you become increasingly aware of the purity of your true essence." ~A. Mah
Refocus (transitive verbs)-- 1.) to focus again 2.) to change the emphasis or direction of
- "Leaders should get out of their comfort zone but stay in their strength zone. When their work lies within their natural gifting and strengths, leaders experience the greatest return in productivity and contentment. Life is too short to live in the comfort zone, where growing and accomplishing, and achieving your potential takes a back seat. I suggest you refocus if the comfort zone is your leadership priority." ~John C. Maxwell
On April 15th, the AAMU/UAH Regional Inservice Center will be releasing the official Summer 2021 Professional Learning Catalog. After getting some much needed rest, I challenge teachers, support personnel, and administrators to carve out some time to review this newsletter, and the forthcoming regional course catalog to intentionally look for opportunities to REFLECT, RENEW & REFOCUS. Hindsight is indeed 20/20.
"Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, & others make it happen" ~Legendary NBA Player, Michael Jordan
Commit to always #HoningYourCraft
Happy April,
Dr. Kisha Tolbert Simmons, NBCT
Director, AAMU/UAH Regional Inservice Center
Personal Twitter: @KTSimmonsPhDMom
Hashtag: #AAMUUAHRICWorks
April Staff Book Picks
Recommended by Stephanie Dillard-McClain, Consultant & Coach
*Book Study Coming to the AAMU/UAH RIC Summer 2021
Recommended by Dianna Minor, NBCT-- Instructional Specialist at Hoover City Schools
*Writing Professional Learning Session Coming to the AAMU/UAH RIC Summer 2021
Recommended by Cory Camp, Professional Learning Director at Sibme
*Professional Learning Sessions Coming to the AAMU/UAH RIC Summer 2021
Recommended by the AAMU/UAH RIC NBCT Candidate Support Providers
*Professional Learning Sessions Coming to AAMU/UAH RIC Summer 2021
Recommended by the AAMU/UAH RIC NBCT Candidate Support Providers
*Professional Learning Sessions Coming to AAMU/UAH RIC Summer 2021
Recommended by Ann Marie Batista, ESOL Coordinator Huntsville City Schools & Robin
Stutts, Region 3 ALSDE EL Coach
*Professional Learning Sessions Coming to AAMU/UAH RIC Summer 2021
Conquering Dyslexia: A Guide To Early Detection & Intervention for Teachers & Parents by Dr. Jan Hasbrouck
Recommended by the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) staff
*Book Study Coming to the AAMU/UAH RIC Summer 2021
April 2021 Resources for District Admin
District administrators, did you miss the last few weeks of āChat & Chewā due to spring break? Good news... you have one more Friday to join the conversation about textbook adoptions & purchases! Next one, 4/9/2021 Didnāt get the Zoom link? Register in PowerSchool via the link below to gain access to the Zoom link.
PowerSchool registration link --- All Hands on Deck
Region 3 "Road To Recovery Plan" Support
AAMU/UAH Regional Inservice Center + The Office of School Improvement would like to know if your district is interested in attending a āRoad to Recoveryā ESSER funds application session via Zoom.
Interested ?
Please complete the Doodle Poll sent to your email no later than Monday, April 12, 2021
Didn't receive an email? Reach out to our office at
jacqueline.rogers@aamu.edu or 256-372-5771
***Image courtesy of Dr. Paige Raney's Twitter Page
Alabama Science in Motion (ASIM)
Online Foundational Training - Cycle 4
Registration is open for 3rd Cycle Online Foundational training sessions. These sessions are required for new teachers but any teacher is welcome to participate. The first step in the process is requesting training using the link: AMSTI/ASIM Online Training Request
Once we have that request form, Ashlie will generate an email with the enrollment codes for these online courses and you will be contacted. The three courses are:
1. AMSTI Science Notebooking K-12 Cycle 4
2. Setting the Stage for AMSTI: Science Cycle 4
3. Getting to Know the Alabama Course of Study: Science Cycle 4
Cycle 4 courses ends April 30th and all activities must be completed by then.
