June 8, 2016
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Mission Statement:
To build the capacity of educational leaders to enhance
 the quality of teaching and learning.

IMPACT     SERVICE     ADVOCACY
IL ASCD NEWS
CHECK OUT IL ASCD's website, www.illinoisascd.org
Congratulations to those with June Graduations!
Flag Day - June 14
Father's Day - June 19
First Day of Summer - June 20
Call for Proposals - Kindergarten Conference 2017 !
Hey! Are you interested in presenting at the 2017 Kindergarten Conference?  We are looking for new presenters to add to our already excellent lineup of offerings. Send in your proposal by clicking here.
 
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.
 
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 
"How I look at and respond to student work should help me grow my understanding of my students, my content, and my craft. It should also be a catalyst for student development in both what they are learning and how they go about the learning process," writes Carol Ann Tomlinson in this edition of her "One to Grow On" column in Educational Leadership magazine. She shares four elements of her evolving philosophy about looking at student work.

We want to hear your stories. In each issue, Educational Leadership's "Tell Me About" column publishes a collection of brief contributions from EL readers describing their experiences related to that issue's theme. For the September issue, we want you to tell us about how you successfully established a relationship with a hard-to-reach student. Share your 200- to 300-word submission by June 24. 

50 Top Educators Selected for 2016 ASCD Emerging Leaders Class
ASCD has announced the selection of 50 educators for its 2016 class of emerging leaders, the largest class since the program's inception in 2005. The emerging leaders hail from 20 states, the District of Columbia, Bermuda and Taiwan, and the class includes superintendents, assistant principals and principals, teachers, literacy coaches, professional learning specialists and a digital-learning specialist, among other roles and titles. Read on and view the Emerging Leaders directory to see who was selected. Read on. 
Congratulations to six Emerging Leaders selected from Illinois!
Abbie Eklund
Twitter:@Eklundteaches 
Lead Teacher, CORE Instruction Strategy, School District U-46, Elgin, IL
Thomaie Hilaris
Teacher, Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Chicago, IL
Amy MacCrindle
Twitter:@Amy_MacCrindle 
Director of Literacy, Community Unit School District 300, Algonquin, IL
Cynthia O'Brien
Teacher, Maywood School District 89, Maywood, IL
John Smith
Learning Sciences PhD Student, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Kristin Striebel
Twitter:  @KristinStriebel 
Diverse Learners Teacher, The Chicago Academy Elementary School, Chicago, IL

 ASCD members are part of a global community of dedicated educators and invaluable stakeholders in our mission to promote the success of each child. As a member, you are an advocate for the education profession and contributor to the creation of innovative programs, products, and services. Join ASCD or renew your membership by June 30 to save $20. Use code B38AC16 at checkout to receive the discount and begin receiving award-winning benefits.

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 https://www.illinoisascd.org/resources/publications.

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:
Whole Child House Resolution HR 0781 

Data show students who feel more connected to their schools are less likely to engage in destructive behaviors, Charles Mendez, managing director of the C.E. Mendez Foundation, writes in this commentary. He shares four ways to help foster school connectedness. Education Dive

Illinois Education News 
General Assembly Adjourns With No Budget; House To Remain In Continuous Session
The 99th General Assembly legislative session ended shortly before midnight on Tuesday, May 31, with a thud. Despite one proposed comprehensive budget and several stand-alone K-12 education funding plans floating through the Capitol, none were passed in both chambers before the midnight deadline.
The House has committed to remaining in "continuous session" until a budget agreement is reached and plan to meet each Wednesday in June, beginning today. Governor Rauner's working groups will also continue meeting on items such as revenue, school mandates, workers compensation, and other items from his Turnaround Agenda. Senate President Cullerton has also committed to calling the Senate back if some movement occurs on a negotiated budget. 

ISBE NEWS

ISBE Hot Topics
PARCC Score Toolkit - Communication tools for school leaders available
ISBE ESSA webpage - Click here to access

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.    
 
