Professional Learning Ideas to Improve Cultural Responsiveness at Your School All Year!

Erica Peron School Leadership Resources

As you know, February is Black History Month. We know that school leaders are always looking for new ways to lead their school communities to positive change and growth.This month we hope to connect administrators to inspiring resources that encourage cultural responsiveness and inclusion not just in February, but all year!
Check out the articles, webinars, and professional learning options below and be sure to share them with your teaching staff!

To view all previous School Leadership Resources postings, click here.

MAP Growth News for February

Erica Peron MAP Growth Assessment

Let’s Talk About Growth!

Talking about Growth with Students:
Setting Growth Goals:
  • Examine this helpful infographic from NWEA to assist you in setting goals for students at different instructional levels.
  • Involve your whole class with goal setting in a positive way. The photo to the right is a simple, motivating, and manageable classroom data wall and goal tracker! Find this and more inspiring ideas from fellow teachers on NWEA’s Instagram and Facebook.
Empower Students to Lead the Growth Conversation:

To view all previous MAP Growth Assessment postings, click here.

Start the New Year with Resources for Student Goal Setting!

Erica Peron Teacher Resources for Success

Explore these goal setting resources to start the New Year on the right foot:
Consider setting your own classroom management goal to help you start the year off right!
Don’t forget! Registration for the 2020 SUFS Choice in Education Conference opens January 28th. Click here to learn more.
Rising Stars Award Nominations close on January 31st! Click here to learn more and nominate today.

Your First Faculty Meeting of 2020: Planned with FREE Resources Here!

Erica Peron School Leadership Resources

As the holiday break draws near, we know your focus is turning to the new semester ahead. This month’s post contains resources to help you plan a powerful faculty meeting to kick off the New Year! Explore the meeting agenda template, the semester in review activity, and the options for team building exercises linked below. Happy planning!
The Agenda

At the first meeting of a new semester, you will want to keep it simple and inspiring while still helping your faculty set intentions and lay the foundations for a fantastic new year.

The Semester in Review

This activity is designed to help your teachers reflect on the first semester in key areas that impact student learning and growth. The third page will be turned into you the administrator to give you insights into the goals and needs of your staff. Encourage teachers to discuss their answers!

Team Building Activities: 
Resource Alert! Have you heard about Algebra Nation?
Teachers, School Administrators and Principals:

You’re invited to join the Step Up For Students SuperFans program. Become a social ambassador for Step Up and help us spread awareness of our scholarship programs.

When you sign up, we will send you our most exciting news through email to share with your friends and followers. You choose where you share our content. You can share it through email, on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or all of the above. Sharing our posts helps not only spread the word about Step Up to those who need it most, but it could also benefit your private school.

The best part? The more you share and participate, the more points you’ll earn towards a monthly giveaway. This month we’re giving away a $20 Target gift card and one Step Up’s new promotional items of your choosing (from a selection).

To join now, click on the link below and connect with one of your social networks.

JOIN STEP UP FOR STUDENTS SUPERFANS

To view all previous School Leadership Resources postings, click here.

Solving Your Parent-Teacher Conference Headaches with Student-Led Conferences

Erica Peron Teacher Resources for Success

Student-Led Conferences offer an opportunity for students to take ownership of their learning and lead the conversation about their progress. Though these conferences require a little more preparation, the student-led approach solves some of the biggest headaches and pitfalls associated with parent conferences.
  • Will they even show up?– Attendance improves when parents are encouraged to attend with their children.
    • Parents are more likely to attend knowing their students are the stars of the show. Not only will parents get to see their child shine in a leadership role, but they will also receive valuable information about success and opportunities directly from their child.
    • Watch this video to see Student Led Conferences in action!
  • Lack of follow through – Knowing they must discuss their successes and challenges with parents encourages students to take ownership of their learning all year!
  • Defensive Parents – When students lead the conversation, parents are more likely to show support and encouragement rather than anger and defensiveness.
    • When students are responsible for explaining their growth and progress, teachers no longer need to justify the areas that students are struggling. Parents hear directly from the student and are able to brainstorm solutions with the teacher and student to become a part of their student’s growth.
    • Still nervous about discussing a difficult situation? Read this article from Edutopia on providing difficult feedback.

Want to learn more? If you are interested in trying Student-Led Conferences at your school, consider attending one of our online webinars or contact your regional coordinator to schedule an in-person session at your school!

Check out these exciting free resources for the month of October!

Reading Eggs through Edmentum: Looking for support for your struggling readers aged 2-13? Reading Eggs is an award-winning program that uses games to engage students in learning to read. Reading Eggs is offering a FREE 4-week trial through October 31st.

Book It!:  BOOK IT! motivates children to read by rewarding their reading accomplishments with praise, recognition and pizza from Pizza Hut. The program is simple, flexible, fun and free to use in your classroom! BOOK IT! was created in 1984 and currently reaches more than 14 million students and 37,000 K-6 grade schools annually.

Lead4change: Lead4Change is a FREE leadership program where students identify and use their leadership skills by doing a service project. The ready to use lesson plans will take you through the steps of leadership and service. All resources are available to registered members for free.

Why Tracking Progress Matters: How to Create Goals Your Students Understand

Erica Peron Professional Learning

Can you imagine trying to put together a 1,000-piece puzzle without looking at the picture on the box? This is how students feel without clear learning goals!

This year, the Office of Student Learning is offering a professional learning series centered around effective classroom instruction. One of the most influential pieces of the effective instruction puzzle is helping students identify learning goals and track their progress. Our second course in this learning series will teach you to unpack your unit plans to create clear learning goals for students. Explore ways to communicate the road map of learning to allow your students to take ownership of their knowledge progression. Check out the full course description below.

Unpacking Unit Plans to Create Clear Learning Goals

The focus of this training will be to help participants:

  • Distinguish key terms: units, lessons, learning goals, and learning scales.
  • Understand the importance of helping students track their own progress.
  • Create learning scales and clear learning goals for their unit plans.

If you are interested in this training please contact your regional coordinator to discuss available sessions in your area or to schedule a session at your school. Click here to find your regional coordinator’s contact information!

Ask about the other courses in our effective instruction series:

  • Planning, Presenting, and Understanding New Knowledge
  • Rethinking Classroom Management: Creating and Sustaining a Classroom Culture of Learning

Reflect on the Year & Renew Your Passion

Erica Peron School Leadership Resources

Feeling drained at the end of this school year? This month’s resources were chosen to help you reflect on the successes and challenges of the year and inspire you to renew your work with passion!

 

Did You Know?
  • The Teaching and Learning Exchange will be adding transcripts for the 2019-2020 school year! To stay informed with updates or to learn more about the TLE click here!
  • The Office of Student Learning has partnered with BloomBoard in our Choice Leader of Excellence Certification Program that is aligned to the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) and delivered in Micro-credential online format.  By earning the Choice Leader of Excellence certification, school leaders build leadership capacity, gain statewide recognition, be better positioned to increase enrollment, and attract high-quality staff to their school.  To learn more about this program click here.

To view all previous School Leadership Resources postings, click here.

The Year In Review

Erica Peron Teacher Resources for Success

Another school year has come to a close, and for teachers, it’s time to take a well-deserved break! Before you break out the beach towels, take a moment to reflect on the past school year. Reflection is a vital component of growth. Let’s take a moment to explore our successes and our challenges so that we can enjoy our summer break and begin the new year refreshed and renewed!

To view all previous Teacher Resources for Success postings, click here.