Teaching Students Living in Poverty

Teaching Students Living in Poverty

The number of East Texas students living in poverty is rising.  Join educators who seek to make a difference in the lives of these students.  Participants will come away from this learning session with a new understanding of how poverty and "hidden rules among classes" impact student learning, communication and behavior.

Register for Jan. 26, 2015 or
Register for April 24, 2015.

EACH PARTICIPANT WILL RECEIVE A COPY OF THE BOOK:
A Framework for Understanding Poverty, by Ruby Payne, PhD

For more information, contact:
Sheila Thrash
Specialist, Federal Programs
Region 7 Education Service Center
Phone: (903) 988-6855

Middle School EdCamp 2015: Jan. 31st

The Texas Middle School Association invites you to attend...

East Texas EdCamp 2015

It is better in the Middle with EdCamp!  An ultimate learning festival for middle level educators, this workshop will follow the UNconference model and be totally participant driven. EdCamps are UNconference events organized by groups of educators, specifically designed to create a participant-driven, fun-filled day of professional development. Educators can connect with like-minded individuals, collaborate ideas, brainstorm solutions to common education problems, have group discussions, and receive information that can immediately be applied in the classroom.   There is no cost to attend this workshop.  A complimentary, light breakfast will be provided.   Bring an idea / book / blog to share, your phone, tablet, computer or something to take notes on, and the desire to network and   learn from your peers! Click here for a schedule of the event.

When

SATURDAY January 31, 2015 From 8:30 am - 12:00 noon

Where

SPRING HILL JUNIOR HIGH 3101 Spring Hill Road Longview, TX 75605

Reserve your spot by RSVPing today! (There is no cost to attend but you must RSVP)

Get Prepared with Practice on the STAAR-A Test

Are you looking for hands-on STAAR A module practice?

Join other educators on January 6, 2015, for either of the two ½ day sessions.  

To register or for more information, contact:

Sonya Burnett

Special Education Specialist

Region 7 Education Service Center

1909 North Longview Street

Kilgore, Texas 75662

Phone: (903) 988-6894

Destroy the Achievement Gap for African American Students

Click to the View Flyer

Are you a transformational leader? Is your district challenged to make improvements and address the achievement  gap? Are you focused on ensuring positive outcomes for all students? 

If so, please post THIS FLYER and spread the word in your district and campuses!

Dr. Mack Hines is a dynamic presenter who shares strategies and practices teachers can use to more effectively engage their students and foster productive relationships. He uses collaborative role-play and stimulating discussions to help teachers understand how to plan and deliver culturally responsive instruction.

For more information, contact:

Henryett Lovely-Watson, Ed.D.

Associate Director, Special Education

Region 7 Education Service Center

HLovelyWatson@esc7.net

Phone: (903) 988-6854

Bringing a Growth Mindset to the Classroom: Save the Date - Feb. 6th

Save the Date Feb. 6, 2015

How do students (or teachers) handle failure? How do they grapple with hard problems or tasks? Why do your "smartest" students sometimes resist challenges?  The work of Dr. Carol Dweck, provides the foundation for this learning session.  You will explore the idea of growth mindset, which is very different from the fixed mindset.   Every so often a truly groundbreaking idea comes along. This is one. Mindset explains: Why brains and talent don’t bring success How these can stand in the way of success Why praising brains and talent doesn’t foster self-esteem and accomplishment, but jeopardizes them How teaching a simple idea about the brain raises grades and productivity What all great leaders, parents, teachers, athletes know Mindset is a simple idea discovered by world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck in decades of research on achievement and success—a simple idea that makes all the difference.  Watch this short video to learn more. Join us in the session, February 6, 2015, as we look at research-based ideas on how to motivate students to believe that focus and effort are the keys to success. Register for this session - Click Here

Testing: Can We Find the Rational Middle? An Interview with A. Duncan

The following article and interview on video is from a blog that serves as the official blog of the US Department of Education.  Secratery Duncan and the department sends out periodic updates, for which you can subscribe to get in your own email box.  This topic caught my eye, and the video with Secretary Duncan sheds light on a question many people in education and in our communities are asking:  Can we find a rational middle ground on the emphasis of testing?

By Emily Davis, who is a Teaching Ambassador Fellow at the U.S. Department of Education.

Recently I visited Glen Iris Elementary School in Birmingham, Alabama to meet with a group of teachers and their principal. I was in Birmingham as a Teaching Ambassador Fellow and it was highly recommend by local educators that I visit Glen Iris while in Birmingham to see the incredible work going on at the school.   Since returning from Birmingham, much has happened in the “testing” world.

