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Legislative Alert - Two Bills Need Your Contact with Legislators
On March 26, 2013, the Senate passed its version of education reform as Senate File 423. With the passage of Senate File 423 and the House version of education reform, House File 215 passed on February 20, 2013, there is a great deal yet to be reconciled and that will occur in conference committee. In the meantime, allowable growth remains the hostage of educational reform.
Iowa ASCD is here to help you stay informed. We ask that you stay involved, too, and be a voice for public education in Iowa. Please contact your legislators today.
The ELL bill (SF404) passed through the Senate 48-0. Surprisingly, the bill has been stalled in the House, and it may not make it out of subcommittee to be acted upon by the House Education Committee and the House. Fundamental to the bill is the additional weighting necessary to provide the instructional programs necessary to meet the needs of our English Language Learners. Many Iowa schools face this challenge. Please contact the House leadership and encourage them to move the bill forward as was done by both parties in the Senate. Thank you for sharing your voice with your legislators. |
Curriculum Leaders: Register Now for the Iowa ASCD Curriculum Leadership Academy on April 10 - 11, 2013 - Only a Few Seats Available!
Iowa ASCD is proud to present the 12th Annual Curriculum Leadership Academy, designed for those who have leadership responsibility for curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development. Whether you are a curriculum director, a principal, superintendent, or teacher leader with curriculum responsibilities, this Academy is designed for you!!
Join us this year as we continue our conversation about meeting the needs of all learners through Response to Intervention (RtI).
Learn from leaders of schools of all grade levels and sizes who are in various stages of implementation of RtI. A special emphasis at this year's conference will be given to creating the culture necessary to implement RtI, the Iowa Core, and meeting the needs of ALL students!
Conference Times:
April 10: Registration: 7:30 - 8:30 A.M. Sessions: 8:30 A.M. - 3:45 P.M. Social Hour: 4:00 - 6:00 P.M. (Wine, Cheese, Snacks) April 11: Sessions: 8:30 A.M. - 3:15 P.M. Cost: - $250 for Iowa ASCD Member
- $290 for non-member
- $100 for Academy Graduates
Fee includes continental breakfast and lunches each day, Wednesday Social Hour, as well as opportunities for follow-up webinars and Twitter chats. Conference Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 8600 North Park Drive, Johnston, IA (515.252.2206). If registering for a room, mention Iowa ASCD. Group rates are available until March 22.
Registration - Use One of the Following Methods:
- Mail a check/purchase order with date/name of conference and names of participants to Bridget A. Arrasmith, Drake University School of Education, 3206 University, Des Moines, IA 50311.
- E-mail a purchase order with name/date of conference and names of participants to Lou Howell at L1313@mchsi.com.
- FAX purchase order with name/date of conference and names of participants to Bridget A. Arrasmith at 515.271.2233.
Brochure is published on Iowa ASCD website. All members should have received a brochure in late February. We hope you followed our tweets around RtI. If not, please follow Iowa ASCD on Twitter and review those at your convenience.
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Richard Byrne Reviews Five Free iPad Apps for Creating Video Lessons (AEA Flipped Classroom Lessons)
Richard Byrne, author/writer and certified Google instructor, shares his reviews of iPad apps for you and your classrooms. "Whether you want to create these videos for students to watch as part of a 'flipped curriculum' or you want students to create the explanatory videos to demonstrate what they know," Byrne shares "these apps are good choices for reaching those ends."
 The Knowmia Teach iPad app is an excellent app for creating your own whiteboard videos. Some of the highlights of Knowmia Teach app include the option to use your iPad's camera to record yourself while drawing on the whiteboard. You will appear in the corner of the screen so that your students can see you while you're talking them through the lesson. The app includes the option to import images and graphics from your iPad to your lessons. You can draw free-hand on the whiteboard screen, type on the whiteboard screen, and insert pre-made shapes and figures. All Knowia Teach lessons can be uploaded to the Knowmia website with just one tap of your iPad's screen. Students can watch your lessons on the Knowmia website.
 Ask3 is a free iPad app from TechSmith. Byrne shares that TechSmith is best known as being the company that produces Jing and Camtasia screen capture software. Ask3 is a tool that teachers can use to create short instructional videos that are shared directly to their students' iPads. Students can use Ask3 to ask questions about the video, mark the video with drawing tools, and create their own audio comments about the video. You share Ask3 videos to your students through a virtual workspace. When you register as a teacher you are given a room number to share with your students. Students then open the Ask3 app on their iPads, enter their names, create a password for themselves, and enter the room number that you gave them. Students do not have to have email addresses to use Ask3. Anytime students enter your Ask3 room they can access the videos you've posted to the bulletin board in that room.
