TIP 18 - May 20, 2024
This update includes: (Click links to jump to topic)
Dates of Interest
Monday, May 27, 2024 - Memorial Day (All Schools and Offices Closed)
Thursday, June 6, 2024 - Two-Hour Early Dismissal (Professional Responsibilities; Last Day for PreK Students
Thursday, June 6, 2024 - MSDE Licensure Information Webinar at 1:30 PM (Link below)
Friday, June 7, 2024 - Two-Hour Early Dismissal (Last Day for Students K-12)
Monday, June 10, 2024 - Professional Responsibilities for Teachers
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 - Professional Responsibilities for Teachers (Last Day for 10-month employees)
A Message from Heather: Almost there!
There are just a few weeks left with your students and those of you with seniors have already started your goodbyes. The classes may go slowly but the days will go by fast as they are filled with field trips, field days, assemblies, and other end-of-the-year activities. When I have spoken with your mentors in the last weeks, they have all shared the same bit of advice - maintain the rigor of your lessons. The end is near . . . but not yet here!
On a professional note, those of you taking courses this summer should be sure to submit your requests for tuition reimbursement. Classes that end on or before June 30, 2024, will be submitted under the SY2023 requests within the form. However, if your course ends on or after July 1, 2024, the tuition reimbursement request will be submitted under SY2024 requests within the form when your funds are replenished.
Those of you who are part of the Maryland Leads Grant cohort, if you have questions about your remaining funds for SY2023, please reach out to me. Also, be on the lookout for a message from Sarah Lorek in the coming weeks. The message will include information about any final funding opportunities within the grant. The Maryland Leads Grant ends in August 2024.
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
MSDE Licensure Information Sessions
You should have received the email from Human Resources about the MSDE-hosted information session on the new licensure requirements. Please take time to discuss with your mentees about the information session webinars and any questions that they might have. If you attend the session together and assist your mentees with understanding the changes, please note that in your mentor logs. This is valuable information for everyone and those of you with more experience will have more context to assist newer teachers in the system to understand. If your mentees still have questions after the session, please feel free to email me at hlhusk@smcps.org and I will happily pass on questions from new teachers at once.
The sessions and links are below and can be found as events in the Induction Program Google Calendar.
Friday, May 10, 2024 at 1:30 PM - Meeting Link
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 9:00 AM - Meeting Link
Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 1:30 PM - Meeting Link - LAST Webinar
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 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 Social Studies Content Knowledge for 5081 Assessment
Articles of Interest
Student Engagement: Meaningful Learning to End the Year Strong by Kathy Collier, Edutopia
Highlights:
GLEAM Instruction
Class Book
Passion Project
Note from Heather: This article provides ideas to consider ways to enjoy the last weeks.
Close Reading: Teacher Think Alouds Work in Every Subject by Molly Ness, MiddleWeb
Highlights:
Effective at ALL grade levels
Effective across ALL curriculum
Note from Heather: Those of you familiar with Reading Apprenticeship strategies will know that this is a great way to start modeling thinking and learning for your students.
Time Management: 3 Tips Help Teachers Make Good Use of Time by Kelly Owens, MiddleWeb
Highlights:
Reduce - Calculate Time Window, Accomplish Goals Differently
Reuse - Templates, Strategies
Recycle - Differentiated Levels, Comments
Pre-Kindergarten: 5 Ways to Create a Literacy-Rich Preschool Classroom by Amanda Reardon, Edutopia
English Language Learners (ELLs): Skill-Developing Games for ELLs by Sarah Elia, Edutopia
Mentoring Topics in May
Elementary
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?
End-of-Year Reflection
Set aside time to reflect on your school year:
What is a memory from this school year that makes you smile?
What are you most proud of this school year?
What was most helpful in your mentoring interactions this year?
What would you want to change for next year? (That is within your control)
What are your concerns for the start of the next school year?
Do you have a goal that you want to revisit in August as you begin to plan?
Consider what you want from mentoring next school year:
What supports do you want to continue with your mentor?
How do you want your mentor relationship to grow and change?
What is one area in which you would like to focus your mentoring time? (ex: classroom and workload management, collaboration, lesson planning)
Secondary
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?
End-of-Year Reflection
Set aside time to reflect on your school year:
What is a memory from this school year that makes you smile?
What are you most proud of this school year?
What was most helpful in your mentoring interactions this year?
What would you want to change for next year? (That is within your control)
What are your concerns for the start of the next school year?
Do you have a goal that you want to revisit in August as you begin to plan?
Consider what you want from mentoring next school year:
What supports do you want to continue with your mentor?
How do you want your mentor relationship to grow and change?
What is one area in which you would like to focus your mentoring time? (ex: classroom and workload management, collaboration, lesson planning)
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.