April 27, 2016
Quick Links

IL ASCD News 

ASCD News 

Advocacy / Governance 

Conferences / Workshops   

From the Field 

Curriculum / Common Core 

Opportunities 

Grants / Awards 

Research 

Publications 

Internet Sources 
Mission Statement:
To build the capacity of educational leaders to enhance
 the quality of teaching and learning.

IMPACT     SERVICE     ADVOCACY
IL ASCD NEWS
April is National Financial Capability Month
May is National Teacher Appreciation Month
Law Day May 1
Cinco de Mayo - May 5
Don't forget Mother's Day May 8!
Congratulations to ILASCD Board Member PJ Caposey!
Three Illinois superintendents were selected as winners of the National School Public Relations Association's 2015-16 Superintendents to Watch program. The program recognizes superintendents with fewer than five years of experience as a superintendent who use communication technology in innovative and effective ways. Congratulations to Illinois' honorees:
P.J. Caposey of Meridian CUSD 223 
Dr. Ehren Jarrett, Rockford Public School District 205 
Dr. Michael Lubelfeld, Deerfield Public Schools District 109

April is National Financial Capability Month, and the Department is collaborating with the Treasury Department's Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC) to teach students how to save and manage money for their postsecondary education.  "The most expensive degree remains the one you don't get," Secretary King stressed at a recent FLEC meeting.  He pointed out that the biggest threats against students' ability to manage loan debt are not completing the degree program for which their loan debt was incurred and earning a degree that is not competitive in the 21st century.
To help students make better decisions about higher education, the Department's Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) has several learning resources:
The FLEC web page provides additional resources that focus on early college preparation.

What an exciting opportunity for your school team coming up soon! Start the year organized and energized! 15th Annual Leadership Institute, July 31 - Aug 2, 2016, 444 Eagle Ridge Dr, Galena, IL, "Using Assessments to Empower Student Learning" with Diane Wolf, Steve Oertle, and Donald Viegut, AA #1577 or professional development hours
You will experience 2˝  days of dynamic professional discussion, learning and leadership building   from diverse perspectives for school leaders and leadership teams. Through ongoing dialogue, networking, presentations, and other sources, participants will have the opportunity to seek new directions for making powerful participant roads for their school district.

Sunday July 31, 2016
Noon - 3:00 p.m.   -  Resort Recreation
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.   -   Registration/Check-in (Register by June 30)
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.    -  Diane Wolf
6:30 - 7:00 p.m.    -   Welcome Reception
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.    -  Dinner/Networking

Monday Aug 1, 2016
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.    -    Continental Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - Noon   -  Steve Oertle
Noon - 1:00 p.m.   -  Lunch
1:00 - 1:45 p.m.     -   Exhibit Round Robin
Team Planning for Remainder of Day

Tuesday Aug 2, 2016
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.    -   Continental Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - Noon   -  Donald Viegut
Noon - 1:00 p.m.  -  Box Lunch
Team Planning for Remainder of Day

Leadership Institute Outcomes:
* Build leadership capacity among teams
* Acquire practical leadership strategies for application in the educational setting
* Develop long-range and short-range district improvement plans for the year
* Recharge personally and professionally
* Network with leadership from other educational teams
* Graduate Credit available on site

Illinois ASCD is a CPS Approved Provider: 24595
Recommended Pre-reading: Common Formative Assessments 2.0 by Larry Ainsworth and Donald Viegut
Administrative Academy #1577 or professional development hours.  Registration for hotel must be made by June 30, 2016. Register here.

VOTE for ILASCD Treasurer!
Please vote in the IL ASCD elections.  This year we will be electing our Treasurer for a two-year term. Our current Treasurer, Jennifer Garrison is running for re-election.  Voting can take place between April 15 and May 15, 2016 at the following link:  https://www.associationvoting.com/ilascd/

We encourage you to vote in ASCD's 2016 General Membership Election. ASCD operates under the auspices of the Board of Directors which represents the interests of our 125,000 members. Active members have the opportunity to help determine the association's future by casting a ballot to elect two members of the Board of Directors. The successful candidates will take office on July 1, 2016, and serve for four years. Candidates' biographical information and video statements are included with the online ballot and also appear at www.ascd.org/candidates. 
 
The election is only online. Have your membership number on hand in order to make the process easy. Go to www.ascd.org/vote by April 30, 2016, to cast your ballot.
  • You will be prompted to enter your Member ID and password.
  • Click on the Vote Now button to connect to our secure online election system.
  • If you don't have your Member ID or password, contact the ASCD Service Center at 1-800-933-ASCD (2723) and then press 1, or send an e-mail to member@ascd.org.
From STEM to STEAM
How do educators prepare students for jobs that don't exist yet? STEAM - adding Arts to STEM - provides a full 360-degree approach to 21st-century learning. Hear from the experts on how to bring powerful STEAM learning to your school in this free webinar on April 28!  Register Now

Archived issues of ILASCD Education Briefs are now available on our website. 
 

Check out our Conferences/Workshops section and choose an opportunity for professional development!   

ASCD congratulates 2014 Affiliate Overall Excellence Award recipient Illinois ASCD. ASCD annually recognizes affiliates to honor their exemplary service to the education community.
 
IL ASCD Illinois Office
P.O. Box 852 
Normal, IL 61761

Please send me good news about your school!  Anyone taking a new position for next school year or retiring this year, please let me know!   Glenna Adams, Editor gladams@wideopenwest.com 
  
Renee Phillips, Administrative Assistant, reneephillips@mac.com, phone: 309-820-9100. 
Ryan Nevius, Assistant Director, rcneviu@me.com, phone: 618-203-3993.
Katie McKay-Phillips, Social Media & Events, kathrynmckay20@gmail.com 
  
 
Are you already on Facebook?  Check out and LIKE the ILASCD Facebook page  
IL ASCD is now on Facebook!  Visit us at IL ASCD.
  
  
 
 
IL ASCD has a Twitter channel!  Stay current at IL ASCD.      
 
  
 
miller_guidance 
The Common Core State Standards, Teacher Evaluation Systems, Race to the Top funding....Is your system ready?
Built on leading scientific research the Miller Guidance System puts into practice the theoretical underpinnings of federal school reform initiatives.  Created and refined by practitioners, in a variety of settings our practical tools and processes provide the blueprint for school improvement. Is your system ready?
Click below to see a video of what your colleagues are saying about Miller Guidance!
www.millerguidance.com 866-364-9535
ASCD News 
In this Educational Leadership article, Carol Ann Tomlinson shares that formative assessment, when done right, can be the bridge between today's lesson and tomorrow's. Her principles include helping students understand the role of formative assessment, making room for student differences, planning instruction around content requirements and student needs, and making feedback user-friendly.  

In her latest "Education Update" column, ASCD Executive Director and CEO Deb Delisle shares a story from her time as a science teacher when she saw the importance of relevant units of study, especially for gifted students whose grasp of content goes beyond the grade-level requirements. Making this a priority can allow students to identify topics of interest and pursue them in meaningful ways. By listening to kids, educators will learn every day and continue to create better learning environments for all to succeed. 

Are We Motivating Students With Data? 
How do teachers commonly review data with their students? And what does research tell us is the likely effect of these practices on student motivation? In this Educational Leadership article, Caitlin Farrell, Julie Marsh and Melanie Bertrand ask these questions and look at some ways to ensure your use of data motivates students. From "data chats" to "data Fridays," there are many effective ways to do so. 

