|
|
|
|
Volume 15, Number 8 The Source
| April 17, 2015
|
|
|
|
|
Help Change Your Future in Education - and That of Your Students! Join the Battle for Funding at the Capitol on April 22!
Join us in advocating for our schools and the students we serve. Contact your legislators on April 22 - and encourage your family and friends to do the same!
The Iowa economy is growing by about 6% and yet many legislators and the governor are advocating for a 1.25% growth for school  budgets. You and the students you serve deserve better. On April 22 all educational advocacy groups in Iowa, including Iowa ASCD, are calling for a huge lobby day. It can be from home or at the Capitol. Flood the emails and phone lines of your legislators, advocating that they support a 2.625% increase in school budgets.
|
|
Last Day to Vote Is Today!! Elect YOUR Iowa ASCD Board of Directors and President-Elect
Today is the last day to vote for the Iowa ASCD Board of Directors and your next Iowa ASCD President-Elect. Check the summary you received March 3 in a special edition of The Source - describing all candidates. (A second mailing was sent on March 30.)
 Thank you for sharing your voice by voting now at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IowaASCD2015
Voting has taken place March 3 - April 17, 2014. Today, please vote if you haven't already! Announcement of those selected will be April 24 at the Iowa ASCD Curriculum Academy as well as in the May 1 edition of The Source.
|
|
Curriculum Academy Sold Out! Assessing the Core - Grading for Learning - April 23-24
Ken O'Connor will be the key note speaker on April 23. Ken O'Connor, 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! |
|
Dr. Robert Marzano Headlines the Iowa ASCD Summer Institute on June 22-23 - Ensuring Learning for Each and All: Building Our Expertise
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. 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.
|
Regie Routman: Creating a Culture of Trust
In her recent article, "Creating a Culture of Trust," Regie Routman, national expert in reading and writing, shared, "High achievement and good test scores are a byproduct of a healthy, thriving school culture. It took me two decades of teaching, coaching, and  mentoring in underperforming schools to fully appreciate that teachers, leaders, and students cannot maintain energy and focus on improving instruction and raising achievement without a whole school of trusting relationships. In fact, trust between and among teachers, principals, and parents is the greatest predictor of substantial improvement in student achievement (Kirp, 2013). However, in the high stakes world of teaching, if school culture - and trust, in particular - is considered as a factor in school improvement, it's usually in a supporting role not a leading one. Yet, a thriving culture helps any organization succeed and is a major factor in why people choose to stay. In schools, it is the knowledgeable and respectful principal who is the key player in building the caring and professional relationships that are necessary for whole school achievement and wellbeing." Ten Actions That Promote High Trust and Achievement: - Celebration of strengths and successes
- A collective sense of responsibility for all students and staff
- High expectations for all learners (teachers, students, and principal)
- Common language and shared beliefs that align with research-based practices
- Continuous professional learning centered on authentic and relevant work to increase student learning
- Implementation of a viable curriculum with accompanying first rate resources and texts
- Meaningful and respectful conversations and feedback that move learning forward
- Coaching that leaves the learner with "I can do it!" feeling
- Promoting ongoing assessment, mostly formative
- Sensible and practical use and application of data
Taken together, these actions foster trusting relationships, which builds capital when tough issues arise.
To read the entire article, please go to http://regieroutman.org/files/1014/2508/7728/creating-culture-trust.pdf. |
|
Iowa ASCD Summer Institute: A Few More Highlights
Iowa ASCD is hosting the Summer Institute on June 22-23 - "Ensuring Learning for Each and All: Building Our Expertise." There will be high-powered presentations from both national and state presenters, including the keynote by Dr. Bob Marzano. Here are just a few of the many presentations. National Presenters:- Bobb Darnell: Dr. Bobb Darnell has taught and has been a professional developer for over 30 years. He is an author, international speaker, and consults with schools, pr
 ofessional organizations, and corporations. Bobb's high-energy workshops are filled with "edutainment" and practical ideas that have resulted from blending research and tested practice. He is truly committed to helping teachers build high performance classrooms and building strong parental support for schools and learning. - "Six Sensational Tips for Teacher and Administrator Leaders" (1 of 3 presentations): Discover how to become a powerful engine of school improvement. Take a virtual tour through a variety of leadership scenarios to explore how to expect and direct continual improvement and create a collaborative culture of inquiry and positive action in professional groups. Be involved in discovery activities to more closely examine ways to inspect existing conditions and improvement progress. See how you can show incredible respect for both effort and accomplishment. Learn how to encourage colleagues to reflect about and celebrate progress and to inspire hope, optimism, and positive measurable results.
