September 24th Professional Learning Schedule

Below is the schedule for our professional development on Monday, September 24th.  The district focus of the day will be dedicated to learning more about our new data solution tool, Data Director. Models will be provided through a demo site, so we are asking participants not to bring laptops, iPads, etc., so as to not overload the site. When not at the district-level session, you will have opportunities to engage in professional development within the PLC structure at the building level.

8:00-10:00--All Secondary Staff--HS Auditorium

Data Director Training--Kari Barber, Midwest Trainer, SEP Curriculum Team

• Accessing Data Director from SEP Portal
• Usernames and passwords
• Dashboard/Icons
• How to create assessments (all subject areas)
• Performance Levels
• Review sample set of data

10:30-12:00--SEP Administrators--HS Auditorium

Data Director Training--Kari Barber, Midwest Trainer, SEP Curriculum Team

• Accessing Data Director from SEP Portal
• Usernames and passwords
• Permission protocols
• Model by coaches of assessment design and standards alignment for SEP reading and math assessments

1:00-3:00--All Elementary Staff--HS Auditorium

Data Director Training--Kari Barber, Midwest Trainer, SEP Curriculum Team

• Accessing Data Director from SEP Portal
• Usernames and passwords
• Dashboard/Icons
• Design of SEP reading and math assessments
• Performance Levels
• Review sample set of data

 We are looking forward to a day of learning--please let us know if you have any questions about the day.

Resources to Support the Iowa Core

Implementing the Iowa Core

As we move into the 2012-2013 school year, we are implementing the newly designed units that were collaboratively designed to align with the revised expectations of the Iowa Core.  This shift to common expectations is new to us in Iowa, so while most of us appreciate the focus and precision these standards provide, it does require renewed efforts in lesson planning and design. The good news is that since 45 states have joined this initiative, there are multiple resources to support this transition.  We will continue to showcase these tools in this week's as well as upcoming blogs.

• Nine Ways the Common Core will Change Classroom Practices
• ASCD's New EduCore tool--FREE!
• Mindshift--Best Practices for Deploying iPads
• Knowmania--Using iPads to plan and record lessons

Do you have some favorite Common Core support tools?  Please share them at the end of this blog.

Nine Ways the Common Core Will Change Classroom Practices by Robert Rothman 

In a recent survey, William Schmidt, a University Distinguished Professor of Education at Michigan State University, found some good news and bad news for supporters of the Common Core State Standards. The good news was that the vast majority of teachers have read the Standards and nearly all like them. The bad news was that about 80 percent of mathematics teachers said the Standards were "pretty much the same" as their current state standards.

Those teachers might want to take a closer look. While the Common Core State Standards share many features and concepts with existing standards, the new standards also represent a substantial departure from current practice in a number of respects. Here are nine important differences:

In Mathematics

1. Greater Focus

The Standards are notable not just for what they include but also for what they don't include. Unlike many state standards, which include long lists of topics (often too many for teachers to address in a single year), the Common Core Standards are intended to focus on fewer topics and address them in greater depth. This is particularly true in elementary school mathematics, where the standards concentrate more on arithmetic and less on geometry. Some popular topics (like time) are not included at all, and there are no standards for data and statistics until sixth grade-a controversial change. The reasoning is that teachers should concentrate on the most important topics, like number sense, in depth so that students develop a real understanding of them and are able to move on to more advanced topics.

2. Coherence

One of the major criticisms of state standards is that they tend to include the same topics year after year. The Common Core Standards, by contrast, are designed to build on students' understanding by introducing new topics from grade to grade. Students are expected to learn content and skills and move to more advanced topics. The Standards simultaneously build coherence within grades-that is, they suggest relationships between Standards. For example, in seventh grade the Standards show that students' understanding of ratio and proportion-used in applications such as calculating interest-is related to their understanding of equations.

3. Skills, Understanding, and Application.

The Standards end one of the fiercest debates in mathematics education-the question of which aspect of mathematics knowledge is most important-by concluding that they all are equally central. Students will need to know procedures fluently, develop a deep conceptual understanding, and be able to apply their knowledge to solve problems.

4. Emphasis on Practices

The Standards have eight criteria for mathematical practices. These include making sense of problems and persevering to solve them, reasoning abstractly and quantitatively, using appropriate tools strategically, and constructing viable arguments and critiquing the reasoning of others. These practices are intended to be integrated with the standards for mathematical content. To provide students opportunities to demonstrate the standards of practice, then, teachers might allow students more time to work on problems rather than expect them to come up with solutions instantaneously. Or they might provide students with a variety of tools-rulers and calculators, for example-and ask them to choose the one that best fits the problem rather than requiring them to choose a tool in advance.

In English Language Arts

5. More Nonfiction

Reflecting the fact that students will read primarily expository texts after high school, the Standards call for a much greater emphasis on nonfiction. The document proposes that about half the reading in elementary school and 75 percent in high school should be nonfiction. This would include informational texts in content areas as well as literary nonfiction in English language arts; publishing companies are likely to respond by revising their textbooks. Narrative fiction will become less prevalent. The Standards also expect students to write more expository prose. 