Next election in Illinois:  Nov 8, 2016
Federal Education News

Established in 1975, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees eligible students with disabilities a free appropriate public education leading to higher education, employment and independence. Over time, IDEA has evolved from access to the schoolhouse to students' full participation in general education. Today, the focus has moved to increased expectations and better academic outcomes -- goals that will overlay the upcoming IDEA reauthorization. The latest Policy Priorities brief previews what's necessary to meet these goals.  

Proposed Regulations for Every Student Succeeds Act
In an important step toward implementing the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Department announced proposed regulations to give states clarity in rethinking their accountability, data reporting, and consolidated state plans.  These regulations would replace the narrow, one-size-fits-all approach that defined ESSA's predecessor, No Child Left Behind, with new flexibility for states and school districts, a more holistic approach to measuring a quality education that will help prepare students for success, and strong protections to ensure the progress of all students.  They would also reinforce ESSA's commitment to transparency and meaningful engagement and an active role for parents, teachers, students, community leaders, and other critical stakeholders in implementing the law.The proposed regulations were informed by extensive input from a diverse group of stakeholders.  The Department participated in over 200 meetings and events and received hundreds of comments prior to the release of the regulations, and the agency welcomes additional feedback from stakeholders through the public comment period (until August 1).

The Department's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) also released "Examples of Policies and Emerging Practices for Supporting Transgender Students," a compilation of policies and practices that schools across the country are already using to support transgender students ( blog post).

The Foster Care Transition Toolkit includes tips and resources intended to help current and former foster youth access and navigate social, emotional, educational, and skills-based barriers as they transition into adulthood. Currently, there are over 400,000 children and youth in the foster care system, and, every year, some 23,000 youth age out of the system, having never found the security of a permanent home. A high-quality education can help foster youth achieve life success despite past experiences with abuse, neglect, separation, and other barriers.  The toolkit advises on: financial aid and money management, mentoring opportunities, job and career support, health care resources, transportation options, and housing and food benefits.  It also provides many examples of existing efforts that assist foster youth.

A provision of the Every Student Succeeds Act requires schools to monitor the academic achievement of students from military families, who move frequently across the US and the world. Concerns have been raised about the challenges faced by these students, who also cope with long absences by deployed loved ones. Education Week 

Formulas for the allocation of Title I funds may be fueling inequity in schools, some say. In some cases, school districts with lower student-poverty rates receive more Title I funding than those with higher rates. "This is what happens when you have four different formulas that are very opaque and interact in different ways," says Nora Gordon, who recently conducted an analysis of the Title I program. U.S. News & World Report

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 by email at https://www.kirk.senate.gov/.  
To reach Senator Dick Durbin by email at http://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases.
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.   
 
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.
 
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 
 
Student Self-Regulation:  The Foundation for Learning Autonomy featuring Richard Cash, September 21, 2016, Crystal Lake Country Club, Crystal Lake, IL, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
For students to achieve their potential, they must be competent in the academic, emotional and social skills tasks that lead to success.  Self-regulation involves the beliefs and determination that students need to accomplish tasks, both dependently and independently.  Topics include:
  • Applying the self-regulation model in today's classroom
  • Closing the achievement gap through self-regulated learning
  • Building self-regulation by developing a growth mindset
  • Creating a student-centered classroom
  • Using the TLC (Teaching and Learning Continuum) to achieve success through learner autonomy
Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, handouts, parking and 6 professional development hours. ILASCD is a CPS Approved Provider #24595. Register here
 
An Evaluator's Guide to the SLO Process for Monitoring Student Growth featuring Jennie Winters, October 4, 2016, SIU, Carbondale, IL, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm, AA Course 1679
Jennie Winters will explain the variety of types of assessment that can be used in a Balanced Assessment System with a focus on Type III assessments for the purpose of evaluation.  This Academy will guide administrators in understanding their role in the SLO (Student Learning Objective) Process.  Participants will understand how to analyze assessment resources to determine alignment to the rigor of the Illinois Learning Standards.  Strategies for data management, including collection, analysis, disaggregation and triangulation of data will be covered.  Registration includes Administrator Academy credit, breakfast, lunch, parking, handouts and six professional development hours.  ILASCD is a CPS Approved Provider #24595. Register here

Save the dates!Conference on Learning and EXPO, October 26 - 27, 2016, Roosevelt University, Schaumburg, IL Two big days!  Top speakers!  Mike Schmoker, Ray Louk, Aaron Brengard, Steve Zipkes, and Scott Estes
Illinois ASCD is requesting presenters for its Conference on Learning 2016. Proposals must be received by July 1, 2016. We seek presenters on current learning issues in education and developmentally appropriate practices in today's learning environments. All sessions are 60 minutes in length.  The strands addressed at this year's conference are Whole Child, 21st Century Learning, Principal Leadership, Classroom Leadership, Learning Leadership, Curriculum Leadership Development Network Topics. Please email Ryan Nevius at rcneviu@me.com with further questions.
 
