BISD #learningtogether

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Welcome to BISD #learningtogether!

Just as my job has evolved over the last several months, so has this blog. Instead of focusing exclusively on digital learning, this year's weekly newsletter will include more varied resources for teaching and learning. Please have patience with me as I find my stride. The learning curve is steep! If there are topics that you want addressed, just shoot me an email. I have only changed the name and content of the blog. The past 108 blog posts are still searchable at this site. Looking for something in particular? Just use the search bar to the right of this post.

Blended Learning

So yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting classrooms on all four campus. (If you haven't seen the video summary of the day, check out Facebook on our website!) One of the things that struck me most was how different our classrooms look going in 2019-2020. I did not see one Chromebook out in the classrooms I visited, but I saw a ton of flexible seating that will accommodate blending learning this fall.

Right now we've got 40 teachers signed up to participate in UTeach's thirty-hour Blended Learning series over the next couple of months, and more will come on board in the next few weeks. Add that to the 18 who were trained last year, and we're looking at a pretty major shift in thinking about instruction in BISD! And ten of those original eighteen are getting ready to take the Advanced Blended Learning course!

I am over-the-moon excited that Sandy Snow's training last week on Assessing for Learning completely makes sense in the construct of the blended classroom. Sandy gave us the tools to know how to assess exactly who has learned what on any given day. (That training was AMAZING!) Blended learning will allow us to address the data in our lesson planning: how to meet the needs of individual students when there's just one you!

Just ask your administrators. I'm more than pretty excited! And I can't wait to sit in on some PLC's this fall to see the magic happen!

Gifted and Talented

A great big Bulldog thank you to Mr. Tosh and Mrs. Verstuyft for writing our policy manual for gifted and talented students. It was approved by the Board of Trustees over the summer.

There a a few things that every classroom teacher should know:

The GT nomination form is on the website above, and nominations will be accepted during the second six weeks. Testing will occur during the second and third six weeks. After the committee meets during the fourth six weeks, qualifying students will begin to receive services.
Classroom teachers must be informed of which students have qualified for Gifted and Talented, AND they must be notified as to the reason for qualification. Your administrators, GT coordinators, Mrs. Jones, and I will work on that during the first six weeks.
Teachers MUST document how they are servicing their GT students. Again, your administrators, GT coordinators, Mrs. Jones, and I are working on a cohesive plan. In the meantime, check out the amazing resources at Texas Performance Projects. #trulyamazingideas

English Language Learners

There are more than a few changes regarding our English Language Learners.

Schools have 30 days after a parent fills out the Home Language survey to assess the student's language proficiency and hold an LPAC. The LAS and the pre-LAS are the only state-approved language proficiency tests. (Stephanie Jones (BHS) and Kathy Teich (AES) are our trained personnel.)
ELL's receive service through the ESL certified teacher who instructs them in the ELAR TEKS. Did you know that ESC 20 has a 12-hour online course available to help teachers prepare for the ESL certification test? No driving! I'm a fan already!
Did you know that the voice typing feature in Google Docs is an amazing way for new-to-English students to show their understanding of a a concept? The student can speak in his/her home language, and Google Docs will transcribe. The translation feature in Google Docs will then translate the text into English. Need help? Give me a call.

Digital Learning
Check out this amazing compilation of resources to teach math concepts. Thank you, Erin Moore, for forwarding.