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Iowa ASCD
Volume 13, Number 22                  The Source
December 20, 2013
PK-3 Reading - DE Hearing Is January 3 - Share Your Voice

We encourage you to contact the Iowa State Board of Education regarding "a notice of intended action" at the Iowa Department of Education.
  • Grade 3 Retention - "State Standards for Progression in Reading."  The Rules Meeting is January 3, 2014, from 2:00 to 3:00 P.M. at the State Board Room, Second Floor, Grimes State Office Building, 400 East 14th Street and Grand, Grimes State Office Building, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0146.    YOU may attend this meeting or send your position in writing by 4:30 P.M. on January 3 to Mike Cormack ([email protected]), Rules Coordinator, Iowa Department of Education, Second Floor, 400 East 14th Street, Grimes State Office Building, Des Moines, IA  50319-0146.  
  • In a recent survey completed by Iowa ASCD members, the respondents noted the following
    •  78.4% of respondents do not support the retention of third graders.
    • If a student were to be considered for retention, the respondents would rely on multiple sources of data with 91.2% giving highest priority to recommendation of the classroom teacher.  One respondent noted, "I would want plenty of evidence of research-based strategies having been used in the child's classroom over time."
    • More than half of the respondents had not retained a student in grades K-3 in the past five years because of insufficient skill/knowledge in reading.
    • 90.2% of respondents have a four-year-old preschool with 28.4% of them offering the preschool five days a week with at least four hours of student participation per day.
    • 45.1% of respondents offer a summer program focused on literacy in K-3.  Those who do not offer a summer program noted the reason as lack of funding for staff and transportation.
    • 76.5% of respondents do not offer a before- and/or  after-school program focused on literacy, noting that the reason is the lack of funding for staff and transportation.   
Clinton High School Students Continue to Reap Benefits from the RtI Program

Clinton High School continues to reap benefits from their RtI program.  Total trimester failures in all courses in Grades 9-12 (approximately 1200 students) was 121, a 73% drop from 2009-2010.  Only 5 students failed English 9 and 2 failed Algebra 1 - yes, you read it right! 

So how has Clinton High School achieved these changes?  It has been accomplished through a "systematic and streamlined approach," shares Superintendent Deb Olson.  Key supports that are in place include the following:

  • Reteach and enrichment within classes, often resulting in "mixing the kids" on Friday's to assure the appropriate supports.  
  • PLCs for teachers, counselors and administrators that assure common prep time, a focus on students and their learning, and identification of changes/supports to enable success. Each PLC addresses power standards, focus lessons, checks for understanding, analysis of data, and common formative assessments.  They meet weekly for 60 minutes and two times per month during early dismissal.  Data boards are shared with the entire staff three times per year. 
  • CHS data teams that meet weekly to check on progress of each student, including academic, behavior, and attendance progress and determine if each is due to a "skill or will" deficit.  These teams meet every Wednesday in the data room to identify the  supports needed to enable success for the students.  They often lead to home visits, recommendations to teachers, assignment of students to study tables at lunch or after school, check in/check out, or escorts for students.  Close monitoring is making a difference! Interventions may last as short as a week if it is working or for the full trimester for ongoing support if needed.  
  • Study Tables at Lunch:  These are held during lunch for students failing core courses in grades 9th and 10th. Junior/Senior study tables are based on trends in failures. Supports are provided to the students at the grade-level study tables by the At-Risk Staff - teachers, administrators, and para-professionals. There is also an AP/Honors Study Table for students with a C or below; these are monitored by AP teachers.   
  • Contact log on Infinite Campus which has helped with streamlining supports and contacts.   
  • Counseling program that assures classroom guidance lessons, homeroom lessons/activities, career seminars, 4-year plans and career/educational portfolios for all students. They also provide small-group work - e.g., 9th grade transition, anxiety, girls' leadership, study skills, individual counseling. 
  • Homeroom Study Tables provided when a failure trend is recognized.  These are monitored by content teachers.
  • Check in/Check Out and escorts to classes are provided as needed for issues related to attendance, academics, behaviors, and/or organization.
  • 6th Period - After School Contracts:  When students are failing two or more classes, individual contracts are issued and students attend these study tables after school.  The at-risk staff members, who have a modified staff schedule, provide the needed support.
  • Home Visits are made as needed and recorded in the Contact Log.   
  • Reading Lab for students who received a non-proficient score in reading on the Iowa Assessments.  This pullout reading program meets twice per week.   The students are making an average of 1.1 to 1.24 year's growth in reading level after 10 weeks in the course. 