 Educreations is a free iPad app that turns your iPad into a whiteboard. You can use the app to illustrate concepts and narrate what you're doing on the screen. You can draw images from scratch on the Educreations iPad app or you can upload images and draw on them. Your completed lesson can be shared directly to others or made public on the Educreations website.
 ScreenChomp is a free app for creating and sharing short tutorials or lessons on your iPad. ScreenChomp provides a whiteboard on which you can demonstrate things by drawing and talking people through your instructions. ScreenChomp records your voice as you go. When you finish your recording share it to ScreenChomp.com where a shortened URL will be provided for you to share with anyone you like. From ScreenChomp.com you have the option to download recordings as MPEG-4 files.
 ShowMe is an app for creating and sharing whiteboard-style lessons on your iPad. To support teachers, the Show Me website is building a gallery of lessons developed and shared by teachers. Each Day there is a "Show Me of the Day" that is added to the gallery of lessons. Click here to download the app from iTunes.
Richard Byrne's website is great for keeping current with iPad apps that can make a difference in your classroom. And follow Iowa ASCD on Twitter to learn about more apps that apply to your work! |
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Register Now for Grade 4 and Grade 5 Conferences!
Register now for a special conference - Impacting Learning in My Classroom! Just for you!
Iowa ASCD (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) and ISEA (Iowa State Education Association) are collaborating to offer a hands-on day of learning
for and by . . .
- Fourth-Grade Teachers on April 25 and
- Fifth-Grade Teachers on April 26.
Together we will explore great examples and networking around the Iowa Core and Characteristics of Effective Instruction Impacting Student Learning.
Learn from practitioners across the state and leave with information, ideas, tools, strategies, and networking opportunities with teachers from across the state.
Conference Strands:
- Teaching for Understanding - Curriculum Strand:
What do all students need to learn, know, and be able to do? How do we in our building/grade level connect our teaching with the students' learning expectations identified in the Core?
- Assessment for Learning - Assessment Strand:
How do we know that students have learned? How do we use assessments to assess and diagnose our students' progress in learning? How do we adjust our instruction based on the results of the formative assessments?
- Teaching for Learner Differences - Instruction Strand:
How do we plan and deliver instruction so that we meet the needs of all learners in our classroom? How do we respond if students struggle or don't learn and how do we respond when students have already learned?
Cost:
- $90 if ISEA or Iowa ASCD member
- $150 for non-members
- If a school sends 4 or more teachers to the conference, the administrator comes free!
- Includes opportunities for follow-up webinars and tweet chats as well as Grade 4 and Grade 5 website of resources
Registration - Use One of the Following Methods:
- Register online with a credit card.
- Mail a check/purchase order with date/name of conference and names of participants with grade level/role identified to Bridget A. Arrasmith, Drake University School of Education, 3206 University, Des Moines, IA 50311
- E-mail a purchase order with name/date of conference and names of participants and grade level/role to Bridget A. Arrasmith at bridget.arrasmith@drake.edu.
- FAX purchase order with name/date of conference names of participants and grade level/role to Bridget A. Arrasmith at 515.271.2233.
Location: AEA 267 Cedar Falls Conference Center, 3712 Cedar Heights Drive, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Dates:
- April 25, 2013 (8:00 - 4:00) Grade 4: Impacting Learning in My Fourth-Grade Classroom
- April 26, 2013 (8:00 - 4:00) Grade 5: Impacting Learning in My Fifth-Grade Classroom
Download flyer on the Iowa ASCD website!
And watch for websites on Iowa ASCD especially for teachers of fourth and fifth graders.
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The Five Disciplines of PLC Leaders by Timothy D. Kanold
Professional learning community (PLC) requires more than simply trying harder: it requires training. In The Five Disciplines of PLC Leaders, Dr. Kanold provides a complete,  focused system of practices for honing personal leadership skills in the areas that will have the greatest impact on a school organization's success: compelling vision, autonomy within defined boundaries, serving and managing personal energy levels, and inspiring others to create a legacy of excellence. Dr. Kanold digs deep into the critical questions leaders must ask themselves and the practices they must master and model for others. Using research and decades of experiences working in PLCs, he shows leaders how to develop their own leadership skills while also helping others build leadership capacity. This rich resource includes reflection exercises and study guides to help readers find their own path toward effective PLC leadership. Jeremy Aldrich shares in his blog, a summary of the book and reminds us that as leaders of educators and students, we must "consciously resist the natural 'drift' towards superficial commitment." Check out this blog for more details on the book, including summaries of the following:
- Chapter 1 - The Discipline of Vision and Values. We are reminded that we need both a personal vision and a collective vision that has involved many stakeholders. The visions are really expressions of the principles "that you are so passionate about that you will defend them, teach them, and lead others toward them" (pp 15-16 of the book). Check out the "double-loop system."
