MTSS in TSD - Weekly Wednesday News

2022-2023 Series - Volume 31 (April 12, 2023)

This is our thirty-first edition for this school year! We appreciate your readership!

We use this newsletter to make connections regarding the implementation of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework in the Thompson School District (TSD).

> Access last week's edition.

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Maybe you did some reading today??!! Or maybe you didn't...

...and that's okay! You can always catch up tomorrow! ;-)

This is the shape of a Cross or Compass - with a center circle at top, bottom, right, and left; all circles are connected to the center with gray bars; Thompson Educational Expectations is written in center black-colored circle with Learning Design in orange circle on left, Learning Delivery in red circle on right, Evaluations of Learning in green circle on bottom, Conditions for Learning in blue circle at top

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How Are We Doing? And How Do We Know?

We prioritize attention to the Thompson Educational Expectations (TEE) throughout our TSD MTSS publications. This week's MTSS News is no different; you will notice the TEE Compass represented in the various concepts and considerations shared here. We have included an additional explicit connection to TEE here, via this ASCD blog: "How to Create Assessments that Drive Learning". Assessments are main topics these days, and the blog describes an approach aligned to our TEE: Evaluations of Learning. We also referenced "self-assessment" in the quotation above; this is the time of year to "take the temperature" of your efforts so that you can reflect (as is encouraged in the quoted image below). The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) has a list of CO-MTSS implementation resources that they created, and several are self-assessment tools.

Blurry purple and light background with text in the foreground that reads: "Reflection, it turns out, is key to growth...This universal truth holds: Any group too busy to reflect about its work is too busy to improve." Robert Hargrove, 2012

Click to Access: April is Autism Acceptance Month (CDC)

Quotation: "Find ongoing ways to inspire kids to practice helpfulness and caring with the same gusto that we have for their academics and sports." by Michele Borba from Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine #kindlequotes. Background is dark with the image of a person sitting under a tree in the bottom left corner.

Click to Review/View: Evidence-Based Arguments

This Teaching Channel resource provides a brief description and a 5-minute video: "Using T-Charts for Evidence-Based Arguments". Authentic classroom models of the instructional strategies in use and rationale from the educators are all included.

Quotation" Students are NOT adults -- they need help with time management, study skills, prioritizing tasks, social skills, character development, etc. Instead of assuming immaturity or irresponsibility, assume they need help." @Teachergoals

Click to Open: Participatory Systems Change for Equity

"Participatory systems change involves community members and system leaders to collectively identify, design, decide, implement, and assess priorities, actions, and investments...use this guide to help facilitate participatory systems change." WestEd

An icon with a circle around a square screen that includes lines and shapes of graphs without specific detail.

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CDE News: UIP

CDE UIP Rollover Update

"The Unified Improvement Planning template will roll over on Friday, April 14, changing from the 2022-23 template to the 2023-24 template. Once the template rolls over, school users will only have edit access to the UIP template for 2023-24. Previous years' UIPs and feedback will be view-only.

District users can still access, edit and post 2022-23 UIPs if needed." More info on UIP website.

A variety of different hands raised in the air with the words Parents Encouraging Parents above them.

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CDE News: PEP

"Registration is open for the Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP) conference in Grand Junction: Thurs. 4/27-Sat., 4/29. PEP conferences are designed to promote family and school partnerships to support students with disabilities and their families in schools and the community. Families and professionals share ideas, discuss concerns, celebrate successes and obtain info related to parenting, educating and partnering to support student learning." (paraphrased)

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CDHE: Survey

"The Colorado Department of Higher Education is partnering with Hanover Research to conduct a study to better understand individuals’ awareness of higher education opportunities, perceptions of institutions and interests in pursuing higher education. High school students, parents/guardians of a high school student, and high school counselors are invited to complete the 10-15 minute survey. Feel free to share. The deadline is Sunday, April 30."