To schedule a visit, contact Superintendent Deb Olson or High School Principal   Karinne Tharaldson Jones.  They will also be presenting at the Iowa ASCD Curriculum Academy on April 11.  Mark your calendars now! 

 

There is definitely a bold vision and a bright future for the students in Clinton.


Standards for Professional Learning - Learning Designs

This is the third in a series of articles providing information on each of the National Standards for Professional Learning, provided by Learning Forward. This article focuses on Learning Designs and was shared by Iowa ASCD member and Learning Forward Iowa Director, Dr. Mary Cooksley.

 
Learning Designs: Professional learning that increases educator effectiveness and results for all students integrates theories, research, and models of human learning to achieve its intended outcomes.

and

A lot has been written on adult learning styles; one thing we know is that learning today must be relevant, must be tailored to the needs of the learner, and must have collaboration as a component. As we see more schools moving toward the collaborative learning teams - or Professional Learning Community - approach to professional development, the Learning Forward's standard on Learning Designs becomes much more critical to our work. Many tools are provided for administrators and facilitators of PLC's. 

 

 

Why are Learning Designs critical?  

 

To increase student learning, educator learning provides many opportunities for educators to practice new learning with ongoing assessment, feedback, and coaching so the learning becomes fully integrated into routine behaviors. 

 

"Educators are responsible for taking an active role in selecting and constructing learning designs that facilitate their own and others' learning. They choose appropriate learning designs to achieve their individual, team, or school goals. Educators' learning characteristics and preferences also inform decisions about learning designs. Learners' backgrounds, experiences, beliefs, motivation, interests, cognitive processes, professional identity, and commitment to school and school system goals affect how educators approach professional learning and the effectiveness of various learning designs. Decisions about learning designs consider all phases of the learning process, from knowledge and skill acquisition to application, reflection, refinement, assessment, and evaluation. Learning designers consider how to build knowledge, develop skills, transform practice, challenge attitudes and beliefs, and inspire action." (http://www.learningforward.org/standards/learning-designs#.Uq8Wao2NvSM)

Designs for job-embedded learning include analyzing student data, case studies, peer observation or visitations, simulations, co-teaching with peers or specialists, action research, peer and expert coaching, observing and analyzing demonstrations of practice, problem-based learning, inquiry into practice, student observation, study groups, data analysis, constructing and scoring assessments, examining student or educator work, lesson study, video clubs, professional reading, or book studies. Learners and facilitators of learning may weave together multiple designs within on-site, online, or hybrid learning to achieve identified goals and to differentiate learning designs to meet the unique needs of individual learners. Learning designs that occur during the workday and engage peers in learning facilitate ongoing communication about learning, develop a collaborative culture with peer accountability, foster professionalism, and support transfer of the learning to practice.

 

 

One-Day Workshop - February 12 - Learn to Advocate with Impact!
Register today for a special workshop just for you - Advocating on the Hill with Your Stories! The first 50 registrants for this professional opportunity on February 12 will learn how to leverage change with legislators. ASCD Director/Iowa ASCD Director Dr. Pam Vogel and ASCD Legislative Committee Member/Iowa ASCD Director Dr. Susan Pecinovsky will lead this authentic learning opportunity.
Registration is $50 for members of Iowa ASCD and $90 for non-members. Upon registration you will receive access to tools for advocacy and influence, including talking points for major issues (e.g., competency-based instruction, teacher leadership, readers by third grade, kindergarten readiness, instructional time, teacher and principal evaluation, professional learning), sample letter and telephone script for contacting your legislators, and a rubric to evaluate your skills in advocacy. Iowa ASCD will also provide you with contact information about your legislators so that you may schedule visits "on the hill" as part of this opportunity.
A block of rooms has been reserved for February 11th at the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel (515.244.2151).  Be sure to ask for the Iowa ASCD block of rooms.
Agenda:

                                                                                                          

