November 30,2023
Jenny Lent
National EntreEd Conference held at SouthPointe Hilton Garden Inn on March 12-13, 2024
Student Vendor tables wanted! Sign up to have your student entrepreneurs sell their creations!
Join educators and administrators from around the country to discuss entrepreneurship in the classroom! It isn't often that a national conference is held so close to us.
Ron Gallagher
ChatGPT prompt of the month for school leaders
Comp Planning
Educator Effectiveness Annual Report will be released on December 20th and is due on February 28th.
Check the Master List here.
All Phase 2 Schools are due on March 31, 2023
Chapter 49 updates
Empathy is considered CR-SE
Are there ramifications for a district whose Board refuses to sign their comp plan with the CR-SE box checked or any description related to CR-SE included? LEAs can submit with the assurance unchecked. As long as they have a training that is a Culturally Relevant and Sustaining Education training, they have met the requirement within the School Code. I am happy to discuss this with the superintendent. - Amy Lena
Are there any updates or additional supportive resources/ guidelines for implementing the CRSE framework for LEAs? There will be a SAS course, and PDE is creating a resource. - Amy Lena
22-23 Assessments
Emetric
All testing data should be loaded into your districts Emetric account.
PVAAS
The new public release has been updated.
PVAAS Fall Release: A Four-Step Focus for LEA/District Leaders
FRPAI
How are the blue, green, and red colors determined to a district? Link
ACT 13
ACT 158
Greater than 5% waiver for two consecutive years, will trigger an audit.
Due December 1st.
ACT 45
July 2024 there will be online registration that will consist of all the trainings
Minimum of 10 hours for a PIL course.
Must be an ACT 48 provider in order to provide ACT 45.
PDESAS Updates
Human Capital
Carissa Pokorny Golden, Director, Bureau of School Leadership and Teacher Quality (PDF of Carissa’s slides)
Point Park has an Teacher Certificate program. https://www.pointpark.edu/academics/schools/education/abcte
Career Education & Work; Family and Consumer Science; Economic Standards
Believed to start writing standards in July of 2024. It is believed to be fully implemented by the 2026-2027 SY. Implementation will be similar to the implementation of the STEEL standards.
Certification
Certification and Staffing Policy Guidelines (CSPG) that pertain to economic education/financial literacy certification, and course assignment include: CSPG 33 - Business, Computer and Information Technology; CSPG 35 - Citizenship Education; CSPG 44 - Family and Consumer Sciences; CSPG 49 - Marketing/Distributive Education; CSPG 50 - Mathematics; and CSPG 59 - Social Studies.
ELA Content Updates
Listening Sessions updates Kate Bacher and Jennifer Wicht
STEELS Standards Implementation
Go slow, don't do a wholesale change. The change is more about the teaching and learning. Follow the implementation plan.
SAS Institute will have a Science seminar (Tuesday afternoon).
PDE will use the SAS Assessment Toolkit to release questions for the STEEL standards
Changes to Biology exam are minimal at best.
Fusion
Prisms
SAS Institute (Dec 11-13)
PIL Courses
Mathematics with Teresa Brown & a big welcome to Sam Taylor!
Updated PSSA Reference Sheets
The Bureau of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction from PDE has released updated PSSA reference sheets to DACs/SACs that includes noteworthy changes for grades 5-8. Please ensure your teachers have immediate access to these resources.
It's a Charty Party!
The fun and games doesn't have to stop just because our students reach middle and high school. Charty Party is a fun data analysis game for students of all ages, but especially in middle school and up.
25% off discount code for IU1 members! Use the code: "IU1" and remember to buy the all ages version.
Desmos Reminder
The Desmos calculator is available embedded in the computer-based PSSA/Keystone as well as the CDT assessment. Not all features embedded in the calculator are permitted during the standardized assessments. This is especially noteworthy for Algebra 1 Keystone calculator functions.
Nominations Wanted!
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching.
The award recognizes those teachers that have both deep content knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to motivate and enable students to be successful in those areas.