6.  Focus on Evidence

In reading, students will be expected to use evidence to demonstrate their comprehension of texts and to read closely in order to make evidence-based claims. To prepare them to do so, teachers will need to take time to read carefully with their students and in many cases reread texts several times. In writing, students are expected to cite evidence to justify statements rather than rely on opinions or personal feelings.

7. "Staircase" of Text Complexity

Students will be expected to read and comprehend increasingly complex texts in order to reach the level of complexity required for success in college courses and the workplace. The Standards document cites evidence that the complexity of texts used in schools has actually declined over the past forty years. To reverse this trend, teachers will have to choose materials that are appropriate for their grade level; states and organizations are now developing tools to help teachers evaluate complexity.

8.  Speaking and Listening 

The Standards expect students to be able to demonstrate that they can speak and listen effectively-two aspects of literacy rarely included in state standards. One of the consortia developing assessments to measure student performance against the Standards will create a speaking and listening assessment. Expect to see teachers asking students to engage in small-group and whole-class discussions and evaluating them on how well they understand the speakers' points.

9.  Literacy in the Content Areas 

The Standards include criteria for literacy in history/social science, science, and technical subjects. This reflects a recognition that understanding texts in each of these subject areas requires a unique set of skills and that instruction in understanding, say, a historical document is an integral part of teaching history. This means that history teachers will need to spend time making sure that students are able to glean information from a document and make judgments about its credibility. Science teachers will need to do the same for materials in that discipline. 

To prepare teachers to make these shifts, states and private organizations are planning and implementing substantial professional development efforts. In Kentucky, for example, the state department of education is undertaking a massive campaign to inform teachers about the Standards and their implications for practice and is making available sample lessons and other materials on a website. But these efforts will only be successful if all teachers understand the Standards and how they differ from current practice.

Robert Rothman is a senior fellow at the Alliance for Excellent Education and the author of Something in Common: The Common Core Standards and the Next Chapter in American Education 

(Harvard Education Press, 2011)

MindShift

With many schools at Southeast Polk beginning to use iPads to support instruction, it is useful to learn from each other as well as from other schools some ideas that support use and implementation.  MindShift shares a summary of best practices for deploying iPads.   

ASCD has released EduCore - a new, free digital tool designed to help educators implement both the English/language arts and math Common Core State Standards.  The EduCore tool houses instructional strategies, videos, and supporting documents that facilitate educators' transition to the new standards. Check it out!  It's free! 

If you're thinking about trying some "flipped" lessons this year, take a look at Knowmia and the Knowmia iPad app. And if you're not using the flipped model, Knowmia has promise as a good place to find educational videos that your students can use to review or get "on demand" help when they cannot connect with you.

  

Knowmania

Teachers are looking for effective ways to use iPads as well as exploring the growing concept of 'flipped classrooms'.  

The Knowmia iPad app is a new free lesson planning and recording tool for teachers. It helps you create short video lessons on any subject and publish them on knowmia.com so your students and the public can find them. Knowmia Teach makes it easy to bring in visual aids from multiple sources, organize them in steps (like slides in a presentation) and use your own voice and fingers to bring your lesson to life. You can design each step in the lesson, record illustrations as you draw them, and create sophisticated animation sequences with a simple stroke of a finger. You have the ability to describe your lesson with details that make it simple for any student who is interested in the subject to find it. 

What are your favorite tools for implementing the Common Core standards and technology integration?

It's Election Season

It is election season, and most of us will admit that we are tired of the political ads, but this year, it is predicted that far fewer people will get their election information from network TV.  Most people are getting their information from Twitter and social networking sites.  Where do you get your election information?

In education, we are always looking for the 'teachable moment.'  There is no better time than during a presidential election to teach about government, history, civic responsibility, critical decision making, propaganda, bias, states and capitals, speeches, the role of media, the impact of social networking, etc.......

Below are resources from Education World, The New York Times Learning Network, writing prompts and activities, and iPad apps.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE ELECTION TEACHING IDEAS?

PLEASE POST BELOW!

Website Resources

What is a President?
Students learn the basics about this important job. (Grades K-3)

Design a Presidential Candidate
Students use art skills while thinking about the qualities and characteristics an elected official should have. (Grades K-6)

Understanding Political Parties 
The class holds a mock campaign and election, helping kids understand why voting--and the ability to disagree with a candiate's views--are important rights for American citizens. (Grades K-4)

Election Scavenger Hunt
Hunt through newspapers and other news sources for election-related "treasures." (Grades K-12)

Election Term BINGO
Test students grasp of election vocabulary with a quick BINGO game. Student game card included. (Grades 3-12)

Getting Out the Vote: An Election Day Classroom Experiment
An experiment drives home to students the importance of voting. (Grades 3-12)