I recently sat down with Secretary Duncan to hear his perspective on the current state of testing and accountability. While the testing pendulum has swung from one side to the other, my hope is that we will land somewhere in the rational middle. And as I continue in my education journey, I will forever keep those timely words of Dr. Wilson at the forefront of my mind and will challenge all of us to be “ever-growing.”  Click here to view the entire article and watch the interview video.

Tactical SAT Strategies Offered through Distance Learning

Region 7 ESC is offering students an opportunity to take the Tactical SAT Strategies Course through distance learning - free of charge.  Click the flier below to enlarge it and view details.  Help us spread the word. The course begins Jan. 13, 2015.

If you are interested in hosting this course, contact Leesa Green, 903-988-6715, lgreen@esc7.net, by Jan. 2, 2015.    

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Share Messages in Addition to the TEA School Report Card: Communicate Your Unique Brand

Tatum ISD shares about service learning project.

Today’s school branding goes a step further than merely a slogan and bumper sticker, effective branding identifies a school’s unique stand out features. As stated in the Gallup Business Journal, a brand promises what the student experience will be like in the school culture.

Many school leaders fail to build a strategy for how to tell the story of their school campus, which can muddy the message. The message is only effective if the entire faculty and leadership commit as one voice to the promise of what makes their school stand out.

School leaders must communicate their brand in a way that resonates emotionally with students, staff and families in their community. When people feel a message, they are more likely to remember it and respond. For example, a school that places a high value on community service might share examples through photos and videos of the projects and experiences that demonstrate how students are building character through community service to tell its story.

This week, the state issued 2013–2014 School Report Cards, which are now available on the Texas Education Agency’s website at the link below.
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/src/2014/campus.srch.html

The purpose of the state's School Report Card is to inform parents and guardians about school performance and characteristics, but this is only a small portion of what schools accomplish. The campus must send a copy of the School Report Card to the parent or guardian of each of its students within six weeks of the date of the TEA letter. The campus may provide the School Report Card in the same manner in which it normally transmits official communications to parents and guardians, such as including it in an electronic newsletter, a weekly folder sent home with each student, providing it at a teacher-parent conference, or enclosing it with the student report card.

In addition to this information, leaders must also produce and distribute their own distinctive communications, which captures the essence of what makes your school stand out as an important and integral part of the larger community.  The information provided in the report card is very important, but it cannot be all that is shared - schools are made up of more than a set of numbers and graphs.

Displaying Students' Work on Campus with a Digital Display

Displaying results of student work in dynamic visual forms helps build excitement, culture and a welcoming feel for any campus.  Many campuses have chosen to display messages with digital screens - so why not also include student work?

In an article published by Principal Melinda Miller of Willard East Elementary on The Principal Blog, several key points can provide a really effective way to display students' work digitally. 

Melinda shares the following ideas:

Sharing Work in a Slide Show with a USB:
*Convert the work into photo files (.jpg) and create an Image slide show on USB! Ba-Bam! This has worked best so far.

Workflow:
*If just displaying pictures, I put on USB and plug into TV, DONE.
*Teachers share their own Google presentations or share student Google presentations.
*I download and save as pictures, put pictures on USB, DONE. I don't have to worry about connection issues all day. 

These additional ideas are excellent as solutions for video projects.

Kelly Fitzgerald ~ EdTech Nut: Google Apps for Education - A Solution to Your Video Needs

What's your TV display workflow?  Share below.

This Year Every Math Teachers Feels Like a New Teacher!

"This year we are all like new teachers with the new math TEKS."

How are your teachers feeling about the new Math TEKS?

Region 7 ESC is ready to support teachers with coaching and a strong network for building capacity through collaboration with other math teachers in the Region.

Specialized sessions are designed to include hands-on interactive activities and conversations which guide everyone through the process of how to break down TEKS.  

Teachers work together and learn deeply - how to apply the best practices for teaching new TEKS for Math Instruction.  

For more information, contact:

Jane Tarr

Math Specialist

Region 7 Education Service Center

jtarr@esc7.net

Phone: (903) 988-6794

January is School Board Appreciation Month - Will You Share Ideas?

School Board Recognition Month January 2015

January 2015 is School Board Recognition Month, which is an opportunity for districts and charter schools throughout Texas to recognize the time and commitment their trustees have devoted to their jobs. Now is the time to start planning how you and your staff, students and communities can show your school board members appreciation for their efforts and hard work. TASB has prepared a resource kit to help districts recognize their local trustees. Logo  Sample Materials Activities Looking for other ideas?   CLICK HERE to view - and to add to - a shared doc of ideas for School Board Appreciation Month.