Featured ASIM Lab --- Mrs. Crystal Sewell's Anatomy Classes, Geraldine High School, DeKalb County Schools
R8Muscle - Build a Muscle
This lab will provide the student with experience in creating a muscle model as well as a sliding filament model. Students will ā¢ Work collaboratively to construct a skeletal muscle that includes the following structures: myofibrils, sarcoplasmic reticulum, sarcolemma, multiple nuclei, mitochondria, muscle fiber, endomysium, perimysium, fascicle, epimysium, tendons. ā¢ Construct models of actin and myosin fibers. ā¢ Construct an explanation of how chemical and structural organizations of muscle cells are specialized to produce muscle contractions.
Image from Mrs. Crystal Sewell Anatomy classes at Geraldine High School.
Essential Question
How are muscles structured to work with the human body to produce movement?
*Images are from Mrs. Crystal Sewell's Anatomy classes at Geraldine High School.
Featured ASIM Lab-- Mrs. Sarah Andrews' Anatomy & Physiology Class, Lee High School, Huntsville City Schools
R8Muscle - Build a Muscle
This lab will provide the student with experience in creating a muscle model as well as a sliding filament model. Students will ā¢ Work collaboratively to construct a skeletal muscle that includes the following structures: myofibrils, sarcoplasmic reticulum, sarcolemma, multiple nuclei, mitochondria, muscle fiber, endomysium, perimysium, fascicle, epimysium, tendons. ā¢ Construct models of actin and myosin fibers. ā¢ Construct an explanation of how chemical and structural organizations of muscle cells are specialized to produce muscle contractions.
Essential Question
How are muscles structured to work with the human body to produce movement?
Mark your Calendar! Upcoming Science Training Events
ASIM Biology Summer Training 2021
ASIM is gearing up for summer training. AAMU Region 3 will be partnering with both Athens State University's and Jacksonville State University's Biology Specialists to provide training for our three regions. Our training will look somewhat different than before as we make the transition to becoming #oneAMSTI and #AMSTI4all.
This year we will only focus on one-two standards for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics over three days. The idea is to go deeper with the content, pedagogy, and teaching strategies than in years past. All ASIM sites will follow the same schedule for the same standard, but additional days may be added. The idea is that every teacher across the state that attends training will get the same experience no matter the site.
Biology Foundational Training will be focusing on Standard 6 and 6a. Over the past two years, ASIM has dove into Marzano's research and attended professional learning on proficiency scales. You may have seen a product of that learning on our website. Recently, ASIM created proficiency scales for each critical standard in the COS. I have linked the proficiency scale for standard 6. ASIM chose labs (which we now call lessons) that correlate with the 4 levels on the scale. Those are the labs/lessons we will train on this summer during the three days of Biology Foundational Training.
AAMU/UAH will be conducting Foundational Training this summer.
1. AMSTI Science Notebooking K-12 online in June
2. Getting to Know the Alabama Course of Study: Science online in June
3. Setting the Stage for AMSTI: Science will be offered Face to Face June 1 from 8:30-11:30 and 12:30-2:30. I will be assisting in the morning session and I plan on offering afternoon ASIM lab training in the afternoon.
The dates for the training for each site will be:
Athens (see agenda) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XI99D8cuLEUrpUx4nJte2SYvRm9Bs0Cx/view?usp=sharing
June 3-4 : Environmental Science and Anatomy training
June 7: Foundational Training with AMSTI Notebooking and Setting the Stage
June 8-10: Biology Foundational Training
June 11, 14-18 will be additional Biology lab training
JSU
June 15-17: Biology Foundational Training
with additional lab training TBD
Athens training will be held at Waters Hall on the Athens State Campus in Room 302
JSU trainings will be held at the JSU McClellan Campus
PowerSchool registration information coming soon!