- Chapter 2 - The Discipline of Accountability and Celebration. Both are critical to effective leadership. Accountability and celebrations must be focused on the "right things that are critical to moving the vision into action. Check out the "six-step process."
- Chapter 3 - The Discipline of Service and Sharing. "The theme of this chapter is creating a relationally intelligent school culture in which the cycle of continuous improvement is seamlessly maintained. Such a culture is one in which individuals accept responsibility for their action; they hold themselves accountable, and they become aware of others in the social sphere of the professional learning community" (p 80 of the book). Check out the 10 practices to grow in relationships with others.
- Chapter 4 - The Discipline of Reflection and Balance. While we cannot create more time in the day, we can plan to preserve our high energy levels for full engagement in meaningful work. Check out the "six-by-six list."
- Chapter 5 - The Discipline of Inspiration and Influence. What will your legacy be? It will be defined by your encounters and relationships with others - what you do for others!
Kevin Vidergar, Iowa ASCD Board Member, shares this book as "a game changer" in its potential impact on improving leadership skills. |
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Coaching at the Core: There Is Still Time to Request Executive Coaches for the Principals
A group of 40 individuals representing all of the providers of professional learning for principals, including Iowa ASCD, has collaboratively developed a proposal to provide executive coaching supports for 400 of Iowa's principals over the next four years.
The specific focus of the coaching will be to help principals build the collective capacity of teacher learning teams in their use of data to inform instruction. Any Iowa principal who is "ready, willing, and able" to meet the program expectations, as delineated in an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), is eligible for a coach. A lottery will be conducted in late April to select the 400 participants.
Principals will receive coaching for two years, for six hours per month the first year and three hours per month the second year.
The deadline to apply is April 19.
A complete description is available on SAI's web site: www.sai-iowa.org. The program is slated to launch in August, 2013, although all plans are subject to funding being secured. In order to position the program to be ready in August, solicitation of interested principals, recruitment and selection of coaches, and other program details need to begin now. Questions about the program can be directed to Lou Howell (L1313@mchsi.com) and Troyce Fisher (troyce@sai-iowa.org).
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Register Now for the Competency-Based Education Conference: Define! Design! Deliver!
Competency-Based Education - June 26-27, 2013 
Mark your calendars now for a great two days in June - June 26-27 - featuring an Iowa ASCD conference on Competency- Based Education: Define! Design! Deliver!Competency-Based Education (CBE) impacts systems of learning as well as classrooms for learning. Every educator in Iowa wants life-long learners. Come learn how students can learn and demonstrate competencies which will endure throughout time. CBE provides a strong framework for teachers and administrators to understand the Iowa Core and ensure students are college-, career- and citizenship-ready.Purpose: - To expand the knowledge base of educators and others interested in competency-based education
- To build the capacity of educators and others to transform the current system of education in Iowa to a system focused on personalized learning for each and every student
Featured Speakers: Join us for learning and conversations with national leaders like Rose Colby, author of Off the Clock and a national consultant on competency-based education; Kathleen McCaskey and Barb Bray, consultants on personalized learning; Michael Soguero, Director of Professional Development at Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center; and Tom Vander Ark (pending), author of Getting Smart: How Digital Learning Is Changing the World and founder of GettingSmart.com. And there will be several Iowans joining the conversation and sharing their expertise: Dr. Jason Glass, Director of the Iowa Department of Education, CBE Task Force members Jeff Herzberg of Prairie Lakes AEA and Bridget Wagoner of Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District; and Representatives Tyler Olson, Renee Schulte (pending), and Cindy Winkler. And Andrea Stewart, teacher in the Muscatine Community School district, will be one of several, sharing how it is delivered in the classroom. Sessions will include among others: - Define: What is a competency?
- Design: How do we design and assess competencies?
- Deliver: What does it look like in my classroom?
Mark your calendars now! June 26 an 27! Register for the Conference on the Iowa ASCD web site. The fee is $250 for Iowa ASCD members and $295 for non-members. You may also . . . - Mail a check/purchase order with date/name of conference and names of participants to Bridget A. Arrasmith, Drake University School of Education, 3206 University, Des Moines, IA 50311.
- E-mail a purchase order with name/date of conference and names of participants to Bridget A. Arrasmith at bridget.arrasmith@drake.edu.
- FAX purchase order with name/date of conference and names of participants and grade level/role to Bridget A. Arrasmith at 515.271.2233.