Educational Leadership: Looking at Student Work
The April issue of Educational Leadership, themed "Looking at Student Work," is dedicated to exploring the art and science of responding to student work. The authors -- including John Hattie, Thomas Guskey, Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey and Jay McTighe -- examine the varied purposes for reviewing student work and present what research and best practice say about improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the feedback process. There are some surprising findings.

On ASCD Learn Teach Lead Radio, you can hear engaging conversations about the topics that matter in education today and affect the success of each child. In the latest episode, Michael Fisher discusses why it's important to move beyond the old way of lesson planning and create new types of learning experiences. Listen to this episode and each of the other episodes, or subscribe on iTunes. Listen now.

"School leaders and teachers have a responsibility to help all of their students feel included in the school process so they can maximize their potential. It doesn't mean everyone has to agree, but it does mean that everyone has to feel safe and included in our school systems," writes Peter DeWitt in this Inservice post. Read DeWitt's thoughts on creating an inclusive learning environment that welcomes LGBTQ students.

"If you assume that everyone at your school realizes diversity is important, so it doesn't need a formal champion -- you're wrong. It's precisely because affirming all the aspects of each child's identity is so important to growth and development that diversity needs a point person," writes Thomas Hoerr in his Principal Connection column in this month's Educational Leadership. He shares why it's essential to have one primary person who always has diversity top-of-mind and how this can make a powerful, clear statement.

Don't miss this interactive, in-depth digital magazine about building inclusive pathways to STEM careers. Get tips from students, educators and other experts. Download your copy today.

We're reinventing our annual conference for 2017. Get inspired with a new professional learning experience featuring a variety of innovative ways to network and learn, and feel empowered to transform your schools through content that will focus on the whole child, transformational leadership, global engagement, poverty and equity, teaching and learning, and redefining student success. Join us in Anaheim, Calif., from March 24 to 27, 2017. Be a leader, keynote, presenter or speaker. Request for proposals will open soon.

Cambridge has worked with members of ASCD for over 25 years to provide research-based test preparation programs that are proven to increase students' standardized test scores and ensure that students have mastered the necessary skills to be college and career ready. We offer supplemental curriculum, data services, test prep, and training for the SAT, PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, PSAT/ NMSQT, ACT, Explore, Plan, Aspire, HiSET, TASC, GED, Career Interest Inventory, Learning Styles and WorkKeys tests. Our customized lesson plans guide your teachers in how to use data to improve teaching, engage learning, and plug college and career
skill gaps.
To schedule a free on-site presentation or visit, contact Mary Parks at
847-299-2930 ext. 226 or MParks@CambridgeEd.com .
Advocacy / Governance
IL ASCD's purpose is to inform.  We encourage you to be an informed, involved educator. Watch local, state, and national news for most current events.
 
ASCD has released its first Global Policy Agenda, which makes recommendations to promote the success of students, educators, schools and communities worldwide. The specific global recommendations include establishing a multimetric accountability system, reducing the reliance on standardized testing, promoting a whole child education, and honoring and supporting the education profession. View the agenda. 

The latest issue of Policy Priorities examines the vocabulary that various stakeholders -- including communities, administrators, teachers, parents and students -- use to discuss a whole child approach to education. It reviews similarities and differences among common terms, provides definitions used by specific educational associations, and calls for building a whole-child lexicon that all stakeholders can use -- the aim is to build a vocabulary that is practical, that everyone can use.

ASCD's Whole Child Initiative in Illinois
Launched in 2007 ASCD's Whole Child Initiative is an effort to change the conversation about education from a focus on narrowly defined academic achievement to one that promotes the long term development and success of children.  Illinois ASCD supports this premise.

Are you receiving the ASCD Whole Child Newsletter?  Sign up on http://www.wholechildeducation.org  to receive this biweekly free resource and stay up to date on policies and practices, data, strategies, and tools to help you ensure that each child in your community is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.  In addition to this information from ASCD, we are running a series on the Whole Child within our Illinois ASCD Newsletter.  To read the latest edition of our newsletter, visit http://publications.catstonepress.com/i/566315-fall-2015 

In 2012, Illinois Legislature Declared March to be "Whole Child Month."
With the help of Illinois ASCD members, we continue to keep the names of ASCD and IL ASCD in the minds of Illinois legislators as the go-to organization on learning.  They helped us enable the passage of the Whole Child Resolution in Illinois in both houses on March 9, 2012.  As the years progress, our members will continue to keep in touch with our legislators and feel that we have had a say in helping to promote strong educational issues in our state.  Copies of these resolutions can be found below:
Illinois Education News

Higher Education Stop-Gap
After some dramatic turns, the House and Senate approved SB 2059 which appropriates some funding to all of the state universities, community colleges, MAP grants, and the Illinois Math & Science Academy. All universities except Chicago State University will receive one-third of their FY 2015 appropriation. Read more here.

College Entrance Exam Choice
The House approved HB 4362 to require ISBE to enter into two college entrance exam contracts and allow school districts to select which exam they want to offer their students. ISBE would pay for one exam to be administered, per district, subject to appropriations.

Illinois Legislator Proposes New Chicago School Funding Formula
Reuters reports that Democratic State Sen. Andy Manar stated that he will move to create a more fair school funding system that prioritizes low-income schools, replacing the current system adopted in 1997. The change could mean an additional $300 million for the embattled Chicago Public Schools. Reuters anticipates opposition from opposition from state Republicans, although Manar says that his plan parallels themes introduced by Republican governor Bruce Rauner. The Chicago Sun-Times (4/5, Sfondeles) reports that the proposed bill would cost "about $600 million," the majority of which would be used during the first year to maintain current district funding levels. Manar stated that the proposed formula will deemphasize property taxes as a funding source in order to "take steps toward parity." The proposal also includes a $1000 per student per year cap on district losses.
      Funding Plan Draws Bipartisan Criticism. The Chicago Tribune reports separately that Manar's proposal is "politically tricky" in a state with a history of budget gridlock. Republicans have called the proposal a "bailout" for CPS while House Democrats have quickly begun work on "their own" funding proposal, according to the Tribune. Rauner blames Democrats for the state's funding woes, although last year he signed a portion of a Democrat budget proposal keeping schools open despite the "10-month budget impasse," vetoing the remainder of the bill.

Illinois Lacks Statewide Policy On Opting Out Of PARCC Tests
The  Chicago Sun-Times (4/13, FitzPatrick) reports that neither the state of Illinois nor the Chicago Public Schools have established a policy for what to do with a student who refuses the state's PARCC test. State law requires "that every public school student in grades three through eight and certain high school classes must be offered a standardized test." Parents are not able to "opt out students ahead of time." Some schools have required parents to submit letters after their children refused the test, while others required students "to call their parents first." In response to varying policies, the Illinois House approved legislation to adopt a standard statewide policy, but the Senate has not acted on it.
 
Illinois Law Day May 1, 2016, "Miranda More Than Words"
The following are available resources to assist in planning for Law Day 2016:
Visit the Law Day website frequently for free resources to help you plan and execute impactful and successful programs on criminal justice. Make a difference in your community this Law Day. www.lawday.org 
  
NEW-The American Bar Association in partnership with the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars presents the 2016 Leon Jaworski Public Program,  Miranda: More Than Words, "You have the right to remain silent."   April 28, 2016, 5 - 7 pm, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Ronald Reagan Building, Flom Auditorium, 6th Floor, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.  RSVP to attend this FREE program. 

