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Volume 15, Number 3 The Source
| February 6, 2015
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Iowa ASCD Members and ASCD Emerging Leaders Matt and Eric Townsley Share Podcasts on Standards-Based Grading on Iowa ASCD Website
Be sure to take time to access the Iowa ASCD Podcasts on Standards-Based Grading created by Eric and Matt Townsley, both members of Iowa ASCD and selected as ASCD Emerging Leaders of 2014. They will have a total of 12 podcasts over this year. Their first, just released, is an introduction to Standards-Based Grading (SBG) that shares key readings, top reasons for standards-based grading, a preview of Podcast 2, and a "next step" for all of us as we explore and implement standards-based grading. - Erickson, J.A. (2011). A call to action: Transforming grading practices. Principal Leadership, 12(1), 42-46. Available online.
Scriffiny, P.L. (2008). Seven reasons for standards-based grading. Educational Leadership, 66(2), 70-74. Available online.
Winger, T. (2005). Grading to communicate. Educational Leadership, 63(3), 61-65. Available online.
*****************************************************  Matt Townsley is Director of of Instruction and Technology in the Solon Community School District. You can follow him on Twitter @mctownsley.
 Eric Townsley is Middle School Principal in the South Tama Community School District. You may follow him on Twitter @EricTownsley. Be sure to check out Iowa ASCD webpage on Standards-Based Grading for additional resources. |
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ASCD: When Our Educators Are Strong, Our Students Are Strong, and Our Nation's Union Is Strong
David Griffith, ASCD's Director of Policy, provided the following summary after President Obama's State of the Union on January 20.
"The state of our union is strong," the President told the nation tonight [January 20]. It is strong in large part because our education system is successful, and our educators are the most hard-working advocates for student success. As President Obama noted in his State of the Union address, "...our younger students have earned the highest math and reading scores on record. Our high school graduation rate has hit an all-time high. And more Americans finish college than ever before." It is an impressive record of success, and we should be proud. It was accomplished by the diligence and determination of educators, families, and the local communities in which they live. We applaud the great work of all those involved with our schools who have contributed to this success, and we appreciate the President's recognition of it during the highest-profile annual event in American politics. Of course, notwithstanding such historic progress, there is always room for improvement. ASCD and its members are ready to accept that challenge. President Obama has put forth a bold new plan to make access to community colleges available to all who earn it so that, "two years of college becomes as free and universal in America as high school is today."  We believe that only a whole child approach to education can best prepare students to be college, career, and citizenship ready. This means providing each student with comprehensive opportunities in all academic subjects, social and emotional learning, meaningful engagement with families, and safe and supportive environments. The success of students is the success of educators. Teachers and school leaders are the two most important in-school factors that affect student achievement. In the year ahead, we hope lawmakers will honor and support the education professionals who play such a central role in the outstanding performance of our students. Policymakers should do this by providing sufficient investments in both time and money for the ongoing professional development of educators, starting with their initial training to their board certification. Student growth is founded on the professional growth of the educators who lead them, and educator training must be a national priority. At ASCD, we commit to supporting each student's success, and the educators who stand behind them. When our educators are strong, our students are strong, and our nation's union is strong.
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Advocate with Focus and Skill - February 11 - Register Now for One-Day Workshop!
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 11 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 10 th at the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel (515.244.2151). Be sure to ask for the Iowa ASCD block of rooms. Agenda: February 11, 2015, 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
- Funding Update - Margaret Buckton
- Professional Learning with Drs. Pecinovsky and Vogel
February 11, 2015, 1:00 - 4:00 P.M. Visits "on the hill" (Capitol - East 12th and Grand) - Planned visits on the hill with Democratic and Republican Caucuses 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: Bridget.Arrasmith@drake.edu
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 2015-2016. And educators who send picture of themselves with their legislators will receive free admittance for the workshop for themselves and a colleague as well as a year's membership in Iowa ASCD.
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Contact Your Legislators NOW! They Need to Hear from YOU!
You received this week the Iowa ASCD legislative agenda, noting that Iowa ASCD is focusing on the following and more: - Ongoing support for the Iowa Core
- A learning system informed by data and driven by results that are responsive to student learning needs
- An assessment system that includes both formative and
 summative metrics aligned to the learning expectations and evidence-based instructional practices. - An evaluation system that monitors both the student and adult learning needs and assures the coaching, feedback, and supports to to achieve the intended outcomes.
- Read the entire legislative agenda!