Prioritizing for Powerful Results:  Five Levers to Improve Learning featuring Tony Frontier, October 12, 2016, Crystal Lake Country Club, Crystal Lake, IL, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Where do we exert influence in classrooms, schools, and districts to obtain a desired goal?  What are the characteristics of initiatives that have a transformational impact on student learning as compared to initiatives that require significant efforts and resources--yet merely perpetuate the status quo?  This workshop will provide participants with a framework, resources and tools to guide classroom, school and district improvement efforts as described by the author and presenter of the ASCD book Five Levers to Improve Learning;  How to Prioritize for Powerful Results in Your School.  
  • Develop an understanding of how nearly all educational practices and mandates can be grouped into one of five categories; and the relative utility of each of these categories to leverage school improvement.
  • Understand typical "leverage errors" and how to avoid them.
  • Tap the owner of "leverage advantages" that maximize the potential to influence student learning.
  • Understand the critical differences among status quo planning, transactional change and transformational change; and how to align efforts to intended results.
  • Ask critical questions to prioritize initiatives and efforts across classrooms, schools and districts.
  • Utilize the Five Lever framework to create more powerful strategic plans, utilize fiscal resources more efficiently and ensure team meetings, faculty meetings and board meetings are focused on high leverage initiatives.
Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, parking and 6 professional development hours.  ILASCD is a CPS Approved Provider #24595.  Register here

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.

NEW-Curriculum 2020, Dylan Wiliam, Embedding Formative Assessment with Teacher Learning communities, November 9, 2016, NIU DeKalb, 8:00 am - 3:30 pm
There is now a large and growing evidence base showing that helping teachers develop their use of minute-to-minute and day-by-day assessment is one of, if not THE most powerful ways to improve student learning.  Formative assessment involves far more than adding a few "quick fixes" to teachers' classroom repertoires.  It involves a fundamental shift in focus, from what the teacher is putting into the process to what the students are getting out of it.  In this interactive one-day workshop participants will learn:
  • WHY we need to increase educational achievement, what's been tried, and why it has worked
  • WHY formative assessment needs to be the priority for every school
  • WHAT formative assessment is (and isn't)
  • PRACTICAL techniques for implementing formative assessment
  • HOW TO sustain the development of formative assessment with teacher learning communities.
Course includes continental breakfast, lunch, materials, free parking and 6 Professional Development Hours. NIU DeKalb, Ellington Ballroom, Holmes Student Center, 340 Carroll Ave, DeKalb.  Park in Guest lot on Carroll Ave.  Register here.

NEW-Registration Now Open for the PARCC Learning Series and Workshops in June & July!
You are invited to join a free, teacher-led learning series and workshop  that connects you with your fellow teachers to unpack the new assessment.  The 3 hour workshop will help you expand your understanding of PARCC and the connection to CCSS, how to get students ready for the exam, and how to talk about the test with students and parents.  The 4 day (15 hour) learning series will deepen your understanding of PARCC and connect and align your classroom instruction to CCSS and prepare for the rigor of PARCC. Register for a Workshop and/or Learning Series!  https://teachplus.tfaforms.net/327753

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.

NEW-The Illinois New Teacher Collaborative, June 29-30, Champaign
The Illinois New Teacher Collaborative invites beginning teachers (all grade levels and content areas) who have just completed their first year of teaching in Illinois to the INTC Beginning Teacher Conference Y2: Moving Beyond Survival.  The event will be held June 29-30 in Champaign.  Learn more.