Each Presidential Awardee receives a certificate signed by the President of the United States, a $10,000 award from NSF, and an all-expenses paid trip for an award ceremony. In addition, awardees join a national cohort of award-winning teachers, providing opportunities to impact teaching on a state and national scale.
Upcoming Mathematics Education Conferences
Social Studies
Jordan Lozosky
The Bradford House Historical Association is again sponsoring a Poster Contest on a topic of Western Pennsylvania history, 1750 – 1850, open to all middle and high school students (public, parochial, cyber and home-schooled) who reside in Washington, Greene, Allegheny, Fayette, and Westmoreland Counties.
Students are required to construct a presentation on a standard size trifold display board, register online during January and February, and deliver the project to the Bradford House, 175 South Main Street, Washington PA by March 15, 2024. For complete rules, hints for developing a project, a list of possible topics and a works cited guide, go to www.bradfordhouse.org/learn/poster-contest .
Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 3 entries in each division: Middle School (grades 5-8) and High School (grades 9-12).
An outreach program (either virtual or in person) to introduce teachers and students to the contest requirements is available. Research assistance is also available. Bradford House maintains a small reference library relating to the Whiskey Rebellion and 18th century living.
Winning projects will be displayed at the annual Symposium on 18th Century Life and Customs in Western Pennsylvania, An Evening with Lewis & Clark, on Friday, April 5, 2024. Sponsoring teachers of submitted entries will receive a free ticket to the Symposium.
Email education@bradfordhouse.org for more information.
Teaching Democracy to students K-12. FREE Opportunity & Resources for Districts.
If you are seeking additional resources or any information related to enhancing your existing social studies curriculum, please contact:
Jordan Lozosky, Curriculum Specialist
Phone: 724-938-3241 ext. #405
Email: jordan.lozosky@iu1.org
Gifted, Induction & Updates
Jordan Lozosky
IU1 Gifted Boot Camp (December 1, 2023)
This daylong workshop is for the gifted coordinators, teachers, and administrators. Topics will include an overview of PA's definition of gifted education, Chapter 16 and a review of the forms that support gifted education.
Instructors: Jordan Lozosky (IU1), Amy McShane (IU3)
Date/Time: 9am-2pm Friday, December 1st at IU1 Central Office (Greene Room)
Participants must register via Frontline. 5 Act 48 Hours will be awarded.
Cost: Free
Lunch on their own 11:30am-12:30p
2023-24 Induction Schedule
*Participants must register on the hyperlinks on the flyer via Frontline.
Alyssa Moore
PA STEELS Standards Updates
PA STEELS Standards Professional Learning Opportunities with Alyssa
A Framework K-12 Science Education Book Study- Starting soon! December 4, 2023-June 4, 2024- Register here
Alyssa's Resource Page to Support the STEELS Standards Implementation- ⭐BOOKMARK⭐
Action Planning Templates- based on the Implemenation Plan shared on the PA STEELS Hub
Curriculum Materials Support
Recent Resources from IU1's PennSEL Network
RESEARCH: Curriculum Materials Designed for the Next Generation Science Standards Show Promise- a randomized study that took place in 2020 with middle school teachers and students implementing the Amplify Middle School Science Curriculum.
Key Takeaways for Transforming Science Education - This resource discusses Five Key Takeaways for Achieving Equitable Science Instruction for ALL students
STEELS EL&S and NGSS Crosswalk Report
Key Findings of this work:
Overall: How many STEELS Standards would likely be covered by an NGSS-designed program?
88% of the 370 STEELS Standards K-12 would likely be addressed
That leaves 43 standards (12%) to address
Breakdown by Disciplines:
Science- 196 Standards (100%) likely addressed
Technology and Engineering- 116 standards (80%) likely addressed- leaving 29 additional standards to ensure get covered outside of that program
Environmental Literacy and Sustainability- 21 standards (73%) likely addressed- leaving 8 additional standards to ensure get covered outside of that program
Remake Learning Updates
In case you have not heard:
Remake Learning has launched a new website and logo!
We are asking everyone to create a new profile. Join here! You can create one for yourself as well as your district.