Take time to snip off the form you can send directly to your  legislators about your concerns and/or needs. You might want to remind them of any of the following:
- HF 80 and H1002 did come out of subcommittee, advocating for 1.25% Supplemental State Aid. Let's them know that our students' success is worth more than 1.25% increase.
- Keep your eye and theirs on SF 16 - advocating for the removal of any alignment of assessments and teaching practices with the Iowa Core.
You might also want to contact your legislators at the federal level, especially with the "re-haul" of the ESEA bill (formerly known as No Child Left Behind): Check out front page of our website where we have posted a comparison of Kline's Bill and Alexander's draft. It's easy to contact your legislators - and it's impacting! Let them help you make a difference in your classroom and your students' success! Contact your legislators now! |
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Dr. Robert Marzano Headlines the Iowa ASCD Summer Institute on June 22-23: Ensuring Learning for Each and All
Make plans now for you and your team to attend the Iowa ASCD Summer Institute on June 22-23 at the Iowa Events Center. Dr. Bob Marzano is the headline speaker and will also provide several breakout sessions. 
In addition to Marzano, other national speakers include Jim Rickabaugh, Rose Colby, Tim Westerberg, Ron Mirr, Sandra Alberti, Bobb Darnall, Consuelo Castillo Kickbush, and Grace Dearborn as well as state-wide presenters.
Presenters will be addressing ways that you and your team can ensure learning for each and all by:
- Creating conditions for learning - a culture for achievement
- Implementing the Iowa Core - optimizing learning for all students
- Assuring effective teaching - recognizing instructional knowledge and skill as the most powerful instruments to enhance student learning
- Grading for learning - reporting students' progress on learning goals
- Empowering students to develop mastery of academic content - implementing competency-based education
The early-bird fee until June 1 will be $250 for Iowa ASCD members and $295 for non-members, who will receive a complimentary membership for one year. The regular fee in June will be $295 for members and $340 for non-members. The early bird fee until June 1 is $250 for Iowa ASCD members and $295 for nonmembers, who will then receive a complimentary membership for one year in Iowa ASCD. Purchase orders with a list of the names and email addresses may be sent to Bridget Arrasmith, Iowa ASCD, Drake University, Room 123, School of Education, Drake University, 3206 University, Des Moines, IA 50311 or FAXED to Attention of Bridget Arrasmith at 515.271.2233.
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Register for Curriculum Academy: Assessing the Core - Grading for Learning
Be sure to plan to attend the Curriculum Leadership Academy on April 23-24, Assessing the Core: Grading for Learning
Ken O'Connor will be the key note speaker on April 23. Ken O'Connor, a.k.a. The Grade Doctor, specializes in issues related to the communication of student achievement, especially grading and  reporting. Through books and articles, presentations and working with small groups Ken has helped individuals, schools, and school districts to improve communication about student achievement. In 1995 Ken developed eight guidelines for grading, and he has continued to refine those guidelines. In 2007 the same ideas were organized into fifteen fixes for broken grades. He has also designed eleven guidelines for standards-based reporting. He is now generally acknowledged to be one of a small group of leading experts on how to grade and report effectively. All participants will receive one of his books.
On April 24, 2015, several districts from across the state will share their stories on transitioning to grading based on the learning and demonstration of the Iowa Core. Matt Townsley, Solon Community School District, will be the final keynote, sharing Solon's story - what worked, what didn't, and what you can do to make grading in your district based on progress in learning and demonstration of the standards!
The early bird fee until April 1 is $250 for Iowa ASCD members and $295 for nonmembers, who will then receive a complimentary membership for one year in Iowa ASCD. Purchase orders with a list of the names and email addresses may be sent to Bridget Arrasmith, Iowa ASCD, Drake University, Room 123, School of Education, Drake University, 3206 University, Des Moines, IA 50311 or FAXED to Attention of Bridget Arrasmith at 515.271.2233.
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Book Available in the 24/7 30 Digital Online Books: Essential Questions by Wiggins & McTighe
The authors of Understanding by Design bring us this book about an important and timely topic - questioning. Effective questioning by students and teachers is critical in helping students achieve at high levels.
 Questioning helps the learner make sense of the content and when used effectively, make learning more active and enjoyable. The authors state that "one recent study indicated that teachers ask as many as 300 to 400 questions a day (Levin & Long, 1981). They also tend to ask them in rapid-fire fashion. Teachers in third-grade reading groups asked a question every 43 seconds (Gambrel, 1983) and teachers in junior high English classes "averaged as many as five questions a minute" and "Research conclusively shows that increasing the number of higher-order questions in classrooms and on local assessments significantly improves student achievement on standardized tests (Marzano, Pickering, & Pollock, 2001; Newmann, 1991)."
