August 3, 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
Get energized for the new school year!
Planning for next year?  Taking a new position as a Curriculum Director or want to know more about current developments?  Then Curriculum Leadership Development Network is right for you!  Just announced, 10th season schedule for 2016-2017!
Sept 26 - "It's About the Learning!  Observing & Evaluation the NGSS" Craig Gaska; "C3 Social Studies Standards" Donna McCaw
Oct 26 & 27 - CLDN Special Topics at Conference on Learning & EXPO at Roosevelt U, Schaumburg
Nov 28 - "Visible Learning Research for Teachers & Students" Greg Wolcott; "Home to School Connection" Jason Ness & Antwan Babakhani
Jan 23, 2017 - "Human Resources & Teacher Hiring Practices" Mark Friedman & Steven Greisbach; "21st Century Learning Leadership" Josh Stumpenhorst
Feb 27 - "Social Emotional Learning" Jason Ness & Antwan Babakhani
Apr 24 - "Vision, Values & Goals:  Leading Change in a Professional Learning Community" AA #940, Doug Lillydahl; "PLC's & Formative Design" Jason Ness & Antwan Babakhani
Learn more and register here. 

Planning your professional development for this fall?
Conference on Learning and EXPO, October 26 - 27, 2016, Roosevelt University, Schaumburg, IL Two big days! Top speakers!  Keynotes Mike Schmoker and Jonathan Fanning.  Other presenters include Craig Gaska, Megan Fuciarelli, Dee Ann Schnautz, Jennie Winters, Jim Bellanca, Ray Louk, Aaron Brengard, Steve Zipkes, and Scott Estes.  Register here.

Green Apple Day of Service, on Saturday, September 24, gives students, parents, teachers, businesses, and local organizations the opportunity to transform schools into safe, healthy, and productive learning environments through local service projects.  Find an event in your area or post your own. 

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 
ASCD Nomination Committee Application Extended Until Aug 15, 2016
Charge
The ASCD Nominations Committee is charged to recruit, select, interview, and recommend candidates for the Board of Directors.

Composition
Members of the committee will include up to nine members approved by the Board of Directors, along with a chair and a facilitator, appointed by the current president.

Qualifications
Applicants must be ASCD members and be able to provide examples of of the following:
* Commitment to ASCD, its mission, and its goals
* Experience in application review and recruitment processes
* Proven teamwork and demonstrated leadership skills and qualities (such as being a good listener,  collaborator, and builder of relationships, and being respectful, reflective, and innovative.)

Time Commitment
Committee members serve a two-year term. In 2016, the committee will meet at the following times:
* October 2016-two-day training session at ASCD headquarters
* November 2016-via conference call to determine the pool of applicants to interview
* January 2017-two-day meeting at ASCD to conduct interviews and determine the slate of Board candidates
 
If you are interested in applying to be on the Nominations Committee, please fill out the following survey:  Click here to apply for the 2016-17 Nominations Committee

Getting Over the Hidden Barriers to Leading School Change
"Differentiation doesn't mean doing a bunch of different things in the classroom. It means having a common goal for students, but providing different avenues for getting there," Carol Ann Tomlinson explains on this new podcast. What are some other misconceptions about differentiated instruction and how can understanding them help us get "over the hump" to affect school change? Tomlinson addresses this and more, explaining how teachers and school leaders can lead transformational change in schools. Listen here.

While the process of making data-informed decisions is not necessarily a difficult one, it is best to approach it with a specific plan in mind. In this Inservice post, ASCD author Craig Mertler shares five tips that can help you in developing your plan for using data to better inform your decision-making. His tips include ensuring the data you plan to use will be manageable, and treating data-driven decision making as a cyclical process.

ASCD announced 17 teachers will receive the first-ever ASCD Teacher Impact Grants, which will directly fund teacher leadership initiatives to drive transformation and improve student outcomes. The grant awards range from $5,000 to $15,000 and each of the awardees -- who hail from 14 different states -- is a teacher leader who spends at least 50% of his or her time in a classroom setting. Learn more about the teacher-leadership projects these grants will fund.