ISBE NEWS

ESSA LISTENING TOUR
ISBE is hosting a listening tour on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to help prepare the state plan for implementation. Each meeting will pose the following questions for feedback:
  • What do we value and how would that be translated into a state plan to improve student achievement for all students?
  • How should student growth factor into an accountability system?
  • What do you want to see in a state plan to improve coordinated services to schools and districts?
  • What do you want to see in a state plan to improve programs and services?
Each meeting will be held from 4:30-6:30p.m. See below for the full schedule and click here for more information.
  • Wednesday, April 27 - ROE 51 - 2201 Toronto Road, Suite A, Springfield
  • Wednesday, April 27 - ROE 26 - 130 S. Lafayette St., Macomb
  • Tuesday, May 17 - ROE 21 - 17428 Route 37, Johnston City
ISBE Hot Topics
PARCC Score Toolkit - Communication tools for school leaders available

Click this link for a pdf listing of all House and Senate PK-12 committees. 

Bill Text/Status: Illinois General Assembly www.ilga.gov. Click on Dashboard.    
  
Federal Education News

U.S. Education Department Releases Draft ESSA Regulations on Testing
Negotiators trying to craft rules on testing and spending for the Every Student Succeeds Actnow have a starting point for discussion. The U.S. Department of Education released draft regulations on the two areas of the law that a panel of educators, advocates, and experts have been discussing: testing, and a spending portion of the law called "supplement-not-supplant" (which governs how local and state dollars interact with federal Title I spending for students in poverty). 

States May Not be Prepared to Implement ESSA, Some Say
State education departments may not be prepared for new flexibility under the Every Student Succeeds Act, according to a panel at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Pedro Noguera, with UCLA, said state education officials generally focus on compliance. "There's going to have to be a major shift to get them to think about new ways of assessing, performance, capacity, support in schools," he said. Diverse: Issues In Higher Education 
 
ESSA Mandates New Transparency Requirements
Alyson Klein writes at the Education Week "Politics K-12" blog that there are six facets to ESSA that set up "new transparency requirements that will give the feds, states, districts, educators advocates and (yes) education reporters a much clearer picture of how different populations of kids are doing and what kind of access they have to resources, including money." The new transparency requirements have to do with state accountability systems, homeless and foster children, military kids, ELL students, per-student spending, postsecondary enrollment, and "crosstabulation" of student data.

Alexander Questions Education Dept.'s ESSA Rule-making
The US Department of Education in its rule-making process may be ignoring key provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act, Sen. Lamar Alexander told Education Secretary John King Jr. this week during a hearing. Alexander called attention to issues around Title I funding. The Washington Post  

Proposals for ESSA Rules on Funding, Assessments Change
The US Department of Education has updated two proposed regulations designed to provide greater flexibility for school funding and to clarify rules on assessments. The revisions released last week are part of the rule-making negotiations for the Every Student Succeeds Act. Education Week  

ISBE ESSA webpage - Click here to access.

The US Supreme Court is expected to decide in June whether President Barack Obama's executive order to prevent the deportation of about 4 million undocumented immigrant parents of US-born children is constitutional. The justices appeared divided on the issue during a recent hearing.
CNN

ASCD Educator Advocates: www.educatoradvocates.org  
ASCD Legislative Agenda: www.ascd.org/legislativeagenda  
ASCD Policy Points: www.ascd.org/publicpolicy 
To reach Senator Mark Kirk:  Chicago 312-886-3506, in Springfield 217-492-5089, in Washington DC 202-224-2854, by email at Senator@Kirk.Senate.gov. You can also contact Sen. Kirk's outreach person, Randy Pollard at gop2525@gmail.com or randy_pollard@kirk.senate.gov. 217-492-5089.   

To reach Senator Dick Durbin:  Chicago 312-358-4952, in Springfield 217-492-4062, in Carbondale 618-351-1122, in Washington DC 202-224-2152, by email at  www.durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm.You can also contact Sen. Durbin's outreach person, Justin Cajindos, 525 S. 8th Street, Springfield, IL 62703, Phone: (217) 492-4062. E-Mail:Justin_Cajindos@durbin.senate.gov   
Conferences / Workshops


Please note that most workshops/conferences close registration one week prior to the event.  The last day to register is on the registration form.

Successful Assessment 101:  Everything You Need to Know about Tests in a Standards-Based Learning Environment
ILASCD presents Video Workshops for use in Department meetings, Faculty meetings, PLC teams, college classes, parent meetings, Board of Education meetings, grade-level meetings, individual PD.
Not webinars, but live-capture presentations defining and exploring how testing in standards-based learning environments leads to successful growth model attainment.  Each video begins with definitions of the tests in the area being covered. Detailed information about their impact on the learning in classrooms will be provided. Each video allows break times within the 30-45 minute time period for discussion by the viewing group under the leadership of the local host (principal, professor, department chair, PLC leader, etc.).  Each module is $69. What's Included:
  • Downloadable HD Videos
  • Facilitator Directions
  • Participant Handouts
  • PowerPoint Slides
Module Descriptions
  • Module 1: Overview of Assessment Types
  • Module 2: National Assessment
  • Module 3: District Assessment
  • Module 4: Local/Classroom Assessment
You'll get everything you need to facilitate an effective professional development session for your group.  Each video is timed to fit within a 1-hour staff meeting (35 to 45 minutes running time), including ample time for discussion, the included activities, and opening/closing time.The videos are provided in high-definition 1080p MP4 format. We recommend using a large screen with a high-definition projector for the best experience, and providing slide handouts if a smaller screen will be used.less total about 15GB in size. If download speed is a concern, you can also order the program on a USB flash drive.  30-Day Money Back Guarantee  Your purchase is 100% Risk Free.  If you're not happy for any reason, simply let our friendly support team know (via email) and we'll happily refund your money.  Get started now!  

  
Know Your IEIN?
Professional Development Requirement- IEIN Number * When registering and signing attendance for future professional development opportunities provided by school districts, ROE, professional association, or other approved ISBE Provider, you will be required to provide your IEIN which is your Illinois Educator Information Number. * Your personal IEIN can be found on the ELIS site, which is the ISBE site for licensure renewal and PD hour entry. * Please know your IEIN when registering and attending. This requirement protects YOU when ISBE decides to audit your attendance at events.
 
Science is a Verb, not a Noun!, Craig Gaska, Apr 29, 2016, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm, 7 Bridges Golf Club, Woodridge, IL
Science is a verb, not a noun! Science is something that students do. The goal of this workshop is to help you use the Next Generation Science Standards to invigorate science in the classroom. You will learn how to bring the standards to life by using strategies that integrate the NGSS into your current curriculum, not an "add-on." Dr. Gaska will show you how to apply the standards, using a practical unit and lesson planning model that will help you create lessons that will turn your students on to science. Participants need to bring examples of current science units to this hands-on workshop to make the most of the day. Continental breakfast, lunch, free parking, 6 professional development hours. Register here.

