NWESD Education Connection

Fall 2010 Page 4

Notes from the NWESD Superintendent

Page 6

Welcome to Three New Superintendents

Page 10

Migrant Students Attend National Space Academy

Pages 14 -19

Professional development opportunities for the upcoming school year

Education Connection, Fall 2010

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www.NWESD.org

Clock Hours

Want an easy way to keep track of all your clock hours and credits in one place? esdWorks, our professional development registration system, can help you! It has a Personal Records feature that’s easy to access and use. Just follow these steps:

E

Go to: http://www.nwesd.org In the Site Shortcuts box, click on ‘Register for Courses’ If you do not have an account, click ‘Create Account’ and follow the process If you do have an account, click on the blue sign-in bar You'll be prompted to enter the email address and password you used to create your account Click on the link to ‘My Account Information’ Click on the link to ‘Personal Records’

ducational Service Districts have a 40-year history of providing vital services functioning as advocates for local districts. Northwest Educational Service District 189 (NWESD) serves Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, Island and San Juan counties.

NWESD’s more than fifty programs are organized into seven departments to serve you: Administration, Fiscal Services, Technology Services, Prevention Center, Special Programs and Services, Teaching and Learning, and Educational Technology Support Center. Visit us online at www.nwesd.org for more information.

If you need assistance creating an account or if you have forgotten your username and password, please contact Susan Singer, 360.299.4016 or ssinger@nwesd.org.

NWESD Mission Together We Can...provide leadership and cooperative services to our educational communities in support of their efforts to increase the number of students meeting state and local standards.

At this point you can begin entering class information for credits and clock hours you've earned. From the ‘My Account Information’ page you'll also see where you can get an unofficial clock hour transcript for courses with NWESD clock hours.

Professional Certification Many of the application materials for Washington State teacher certification are available to download at: www.k12.wa.us/cert.

If you have specific questions you can email Sally Pagh, NWESD Certification Specialist, spagh@nwesd.org. Include your mailing and email addresses, and current certification number.

You may enter information for any course you have taken from any provider, whether they offered clock hours, college credit, STARS, or even if you just audited a course.

You can print a report and add courses and credits anytime you wish.

The records will be available the next time you access your account.

To add clock hour credits previously issued by NWESD (since 2008-2009 school year), click the box ‘Include Official Credits’ and they will appear on the unofficial transcript. You can enter date parameters if you wish. If you received NWESD clock hour credits before 2008-2009, then you will need to manually enter them on this report.

Clock Hours Email Lana Haugen for assistance: lhaugen@nwesd.org.

Fingerprinting Fingerprinting is available by appointment, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Photo ID and payment in the form of cash, cashier’s check, money order payable to NWESD, debit or credit card (Visa or MasterCard).

Call 360.299.4072 for an appointment.

Education Connection, Fall 2010

For an official clock hour transcript or if you have questions, please contact: Lana Haugen, lhaugen@nwesd.org, 360.299.4019 2

www.NWESD.org

Date

Course Title

Quick Class Guide Instructor

Event Page

Garcia-Winner

15914

14

Hodge

16265

14

AUTISM OUTREACH PROJECT (AOP) Nov 15-16, 2010

Social Thinking Across the Home and School Day

PREVENTION CENTER Jan 24 - Feb 25, 2011

Online Issues of Abuse (Additional class dates on page 14)

SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Oct 7, 2010

Elementary Level Reading and Writing Skills Workshop

Archer

16424

13

Oct 8, 2010

Middle/High School Levels Reading and Writing Skills Workshop

Archer

16427

13

TEACHING AND LEARNING Sep 27-28, Oct 22

TOSA Orientation

Somera, Grisham 16348

14

Oct 5, 2010

DIBELS, Analyzing Student Performance Data

Thompson

16372

16

Oct 5, Nov 9, Dec 7

Powerful Formative Assessment in Math & Science Follow Up Sessions

Somera, Grisham 16018

19

Oct 13 and more...

Literacy Leadership Network (view page 15 for additional dates)

Niemi

16006

15

Oct 18, Jan 24, Mar 21

Teacher Leadership Academy: Supporting Math, Science, and Literacy

Somera, Niemi, Grisham

16377

15

Oct 19, 2010

Origo: Developing Geometric Thought

Nickerson

16454

18

Oct 20, 2010

Origo: Developing the Fundamentals of Problem Solving

Nickerson

16455

18

Oct 20, 2010

Planning for Small Group Instruction

Collinge

15999

17

Oct 25, 2010

Developing Discourse: Getting Kids to Talk in Math & Science

Somera, Grisham 16378

18

Oct 26, 2010

Instructional Templates to Enhance Instruction

Thompson

16373

16

Nov 18, 2010

Word Study: The Art of Decoding Multi-syllabic Words

Thompson

16374

16

Dec 8, 2010

Genre: The Key to Unlocking Comprehension

Collinge

16000

17

Jan 21-22, 2011

Using Journals to Teach History

Oakley

16426

15

Jan 25, 2011

Building Fluency: From the Foundation Up

Thompson

16375

16

Jan 25, 2011

Managing Science Materials and Math Manipulatives

TBD

16449

18

Jan 26-27, 2011

Powerful Formative Assessment in Math and Science

Somera, Grisham 16461

19

Feb 2, 2011

Getting Students Ready to Meet Grad Requirements (Math, Science)

Somera, Grisham 16460

18

Feb 9, 2011

Authentic Writing in Response to Reading

Collinge

16001

17

Feb 9, Mar 9, May 30

Powerful Formative Assessment in Math & Science Follow Up Sessions

Somera, Grisham 16462

19

Mar 8, 2011

Vocabulary Instruction: Teaching Vocabulary to Enhance Comprehension Thompson

16376

16

May 25, 2011

Reflecting on Our Practice

16002

17

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www.NWESD.org

Instructional Leadership Programs in Progress Across the Region

If we could harness the energy present in every school the energy crisis would be solved! It is indeed exciting to walk through classrooms and schools—where the excitement and positive energy vibrates intensely.

The Northwest Educational Service District (NWESD) mission is . . .

Together We Can . . . provide leadership and cooperative services to our educational communities in support of their efforts to increase the number of students meeting state and local standards. To this end, we believe what happens in each classroom every day matters. Teachers work hard, but cannot hope to maximize success for all students by working in isolation within their classrooms. Rather, effective leadership is prerequisite to the implementation of good research-based instructional strategies in every classroom every day.

guided development of the Washington State Leadership Academy curriculum, benefiting school districts across Washington State.

With the great support of Drs. Mark Johnson, Sandy Austin, and Mike Copeland this leadership development focus has transitioned to focus upon the next, and often times more difficult, level of the work; moving from a shared vision of effective teaching and learning to shared practices by addressing the question: How do we establish and implement district systems and structures to develop and support principals’ leadership of teaching and learning in order to improve instructional practices in the classroom and improve student learning?