 We hope you have been following the tweets on competency-based education from Iowa ASCD. If not, follow us now on Twitter and review the CBE tweets.
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Iowa ASCD seeks to keep you informed abut webinars for your learning and the learning of those with whom you work. Check out the following; many of these support the work in your collaborative time and definitely help with implementation of The Core! - Title: Classroom Instruction That Works: Creating the Environment for Learning
- Presenter: Dr. Howard Pitler (McREL)
- Provider: ASCD
- Date: April 8, 2013, 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. CDT
- Register Free
- Title: Minding the Achievement Gap One Classroom at a Time: Tips for EL and Special Education Teachers
- Presenter: Jane E. Pollock
- Provider: ASCD
- Date: April 9, 2013, 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. CDT
- Register Free
- Title: Addressing the Role of Text Complexity in the Common Core
- Presenter: Patricia Davis
- Provider: ASCD
- Date: April 10, 2013; 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. (CDT)
- Register Free
- Title: Maximizing Professional Learning to Support Student Learning
- Presenter: Sherida Britt, Efrain Mercado, and Kent Williamson
- Provider: ASCD
- Date: April 11, 2013; 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. (CDT)
- Register Free
- Title: Classroom Instruction That Works: Helping Students Extend and Apply Knowledge
- Presenter: Dr. BJ Stone and one of the authors of the book
- Provider: ASCD
- Date: April 18, 2013; 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. (CDT)
- Register Free
- Title: Classroom Instruction That Works: Helping Students Develop Understanding
- Presenter: Dr. Elizabeth Hubbell and one of the authors of the book
- Provider: ASCD
- Date: May 2, 2013; 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. (CDT)
- Register Free
- Title: Teaching to the Rigor of the Common Core Standards
- Presenter: Patti Davis
- Provider: ASCD
- Date: May 13, 2013; 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. (CDT)
- Register Free
- Title: Classroom Instruction That Works: Intentional Lesson Planning
- Presenter: Dr. Ceri Dean and one of the authors of the book
- Provider: ASCD
- Date: May 21, 2013; 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. (CDT)
- Register Free
Access ASCD's archived webinars here.
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Feedback - Its Role in Your Work and Your Students' Learning
 Be sure to check out Seven Keys to Effective Feedback by Grant Wiggins. He identifies in this article, originally shared in the September, 2012, issue of Educational Leadership, seven "musts" for effective feedback: - Goal-referenced
- Tangible and transparent
- Actionable
- User-friendly
- Timely
- Ongoing
- Consistent
Wiggins reminds us that "no time to give and use feedback" actually means "no time to cause learning." He also shares that "research shows that less teaching plus more feedback is the key to achieving greater learning. And there are numerous ways - through technology, peers, and other teachers - that students can get the feedback they need." Check out this article to improve your feedback - and the learning of your students. |
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Iowa ASCD - Twitter!
Stay current with learning! Follow Iowa ASCD on Twitter! http://twitter.com/#!/IowaASCD |
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 Iowa ASCD is the source for developing instructional leadership and translating research into daily practice. Serving more than 850 educators - teachers, principals, superintendents, directors of curriculum, technology specialists, college professors, AEA staff - Iowa ASCD strives to develop the collaborative capacity to impact the learning of each and every student in Iowa. |
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Iowa ASCD Contacts President Jason Ellingson Past-President Leslie Moore President-Elect Allan Eckelman Membership Information Bridget Arrasmith Secretary Marcia Tweeten Treasurer Lou Howell Members-at-Large Julie Grotewold Ottie Maxey Becky Martin Kevin Vidergar DE Liaison Rita Martens Higher Education Jan Beatty-Westerman Elaine Smith-Bright Advocacy and Influence Pam Armstrong-Vogel Susan Pecinovsky Curriculum Leadership Academy Sue Wood Fall Institute Summer Institutes and Grade-Level Conferences Kym Stein Planning Chair Cindy Swanson Technology Chris Welch Membership Relations and E-Learning Amy Wichman Executive Director Lou Howell |
- April 10 - 11, 2013
- Iowa ASCD Leadership Academy
- 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. daily
- Hilton Garden Inn, Urbandale/Johnston
- $250 for members; $295 for non-members
- Focus: strategies and best practices around Iowa Core and RTI for curriculum leads
- April 25 and 26, 2013
- Grade-Level Conferences - Grades 4 and 5
- Presenters: "for teachers and by teachers"
- 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. each day
- AEA 267 Conference Center in Cedar Falls
- $90 for members; $150 for non-members
- Focus: best practices to implement Iowa Core
- Get The Source the first and third Friday of each month.
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