Mr. Glen Fox, ASIM Biology Specialist
Email: gfoxasimbiology@gmail.com or glen.fox@aamu.edu
Work Cell: (256)924-8203
Follow me on Twitter: @ASIM_BIO_AAMU
Use the hashtags: #AAMUUAHBiologyWorks and #AAMUUAHRICWorks
Technology in Motion (TiM)
Want to level up your "tech game"? Need CEUs? Check out these self-paced technology focused courses. Register now! Courses close May 2021
If you have missed any of the previous region 3 TiM courses led by Aundria Campbell, AAMU/UAH RIC TiM Specialist, here is your opportunity to take them all and your own pace! Earn up to 8 credit hours per course! Remember, each course is self-paced! #AAMUUAHTiMWorks
Let's Have Fun with Nearpod
Adobe Spark Course
Gamifying Your Classroom
Fun & Fabulouse Formative Assessment
Register
Session 1
Session 2
Save The Date for Summer #ALRegion3 TiM Training
2021 Alabama Education Technology Conference (AETC)
Mrs. Aundria Campbell, TiM Instructional Technology Specialist
Email: techyteacher3@gmail.com or aundria.campbell@aamu.edu
Work Cell: 256-929-9009 *call or text
Office: (256) 372-4426
Twitter: @mrscamptech
Hashtag to Follow: #AAMUUAHTiMWorks and #AAMUUAHRICWorks
ON THE MARK, GET READY, SET... LEARN. TEACH. LEAD.
Mark Your Calendar! #ALRegion3 Happenings
Stay Connected via...
Twitter: @AAMU_UAHRIC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aamuinservice
Use Hashtag: #AAMUUAHRICWorks
MEGA Conference 2021
"The MEGA Conference is a week-long conference that provides attendees with opportunities to engage in meaningful discussions, participate in in-depth training sessions, and learn from leading experts in fields across the education spectrum. MEGA is hosted by the Alabama State Department of Education". ~ALSDE
Learn more & register here !
The Coaches' Corner
Sibme Coach Replay
"Are you an instructional coach or leader looking for tips, strategies, and tools to enhance your coaching? Are you interested in using video to support and empower those you coach?
The Sibme Coach Replay Show is designed with you in mind! This weekly web-show hosted by Sibmeās Director of Professional Learning, Cory Camp, features expert coaches to break down classroom instruction, coaching moves, and strategies and discuss important topics in education, instruction, and leadership. Each episode is accompanied by downloadable Coach Also, don't forget the 'notes and takeaways' with episode highlights and additional resources. Find them at ā”ļø https://learn.sibme.com/courses/sibme-coach-replay-notes-and-takeaways "
Mark Your Calendar! June 21st-22nd for Sibme's FREE "Better Together" Conference!
- Jenni Donohoo --- "Collective Efficacy" Guru
- Paul Bambrick-Sontoyo -- author of Leveraging Leadership, Get Better Faster, Diven by Data and more!
- Danya Sanders --- Deputy Chief of Academics at Kipp Texas
Sign up here to receive registration info. Official registration links coming soon!
BETTER TOGETHER 2020
Want to check out Better Together 2020??? Well we've got you covered! Check out keynote speakers like...
- Justin Bader
- Steve Barker
- Elena Aguilar
- Doug Fisher
#ALRegion3NBCT (National Board Certified Teacher) Support
The AAMU/UAH Regional Inservice Center is proud to partner with and advocate for educators currently pursuing NBCT status or interested in pursuing NBCT status. For more information about NBCT mentoring support and opportunities offered through the AAMU/UAH Regional Inservice Center, please complete the Region 3 NBCT interest form and someone from our team will be reaching out to you soon!