As a result, over the past several years the NWESD has devoted significant energy and resources on the development of instructional leadership—within classrooms, among principals, and across district leaders. A small sampling of some of these programs may be of interest:

Central office leaders will address this question through the organizing construct of Drs. Copland’s and Honig’s new research from the University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership (UW-CEL) on Central Office Transformation, which shows that if:

District/Systems Leadership: The NWESD is excited to continue its six year journey supporting district leadership learning. Early pilot work

• designated central office leaders directly and intentionally support the work of principals to continually develop their skills as instructional leaders;

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• all central office leaders, regardless of roles, see themselves as promoting and supporting teaching and learning improvement; and, • evidence is used throughout the central office to support continual improvement of work practices and relationships with schools. . . then teaching and learning will improve and a culture of continuous improvement and problem solving will become the norm throughout the system.

We believe what happens in each classroom every day matters.

Four cohort seminars during the year are complimented with ten days of systems coaching to support central office leaders in using the knowledge, skills, and tools from the seminars to improve teaching and learning throughout the system and create a continuous learning, problem solving culture.

Five Dimensions of Teaching and www.NWESD.org

Learning: Through a partnership with the UWCEL, instructional leaders are provided a unique opportunity to participate in a five day regional “Leading for Instructional Improvement.” An overview of the UW-CEL Five Dimensions of Teaching and Learning (5D) develops the leader’s capacity to analyze classroom instruction to support quality teaching, create a common vision around powerful instruction, and establish leadership action based on evidence of student learning. This is followed by three days of guided “walk throughs” in smaller groups to maximize development of collective understanding and skill through guided practice/critique.

This 5D work and structure is exciting in that the approach builds school and district capacity and has supported the development of teacher leaders as well as principal instructional leadership capacities.

Strategic Planning: Impactful strategic plans are data driven and guide coherence across the school district, schools, and departments/ programs. In today’s world there are many more needs than resources can provide. Effective school systems are able to be intentional and thoughtful about the messy business of allocating (or reallocating) limited resources— when they use a focused strategy as a guiding lens.

Theory of Action, and the district’s 5-8 year targets. This clarity, then, enables alignment of school/program, and educator improvement plans.

THANK YOU for working so hard for the children in our region.

Please know that your efforts are genuinely appreciated.

The NWESD has provided strategic planning facilitation that results in a coherent model that focuses on the interdependence between teachers’ knowledge and skill, students’ engagement in their own learning, and academically challenging content (Instructional Core). These strategic plans include focused mission and vision statements, a clearly delineated Education Connection, Fall 2010

CIT Classroom Level (CIT—CL) Training: Training in the classroom applications of data-driven Continuous Improvement strategies enables practical implementation of W. Edwards Deming’s construct of Profound Knowledge. Teachers and principals receive five days of training over a three month period, with time in between to apply learnings in their classrooms.

Recognizing the strength of peer support in learning, teams of 5-8 teachers from the same school (or school-wide staff) have been registered to participate in CIT-CL. Teacher participants indicate student engagement and achievement has remarkably improved.

Regardless of your role within your school system—THANK YOU for working so hard for the children in our region. Please know that your efforts are genuinely appreciated. Think of the NWESD when you are challenged, could use assistance, or want to bounce an idea off of another professional. Service is our middle name and we will provide the best support possible. Together We Can accomplish so very much more!

jjenkins@nwesd.org

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Welcome to Three New Superintendents Dr. Greg Baker—Bellingham Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Greg Baker became superintendent of Bellingham Public Schools in July. Baker comes to Bellingham from Portland, Oregon where he served as a deputy superintendent.

He also served as an intern and special assistant to the superintendent of Boston Public Schools and as an administrator for Spokane Public Schools. He began his career in Alaska as a teacher and assistant coach.

His education includes earning his doctorate, a master’s degree in administration, planning and social policy from Harvard University, and a master’s degree in secondary education from Western Washington University. He earned his bachelor’s degree with distinction from Gonzaga University. He and his wife live in Bellingham with their three young children.

Baker strongly believes in setting high standards for students. “Our personal and collective responsibility is to set high expectations for each of our students and to provide and support outstanding instruction in every classroom in every school,” Baker explained.

Jim Frey—Lynden School District Superintendent Lynden School District welcomes new superintendent Jim Frey. Frey is a Northwest native, growing up in La Conner, Washington. He earned his undergraduate degree from Seattle Pacific University, principal credentials from Heritage College in Yakima, and superintendent certification at Western Washington University.

He has previously served as a junior high teacher, a coach and a counselor in the Brewster School District. He comes to Lynden from Mt. Baker School District where he served as the assistant principal of Mt. Baker High School for three years, Harmony Elementary School Principal for four years, and most recently as Mt. Baker School District Assistant Superintendent. He lives in Whatcom County with his wife and three daughters.

Rick Thompson—San Juan Island School District Rick Thompson recently joined the San Juan Island School District as district superintendent. Thompson is beginning his 25th year in public education in Washington.

He started his career in education as a teacher and coach and served as a school principal for twelve years. Thompson then moved into district administration as a district curriculum director and interim superintendent.

Thompson grew up in the Renton Public School District and attended Western Washington University where he earned a bachelor’s degree as well as his principal and superintendent credentials. His graduate studies have included school board policy development, state funding of public education, and instructional leadership.

He is excited to be part of the San Juan Island School District and looks forward to developing more professional relationships in the region.

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Everett Fifth-Grade Teacher Selected as Top Finalist for Presidential Math & Science Award D e b r a Strong, a fifth-grade teacher in the Everett S c h o o l District, has recently been selected as a state finalist for the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). Award finalists are selected by statewide selection committees comprised of content area experts and award-winning teachers.

“Science and technology have long been at the core of America’s strength and competitiveness and the scientists and engineers who have led America on its remarkable path to success share something very precious - science and math teachers who brought these critical subjects to life,” President Obama said.

“These teachers are inspirations not just to their students, but to the nation and the world.”

The national PAEMST program will announce award recipients in Spring 2011. State level finalists are recognized by regional and state math and science associations and will be invited to several events for Washington’s Exceptional Educators over the next year.

Education Connection, Fall 2010

Under Strong’s guidance, her 20092010 fifth-grade class at Forest View Elementary recently won regional honors in the Disney Planet Challenge, a national award program honoring outstanding environmental education programs. Strong spent months guiding her students as they immersed themselves in science and math related to ecosystems. Student enthusiasm for this science unit continued to increase as the year progressed.

Strong also incorporated civic lessons about rights and responsibilities related to ecosystems. The class spent three days at Camp Seymour’s estuary on Puget Sound, evaluated water quality using macro-organisms in partnership with Snohomish County Surface Water Management Division staff, and traveled to North Creek where they learned more about water testing processes.

Technology is also frequently used in Strong’s classroom to help expand student experiences and learning opportunities.

Working with students from around the world through a project sponsored by Oracle ThinkQuest, students followed an online eco-adventure hosted by National Geographic. Her class had the opportunity to monitor and write about environmental changes that scientists were seeing in a once untouched coastline of Costa Rica.