Real Relationships for Student Success: Dec. 8, 2014

Building relationships between teachers and students has increasingly become a topic of interest for creating effective learning environments where students can feel safe, valued, and have belonging. When these factors are in place, learning is enhanced.

Join Glenda Hinsley to explore some of the underlying issues, challenges, and provide strategies to help teachers connect with their students.  Find strategies to apply to the classroom or campus-wide discipline and management systems in your district.

When:  Dec. 8, 2014, 9:00am - 3:30pm
Where:  Region 7 ESC, Pecan Room
Who:  Teachers, Administrators, Counselors/Social Workers

Cost: $100 - with exceptions below:
Fee Waived for members of *Region 7 Districts / Charters
Fee Waived for members of *Region 7 ESC Staff Coop

REGISTER HERE

More information, contact

Ms. Glenda Hinsley	Ms. Judy Moffet
Region 7 ESC	Region 7 ESC
ghinsley@esc7.net	jmoffet@esc7.net
(903)988-6837	(903)988-6725
(903)988-6860 (fax)	(903)988-6860 (fax)

Shedding Light on Gaps in Student Attendance Data

When campus leaders track the percentage of students who show up every day for the average daily attendance (ADA), they most likely also check for the percentage of students with a specified amount of unexcused absences - or chronic truancy.  

While most educators would tell you that these measurements shed light on the attendance crisis in our schools, this information still leaves gaps large enough for many students to fall through.

What are these gaps?  

In an article published by the Healthy School Campaign organization, the gaps are described in relation to the following important considerations and indicators:

ADA is about the average, not the student.
Research by Attendance Works, an initiative that promotes awareness of the important role school attendance plays in academic success, shows that even a school with a rate as high as 95% could have up to 30% of its students missing a full month of class each year. ADA does not take this into account.

Chronic truancy captures only part of the story.

While tracking unexcused absences is important, it ignores excused absences that still lead to missing important instructional time. Whether a student is missing school because of an asthma episode, is dealing with transitional housing issues, or is just playing hooky, the end result is the same: the student is missing out on opportunities to learn.  Read more.

Learn more about the work of the Collaborative and efforts being made to better integrate health and education policy. Also check out attendanceworks.org for more information on chronic absenteeism and efforts to address this issue.

Build Capacity at your Campus by Supporting Teacher Leadership

Nominate a Teacher Leader / Instructional Coach, and/or Aspiring Admin to attend this Institute, which is a focused learning opportunity for Region 7 teachers and leaders who aspire to serve or are currently serving in leadership positions. 

Send a SPECIAL INVITATION to your teachers. 

CLICK HERE to view a SMORE.

The sessions are designed to strengthen instructional skills while also building new leadership and coaching skills. Register.

January 21 - 22, 2015

Online Cohort Jan. - June

June 15, 2015

Send a SPECIAL INVITATION to your teachers. 

CLICK HERE to view a SMORE.

State Board of Education to Meets November 18-21

From the TASA (Texas Association of School Administrators)  Network:

Among the items on the State Board Of Education's agenda, the Ad Hoc Committee on Long-Range Plan for Public Education met on Nov. 20th, and the Committee on Instruction  discussed implementation of the mathematics TEKS.

Based on feedback from administrators, classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, and ESC personnel regarding concerns about the implementation of the math TEKS, TASA has shared the following observations and recommendations with SBOE chair Barbara Cargill in response to her request for suggestions.

Click the Image to Enlarge
Follow this link for TASA website

Watch the live webcast of the meeting

Happy Thanksgiving: Thanks for ALL You Do!

Here's wishing you a restful holiday,

filled with family, friends, fun times and fabulous food.

From your friends at 

Region 7 ESC.

Tiers for Fears? Everybody wants to Rule the RtI World!

Check out this learning session: excellent for Response to Intervention teams!

Learn how to maximize student learning and behavior by implementing a strong Tier 1 positive support system, while exploring multiple research-based options for Tiers 2 and 3. This workshop will inspire you to challenge your existing Behavior RtI program, and walk you through a systems-thinking approach to Response to Intervention for behavior.

01/14/2015 

9:00am

Region 7 ESC Building

# 046192

Register for this Session

For Workshop Information Contact:	For Registration Information Contact:
Ms. Susan Cox	Ms. Shanicki Carter
Region 7 ESC	Region 7 ESC
scox@esc7.net	scarter@esc7.net
(903)988-6857	(903)988-6773
(903)988-6877 (fax)	(903)988-6877 (fax)

Author Chad Foster, "Teenagers Preparing for the Real World" Coming to R7

Counselor Academy:  Dec. 12, 2104
Session #045962   ~  Save the Date!