Campaign Ad Critique
Learn a lesson in media literacy. (Grades 6-12)

Take a Stand!
A unique approach to a classroom discussion/debate about the election process. (Grades 3-12)

What Are the Important Issues?
Determine the most important issue of the current campaign. (Grades 3-12)

Your Vote Counts
Young students build an election campaign around their favorite TV characters. (Grades Pre-K-2)

Terms of Office
Create a classroom dictionary of election terms. (Grades 3-12)

Picture This: Election Results Graphs
Use art supplies or a free online tool to graph election results. (Grades K-12)

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Election: Editorial Cartoons
Create an editorial cartoon "museum" in your classroom. (Grades 3-12)

Meet the Press
This lesson plan was built for the 2004 presidential election, but it could be easily adapted to any election. Students play the roles of candidate, campaign manager, and journalist in this activity. (Grades 6-12)

How Laws Are Made
Invite students to create a graphic organizer to illustrate the steps elected representatives take to make a new law. Included: Student work sheet and role-play ideas. (Grades 3-12)

Special Interests: How Would A Legislator Vote?
In this role-play, students are elected officials who must vote on five bills related to the special interests of groups that helped finance their campaigns. How will they vote? (Grades 3-12)

Use Editorial Cartoons to Teach About Elections Past and Present
Kids and editorial cartoons are a natural connection. The cartoons can be a terrific tool for teaching higher level thinking skills. Students can discuss them and analyze them -- they can even create them. And what current event could be more rife with editorializing possibilities than the upcoming elections?

THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT!

Writing Prompt

What if the voting age were lowered to 13? How would the candidates try to appeal to younger voters? How would the issues change as more teenagers gained the right to vote? Would young people get more engaged in our democratic system?

An Informed Decision-Maker

• Who are the candidates?
• What are the issues?
• How are the candidates trying to win the election?
• Who do you think should win the election?

Framework

Mini-Unit 1: Who Are the candidates?
Project: Candidate Profiles

Students research one candidate and retool his campaign to appeal to younger voters by creating brochures, slide shows, biographies or Facebook pages or other social media strategies to introduce him.

Mini-Unit 2: What Are the issues?
Project: Issue-Based Campaign Materials or Strategy
Project: Debate

Students survey one another on the issues that matter to them, then research one or more of these issues to create campaign materials like buttons, advertising, brochures or posters around it. Then, they debate the issues, either from the candidates’ point of view or their own.

Mini-Unit 3: How are the candidates trying to win the election?
Project: Argumentative Essay
Project: Campaign Speech or Presentation

Students assess campaign ads to analyze how the candidates this year are trying to appeal to voters, then focus on one campaign strategy to write an essay answering the question, “Which candidate is running the better campaign?” They write campaign speeches for the candidate they have researched.

Mini-Unit 4: What Do You Think?
Project: Student Editorial

Students conduct a one-question interview on views about the election so far, then write an editorial in which they tell why they think one of the candidates should be elected. They use the materials they have created and what they have learned so far to run a mock election.

Unit Culminating Project: Mock Election

A LINK TO BOOKMARK!

 Election 2012 page

COMMON CORE STANDARD LINKS

Reading
1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
3. Analyze how and why individuals, events and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.
6. Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
10. Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.

Writing
1. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization and analysis of content.
4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.
5. Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting or trying a new approach.
6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on specific questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
8. Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each source, then integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism.
9. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection and research.

Speaking and Listening
1. Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
2. Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively and orally.
3. Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning and use of evidence and oratory.
4. Present information, findings and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.
5. Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.
6. Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS

Civics

• Understands ideas about civic life, politics and government.
• Understands the character of American political and social conflict and factors that tend to prevent or lower its intensity.
• Understands issues concerning the disparities between ideals and reality in American political and social life.
• Understands the roles of political parties, campaigns, elections and associations and groups in American politics.
• Understands how participation in civic and political life can help citizens attain individual and public goals.
• Understands the importance of political leadership, public service and a knowledgeable citizenry in American constitutional democracy.

New Beginnings

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to a new school year at Southeast Polk!  There are very few occupations that have the opportunity for a fresh start each year.  New staff, new students, new curriculum....it is wonderful to apply new learning and reflections to refine and improve our craft every year.  Our students are the benefactors of your ongoing commitment to education.  It is going to be a great year!

New Faces

We have some new faces on the curriculum team this year.  Amy Kolln joins us as the Early Childhood Coordinator.  She will be collaborating with preschool teachers to lead efforts for 18 sections of preschool at 6 of our elementary buildings.   A good start in education has a tremendous impact on future success, so we are very happy to be supporting this growing program.   Tammy Steenhoek is our new PK-12 Literacy Coach.  Tammy has been a teacher at Southeast Polk for Runnells and Clay Elementary and brings great expertise to support literacy across our district.  Dave Ford is our new At-Risk Coordinator.  Dave comes to us from Grinnell and will be working with our counselors as well as coordinating an early indicator system that will support us all in identifying and responding to student needs.  Charlie Taylor joins our district as the new Director of Special Education.  Charlie most recently worked for the Iowa Department of Education and brings a wealth of experiences of leadership in special education from his home state of Missouri.  