Mathematics and Science Teaching is the highest honor for a K-12 mathematics or science teacher. Awards are given annually to teachers from each of the 50 states, four U.S. jurisdictions (Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; Department of Defense Schools; and the U.S. territories as a group: American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). National winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators following an initial selection process done at the state level. Each year the award alternates between mathematics and science teachers teaching kindergarten through sixth grade, and those teaching seventh through twelfth grades. A state selection committee reviews completed applications and may forward up to three nominations from each discipline to the national program for consideration.

“Teachers are recognized for their contributions to teaching and learning and their ability to help students make progress in mathematics and science,” according to the PAEMST website, www.paemst.org.

Congratulations Debra! Thank you for your outstanding dedication to engaging students in hands-on, real-life math and science experiences.

The Presidential Award for Excellence in 7

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Everett High School Teacher Receives NWESD Teacher of the Year Award “My students tease me about my ‘brutal truth,’ but thank me for showing them what they still need and letting them know I believe they can get there,” Buiteweg commented. “A recent graduate emailed me poetry, ‘Feel free to give me critique; I can count on you for that.’”

Northwest Educational Service District 189 Teacher of the Year Jo Anne Buiteweg from Sequoia High School, stands beside her students encouraging them to reach higher, is passionate about collaboration with other teachers, and serves as an exemplary role model for students and colleagues alike. “I believe my job is to balance what I know students need with their ambitions and to provide optimum instruction which allows each student to reach higher while maintaining their dignity and humanity,” said Buiteweg.

“By creating meaningful relationships, focusing on essential curriculum goals, and providing clear instruction, Jo Anne is able to do all of this with ease. Students respond well to Jo Anne.

She is known for going the extra mile to get them engaged. She searches for areas of interest and connection with each student in her class. Everyone is accountable for meeting the rigorous standards, but students have choices about how they get there,” Sequoia High School Principal Sally Lancaster explained. “She is relentless as she gently applies pressure to get her students to perform. Jo Anne thinks first about what a student needs, communicates it and works to break down barriers that impede student success. There is a strong safety net of support for all her students.”

A skilled teacher... coaxes students to focus on where they want to be and what will it take of them to reach that objective.

Buiteweg believes that teachers have an obligation to reach out to students with clear and constant communication and provide multiple opportunities to hear about the good work of their students. “I care how my students feel, but I do not want them to hide in moments of trauma or doubt. A skilled teacher honors the present, but coaxes students to focus on where they want to be and what will it take of them to reach that objective,” Buiteweg explained. “I watch the pride when a student has earned credit, gained understanding, mastered something which was once difficult. I feel giddy as I relate their successes. I listen to where they are, but coach to move forward.”

Teachers play a key role in helping students learn how to sort through and assess information from a multitude of sources. “Being a teacher in the 21st century means recognizing schools are no longer the keepers of knowledge—education is navigation, investigation, inspiration, structures and habits. Students need to learn how to scrutinize and judge both purpose and message so they can consider meaning,” Buiteweg said. “No longer the gatekeepers of ideas, teachers need to help students focus their eyes, engage their discernment, and create criteria through which to evaluate all they encounter. Exposure to an endless stream of information changes the nature of a teacher’s work.”

Student Ariella Shriver can attest to Buiteweg’s philosophy in action. “I often found myself looking forward to her annotations on my assignments and grew to trust her judgment on what needed to be fixed. When I lost my grip on reality, she was my voice of reason. I experienced some really hard times outside of school and when I needed her help, she was always there. I feel like Jo Anne was the main reason I was able to pull myself together—I found myself wanting to live up to her encouragement,” Shriver reported.

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Buiteweg strongly feels that increased teacher collaboration and improving grading systems is also critical to overall student and school improvement. “‘The whole is greater than the sum of its parts’ proves true in high performing schools. In these schools, staff works together and no one avoids the challenging students because it may lower their pay. A strong instructional leader creates the space for staff to learn to work in concert and help all students feel safe to risk failure in order to achieve success.”

Her passion for helping students reach their potential and her exemplary integrity and character make Buiteweg a shining role model for students and colleagues. “Jo Anne has a rare understanding of the key elements of school reform and can forecast educational initiatives for our attention. The fact that the number of students graduating from Sequoia High School [an alternative high school] has risen exponentially over the past few years is tribute to her work. Approximately sixty to seventy students graduated in 2010 - five years ago the school averaged between ten to twenty graduates,” Jim McNally, Everett Public Schools Executive Director, reported.

“Jo Anne’s accomplishments as a teacher have earned her recognition to assume leadership roles instrumental in transforming the climate and culture of the Everett Public Schools. As an ATLAS facilitator at Everett High School in 2001, she helped guide the staff to focus on student work through the creation of professional learning communities,” Kevin Corbett, Everett Public Schools OnlineHS.net Director, noted.

The NWESD Teacher of the Year was presented to Buiteweg in June 2010. She began teaching at Everett High School as an English and Drama instructor in 1990. She moved to Everett Public Schools Central Administration Office as a curriculum assessment specialist for four years and then served as a district instructional facilitator for two years. Since 2007, Buiteweg has served as a classroom teacher at Sequoia High School in Everett.

She also currently serves as a whole faculty study group trainer and consultant for ATLAS communities.

Buiteweg received her bachelor’s degree in English from Michigan State University and her master’s degree in Education, Curriculum Development, and Language Arts from the University of Washington. She earned her National Board Certification in English Language Arts.

Congratulations Jo Anne! Your passion for student success and school reform is truly appreciated by students and colleagues.

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Ask Susan

What if I can’t remember how to access my information in esdWorks?

Susan or Kristi are available to help.

Susan Singer ssinger@nwesd.org 360.299.4016

Kristi Gunerius kgunerius@nwesd.org 360.299.4721

How do I check my courses online?

We suggest that you check the course listing online for any changes in location, date, or time.

Select the “Courses” link, under the green Contents box, then select “Search Courses”. From there you can search by course name or the event ID if you have it (available through your registration history screen).

What is Registration History?

Registration History will show what courses you have coming up, and what you’ve participated in since September, 2008.

Log-in to your account (same steps as “to update your profile”) Go to My Account Click on Registration History

Need help?

Call or email the facilitator of the course. Their contact information is on the course listing.

Not sure?

Call or email Susan Singer, ssinger@nwesd.org or 360.299.4016 www.NWESD.org

Washington State Migrant Students Attend National Space Academy

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by Kelly Pingree Washington State Migrant Education Regional Office

This summer nine students from Washington made the long journey to space. Every year the Washington State Migrant Education Program (MEP) has the pleasure of sending students to the top-rated Space Academy at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Magic happens as each student participates in a variety of training operations, missions and scientific experiments. They are placed in reallife space travel scenarios and work together in teams to complete their missions.