Click to Enlarge

Enhance the Learning Environment of the Classroom and Campus with Tribes

Tribes is an upcoming opportunity for you and your teachers to learn a vital set of structures and strategies to enhance the learning environment of your classrooms and entire campus.

The Tribes Learning Communities (TLC) process that can transform the culture of classrooms on your campus!  REGISTER HERE.

Tribes TLC has been chosen by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) as one of the 22 Select Programs, which is the highest possible rating.

Watch the featured video for a brief explanation of the Tribes process.  Click HERE for video.

The 24-Hour Basic Course is being offered during the month of February, 2015 on the following dates.    REGISTER today.

·        Feb. 6

·        Feb. 13

·        Feb. 19

·        Feb. 25

Register for Tribes Learning Communities


                               Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge.

T-TESS Overview Recording Available

T-TESS Overview Recording Available

 

The T-TESS overview session with Sheila Collazo, T-TESS Academy Director at the National Institute for Excellences in Teaching (NIET), took place Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, and the recorded session is available to view online. Click here to access the video. The presentation slides have been requested and will be shared at a later date.  For more information about the process and about joining the Refinement Year, contact Regina Davis, rdavis@esc7.net.  For more information about T-TESS, visit the Leadership Development website.

Organizing and Refining Your Workflow- WEBINAR

Do you sometimes feel like you need to come up for air - because you are drowning in that overwhelmed feeling?

More and more information - emails, meetings, projects - head our way and keeps us from performing our best. 

This one-hour webinar discusses five practices that you can use as a school leader or teacher to help you gain a better handle on managing all that stuff!

Who:  Administrators, Curriculum Directors, Principals, Teachers

When: available ON DEMAND 

No Fee for Members of the Admin Leadership Coop

Register by requesting a link:  A recording is also available - ON DEMAND

An Introduction to T-TESS, Session Recording and Sign up for Refinement Year

T-TESS Overview Recording Available

The T-TESS overview session with Sheila Collazo, T-TESS Academy Director at the National Institute for Excellences in Teaching (NIET), took place Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2014, and the recorded session is available to view online.

Click here to access the video. 

The presentation slides have been requested and will be shared at a later date.

Refinement Year & Training

Region 7 districts and charter schools interested in participating in the refinement year should notify Regina Davis at rdavis@esc7.net or 903-988-6841  as soon as possible. A list of all interested districts and charter schools will be sent to  TEA for consideration. At this time, no definitive answer on how refinement year districts  and charter schools will be selected has been provided by TEA. Refinement Year Requirements If chosen by TEA to participate in the refinement year, one or more campuses in a  district can participate in the refinement year. It is not mandatory that all campuses  within a district participate. For T-Tess, administrators supervising teachers will need  to participate in one of the three day trainings being offered in summer 2015.  For T-PESS, administrators supervising principals will need to participate in the  three day training being offered in summer 2015. Districts and charter schools  not chosen to participate in the refinement year will not need to attend either training. Refinement Year Benefits Districts and charter schools selected as refinement year participants will have the  opportunity to: Provide input on the systems prior to the statewide rollout Become familiar with the instruments prior to the statewide rollout Teacher and administrator growth through goal-setting and conversation 2015 Region 7 Refinement School Training (Registration Coming Soon!) T-TESS:  June 17, 18 & 19, 2015 and August 4, 5 & 6, 2015 P-TESS:  September 8 & 9, 2015

For more information about the process and about joining the Refinement Year, contact Regina Davis, rdavis@esc7.net. For more information about T-TESS, visit the Leadership Development website.

Webinar: Five Practices for Refining and Organizing Your Workflow

http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/

Do you sometimes feel like you need to come up for air - because you are drowning in that overwhelmed feeling?

More and more information - emails, meetings, projects - head our way and keeps us from performing at our best. 

This one-hour webinar discusses five practices that you can use as a school leader or teacher to help you gain a better handle on managing all that stuff!

Who:  Administrators, Curriculum Directors, Principals, Teachers

When: available ON DEMAND 

No Fee for Members of the Admin Leadership Coop

Register by requesting a link:    A recording is also available - ON DEMAND

Gifted & Talented in Region 7 of the Great State of Texas

View the R7
Gifted & Talented Program Website

We'd like to know:  

Who is your campus/district contact for 

Gifted and Talented programming ?