Laurie Wyatt has a new role on the curriculum team this year.  She is the Learning Supports Coordinator and will provide leadership, collaboration, and coaching for TAG, ELL, Title I, Academic Tutoring supports, and our district RtI (Response to Intervention) plan.  Jayne Beecham continues in her role as the PK-12 Math Coach.  Her background and experiences in teaching math at all grade levels provide great leadership and support as we revise our curriculum to align with the expectations of the Iowa Common Core Standards.  Jamie Fath continues her role as the PK-12 Technology Integration Coach.  With all teachers receiving laptops this year as well as the large number of iPads that were purchased through PTO support funds, Jamie's knowledge and expertise in technology will be a tremendous asset for all teachers as we continue to integrate technology to strengthen teaching and learning.

New Vision and Mission

Our mission at Southeast Polk is "to engage all students in learning a challenging curriculum delivered through quality instruction." We are looking forward to continued collaboration around designing quality, engaging units of study, modeling and sharing best practices in instruction, and implementing authentic literacy tasks to access the key ideas of the content we teach.

New Tools

We are excited about implementing a new data solution tool to provide support in compiling and analyzing data. Data Director will provide technology support for our professional learning community discussions. Watch our blog for continued information around training and teacher leadership opportunities!

Summer Updates from the Curriculum Team

Curriculum work continued throughout the summer as many teacher teams collaborated to take courses, create units of study, plan for the upcoming school year, and design assessments.

·         Several teacher teams came together to design assessments for the revised curriculum units.  Because of the changes in the Iowa Core, changes have been made to both units of study as well as the benchmark and formative assessments to monitor progress.  We are looking forward to the use of a new data system to improve the efficiency of scoring so more time may be spent by teacher teams on data analysis and decision making.

·         Nearly 80 Southeast Polk educators participated in a 2-day professional development opportunity around the foundations of quality teaching and learning.  The study was focused around quality curriculum, the characteristics of effective instruction, literacy and technology integration across all subject areas, and a comprehensive assessment plan.  Teacher teams were able to collaborate to identify next steps for moving forward.

·         A team of Fine Arts educators attended a state conference on the Iowa Core.  They spent time with the design teams as well as their colleagues from around the state as they reviewed the units created thus far and aligned their work around the universal constructs from the Iowa Core.

·         Grade level teams of language arts and math teachers spent time with the curriculum coaches outlining instructional plans for the upcoming school year.  Teachers were able to access the revised units and assessments online and work with their colleagues to design instruction for the upcoming school year.

·         Over 100 educators participated in training around iPads and their use in classrooms.  Teachers had the opportunity to explore apps that are aligned to the content areas they teach as well as our SEP curriculum.  With many schools investing in iPads, our teachers are committed to the study of how to effectively use technology to enhance instruction.

·         A dozen science educators from Southeast Polk spent a full week (in the very hot weather!) studying environmental education with Dr. Keith Summerville from Drake University at the Metro Waste field site.  They created units of study and identified opportunities to capitalize on this outdoor classroom to engage students and support their learning of scientific concepts.  We are looking forward to expanding the use of this site to align and strengthen our K-12 science curriculum.

We have heard from many Southeast Polk teachers about classes and workshops they have taken over the summer months to collaborate with colleagues and continually improve their craft.  We are looking forward to the challenges and celebrations of the upcoming school year!

Tablet Talk

A new survey finds that high school seniors are buying more tablets and using them for schoolwork; they expect their tablet usage to increase in the future.

• Tablet ownership among high school students quadrupled in less than a year from 4% in March 2011 to 17% in January 2012.
• More than 6 in 10 high school seniors agree that tablets help them study more efficiently (66%) and help them perform better in classes (64%).
• Nearly 7 in 10 high school seniors (69%) say tablets will effectively replace textbooks within 5 years.
• The number of high school seniors who have used a tablet to read a textbook has increased from 41% to 58% in the past year.
• 84% say tablets make learning more fun.

Source: Pearson Foundation's Survey: Students and Tablets, March 2012

New Apps for the K-5 Classroom

Miss Spell's Class  This word game lets players test their spelling skills against the most commonly misspelled words on Dictionary.com.  Free

Read Me Stories  This app provides a new talking picture book every day, teaching students new words and how to say them, along with new concepts.  Free

Rocket Math  More than 50 "math missions" help students with telling time, money, shapes, multiplication, square roots, and more.  This app makes students want to learn about math.  $.99

Motion Math: Hungry Fish  Kids can practice mental addition and subtraction with this math game.  Free

Video Science  These two- to three-minute videos demonstrate the steps of simple science experiments.  Free

Project Noah  This app lets students share their encounters with wildlife and document the world's organisms. Free

iLearn Solar System: Making Science Fun  Explore the solar system in 3D.  This app teaches kids about the galaxy, our solar system, each planet and moon, and more.  $1.99

From Scholastic.Administrator.com

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE EDUCATIONAL/PRODUCTIVITY APPS?

