Early Childhood & Literacy News
Week of November 6th, 2023
All Things Literacy
- Dyslexia PD Resources
Kindergarten Spotlight
- iPad Directive
TGRG
- General Updates
- iPad Directive
Upcoming Professional Development
Introduction to Dyslexia Course Part 1 (cohort 2) LINK Course #14716
- Not all sessions are at the same time or location. Please be mindful when registering.
Getting Started: Introduction to Amira LINK
- Date: November 7, 2023
- Description: In this initial session, participants learn how Amira fits within their core curriculum and become prepped and ready to begin using the program as they continue through the learning path.
- Learning Outcomes • Explore the key features and uses for Amira • Identify how Amira fits within your core instruction. • Prepare for the next steps on your learning path.
MAKE-UP - Getting Started: Introduction to Amira LINK
- Dates: October 30, 2023, or November 8, 2023
- THIS SESSION IS A MAKE-UP FOR TEACHERS THAT ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE AMIRA TRAINING ON NOVEMBER 7TH.
- Description: See above
Guardians of the Watershed LINK
- Date: November 7, 2023
- Time: 12:00 pm - 2:45 pm
- Description: Offsite Professional Learning at Doan Brook Watershed and Cuyahoga River Watershed. This is the inaugural kickoff for Guardians of the Watershed, an integrated learning experience for third grade! The goal of this prerequisite session is to build teacher background knowledge about watersheds and their importance. Note, transportation will be provided from East Professional Center to Doan Brook Watershed. Registered participants will receive an email regarding travel logistics.
- View This Promotional Video
EL Education Asynchronous Courses
Dyslexia Course Part 1 (Cohort 2 SY23-24)
The Ohio Department of Education and its partners view language and literacy acquisition and achievement as foundational knowledge that supports student success. To increase learners’ language and literacy achievement, the Department urges districts and schools to use evidence-based systems and high-quality instruction, select high-quality instructional materials, and employ culturally responsive practices. This course was developed to meet the professional development requirements of the Ohio Dyslexia Support Laws.
This course is for Second-Grade Teachers, Third Grade Teachers, Gifted Itinerant Teachers, Intervention Specialists who have students in grade 2 or 3, Psychologists, reading intervention teachers who have students in grade 2 or 3. Speech and Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists. This cohort also includes anyone from Cohort 1 (Kindergarten, First-Grade, K-1 Intervention Specialists, Reading Intervention Teachers (Encore), MLT’s and Reading Recovery Teachers) who did not receive the training last year.
Teachers will only need to take this course one time. If you were part of last year’s cohort you do not take this course again. If you took the course in your previous district you do not take it again. If you were on FMLA last year and missed a session you should attend the session you missed.
Instructions to access the Ohio Department of Education’s Learning Management System
Please access the Learning Management System – LOGIN THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 2nd to determine access or receive troubleshooting support. Take the pre-test and begin working on the modules prior to our first in person session.
CMSD staff is not equipped to support log in and Ohio ID issues. Please send questions to Profile.Help@education.ohio.gov or 1-877-644-6338.
Dyslexia PD Resources
Science of Reading Resources
Kindergarten Spotlight
No PreK and/or K devices are to go home during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday.
Kindergarten Professional Development Days
- December 8th
- February 2nd
- April 19th
- Click HERE to register
TGRG Updates
- 23-24 RIMP Guidance and Cut Scores click here.
- AWP Test incident form click here
- K-3 Teachers New to AWP Training Powerpoint
- 4th Grade aimswebPlus (AWP) Benchmark Training Powerpoint
- 4th Grade RIMP and Intervention Training Powerpoint
- See the Teaching and Learning Toolkit for blank signature pages.
Preschool Professional Development Days
- December 8th
- February 2nd
- April 19th
- Click HERE to register
Preschool Updates
General Updates
New content to this week's newsletter will be BOLD. We delete content weekly to keep the newsletter a manageable length. Read the newsletter every week to be sure you do not miss important updates.