Completing t h e s e

Education Connection, Fall 2010

missions requires problem solving, leadership skills, communication and bravery. What would you do if you were submerged in a helicopter or lost one of your engines in the middle of deep space?

Space Academy offers students a taste of what their lives could be like if they become astronauts.

Space Academy students in Washington are fortunate to have an amazing mentor, Marleen Martinez, a former Washington migrant student. In 1997 Martinez won the Space Academy Scholarship and is now working for Lockheed Martin in Texas as a systems engineer helping to develop the interface for the NASA Orion program. She got her first taste of space exploration as a Space Academy participant in Huntsville, Alabama.

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Space Academy is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all young people, but a chance in many lifetimes for a migrant student.

Many migrant students face a number of challenges relating to educational success.

With issues of mobility, sometimes a lack of educational continuity and disengagement in school, many migrant students find themselves not reaching state and local academic standards. For these nine migrant students participating in the Space Academy program, this is not the case. Each student was hand selected, first by their own teachers, then by panels at regional and state levels. Out of the large number of applications submitted throughout the state, only nine students received a “golden ticket” to command their very own simulated space mission at the national space center.

The Space Academy application process starts in October with a request for applications from both students and teachers throughout the state.

The Washington State MEP invites outstanding migrant students to apply.

The MEP Space Academy Scholarship is open to qualifying migrant students in Washington who are between the ages of 12 to 14 years old. The students are required to submit grades, teacher feedback and narratives describing their future goals www.NWESD.org

and what their lives as a migrant student have been like. They write about the lives they have lived with wisdom well beyond their years.

For most MEP students, Space Academy is their first time away from their families and usually the first time they have flown in an airplane. The whole journey is eye opening, exciting and a tad bit scary. The whole way to Alabama the students are quiet, taking it all in. Once in Alabama, each student is asked to participate in groups with other kids from all over the world. They are communicating in a variety of ways, given chances to be in leadership roles and tackle large challenges. For each student, Space Academy is a life changing experience.

On the trip home from this amazing experience the chatter does not stop.

Sometimes the students wear their flight suits home on the plane and enjoy the questions they get from other passengers.

Both students and teachers are eager to share their experiences with anyone who will listen - this year was no different. The students came bounding back to SeaTac airport cheering “Team Washington!� with wide smiles on each of their faces.

Two students from Washington received awards for their Space Academy missions at the graduation ceremony. Students had the opportunity to interact and form teams with students from China, France, Taiwan, and all over the United States.

Students are now discussing future goals in mission command, aeronautics, and teaching. They are able to picture their lives in a much larger scope. Their eyes and minds have been opened to new horizons in ways that can never be fully explained. Often migrant students have a difficult time expressing, realizing or even conceptualizing their dreams beyond what they already know. They have lived the life of hard work in fields, forests or fishing and have not seen beyond that world. Space Academy Education Connection, Fall 2010

From left to right: Jocelyn Cruz, Abigail Sevilla, Victor Sevilla, Lizbeth Villa, Edwin Enciso, Diana Chavira-Lopez, Rene Sotelo Orosco, Griselda Garcia, Martha Morales, Eunice Perez-Frias.

teaches them to reach to the stars, walk a little taller, dream bigger and believe in themselves.

Students are asked to share their Space Academy experiences with schoolmates and present what they learned to the Washington State MEP Advisory Committee, comprised of school district representatives throughout the state and parents of migrant students.

The Washington State Migrant Space Academy Scholarship is just one way the MEP helps support local school districts with leadership activities, academic services and parent support for migrant families. The program works to reduce barriers and address concerns for migrant students and their families.

Wapato Middle School teacher Liz Fries takes the controls for a Space Academy Mission.

For more information about the MEP program, contact Kelly Pingree at the Washington State Migrant Education Regional Office at 360.299.4053.

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School Nurse Corps Offers Extra Support to Schools Thanks to Retired Facility Debt Most proposals described the need for extra time to prepare emergency care plans for students with life-threatening health conditions. The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction defines a life-threatening condition as “a health condition that will put the child in danger of death during the school day if a medication or treatment order and a nursing plan are not in place.” The twelve districts receiving additional hours identified approximately 2,800 students with life-threatening conditions such as severe allergies, cardiac conditions, seizures, asthma, and diabetes. Washington State law requires that a nursing care plan, medication or treatment order be presented prior to the student’s attendance or continued attendance if already in school—a task that is difficult when nursing hours are limited or case loads are high.

by Lorali Gray, RN, BSN, MEd, NCSN NWESD School Nurse Corps Administrator

As students across the Northwest start the 2010-11 school year, NWESD School Nurse Corps (SNC) is helping school nurses prepare a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment by providing additional funding for nursing hours.

How is this possible? As a result of NWESD retiring all debt related to its Anacortes facility, an additional benefit to member districts occurred when funds originally budgeted to cover NWESD School Nurse Corps office space were no longer required. This allowed SNC to pass on the benefit to school districts by offering funding for additional nursing hours.

It is time to make use of all available resources to support member districts as they face these economic challenges.

All school nurses in the NWESD region were invited to submit a proposal for up to seven additional hours of work that will benefit the health and safety of students. Proposals were required to include a description of the activity or project, the purpose of the work, why it is important to school nurse practice, and how it will benefit students.

Forty-five proposals were submitted! Due to limited funding, proposals from thirty nurses in the following school districts were awarded funding: Blaine, Edmonds, Everett, Granite Falls, Lopez Island, Marysville, Meridian, Monroe, Mount Vernon, Nooksack, Orcas Island, and Snohomish.

With the reality of reduced funding for school districts, nurses have less time to complete this vital work by the first day of school. Yet, according to the Dilley Report in 2009, Washington State data showed that students who are healthy and in class are more likely to be academically successful.

The report also states that every health risk, such as a lifethreatening condition, can put students at risk for academic failure.

Given these circumstances, SNC is excited to pass on funding to school nurses for this critical work on behalf of the health and safety of students; subsequently improving health services, student health, and academic outcomes.

School nurses and their districts, regardless of size, are appreciative of this additional time. “Our nursing team in Everett Public Schools was blessed by the unexpected gift

Lorali Gray, the School Nurse Corps Administrator, and Cheryl Deninis, RN for Meridian School District, work together to coordinate services.

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of seven additional hours for six of our registered nurses. As responsibilities increase each year, additional time is difficult to provide particularly in our current economic situation and diminishing district budget resources.

The benefit is very obvious from the array of work this allowed them to conduct after their contract year,” Jim McNally, Everett School District Area 1 Executive Director, stated.

In Meridian School District, a small, rural district in Whatcom County, the extra time is critical to creating quality service. “Implementing an organized framework to serve families is a critical component of the services our nurses provide. The additional hours of support have provided the opportunity for our district’s nurse to develop a comprehensive approach to making necessary health information available to district staff,” Fredrika Smith, Meridian School District Teaching and Learning Executive Director, reported.

