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Volume 12, Number 3                                 The Source
February 3, 2012
National High School Center Releases a New Early Warning System Middle Grades Tool and an Enhanced Early Warning System High School Tools

The National High School Center recently released a new Early Warning System Middle Grades (EWS MG) Tool and an enhanced version of the Early Warning System High School (EWS HS) Tool. The Early Warning System tools are free, Excel based tools that rely on readily available student-level data (attendance, course failures, grade point average, credit accumulation, and behavior) to identify middle grade and high school students that show early signs that they are at risk for dropping out of high school. Learn more about early warning systems and download the tools. To supplement the release of the new tools, the Center hosted a series of webinars focused on the implementation and use of the tools in middle and high school and experiences from states that have been using the early warning system in November and December. Access the webinar recordings and presentation materials on their website
RTI in Middle Schools:  Frequently Asked Questions  

 

This resource provides guidance for middle schools implementing RTI by answering frequently asked questions and providing "snapshots" of current middle school practices around the essential components of RTI. This document is useful as guidance for state departments of education, local education agencies, and school-level personnel as they move forward with RTI implementation at the middle school level.  

Advocacy and Influence:  Learn Techniques to Advocate for Your Students Learning Using Your Stories!

         One-Day Workshop with ASCD's David Griffith:
Learn to Advocate with Impact

 

Workshop: February 15 (8:00 A.M. - 3:15 P.M.)

Networking Social: February 14 (5:30 - 7:30 P.M.)

 

Register today for a special workshop just for you - Advocating on the Hill with Your Stories! The Iowa ASCD Board and the first 50 registrants for this professional opportunity on February 15 will learn how to leverage change with legislators. ASCD Director of Public Policy, David Griffith, will be leading our preparation for quality conversations with legislators!
 
Registration is $45 for members of Iowa ASCD and $90 for non-members. Upon registration you will receive access to tools for advocacy and influence, including talking points for major issues (e.g., 3rd grade retention, teacher and principal evaluation), sample letter and telephone script for contacting your legislators, and a rubric to evaluate your skills in advocacy. Iowa ASCD will also provide you with contact information about your legislators so that you can schedule visits "on the hill" as part of this opportunity.
 
A block of rooms has been reserved for February 14th at the Hotel Fort Des Moines (1-800-532-1466). Be sure to ask for the Iowa ASCD block of rooms. (Great evening to bring your spouse and enjoy Des Moines!)
 
Agenda:

 

February 14, 2012, 5:30 - 7:30 P.M.              
 
Informal reception at DeJango Restaurant in the Hotel Fort Des Moines, 1000 Walnut Street. Talk with ASCD Director of Public Policy David Griffith and network with your colleagues around advocacy and influence. Hors d-oeuvres and cash bar. 

                                                                                                           

February 15, 2012 8:00 - 10:30 A.M. 
         
Iowa Historical Building, 600 East Locust           
Continental breakfast
Professional Learning with David Griffith
 
February 15, 2012 10:30 - 2:30 P.M.             
Visits "on the hill" (Capitol - East 12th and Grand)
Box lunch will be provided by Iowa ASCD

February 15, 2:30 - 3:15 P.M.             

Informal (and optional) meeting at the Capitol for interested participants to debrief their visits with legislators and share possible next steps for Iowa ASCD and our members around advocacy and influence.
 
To register - Contact Bridget Arrasmith with name(s) of registrant(s), district and mailing address, e-mail address(es), phone number as well as check or purchase order. She can be reached at the following: 
  • Address:  Iowa ASCD, Drake University, School of Education, Room 123, 3206 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA  50311  
  • Phone: 515.271.1872
  • FAX: 515.271.2233
  • E-mail: [email protected]

Register Now! Limited Space!

The registrants will receive $50 coupon toward attendance at an upcoming conference in 2012!

 

Curriculum Leads:  Please Complete a Short Survey

Please take five minutes to complete a 5-question survey to help Iowa ASCD provide the resources and supports you need for your work as a curriculum lead in your district. Please click here to complete the survey. 

 

One-to-One Computing:  Lessons Learned, Pitfalls to Avoid 

Just because technology is available for students doesn't mean it has to be used all the time. Education World shares what the research says about the benefits of one-to-one computing, and addresses educator concerns about the overuse of technology. Included: Ten Web sites offering research, concerns, and tips on one-to-one computing!

One-to-one computing means putting a computer - a PC, laptop, handheld, or tablet PC - into the hands of every student. While many educators say that one-to-one computing is transforming education for the better, others say it's making the classroom teacher's job harder than ever. Some even believe that the emphasis on technology actually prevents students from learning.

