Teaching & Learning

Adapted from INspired Leadership…

In Greek mythology, Zeus punished a character named Sisyphus by forcing him to push a huge rock up a hill only for it to roll down every time it neared the top. The daunting part? Sisyphus repeated this action for eternity without ever making it to the top to rest.

If creating successful graduates by focusing on every student every day is our ROCK, and you are like Sisyphus––the mover of the rock––with what energy are you leading this endeavor?

• Level 1: I can't push it anymore. I give up. I can't make a difference.
• Level 2: This year is already not working. I told my (colleagues, principal, friends) it would be this way. This rock is a crock!
• Level 3: It's my responsibility that ALL kids learn, so I will push it today and then move on and push it again tomorrow. I'm doing what I've been asked to do.
• Level 4: I want to see what I can do to help push others' rocks. I don't want them to be pushing too many rocks or go for too long and get worn out.
• Level 5: We'll push this rock together. We are all committed (staff, parents, admin) to show up and make movement together. This is an opportunity to believe in each other.
• Level 6: How can we move this rock together in a way we've never moved it before? Everyone wins because we're believing in the process and each other.

The levels of energy are a way to understand your impact and to take conscious action. Use this reflection of energy levels as an opportunity to reframe your thinking, adjust behavior, and focus on impacting learning at the student desk. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

September 14th: Early Release

September 14th: Mentor/Mentee Meeting

September 26th: FastBridge SAEBRS Window Opens

September 26th: 6-12 LETRS Training

September 27th: K-1 LETRS Training

September 28th 2-3 LETRS Training

September 29th: 4-5 LETRS Training

On September 1, 2022, Hays Post ran a story about bare shelves in the Hays are food banks. At the bottom of the story they have a list of how to donate food, locations to drop off food, and what food items are needed. If interested, here is the link. https://hayspost.com/posts/f1fb8f53-1309-47cb-8b64-a714b9e7518b

In order to best serve KS communities, KVC is rebranding and changing their name to Camber Children’s Mental Health (Camber) to create a distinct brand that helps identify the unique care provided and truly encompasses the range of services provided.

At this link you can watch a video to hear more about these exciting changes.

The Robert E. and Patricia A. Schmidt Foundation recently accepted the family style lunch grant proposal for Westside. The project will support creating a multi-grade level family style lunch program at Westside. The actual lunch block will be facilitated and supported by Westside Staff. "We will have three family style lunch tables eating all at one time. Each table will be a Wolf Pack (the Wolf is our school mascot). Westside high school students will serve as pack leaders. They will start serving around the table and initiate connective conversation using social skills lessons they are taught during social emotional learning groups facilitated by a High Plains therapist and recovery specialists. Westside middle school and elementary students will have jobs for lunch time such as cleaning the tables, clearing dishes, and sweeping the floor."

~Lindy McDaniel

Go Wolves!!

Click here for more information!

For More Information: HirePaths - Connect Your Kids to In-Demand Careers

For more information and FAQ's, click here

CLICK HERE!

Link to Seesaw’s info about the new messaging feature (including short videos).

The "one app" piece still requires you to sign out as a "teacher" and sign in as a "student" to see things in the class Marie and Allison made (on cell phone or iPad). But the rest of that part about the updated app is still correct.

A Teaching and Learning SeeSaw (elementary) and Canvas (secondary) page has been created and shared with teachers throughout the district. The goal for creating these courses is to share resources, dates, and general information in a one-stop-shop method. In the course you will find a calendar with PD dates, assessment windows, days off, early releases, etc. You will also find resource folders/modules with several tutorials or info for FastBridge, eduCLIMBER, ELA, Math, Progress Monitoring, and more. If there is anything you would like to see added to this page let Allison or Marie know.

The all-new Gizmos experience is coming next school year—and we’ve got all-new help resources to get you ready!

• Intro video (3:26 minutes) about essential features of the new Gizmos experience
• Teacher Quick Start Guide with step-by-step instructions for creating classes, rostering students, and more (for accounts not using rostering services)
• Admin Quick Start Guide with step-by-step instructions for inviting educators, setting up student rosters, and more (for accounts not using rostering services)
• Gizmos Adventurer Basecamp free virtual learning community where Gizmos users share with and learn from each other (and our PD team)

We can’t wait to get you hands-on with the new Gizmos experience. Watch for even more help resources in August and learn more at our Help Center.

-The ExploreLearning Team

When educators ask, what is the one action we can take to improve student learning, my answer is universal no matter the grade level or domain; Increase the Opportunities to Respond...

Read more here

• Logging into FastBridge for the First Time
• Forgotten Password
• FAST Assessment Estimated Administration Times
• Quick Sheets, Student Materials and Demo Videos can be Accessed on the Assessment Page HERE
• How To Access the List of Student Usernames & Passwords for Your Building
  

Creating an Incident in eduClimber

August: Proactive Classroom Management thru Relationships

September: Behavior vs Regulation: Check Ins

October: Language of Trauma: what to SAY?

November & December - Responding to the Behavior (Safety)

January & February: What’s the PLAN now? Empowerment

March & April: Repair and Think about it!

May: Success at School with new TOOLS

Included in this month's issue:

• Regional Professional Development / Learning Communities - College Credit and Professional Development Certificates Available
• STEM Teaching Tools Resource Study
  
• Lunch Series for Leaders
  
• Save the dates for KABT and KATS
  
• And so much more!!!

CLICK HERE!

• How to Strengthen Tier 1 Phonics?
• LETRS FAQ
• K-3 and 4th & 5th Morphology Scope and Sequence Drafts - Scope and Sequence drafts
  

FHSU Science of Language and Literacy Flyer

Teachers College Phonics Videos - https://vimeo.com/showcase/6802092

Teachers College Entire Vimeo Video Collection - https://vimeo.com/tcrwp/videos

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

The best phonics instruction is explicit, systematic, and engaging. The recent national conversation around Science of Reading clarifies the important role of phonics in early reading development. Download these three research eBooks by Wiley Blevins, author of From Phonics to Reading for Grades K–3, and discover the importance of strong phonics instruction.

The Effects of Using Decodable Texts with Systematic Instruction

Learn what Wiley Blevins found in his research study on the potential impact decodable texts have on early reading and spelling growth as well as motivation to read

Phonics Instructional Guide: Multiple Tiers for Success

The phonics instruction we deliver must be based on our awareness of grade-level reading demands while simultaneously meeting students where they are.

The Phonics Instructional Guide: Multisensory/Multimodal Instruction

Effective and efficient phonics lessons incorporate multimodal instruction. Activities should engage a student’s multiple senses, yet focus on a direct connection to authentic reading and writing experiences.

The September 2022 Early Literacy Dyslexia Newsletter can be found here! Please share widely. There are lots of opportunities for professional learning and information to share with colleagues. To access other issues or additional information please see: Early Literacy/ Dyslexia or the KSDE Dyslexia page.

Yours in education,

Laurie J. Curtis, PhD, KSDE

Morning Meeting/Morning Message Prompts to Use and Share: HERE

KS Department of Education: https://appspublic.ksde.org/TLL/SearchLicense.aspx

Speech/Language Pathologist: https://www.ksha.org/licensing.php

KS Board of Nursing: https://www.kansas.gov/ksbn-verifications/search/records

KS Board of Healing Arts: Link does not work. Go to website.

KS Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board: https://licensing.ks.gov/Verification_BSRB/Search.aspx

The items below are up for grabs. If interested in any of these, please contact gschmidt@usd489.com.