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:
Illinois Education News
 
Education Budget Approved  For FY 2017
 
The plan is for the working groups of legislators to continue meeting and have a full-year budget ready for a vote during the Veto Session scheduled for November 15-17 and November 29 -December 1.

Illinois Replacing PARCC With State-Funded SAT
        The Chicago Tribune (7/11, Rado) reports that the Illinois Board of Education announced Monday that the state "is ditching the controversial state PARCC exam for high school students, instead giving 11th-graders a state-paid SAT college entrance exam next spring." The state has given the PARCC twice, resulting in "dismal test scores and thousands of students skipping the exams." Elementary and middle school students will still take the PARCC tests, which "have drawn opposition from families who questioned the amount of testing at school."
       The Chicago Sun-Times (7/11) reports that the move "is being touted as cutting back on standardized testing while providing equitable access to a college entrance exam required for admissions applications." The paper notes that some 10% of Chicago students opted out of the tests last year. Noting that PARCC was designed to align with the Common Core Standards, the Southern Illinoisan (7/11) reports the test was "met with criticism from students, parents, teachers and school administrators alike."
 
ED Finds Illinois Violated Federal Law In Failing To Test All High School Students
The Chicago Tribune (7/15, Rado) reports ED had concluded Illinois was in violation of federal law "because of the controversial way the state tested high school students in 2015 and 2016," specifically because "not all high school students were given the same state exams in reading and math" including students in "special education, limited English and even gifted and honors classes." ED's Ann Whalen wrote to Illinois, "My decision to place Illinois on 'high-risk' status was based on the fact that Illinois did not administer the same assessment to all high school students." Now the state is "ditching the controversial" PARCC exam for high school students, and giving the SAT to its 11th-graders. The AP (7/15) offers a brief report based on that in the Tribune and also citing Whalen's letter.

Updated PARCC Score Report Resources Available Online
With the second year of PARCC testing completed, the PARCC consortium website and UnderstandtheScore.org have been updated with information for parents and students about the new student score reports for 2016.

ISBE NEWS

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has announced that it will provide the College Board's SAT exam, including a writing component, at no cost to all public high school juniors during the 2016-17 school year. The SAT will replace the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessment as the high school accountability exam in Illinois.
Students in grades 3-8 will continue to take the PARCC assessment. The PARCC assessment is also aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards, and its results provide educators with data that may be used to provide individualized supports to students while preparing them for mastery of the state standards. 

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

USDA Grants Help Rural Schools Boost Web-based Learning
Rural communities in 32 states have received grant funding from the US Department of Agriculture to establish web-based learning programs. About $235 million has been spent on 713 such projects since 2009.  T.H.E. Journal

The White House has launched a $400 million initiative aimed at advancing wireless technology. The Advanced Wireless Research Initiative, overseen by the National Science Foundation, will receive funding over seven years to develop new wireless connectivity up to 5G or more.  TechCrunch

Education Dept. Aims to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism by 10%
Data show 13% of the K-12 student population missed at least 15 days of school during the 2013-14 school year, with high-school students and students with disabilities missing the most days. A US Department of Education initiative seeks to help schools reduce chronic absenteeism by 10%.  District Administration magazine online

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act
The Obama Administration is announcing four final rules that implement important provisions of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) building on the progress schools across the country have already made in the improved nutritional quality of meals served in schools. As a key component of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative to raise a healthier generation, the rules will ensure that children have access to healthy snacks and that nutrition standards for the foods marketed and served in schools are consistent. The rules will also promote integrity across the school meals programs.

The USDA on July 21 issued a final Smart Snacks in School rule that requires snacks sold either a la carte or in vending machines to meet nutrition standards that include use of whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables and lean protein. The agency also finalized the Local Wellness Policy, Community Eligibility Provision and Administrative Review rules. ABC News

Federal Guidelines Target Needs of Homeless Students
The Department of Education issued new guidelines about how states and school districts should meet the needs of homeless students. As part of the Every Student Succeeds Act, the guidelines address how homeless students are identified and how schools and social service providers can collaborate to help them. The Washington Post

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.   
 