The benefit of offering additional nursing hours as a ripple effect of NWESD retiring all debt is not only valued by receiving districts, it supports the mission and goal of the SNC program, “to help students achieve academic success by improving school health services and student health outcomes.” In addition, students with health care needs will be safe while engaged in school activities.

Likewise, providing additional nursing hours aligns with the belief held by the NWESD Board of Directors that “it is time to make use of all available resources to support member districts as they face these economic challenges.”

Supporting member districts through additional nursing hours serves as an example of the NWESD’s vision in action, striving to provide cost-effective resources and quality services, proactively and in response to member district needs.

Together We Can…...

Education Connection, Fall 2010

Reading & Writing Skills Workshops Presented by Dr. Anita Archer

Dr. Archer will provide a combined reading and writing skills workshop for elementary grade level groupings.

Each session will briefly review Tier I interventions and progress monitoring procedures, followed by detailed training with Tier II interventions. Strands on reading development and language enhancements will include diagnosing learning problems then correlating specific interventions to an identified concern. Using profiles of actual students, Dr. Archer will demonstrate a process to identify barriers, analyze impact of previous interventions, and implement appropriate next steps.

Elementary Level Workshop Event ID: 16424 Date/Time(s): Oct 07, 2010 - 8:30 AM-3:30 PM

Middle/High School Levels Workshop Event ID: 16427 Date/Time(s): Oct 08, 2010 - 8:30 AM-3:30 PM Facilitator: Janet Chase Clock Hours: 6 per class Registration Fee: $75 per class Location: NWESD Dr. Anita Archer serves as an educational consultant to school districts on effective instruction, classroom management, reading and writing instruction, and design of effective literacy programs. She has taught elementary and middle school students and is the recipient of nine Outstanding Educator awards including the 2006 Leadership Award from the University of Oregon College of Education.

Dr. Archer has been a faculty member at San Diego State University, the University of Washington, and the University of Oregon. She is nationally known for her presentations and publications on instructional procedures and design. She co-authored Skills for School Success, a study skills program for elementary and middle school students, Advanced Skills for School Success, and REWARDS, a program to teach students advanced decoding and fluency skills, and REWARDS PLUS with Dr. Mary Gleason. She also co-authored Phonics for Reading and has authored many other curriculum materials, chapters, books, and training materials.

Weather is unpredictable; dress in layers expecting room to be cooler in the morning and warm in the afternoon. One hour lunch break, on your own, scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

Questions? Contact Janet Chase at 360.299.4011 or jchase@nwesd.org.

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Upcoming Professional Development Autism Outreach Prevention Social Thinking Across the Home and School Day, Assessment & Core Treatment Strategies Event ID: 15914 Day 1: Social Thinking Across The Home and School Day: The ILAUGH Model of Social Cognition Designed for parents and professionals to understand the inner minds of persons with social-learning weaknesses, this workshop presents not only functional treatment strategies for use both at school and at home, but also models for understanding why these students react and respond the way they do.

Michelle Garcia-Winner will introduce the concept of teaching Social Thinking and related social skills.

Day 2: Informal Dynamic Social Thinking Assessment and Core Treatment Strategies for Home and School Designed for parents and professionals to gain more specific knowledge about their students by using the Dynamic Informal Social Thinking Assessment, as described in Michelle’s core curriculum book, Thinking About YOU Thinking About ME, 2nd Edition.

Video clips of the informal assessment will demonstrate how to learn more about the inner minds of the individuals they are working with and why they need specific treatment strategies.

Presenter(s): Michelle Garcia-Winner Facilitator: Patricia Yates Clock Hours: 12 Registration Fee: $285 Location: Best Western Cotton Tree Inn, Mount Vernon Date/Time(s): Nov 15-16, 2010 - 9:00 AM-4:00 PM REGISTER NOW FOR EARLY BIRD SPECIAL! Register by October 15, 2010 for $245 per person fee (discount will apply at checkout). Register after October 15, 2010 for $285 per person fee.

Education Connection, Fall 2010

Online Issues of Abuse

TOSAs

TOSA Orientation

Event ID: 16265

Event ID: 16348

The impact of exposure to abuse/neglect has far-reaching cognitive implications, including stunted brain growth, diminished academic functioning, poor impulse control, difficulty focusing, low self-esteem, anger bursts, and poor peer relationships and social skills. Acquire knowledge of indicators of abuse/neglect, Washington State law regarding mandated reports, and dynamics of violent families. Meets certification/recertification requirements.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the NWESD Math & Science Collaborative Inquiry Project and the roles and learning opportunities within it. In particular, they will understand the rationale for and characteristics of effective collaborative groups and practice one collaborative study model. They will construct a learning progression for a common topic/standard.

They will identify possible assessment opportunities within the progression and design or select assessments for some of those defined opportunities.

Presenter(s): Corey Hodge Facilitator: Anne Elkins Clock Hours: 10 College Credits: 1 Registration Fee: $125 Location: Online Course Date/Time(s): Jan 24, 2011 through Feb 25, 2011

Presenter(s): Adrienne Somera, Jeanette Grisham Facilitator: Jennifer Longchamps Clock Hours: 16.5 Registration Fee: $0 Location: NWESD Date/Time(s): Sep 27-28, 2010 There are four opportunities to take this class 8:30 AM-3:00 PM Event ID 16266 - Feb 21 thru Mar 25 Oct 22, 2010 Event ID 16267 - Mar 21 thru Apr 22 8:30 AM-3:30 PM Event ID 16268 - Apr 11 thru May 13 This workshop is for those districts participating in the NWESD TOSA project.

Register Early!

Events not meeting minimum enrollment by the cut-off date, generally one week prior to start date, risk cancellation at the discretion of the organizer.

Register online at nwesd.org.

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Opportunities

Teaching & Learning Literacy Leadership Network

Using Journals to Teach History

Event ID: 16006

Event ID: 16426

The Literacy Leadership Network is a professional learning community of literacy leaders from participating districts in NWESD. Our goal is to provide meaningful professional development to meet the needs of participants and their districts as we continue the work of the State Literacy Cadre in our region, maintain our literacy gains, address the pressing needs of struggling adolescents and English language learners, create a network of literacy professionals, and continue to build the capacity of staff with district-based trainers.

Presenter(s): Beth Niemi Facilitator: Anita Garcia-Holzemer Clock Hours: 42 Registration Fee: $100 Location: Burlington Public Library Date/Time(s): Oct 13, 2010 - 9:00 AM-4:00 PM Nov 16, 2010 - 9:00 AM-4:00 PM Dec 08, 2010 - 9:00 AM-4:00 PM Jan 12, 2011 - 9:00 AM-4:00 PM Feb 15, 2011 - 9:00 AM-4:00 PM Mar 15, 2011 - 9:00 AM-4:00 PM May 10, 2011 - 9:00 AM-4:00 PM

Tools fo Teacherr Leaders

Teacher Leadership Academy: Supporting Math, Science, and Keeping a journal is a time-honored American Literacy tradition. In today’s classroom, journal writing integrates history, science, and art.

