January 20, 2021
Jenny Lent
Presentation from EverFi regarding FREE instructional resources
Aligned with PA Core and CASEL Standards, EVERFI's new digital library of DEI, Mental Health, and 306-Africa American History courses have been added to PDE's Equitable Resources Hub and available for member districts completely free of cost. EVERFI's Director of Implementation for Southwestern Pennsylvania schools, Alyssa Lyons, will provide us with a brief overview of the digital resources and how these bite-sized, supplemental lessons can meet DEI goals while providing timely support for students + families. Preview those resources on slide 8 here.
Fusion Credit Recovery Coursework (March 22 - May 7) - Kristin VanStrien
IU1 EVOLVE Update - Adding Partners and Free Series!
Pancake Bots ($70 per pancake bot) and Desk Dividers (20" for $10 per divider and 24" for $12 per divider) are on sale.
Educator Effectiveness Survey due February 19, 2021
Surveys should be completed and submitted to PDE via email at RA-PDE-Evaluation@pa.gov no later than February 19, 2021.The submission process for this year’s collection is the same as last year. Remember to include your LEA’s name in the subject line of your email. The survey can be found on the Teacher and Principal Evaluation Survey page. To ensure complete and accurate information, review all items highlighted on page 8 of the survey. If you have any questions concerning this year’s collection efforts, please contact Emily Wolff at (717) 525-5399 or at RA-PDE-Evaluation@pa.gov .
IMPORTANT! ESSA reporting - Make sure you understand the difference in reporting and how ESSA reporting is calculated for this year.
Update PBS Data Casting Initiative with pilot districts (5 IU1 districts) in the Connected to Learn Pilot
One time ask from PDE through PIMS for districts to identify students enrolled in and who have passed a Keystone course in 2019-2020; they will be labeled with a non numerical proficient and their scores (regardless if they take it again or not) will never count towards accountability. Anyone in 10th grade or lower who is labeled with this nonnumerical number, will only have 4 graduation pathways as this nonnumerical does not count in the composite score option for graduation beginning with the graduating class of 2023. (Students must be offered the opportunity to take the test for a score for graduation purposes.)
No PVAAS roster verification this spring.
PDE will most likely extend the testing window this spring too, but this is not official; An FAQ for testing is in the works at PDE
IU1 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusions Series continues!
Title: Diversity
Presenter: Dr. Sheri Boyle, California University of PA
Date: January 20, 2021, 9:00-11:00 am
Register: Diversity
Title: Restorative Practices: Delivery of Education to Diverse Students
Presenter: Dr. Ryan Bunting and Dr. James Longo, Washington and Jefferson University
Date: February 10, 2021 9:00-11:00 am
Register: Restorative Practices: Delivery of Education to Diverse Students
Title: Equity Resources
Presenter: Craig Hummell, Melissa Hunter, and Joe Mahoney, IU1
Date: March 10, 2021 9:00-11:00 am
Register: Equity Resources
Learning Blade Backpack - STEM resource for Chromebooks for students with little or no internet access (sent from Judd Pittman)
Certification Staffing Policy Guidelines (CSPGs) for 7-12 Computer Science
Inventionland Updates - It brings us great excitement to share Virtual Touring with you. We would like to invite education groups of all kinds to tour our factory from the comfort of your home-offices, classrooms, or both! With interactive experiences that are custom built for every group, each tour is unique to the focus of your class. Educators will work alongside our tour staff to create an experience that students will talk about for years to come. Feel free to check out the Frequently-Asked-Questions Guide by clicking here. It covers everything from cost to post-tour activities.
10 Significant Education Studies - https://www.edutopia.org/article/10-most-significant-education-studies-2020
Please share the upcoming IU1 CPE course offerings with your staff!
Reading Strategies for the Content Area Teacher February 5, 2021 - March 21, 2021
Project-Based & Challenge-Based Learning February 12, 2021 - April 10, 2021
Writing Strategies for the Content Area Teacher February 12, 2021 - March 28, 2021
There's an App For That… Integrating the iPad into the Classroom February 19, 2021 - April 17, 2021
Technology Tools For the 21st Century Classroom February 26, 2021 - April 24, 2021
Digital Literacy March 5, 2021 - May 1, 2021
Green Ribbon Schools Application deadline: 6:00 PM February 5, 2021
Pennsylvania has partnered with the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) program to recognize USDE Green Ribbon Schools, District Sustainability Awards, and Postsecondary Sustainability Awards. This is the tenth year Pennsylvania has participated in the program. The ED-GRS program was launched by the U.S. Department of Education to recognize schools, school districts, and institutions of higher education that reduce environmental impact and costs, improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff and provide effective environmental and sustainability education. Combined progress in all three of these areas, known as Pillars, serves as the basis for recognition. Each year states may nominate up to five Pre-K-12 schools or districts and one postsecondary institution for the ED-GRS program. USDE then selects and announces awardees nominated by each state in the spring. Pennsylvania’s Pathways to Green Schools Program recognizes schools across the commonwealth as they design, build, and implement environmental literacy and sustainability plans in their school, school district, or postsecondary institution in their quest to achieve ED-GRS recognition.