February 12, 2014, 8:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.          
Location: Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel, 401 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA
  • Continental breakfast and working lunch provided
  • Legislative Update - Dr. Brad Buck
  • Professional Learning with Drs. Pecinovsky and Vogel 
February 12, 2014, 1:00 - 4:00 P.M.             
Visits "on the hill" (Capitol - East 12th and Grand)  
  • Meet with Democratic Caucus of the House Education Committee
  • Meet with Republican Caucus of the House Education Committee
  • Meet with YOUR Legislator(s)
  • Informal (and optional) meeting at the Capitol to debrief visits with legislators and share possible next steps for Iowa ASCD members around advocacy and influence 
Register NOW! - Contact Bridget Arrasmith with name(s) of registrant(s), district and mailing address, e-mail address(es), phone number as well as check or purchase order. She can be reached at the following address: 
  • Iowa ASCD, Drake University, School of Education, Room 123, 3206 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA  50311  
  • Phone: 515.271.1872
  • FAX: 515.271.2233
  • E-mail: [email protected]

 

You may register online as well with a credit card at the following URL on the Iowa ASCD website: 
https://iowaascd.org/index.php/events/event-registration/ 

 

 

Register Now! Limited Space!

 

The registrants will receive $50 coupon toward attendance at an upcoming conference in 2014-2015!

Nominate a Teacher for the National History Teacher of the Year Award

Help us find the best history teacher in Iowa!   

 

The Iowa Department of Education is now seeking nominations for a 7th-12th grade history/social studies teacher for the 2014 Iowa History Teacher of the Year award.  One teacher from each state will be named the state winner, awarded $1,000, and automatically be entered into the National History Teacher of the Year selection process. 

 

 

The National History Teacher of the Year receives $10,000 and is flown to New York City, along with two students, for an awards ceremony in the teacher's honor. Please go to www.gilderlehrman.org/nhtoy  to learn more and to nominate a teacher.   

 

The deadline to nominate someone is February 1, 2014.  Questions?  Contact Stefanie Wager at [email protected].  

AEA 267 Offers PLC Videos
In an effort to provide resources and contacts for schools to learn more about how Professional Learning Communities (PLCS) are  working within local districts, AEA 267 collaborated with local districts to create brief video clips about their work with PLCs.  These districts are striving to be a place where educators are working collaboratively in an ongoing process of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for their students.  Access these videos here.
Iowa ASCD Congratulates the Barrier Breakers!

Iowa ASCD congratulates the following six schools for breaking the barriers to teaching and learning that resulted in the highest success in closing the achievement gap among students who face challenges.

These schools have the highest proficiency rates statewide in math and reading for particular subgroups of students (e.g., ELL, F/R).  Data from three years were examined to confirm a positive trend. 
  • Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, for its work with African American students in which 84.7% of those students are proficient in reading and math, compared to the state average of 46.3% for the same subgroup.
  • South Tama County Elementary, Tama, for its work with Native American students in which 75.8% of those students are proficient in reading and math, compared to the state average of 59.3%.
  • Carroll High School, Carroll, for its work with the students who are lower socio-economic status in which 86.4% of those students are proficient in reading and math, compared to the state average of 61.3%.
  • Northeast Elementary, Ankeny, for its work with students who are on Individualized Education Programs in which 75.8% of those students are proficient in math and reading, compared with the state average of 32.3%.
  • Kennedy High School, Cedar Rapids, for its work with Latino students in which 92.3%  of those students are proficient in math and reading, compared to the state average of 58.8%.
  • Lenox Elementary School, Lenox, for its work with English Language Learners (ELL) in which 86.4% of those students are proficient in reading and math, compared to the state average of 42.6%.

Congratulations to these schools who received the Breaking Barriers to Teaching and Learning award from the State Board of Education on November 20.  

 