Friday Favorites: Reflect, Recharge, Renew

I am always amused (somewhat) by my friends who comment that teachers are so lucky to have their summers off.  Those in education know that it is a full-time, year-round job.  When we are not teaching students, we are reflecting on lessons, thinking of creative ideas, and keeping current with innovative trends.  We finish and pack up a school year and quickly begin preparing for the next group of students.  Summer means course work, curriculum planning, assessment design, peer collaboration, and getting caught up with both professional and personal reading.  I always look forward to my summer reading list--what's on your list this summer?


And of course, summer is also a time to relax and spend time with family and friends.  It gives us the opportunity to rest and recharge for the next school year.  The curriculum blog will be taking some time off this summer, perhaps publishing a few times, and then we will be up and running again next school year.  We appreciate the feedback and comments we have received.  We will send the blog to all staff for a few weeks at the beginning of the school year, and then if you would like to stay connected, please subscribe or follow the blog.  Congratulations on a tremendous school year, and enjoy your time this summer--it is time well deserved!

--The SEP Curriculum Team

Can Schools Close the Gap?
Mike Schmoker asserts in this article that the schools that close the learning gap for students, particularly those in poverty, increase the amount of time that students spend on purposeful, close reading, discussion, and writing.   Collectively, staff did a great job of closing this gap during the 2011-2012 school year.  The ideas in this article exemplify your work.

Can Schools Close the Gap

New York Times Learning Blog
Are your students reading the books from "The Hunger Games?"  The New York Times Learning Blog features lessons in this post-Hunger Games' Science: Investigating Genetically Engineered Organisms.  If you are interested in receiving lesson plans for use with the New York Times, you may subscribe to receive emails (at no cost) at the following link: The Learning Network.

Technology and Multitasking

"For a generation of children immersed in technology, emerging research suggests that while the temptation to multitask may be pervasive, the ability to control it could be the real bellwether of academic success."  

This article from Education Week, Studies on Multitasking Highlight Value of Self Control, highlights emerging research on the way the brain copes with information overload.  One of my summer goals is to continue to explore how technology can enhance learning, use technology to increase productivity and focus, and study how technology has fundamentally changed the way students process and learn new ideas.


Technology and Teaching
Many of you are also exploring how technology can strengthen teaching and learning (as well as engage our wired generation of students!).  This is evident by the tremendous response to the iPads in the Classroom course being offered this summer.  Here is a link that has 50 Resources for iPad Use in the Classroom.

Thank you to all staff who made the 2011-2012 school year such a great learning experience for our students.  Take some time to reflect, recharge, and renew this summer, and we look forward to continued collaboration for the 2012-2013 school year!

Summer Reading
As mentioned above, summer is a great time to get caught up with our reading.  Are you getting ready for your summer reading?  Don't hit the beach with an empty Kindle or book bag.  If you are looking for some reading ideas, this link has suggestions: 20 Innovative Books for your Summer Reading List.

WHAT ARE YOU READING THIS SUMMER?

We invite you to post ideas below--enjoy your summer!

Friday Focus--Summer Professional Learning

Professional Learning

Summer is a great time for surfing--web-surfing that is.  Below is a compilation from Iowa ASCD of favorite websites from different content areas.  Do you have any favorites to add to the list?  Post ideas below.

• Career Education
  • Career Education – Iowa Department of Education   The Iowa Department of Education provides guidelines, documents, resources, and links for career education. 
  • School to Careers  Iowa Public Television introduces students to careers through interviews of individuals in various careers. 
  • United States Department of Labor  This page provides a shortcut to information and services the Department of Labor (DOL) offers educators.
  • Youth for Iowa  Iowa Workforce Development has created the Youth for Iowa web site as a resource for Iowa's students and youth. Here Iowa students and youth will find information about child labor laws, job safety, jobs and careers for the future, Iowa labor market information, education resources, additional job resources, and more. 