Regarding standardized testing, they state that "Analyses of test results and examinations of released items from state tests, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), and international assessments (TIMMS, PISA) conclusively show, the most widely missed questions involve multistep reasoning and inference-
transfer, broadly speaking." Effective higher order questioning helps students understand concepts and transfer learning.
The seven chapters provide a manual that addresses what an essential question is, rationale for using them, description of a range of question types, a process for designing them, implementation strategies, how to deal with challenges, how to establish a culture of inquiry, and how to use essential questions with staff.
Essential questions, as described by the authors:
- Are open-ended; that is, it typically will not have a single, final, and correct answer.
- Are thought-provoking and intellectually engaging, often sparking discussion and debate.
- Call for higher-order thinking, such as analysis, inference, evaluation, prediction. It cannot be effectively answered by recall alone.
- Point toward important, transferable ideas within (and sometimes across) disciplines.
- Raise additional questions and spark further inquiry.
- Require support and justification, not just an answer.
- Recur over time; that is, the question can and should be revisited again and again.
The book discusses a clear eight-phase model to construct questions, implement them, and consider the responses from students. Those phases include:
Phase 1: Introduce a question designed to cause inquiry,
Phase 2: Collect student responses and discuss them,
Phase 3: Introduce and explore new perspectives, and
Phase 4: Reach closure.
The authors then provide examples of each phase. There are actually examples, tables, and charts included throughout the book to help the reader better understand essential questions.
There is a good amount of time spent discussing inquiry, how to implement it in the classroom in a wide variety of subject areas, and how to overcome challenges that may arise. Inquiry learning brings a change in roles for the teacher and students which is also addressed in good detail. This book is intended for teachers who are interested in improving their questioning skills and using the inquiry method in the classroom.
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A special thank you to Iowa ASCD Member Sandy Merritt who shared this review.
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And remember this book is available to all Iowa ASCD members via the 30 titles available 24/7 for 2015. In addition, here are the other books available 24/7 during 2015 to all Iowa ASCD members that will increase your effectiveness as a leader of learning. (If you have forgotten your password to these resources, please contact Lou Howell at LouHowell@mediacombb.net.)
- Effective Teaching
- Digital Learning Strategies: How Do I Assign and Assess 21st Century Work by Michael Fisher
- Ensuring Effective Instruction: How Do I Improve Teaching Using Multiple Measures by Vicki Phillips and Lynn Olson
- Teaching with Tablets: How Do I Integrate Tablets with Effective Instruction by Nancy Frey, Doug Fisher, and Alex Gonzalez
- Using Data to Focus Instructional Improvement by Cheryl James-Ward, Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Dianne Lapp
- Better Learning through Structured Teaching: A Framework for the Gradual Release of Responsibility, 2nd Edition by Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey
- Role Reversal: Achieving Uncommonly Excellent Results in the Student-Centered Classroom by Mark Barnes
- Engaging Students with Poverty in Mind: Practical Strategies for Raising Achievement by Eric P. Jensen
- Essential Questions: Opening Doors to Student Understanding by Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins
- How to Create and Use Rubrics for Formative Assessment and Grading by Susan M. Brookhart
- Succeeding with Inquiry in Science and Math Classrooms by Jeff Marshall
- Teaching the Critical Vocabulary of the Common Core: 55 Words that Make or Break Student Understanding by Marilee Sprenger
- The Twelve Touchstones of Good Teaching: A Checklist for Staying Focused Every Day by McREL, Elizabeth Ross Hubbell and Bryan Goodwin
- Upgrade Your Curriculum: Practical Ways to Transform Units and Engage Students by Janet A. Hale and Michael Fisher
- Classroom Instruction That Works with English Language Learners, 2nd edition by Jane Hill and Kirsten Miller
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Iowa ASCD Membership Drive in Full Swing! We Need Your Help!
The first annual Iowa ASCD Membership Drive is in full swing from January 15 through February 15, 2015. We are looking to increase our already 1400 strong organization, and it couldn't be a better time to do so! Every member who joins Iowa ASCD during the drive will get ONE MONTH free, electronic access to 30 current professional books, and be entered for a chance to win attendance at an Iowa ASCD Conference or a $50 Amazon Gift Card! Your membership and involvement matters to us - you are important! And, we know word of mouth is our most valuable asset, so our plea is for your assistance. We are asking you to invite someone to join Iowa ASCD this month. - Invite a new teacher who would benefit from being part of a professional network.