School Leadership Practices for Transforming the Attitudes of At-Risk Students, Baruti Kafele, May 5, 2016, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm, Goodman Center of Roosevelt University, 501 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605
The complex role of the educational leader is the most important role in bridging the attitude gap!  In this high-energy, highly-interactive workshop, Principal Kafele discusses the characteristics of an effective leadership team in an underperforming school comprised of an at-risk student population.  He will outline what he did to lead the transformation for four low-performing public schools in New Jersey.  Before we can focus on closing the achievement gap, we must first focus on closing the attitude gap-the gap between those students who have the will to strive for excellence and those who do not.  Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, parking, and 6 professional development hours.  Register here.

Teaching the Standards: It's As Easy As ABC! with Sarah Martino and Kathy Brown, June 10, 2016, Thomas Jefferson Junior High, Woodridge, IL, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Are you struggling to incorporate the language arts standards and still maintain a developmentally appropriate environment? Do you need routines for collecting common core and KIDS aligned data that are woven into your everyday activities? Would you like to learn how to engage your students in collaborative conversations? Are you searching for just the right mentor texts and strategies to spark social and emotional learning? Do you want to spice up your read-aloud routine and encourage increased comprehension growth? Are you longing for a way to get your students to take the risk to write? Do you need visual anchor charts and graphic organizers to assist your students in remembering key academic vocabulary? Do you desire to create a classroom of clear procedures and easy routines that will empower your learners? If you answered "YES" to any one of these questions, then sign up for this workshop today! K-2 Teachers, ELL, Reading Specialists/Coaches, Special Ed. K-2, and Administrators. Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, parking, and 6 professional development hours. Register here.

NEW-Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey, ASCD's Framework for intentional and Targeted Teaching®, ( FIT Teaching®), June 22 and 23, 2016, Central Location: Forest View Educational Center, Arlington Heights, IL.  4 networked locations around the state.  8:30 am - 3:30 pm daily (11:30 am - 1:00 pm lunch on own) Sponsored by ASCD and ILASCD
Join Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey as they share how ASCD's Framework for Intentional and Targeted Teaching® (FIT Teaching®) process blends the intentional design of a lesson/unit's purpose with the instructional strategies necessary to support the gradual release of responsibility for learning. Based on their newly released ASCD book, Intentional and Targeted Teaching, they'll discuss how the
strategic use of formative assessment practices informs targeted instruction. This FIT Teaching®
Institute will introduce participants to the FIT Teaching® Growth and Leadership Tool, which represents five critical components of an instructional process that captures the tangible interactions of teachers and students in their learning environments. The FIT Teaching® Tool is a rubric designed to foster discussion among educators about practices that teachers can use for self-assessment, peers can use for collegial feedback, and instructional coaches and leaders can use to develop the skills teachers need both in and out of the classroom.
Central Location:
Forest View Educational Center
2121 S. Goebbert Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Networked Location:                   
KIDS Regional Office of Education   
300 Heart Boulevard
Loves Park, IL 61111
Networked Location:
Illinois State University-Alumni Center
1101 N. Main Street
Normal, IL 61790-8610
Networked Location:
Regional Office of Education #13   
Meeting Site: Kaskaskia College
27210 College Road
Centralia, IL 62801
Networked Location:
Rock Island Regional Office of Education
3430 Avenue of the Cities
Moline, IL 61265
Your NEW Solution
ASCD offers a value-priced networked solution, synchronously taught by
prominent authors among an exciting, live, interconnected community of your
colleagues. You'll experience
  •  Top-quality, trained subject-matter experts and their teams
  •  Technology best practices and live work groups 
  •  Powerful and energetic team-building activities in nearby learning communities
You will be part of a new, dynamic experience that thrives on both in-person and cross-location collaboration in an exciting community of learners. At our central location, you'll interact directly with the main subject-matter experts. Seasoned and trained members of the main experts' personal team (cadre) will lead our networked location sites. Each networked location features innovative technology that allows for interaction among all locations, including the central location, via in-person breakout sessions, online tools, and resources.    

Get more information and register for this powerful new option for your professional
learning by visiting  www.ascd.org/institutes.

NEW-ASCD 2016 Conference on Teaching Excellence, New Orleans, July 8 - 10, 2016, Preconference Institutes July 7, 2016
Do you want to get the latest innovations and best practices in teaching?  ASCD delivers what works best in classrooms and school districts.  Learn from today's thought-leaders and seasoned educators.  Then take what you've learned and apply it in your classroom.  You'll start the new year with fresh inspiration as well as more efficient and effective skills.  Meetings are at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.
  • More than 150 sessions on subjects including instructional strategies, engagement and motivation, lesson planning, assessment, and leadership.
  • Keynote luncheon with Carol Ann Tomlinson.
  • Network with colleagues and experts at our welcome reception and networking breakfasts.
  • Save with a team discount where every fifth person you register from the same school or organization is free.*
Register online at  www.ascd.org/CTEregister. 
 
Flipped Learning: Reach Every Student in Every Class Every Day, Jon Bergmann, July 15, 2016, NIU Naperville, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Workshop Objectives:
Introduce the concept of flipped learning
Plan the steps for flipping a lesson or course 
Explore helpful tech tips for flipping 
Discuss strategies for dealing with anticipated obstacles to learning in a flipped learning environment 
Explore strategies to increase understanding of the flipped learning concepts by students and parents 
Examine the challenges of flipped learning faced by teachers and administrators 
Determine best practices for teachers and administrators whether their schools have already flipped or planning 
Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, parking, and 6 professional development hours. Register here.

Summer Kindergarten Conference, Greg Smedley-Warren with Kindergarten Smorgasboard, July 27, 2016 at NIU Naperville, OR July 28, 2016 at ISU Alumni Center, Normal, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
1 /2 hours on each topic:
A Smorgasboard of Math Strategies
Discover how to build math skills each day using the calendar, math review,  mental  math,  groups,  centers and lesson  closures.  These strategies  will  help  you  meet  the  needs  of  your  students  while challenging  them to  reach  for  higher-order  thinking. Plus,  you  will find  out  how  to  integrate  technology  and  differentiate math instruction.
Common Core Centers & Management Made Simple
Get familiar with Common Core-aligned and differentiated math and literacy  center  ideas  and  explore  ways to effectively  manage  your math or literacy centers. See how easy it is to integrate technology into your center time.Plus discover how center wheels and tubs help make  managing  and  rotating  centers  simple  for  you and  your students.
A Compilation of Classroom Management Ideas & Tips
You won't believe how many new and fresh classroom management strategies, tips, tricks and ideas you'll discover in this session! Plan on learning about different types of behavior systems, rewards and consequences, the  importance  of  routines,  expectations  and procedures, and ways to bring free and low-cost incentives into your classroom.
Kick Off Your Day RIGHT With Morning Meeting
See  how  10-20  minutes  each  morning  can  change  the  dynamics  of your  classroom  and  make  your classroom  more  like  a  family. You'll learn  the  components  of  morning  meeting  as  well  as  ideas  for greetings,  activities  and  morning  messages  to use in your classroom.
Registration includes breakfast, lunch, parking, and 6 professional development hours.
Register here