In this, the second of two articles on one-to-one computing (See The 411 on One-to-One Computing), Education World looks at reasons to consider one-to-one computing in the classroom, research data on the impact of technology on student achievement, concerns about technology's overuse in the classroom, and tips to ensure that classroom computing helps, rather than hinders, the learning process.
Technology Tip:  Twitter in the Classroom 

Most of the time when ASCD Emerging Leader Stefanie Rosenberg-Wager asks  teachers if they are using Twitter for professional development, they look at her like, "Huh, what are you talking about."  She's guessing that many of you are thinking that exact thing at this moment.  

 

Twitter is not simply a social media tool to update your friends on the latest and greatest happening in your life; it can, in fact, be a powerful professional development tool.

 

One of the most powerful things about Twitter is the ability to add a hashtag to any tweet. This might look something like this.

Hash Tags

Why are hashtags important?  Hashtags are important because they allow you to talk to anyone around the world about a common topic all at once,  They are also great any time you attend a conference or event because you can follow what everyone is saying without having to attend each and every session.  More importantly, many teachers create a class hashtag and use it to allow students to contribute to class discussion virtually.

 

Another bonus about Twitter is that there are many hashtag "chats" each week. For example, Rosenberg-Wager often participates in the #sschat which takes place every Monday evening at 6 p.m. There's also #cpchat (connected principals), #edchat (general education discussion) and hundreds more.

 

See below for Twitter tutorials, a complete list of education hashtags, and additional information about using Twitter.

 

Questions? Contact Stefanie Rosenberg-Wager by e-mail  or on Twitter @srwteacher.  

 

Twitter Support: 



Webinars:  Opportunities for Professional Learning

  • Ask Dr. Judy:  What Neurological Emotional Interventions Promote Growth Mindset, Academic, Social, and Emotional Success?
    • Presenter:  Dr. Judy Willis
    • Provider:  ASCD
    • Date:  February 8, 2012 (2:00 P.M. CST)
    • Register Free 
  • Designing Learning Activities in a Standards-Based System
    • Presenter:  ASCD
    • Provider:  ASCD
    • Date:  February 15, 2012 (2:00 P.M. CST)
    • Register Free 
  • Managing the Building to Ensure High Academic Achievement
    • Presenter:  Principals  
    • Provider:  Ed Trust and Wallace Foundation
    • Date:  February 15, 2012, 2012 (3:00 P.M.)
    • Register Free  
Register for Iowa ASCD Curriculum Leadership Academy - Focus on RTI - Space Is Limited!

 

Be among the first to learn about the Iowa Department of Education's expectations for RTI!  Learn the relationships among the Iowa Core, RTI and Iowa's Blueprint!  Learn from school districts currently implementing RTI and seeing results!!  

 

All of this will happen at the 11th Annual Iowa ASCD Curriculum Academy on April 11 and 12 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Johnston, IA.  

Iowa ASCD, in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Education, is featuring Connie Maxson, Dave Tilly, and the State's RTI team throughout the Curriculum Academy. Jason Glass, Director of Education at the Iowa Department of Education, will present an afternoon keynote on the relationship of Iowa's Blueprint and RTI. The Cedar Rapids, Mason City, and North Polk School Districts will provide information about their use of data teams and professional learning communities in managing RTI. Lynnville-Sully Elementary will present their RTI program which includes programs for advanced learners. East Sac School District will report on their continued progress in the implementation of RTI.   

 

In addition, come learn with Dr. Troyce Fisher, Director of Cohesive Leadership Systems with School Administrators of Iowa, who will address leadership, change and RTI.  Mary Schmitt, Gifted Consultant with Heartland AEA, will describe programming for gifted learners in the RTI process, and the impact of instructional coaches in RTI will be the focus of a presentation by Amy Russell from the Cedar Rapids School District.

 

Join your colleagues from across the state in the learning on April 11 and 12.  Iowa ASCD Director Sue Wood chairs this event and works with an advisory of Iowa ASCD members to assure the conference meets the needs of our members. 

 

 Download the registration form now!  Space is limited! 

Iowa ASCD - Twitter!

Stay current with learning! Follow Iowa ASCD on Twitter!   

http://twitter.com/#!/IowaASCD  

President's Council on the Whole Child

Our nation's youth deserve an education that ensures each child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.


Toward that end, ASCD is petitioning the Obama administration to make this whole child approach to education a national priority through the creation of a President's Council on the Whole Child. Such a Council would comprise educators, community members, state officials, national leaders, and other experts who would provide the President with expert counsel to coordinate the education, health, and social service sectors serving our nation's youth.

As an educational leader, we encourage you to sign the petition today at www.ascd.org/signforwholechild. We also strongly encourage you to share the petition information with your friends and colleagues across the state. If the petition garners 25,000 signatures within 30 days, White House staff will review it and issue an official response.