NEW-International EdCamp Leadership, July 11, 2016, Galesburg, Roselle, OR West Frankfort, IL
EdCamp Leadership is an international event taking place on Monday, July 11. Illinois will host three sites around the state. This FREE event is geared toward all educators looking to connect, network, and engage in professional conversation to grow as educators.  Edcamp is a form of unconference designed specifically for educators and their needs. What makes Edcamp an unconference? Unlike traditional conferences which have schedules set months in advance by the people running the conference, Edcamp has an agenda that is created by the participants at the start of the event. Instead of one person standing in front of the room talking for an hour, people are encouraged to have discussions and hands-on sessions. Built on principles of connected and participatory learning, Edcamp strives to bring educators together to talk about the things that matter most to them: their interests, passions, and questions.  Register at one of three Illinois locations.

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 
The College of Education at Illinois State is now taking presentation proposals for the 7th annual Teaching in the 21st Century Conference (T21CON) taking place on Friday, September 23 at Illinois State University in 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.
From the Field
Seventh-grade students at an Illinois middle school are using GPS devices as part of geography lessons. Students are using the technology to hide and find "geocaches."  Belleville News-Democrat 
 
Parents, Students Oppose "Progress Guides" With No Letter Grades
In a more than 1,500-word report, the Chicago Tribune highlights parents' and students' pushback against the institution of "progress guides," which are "lengthy report cards" that list a "competency date," which merely shows "the month and year a student met or completed a particular standard," and which do not include traditional A through F grades. According to the Tribune, "backlash was so intense...that district officials are now regrouping, saying they may return to letter grades at some grade levels." The report outlines the history of the shift away from traditional grading systems for younger students.

Illinois Colleges See Decline In Applications Amid Funding Concerns
The AP reports that as students worry about "the lack of state funding for Illinois universities," schools are seeing a declining number of applications, "and the problem appears to primarily affect schools facing some of the toughest financial struggles." The most affected schools are smaller ones "that don't have as much money coming in from things like research grants and tuition and have smaller endowments."

Schools Nationwide Conducting Active Shooter Drills
The AP reports that according to the Government Accountability Office survey, over two-thirds of US schools "conduct 'active shooter' exercises," noting that such preparations are often "as routine at the school as a fire drill" and come after "a rash of school shootings" in recent years. "GAO investigators said one district noted 'the difficulty of striking a balance between providing knowledge and inciting fear, particularly at schools with younger children.'"

How Schools in Germany are Educating Refugee Students
Some schools in Germany are serving a growing number of refugee students, many from Syria. This commentary shines a light on how two schools are working to meet the needs of such students. In both examples, educators focus on building relationships with the students. The Brookings Institution 

US colleges and universities can improve their degrees, increase collaboration and better prepare students for the workforce by incorporating successful ideas from European higher education, according to a report from the American Council on Education. This article outlines four areas where US institutions could benefit from Europe's experiences. eCampus News  

A report from the CDC's Center for National Health Statistics shows births to teen mothers in the US declined by 8% from 2014 to 2015. The rate of 22.3 births per 1,000 mothers ages 15 to 19 is the lowest since tracking began. Birth certificate data showed about 230,000 teen births last year, compared with almost 645,000 in 1970. ABC News/The Associated Press,LiveScience.com

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 
Spotlight Shines on Best Practices for STEM Across the Curricula
Integrating science, technology, engineering and math across curricula requires interdisciplinary knowledge and explicit instructional methods, according to research presented during the U.S. News STEM Solutions Conference. Experts highlighted best practices for an integrated-STEM approach. U.S. News & World Report

Strategies for Digital Transformations
More school districts nationwide are adopting digital content. The Houston Independent School District in Texas launched such an initiative about three years ago. "It's a massive undertaking -- you're changing the entire culture of the district," Lenny Schad, Houston ISD's chief technology information officer, said.

Real-world Ways to Boost Student Engagement
Hands-on learning can help promote engagement, deeper understanding and better student outcomes. Download our SmartFocus on Student Engagement to see how real-world teachers are using hands-on learning tools to get students involved and motivated in their classrooms.    