- Ron Mirr: Ron Mirr is the President of CAF� (the Center for Active Family Engagement) and has over 25 years of experience helping schools and families work together to improve learning. Ron was the founder of the Iowa Parent Information Resource Center in 1995 and has been a consultant to programs in many different states and
 internationally on how to engage parents in the learning process. Ron holds a Master's Degree in Social Work and is a frequent presenter at local, state and national conferences. During the past year, Ron and his colleagues at CAF� have worked with the New York City School District along with schools in multiple states and abroad. He is a co-author of the Family Engagement Assessment - a tool that measures a school's capacity for developing effective partnerships with families. Ron currently teaches a graduate course in family engagement through several universities in the State of Iowa. - "Family Engagement 101" (1 of 3 presentations): Are families welcome in your building? If not, it is likely they will not feel welcome in the learning process! A stroll through your school to see what is on the walls is the first step in determining how welcome parents may feel. A review of the physical surroundings is also a metaphor for understanding how effectively your school welcomes parents in the learning process. Participants in this session will learn how to make a school's physical environment the starting point for effective family engagement. In addition, participants will receive information on how to more efficiently use their website, parent handouts, and parent meetings to motivate parents to become active participants in their child's learning. Schools cannot maximize student learning without harnessing the power of family engagement. The first step on the road to success is to truly welcome parents as partners.
State-wide Presenters: - Stacy Amling - Iowa World Languages and Professor of Spanish & Honors, Des Moines Area Community College
- "Moving from Performance to Proficiency in the World Language Classroom" This presentation will demonstrate how world language teachers and districts
 can shift their focus from students' performance to proficiency through the use of Integrated Performance Assessments (IPAs) in order to show how students are meeting the proficiency targets outlined in the newly revised ACTFL National Standards as well as how following these can create some much-needed statewide consistency.
- Ann Buckley and Steph Stulken - Cedar Rapids Community School District
- "Differentiated Instruction Tips and Techniques for All Learners" Never has it been more important to differentiate learning by providing multiple opportunities and options for student success. The question frequently heard is "How can I differentiate
 with limited time and resources?" This session is loaded with high impact strategies you can do today to differentiate and increase student engagement. The presenters will share techniques that can be integrated into any grade level and subject to connect with all learners.
Register now! This is THE conference for all of us - higher ed, superintendents, teachers, principals, central office, AEA staff, DE staff, teacher leaders, building and district teams, TLC teams. Early-bird price (until June 1) is $250 for Iowa ASCD members and $295 for nonmembers, who will receive a complimentary membership in Iowa ASCD. Check out the flyer that was sent last week as well as published on our Iowa ASCD website in lower left-hand corner. Join us as we all develop our expertise! |
30 Books Available to YOU in the 24/7 Digital Online Books from Iowa ASCD: Classroom Instruction That Works with English Language Learners by Jane D. Hill and Kirsten B. Miller
This book is written for teachers who work with students learning English AND those students who haven't developed a firm understanding of language. This includes struggling students who come from lower socioeconomic environments where there is a lack of language models or any student needing support in their language development. The book begins with background information on academic and conversational language and the stages students go through in acquiring a new language. Throughout the remaining chapters the authors address nine categories of research-based strategies from Classroom Instruction That Works that increase student achievement. The strategies are grouped into three categories: creating the environment for learning, helping students develop understanding, and helping students extend and apply knowledge. Using the tools and strategies from Classroom Instruction That Works, the book includes prompts, activities, ti ps for teachers, and classroom examples for adapting the strategies to fit students who are learning English.