IL ASCD is an ISBE Approved Provider      IL ASCD is a CPS Approved Provider #24595
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/

During this two-day ASCD institute, renowned authors Alan M. Blankstein and Pedro Noguera, along with award-winning education scholars, district and school leaders, and practitioners, will share strategies to pursue equity and close instructional and achievement gaps in multicultural K-12 districts and schools.

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

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.

Teach to Lead
Jointly sponsored by the Department of Education, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, ASCD, and more than 120 education organizations, will be holding a Teacher Leadership Summit September 24-25 in Long Beach, California.  To attend, teachers must submit actionable teacher leadership ideas by July 25.

Planning for next year?  Taking a new position as a Curriculum Director or want to know more about current developments?  Then Curriculum Leadership Development Network is right for you!  Just announced, 10th season schedule for 2016-2017!
Sept 26 - "It's About the Learning!  Observing & Evaluation the NGSS" Craig Gaska; "C3 Social Studies Standards" Donna McCaw
Oct 26 & 27 - CLDN Special Topics at Conference on Learning & EXPO at Roosevelt U, Schaumburg
Nov 28 - "Visible Learning Research for Teachers & Students" Greg Wolcott; "Home to School Connection" Jason Ness & Antwan Babakhani
Jan 23, 2017 - "Human Resources & Teacher Hiring Practices" Mark Friedman & Steven Greisbach; "21st Century Learning Leadership" Josh Stumpenhorst
Feb 27 - "Social Emotional Learning" Jason Ness & Antwan Babakhani
Apr 24 - "Vision, Values & Goals:  Leading Change in a Professional Learning Community" AA #940, doug Lillydahl; "PLC's & Formative Design" Jason Ness & Antwan Babakhani

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.

NEW-Given the lead, students succeed! The Transformative Power of Student-led Conferences, Craig Gaska, October 5, 2016, Roosevelt University Schaumburg IL Campus OR April 5, 2017 Our Lady of the Snows Belleville, IL, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Given the lead, students succeed! Student-led conferencing is a proven strategy to motivate students to higher levels of learning. It incorporates goal setting and metacognitive processes that allow students to take charge of their learning. Student-led conferencing increases parent attendance and involvement, creating a learning team that is synergistically powerful. Student-led conferencing is the culmination of effective and motivating classroom practices. Expected Outcomes: Attendees will learn classroom practices and strategies that support the implementation of student-led conferencing that positively affect classrooms forever. This session will also address goal setting and assessments, which are critical for successful student-led conferences. Please bring materials from a unit you currently teach.  Registration includes: 6 PD Hours, breakfast, lunch, handouts & parking. Registration Coming Soon! 

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 FiveLevers 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.

Instructional Rounds, Jason Ness & Antwan Babakhani, October 13, 2016, Niles West High School, Skokie, IL, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Instructional Rounds refers to a practice adapted to education from the field of medicine.  It embodies a specific set of ideas about how practitioners can work together to solve common problems and improve practice.  It is designed to help schools, districts and state systems support high-quality teaching and learning for all students.  Program objectives include:
       Make  connections  between  rounds  and  ongoing  school improvement efforts at your school
 *     Understand  how  the  instructional  core  is  the  heart  of rounds and of improvement efforts
 *     Understand  the  basic  principles  of  instructional  rounds and practice the specific protocols of the practice
 *     Develop  skills  in  observing  teaching  and  learning  - describe what we see - and debriefing observations
 *     Build  common  language,  expectations  and  norms for conducting rounds
 *     Be  ready  (and  excited)  -  to  conduct  rounds  at  your school!
Registration includes PD hours, breakfast, lunch, parking and handouts.  ATTENDANCE IS LIMITED TO 30 PEOPLE!  Niles West High School, 5701 Oakton St, Skokie, IL 60077.  IL ASCD is a CPS approved provider #24595. Register here.