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
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
Apply for a Grant to Support Teacher Leadership
ASCD's Teacher Impact Grants program will provide direct grants to teacher leaders to fund initiatives that drive transformation and improve student outcomes. The application process is open through June 16 and proposed projects should be for the 2016-17 school year, with funding available starting August 31. The program provides the flexibility, funding and evaluation support necessary to meet the unique needs of promising teacher-led projects. Learn more and apply.
 
Empower Young People Through Music
Classics for Kids Foundation supports school and community youth music programs in need by providing matching grants for new, high-quality stringed instruments, such as violins, violas, and
cellos. Schools and nonprofit organizations must raise at least half of the funds to purchase the
requested number of instruments, using a provider authorized by the foundation. Programs that serve K-12 students are eligible for grants. The website offers guidance for starting a stringed instrumental program, including a proposed startup budget. Deadline: June 30, 2016, for applications

Make Your Dream STEM Lab a Reality
Northrop Grumman Foundation aims to get students excited about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by making five grants of up to $100,000 each available to public middle schools for a fabulous school lab makeover. To enter the Fab School Labs Contest, applicants should create a video or submit photos, along with a written essay describing their current classroom and their vision for a school lab makeover. The foundation will choose up to 25 finalists and make their videos and photos available for viewing on Facebook. Five winners will be selected based on a public vote. Interested participants will find this opportunity on GetEdFunding, a free database sponsored by CDW*G of thousands of funding opportunities for educators.
Deadline: June 17, 2016, at 12:00 p.m. (PT), for entries
Click Here to Access GetEdFunding

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
Making the Grade: A 50-State Analysis of School Accountability Systems
This report analyzes the measures that states currently include in their accountability systems and examines how state systems compare with the new law's provisions, which will take effect in the 2017-18 school year.

Study Shows Positive Effects of Desegregation in Schools
Desegregation of schools has had positive effects on at least two generations of African-American families, according to Berkeley economist Rucker Johnson. His research shows better outcomes in educational levels and living standards. The Hechinger Report

Report: Lessons Learned from Race to the Top
A report from the US Department of Education outlines lessons learned from seven states using Race to the Top funding. The report details how Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey and Pennsylvania spent $200 million in competitive federal grants. Education Week 

Chicago Study Touts Benefits Of Mindfulness In Elementary Schools
The Atlantic reported that a research team in Chicago headed by Amanda Moreno, an assistant professor at the Erikson Institute, found that "when kids take a break from a classroom lesson on the solar system to spend a quiet moment alone watching a three-minute nature video, or participate in a teacher-guided breathing exercise with their class after lunch, they seem to become better overall students." Moreno said that this is "likely because the children have a renewed sense of focus, they handle transitions from one lesson to the next better, and they need less time to regroup if they become upset about something." The Atlantic explains that the research team received $3 million, mostly from the Department of Education, to study "'mindfulness' in more than 30 high-poverty Chicago public schools over the course of four years."

Depression in Adolescents Tied to Socioeconomic Status
Poverty plays a role in the development of depression in adolescents and could also alter DNA structure over time, a new study published in Molecular Psychiatry suggests. Researchers looked at a chemical tag related to the gene SLC6A4 in children between the ages of 11 and 15. The study found that children from lower-income families had lower levels of serotonin in the brain, which is linked to depression. Nature
 
Education in America Today
"The Condition of Education 2016," a Congressionally mandated report to the country on education in America today, presents 43 indicators grouped under four areas: population characteristics, participation in education, elementary and secondary education, and postsecondary education.  The report also underlines issues of current policy interest: kindergartners' approaches to learning, family socioeconomic status, and early academic gains; differences in postsecondary enrollment among recent high school completers; and post-bachelor's employment outcomes by sex and race/ethnicity.

What Works in Secondary Math?
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) has released new intervention reports on two core mathematics curricula that seek to improve math achievement in the secondary grades: The University of Chicago School Mathematics Project and Saxon Math.

The University of Chicago School Mathematics Project (UCSMP) utilizes a student-centered approach to learning, incorporating problem solving, real-world applications, and the use of technology. The WWC identified two studies of UCSMP Algebra and one study of multiple UCSMP courses that fell within the scope of the WWC's secondary math topic area and met WWC research standards. According to the research, UCSMP Algebra I has potentially positive effects on both general math achievement and algebra for secondary students. In addition, the cumulative effect of multiple UCSMP courses was found to have potentially positive effects on general math achievement for these students. The full report can be found here.