Cummins (1984) described language acquisition as an iceberg. The tip of the iceberg - the small part that is visible above the water - is conversational English, which Cummins described as "basic interpersonal communicative skills," or BICS. This is the language of normal everyday speech, including pronunciation, grammar, and basic vocabulary. It is the ability to understand and speak informally with friends, teachers, and parents.... Using the iceberg metaphor with fluent but underachieving students, we will likely determine that they have developed only the tip, conversational English. They have not developed academic English, the large po
rtion of the iceberg that is hidden under the water." Students must have a good grasp of both conversational and academic English to be successful in school. The authors share an account of a student who had a good grasp of conversational language and was, therefore, assumed to have adequate academic language and received no extra support. When the student struggled in school, it was assumed the reason was a learning disability when in fact it was a lack in academic English.
 The authors include a Thinking Language Matrix that aligns the stages of second-language acquisition to the higher-order thinking skills of Bloom's Taxonomy for each strategy. The matrix is designed to provide challenges for students to think at higher levels and includes all content areas and multiple grade levels. There are suggestions for each stage of language acquisition so that the teacher can easily differentiate instruction. The authors are very clear in stating that teachers must avoid only asking lower level questions (simple recall) and should consistently include questions that require higher levels of thinking. The Common Core standards are used throughout the book when referencing content standards.
Understanding the stages of language acquisition is important. For example, a student who is not talking may be perceived as distant, dull, and not engaged when in reality, the student is in the Preproduction stage, or "silent period," of language acquisition. Understanding the stages and using the Thinking Language Matrix allows teachers to adjust their questioning to match the student's level. Examples of tiered questions to match every level of acquisition are included.
An important first step is to set learning objectives. The authors' recommendations for setting learning objectives include: 1) set objectives that are specific but not restrictive, 2) communicate the objectives to students and parents, and 3) connect the objectives to previous and future learning.
Effective feedback is important in language acquisition and should address what is correct and elaborate on what students need to do next, be timely, be criterion referenced, and engage students in the feedback process. Modeling of correct language is strongly recommended and should routinely occur. Teachers must also instruct students about the relationship between effort and achievement practice. Recommendations to reinforce effort include providing guidance in what it means and asking students to keep track of their effort and achievement. There is an Effort Checklist and Achievement Rubric included to assist with this.
Other topics covered include cooperative learning, cueing and questioning, nonlinguistic representations, homework, summarizing, note taking, identifying similarities and differences. There is also an appendix that includes an Academic Language Framework, the Thinking Language Matrix, a Template for Planning Language objectives, and sample graphic organizers.
This book is an eye opener of what language acquisition should be, who should receive instruction, and how teachers can better help students grow in their language development. It should be noted again that this book is also for students who struggle in language development. It is an easy read and has lots of strategies, examples for all grade levels, and tips for implementation.
**************************************
A special thank you to Iowa ASCD Member Sandy Merritt who shared this review.
And remember this book is available to all Iowa ASCD members via the 30 titles available 24/7 for 2015. In addition, these 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.) 
|
|
|
Check It Out!
Check out the following:- Are you expecting new curriculum leads in your district next year? If so, be sure to contact us as we want to honor and support them at a breakfast at the Summer Institute as well as learn how we can support them in your district. Contact Lou Howell with names when available.
- Be sure to check out TeachIowa.Gov if looking for a job in education or seeking candidates for positions in your district.
- Branstad, Reynolds, Iowa Department of Education Announce Iowa Financial Literacy Summit: A great education includes knowing how to make smart, responsible financial decisions. As part of a statewide effort to improve students' financial literacy skills, Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education announced they will host an Iowa Financial Literacy Summit this spring and encouraged Iowans to get involved. The summit will be held on May 5 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.
|
|
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: Using PD Online� for Blended Professional Learning
- Presenter: Ann Cunningham-Morris
- Provider: ASCD
- Date: April 23, 2015, at 2:00 P.M. CDT
- Register Here
- Title: The Strategic Teacher - Developing Every Teacher's Instructional Know-How
- Presenter: Harvey Silver and Tom Dewing
- Provider: ASCD
- Date: May 12, 2015, at 2:00 P.M. CDT
- Register Here
- Title: Connect 21 Summer Camp: Becoming a 21st Century Teacher, Leader, and School
-
Presenter: Heidi Hayes Jacobs
- Provider: ASCD
- Date: May 13, 2015, at 2:00 P.M. CDT
- 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
|
 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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