• Counseling and Guidance
  • American School Counselor Association  This is the national organization serving school counselors. 
  • ASCA National Standards for Students  This pdf provides the standards for students in the area of counseling and guidance.
  • Counseling and Guidance – Iowa Department of Education   The Iowa Department of Education provides information on the Iowa School Counseling Framework, preparation for a site visit, and resources.
  • Guidance – National Standards for School Counselors  This site provides information on the national standards for guidance counselors.
• English as a Second Language
  • English as a Second Language  English as a Second Language by Dr. Ron C. Lee is the most popular free online English-learning resource for ESL/EFL teachers and students.
  • English Language Learners – Iowa Department of Education   The Iowa Department of Education provides a handbook for educating ELL students, professional development guides, district self-study guides, and guidelines for implementing English language proficiency standards in Iowa.
  • ESL go.com   ESL go is a free English community of ESL students and ESL teachers. The site helps ESL students learning English as a second language through free ESL classes and free English practice message boards. ESL go.com also provides free teaching ESL activities for TESOL, TESL, and TEFL.  
• English/Language Arts
  • Common Core Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy This site provides the standards in reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language. 
  • Iowa Core Literacy Standards  These standards were adopted by the State Board of Education and integrate the work of the Common Core Standards with an additional seven standards that apply exclusively to Iowa students. 
  • National Council of Teachers of English  This site provides specific information for each of the following areas - elementary, middle school, high school, and higher education.
  • The Teaching Channel  This site provides 73 videos to support teaching in English and language arts.
• Family and Consumer Science
  • American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences  AAFCS is great resource for professional development, resources, and archived webinars.
  • Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America  FCCLA promotes personal growth and leadership development through Family and Consumer Sciences education.  Focusing on the multiple roles of family member, wage earner, and community leader, students develop skills for life through character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communications, practical kowledge, and career preparation. 
  • Iowa Association of Family and Consumer Science IAFCS is the only organization in Iowa representing family and consumer sciences professionals across practice areas and content specializations. Our members provide guidance and practical knowledge about the things of everyday life, including human growth and development, personal behavior, housing and environment, food and nutrition, apparel and textiles, and resource management, so that students and consumers can make sound decisions and enjoy a healthy, productive and more fulfilling life.
  • Iowa Family and Consumer Science  This blog of Mary Ann Culver of the Iowa Department of Education provides access to great resources and updates for teachers of family and consumer science.
  • National Association of State Administrators of Family and Consumer Science  NASAFACS provides many resources, including the standards for family and consumer science.
• Foreign Languages
  • American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Language  This site provides the alignment of national standards for learning languages with the Common Core State Standards as well as resources for teachers.
  • Iowa World Language Association   This site offers tips for teaching foreign language. 
  • Teaching French  This site provides French teachers with teaching tips, games, projects, and other tools.
  • Teaching Spanish  This site provides tips for teaching Spanish, including lesson plans, weekly web sites and other great links.
  • Teaching Spanish  You will find a wealth of information written and vetted by Spanish professors and instructors, including lesson plans, answer keys, and teaching tips.
  • Waivers and Exemptions  The Iowa Department of Education provides guidelines for waivers and exemptions for foreign language.
• Gifted and Talented
  • Belin-Blank Center   Located at the University of Iowa, the Connie Belin & Jacquelin N. Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development is a full-service gifted education center that impacts the lives of gifted students, their families, and their educators.
  • Davidson Institute for Talent Development    A national nonprofit dedicated to supporting profoundly gifted students under 18, their parents and educators.
  • Gifted & Talented – Iowa Department of Education  The Iowa DE provides information on gifted and talented programs, including laws/rules/legislation, finance and budget, gifted licensure endorsement, and web sites and resources.
  • Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page The all-things-gifted resource.  Hoagies' Gifted Education Page offers resources, articles, books and links for Parents, for Educators, Counselors, Administrators and other Professionals, and for Kids & Teens.
  • Iowa Acceleration Scale  A tool to help schools make effective decisions regarding a grade-skip. The IAS guides a child study team (including educators, teachers, parents, and other professionals) through a discussion of the academic and social characteristics of the student.
  • Iowa Talented and Gifted Association Iowa's association of interested parents, educators, and concerned citizens is dedicated to meeting the needs of talented and gifted children and youth.
  • National Association for Gifted Children  A non-profit organization of parents, teachers, educators, community leaders and other professionals united to address the unique needs of all children and youth
  • RtI and the Gifted:  Mary Schmidt of AEA 11 shares this wiki, based on her presentation at the Iowa ASCD Curriculum Leadership Academy.
  • More about the Gifted   Access additional resources to meet the needs of the gifted and talented 