It is a natural for language arts and literacy.

Learn to create various kinds of journals and develop lessons that will encourage research, creative writing, scientific observation, and fine arts appreciation.

Event ID: 16377

Presenter(s): Janet Oakley Facilitator: Nancy Menard Clock Hours: 10 College Credits: 1 Registration Fee: $140 Location: To Be Announced Date/Time(s): Jan 21, 2011 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM Jan 22, 2011 - 8:30 AM-4:30 PM

Presenter(s): Adrienne Somera, Beth Niemi, Jeanette Grisham Facilitator: Nancy Menard Clock Hours: 15 Registration Fee: FREE Location: Various Locations To Be Determined Date/Time(s):

10 clock hours ($25) or 1 SPU credit ($40) will be available at class. $10 materials fee will be payable to instructor at class.

Oct 18, 2010 - 9:00 AM-3:00 PM Skills and Strategies for Facilitating Collaborative Groups

Coaches and other teacher leaders working in school districts will strengthen their skills as leaders and facilitators and will deepen their understanding of effective instructional practice.

Jan 24, 2011 - 9:00 AM-3:00 PM Recognizing and Supporting the Elements of Effective Math & Science Instruction Mar 21, 2011 - 9:00 AM-3:00 PM Enhancing Your Leadership Skills

We ask that districts send two teacher leaders or coaches - one K-5 and one 6-12. A district’s total cost for the entire year for two people will be $200 for over 42 hours of workshop time per person.

The cost of this course is reduced due to the Washington State Legislature’s funding for regional math and science coordinators.

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

Go online and try a keyword search. www.NWESD.org/classes Education Connection, Fall 2010

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Reading Professional Development Series Presented by Lisa Thompson You may register for all classes in this series or sign up for individual classes - whichever best meets your needs. Cost and location information for each class is located in the green box below.

DIBELS, Analyzing Student Performance Data

Building Fluency: From the Foundation Up

Event ID: 16372 Oct 05, 2010 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM

Event ID: 16375 Jan 25, 2011 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM

This session is designed to help teachers and leaders interpret DIBELS data and design intervention for students, based on the data. This session will provide hands-on analysis and prepare teachers to analyze performance data at the class and student level.

This workshop seeks to bring a broader understanding to the meaning of “fluency.” Participants will learn about brain research and multiple factors that impact fluency, the importance of accuracy in developing fluent readers, the use of diagnostic data to determine students’ needs, and proven strategies for increasing automaticity with underlying skills and fluency in connected text.

Instructional Templates to Enhance Instruction Event ID: 16373 Oct 26, 2010 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM

Vocabulary Instruction: Teaching Vocabulary to Enhance Comprehension

This workshop will demonstrate how to use instructional templates to enhance core reading instruction and interventions. These templates are designed to reinforce specific skills in phonics, phonemic awareness, word reading, and multi-syllabic decoding.

The session will include discussion of how to use data to determine students’ needs. Participants will be actively involved with partners to practice and reinforce these strategies.

Event ID: 16376 Mar 08, 2011 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM Vocabulary plays a critical role in learning to read and in supporting comprehension. In this workshop, teachers will learn about the research base on vocabulary instruction and learn strategies to support effective instruction in the following areas: providing rich and varied language experiences, teaching word learning strategies, teaching individual words explicitly, and fostering word consciousness.

Word Study: The Art of Decoding Multi-Syllabic Words Event ID: 16374 Nov 18, 2010 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM

Facilitator: Anita Garcia-Holzemer Clock Hours: 3 each Registration Fee: $40 each Location: Burlington Public Library

As students develop in their reading ability, multi-syllabic words present the greatest challenge. This workshop will provide tools for teachers to help their students learn to read multi-syllabic words accurately and fluently, giving them confidence as readers and providing a gateway to increased comprehension.

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Reading & Literacy Two different series are available

NWESD Literacy Classes Presented by Sarah Collinge You may register for all classes in this series or sign up for individual classes - whichever best meets your needs. Cost and location information for each class is located in the gray box below.

Planning for Small Group Instruction

Authentic Writing in Response to Reading

Event ID: 15999 Oct 20, 2010 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM

Event ID: 16001 Feb 09, 2011 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM

Meeting with students in small groups offers teachers the opportunity to provide ‘just in time’ instruction based on students’ assessment data. Participants will examine a variety of types of small group instruction including guided reading, transitional guided reading, strategy groups, and book clubs. This class will help you determine groups and which instructional skills and strategies to teach each group. For teachers and reading specialists grades K-6.

After reading, readers are naturally inclined to share the book with someone else. This important step in the reading process helps readers synthesize their thinking and make personal connections with the book. This course will explore the formal genres of writing about reading that are authentic to what readers use in the real world: book reviews, literary essays, letters to other readers, and letters to authors.

Participants will have the opportunity to analyze these genres, and will learn how to guide readers through the writing process as they write in response to reading. In addition, time will be spent looking at student samples for assessment purposes. For teachers and reading specialists grades 2-8.

Genre: The Key to Unlocking Comprehension Event ID: 16000 Dec 08, 2010 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM Do you struggle to get fluent readers in your classroom to move beyond series books like Magic Tree House and Junie B. Jones? This workshop will help you move students from picture and series books into novels. Participants will look at the reasons readers gravitate toward series books, analyze the supports these texts offer, and learn how to explicitly teach key characteristics of genre. Genres covered in this workshop will include realistic fiction, historical fiction, epic fantasy, science fiction, non-fiction, and biography. For teachers and reading specialists grades 2-8.

Facilitator: Nancy Menard Clock Hours: 3 each Registration Fee: $40 each Location: Everett Community College Gray Wolf Hall, Room 388 Education Connection, Fall 2010

Reflecting on Our Practice Event ID: 16002 May 25, 2011 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM The instructor will guide participants through the process of reflecting on their own teaching. Participants will learn how to engage in reflective protocols, how to coach colleagues through reflective questioning, how to design an action research question and build an action plan to implement that research in collaboration with other participants. For teachers, teacher leaders, grade level teams, professional learning communities, and specialists. Don’t miss this opportunity to reflect on the year and motivate yourself for future growth!

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Developing Discourse: Getting Kids to Talk in the Math and Science Classroom Event ID: 16378 Talk is an important and integral part of learning in math and science. Participants in this course will learn techniques to encourage talk and discourse in the math and science classroom and will also build their skills around effective questioning and facilitating classroom discussion.

Presenter(s): Adrienne Somera, Jeanette Grisham Facilitator: Nancy Menard Clock Hours: 6 Registration Fee: $50 Location: Burlington Fire Department Date/Time(s): Oct 25, 2010 - 8:30 AM-3:30 PM Lunch and text, Classroom Discussions: Using Math Talk to Help Students Learn, will be provided (included in cost). The cost of this course is reduced due to the Washington State Legislature’s funding for regional math and science coordinators.