Why Join Remake Learning?- This free, peer educator network helps members gain access to a supportive infrastructure of resources and services to enhance their work. By joining, you will have the opportunity to convene with other network members through events, apply for available grant opportunities, share resources and stories, and more.
Are you doing exciting things within your school? Are you interested in showcasing through a Lunch & Learn?
Contact alyssa@remakelearning.org or alyssa.moore@iu1.org to discuss setting something up on the calendar.
Congratulations 2023 Moonshot Grant Awardees!
Fly Like a Girl Drone Academy: Continuing the Mission, Baldwin-Whitehall School District
Welcome to Butler’s Neighborhood, Butler Area School District
Building a Future in STEAM: Village Games+, Homewood Children’s Village
Remake Civics, LIGHT Education Initiative
Studio Stream, Local X Change
Energizing Tomorrow’s Future Career Leaders & Workforce, Neighborhood Learning Alliance
The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum as a Certified Autism Center, Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
Freight to Plate Food Trailer, South Fayette Township School District
Equip Nontraditional Computer Science Educators, STEM Coding Lab
Empowering Equity in Education: A Multifaceted Approach to Professional Development and STREAM Access for Black Students and Educators, Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh
Remake Learning Days
May 2-22, 2024
Mini Grant Funding is available! Form to apply coming soon
Submit your event by January 31, 2024!
ELA- Tracey L. Czajkowski, Ed.D.
Paragraph Shrinking
Paragraph shrinking is an activity developed as part of the Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS). The paragraph shrinking strategy allows each student to take turns reading, pausing, and summarizing the main points of each paragraph. Students provide each other with feedback as a way to monitor comprehension. Paragraph Shrinking Activity
TDA Guide for each step of quality text analysis instruction
Calling all Poets
On behalf of the Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media (PCA&M) and PA Council on the Arts invite you and your students to participate in 2023-24 Poetry Out Loud (POL)! Please see below.
Dear Educator:
POL is a national poetry recitation contest for students in grades 9-12. It’s an innovative, enjoyable, and exciting program that provides opportunities for teachers and students to explore poetry and recitation within the context of a multi-layered competition process that ranges from classrooms to Washington D.C. (In Pennsylvania, we move from school competitions, to regionals, to state, to national.) POL is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and state and jurisdictional arts agencies,
Participation in POL is at no cost to your school and can connect directly with your curriculum, aligning with PA Core Standards.
Please take time to read through the three POL PDF attachments and visit PCA&M’s Poetry Out Loud webpage where additional essential information and forms are available.
These are also available in this PCA&M Poetry Out Loud google drive folder.
Note that the info, forms, and documents are included on our site in the order they should be read and tended to. In the drive folder, they are numbered.
Please email Mary Brenholts, Director of Artists in Schools & Communities at PCA&M, at mbrenholts@pghartsmedia.org for additional information or with any questions.
I’m more than happy to email you the info sheets/PDFs/forms as attachments if desired! I’m always available to answer questions, discuss possibilities, and share information whether by email or by phone 412-606-4723.
Please share POL information with friends and colleagues!
Sincerely,
Mary
Teens Make Health Happen
HealthCorps, has been sponsored by EQT to pilot their health program in one site at a school in Washington, Greene, or Fayette county for the spring semester.
TEENS MAKE HEALTH HAPPEN is an innovative club that empowers teens to use their passions to improve their well-being and tackle pressing community health challenges.Our trained near-peer health educators guide and mentor students through the program, which engages teens in interactive health lessons, provides ongoing resources and support to bring health promoting activities to their campuses, and promotes service learning and leadership.
Contact: Sarah Cave at sarah.cave@healthcorps.org
Poetry Out Loud
On behalf of the Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media (PCA&M) and PA Council on the Arts invite you and your students to participate in 2023-24 Poetry Out Loud (POL)! Please see below.
