TIP 3 - September 18, 2023
Dates of Interest
Monday, September 18, 2023 - Superintendent School Visit with Chopticon HS and Margaret Brent MS (at Chopticon HS at 3:30 PM)
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 - Superintendent School Visit (Leonardtown MS at 2:30 PM)
Thursday, September 21, 2023 - Two-Hour Early Dismissal (Professional Responsibilities)
Friday, September 22, 2023 - No School for Students (Professional Day - Staff Development/Collaborative Planning)
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 - Monthly Induction Seminar (Forrest Center at 4:30-7:00 PM)
A Message from Heather: Settled and Grounded
I have visited several classrooms in the last week and everyone's rooms look amazing and students are engaged in learning. Students were in the final steps of their first multimedia art projects, Spanish I students were already asking to use the restroom in their newly learned phrasing, and English students were making their way to the media center to find their first choice reading book of the school year. I saw all of this as a sign that many of you are setting into your space and building that community with your students and peers.
This week, you have your first early dismissal and professional day of the school year. Thursday is a great day to wrap up something you have been working on with students or give them a sneak peek at the next topic. On Friday, take a deep breath and take inventory of where you are, what you need, and all that you have succeeded in accomplishing in these first weeks with students. Find the bottom of your desk, set goals for the day, and ask the questions that you have on your mind. Friday is a great day to explore Schoology and other resources, take a more long-range look at your curriculum, and catch up on your grading.
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
Professional Responsibilities and Development
Two-Hour Early Dismissal - Thursday, September 21, 2023, is an early dismissal day. Be sure to check with your mentor team about what that schedule will look like for you and your students. How will routines change? Is there an adjusted bell schedule?
Professional Day - Friday, September 22, 2023, is a day off for students, but a full day of professional responsibilities and collaborative planning. Be sure that you have the schedule of options and expectations from your school administration. There are also system-wide professional development offerings throughout the day.
Conditionally Certified Teachers - Those of you enrolled in courses with NDMU and UMGC, please review the cohort overview to ensure that you have completed all of the requirements for accessing the available Maryland Leads benefits. The documents are linked to the college names above.
Acronyms - Have you noticed that the teachers around you speak in a new language of acronyms that you do not always understand? We have updated the spreadsheet of SMCPS ACRONYMS to help! If there is an acronym we missed, email Heather Husk and it will be added.
Virtual Coaching Opportunity - Extended!
SMCPS is continuing our collaboration with the University of Maryland Global Campus to offer Virtual Coaching to supplement the existing mentoring program. Virtual coaching includes the recording of lesson segments and uploading them to a secure online platform to allow for reflection by the mentee and feedback from the mentor. The process will take place throughout the school year and is a valuable experience for new teachers learning their craft and veteran teachers considering ways to expand their practice - it is even a great practice for those considering NBCT!
The activities associated with the program go beyond the requirements of the SMCPS Induction Program so, there is additional compensation for participants. For additional information, see this DOCUMENT or email Heather Husk at hlhusk@smcps.org with questions.
If you are interested, discuss it with your mentor, and together, complete this FORM.
If you are interested, but your mentor is not, please contact Heather Husk. There are teachers without mentees who are interested in participating.
The Virtual Coaching Activities between mentor and mentee will take place on the GoReact Platform (above). The activities go beyond the regular mentoring times included in the mentor contract, so additional compensation is offered for both mentors and mentees.
Articles of Interest
Student Engagement: How to Engage Students the Moment They Enter the Classroom by Sarah Gonser, Edutopia
Highlights:
Bait and Switch
Informational Hooks
Productive Failure
Cold Opens
Communication: Tips for Calling Parents - Even If You're Dreading It by Sonja Cassella, Edutopia
Highlights:
Benefits of making that call
Steps for making a successful call
Sometimes an email is not an appropriate first contact when you are having concerns with a student. The phone call gives the personal touch that will bring parents to your point of view. BONUS TIP from Heather: For every phone call that you make because of a concern about a student, make a positive call to a student who had a good day. Parents appreciate hearing from teachers about something good and it will leave you with a smile!
First-Year with SMCPS Non-Tenured Teachers
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, October 4, 2023.
Please confirm your attendance by clicking "Yes" on the invitation in your Google Calendar.
September Seminar Follow-Up
Based on the exit slip responses from the September 6, 2023, Induction Seminar, there are a few items to share.
Schoology - At the October seminar, there will be a Schoology workshop session for teachers to get assistance with working on their Schoology. There will be assistance from multiple staff members to address the needs of individuals and small groups.
EdPuzzle - There are beginner and advanced virtual training scheduled for Friday, September 22, 2023. See this SPREADSHEET for times and links.
Mentoring Clarification - While you are encouraged to set the agenda for your weekly meetings, there will be times when your mentor will know something that you were not aware you needed. It is a balance. Just be sure to make the most of the time you have with your mentor.
Observations - Several of you asked about having to make changes in the middle of your observation and if that was allowed. Yes! If you find that your lesson needs to be adjusted mid-observation you can make that change. It will demonstrate flexibility and responsiveness to student needs. You can explain your choice at your post-conference.
Curriculum - The curriculum standards are required at each grade and content. However, many of the curriculum resources can be personalized and adapted for your students. Talk with your mentor about ways to personalize specific curriculum resources. Curriculum is not a scripted lesson.
Special Education Forms - Some asked for one-on-one assistance with forms needed for meetings. It is recommended that you request assistance during your weekly meeting with your mentor, the IEP Facilitator in your building, or your department chairperson.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum - Each school has individualized MTSS initiatives that support students. Check with a member of your MTSS committee for details about the ways your school supports social-emotional learning.
Perform - If your observation and SLO links are not available in your Perform screen, it may be that your information needs to be updated. Your principal should be able to update your information at your request.
Dice Activities - Expanding on the dice activity that we completed in the whole group session, I have gathered a few engaging activities that can be used in multiple grade levels and contents. See the document below.
Recurring Items of Significance
Mentoring Topics in September
Elementary
Communication
Do you have a communication plan with your mentor that includes a regularly scheduled weekly meeting?
Do you have a routine for regular communication with parents?
Schoology
Do you have your grade book set up for SBRC data collection?
Professional Responsibilities
Has your administrator indicated the date of your first observation? Have you shared that with your mentor?
When is your initial SLO meeting? Do you have a plan with your PLC?
Have you completed the DIBELS assessment? Do you need assistance?
Your Goals
Have you determined how you want your mentor to work with you?
Have you shared what you want to gain from your time with your mentor?
Secondary
Communication
Do you have a communication plan with your mentor that includes a regularly scheduled weekly meeting?
Do you have a routine for regular communication with students?
Schoology
Do you have your grade book set up and know how to align standards to assignments?
What assignments are you grading and including to measure progress and mastery?
Have you built rubrics for assignments and assessments?
Professional Responsbilities
Has your administrator indicated the date of your first observation? Have you shared that with your mentor?
When is your initial SLO meeting? Do you have a plan with your PLC?
Your Goals
Have you determined how you want your mentor to work with you?
Have you shared what you want to gain from your time with your mentor?