NEW-Science is a Verb, Not a Noun! With Craig Gaska, October 20, 2016, ISU Alumni Center, Normal OR November 3, 2016, SIU Student Center, Carbondale OR April 27, 2017, Roosevelt University, Schaumburg, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
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.

Conference on Learning and EXPO, October 26 - 27, 2016, Roosevelt University, Schaumburg, IL Two big days! Top speakers!  
Featured Presenters:
  • Opening speaker Mike Schmoker - author of Focus and Leading with Focus
  • Ray Lauk - author of FUEL for Learning
  • Aaron Brengard -Principal of Katherine Smith Elementary School, San Jose California
  • Steve Zipkes - Founding Principal of New Manor Tech - A STEM High School
  • Scott Estes - Assistant Superintendent East Peoria SD 86
  • Closing speaker Jonathan Fanning - "Creative Leadership"
The conference will include:
  • Presenters from the Midwest Principals Center,
  • Presenters from Illinois Consortium for 21st Century Schools,
  • Presenters from IL ASCD CLDN (Curriculum Leadership Development Network),
  • Presenters on the ASCD topic of Educating the Whole Child
Our strands for the 2016 Conference on Learning and EXPO include:
  • Whole Child
  • 21st Century Learning
  • Principal Leadership
  • Curriculum Leadership Development Network
  • Classroom Leadership
  • Learning Leadership

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 a24dministrators 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.
 
2016 ASCD Conference on Educational Leadership
Take your leadership skills to the next level from November 4-6 at the 2016 ASCD Conference on Educational Leadership in National Harbor, Maryland near Washington, D.C. This conference provides the perfect setting to start pursuing new goals and to develop a solid plan for improving student achievement. You'll connect with today's most influential education leaders and join colleagues who share your commitment to transforming education, including principals, central office staff, superintendents, teacher leaders, building-level specialists, professors and deans. Learn more.

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-Creating Student-Led Learning Environments with Rubrics and John Hattie's 3 Questions:  Where am I going? How is it Going? What are My Next Steps?, Steve Oertle, December 13, 2016, ISU Alumni Center, Normal, OR February 1, 2017, Holiday Inn, Mt. Vernon, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Using standards to drive a student-led classroom may seem like an oxymoron.  However, there are many research-based instructional practices that fit a standards-driven curriculum or program and are well-suited for all learners in becoming independent.  When teachers help students understand and apply the qualities of good learners, students begin to take responsibility for their learning, increasing their drive, motivation and achievement.  This fully interactive workshop will use John Hattie's research on effective influences on achievement as the anchor for modeling fun, yet rigorous, strategies that are student-led and driven by appropriate grade level standards.  Connections to both the Danielson Framework and SLOs will be made throughout the workshop.  Breakfast, lunch, parking, and 6 professional development hours are included.  CPS provider #24595.  Register here.

The Illinois Association of School Boards and the Illinois Association of School Administrators present: Professional Advancement Seminars Seeking the Superintendency,
Sept 15 in Lisle, Sept 22 in Springfield, OR Jan 18 in Springfield
This intensive one-day seminar is designed to assist anyone seeking employment as a superintendent and will include a detailed description of the Illinois Association of School Boards' Superintendent Search process.  You will learn how to evaluate and improve your opportunities for professional advancement through presentations by those who work with the process and through printed materials that are yours to retain.  For a pdf of the brochure regarding this event: click here.  

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.

Joint NASSP and NAESP Conference, July 9 - 11, 2017, Philadelphia, PA
Next July 9-11 in Philadelphia, NASSP and NAESP will hold the National Principals Conference: the first-ever joint conference for Pre-K through grade 12 school leaders, which will give you an unprecedented opportunity to engage in authentic conversations with a large pool of your peers. You can learn more about the conference on the website and contact us info@principalsconference.org or 800-253-7746 with any questions. 
From the Field
The Sustainable Development Goals for universal child education by 2030 faces an uphill struggle as almost 1 in 10 children remain out of school today, according to a UNESCO report. More children are in school now than in 2000, but hurdles to education remain, such as living in conflict areas and having societal pressures for girls and young women. Thomson Reuters Foundation
 
