#jsdinnovates December 2016

JUAB SCHOOL DISTRICT

DECEMBER 2016

#jsdinnovates Empowering our students to discover and pursue their dreams.

Let’s Learn Together!

PL Playbook

Research shows that collaborative professional development carries more power than any other form of PD. Teachers who spend time in another teacher’s classroom are more connected to the school community, feel higher levels of job satisfaction, and have overall higher levels of mental health. Even with that knowledge, it is easy and tempting to stay in your classroom. There is so much to do and so little time, and those precious minutes of “free time” during the day are often spent grading or planning.

To encourage teachers to spend more time outside of their own classroom, we have created “challenge cards.” These are cards that are designed to burn a hole in your pocket. Okay, not really. They are designed to encourage you to spend time in another teacher’s space. Find twenty minutes in your busy week to drop in and see what’s happening. Time spent in classrooms is always time well-spent. Part of the new “Innovation Menu” specifically offers classroom coverage while you observe another teacher. Order it!

When you visit another classroom, you can leave a quick note on the back of the card. You can attach it to a small treat. When your classroom receives a visit, collect the cards as badges of honor. It means that you are open to learning together and letting others learn from you.

JUAB SCHOOL DISTRICT

1

JSD is collaborating to update our Personalized Learning Playbook in December. Watch your inbox for details. #juabpride

Call for Content Is there something you’d like to share with teachers in Juab School District? Email Krystle Bassett with images or text. #jsdchat

Accredited!

Congratulations to Juab High School on a successful accreditation visit.

Educators dedicated time and energy to the selfstudy and team visit.

#jsdinnovates

Congratulations!

Juab School District is piloting micro-credentials as a platform for personalized professional learning.

Educators district-wide are exploring the platform as part of that pilot. Have you earned a microcredential? Please email krystle.bassett@juabsd.org

Become an Apple Teacher Apple Teacher is a new program created exclusively for educators that offers tips, inspiration, news, and learning materials to help you unlock the magic of Apple products in your classroom. Apple developed this program to support and celebrate the work you do every day.

Sign up, earn badges by testing your knowledge, then receive an official Apple Teacher logo and share your achievement with the world.

To learn more and sign up, visit their webpage. Additionally, here is a good article from DailyGenius about the new program.

JUAB SCHOOL DISTRICT

2

#jsdinnovates

JSD SCHOOL BOARD: NOVEMBER RECOGNITIONS The school board honored students Haylie Winn, Kassandra Catalan, Paige Ziolkowski, Donivan Crofts, Alvin Yuan, and Addison Lynn. Students were recognized for academic excellence and growth.

Nebo View Elementary teachers Marie Jensen, Jodee Worthington, Marcie Keen, and Valene Harris were recognized for quality instruction and significant student growth.

Using Canvas for Student Self-Assessment

by Christie Tolbert I have been working with student metacognition and how to better allow students to assess their learning while not adding a ton of time to my day. While I know this isn’t completely perfect yet, I am beginning to see how I can use this data to guide not only my instruction, but individual interventions as well. I created a ‘quiz’ on Canvas and asked my kids to self-assess their understanding of components of each standard as I can, I may, and I cannot. I have immediate feedback and can tailor my next lesson based on this feedback as well as which students feel they need interventions.

The one I am showing is a screenshot of came from my Secondary II, Modules, Learning Goals, and Module 3 Quiz. I have worked with a few different formats, but I think this is the one I am liking the best so far.

JUAB SCHOOL DISTRICT

3

#jsdinnovates

There’s an App for that Listen to reflections from iNACOL attendees on Soundcloud.

Class Dojo A beautiful, safe, and simple communication app for teachers, parents, and students.

Scratch Jr. Young children (ages 5-7) learn important new skills as they program their own interactive stories and games.

Learn how to capture evidence in MasteryConnect.

Poems by Heart Celebrate classic poetry and memorize favorites by master wordsmiths.

AdobeSpark Make a stunning animated video in minutes.

JUAB SCHOOL DISTRICT

4

#jsdinnovates

3 Things: Rotation Model Advice for teachers

by Shalice Butterfield 1. Explicitly teach the students how to be independent learners: This is huge and takes constant persistence. I thought that I would train my students and then they would be independent and great at it. This is so wrong. Yes, they get better, but some days are struggles. I have learned that pestering them to stay on task doesn’t work and will limit their potential they need to learn to self-monitor.

This means I train them, give reminders, set up situations for them to succeed but also to fall and self regulate. Here are some ways to build independent learners: Build stamina (practice it right and work up to the ultimate goal.)

Support student-created goals Have and use trackers for the students to track their own progress.

Train the students how to be independent by giving them concrete strategies of what to do when something goes wrong. (I use the 6 B’s of learning.)

Celebrate independence and success of goals.

This site has the 6 B’s of learning I use along with the VIP badges. I choose a VIP (very independent person) everyday. They get to be line leader and have special privileges. The kids love it. These are just of few of concrete ideas there are so many available out there.

2. Be flexible: One thing I have learned about rotations especially when first starting is to be flexible.

When I say this I don’t mean don’t have expectations for students because that is key but let the students make it their own. We need to step back a little after fostering the environment and let the students find their own way. Also if we try something and it doesn’t work be willing to change. I have discovered that each day is different and I just need to adapt to the challenges that come everyday.

Don’t panic if it isn’t perfect but find a solution together with your students.

3. Change it up: Good teaching is the use of many instructional strategies. Rotations are great but it is okay to branch out, try new things and switch it up. Any time I feel like we are stuck in our routine or limited by the rotational method I switch it up. This could be splitting half and half while one group does and independent activity you teach a longer lesson to more students. You might do a whole group lesson one day that includes a fun art activity. I have also done flex rotations where I have 5 activities all around the same topic and the student chooses when and where they want to go during the amount of time given. I think that we get in a mode of one way to do something and forget that it is ok in fact healthy to change it up sometimes. Keep things fresh and fluid. This might be as simple as changing what the students do in one rotation or giving them options. Students like new things and will respond well to it.

JUAB SCHOOL DISTRICT

5

#jsdinnovates

JUAB SCHOOL DISTRICT

6

#jsdinnovates

How to Interpret Utah Compose Scores From Utah Compose Support The band of numbers that represent grade level scores are as follows: • -Competency is a 3 or 4 • -Struggling is a 2 • -A total score of 20+ is considered

good.

Individual students should be scoring at least a 3 on individual scores for what can be considered a base average. When comparing this to a 4 point writing scale, one might consider anything less than a 3 on the individual traits as being under a 2-2.5 on a 4 point scale. A 4 might be considered as higher than the fully competent 3 points, as an average of 4 or more on the individual Utah Compose scores.

Time Lapse Challenge Have you ever considered recording a time-lapse of your classroom? What would you discover? Who would be moving? Would the learning be collaborative? Would the classroom look dynamic or static?

Try it out and see what you can see!

You don’t have to share it with anyone, but if you try it and learn something new, it could make an interesting EYE artifact to reflect upon!

Micro-credentials for Re-licensure Hours Have you been working on micro-credentials? Email Krystle Bassett to request re-licensure points. One point may be issued for each hour of work.

Check out these micro-credentials!

JUAB SCHOOL DISTRICT

7

#jsdinnovates