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Fall Institute Features Dr. Nell Duke on September 19 - Register Now! Save a Seat for You and Your Team!
Mark your calendars now and register for a great day on September 19 with Dr. Nell Duke at Olmsted on the Drake University Campus.  "K-3 Literacy: Implementing the Core"
Learn how to: - increase student motivation in literacy
- help K-3 students demonstrate the Iowa Core literacy standards
- organize reading and writing around real purposes for kids, including project-based learning
Time: 9:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M. Mark your calendars now! September 19, 2014! Register for the Conference on the Iowa ASCD web site. The fee is $125 for members and $170 for non-members.
All participants will receive the book which is being published in August, Inside Information: Developing Powerful Readers and Writers of Informational Text through Project-Based Instruction. Opportunities for registering include the following: - Register on line at the Iowa ASCD events website.
- Mail a check/purchase order with date/name of conference and names and e-mail addresses 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 and e-mail addresses of participants to Bridget A. Arrasmith at bridget.arrasmith@drake.edu.
- FAX purchase order with name/date of conference and names and e-mail addresses of participants to Bridget A. Arrasmith at 515.271.2233.
"Nell Duke - a favorite of the State Wide Reading Team!! She shares both practical information on best practices and the  literacy research behind them. You'll come away from the institute with real-world solutions and a deeper understanding of what's needed to bring the Iowa Core standards in reading, writing, and language to life in K-3 your classrooms." Rita Martens, Iowa Department of Education |
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What Can a Principal Do to Encourage Students' Writing?
ASCD author and expert on literacy Regie Routman shares in her article, "Engaging and Empowering Students to Write: The Principal's Influence," that the principal is key if the entire school is to be successful with their students' reading and writing. She notes, "I used to think that strong teacher leadership could override the effect of a weak principal, but I was wrong. I have yet to see high  reading or writing achievement school-wide without the principal as a knowledgeable, effective instructional leader." The principal, she advocates, must be a writer, a co-learner and an instructional leader if students are to become fully engaged in their own writing. Having completed many "week-long writing residencies" in schools across the nation, she advocates that principals . . .
- must often be the audience for the students' writing (e.g., persuasive letters around key school issues, like lunch!).
- get engaged in the students' writing - having open conversations with individuals or groups of students about their writing, including the topics, the style, and their concerns.
- write to and for the students - showing his or her walk in their shoes.
One principal shared his experience in being engaged with the students and their writing: "The experience validated for me that expectations have to be high and can be high when students are doing something that connected in a meaningful way to what's really important to them." Check out the full article here. You can also learn more about Regie Routman, including a video addressing her work in literacy and what she has learned from making mistakes. An archived webinar is also available: Read! Write! Leader: Breakthrough Strategies for Schoolwide Literacy Programs. |
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School on the Move: Montezuma Recognized as Model Professional Learning Community (PLC) at Work
Montezuma Schools was recently recognized by Solution Tree for its sustained success in raising student achievement. "The district's successful implementation of the Professional Learning Communities  at Work process was a major contributing factor in the improved achievement of [our] students," shares Superintendent Dave Versteeg.PLCs in schools and districts in which educators recognize the key to improved learning for students is ongoing, job-embedded learning for the adults who serve those students. The three big ideas of a PLC call upon educators to 1) focus on learning, 2) build a collaborative culture, and 3) create a results orientation. Responding to the news of the recognition, Elementary Principal Darin Jones said, "We are honored and feel we are on the right track to improvement. I would like to thank the teachers and the students for their efforts in working to improve." Schools are recognized by Solution Tree based on strict criteria, including demonstration of a commitment to PLC concepts, implementation of these concepts for at least three years, and clear evidence of improved student learning over that period. Once measurable results can be the seen, the school must explain its practices, structures, and culture and submit its application for consideration by the PLC Review Committee. According to Richard DuFour, Rebecca DuFour, Robert Eaker,and Mike Mike Vattos, visionaries of PLC at Work, educators in the schools and districts selected for this recognition have shown "a sustained commitment to helping all of their students achieve at high levels. They have been willing to alter the structure and culture of the organization to reflect their commitment. We applaud them and congratulate them for achieving this very significant milestone on the never-ending PLC journey." Recognized model PLC schools are listed on http://www.allthingsplc.info, including the data of Montezuma Community Schools, where they share implementation strategies, structures, and performance with other educators interested in improving their schools. Congratulations to the Montezuma team for their hard work and their impact on their learners. |
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Some Thoughts about Change
Change is often difficult. It seems that there are two kinds of change - theirs and mine. We promote OUR change and OPPOSE theirs.
When the idea is ours, it's a good one. When the idea belongs to someone else, we must often be convinced that it is worthwhile.
The biggest problem is often that we cannot cope with the uncertainty. We may all agree that we want to achieve the final  outcome of change but the uncertainty of how we will get there scares us because it suggests that change is beyond our control. Letting go of old ways is never easy. Holding on tight to what is familiar gives us a sense of security.
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When I Face Change
When I face change, I will remind myself that just because it's been done that way for years doesn't mean that there isn't a different way to do it.
When I face change, I will be gentle with myself and others, knowing that change is often scary.
When I face change, I will accept that I may make a mistake but I will also learn from it.