The US can learn four lessons from teacher-training efforts in Finland, Japan, Shanghai and Hong Kong, according to a report from the National Center on Education and the Economy. Lessons include requiring elementary teachers to specialize in content areas.  Education Week 

Online Sexual-assault Prevention Program to Debut at 1,300 Campuses
An initiative called The Campus Prevention Network will deliver to 1,300 college campuses online educational programs on preventing sexual assaults. The program will provide prevention, consent and bystander intervention information to students, faculty and staff at such schools as Princeton University and the University of Michigan, officials say. The Washington Post 

London-based disability advocacy group Scope has created a set of 18 emojis showing people of various abilities. Creators say they hope the emojis, available for a free download, will encourage the release of more emojis depicting people with disabilities. Disability Scoop 

Educators Reflect on Lessons from Finland
Six US teachers of the year recently traveled to Finland for the Global Student Leaders Summit. In this interview, two of the teachers share insights learned during the trip. Education Week Teacher 

Chicago Teachers Union, Public Schools Entering Fresh Contract Talks
The Chicago Tribune reports that the Chicago Teachers Union and the Chicago Public Schools board are "set to begin a fresh round of contract talks that will take place as the school district readies a budget that officials say will be balanced despite a lingering $300 million deficit." Both parties say "they have been discussing a bargaining schedule and plan to exchange contract proposals next week." Noting that the union has been "without a contract for more than a year," the paper describes how state funding legislation will impact the negotiations.

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 
Economics has played a key role in shaping the modern elementary-school math curriculum, says Houman Harouni, a professor at Harvard University and former elementary teacher. Harouni's research focuses on answering questions such as: "Why these topics? Why in this order? Why in this way?"
National Public Radio

Has Common Core Improved Student Performance?
States began adopting the Common Core State Standards more than five years ago, with Kentucky taking the lead in 2010. Assessment data so far show mixed results across states, but student performance in Kentucky has improved overall since the adoption. District Administration magazine

Educators under the Common Core State Standards may be asked to cover more standards during the school year, and this can be overwhelming, writes Sargy Letuchy, an English-as-a-second-language teacher. In this blog post, he shares how standards-based visual instructional tools can help make the process more manageable. EdSurge

"Maker Movement" Faces Challenges As It Moves Into Schools
NPR reports that the "maker movement," defined as a "DIY culture of inventors, tinkerers and hackers is inspiring adults and children alike to design and build everything from sailboats and apps to solar cars," is coming to schools this fall. However, NPR reports schools do not consider it to be learning in the traditional sense. In addition, schools are also concerned that the essence of the movement, which is driven by creativity and exploration, will be forced into a rigid system of accountability.

Strategies, Tools for Improving Writing Instruction
New and revised learning standards mean educators may be asked to do more when teaching writing. Strategies and tools in use by some schools include using discussion as a prewriting activity and using online tools to provide feedback on students' first drafts. District Administration magazine online

How Primary Sources Support Current Events Lessons
Textbooks in many cases are unable to keep up with current events. Some social studies teachers look to primary sources to help teach current events, and some groups such as the Anti-Defamation League have developed lessons on current events that rely on primary documents. The Atlantic online

Ideas for Integrating Social Media into Instruction
Teachers should integrate social media more often into their instructional design, suggests Glenn Wiebe, a former social studies teacher and current president of the Kansas Council for the Social Studies. In this blog post, he shares several ideas, including having students craft social media campaigns for historical figures.EdSurge

Students need to learn how to read print and online texts, high-school English teacher Abigail Walthausen writes in this commentary. She considers the ongoing conversation about what -- if anything -- is lost when digital devices are used for reading.

This month's Tech Showcase roundup features five releases, including a platform professors can use to find ideas for building courses and a science game that lets users build virtual habitats and learn about food webs. SmartBrief/Education

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
NEW-Concordia University Chicago (River Forest, IL) is seeking to hire UNIVERSITY SUPERVISORS who will supervise student teachers during their internship semester in all locations in Illinois. Must have master's degree and 5 years of teaching experience.  Supervisors will mentor and evaluate student teachers in their internship semester. Stipend is $525 per student supervision. Please send your resume, references, and cover letter to: Joy Mullaney, Assistant Professor College of Education, Concordia University Chicago at Joy.Mullaney@cuchicago.edu. 