Check out our center's NBCT Resources! #NBCT4ALL
The AAMU/UAH Regional Inservice Center offers mentoring support for #ALRegion3 educators. Our mentors āwalk alongsideā candidates to support them ā through the certification process, often starting before the teacher actually applies for certification. Candidate support providers ask questions that help a candidate show evidence more clearly, are sensitive to a candidateās emotional needs, help candidates create organizational systems to manage the process, locate resources to help with technology demands, and provide models of feedback that broaden and deepen the candidateās own analytical abilitiesā.
Let the AAMU/UAH Inservice Center mentor you through the National Board process. You should not have to attempt it alone!
You Can Do It! We Can Help! #NBCT4ALL
The AAMU Regional Inservice Center in partnership with Huntsville City Schools would like to extend the opportunity for ALL region 3 school districts to participate in an informational session for all aspiring National Board candidates. While many candidates have already made their decision to pursue certification, there are many who just aren't sure if this process if right for them. We want to assure them "they can do it, and we can help"!
Also, our goal is recruit NB candidates from underrepresented and underserved schools across all region 3, and help you equitably distribute the number of NB candidates across your respective districts, and empower ALL teachers to pursue the NB process. #NBCT4All
Our first session last night 4/6 at 6pm, and a repeat session is this upcoming Monday, 4/12 at 6pm.
***PowerSchool sessions are also hyperlinked above.
Save The Date! SU2021 NBCT Boot Camp coming in July!
ALERT: NBCT 2020-2021 Registration, Payment & Submission Extensions
#RaiseYourHand Initiative: An NBCT Scholarship Opportunity for Madison County Area Educators
ARI Literacy Leadership Newsletter
EL Support & Resources
EL Support Through the Lens of the AL Coaching Framework
The AAMU/UAH Regional Inservice Center in partnership with Alabama Region 3 EL Specialist, Robin Stutts, and The Office of School Improvement would like to extend an invitation to all English-Learner Teachers, Specialist and Coaches to participate in entitled, āReflecting on EL Support Through the Lens of the Alabama Coaching Frameworkā.
This session has been designed to introduce EL educators to the new Alabama Coaching Framework, give them an opportunity to explore the impact EL coaching can have on student outcomes and provide them an opportunity to reflect on what worked and what didnāt this school year, so they can begin planning for the new school year.
Region 3, EL educatiors, are you interested in participating and haven't received an invite? Reach out to your district EL administrator for the link to the Doodle poll.
EL PLU Opportunity
Alabama Literacy Act Through the Lens of English Learners
The final session is this Thursday, April 7th from 3:30-4:30 via Zoom! Register here in PowerSchool
AMSTI UAH Summer 2021 Training Opportunities
AMSTI UAH is excited to offer the following professional learning opportunities for math and science teachers this summer!
AMSTI-UAH Math Training Summer 21
AMSTI UAH STEM Resources
K-12 Mathematics Resources
K-12 Science Resources
Check out what AMSTI-UAH is reading!
No Cost Residency-Based Summer 2021 PD w/ Hudson Alpha for Alabama Middle & High School Educators
Save the date July 12th -16th (Essential Biology) & June 21st-25th (Advanced Concepts)--- Residency-based GTAC Academy: Professional Learning for High School Life Science Educators
***Registration opens March 15, 2021. First come, first serve basis
Save the date June 14th-18th--- Residency-based LifeScience Links Academy: a professional learning experience that provides seventh-grade life science teachers updated content knowledge, engaging strategies, and authentic lab experiences.
***Registration opens March 15, 2021. First come, first serve basis
Ongoing Professional Resources & Learning Experiences
Check out Beacon virtual professional learning opportunities-- "These virtual opportunities provide teachers with a variety of genetics and biotechnology content, along with technology integration and best practices for virtual delivery. Experiences include unique webinars along with multi-day online sessions that combine synchronous and asynchronous learning."
NEW! Hudson's Alpha Resource Hub --- check out these high-quality, vetted resources, courtesy of Hudson Alpha Education
"Caught Being Awesome"! #ALRegion3 April '21 Highlights
Happy AP Week! April 5-9, 2021
We LOVE and appreciate our Assistant Principals in #ALRegion3! Happy #APWeek2021, y'all!
