TIP 16 - April 22, 2024
This update includes: (Click links to jump to topic)
Dates of Interest
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 - Virtual PD Session - Backward Planning for the End of the School Year 4:00 PM (Google Meet Link)
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 - Final Induction Seminar at 5:00 PM Dr. James A. Forrest Center
A Message from Heather: The Beginning of the End of the School Year
You are in the midst of the MCAP testing season and all of the disruptions to your regular schedule that it entails. The testing season also indicates the beginning of the end of the school year. It may seem far into the future but there are a few things that may be closer than they appear.
Hopefully, you have completed your second observation. 🤞 The next formal task will be your final SLO conference. Now is the best time to be sure that you have the data you need and start finalizing your reflection. I want to remind you that the SLO process is designed to be a reflective activity - not a gotcha opportunity. When finalizing your SLO documentation, consider the factors that were within your control and how you handled those factors that were outside of your control. Failure to "meet" your goals is NOT a failure of your SLO. Honest and thoughtful reflection on what you learned from the process will determine the value of your experience.
Beyond the SLO, consider the limited number of days left in the classroom and be sure to include some fun and engaging activities. If you are struggling to pace your lessons for the final weeks of school, I hope you will join me for the virtual PD session on Backward Mapping to the EOY. While it is being provided as part of the Induction Seminars, I welcome any non-tenured teachers to join us. The link is in the Dates of Interest above. No matter your needs, please remember to utilize your human resources - mentor, colleagues, and admin.
Remember . . . You've Got This!
Heather
I will visit schools throughout the school year and I enjoy joining classes, being a guest reader, working with small groups, or providing feedback with a brief walkthrough. Email me if you wish to invite me to your class.
All Non-Tenured Teachers
Newly Signed Negotiated Agreement
During our meetings with the Superintendent, several teachers asked specific questions about the changes to the salary scale and other elements of the agreement. While the polished and final copy of the agreement will be published in the coming weeks, the ratified draft can be found on the EASMC website.
Praxis Tutoring Available
The Education Association of St. Mary's County (EASMC) is offering members the opportunity to access tutoring resources for Praxis exams.
Support is being offered in the form of one-on-one support by completing this Praxis Support FORM to provide details of your needs and be matched with a tutor from the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA). MSEA processes individuals daily and finds tutors to work directly with members. Once the form is completed, an email is sent to the member to collect more information that aids in pairing individuals with the right tutor. For questions, contact Danielle Jones at djones@mseanea.org.
Praxis Preparation Books Still Available
Through the Maryland Leads Grant, the Department of Strategic Initiatives purchased Praxis preparation books for various assessments. There are limited numbers of available copies that conditionally certified teachers can request. If you want a copy of one of the Praxis prep books, please email Heather Husk at hlhusk@smcps.org.
The books will be sent to your school via metro while supplies last based on the order in which the requests are submitted.
Available Books Include:
Praxis CORE Study Guide for Assessments 5713, 5723, and 5733
Praxis Special Education Core Study Guide for 5354, 5543, 5545 Assessments
Praxis Principles of Learning & Teaching: Early Childhood Study Guide for the Praxis II PLT 5621 Assessment
Praxis II: Early Childhood Education Study Guide for Praxis 5025 Assessment
Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching: K-6 Study Guide for the Praxis II PLT 5622 Assessment
Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching: 5-9 Study Guide for Praxis II PLT 5623 Assessment
Praxis II Principles of Learning and Teaching 7-12 Study Guide for Praxis II PLT 5624 Assessment
Praxis Study Guide for English Language Arts 5039 Assessment Copies Claimed
Praxis Study Guide for Social Studies Content Knowledge for 5081 Assessment
Praxis II World and US History Rapid Review for Content Knowledge 5941 Assessment
Articles of Interest
Teaching Strategies: Getting Middle and High School Students with Low Grades Back on Track by Christine Boatman, Edutopia
Highlights:
Antidote to Procrastination
Practical Approach
Positive Results
Note from Heather: This article provides ideas to consider when dealing with students who lack motivation because they feel too far behind to earn a passing grade.
Project-Based Learning: PBL for PreK Through Second Grade by Cecilia Cabrera Martirena, Edutopic
Highlights:
Creating an environment for exploration
Interaction during exploration
Transferring exploration into projects
Note from Heather: With the warming weather, getting students outside and moving around might be great through PBL.
ESOL: Using Google Tools to Support Newcomer ELLs by Eman Magableh, Edutopia
Highlights:
Translating Using Google
Building Background
Integrating Strategies
Note from Heather: This article is useful for all grade-level and content-area classrooms.