NEW-Vacancy Fox Lake Grade SD 114 Superintendent Position
Click here to download or view the Announcement of Vacancy.  Applications are only accepted online by Sept 7, 2016.  Please apply at  https://www.applitrack.com/IASB/onlineapp.  For further information, please visit the IASB website.

NEW-Vacancy Mahomet-Seymour CUSD 3  Superintendent Position
Click here to download or view the Announcement of Vacancy.  Applications are only accepted online by noon on Sept 12, 2016.  Please apply at https://www.applitrack.com/IASB/onlineapp. For further information, please visit the IASB website.

NEW-Vacancy Richmond-Burton CHSD 157 and Nippersink District 2  Superintendent Position
Click here to download or view the Announcement of Vacancy. Applications are only accepted online by noon of Sept 20, 2016.  Please apply at https://www.applitrack.com/IASB/onlineapp. For further information, please visit the IASB website.

Vacancy - Pana CUSD 8 Superintendent Position
Click here to download or view the Announcement of Vacancy.  Applications are only accepted online by noon on Sept 26, 2016.  Please apply at https://www.applitrack.com/IASB/onlineapp/.  For further information, please visit the IASB website.
 
NEW-Vacancy Hoopeston Area CUSD 11 Superintendent Position
Click here to download or view the Announcement of Vacancy.  Applications are only accepted online by noon on Sept 27, 2016.  Please apply at https://www.applitrack.com/IASB/onlineapp.For further information, please visit the IASB website.

NEW-Vacancy Genoa KingstonCUSD 424 Superintendent Position
Click here to download or view the Announcement of Vacancy.  Applications are only accepted online by noon on Oct 4, 2016.  Please apply https://www.applitrack.com/IASB/onlineapp . For further information, please visit the IASB website.

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
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. We accept grant applications quarterly. Grant deadlines are: June 30, September 30, December 31 and March 31

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
Study: How Social-justice Education Benefits Black Students
Transformative social-justice courses could help shape black students' career choices and their civic and social-justice values, according to a study by a Pennsylvania State University researcher. The study considered long-term outcomes for students who took the course during high school. The Atlantic online

Study Finds Successes, Challenges in Shift to Intensive Principal Preparation
A report released from the Illinois Education Research Council at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, in partnership with the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research, assesses the progress of sweeping legislation to redesign the way school principals in Illinois are prepared, with the goal of improving schools statewide through higher quality leadership. Read the study

New Guide to Foundational Reading Skills
A new What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) practice guide focuses on the foundational reading skills that enable students to read words, relate those words to their oral language, and read connected text with sufficient accuracy and fluency to understand what they read.

The authors conducted a thorough literature search, identified studies that met protocol requirements, and then reviewed those studies against WWC standards. The review focused on studies published since 2000. The guide, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade, provides four recommendations that can be used to improve literacy skills in kindergarten through third grade. Each recommendation is assigned a level of evidence based on the quantity and quality of the research:
  • Teach students academic language skills, including the use of inferential and narrative language, and vocabulary knowledge (minimal evidence)
  • Develop awareness of the segments of sounds in speech and how they link to letters (strong evidence)
  • Teach students to decode words, analyze word parts, and write and recognize words (strong evidence)
  • Ensure that each student reads connected text every day to support reading accuracy, fluency, and comprehension (moderate evidence)
The practice guide is a companion to another WWC practice guide, Improving Reading Comprehension in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade.
Publications
Moody. Reckless. Impractical. Insecure. Distracted. These are all words commonly used to describe adolescents. But what if we recast these traits in a positive light? Teens possess insight, passion, idealism, sensitivity and creativity in abundance -- all qualities that can make a significant positive contribution to society. In this thought-provoking book, Thomas Armstrong looks at the power of the teenage brain from an empathetic, strength-based perspective, and describes what educators can do to make the most of their students' potential.