For further details and application process please visit: Pennsylvania’s Pathways to Green Schools Program For questions, please contact: Tamara E. Peffer, Environment & Ecology Content Advisor, PDE: TPeffer@pa.govPenn State Outreach Readiness Institute – Hope Moon Shot, deadline January 22, 2021; The Readiness Institute at Penn State is embarking on a mission to help foster hope among people around the world. Students, educators and members of the global community are invited to share messages of hope — for free — that will be included aboard a mission to the moon. The hopes will be saved on an SD card and will be placed in a storage capsule that will be sent to the moon’s surface by Astrobotic, a Pittsburgh-based space robotics company. To be a part of the Hope Moonshot mission, submit hopes before Jan. 22, 2021. Participants will have an opportunity to receive mission updates, images and attend a virtual launch party in the second half of 2021. Lesson plans also are available for educators. For more information, please visit: https://readinessinstitute.psu.edu/hope-moonshot/ Questions? Please contact Justin Aglio - justinaglio@psu.edu
Reminder: 2021 Pennsylvania STEM Ambassador Program: Developing STEM Policy Leaders in Pennsylvania. Application deadline: January 22, 2021. STEM Champions, please consider applying for the new cohort of PA STEM Ambassadors and forward to colleagues/friends for consideration. This is a great opportunity to get more involved in STEM in Pennsylvania– highly recommend it! For complete details and application, visit the PASADYN website HERE.
The PDE Data Summit will be Free & Virtual - March 22 – 24, 2021 Register Today
Craig Hummell
Top: Miguel Cardona, new Federal Education Secretary
Bottom: Noe Ortega, New PA Secretary of Education
Jo Beth McKee
Quarter Turns: Supports to Access Complex Text Across Disciplines
What are quarter turn instructional moves? Quarter turns are small pivots teachers and students can make to help all students learn from rich grade-level text. Quarter Turns have been designed to engage more students more frequently with more text.
Dave Dunham
Mini - Grant Opportunity from EntreEd!!!
If any teachers pilot Learn2Launch with kids and can be face to face at least a portion of the week, the teacher can get a mini-grant for supplies. Teachers could get cool stuff like a green screen, software, or prototyping materials.
Rob Baier
Desmos - Calculator Petition
We're looking to engage our math friends at PDE to allow Desmos on our state tests. To date, 38 states have the agreement in place. Why not us? Looking for some signatures of support:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfnwCdzIYwRrFORs6H--ktFEH4WROwgiw-MF4UyHkTm0pzcJQ/viewform
Imagine Learning 3-Session Overview:
January 26, 2021- 10:00am - Imagine Learning Overview - https://iu1-org.zoom.us/j/99737233960
February 16, 2021- 10:00am - Imagine Learning Specific Features - https://iu1-org.zoom.us/j/91593931838
March 2, 2021 – 10:00am - Imagine Learning Data and Implementation - https://iu1-org.zoom.us/j/98724431016
Imagine Learning Grant Opportunity
Imagine Math Grant
Get Imagine Math for FREE (grant-funded)
The grant is for the remainder of this school year 2020-2021 AND next school year 2021-2022!
If you participate in the grant, you can receive Imagine Language and Literacy for 50% off!
2021 NCTM Virtual Conference
I will be presenting at the 2021 NCTM Virtual Conference on Saturday, February 6
My session is called, "I Have a Block to Teach Math: Now What?". The session is from 4:30pm- 5:30pm EST
To register for the full conference, click here: https://www.nctm.org/virtual2021/
2021 PCTM Annual Conference
PCTM is hosting a 1-day conference that will focus on "Equity in Math"
When: August 5, 2021
This conference is only $30 per person!
The Keynote Speaker and Featured Speakers are some of the most well-known math educators in the country!
Alyssa Moore (on leave)
TRETC
TRETC Keynote YouTube Channel - Jamie Casap
Pittsburgh STEAM Station on YouTube - local teachers share STEAM activities for K-12
Pittsburgh STEAM playlist for spring 2021
Ask, Listen, Learn - Ask, Listen, Learn is a free, digital underage drinking prevention program for kids ages 9-12. Focused on how alcohol and cannabis affect the developing brain; focused on Next Generation Science Standards
Sarah Durzo
Matt Weightman
• Green Ribbon Schools Application deadline: 6:00 PM February 5, 2021: Pennsylvania has partnered with the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) program to recognize USDE Green Ribbon Schools, District Sustainability Awards, and Postsecondary Sustainability Awards. This is the tenth year Pennsylvania has participated in the program. The ED-GRS program was launched by the U.S. Department of Education to recognize schools, school districts, and institutions of higher education that reduce environmental impact and costs, improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff and provide effective environmental and sustainability education. Combined progress in all three of these areas, known as Pillars, serves as the basis for recognition. Each year states may nominate up to five Pre-K-12 schools or districts and one postsecondary institution for the ED-GRS program. USDE then selects and announces awardees nominated by each state in the spring. Pennsylvania’s Pathways to Green Schools Program recognizes schools across the commonwealth as they design, build, and implement environmental literacy and sustainability plans in their school, school district, or postsecondary institution in their quest to achieve ED-GRS recognition. For further details and application process please visit: Pennsylvania’s Pathways to Green Schools Program. For questions, please contact: Tamara E. Peffer, Environment & Ecology Content Advisor, PDE: TPeffer@pa.gov
• Penn State Outreach Readiness Institute – Hope Moon Shot, deadline January 22, 2021: The Readiness Institute at Penn State is embarking on a mission to help foster hope among people around the world. Students, educators and members of the global community are invited to share messages of hope — for free — that will be included aboard a mission to the moon. The hopes will be saved on an SD card and will be placed in a storage capsule that will be sent to the moon’s surface by Astrobotic, a Pittsburgh-based space robotics company. To be a part of the Hope Moonshot mission, submit hopes before Jan. 22, 2021. Participants will have an opportunity to receive mission updates, images and attend a virtual launch party in the second half of 2021. Lesson plans also are available for educators. For more information, please visit: https://readinessinstitute.psu.edu/hope-moonshot/ Questions? Please contact Justin Aglio - justinaglio@psu.edu