Don't miss this summer opportunity for team planning.  Start the school year organized and energized! 15th Annual Leadership Institute, July 31 - Aug 2, 2016 ,444 Eagle Ridge Dr, Galena, IL, Using Assessments to Empower Student Learning with Diane Wolf, Steve Oertle, and Donald Viegut
You will experience  2˝  days   of   dynamic   professional discussion,   learning   and   leadership   building  from   diverse perspectives  for  school  leaders  and  leadership  teams. Through  ongoing dialogue, networking, presentations, and other sources, participants will have the  opportunity to seek new directions for making powerful participant roads for their school district.
Sunday July 31, 2016
Noon - 3:00 p.m.   -  Resort Recreation
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.   -   Registration/Check-in
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.    -  Diane Wolf
6:30 - 7:00 p.m.    -   Welcome
Reception
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.    -  Dinner/Networking

Monday Aug 1, 2016
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.    -    Continental Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - Noon   -  Steve Oertle
Noon - 1:00 p.m.   -  Lunch
1:00 - 1:45 p.m.     -   Exhibit Round Robin
Team Planning for Remainder of Day

Tuesday Aug 2, 2016
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.    -   Continental Breakfast
9:00 a.m. - Noon   -  Donald Viegut
Noon - 1:00 p.m.  -  Box Lunch
Team planning for rest of day

Leadership Institute Outcomes:
* Build leadership capacity among teams
* Acquire practical leadership strategies for application in the educational setting
* Develop long-range and short-range district improvement plans for the year
* Recharge personally and professionally
* Network with leadership from other educational teams
* Graduate Credit available on site

Illinois ASCD is a CPS Approved Provider: 24595
Recommended Pre-reading: Common Formative Assessments 2.0 by Larry Ainsworth and Donald Viegut
Administrative academy #1577 or professional development hours.  Registration for hotel must be made by June 30, 2016. Register here.

Promoting Excellence Through Equity with Dr. Pedro Noguera, Sept 12, 2016, Roosevelt University, Goodman Center, 11:30 am - 7:30 pm
Promoting Excellence Through Equity-If  policies,  strategies,  practices or procedures work for our most vulnerable  communities  and students,  they  will  work  for everyone.  The  reverse, however, IS NOT true. Across  our  nation,  courageous  conversations are underway on confronting the fundamental ways inequalities affect students' learning and opportunities to reach their full potential. But talk isn't good enough, and more work must be done to attain  greater equity and opportunity for all students.
IL ASCD continually engages and supports its members to understand the drives and biases of institutional inequities and to shape their  school cultures, change practices and lead  teams that   deliver  high-quality instruction for all students. To deepen these conversations and cultivate more  effective practices, we have partnered with the American Reading Company to bring Dr. Pedro  Noguera for a day  of  thought-provoking discussion  that advance our shared  work in attaining  equity and opportunity for all students.
Agenda
11:30 - 12:00 p.m.  Registration and light lunch
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.  Welcome
IL ASCD, Roosevelt University & American Reading Company
"Learning Around Access and Equity" Dr. Pedro Noguera, "Access and Equity:
From Exploration to Theory of Action," Amelia Van Name Larson
1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Team Collaboration: Teams will work to identify gaps, apply
new knowledge, and plan to develop systems and structures that will ensure access and equity for all students. Facilitated by Dr. Pedro Noguera and Amelia Van Name Larson
4:45 - 5:45 p.m  Hosted Reception Sponsored by IL ASCD System II & Roosevelt University New Deal Program in the Roosevelt University Auditorium Library
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Keynote Address: "Excellence Through Equity: Five Principles of Courageous Leadership to Guide Achievement for Every Student" Dr. Pedro Noguera
Register here

NEW-The Breakthrough Coach 2-Day Course, "How to Work Less, Produce More
and Still Get the Job Done," November 3-4, 2016, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, 19th Century Club,
178 Forest Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60301
The 2-Day Course is unlike any other, designed to present and teach administrative teams The Breakthrough Coach's Fundamental Practices™. With a focus on executive management rather than on education, the 2-Day Course provides you with the structure and systems you need to get it all done, and produce the results you're after, all in a sensible work week.
Who Should Attend?  Site Principals, District Office Supervisors, Cabinet-Level Administrators, and their Secretaries.
Course Format:  Conducted over two full days; Includes lecture, small group discussion, Q&A, and hands-on implementation between administrators and secretaries.  Administrators attend Day 1 & 2; Secretaries attend Day 2 ONLY with their administrators.
The  Breakthrough  Coach is an educational training firm that supports school administrators to be  transformational  leaders who achieve student success.  The Breakthrough Coach's Management Methodology™ teaches school leaders how to build productive front-office  environments that then  free them up to focus on creating sustainable, school-wide improvement. The  Breakthrough  Coach  provides you with a proven structure to:
  • Spend 2 full days each week observing classrooms
  • Work more efficiently
  • Empower and coach your staff
  • Achieve work/life balance
  • Raise student achievement
all in a sensible work week.
Course includes continental breakfast, lunch, materials, free parking and Professional Development Hours. Walk from the CTA Green line or Metra. IL ASCD is CPS Approved Provider # 24595.  Register here.

ARIE's Global Project Based Learning Academy, June 28-30, 2016, Forest View Education Center, Arlington Heights, IL
Advanced Research in Education's team will advance your readiness and fill your toolbox with the practical methods they perfected in their own classrooms.  Their approach is in demand worldwide as they are the only provider who brings 100% all day every day PBL experience to you.  We are proud that AIRE selected IL ASCD to partner in this summer program. For more info go to: http://www.ilc21.org  For registration go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/think-forward-arlington-heights-illinois-regional-conference-registration-15463754506.

Cowin Fnancial Literacy Institute, July 11-14, 2016, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City
Pre-registration for the 2016 Teachers College Cowin Financial Literacy Institute is now open.  This year's summer program will held on July 11-14 Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City.  The
No Obligation Pre-registration comes with no strings attached.  It allows you to express interest in attending and stay abreast of the latest developments, such as confirmed speakers and guests, regarding the conference.   
Conference attendees will receive
  • A $200 stipend
  • A certificate of completion that may be used for professional development hours
  • A chance to earn a Certification in Personal Finance
Register today!
 
IASA Aspiring Superintendent Summer Academy, July 11-15, 2016, Springfield 
The Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) Aspiring Superintendent Summer Academy is a program for school leaders who are thinking about becoming a superintendent. The five day summer leadership academy will hone participants' leadership knowledge and skills and give them a view of the modern superintendency.  This summer learning academy, aligned with the ISLLC Standards, will be a fast-paced, authentic Learning Academy where attendees will participate in simulations and produce meaningful activities that reflect the modern job of the superintendent. Have you ever wondered what you may not have learned in graduate school but you may need to know in order to be an effective leader?  Find out more!
 
Southland Learning Conference, August 8, 2016, Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School, Oak Lawn
In an effort to connect and learn from each other in Oak Lawn-Hometown SD123, and with other educators in surrounding school districts, D 123 has created an opportunity on Aug 8th, 2016 called The Southland Learning Conference.  The event is scheduled from 8:30a-1:00p.  The Southland Learning Conference is currently looking for educators to present at its inaugural event. Presentations should be approximately 40 minutes in length and can focus on any educational topic. Additionally, we have also added a "poster session" option. Poster sessions are informal presentations similar to what you would experience at a science fair.   For more information please check the link below or if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or email Laura Ferrell at (708) 499-6400 or lferrell@d123.org.  For more information: http://www.southlandlearning.org/ 
  
T21CON 2016 
The College of Education at Illinois State University, September 23, 2016, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Bone Student Center, ISU, Normal, IL 
Teaching in the 21st Century Conference (T21CON) is a hands-on, engaging learning opportunity designed for current and aspiring educators to gain an edge in using technology in the classroom. T21CON connects attendees with resources, strategies, and a network of experts to support their careers in education. Attendance is free for all practicing educators and ISU students.  Have questions about T21CON 2016?   Contact The College of Education at Illinois State University.
 