Congrats Ms. Emily Prince, EPCOT CTE, Jackson County
Tina McBride and her 4th grade class preparing for the ACAP using virtual math tools! ~ Monview ES, HSV City Schools
Happy National Library Week!
Scholarship Recipient-- Sparkman Middle School Instructional Coach, Mrs. Stephanie Smith
IC Kristie Conaway & the Wills Valley ES (Fort Payne City Schools) Team are Lifelong Learners!
AAMU College of Education - Monthly Inservice Scholar Check-In
AAMU/UAH RIC Spring 2021 Governing Board Meeting
Time: 3:15-4:45pm
Where: Virtual Session via Zoom
AAMU/UAH Governing Board Members
Mr. Jason Hass, Principal, Scottsboro City Schools-- Governing Board President
Ms. Betty McIntire, Teacher, Jackson Co. Schools--- Governing Board Secretary
Dr. Kisha Tolbert Simmons, Director, AAMU/UAH RIC-- Governing Board Executive Secretary
Mr. Travis Cummings, School Board Member, Madison City Schools
Ms. Catina Hamilton, Instructional Coach, Boaz City Schools
Dr. Johanna Massey, Professor, AAMU
Ms. Tameka McGill, Teacher, Huntsville City Schools
Ms. Jennifer Taylor, District Administrator, Madison Co. Schools
Ms. Kimberley Tucker, Secondary ELA Instructional Coach, Arab City Schools
Ms. Porshe Chapman, Teacher, Huntsville City Schools
Ms. Shundra Morris, AMSTI-UAH STEM Specialist
Ms. Rachel Gibbs, Teacher, Madison City Schools
Ms. Jodi Jacobs, District Administrator, DeKalb County Schools
Dr. Elisabeth Davis, Assistant State Superintendent of Student Learning, ALSDE
Mr. Sean Stevens, Instructional Services Program Coordinator, ALSDE
Meet the #ALRegion3 Dream Team!
About the AAMU/UAH RIC
The Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University/University of Alabama at Huntsville Inservice Center (AAMU/UAH RIC) is located on the beautiful campus of the historical Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University. The AAMU/UAH RIC partners with administrators, teachers, instructional/content specific coaches, counselors and media specialists in 13 school districts, across 4 counties in ALSDEās region 3---- Albertville City Schools, Arab City Schools, Boaz City Schools, DeKalb County Schools, Fort Payne City Schools, Guntersville City Schools, Huntsville City Schools, Jackson County Schools, Madison City Schools, Madison County Schools, Marshall County Schools, Scottsboro City Schools and the Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering--- to offer high-quality professional learning experiences to support educator growth.
AAMU/UAH RIC Team
Dr. Kisha Tolbert Simmons, NBCT
Ms. Jacqueline "Jackie" Rogers
Administrative Assistant
Mr. Glen Fox
Biology Specialist
Mrs. Aundria Campbell
Instructional Technology Specialist
Start Here. Go Anywhere! #AAMU
Alabama A&M University (AAMU) is a collegiate university that balances the personal attention of a small traditional land-grant college with the academic vitality and broad opportunities of a research university. AAMU has a diverse faculty and student body, state-of-the-art facilities, and top-notch resources, programs, and services.
Earn Your Graduate Degree at AAMU!
Check out the AAMU's graduate degree programs here
Let's Connect!
AAMU/UAH Regional Inservice Center
Email: jacqueline.rogers@aamu.edu
Website: https://www.aamu.edu/academics/colleges/education-humanities-behavioral-sciences/research-outreach-centers/regional-inservice-center/index.html
Location: 4900 Meridian Street North, Huntsville, AL, USA
Phone: 256-372-5771
Facebook: facebook.com/aamuinservice
Twitter: @AAMUUAH_RIC