Educators need support from the White House to continue to meet the comprehensive needs of each whole child in every classroom. Your signature on the petition sends a message to Washington, D.C., leaders to focus on what really matters - our children - by asking them to create a President's Council on the Whole Child.

 


SMARTER Balanced and PARCC to Launch New Technology Readiness Tool to Support Transition to Online Assessments

The SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) announced on Tuesday they have awarded a contract to Pearson to develop a new Technology Readiness Tool to support states as they transition to next-generation assessments. This new open source tool, with the assistance of the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), will support state education agencies as they work with local education agencies to evaluate and determine needed technology and infrastructure upgrades for the new online assessments to be launched by the two consortia in the 2014-15 school year.

"Online assessments offer states and school districts clear advantages, including expanded item types, timely feedback to inform instruction, and improved accommodations for students with special needs," said Joe Willhoft, Executive Director of SMARTER Balanced. "To be successful, however, careful planning and management of the transition process is a must. That's why both consortia are working with state and local education leaders from around the country to develop this new, free tool to help states facilitate the evaluation of current technology and infrastructure for online testing."

Smarter BalanceSMARTER Balanced and PARCC both received grants from the federal Race to the Top Assessment Program to work with states to create next-generation, comprehensive assessment systems. The development of the Technology Readiness Tool is one component of their initiatives to establish infrastructure and content for common online assessments. Intended to launch in spring 2012, the tool will be developed using open source technology, allowing the consortia free access to the source code. Data will be collected twice annually through 2014 to provide updated information on technology and infrastructure readiness.

"Navigating any type of educational change is a complicated process and the move to online assessments brings with it great opportunities and unique challenges," said Laura Slover, Senior Vice President at Achieve, which is the project management partner for the PARCC consortium. "Both test consortia areParcc focused on providing the tools and resources to remove any potential roadblocks for states as they move through the transition process."

Both consortia are working with their member states to develop next-generation assessments that align to the new Common Core State Standards and accurately measure student progress toward college and career readiness. Use of the tool will allow local schools to capture and report key readiness indicators, including: number and type of computers; local network and bandwidth infrastructure; and local staff resources and other information needed to evaluate overall technology readiness for the coming transition to digital delivery of assessments. The consortia are collaborating with SETDA to work with Pearson to support its deployment by providing states and school districts with multiple training resources and a communications campaign.

"With their investment in the development of this Technology Readiness Tool, the leaders of the SMARTER Balanced and PARCC will put states and school districts on a path toward successfully implementing next-generation assessments," said Douglas Kubach, President and CEO, the Assessment and Information group of Pearson. "At Pearson we are deeply committed to contributing our vision and expertise to support the transition to online assessments."

Iowa ASCD is the source for developing instructional leadership. Serving more than 780 educators - teachers, principals, superintendents, directors of curriculum, technology specialists, college professors, AEA staff - Iowa ASCD strives to develop the collaborative capacity to impact the learning of each and every student in Iowa.

 

In This Issue
Early Warning System Middle Grades Tool
RTI in Middle Schools
Advocacy Workshop
One-to-One Computing
Twitter for Learning
Webinars for Professional Learning
Iowa ASCD Curriculum Academy
Iowa ASCD Twitter!
BVU - Job Opportunity

Quick Links:

 

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Iowa ASCD Contacts

 

President

Leslie Moore

 

President-Elect

Jason Ellingson 

   

Past President

Julie Davies

 

Membership Information

Bridget Arrasmith

 

Secretary

Marcia Tweeten 

 

Treasurer

 Julie Davies  

 

Members-at-Large

Julie Grotewold 

Bart Mason 

 Cindy Swanson

Kevin Vidergar 

 

DE Liaison

 Eric Neessen 

 

Higher Education

Jan Beatty-Westerman 

Elaine Smith-Bright 

 

Communications Editor

Tom Ahart 

 

Leadership Council (ASCD)

Pam Armstrong-Vogel 

Susan Pecinovsky 

 

Curriculum Leadership Academy

Sue Wood 

 

Fall Institute

Kelly Adams 

 

Summer Institutes

 Cindy Swanson

 

Technology

 Chris Welch 

 

Membership Relations and E-Learning

Amy Wichman 

 

Executive Director

Lou Howell  

 

Buena Vista University Seeks Content Experts in School of Education

Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA seeks applicants for three tenure-
track positions in the School of Education, all to begin August of 2012.   Applicants must have content and pedagogical expertise preparing them to teach education courses in at least one of the following areas: Literacy, Education Psychology, Mathematics, or Science.  Details regarding these positions can be found at the BVU website.