Webinars for Your Learning 
 
Iowa ASCD seeks to keep you informed about webinars for your webinar 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: Using the PLC Structure to Support the Understanding of Text Dependent Questioning  
      • Presenter:  Doug Fisher, Professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University 
      • Provider:  AEA 267
      • Date:  Tuesday, January 7, 3:30 - 4:30 P.M.
      • Register Here
  • Title:  Virtual Learning Network - Science
      • Presenter:  Jason Flom
      • Provider:  ASCD
      • Date:  January 13, 2014, 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. CST
      • Register Here 
  • Title:  Virtual Learning Network - Social Studies
      • Presenter:  Mark  Barnes
      • Provider:  ASCD
      • Date:  January 14, 2014, 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. CST
      • Register Here 
  • Title:  Virtual Learning Network  - Language Arts
      • Presenter: Andrew Miller 
      • Provider:  ASCD
      • Date: January 16, 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. CST
      • Register Here 
  • Title:  Virtual Learning Network - Mathematics  
        • Presenter: Nanci Smith
  • Title:  Personalize Learning - The Motivation Equation
      • Presenter:  Kathleen Cushman 
      • Provider:  Personalize Learning - Transforming Learning for All Learners  
      • Date:  Tuesday, January 21; 4:00 - 5:00 P.M. 
      • View Webinar Here
  • Title:  Using the PLC Structure to  Implement the Iowa Core Standards for Writing 
      • Presenter: Doug Fisher, Professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University 
      • Provider:  AEA 267
      • Date:  Monday, January 27, 3:30 - 4:30 P.M.
      • Register Here
  • Title:  Personalize Learning - Why Hope Matters
      • Presenter:  Kevin Kroehler (EdVisions) 
      • Provider:  Personalize Learning - Transforming Learning for All Learners  
      • Date:  Tuesday, February 4; 4:00 - 5:00 P.M. 
      • View Webinar Here
  • Title:  Using the PLC Structure to Better Understand Text Dependent Questioning at the Preschool and Intermediate Level 
      • Presenter: AEA 267 English Language Arts Team 
      • Provider:  AEA 267
      • Date:  Tuesday, February 11, 3:30 - 4:30 P.M.
      • Register Here
  • Title:  Using the PLC Structure to  Better Understand Writing at the Preschool and Intermediate Levels 
      • Presenter:  AEA 267 English Language Arts Team 
      • Provider:  AEA 267
      • Date:  Tuesday, February 25, 3:30 - 4:30 P.M.
      • Register Here
  • Title:  Using the PLC Structure to Better Understand How to Investigate the Iowa Core in Math 
      • Presenter:  Brian Townsend, University of Northern Iowa 
      • Provider:  AEA 267
      • Date:  Tuesday, March 11, 3:30 - 4:30 P.M.
      • Register Here
  • Title:  Beyond Iowa Core:  What Happens in a PLC Math Environment? 
      • Presenter:  Brian Townsend, University of Northern Iowa 
      • Provider:  AEA 267
      • Date:  Tuesday, April 8, 3:30 - 4:30 P.M.
      • Register Here 
  • Title:  Using PLCs to Further the Math Learning of Teachers and Students 
      • Presenter:  Chris Quisley, AEA 267 Math Consultant 
      • Provider:  AEA 267
      • Date:  Monday, April 21, 3:30 - 4:30 P.M.
      • Register Here 
 
Access ASCD's archived webinars here.

And remember if you participate in the AEA 267 webinars, you have access to the archived versions of those webinars.

Personalize Learning also offers archived webinars.  We highly recommend the Two Personalized Learning Models.
 
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Iowa ASCD is the source for developing instructional leadership and translating research into daily practice. Serving more than 1100 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.

Be Sure to Check Out . . .
PK-3 Reading Hearing
Clinton HS RtI Impact
Professional Learning Standards - Learning Designs
Advocate with Your Legislators
National History Teacher Award
PLC Videos
Breaking Barriers Award
Webinars for Your Learning
Iowa ASCD Twitter!
Iowa ASCD Contacts
Iowa ASCD Opportunities

Quick Links:

 

Iowa ASCD  

 

Iowa ASCD Twitter

 


Iowa ASCD Contacts

 

President

 Allan Eckelman  

   

Past-President

Jason Ellingson 

 

President-Elect

Kevin Vidergar

   

Membership and Conference Information

Bridget Arrasmith

 

Secretary

Leslie Moore 

 

Treasurer (Interim) 

Lou Howell 

 

Members-at-Large

  

Ottie Maxey 

Becky Martin 

Sara Oswald 

Amy Whittington 

 

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  

Pam Zeigler  

 

Fall Institute

 Veta Thode 

 

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  

  • February 12, 2014
    • Workshop for Advocacy and Influence
    • Learn!  Plan! Do! - Advocate for Learning with workshop in the morning and "visits on the hill" in the afternoon
  • April 10-11, 2014
    • Iowa ASCD Curriculum Leadership Academy
    • Hilton Garden Inn - Iowa Interstate Exit 129 in Johnston/ Urbandale  
  • June 23-24, 2014

    • CBE Conference
    • Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, IA
  • Get The Source the first and third Friday of each month.
  • Join us on Twitter @IowaASCD