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM http://goo.gl/forms/t2F02Pnac7

Professional Development at Region 7 ESC:  

Meet our Specialists

Janice Baker, Gifted/Talented Specialist

I have worked with students and teachers for 30 years to ensure all learners experience appropriate challenges and the support needed to ensure learning at all levels.

I want to help teachers understand how to implement rigorous lessons to challenge 

Donna Ashby, Gifted/Talented Specialist

I began my educational teaching career in my late twenties after marrying and having two children.  Through my children, I discovered a gift and passion for teaching and have sought continual knowledge and exploration of learning ever since.

I believe that all children are born with an innate ability to create and utilize creative thinking.   Education must be the impetus by which we foster creativity in children and encourage innovative thinking.

Education is the foundation of our nation and I am honored and humbled to be a teacher.

Creativity is a constant companion that ebbs and flows, cursing through every thought, idea, dream… until it finds an outlet, expressing itself in myriad tones, movements, colors…creations.

~Donna Ashby

A Definition

The state’s goal for G/T students is to ensure that those students who participate in G/T services demonstrate skills in self-directed learning, thinking, research, and communication. G/T students develop innovative products and sophisticated performances that reflect individuality and creativity and are targeted to an audience outside the classroom.

Networking: Nov. 20th in Edcamp Style

Do any of these questions ever cross your mind?

• How does the one-to-one device initiative work on other campuses?
• What will it take to get all educators on my campus motivated to provide engaging lessons?
• When can we find more time for collaboration?
• Where do I find resources about bilingual education, gamification, coaching?
• What is the best way to reach out to angry parents?
• What's an Edcamp?

If so, you might want to attend the  

Edcamp for Education Leaders

3-solid-hours of learning about just what you want to know.

This session is designed as a networking time for any educator who serves or aspires to serve as a leader in education. 

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 20th, 9:00-12:00noon

WHERE: Region 7ESC Cedar A

WHO: All R7 educators, Campus Leaders Who Value Networking and Connections, Principals, Directors, Teachers, Dept. Chairs - all are welcome for no fee.

 Register Here

Why an Edcamp?
-we are learners first, educators second.
-we care about kids.
-we embrace a growth mindset, and we want to model this for our students and teachers.
-we know adults need social learning.
-we believe educators are the best change agents for schools.
-we are empowered.

You should attend this networking session, called an Edcamp if you believe educators are the best change agents for schools.

The growth of Edcamp has been, astounding, but while it is amazing to see a network of educators interested in taking charge of their personal learning, the growth is also indicative of the need to “disrupt” the current system of professional development.  Open registration for all provides for partnerships and collaboration that rarely exists in traditional professional development. 

The session starts with a blank schedule board, which allows for relevant topics and ideas to surface for the day’s conversation. The law of two feet gives educators the power to determine what meets their learning needs for the day.  This is not a sitting and getting information for credits type of session.  

Come if you are just curious about how to use edcamps as a vehicle for more meaningful professional development on your campus or in your district.

Educators must be change agents. Edcamps are a vehicle for that change. It’s intrinsic.  

The Edcamp Model – The Book

A New Publication from the Edcamp Foundation

by Kristen Swanson

Calling all Edcampers!

The Edcamp Foundation has some very exciting news! The Edcamp Model is now available for pre-order for 10 dollars.

Here’s what you can expect from the text:

• A practical “how-to” guide for organizing both regional Edcamps and Edcamps at your school
• Some documentation on the impact that Edcamp has had on teacher and student learning
• Research that can help convince a school leader to have an Edcamp

Read more at this blog: http://edcamp.org 

How Do We Know They’re Learning?

Help us please spread the word that Marcia Tate is in Region 7 ESC on

The session, How Do We Know They’re Learning? is a NEW workshop.

Session #:042379
Session Title: Assessment: How Do We Know They're Learning?
Location:  Region 7 ESC
New Date:  December 4, 2014
Time:  9:00am-4:00pm

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND – Marcia Tate - with her very popular Assessment session. With assessment outcomes being pivotal in school accountability, you won’t want to miss out on this one here at Region 7. 

This session is FREE to many of our Title I/II contracted member districts, with a nominal fee of $100 for all others. See the attached flyer for more information.

Register

Dr. Marcia Tate is an acclaimed international presenter who uses highly-engaging brain-based strategies to teach participants how to incorporate the same strategies in their classrooms. Her sessions are well-attended and well-received. In fact, Region 7 ESC hosted her for three sessions during last school year, and most of the participants’ remarks included, “Best ever!”

Most importantly, participants will come away with numerous strategies and activities they can readily implement in their classrooms – in all grades/courses!