Saxon Math is designed for students in grades K-12 and uses an incremental structure that distributes content throughout the year. The WWC identified two studies of Saxon Algebra I that fell within the scope of the WWC's secondary math topic area and met WWC research standards. According to the research, Saxon Algebra I has no discernible effects on algebra achievement for secondary students. The full report can be found here.
Publications
Why do I lead? With this deceptively simple question, best-selling author Baruti K. Kafele begins a powerful examination of what it takes to make a school community achieve the greatest success in the classroom and beyond. In this best-seller, Kafele, a veteran school administrator, guides motivated school leaders through 50 self-reflection exercises designed to yield a deeper understanding of the meaning behind the work that they do.

LEARNING TO CHOOSE, CHOOSING TO LEARN
Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn: The Key to Student Motivation and Achievement, Mike Anderson offers numerous examples of choice in action, ideas to try with different students, and a step-by-step process to help you plan and incorporate choice into your classroom. You'll explore
  • What effective student choice looks like in the classroom.
  • Why it's important to offer students choices.
  • How to create learning environments, set the right tone for learning, and teach specific skills that enable choice to work well.
Learning to Choose, Choosing to Learn is a teacher-friendly guide that offers everything you need to help students who are bored, frustrated, or underperforming come alive to learning through the fundamental power of choice.
>>Read Chapter 1 and browse the Table of Contents.
Learn More

How to Make Decisions with Different Kinds of Student Assessment Data
Educators can learn what data truely mean when analyzing student learning by reading "How to MakeDecisions with Different Kinds of Student Assessment Data." Education consultant and best-selling author Susan Brookhart discusses how teachers and administrators can use assessment data to improve teaching and learning in schools and districts. "What sets this book apart from other data books is the focus on a deeper understanding of the different kinds of student assessment data," said Brookhart.

The Framework for Intentional and Targeted Teaching -- or FIT Teaching -- is a research-based, field-tested, and experience-honed process that captures the essentials of the best educational environments. In this new book from Doug Fisher, Nancy Frey and Stefani Hite, you'll be introduced to the powerful FIT Teaching Tool, which harnesses the FIT Teaching approach and presents a detailed continuum of growth and leadership. It's a close-up look at what intentional and targeting teaching is and what successful teachers do.
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.


In this June 14 webinar, presented by Jonathan Cassie, author of "Level Up Your Classroom: The Quest to Gamify Your Lessons and Engage Your Students," you will have an opportunity to explore the basics of the gamified classroom. You will learn what gamification is, explore the four kinds of games, investigate the notion of the "magic circle" and learn why you should care about this instructional technique because of the unique ways it can shape student learning. Register here.

On-demand Webinar: Steps to Becoming a Highly Effective Teacher
Join Jeff Marshall, author of the new ASCD book "The Highly Effective Teacher: 7 Classroom-Tested Practices That Foster Student Success," for a webinar that guides you through critical teacher actions that are within your control to improve and that influence student success, such as creating challenging, rigorous learning experiences and facilitating interactive, thoughtful learning. Marshall helps participants learn to identify where they are on the continuum of performance for each action. Watch the webinar.

Graduate students can still find a good job without an internship by engaging in industry-specific social media networking and getting involved in student groups, recent graduate Alice Williams advises in this blog post. "Joining a graduate student organization, in particular, is a valuable way to network with others to learn about their research and connect with like-minded individuals," she writes.

Google is preparing to take smart messaging to the next level with this summer's planned introduction of its Allo app. The app offers many of the latest chat features, but should be unique in offering a Smart Reply option, which allows message responses without typing by crafting customized replies based on user's conversational patterns.  The Boston Globe

Tech Tools Worth Exploring Over Summer Vacation -   MiddleWeb

RESOURCES:  

Resources to Help Educators Access OER
Open educational resources can be found in various ways, including eight curated collections highlighted in this article. Collections include OER Commons and Khan Academy. T.H.E. Journal

Don't miss these additional teacher-themed blog posts:
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. 
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