• Health
  • American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance   AAHPERD is the largest organization of professionals supporting and assisting professionals involved in physical education, recreation, fitness, sport and coaching, dance, health education and promotion, and all specialties related to achieving a healthy and active lifestyle.
  • American Association for Health Education The mission of the American Association for Health Education (AAHE) is to advance the profession by serving health educators and others who strive to promote the health of all people through education and other systematic strategies.
  • Health Education – Iowa Department of Education  The DE provides  information on human growth and development, health literacy in the Iowa Core, National Health Education Standards, as well as reports, statistics, and data.
  • Health Literacy – Iowa Core  This site from the Iowa Department of Education allows you to select a grade span and download the health literacy learning expectations.
  • National Health Education Standards  The National Health Education Standards (NHES)¹ are written expectations for what students should know and be able to do by grades 2, 5, 8, and 12 to promote personal, family, and community health. The standards provide a framework for curriculum development and selection, instruction, and student assessment in health education.
• Math
  • Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) is a professional development program based on an integrated program of research focused on (a) the development of students’ mathematical thinking; (b) instruction that influences that development; (c) teachers’ knowledge and beliefs that influence their instructional practices; and (d) the way that teachers’ knowledge, beliefs, and practices are influenced by their understanding of students’ mathematical thinking. Using CGI strategies is an effective way of implementing the Iowa Core Curriculum for Mathematics at the elementary level.
  • Common Core Tools  This site provides an analysis tool to assure alignment with the Iowa Core.  Educators can also join Bill Bush in a blog about the Common Core State Standards; they can also access the learning progressions in all the math domains.
  • Every Student Counts  This Iowa initiative focuses on teaching for understanding, problem-based instructional tasks, and meaningful distributed practice.  
  • Inside Mathematics  Visitors will find classroom examples of innovative teaching methods and insights into student learning, tools for mathematics instruction that teachers can use immediately, and video tours of the ideas and materials on the site.
  • The Illustrative Mathematics Project  This website is currently under development. On completion, it will provide a process for submitting, discussing, reviewing, and publishing tasks. It will also display the standards in multiple views and provide easy access to tasks associated with individual standards and tasks associated with higher order structures in the standards.
  • Khan Academy  With a library of over 2,600 videos covering everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history and 211 practice exercises, The Khan Academy is on a mission to help you learn what you want, when you want, at your own pace.
  • Lessons and Resources NCTM provides resources, including lessons, problems by grade levels, teaching tips, and even a Family Corner.
  • Math Leadership  Instructional coaches for mathematics will find this site helpful in implementing new mathematics content and practices.
  • Math Mountain by McREL  Math Mountain provides math problems for grades 2-6 as well as web sites with problems, puzzles, and math tips.
  • Mathematics Common Core Coalition   This site features links to various websites of interest along with ideas and opportunities for professional development.
  • National Council of Teachers of Math   NCTM is a public voice of mathematics education supporting teachers to ensure equitable mathematics learning of the highest quality for all students through vision, leadership, professional development and research.
  • Online Geoboard  Students can create/manipulate shapes like they would on a real geoboard.
  • Primary Books Focused on Math  This list was shared with Iowa ASCD by a national consultant for math.
  • PurpleMath  Purplemath's algebra lessons are written with the student in mind. These lessons emphasize the practicalities rather than the technicalities, demonstrating dependable techniques, warning of likely "trick" questions, and pointing out common mistakes.  
  • The Teaching Channel   Visit this site to access more than 55 videos to promote teaching in math.
  • TenMarks is a webbased math program for grades 2 through high school. It encourages students to practice and learn through fun and interactive math exercises that make even the most difficult concepts easy to understand with hints and videos. TenMarks provides teachers and administrators with the tools for assessment and instruction for all 3 tiers of Response to Intervention (RTI). 
  • YouTube Videos for Math  The Hunt Institute has developed these videos for the Common Core Standards and insight into teaching practices to support the standards.
• Music
  • Iowa Music Educators Association This site provides information for music educators in Iowa.
  • K-12 Music Education, Classroom Resources, and Music Law This music site provides the public, teachers, administrators, policy makers, parents, librarians, and home schoolers a "webliography" of links to educational resources in music.
  • K-12 Resources for Music Educators  Valuable resources for music educators and students of all areas and educational levels. Carefully researched and commercial free.
• Physical Education
  • Healthy Kids Act   The purpose of the Healthy Kids Act is to establish physical activity requirements for students in kindergarten through 12th grade and to establish nutritional content standards for food and beverages sold on or provided on school grounds during the school day (first bell to last bell).
  • Highly Qualified Physical Education Teachers   This document identifies the attributes and resources to achieve highly qualified physical education teachers.
  • National Association for Sport and Physical Education   NASPE National Standards for Physical Education and NASPE National Standards for Sport Coaches provide the foundation for a quality PE program and a quality sport program.
  • National Standards for Physical Education  Use the physical education national standards to develop physically-educated individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity. The purpose of the National Standards document is to provide the framework for a quality physical education.
  • Physical Education – Iowa Department of Education The Iowa Department of Education provides information on grants, the President’s challenge, and web site resources.
  • Tools for Observing Quality Physical Education  Use the tools and information on this web site to assess the quality of the physical education program in your school/district.
• Reading/Literacy
  • KU Center for Research on Learning The Center for Research on Learning encompasses six divisions, each with a slightly different research emphasis. The center studies problems in education and work to place solutions that make a difference into the hands of educators, learners, employers, and policy makers.