Managing Science Materials and Math Manipulatives Event ID: 16449 Learn strategies for effective management of science materials and math manipulatives with students in the elementary classroom.

Math & Science

Origo: Developing Geometric Thought

Origo: Developing the Fundamentals of Problem Solving

Event ID: 16454

Event ID: 16455

Join us for this workshop in which we will examine the components of geometric thinking and its use in developing meaningful geometric experiences for students. Experience activities that will make geometry a fun and interactive component of the mathematics curriculum. Resources that provide a fresh approach to teaching geometry are provided. Products included: a Geometric Thought workshop module, GEO books (Paper Polygons, All About Angles, and Plane Puzzles) and one ream of GEO Metric paper. Target audience: grades 2-7.

Good problem solvers have more than just a range of efficient strategies that they can choose and use. They also have deep understanding of key concepts and are proficient in skills of mathematics. This workshop will examine what it means to have deep understanding by specifically exploring multiplication and algebra. It will also describe how best to develop the skills of basic number facts in a way that promotes thinking. Finally, participants will explore and apply specific problem-solving strategies across the five strands of the mathematics curriculum. Products included: a Problem Solving workshop module and a grade level Problem Solving Think Tank. Target audience: grades 1-6.

Presenter(s): Rob Nickerson Facilitator: Nancy Menard Clock Hours: 6 Registration Fee: $220 Please register for this class at the Origo website www.origoeducation.com/workshops.

Location: NWESD Date/Time(s): Oct 19, 2010 - 8:30 AM-3:30 PM Registration deadline: October 7 for online and fax registrations. Mail in registrations must be postmarked by October 4. There will be a onehour lunch break on your own.

Presenter(s): TBD Facilitator: Nancy Menard Clock Hours: 3 Registration Fee: $25 Location: Stanwood-Camano School District, Port Susan Middle School Library Date/Time(s): Jan 25, 2011 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM

Presenter(s): Rob Nickerson Facilitator: Nancy Menard Clock Hours: 6 Registration Fee: $200 Please register for this class at the Origo web site: www.origoeducation.com/workshops.

Location: NWESD Date/Time(s): Oct 20, 2010 - 8:30 AM-3:30 PM Registration deadline: October 7 for online and fax registrations.

Mail in registrations must be postmarked by October 4. There will be a one-hour lunch break on your own.

The cost of this course is reduced due to the Washington State Legislature’s funding for regional math and science coordinators.

Getting Students Ready to Meet Grad Requirements in Math & Science (Event ID: 16460) Participants will become familiar with the details of the High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE) and will be given strategies to help prepare their students to meet standard.

Clock Hours: 6 Cost: FREE! Date/Time: Feb 02, 2011 - 9:00 AM-3:00 PM Education Connection, Fall 2010

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Did You Know?

Your NWESD math and science coordinators are also able to provide school-based, customized professional development on formative assessment - at little or no cost - to meet the needs of your building or district.

Please contact Jennifer Whitney, PD Coordinator, jwhitney@nwesd.org or 360.299.4069.

Powerful Formative Assessment in Math & Science Series

T

Powerful Formative Assessment in Math & Science: Follow Up Sessions (Fall 2010)

here is compelling evidence that formative assessment is a powerful tool to increase student learning. Because of its potential to be a transformative tool for instruction, the regional math and science coordinators have made it a focus area for professional development for classroom teachers.

Event ID: 16018 This series of three sessions provides follow-up to the introductory Powerful Formative Assessment in Math and Science class. Participants will examine their use of formative assessment in math and science classrooms, and they will deepen their understanding of learning progressions, effective feedback, and standards-based grading.

This series consists of one 2-day introductory session, followed by three half-day sessions (separate registration required). We encourage you to attend both the introductory and follow-up sessions, as formative assessment is a complex tool.

While examples used in these courses will be specific to math and science, the content of formative assessment is applicable to all subject areas. Teachers of all subjects are welcome to attend!

Presenter(s): Adrienne Somera, Jeanette Grisham Facilitator: Nancy Menard Clock Hours: 9 College Credit: 1 Pending approval; college credit will require an additional 2-hour practicum assignment.

Registration Fee: $25 Location: Stanwood-Camano SD Training Room Date/Time(s): Oct 05, 2010 - 1:00 PM-4:00 PM Nov 09, 2010 - 1:00 PM-4:00 PM Dec 07, 2010 - 1:00 PM-4:00 PM

Powerful Formative Assessment in Math & Science Event ID: 16461 An introduction to the characteristics of powerful formative assessment in math and science. Participants will be given tools to design and implement a formative assessment system in math and science classrooms. Separate follow-up sessions will focus on implementation and effective feedback.

Prerequisite: participants MUST have attended the introductory Powerful Formative Assessment in Math and Science class prior to the start of this class. The cost of this course is reduced due to the Washington State Legislature’s funding for regional math and science coordinators.

Presenter(s): Adrienne Somera, Jeanette Grisham Facilitator: Nancy Menard Clock Hours: 12 College Credits: 1 Registration Fee: $75 Location: Burlington Public Library Date/Time(s): Jan 26-27, 2011 - 9:00 AM-4:00 PM

This class is also offered in the spring.

We encourage you to also register for the Powerful Formative Assessment in Math & Science: Follow Up Sessions, Session ID 16462. Lunch will be provided (included in cost).The cost of this course is reduced due to the Washington State Legislature’s funding for regional math and science coordinators.

Education Connection, Fall 2010

Event ID 16462 Feb 09, 2011 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM Mar 09, 2011 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM Mar 30, 2011 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM 19

www.NWESD.org

Service Dog Program Teaches Life Skills and Boosts Interest in School Whatcom Discovery Center fifth grade students cannot wait to get to school these days to meet up with their new friends—dogs. Thanks to Brigadoon Youth and Service Dog Programs, nine fifth graders are paired with assistance dogsin-training during school hours. This Positive Association with Students (P.A.W.S.) is a youth program designed to improve school performance for students.

Discovery Center students have the opportunity to train service dogs to perform special tasks several times per week.

During the training process students learn valuable life skills such as caretaking, dependability, consistency, followthrough, patience, positive motivation, anger management, and leadership.

A similar service dog training program was previously implemented in the Bellingham School District with Brigadoon services.

Brigadoon Youth and Service Dog Programs is a charitable, nonprofit organization located in Bellingham and serves people in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Canada.

For more information on Whatcom Discovery Center’s partnership with Brigadoon’s P.A.W.S. program, contact Whatcom Discovery Center Counselor Mary Allen at mallen@ nwesd.org .

Register Early!

Events not meeting minimum enrollment by the cutoff date, generally one week prior to start date, risk cancellation at the discretion of the organizer.

Register online at nwesd.org.

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Facilitating PreK-3rd Alignment in the Region

PreK-3rd Alignment is a comprehensive reform strategy that is gaining momentum, both nationally and within our region, focused on ensuring that all children develop the cognitive and social skills that establish strong foundations for future learning.