Leadership Legacy Summits, David Anderson, 2 sessions left, Renaissance Hotel, Schaumburg, IL
Begin your journey to GREAT leadership by attending the Leadership Legacy Summits.  This quarterly series focuses on YOUR leadership, and helps participants to fully understand what true, authentic leadership really is! This Summit will give you the tools to practice great leadership and allow you to find better relationships, improved organizations, increased profits, and new cultures, just to name a few.  The Leadership Legacy Summits will give you a strong foundation for building sound leadership and raising the "lid" on your current leadership quotient.  This is a DO NOT MISS opportunity!
May 20, 2016 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
"Think Like a Leader,"  Always Taking the Leader's Perspective
August 26, 2016 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
"360 Degree Leadership,"  Lead from Anywhere.  Take on the Leadership Lifestyle.

Where:  Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg, IL
Cost:  $249 per session, including Networking Luncheon
Register by visiting:  www.theleadershiplegacysummits.com 
From the Field
 IL Principal Recognized for Leadership, Golden Apple Nominee
Principal Daniel Krause has been nominated for a state award recognizing his leadership after he has worked to increase respect, responsibility and engagement at Willowbrook High School in Illinois. "From a day-to-day perspective, he believes in shared leadership," teacher Brian Chelmecki said. Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL) 

Geneva, Illinois Middle School Students Build Skyscrapers
The Aurora (IL) Beacon-News reports students at Geneva Middle School North in Geneva, Illinois "were tasked with building their own skyscraper" after studying urban growth. There were "two towers this year that beat the old record of 22 feet, 3 inches set back in 2014. The new record is now 29 feet tall."

Illinois Teachers Integrate Technology Into Classrooms
The Northwest (IL) Herald reports that technology is increasingly an essential classroom tool in Illinois classrooms, from Skyping scientists in the field to one-to-one computer programs that enable all students to access online resources, broadening the set of activities available to teachers. Some districts offer K-12 online classes while other leverage a "flipped classroom" model where students learn independently and use class time for practice. Many teachers, however, still prioritize traditional learning and use technology as a supplement to provide additional information or discussion topics, saying that it will "never replace human connection," according to the Herald.

Chicago Teachers Union Rejects Fact-Finder's Recommended Contract Terms
The Chicago Tribune reports the "Chicago Teachers Union rejected proposed contract terms recommended by" independent fact-finder Steven Bierig. The Tribune reports the union's decision now creates "the possibility of a strike before the school year ends."  The Chicago Sun-Times (4/17) reports that CTU President Karen Lewis "said Saturday 'the clock has started,' counting down to a possible teachers strike." The union could strike as soon as May 16, after a mandatory "cooling-off period." The paper says the fact-finder's report has "recommendations 'virtually unchanged' from a recent offer the union shot down." WMAQ-TV Chicago also covers this story.

Students Send Toy Dog Into Space for Science Project

Robotics is entering mainstream society and stands to substantially transform our world in the near future. Look for the arrival of robots in five categories: at the nanoscale combating cancer, in the lab automating key processes, as avatars containing human consciousness, as providers of security and in swarms carrying out such missions as human rescues.ITProPortal.com

Group of Science, Tech Experts Plan Robotic Trip to Alpha Centauri 
Science and technology experts led by Russian entrepreneur Yuri Milner plan to send a horde of small robotic spacecraft to the nearby Alpha Centauri star system. Milner estimates the project, which will take up to 20 years, will cost as much as $10 billion and he is initially investing $100 million into research and development, hoping to attract other investors. Also joining Milner on the project's board are renowned scientist Stephen Hawking and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. The New York Times

As states nationwide transition to computer-based testing under the Common Core State Standards, reports of glitches have been widespread. Data show more than 30 states have reported malfunctions since 2013.  The Washington Post  

Are Priorities Shifting For US Public Schools?
The racial makeup of students in US public schools has been shifting with nonwhite students making up a majority of the student body since 2014. This article considers how that new majority is likely to shape the future of public schools, including a greater focus on diversity and education equality. The Christian Science Monitor

Schools across the US are spending vastly different amounts of money per student. At issue, according to this article, is that schools in poorer districts have less tax money coming in, and some states are not doing enough to offset the difference.  National Public Radio

STIThe use of technology in classrooms appears to range from none, or minimal, to frequent. STI focuses on teaching strategies that give diverse students multiple options for taking in and processing information, making sense of ideas, and expressing learning. Technology tools can support good instruction and personalized learning environments in which students can interact with soîtware and applications, conduct research, create products, and communicate with others. STI staff work closely with school personnel to produce professional development that integrates the use of existing technologies, connects curriculum and incorporates: Innovation, Curriculum Development Response to Intervention Strategies, Interim Assessments, and Modeling. 
Curriculum / Common Core 
How to Keep Students With Special Needs Safe Online
Students whose disabilities make face-to-face communication challenging can find a social outlet online, but they need guidance on appropriate, safe social media usage, psychologist Kortney Peagram says. In this article, she outlines four guidelines for teachers and parents to monitor students' online usage. National Public Radio   

Study Touts Benefits of Using Visuals During Math Instruction
Areas of the brain responsible for mathematical processing may benefit when students use their fingers -- and other visual tools -- for calculating math problems, according to a study by researchers at Stanford University. The study offers strategies to develop these visual-learning pathways. eSchool News

Study: Students Retain More When Taking Notes by Hand
Students retain more information when they take notes by hand, according to a study by Pam Mueller of Princeton University and Daniel Oppenheimer of the University of California at Los Angeles. Data show that students are more likely to try to take verbatim notes using laptops, but those that did performed worse when asked some follow-up questions. National Public Radio

Free Social Studies Curriculum Includes Lessons with Interactive Features
MobyMax is offering a free social studies curriculum for grades K-8. The curriculum includes interactive lessons, quizzes and progress-monitoring based on state and NCSS standards.

The Top 10 Novel Study Titles Going Digital
Schools across the country are moving their novel study programs from print to digital. Digital novel sets help boost cost effectiveness, fully leverage devices, maximize classroom time & more deeply engage students in reading.  See a list of the most popular titles schools are taking digital.

When teachers understand what makes texts complex, they can better assist their students in reading them. In this Educational Leadership article, Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Timothy Shanahan take a look at factors such as challenging vocabulary, long, complex sentences, and several others that affect readers' ability to comprehend text. They also describe how teachers can help students build skills, establish purpose, and foster motivation and persistence.

The skills that students acquire through discussions that they themselves facilitate -- speaking and listening abilities, reading comprehension, and competency with text-based questions among them -- align with established state and national standards and are necessary for all students to succeed in school and life. In Student-Led Discussions, author Sandi Novak offers you the resources you need to develop meaningful student-led conversations about text and media across the content areas.  