Mentoring Topics in April
Elementary
Critical Thinking
Have you been working with students to have them predict, question, clarify, and summarize before, during, and after their reading?
To what extent do you ask higher-order questions?
Assessment
Tell me what assessments your students have this month. (Formative and Summative)
How are you using the results of those assessments to redesign your instruction?
What questions do you have about MCAP?
Transitions
If you are providing recommendations for placement into a program or middle school, do you have the data required? Are the procedures clear to you?
Completing the School Year
Are you clear about your role with end-of-the-year responsibilities?
Classroom: Will it be used for summer recovery? What needs to be boxed or covered for cleaning?
Report Cards: Finalizing SBRC in TAC and Schoology
Materials: Inventorying textbooks, device collection, archiving Schoology courses
Do you have any questions about check-out procedures?
SLO/Final Evaluation
When is your final SLO meeting?
What data have you gathered to address your goals?
What have you learned from the SLO process this year?
Do you have any areas of focus you want to consider for next school year?
Lesson Planning
How are your long-range plans for after spring break?
How are you adjusting your plans to accommodate testing and spring events?
What is the latest hands-on lesson that you have taught that you feel like your students were able to collaborate with each other?
What are the skills/content priorities by the end of the school year?
What is an instructional strategy that you would like to explore or a topic that you want to find a new way for students to interact with the content?
Secondary
Critical Thinking
Have you been working with students to have them predict, question, clarify, and summarize before, during, and after their reading?
To what extent do you ask higher-order questions?
Assessment
Tell me what assessments your students have this month. (Formative and Summative)
How are you using the results of those assessments to redesign your instruction?
What questions do you have about MCAP?
Student Failures and End-of-Course Expectations
How have you communicated with students in danger of failing your course?
Do students know what they need in order to pass your course?
Is your content requiring an end-of-course exam? When are you administering the assessment?
Have you set a date for any final projects so you will have time to grade them?
Transitions
If you are providing recommendations for placement into a program, accelerated courses, or high school, do you have the data required? Are the procedures clear to you?
Completing the School Year
Are you clear about your role with end-of-the-year responsibilities?
Classroom: Will it be used for summer recovery? What needs to be boxed or covered for cleaning?
Report Cards: Finalizing grades in TAC and Schoology
Materials: Inventorying textbooks, device collection, archiving Schoology courses
Do you have any questions about check-out procedures?
SLO/Final Evaluation
When is your final SLO meeting?
What data have you gathered to address your goals?
What have you learned from the SLO process this year?
Do you have any areas of focus you want to consider for next school year?
Lesson Planning
How are your long-range plans for after spring break?
How are you adjusting your plans to accommodate testing and spring events?
What is the latest hands-on lesson that you have taught that you feel like your students were able to collaborate with each other?
What are the skills/content priorities by the end of the school year?
What is an instructional strategy that you would like to explore or a topic that you want to find a new way for students to interact with the content?
First-Year with SMCPS Non-Tenured Teachers
April Asynchronous Activities - Reminder
I hope that Monthly Induction Seminar participants are making their way through the Asynchronous Activities that will replace the April Monthly Seminar. Once the two reflections are completed, they can be emailed to Heather Husk at hlhusk@smcps.org. While the reflections are due by April 30, 2024, they can be submitted earlier.
Optional Virtual Professional Development Session - Making the Most of Mentoring
Last week, one of the two virtual professional development sessions as part of the April Asynchronous Activities Sheet took place. The session focused on clarifying the expectations of mentors and mentees in their 2nd and 3rd years of the Induction Program. In addition, the participants considered their mentoring/coaching needs and discussed ways to take ownership of the priorities of the mentoring interactions. The slides from the session can be found in the TIP.
The next session is Wednesday, April 24 at 4:00 PM. The topic is Backward Planning for the last weeks of school. (Google Meet Link)
Monthly Induction Seminars
As shared at Orientation, those of you in your first year with SMCPS will participate in monthly seminars on the first Wednesday of each month. The seminars begin with dinner at 4:30 PM followed by professional development sessions from 5:00-7:00 PM. All monthly seminars are held at the Dr. James A. Forrest Center.
There are no virtual options for monthly seminars.
The next monthly Induction Seminar is on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
Please confirm your attendance by clicking "Yes" on the invitation in your Google Calendar.
Recurring Items of Significance
TPAS Domain Rubrics
Each seminar will focus on various components within the Teacher Performance Assessment System (TPAS) rubrics. Classroom observations will generally focus on Domains 1-3 and your SLO will focus on Domain 5. Domain 4 is an evaluation of your all-around professional responsibilities. Links to each of the rubrics for each domain are located below.