Week of March 15th
Do you have something to celebrate? I hope we all do! Please share with the team so we can celebrate together! Teams that celebrate together, accelerate together!
Please complete the Google Form with celebrations! This is ongoing throughout the year! I will add them every Thursday in our Newsletter!
Remember to check out our Celebrations Page for updated shout-outs and congratulations!
Previous Professional Development
Elementary Teachers:
It was good to see those of you who could join us for the Lexia Training sessions held on Tuesday, March 16th. Whether you attended or were unable to attend, please look on the Lexia page of the newsletter for more information from the session including the recordings.
Also, Lexia has now assigned a specific tech support technician just for Greenville County Schools. They are wanting to track our issues and make sure concerns are directed to one person to better serve us. If you have specific issues please send them to me so i can send them to our assigned technician versus contacting help support.
Lastly, because you have a Lexia account you may have received an email referencing Lexia Back-On-Track Initiative. I have had a couple teachers contact me about that email. There is nothing you need to do concerning the email.
Upcoming Professional Development
ESOL Monthly Professional Development
This is just a reminder that we cannot award PD credit for watching the recordings after the PD is held. Points will only be awarded to those who are in attendance.
April PD - Portal Registration
Here are the portal links for the April ESOL PD opportunities.
Read to Succeed Courses Information
Literacy Teacher Endorsement (early childhood, elementary, ESOL, and special education (all categories, PreK-12)
Four required courses, Foundations in Reading, Content Area Reading and Writing, Instructional Practices, and Assessment in Reading. We recommend that you complete the Foundations in Reading course first. The remaining courses can be taken in any order.
GCS offers one of the four required courses as an online option, Foundations in Reading, fall and spring of each year for free. If you choose to take this course outside of GCS or through VirtualSC, it is at your own cost. Current schedule
The remaining three courses (Content Area Reading and Writing, Instructional Practices, and Assessment in Reading) will be paid for through VirtualSC as a GCS course. These courses may be taken in any order. You will be registered through GCS, no reimbursements. Current schedule
Or, you may choose to take the PRAXIS test, Teaching Reading K-12 (5206 in lieu of coursework). A passing score on test 5206 will provide your Literacy Teacher Endorsement with no additional coursework. GCS will reimburse with documentation of a passing score. Keep in mind that this exam has a strong focus on elementary literacy instructional strategies. PRAXIS reimbursement instructions
If you are interested in non-GCS course options, see SCSDE Educator In-Service Courses. These courses have a registration fee. The SC Department of Education will only accept courses pre-approved by their office…all approved courses are included. Questions about non-GCS courses must be directed to the SC Department of Education.
Substitutes: GCS full-time employees receive priority for GCS courses. If space is available, substitutes may register for a GCS course.
Highlights
Nat Geo Placement Test
As you report and/or share the results of the Nat Geo Placement Test to the appropriate middle or high school, for any student who completed Part 2: Reading, please be mindful to submit the lexile level in which the student placed along with the curriculum level.