Parents: Help Your Child Prepare With this Checklist
PARCC has released a five-step checklist that will help parents get their kids ready for testing. The checklist features links to a host of assessment-related resources from both PARCC and partners such as the National Parent Teacher Association, Learning Heroes,  Raise the Bar, and Great Kids, that will provide both parents and teachers with information about when the assessments will be given in their child's district, what will be expected of them when they are testing, and much more.
Both parents and teachers may also use the checklist to find practice tests, along with released items on the Partnership Resource Center. View the Checklist

PARCC Website Adds New Material
PARCCOnline.org, the homepage for the PARCC assessment consortium, now features new information about the 2016 assessments. Parents, educators and students can find more information about what's different about this year's assessments (also be sure to view the graphic the New Jersey Department of Education created about the changes), and learn about the growing list of independent studies showing that PARCC measures what matters.

ISBE PARCC Resources
To view the list of state-specific PARCC resources, with links, click here. Parents, students, and educators can also learn more about the assessments, and view a wealth of resources about PARCC, on the consortium website, the  Partnership Resource Center, and from partners such as the National PTA, Learning Heroes, and Great Schools.

PARCC Support Center Opens for Test Season
The PARCC Support Center is open for school and district administrators and other educators with questions about live testing, infrastructure trials, PearsonAccess, registration, and other technology questions. Educators may contact the Support Center between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, at 888-493-9888, or by email at parcc@support.pearson.com. There is also a chat feature within PearsonAccess that is live during the same daily time period as the phone support line.
 
LEARNING.COMElementary STEM- Engage and encourage your elementary students to develop strong STEM skills that will keep them excited and excelling in their later school years. Request a whitepaper: Integrated STEM Education through Project-Based Learning or contact Mark Adzick - Territory Manager, madzick@learning.com or 800-580-4640 x4560, Daniela Kaelin - Inside Sales Representative, dkaelin@learning.com or 800-580-4640 x4495 for more information.
Opportunities
Through the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program, K-12 educators can apply for grants to engage in 2-8 week collaborative projects abroad.  Teachers may travel to Botswana, India, Mexico, or Vietnam, and grants cover travel costs, lodging, meals, local transportation, and related costs.  The deadline for applications is May 9 for fall 2016 programs.

Free Tutoring
Mark Smith mark.smith@tutorhunt.com a completely free service for both tutors and students to locate each other.  The website is at www.tutorhunt.com/.

The Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) is pleased to announce the newly redesigned Illinois Education Job Banks at https://www.illinoiseducationjobbank.org.
 
Job Banks At Illinois State Board of Education
The Illinois State Board of Education has two links to job bank sites, click here.    
 
ASCD Job Ramp: A Careers Site for Educators
Developed through a partnership between CareerBuilder and ASCD, the free ASCD Job Ramp website was developed to simplify the job hunt for educators of all professional levels. Access the jobs site day or night, weekend or weekday, to browse U.S. openings in education. And don't forget to take advantage of custom search options and personalized alerts. Browse openings in your area 
 
Collaborative Learning
  
  
 Grants / Awards
Grant Opportunities Available
Chicago-based Illinois Humanities has revamped its grantmaking guidelines, and is hoping that high schools will apply for some of its new grants opportunities. In particular, the Illinois Speaks program may be interesting to high school faculty and students. The program works like this: Illinoisans who would like to host public discussions in their communities apply for an Illinois Speaks micro-grant. In return, once chosen, they receive three things: a stipend of $250 to help make the event possible, resources on various topics, and a training in how to facilitate the conversation. Anyone 16 years of age or older can apply. The three suggested topics for 2016 are: "Water and the common good," "The future of public education," and "The Aftermath of Ferguson, Mo." though applicants can propose variations of these topics or their own topics altogether. Deadlines are May 15 and Sept. 15. For more information, and to apply, visit here. Reach out to Mark Hallett at Illinois Humanities for more information.

The Big List of Educational Grants and Resources
Get a roundup of educational grants, contests, awards, free toolkits, and classroom guides aimed at helping students, classrooms, schools, and communities. Check this page weekly to get the latest updates! www.edutopia.org/grants-and-resources

Campbell's Labels for Education
The Campbell's, Inc. Labels for Education Program gives schools free educational equipment in exchange for labels from Campbell products. Maximum award: varies. Eligibility: Schools or parents coordinate label drives to raise resources for schools. Deadline: N/A.
http://www.labelsforeducation.com/About/about-the-program.aspx
 
WAVELENGTH the Chicago-based, award-winning ensemble of actors and educators, offers an assortment of proven keynotes and workshops that use humor, laughter and improvisation to train, motivate and inspire educational professionals. New options include Uncommon Core Comedy, Those Who Laugh, Last,The 7 Habits of Highly Ineffective Educators, Faculty Lounge, Musical Staff, and The Sense™ of Humor. DVD training also available. For keynotes, workshops or DVDs, please call 877-LAUGHS2 or www.wavelengthinc.com. 
Research
Blended learning may be an effective strategy to reengage students who have dropped out, according to an analysis by the America's Promise Alliance. The report includes five findings to help guide such programs. T.H.E. Journal

Current middle- and high-school students -- known as Generation Z -- are accustomed to using technology in their learning and expect a tech-heavy college experience, according to a survey of 1,300 students by Barnes and Noble. The findings offer insights into students' expectations for higher education. EdTech magazine online 

The Effects of Data-Based Decision Making
The use of data to inform educational decisions is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. An article in the most recent American Educational Research Journal describes the effect of a two-year schoolwide data-based decision-making intervention, called Focus, on student achievement. Focus trains schoolwide teams of teachers and administrators to use data to guide their teaching using a protocol developed at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. Staff receive seven training meetings in year 1 and four training meetings in year 2, and are provided with documents and planning aids to help them track student data and progress.

What Works For Preschoolers?
Our Center for Research and Reform in Education (CRRE) has recently published a new systematic review of research on early childhood programs in Educational Research Review.  The paper, Literacy and Language Outcomes of Comprehensive and Developmental-Constructivist Approaches to Early Childhood Education: A Systematic Review, seeks to identify effective approaches capable of improving literacy and language outcomes for preschoolers.

Targeting ELLs with Science
A recent large-scale randomized controlled trial, published in the American Educational Research Journal, has examined the impact of a science curriculum with a focus on English language learners (ELLs).  The study was implemented in 66 schools (33 treatment and 33 control) across three school districts in one southeastern US state. During the 2012-2013 school year, the project involved 258 teachers (123 treatment and 135 control) and a total of 6,673 students. The trial evaluated P-SELL, a science curricular and professional development intervention for fifth-grade students with a focus on English language learners (ELLs).

A Stronger Nation, Lumina Foundation
This report indicates that the U.S. is making slow, but steady progress in the number of Americans who hold high-quality credentials beyond high school diplomas. New data on nationwide postsecondary attainment indicates that 40.4 percent of working-age Americans (ages 25-64) held high-quality two- or four-year degrees in 2014, up slightly from 40.0 percent in 2013.