- No PreK and/or K devices are to go home during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday.
- If your First Aid kit has expired items in it check with your office for those materials. The district monitors what is expiring. Those items are sent to the schools annually.
- Reporting a Serious Risk of Injury Incident....These must be reported within 24 hours. To report it, email the Incident Report to the address at the top of the form.
- ELA Assessment window Closes in one week on 11/14/23.
- Pre-K teachers and Paraprofessionals are participating in the District Professional Development on November 7th.
Step up to Quality visits are starting soon.
We have offered support to all of this year's SUTQ classrooms and are now conducting follow-up visits.
- Work on your task list that evolved from your SUTQ support visit.
- Update your Black Box with the items that Nann and Sondra identified.
- Add your individualized lesson plan recommendations to your plan.
- Teachers going through SUTQ this year, please check the information in this Smartsheet link for accuracy. Every teacher should have a separate row.
- Starting this week, we will be stopping by schools to check assessment binders. These visits may be unannounced so that we can visit as many schools as possible in a day. We will spot-check a couple of binders and provide feedback. You can then apply that feedback to all of your student binders.
- If you have not yet sent your lesson plans to Michael Gliebe please do so in order to have SUTQ suggestions provided.
- Click here to access the SUTQ Team Resources.
Expiring or Expired Physicals
If you have any students with expired physicals, please send this letter home to your parents. Please be sure to date it when you send it.
Pre-K Age Requirement
Please remember that all Pre-K students interested in enrolling at your site will need to be four by 9/30/23
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
If your school does not have a Carbon Monoxide Detector System built-in, each pre-k classroom should complete this form link.
Kready Roster Adjustments
If you need anyone taken off or added to your Kready roster, please use this link: https://bit.ly/47S7nAP from Richard Buehner.
Here is the link to the checklists for staff files. Link
Here is the link to the documents that must be posted in your.Link
Student files consist of documents completed at orientation.
Ms. Prather-Seaborn is currently recruiting preschool monitors. Please have any candidates apply at https://clevelandmetroschools.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/jobs
Just a reminder that preschool staff needs a medical statement completed every 5 years. It can be done at the same time that you complete your Wellness Check for your medical insurance. Here are links to the forms to take to your doctor:
Preschool Resources
- Link to what has changed in the Ohio Pre-K Standards.
- Link to Pre-K Staff Support Form Feel free to add any questions you may have to this attachment. This form will be monitored daily.
- Link to the New Pre-K Field Trip Folder Feel free to send Craig Kiston or Michael Gliebe resources that can be added to the list.
- Link to the Incident Reports and Incident Reporting Guidance in Teams
Are your students demonstrating challenging behavior as they transition into school for the first time? Use this link to access the PBIS Folder where you will find helpful Tier 1 and Tier 2 support resources.
ELA (early Learning Assessment) Updates
Fall Testing Window 8/15/23 - 11/14/23
ELA Helpful Links
- Here is the link to the SKBs Document.
Here are the 34 SKBs our schools will intentionally and formally assess once in the fall and once in the spring, and determine a rating:
Preschool Licensing
Licensing Background Check Instructions
Link to schedule a background check at Safety and Security
Steps to locate ODE BCI and FBI in Workday:
- Login into your Workday account
- Under your Profile select Personal tab
- Select Documents, Background check
- Click on left hand side to view and print
- Do not press the Edit or Delete buttons (if available) as you will be deleting this important document.
- If you can't find your background check in Workday, contact tajuanna.naim@clevelandmetroschools.org
Pre K on My Way Resources
PNC StART SmART: FREE Cleveland Museum of Art Programs
Register for a FREE one-hour field trip and/or a free 30-minute virtual learning session at the Cleveland Museum of Art! Programs are interactive and include games, discussions, and stories that connect to your classroom. Bus reimbursement is also available. Please contact Jeremiah Myers (jmyers@clevelandart.org) if you have any questions or trouble registering. Registration information and program topics can be found here.