When I face change, I will keep the ultimate goal in mind and do my best to help achieve it.
When I face change, I will remind myself that change is often healthy.
When I face change, I will let go of the past and accept the challenge of the future.
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Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners
Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners is designed to help teachers  build skillfulness in recognizing, respecting, and responding to the needs of the wide range of diverse students in today's classrooms. This book provides an array of strategies for use with gifted students, English language learners, and students with special needs. The author's background as a general education teacher at the secondary and elementary levels, coupled with a graduate degree in special education and years spent working with students with learning disabilities, sets the stage for a clearly articulated belief in teachers and learners and for realistic and practical approaches to our work. This book, and the accompanying CD, answers these questions:
- Who are our learners?
- What do you do when . . . ?
- What are effective scaffolding and extension tools?
- How do we assure literacy across the curriculum?
Sixty scaffolding and extension tools are provided, including the following: - Anchoring Activities
- Concept Attainment
- Digital Recordings
- Framing the Learning
- Inductive Thinking Model
- Inquiry Model
- Learning Mats
- Models of Process and Produce
- Tiered Assignments
- Word Walls
- Writing Supports
- And more!
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Seeking Grades PK-K-1 Presenters for December 4 Conference - Share Your Learnings in Implementing the Iowa Core!
Grade PreK, K, 1st Grade Practitioner Conference - December 4, 2014 - Holiday Inn in Des Moines, IA Focus on Impacting Student Learning with the Iowa Core and Characteristics of Effective Instruction Apply to share your expertise in one of the 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"? Share what's happening in the classroom to achieve the Iowa Core.
- Assessment for Learning - Assessment Strand - How do we know that students have learned? How are formative assessments being used to diagnose students' progress in learning, determine areas of strength and plan for differentiated instruction? How do we adjust our instruction based on the results of the formative assessments? Tell your story!
- 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? Share your experiences, success stories and lessons learned!
WE need YOU to tell your story, share your strategies, ideas and success stories! Explain to your colleagues your ideas and practices for integrating the Iowa Core into your classroom. Share your strategies for using formative assessment to inform your instruction. How is your classroom environment focused on differentiated instruction? How do your integrate technology to accelerate your students' learning? Share your examples and classroom management processes! Click on the proposal form for more details! Proposals due September 1, 2014. Complete and return the proposal form soon! |
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Save the Date! - November 12 - 13 - When Jay McTighe Will Be Back in Iowa to Deepen Teams' Understanding and Practices of Understanding by Design.
 Join us this next fall on November 12-13 as we feature Dr. Jay McTighe with Understanding by Design in Imple  menting the Iowa Core.
Please come learn and network with Dr. McTighe and other educators in Iowa.
Date: November 12-13, 2014
Location: Olmsted on the Drake Campus in Des Moines.
Fee: $250 for members; $295 for non-members of Iowa ASCD.
Watch for registration details, which will be available soon.
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Check It Out!
Check out the following:
- Are you a school on the move - and willing to share your story with other educators across state? If so, contact Lou Howell or one of our directors to assure your story is told. Their e-mail addresses are in the right-hand column of this publication.
- Are you interested in working on one of the conferences of Iowa ASCD - being on the advisory team, working at the conference, sharing resources to support the conference? If
 so, please contact the chairs of the conferences: - Do you have a content area or educational approach for which you are passionate and would like to help Iowa ASCD maintain a board on Pinterest and/or extend our website with resources that make a difference for teachers and leaders? If so, contact Amy Wichman, Chris Welch, or Lou Howell.
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Iowa ASCD seeks to keep you informed about 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: Embracing Flipped Learning Tours
- Presenter: Jon Bergmann and Aaron Sams
- Provider: ASCD and Adobe Presenter
- Date: September 3, 2014; 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. CDT
- Register Here
- Title: Engaging Students in Textual Analysis
- Presenters: Persida and William Himmele
- Provider: ASCD
- Date: September 18, 2014; 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. CDT
- Register Here
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 Stay current with learning! Follow Iowa ASCD on Twitter! We would like to follow you on Twitter as well. If you are willing to share your "Twitter Handle" with us, please leave your information on this site. |
 Iowa ASCD is the source for developing instructional leadership and translating research into daily practice. Serving more than 1400 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 Kevin Vidergar Past-President Allan Eckelman President-Elect Becky Martin Membership and Conference Information Bridget Arrasmith Secretary Leslie Moore Treasurer Jeff Watson Members-at-Large Diane Campbell Ottie Maxey 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 Academy Veta Thode Fall Institute Lou Howell Elaine Smith-Bright Summer Institutes and Grade-Level Conferences Kym Stein Planning Chair Cindy Swanson Project Chair Jason Ellingson Technology Chris Welch Membership Relations and E-Learning Amy Wichman Executive Director Lou Howell |
Here's What's Happening!
- September 19, 2014
- Fall Institute
- Nell Duke
- K-3 Reading and the Iowa Core
- Drake University
- Register Now!
- November 12-13, 2014
- Fall Academy
- Jay McTighe
- Understanding by Design
- Drake University
- December 4, 2014
- Grade-Level Conference for PK, K, and 1
- For and By Teachers
- Holiday Inn - Airport in Des Moines
- Get The Source the first and third Friday of each month.
- Join us on Twitter @IowaASCD
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