- Invite your entire PLN so you can access and read the same books we are offering free.
- Invite your student teacher who is joining the profession.
- Invite your superintendent who has recently attained new instructional coaches.
- Invite a friend you went to graduate school with who you just
 know would love what Iowa ASCD offers. - Invite a retired teacher friend you know still wants to be involved with education.
- Invite the education association in your district - there are MANY advocacy things Iowa ASCD does throughout the year that benefit our profession.
Please consider helping during our membership drive by inviting these people. They simply click on http://www.iowaascd.org and join for the low price of $45. |
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Five Great Reasons Why You Should Tell Your Colleagues to Join Iowa ASCD
REASON ONE
Quite simply put . . .Iowa ASCD is the source for developing instructional leadership in Iowa.
We are a non-profit organization serving more than 1400 educators - teachers, principals, superintendents, directors of  curriculum, technology specialists, college professors, and AEA staff. Iowa ASCD strives to develop the capacity to impact the learning of each and every student in Iowa. Our agenda is education. While some organizations represent specific or singular interests in education, Iowa ASCD's membership is broader and more encompassing. We are at the forefront of learning and teaching.
REASON TWO
We are a premier education legislation advocacy group.
Did you know Iowa ASCD members communicate consistently with the Governor, the Iowa Director of Education, the State Board of Education and legislators? Were you aware that every year Iowa ASCD provides members with lists of current voting issues and names of legislators in your area? Did you attend the Iowa ASCD annual "Advocacy Workshop" in February? We regularly advocate for student success based on key issues from Iowa ASCD board members and the members across the state. In fact, Iowa ASCD has been awarded an "Influence Grant" from ASCD the last three years for all the terrific work being done on The Hill.
REASON THREE
Iowa ASCD would be PERFECT for your newly appointed teacher leaders (TLC Funds)!
The Teacher and Leadership Compensation funding is rolling out in schools. The conferences, academies, webinars and resources Iowa ASCD offers are low cost opportunities for the development of all teacher leaders. Many of the newly appointed positions are requiring the enhancement of new skills and greater depth of knowledge. Use Iowa ASCD as the source to help your teacher leaders grow professionally!
REASON FOUR
The cost to become a member is stunningly reasonable. Only $45!
What other professional organization can you join for that price? Not too many we would argue. Membership provides discounted conference attendance, bi-monthly emails of "The Source," free Webinars, website full of resources, conferences & academies, a twitter PLN, a network of intelligent professionals and much more (see Reason FiveJ)!
REASON FIVE
FREE PROFESSIONAL BOOKS (current ones at that)!!
Beginning in January 2015, all Iowa ASCD members have access to a library of thirty, current titles of professional books. Each member will have a username and password to access materials you would normally have to purchase. What a great value-added benefit!
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Check It Out!
Check out the following:
- Are you looking for resources for standards-based grading. Check it out here. And watch the two podcasts on standards-based grading shared by Matt and Eric Townsley.
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Role Reversal: Achieving Uncommonly Excellent Results in the Student-Centered Classroom by Mark Barnes
Mark Barnes shares his journey in establishing and implementing Results Only Learning Environment (ROLE) strategies in his middle school classroom. He states that it will and has "forever changed how I teach and how my students learn," admitting that he used to be the "my way or the highway" kind of teacher.
As he was investigating ROLE, he studied multiple sources: Daniel Pink's book Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us, Alfie Kohn's The Homework Myth and Beyond Discipline, Donalyn Miller's The Book Whisperer, andarticles by Steven Krashen on successful reading strategies for K-12.
 In his ROLE classroom, roles are reversed and students are in charge of their learning and assessment. Barnes describes ROLE as "teaching methods that get students excited about learning-choice, collaboration, online instruction, and year-long projects. It's the end of grades, which serve in most cases only to pressure and punish students. It's narrative feedback, both written and verbal, which creates constant two-way communication between teacher and student. It's the total elimination of nonsensical rules and even stranger consequences. It's the creation of a classroom built on collaboration and a thirst for learning. A Results Only Learning Environment (ROLE) is a remarkable system that surprises and thrills students so much that even the thought of disrespect or disruption disappears forever."