Research shows that children who experience a continuum of quality, aligned PreK-3rd components perform better in third grade than those who do not.

Third grade is a critical turning point in children’s education. This is the time when children begin to shift from “learning to read” to “reading to learn”. Those children who cannot read proficiently by the third grade will struggle to master the academic content in later grades. The same is true for those children without solid math and social skills. Children who are behind at third grade usually struggled well before then, and despite what we may hope, they just keep falling further and further behind.

Traditionally, policymakers have focused in on middle school and high school in efforts to address the achievement gap and high school drop out rate. They have paid less attention to the foundational years of education or ensuring that learning builds from one year to the next.

PreK-3rd urges educators to take a long range view of education and to develop policies and practices that support the foundational development of children’s most crucial cognitive and social skills.

Education Connection, Fall 2010

Our state has identified four key elements to PreK-3rd Alignment: 1. Institutional leadership 2 Early Learning partnerships and coalitions 3. Aligned and effective instruction; across programs, agencies, institutions and grade levels 4. Family partnerships and engagement Over the next two years, NWESD will build the capacity to facilitate PreK-3rd Alignment in our region by taking steps to lead, support, and learn about the replication of promising practices identified as key components of an aligned educational system. There is a strong commitment to early learning in our region, with many wonderful efforts taking place.

A key element of the NWESD program for PreK-3rd Alignment includes a package of tools featuring nationally recognized literacy expert David Matteson. These tools, built specifically for educators in PreK-3rd classrooms and child care providers in the region, include consulting services, literacy materials and an interactive website.

In 2009, the NWESD received a grant to take the promising practice of early literacy instructional alignment occurring in Nooksack Valley School District to scale its five-county region. The Nooksack Valley School District has emerged as a leader within the region for integrating early learning as part of their strategic approach to increase student achievement and partnering with community programs in that approach.

The district, in collaboration with the Opportunity Council, their Head Start partnership, has developed a professional development model of shared teaching 21

and learning among teachers PreK-3rd. In choosing literacy as the instructional focus, the Nooksack Valley Collaboration brought in David Matteson, an expert in emergent reading and writing, to work with teachers from both Head Start and the school district.

As an extension of the grant project, the NWESD has begun to develop a website as a means of including more early learning teachers in this work. The website examines the “big ideas” behind early literacy development and provides educators with specific strategies for supporting emergent readers and writers. In partnership with Child Care Resource and Referral, community child care partners have the opportunity to access the content of a secure website, to consult with early literacy coaches who have trained with David Matteson, and to participate in professional learning communities focused on early literacy instruction.

We believe that working to develop common approaches that support literacy development among district-community early learning partnerships will result in more children entering school with the skills and attitudes they need to be successful and to maintain that achievement over time.

This program is very new to the NWESD and is currently serving a small group of member districts. However, additional districts are joining the movement as this series gains momentum. If you would like to inquire about the PreK-3rd Alignment program, or other resources available in that area, please contact Karma Hugo at 360.299.4045 or khugo@nwesd.org.

www.NWESD.org

Education Connection

www.nwesd.org/classes

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Registration Center Two Ways to Register!

(1) Register Online: Using your credit card or an approved purchase order, you can register for any NWESD class ONLINE! Note: All “in process” purchase order registrations will be rejected.

(2) Register by Mail or Fax: Attendees may still register by mail or fax using the registration form in this catalog.

Mail the form with payment to: Registrar, NWESD 1601 R Avenue Anacortes WA 98221 Fax the registration form with credit card or purchase order information to: 360.299.4070.

Course Facilitators are available for questions about each course Autism Outreach Project Patty Yates, 360.299.4015 pyates@nwesd.org Prevention Center Anne Elkins, 360.299.4037 aelkins@nwesd.org

Register Early!

Events not meting the minimum enrollment by cut-off date, generally one week prior to start date, risk cancellation at the discretion of the organizer.

Register today! www.nwesd.org/classes

Special Programs and Services Janet Chase, 360.299.4011 jchase@nwesd.org Teaching & Learning (T&L) Anita Garcia-Holzemer, 360.299.4044 agarcia@nwesd.org Nancy Menard, 360.299.4020 nmenard@nwesd.org

Registration Shortcut

Advanced Education At Your Convenience CE Credits Online and NWESD has partnered with CE Credits Online to provide online courses.

Earn college credit and/or clock hours without having to leave the comforts of your home. All NWESD educators receive discounts on the registration costs of the course.

The quickest way to register for courses: Visit www.nwesd.org/classes Either sign in with your existing account or, if you are new user, create an account Register using esdWorks Online!

et plugged into NWESD! The NWESD resources are just a click away! The Education Connection is available online, in an easy-to-read magazine format! Visit www.nwesd.org/publication to see the latest course catalog and to subscribe to email notifications when a new publication is released.

s #OACHING TO )MPROVE 2EADING s #OACHING TO )MPROVE Teaching and Learning s The Constructive Discipline Series Giving Directives That Students Will Follow Stopping Disruptive Behavior Conducting the Parent Conference 2IGHTS 2ESPONSIBILITIES IN THE $ISCIPLINARY Process s $IfFERENTIATING )NSTRUCTION IN THE 2EGULAR Classroom s (OW TO h2EAD AND WRITEv IN -ATH )MPROVING 0ROBLEM 3OLVING AND #OMMUNICATION IN Mathematics s Today Classroom: Foundations of and Current Trends in Education

For more information please visit www.cecreditsonline.org You may also contact Sandra at (888) 263-9980 ext. 107 or sandra@cecredtsonline.org.

Visit us on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news about NWESD offerings and updates esdWorks Online catalog, go online to www.nwesd.org/classes. from our member districts. You can join the conversation by visiting our homepage and clicking on the icons in the lower left.

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Email Marketing is now available to districts

D

o you send newsletters to student families, community members and school staff?

If so, the NWESD Email Marketing service could save your budget - and a few trees!

The interface

Our intuitive interface makes even the most sophisticated email-marketing features easy for anyone to use, saving you time and effort and allowing you to let non-technical staff members help you manage your lists, content and account.

The relationship

Whether you’re just getting started or you have a question about a campaign or its results along the way, we stay involved to make sure you’re getting the most out of your email marketing account.

The custom designs

Whether you’re utilizing our professional design services or creating your own campaigns in house, we’ll help you create and send great-looking campaigns every time. No pre-fabricated templates here, just professional designs created just for you.

The flexibility of it all

From signup screens and database fields to campaign templates and content, there’s little about our service that can’t be customized to suit your particular projects and process. All you have to do is ask and there’s a good chance we’ll say yes.

The price

You’ll spend much less than you would to use public services like Constant Contact or iContact, particularly when you factor in our custom designs, extensive features and customer support.

Want a test drive? Give us a call and we’ll set you up with a demo account. 360.299.4714

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1601 R Avenue Anacortes, WA 98221 Ph. 360.299.4000 Fx. 360.299.4070 www.NWESD.org www.NWESD.org