Report: How School Leaders Can Transform Learning With Technology
A coalition that includes the US Department of Education has collaborated with education leaders nationwide to release a report that offers a blueprint on providing equitable access to technology-based learning experiences. The report highlights key considerations, such as privacy and security, and recommends ways of improving access and instruction.  T.H.E. Journal
Publications
The Highly Effective Teacher: 7 Classroom-Tested Practices That Foster Student Success
In the new ASCD book The Highly Effective Teacher: 7 Classroom-Tested Practices That Foster Student Success, teacher and professor Jeff Marshall introduces the Teacher Intentionality Practice Scale (TIPS), a framework for both supporting and measuring effective teaching. Taken together, the framework's seven TIPs provide a research-based, classroom-tested guide to help teachers
  • Create coherent, connected lessons;
  • Use strategies and resources, including technology, that truly enhance learning;
  • Organize a safe, respectful learning environment;
  • Develop challenging and rigorous learning experiences;
  • Promote interactive, thoughtful learning;
  • Nurture a creative, problem-solving classroom culture; and
  • Deliver feedback and formative assessment that inform teaching and learning.
The Highly Effective Teacher is a guidebook for thoughtful, intentional teaching with one goal: success for all students, in every classroom.

The Better Writing Breakthrough
The Better Writing Breakthrough: Connecting Student Thinking and Discussion to Inspire Great Writing will show you to use the Discourse and Writing Cycle, a highly effective instructional technique that takes the guessing out of the process of teaching writing across different subject areas in grades 4-12. This practical and field-tested method consists of the three interrelated sequences of the cycle-the Discourse Sequence, the Transition to Writing Sequence, and the Writing Sequence. This book takes you to the next level of writing instruction with insights on the
  • Prominence of argument writing in the literacy standards.
  • Importance of building content knowledge through nonfiction texts.
  • Significance of using textual evidence to support analysis.

Filled with practical tips, innovative ideas and sample reflections from real students, this book by Starr Sackstein, a National Board Certified Teacher, shows you how to incorporate self-assessment and reflection in ways that encourage students to grow into mindful, receptive learners, ready to explore a fast-changing world. This essential guide explains how teachers can use reflection to help students decipher their own learning needs and engage in deep, thought-provoking discourse about progress. Learn more.

How to Make Decisions With Different Kinds of Student Assessment Data
In this book, best-selling author Susan M. Brookhart helps teachers and administrators understand the critical elements and nuances of assessment data and how that information can best be used to improve schools or districts. With easy-to-understand explanations, supplemented by examples and scenarios from actual schools, this book offers a path to better understanding, more accurate interpretation of assessment results, and -- most important -- more effective use of data to improve teaching and learning. Learn more.

Excellence Through Equity: Five Principles of Courageous Leaders
In Excellence Through Equity: Five Principles of Courageous Leaders to Guide Achievement for EveryStudent, Alan Blankstein, Pedro Noguera and Lorena Kelly -- along with contributors such as Michael Fullan, Andy Hargreaves and Paul Reville -- take an inspiring look at how real-world educators are creating schools where all students are able to thrive. The book shows how to make organizational meaning, ensure constancy and consistency of purpose, build sustainable relationships, and more.

Internet Sources
SuperKids
Are your students reading as well as they should be? We can help. Learn about The Superkids, the strongest K-2 reading program in America. Read teachers' raves, see results-and improve reading scores at your school. Contact Susan Quarino at sue.quarino@rowlandreading.org or click here for more details, www.superkidsreading.org.


Knowledge is power, but only when it's shared and made available to others, writes Steve Goldstein. "Many leaders seem to have lost sight of the basic tenet that the more people know, the better they can do their jobs," he writes. ThoughtLeaders blog

eSchool News

Learning how to celebrate risks and failures is key to fostering a culture of innovation, writes Amanda Stone, assistant principal at Hoover City Schools in Alabama. In this blog post, Stone encourages school leaders to foster a climate where teachers can "fail up" and find ways to succeed after making mistakes. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Education

How School Leaders Can Best Maintain Integrity
School leaders need accountability and support systems to help them maintain their integrity, especially during challenging times, K-12 leadership experts Jill Berkowicz and Ann Myers suggest in this blog post. "Leaders need a daily dose of conscience examination. Decisions small and large require truthfulness and integrity," they write.  Education Week

CoSN Toolkit Helps School Leaders Expand Fiber Connections
The Consortium for School Networking and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University have released a toolkit to help school districts increase their fiber connections under the newly overhauled federal E-Rate program. The kit includes information about the program, the types of fiber eligible through E-Rate and criteria for evaluating options. eSchool News

This blog post offers a variety of lesson ideas related to the novel "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie. Suggestions include comparing the protagonists' experiences with that of real students interviewed for a newspaper article, as well as incorporating resources from the Library of Congress and other sources to help inform students' understanding of the Native American experience. The New York Times

RESOURCES:  

Check out Real Learning for Real Life for assessment resources for families and educators, including videos and downloads, and  sign-up for the newsletter!

The GreatKids Illinois Test Guide for Parents is a free, online tool organized by grade and subject to help parents use their state test scores to support their kids at home. The guide was developed by the national nonprofit GreatSchools, in collaboration with leading educators and PARCC assessment designers.
 
Check Education Briefs Archived issues now available on our website for previously listed resources. 
  
ASCD RESOURCES:

ASCD's PD In Focus platform gives you and your colleagues online access to ASCD's extensive library of videos demonstrating effective teaching practices. Each video clip is designed to be used with additional provided resources in group learning.
The premier collaborative, on-demand professional development system for professional learning communities, schools, districts, and states, PD In Focus has the features you need to integrate video into your PD, including
  • Hundreds of hours of classroom examples that bring successful teaching to life
  • Group discussion boards.
  • Search by topic, grade level, subject area, classroom type, pedagogy, and more.
  • Ability to suggest assignments and monitor learning activity.
Your free 14-day trial includes access to all channels and topics. Explore the potential of PD In Focus to create powerful, ongoing professional development that is differentiated to all kinds of users and groups. Learn more about PD In Focus and start your free trial today!

ASCD -- There's An App For That
The free ASCD application for iPad brings valuable professional development content to educators everywhere. The app enables you to read ASCD e-books and, if you're an ASCD member, access issues of our flagship publication, Educational Leadership. Members will also be able to access ASCD newsletters, including Education Update and Policy Priorities. Download the app. 

Browse EL, Our Blog, and Many Other Educator Resources on ASCD's Mobile Site
Whether you'd like to access an archived Educational Leadership article for today's faculty meeting or just want to read the latest education policy post in our Inservice blog, use ASCD's mobile site as your one-stop-shop for resources. Simply go to www.ascd.org on your mobile device to access the site and explore the wealth of resources we've opened to you. Visit our mobile site now  

Follow us on Twitter ASCD has five Twitter channels, each intended to connect you with different aspects of our work and the latest developments in our field. Stay current on education news, policy developments and general education discussion by following @ASCD our main channel. Don't forget to take advantage of additional opportunities to connect with ASCD experts in real time.  Engage ASCD blogger Laura Varias @ASCD_Inservice, join the Whold Child team for important updates @WholeChildAdv, get the latest ASCD resources from @ascdmember and follow the Educational Leadership team @Ed_Leadership.Connect with all five channels   
ASCD curates six boards that are home to pins on topics ranging from professional development to a whole child approach to education. 
logo
This electronic publication is sent to you every other Wednesday. This is a benefit brought to you as part of your membership in Illinois ASCD. We hope you will share with other educators. "Education Briefs is an electronic publication of Illinois ASCD and not a publication of ASCD and the views expressed or implied should not be construed as official positions of Illinois ASCD nor ASCD."

Sincerely,
Illinois ASCD