POL is a national poetry recitation contest for students in grades 9-12. It’s an innovative, enjoyable, and exciting program that provides opportunities for teachers and students to explore poetry and recitation within the context of a multi-layered competition process that ranges from classrooms to Washington D.C. (In Pennsylvania, we move from school competitions, to regionals, to state, to national.) POL is a partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, and state and jurisdictional arts agencies,
Participation in POL is at no cost to your school and can connect directly with your curriculum, aligning with PA Core Standards.
Please take time to read through the three POL PDF documents at PCA&M Poetry Out Loud google drive folder.
Visit PCA&M’s Poetry Out Loud webpage for additional information and forms.
Contact: Mary Brenholts, Director of Artists in Schools & Communities at PCA&M, at mbrenholts@pghartsmedia.org for additional information or with any questions.
PCA&M POL Fact Sheet
PCA and PCA&M POL Policies and Information
PCA&M POL Timeline
Summer Student Opportunities: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fjebyoDptUCwWqqi_cU_H5-YJ0yZ-6li/view?usp=sharing
University of Pittsburgh Health Careers Scholars Academy
Held on the main campus of the University of Pittsburgh. Eligible students must be a current high school sophomore or junior and at least 15 years of age by the February application deadline. For students interested in any field of health care.
Iacocca Global Entrepreneurship Intensive
Held on the main campus of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Eligible students must be a current high school sophomore or junior. Program focus is careers in business.
Pennsylvania School for Excellence in the Agricultural Sciences
Held on the main campus of Penn State University. Applicants must be a Pennsylvania resident and a high school junior. Focus is on the variety of careers in Agricultural Science.
NEW PROGRAM OPPORTUNITY NOW AVAILABLE: Brick-by-Brick Program, Brick Clubs
Run by trained facilitators, the Brick-by-Brick® program offers children positive, meaningful social experiences in an understanding, playful and accepting environment. Brick Club (as it's known to children) supports its members to collaborate, communicate, problem-solve and share fun experiences all through collaborative LEGO® play. Play Included's Brick-by-Brick program is officially endorsed by the LEGO Foundation. It's the latest thinking in social skills therapy using LEGO play.
Training will be available to interested schools to have their teachers trained in starting at Brick Club in their school. Trainings may be held in your district or the the IU1 Central Office for multiple districts, stay tuned for offerings.
Interested in starting a Brick Club and scheduling a training within your school or for pricing information, contact sarah.durzo@iu1.org.
Learn more and watch a video about the Brick-by-Brick program at: https://playincluded.com/en-GB/the-brick-by-brick-programme
Student Programs: https://sites.google.com/iu1.org/innovationanddesign/student-programs
STEM Design Challenge Featuring K'Nex - click the link above to register today! Registration closes Dec. 29th
Range Resources STEM Design Challenge - click the link above to register today! Registration closes Jan. 12th.
VING: Opportunity for teens to give $1000! Multiplying Good & Students In Action are teaming up with VING to invite young people ages 14-18 to nominate a person in need of a financial boost to receive $1,000… Nominations are accepted all year long – NO DEADLINE!
Learn more at https://vingproject.org/ving-community/about/
Submit your nomination at https://vingproject.org/nominate-now/
NEW Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship Student Challenges!
Personal Finance Lab: https://www.brighterfinancialfutures.org/financialliteracy
Audience: Elementary, Middle School & High School for Business, Math, Gifted, Elementary, Social Studies, Clubs
Student Prizes for our Competitions (First Place - $100 student; $60 teacher)
Contact: Eric Attinger (CCO), eattinger@penncfl.org, 570-556-7913
Dream, Learn, Pitch: https://www.brighterfinancialfutures.org/entrepreneurship
Audience: Middle School & High School for Gifted, Business, English, Career, Guidance, Social Studies
Prizes: Top 30 student business plans win! (Students - HS $2,000/MS $1,000; Teachers - HS $300/MS $200, opportunity for $10,000 student scholarship)
Contact: Eric Attinger (CCO), eattinger@penncfl.org, 570-556-7913
Lending Library Open for Loans: https://sites.google.com/iu1.org/innovationanddesign/lending-library
New - Esports Gaming Equipment (includes, computers, switches, and games)