  • Literacy – Iowa Core  Iowa's State Board of Education adopted the Common Core State Standards (7/29/2010) and additions (11/17/2010) as part of the Iowa Core in the content areas of literacy. The document reflects the actions of the State Board and are part of the Iowa Core, which all school districts and accredited nonpublic schools are required to fully implement in grades 9-12 by July 1, 2012 and grades K-8 by the 2014-2015 school year.
  • Literacy – Iowa Department of Education  This site provides links to various state-wide literacy initiatives, including Every Child Reads, Reading First, and Second Chance Reading.
  • Strategic Learning  The Strategic Learning Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing literacy and improving achievement for adolescents. We provide professional development, programs, and tools to schools and districts to address the needs of all students.
• Science
  • Iowa Core Science Standards  This web site of the Iowa Department of Education provides the science standards.
  • Kahn Academy The Kahn Academy offers videos for biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, healthcare and medicine, physics, cosmology and astronomy, and computer science.  YouTube(http://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy) offers the playlist.
  • NASA Education The NASA web site is a resource for K-12 educators – providing teaching materials, career information, an education image gallery, Quick Links, and a calendar of events to support teachers and students.
  • National Science Education Standards The National Academies Press provides the national science education standards, which are now under review and revision.
  • Science – Iowa Core These science strands of proficiency represent learning goals for students as well as a broad framework for curriculum design. They address the knowledge and reasoning skills that students must acquire to be proficient in science and, ultimately, able to participate in society as educated citizens.
  • Science – Iowa Department of Education The DE provides information on laws/regulations, science in the Iowa Core, partnerships, as well as links to science.
  • Science Fair Projects This science project site provides ideas for students and teachers.
  • Science - "Stunts"   Great examples to get kids interested in science and ask "Why?"
  • The Teaching Channel   Access more than 50 videos by teachers of science.
• Social Studies
  • Brain Pop  This animated educational web site is especially for kids and their learning about social studies.
  • Creative Writing and Its Role in the Social Studies Classroom  This summary provides rationale and resources for using writing in learning in social studies.
  • Iowa Council for the Social Studies The Iowa Council for the Social Studies is an affiliate of the National Council for the Social Studies.
  • Iowa History Online High quality instructional tools and online access to excellent teaching resources.
  • National Center for History in the Schools  A nationally known organization that has engaged the talents of scores of classroom teachers and provided history educators across the nation with new historical resources and teaching strategies. NCHS’s double mission is (a) to aid the professional development of K-12 history teachers; and (b) to work with teachers to develop curricular materials that will engage students in exciting explorations of United States and World history.
  • National Council for Economic Education A nationwide network that leads in promoting economic literacy with students and their teachers. NCEE's mission is to help students develop the real-life skills they need to succeed: to be able to think and choose responsibly as consumers, savers, investors, citizens, members of the workforce, and effective participants in a global economy.
  • National Council for Geographic Education An organization working to enhance the status and quality of geography teaching and learning.
  • National Council for the Social Studies  Social studies educators teach students the content knowledge, intellectual skills, and civic values necessary for fulfilling the duties of citizenship in a participatory democracy. The mission of National Council for the Social Studies is to provide leadership, service, and support for all social studies educators.
  • Social Studies – Iowa Department of Education The Iowa Department of Education provides information on social studies requirements for teachings, laws and regulations, social studies in the Iowa Core, US Senate Youth Program, National History Days and web sites.
  • The Teaching Channel   This site provides more than 15 videos to support the teaching of history/social studies.
• Special Education
  • Special Education – Iowa Department of Education The DE provides special education information and resources around assessment, dispute resolution, individual Educational Program (IEP),  parent information, and state guidance and support.all children and youth.
• Visual Arts
  • Arts Education  Arts education has been on the decline in urban public schools for more than a generation. Since 2005, Wallace has been working with nonprofits and school districts to find out how they might engage more young people in high-quality arts learning during the school day and beyond.  
  • Federal Resources for Educational Excellence Teaching and learning resources from Federal agencies identifies resources in architecture, drawing and prints, painting, photography, sculpture, and other visual arts.
  • National Standards for the Visual Arts Developed by the Consortium of National Arts Education Associations (under the guidance of the National Committee for Standards in the Arts), the National Standards for Arts Education is a document which outlines basic arts learning outcomes integral to the comprehensive K-12 education of every American student.
  • STEM to STEAM  Check out how the STEM initiative is tying in art!

• Vocational Education
• Agriculture Education Blogs CASTLE - SchoolTechLeadership provides these blog sites.
• Iowa Association of Family and Consumer Science IAFCS is the only organization in Iowa representing family and consumer sciences professionals across practice areas and content specializations. Our members provide guidance and practical knowledge about the things of everyday life, including human growth and development, personal behavior, housing and environment, food and nutrition, apparel and textiles, and resource management, so that students and consumers can make sound decisions and enjoy a healthy, productive and more fulfilling life.
• Iowa Business Education The purpose of the Iowa Business Education Association shall be to discover and serve the needs of business education in Iowa.

Shout-Outs

• To all the students, staff, and community who participated in the Tech Expo.  What a great forum for showcasing excellent craftsmanship from Southeast Polk students and students from neighboring communities.
• To the ELL team for their collaborative work in providing  a strong literacy foundation for students who are learning the English language.
• To the graduating seniors and all of the educators who have touched their lives throughout their school years.  Best of luck with your post-secondary plans--your efforts and hard work have paid off! 

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...” 

― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!