He shares how he got started with ROLE beginning on the first day of school when he told students that there would be no homework, no note taking, no tests/quizzes, and no teacher-initiated classroom rules. He spent a good deal of time discussing respect and letting them determine the guidelines of the class. He has continued to maintain the same practices each year and introduces a teacher-selected year-long project each fall that is the focal point of what he plans to teach throughout the year. Students work on the project in class as time allows. He shares his Reading All Year (RAY) project that encourages students to read at least 25 books by the end of the school year. Students select the books they want to read and reflect on what they read by writing and/or discussing with their peers and/or teacher. An integral part is the student response to teacher feedback when the teacher asks the student to make changes and resubmit the activity for final evaluation and comments. He then goes into detail about how to get started with ROLE, how to slowly move away from traditional ways of teaching and grading students, how to set up the classroom, motivation, discipline, letting go of homework and worksheets, teaching strategies, evaluating work, high stakes testing, and how to get building implementation.
Assessment is an integral part of ROLE. Formative assessment through routine and meaningful verbal and written feedback provides opportunities for students to reflect and revise their projects and activities. A final performance review is a summary of what the student has accomplished and how they have progressed in key language arts areas such as reading, writing, public speaking, group interaction, and year-long projects. The teacher gets input from the student on what grade/points the project/activity should have, and then, together, they determine the final rating.
Understanding the current focus on high stakes testing, he discusses how his students have compared to others in the same building who were not using ROLE strategies. Prior to adopting ROLE, 64% of his students passed the Ohio Achievement Assessment. In his first year with ROLE, 84% passed and the second year 85% passed. His classroom was made up of a variety of students and were comparable to other classrooms. He maintains that his students achieve at similar levels or above on standardized tests.
As he discusses the ROLE strategies, he challenges the reader's thoughts about homework, grading, management, worksheets, note taking, etc. He includes lot of examples from his classroom and offers his blog for those seeking more information. He lists classroom strategies, items in his feedback toolkit, and a self-assessment form. This is an easy-to-read and implement study of a student-centered classroom.
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Thank you to Iowa ASCD member Sandy Merritt for her review of this book, which is available to all Iowa ASCD members via the 30 online books available to you 24/7. If you have not yet used these resources, take time to do so. And if you have lost your password, please contact Lou Howell at LouHowell@mediacombb.net.
Other books available through the 24/7 online resources and supporting the creation of a culture of achievement include the following:
Creating a Culture for Achievement:
- The 5-Minute Teacher: How Do I Maximize Time for Learning in My Classroom by Mark Barnes
- Affirmative Classroom Management: How Do I Develop Effective Rules and Consequences in My School by Richard L. Curwin
- Fostering Grit: How Do I Prepare by Students for the Real World by Thomas R. Hoerr
- Self-Regulated Learning for Academic Success: How Do I Help Students Manage Their Thoughts, Behaviors, and Emotions? by Carrie Germeroth and Crystal Day Hess
- Closing the Attitude Gap: How to Fire Up Your Students to Strive for Success by Baruti Kafele
- Better Learning through Structured Teaching: A Framework for the Gradual Release of Responsibility, 2nd Edition by Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey
- Engaging Students with Poverty in Mind: Practical Strategies for Raising Achievement by Eric P. Jensen
- Essential Questions: Opening Doors to Student Understanding by Jay McTighe and Grant Wiggins
- Assessment and Student Success in a Differentiated Classroom by Carol Ann Tomlinson and Tonya R. Moon
- Causes and Cures in the Classroom: Getting to the Root of Academic and Behavior by Margaret Searle
- The Twelve Touchstones of Good Teaching: A Checklist for Staying Focused Every Day by McREL, Elizabeth Ross Hubbell and Bryan Goodwin
- Engaging Teachers in Classroom Walkthroughs by Donald S. Kachur, Judith A. Stout, and Claudia L. Edwards
- Upgrade Your Curriculum: Practical Ways to Transform Units and Engage Studentsby Janet A. Hale and Michael Fisher
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Webinars for Your Learning
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: Formative Classroom Walkthroughs
- Presenter: Connie M. Moss and Susan M. Brookhart
- Provider: ASCD
- Date: February 10, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. CT
- Register Here
- Title: Archived Webinars of the Marzano Research Laboratory - Assessment and Grading, Common Core, Instructional Strategies, School Leadership, Educational Technology and Vocabulary
- Presenter: Staff Members of Marzano Research Laboratory
- Provider: Marzano Research Laboratory
- Access 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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Check out the