Packed with ideas for both new and veteran teachers of K-8 students, this book touches on a variety of topics that are especially relevant to the first week of school. Author Otis Kriegel provides critical information that includes arranging and navigating the classroom, setting basic expectations, communicating routines and understanding your students' needs. Plus, you'll see how these efforts actually work in the classroom as Kriegel shares experiences, anecdotes, and quick tips.

If you want to see your students engaged, motivated and excited about learning, join Jonathan Cassie on a journey that will add a powerful new set of ideas and practices to your teaching toolkit. In the new book, "Level Up Your Classroom: The Quest to Gamify Your Lessons and Engage Your Students," you'll learn about the gamified classroom, an exciting new frontier of 21st century learning that is revolutionizing K-12 education.

This new book from Bonnie Houck and Sandi Novak will teach you how to foster excellent reading instruction through classroom visits. You'll learn why ensuring high-quality reading instruction is one of the most important jobs of a school leader and get introduced to the meticulously researched and refined Literacy Classroom Visit (LCV) Model that enables you to evaluate and improve literacy instruction in your school or district. 
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.


Mark Edwards, superintendent of Mooresville Graded School District near Charlotte, N.C., has led the district's digital-learning efforts, which have become a national model. In this interview, he discusses ways others can replicate their methods.  The Hechinger Report

Integrating science, technology, engineering, art and math across subjects can help drive positive changes among teachers and students, K-12 technology facilitator Marcos Navas writes in this blog post. He highlights his district's support of a STEAM-based mindset.  SmartBrief/Education

Tips to Help Educators Expand their Twitter Networks

6 Steps to Reignite Your Passion Projects
Open educational resources give teachers more power over curriculum, asserts Matthew Miller, superintendent of Mentor Public Schools in Ohio. In this blog post, he writes that OER allows teachers to craft lessons that are interactive, relevant and easily updated. SmartBrief/Education

While the process of making data-informed decisions is not necessarily a difficult one, it is best to approach it with a specific plan in mind. In this Inservice post, ASCD author Craig Mertler shares five tips that can help you in developing your plan for using data to better inform your decision-making. His tips include ensuring the data you plan to use will be manageable, and treating data-driven decision making as a cyclical process.

Asking themselves if schools are doing enough to engage parents has helped reading specialists Judith Culang and Linda Baker revisit parent engagement in their schools. In this blog post, they share tips for increasing engagement.  SmartBrief/Education

RESOURCES:

Google is providing free cloud-computing tools, such as App Engine, BigQuery and Cloud Machine Learning, to students at universities that apply online. "If more university students are familiar with Google's tools, they are more likely to adopt them once they hit the workforce," Jonathan Vanian writes. Fortune

Zaption is a web-based tool that lets teachers and students insert elements, such as images, text, quizzes and discussions, into videos to create interactive lessons. Users can add the components into videos they produce as well as videos from YouTube and Vimeo that are offered through the platform. Teachers can sign up for free accounts on the Zaption website. 
 
Hip-hop culture is woven into every facet of society. We hear it on the radio. We see it on TV; in film, fashion, and art museums; and on buildings and train cars. Hip-hop is youth culture and even kids who don't listen to rap music have been influenced by it. So why is it not in every classroom? This Inservice post provides a list of resources to help you integrate hip-hop into your lessons and enhance student engagement.

Over 800 Released Items Among the Numerous PARCC Resources Available Online
As part of the effort to develop the most transparent high-quality assessments available, PARCC has released more than 800 test items on the Partnership Resource Center. In addition, the PARCC consortium website features a wealth of parent, student and educator resources, including links to even more practice assessments, score report guides (in both English and Spanish), informational videos, and links to PARCC resources that are specifically designed for residents of each consortium state. PARCC has also released a detailed description of how the  assessments are designed, along with detailed information about how they are aligned to Common Core State Standards, and how the term "college and career readiness" is defined and measured.

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 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.  

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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