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Nov 5 Newsletter
Professional Development Update
November 5, 2020
Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people.
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH TEACHING RESOURCES
Academy of American Poets Resources
National Museum of the American Indian
Films Featuring Indigenous Voices (PBS)
WTU Professional Learning Courses
Sign up now for the BRAND NEW WTU course Universal Design for Learning with instructor Nadia Torney. Starts TODAY!!! 45 PLU's for successful completion of the course. Sign-up here: http://bit.ly/WTUUniversalDesign
Hispanic Culture and Spanish Language 2
Instructor: Louis Blount. November 7th, 14th, 21st, December 5th, 12th @ 9am-1pm
This intense course is designed for school personnel in D.C. Public Schools to converse in Spanish beyond the basic level with Hispanic students and parents. Emphasis will be on acquiring an advanced understanding of the Spanish language through grammatical structures used in Spanish conversation, mastering listening concepts for communicating with native Spanish speakers, writing basic communicative texts for parents, and reading in the target language to communicate educational matters to parents. Mastery of these advanced skills and learned vocabulary will be immediately used in communicating with Spanish-speaking members of school communities. In addition, participants will have an appreciation of important cultural and social events in the Hispanic cultures in the local community.
Prerequisite: Hispanic Culture and Spanish Language I or Instructor’s permission. Participants may earn 45 PLU’s or 3 graduate credits from Trinity University.
RSVP here: https://www.wtulocal6.net/fall_2020_hispanic_culture
National Board Certification Support Classes
Instructor: Maria Angala. 4-8pm; Thursdays: October 15, November 5, 19, December 3, 17
The class is composed of a series of comprehensive review sessions designed to provide interested National Board candidates important information about the certification process, time to examine component and Assessment Center requirements, the opportunity to plan how to meet requirements, and time to collaborate, gather resources and information needed to pursue certification — all in a supportive, constructive, and collegial environment. Session 1: Focus on Body of Knowledge and Content Knowledge. Session 2: Differentiation in Instruction. Session 3: Teaching Practice & Learning Environment. Session 4: Effective and Reflective Practitioner. Session 5: Foundations in Practice for Components 2, 3 and 4. Participants may earn 45 PLU’s. RSVP here: https://www.wtulocal6.net/fall_2020_national_board_certification_support_classes
WTU & Pulitzer Center PD Series
Click here to sign up for a powerful and profound Professional Development Series in partnership with the WTU and the Pulitzer Center (8 PLU's for attending the full series).
This series examines ways that students can engage with journalism skills and global reporting on the under-reported impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to deepen their engagement with their curricula, while also empowering them to investigate and communicate under-reported stories from their own communities. Hosted in partnership with the Pulitzer Center, a nonprofit journalism and education based in D.C., this series will feature interactive workshops, free resources, and presentations by professional journalists. Click here to sign up.
Local Letters - Tuesday, November 10 at 4:00 pm EST
How can students find the under-reported news stories that matter to them, and turn their responses into action? In this interactive workshop, participants will explore an interactive workshop that teaches students identify and summarize news stories they care about, make local connections to global issues, and identify potential solutions in their own communities.
The COVID-19 Writers Project with Zawadi Morris - Wednesday, November 17 at 4:00 pm EST
Morris will share her process developing and producing The COVID-19 Writers Project for The Brooklyn Reader, a publication she also founded. The COVID-19 Writers Project (C19WP) captures a hyperlocal viewpoint of the coronavirus Pandemic from inside the virus’s hotspot—New York City—while examining the extent to which health outcomes are impacted by socio-economics, education, and race.(https://pulitzercenter.org/people/c-zawadi-morris)
Seema Yasmin - Wednesday, December 1 at 4:00 pm EST
Dr. Seema Yasmin, a journalist and epidemiologist, presents her experience reporting on misinformation and disinformation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. (https://pulitzercenter.org/people/seema-yasmin)
Global News and Journalism Skills to Engage and Empower Students - Tuesday, December 8 at 4:00 pm EST
Connect with Pulitzer Center education staff to explore global news resources and journalism skills for the classroom. As part of this interactive session, participants will examine how global news can support their curricula and support students in making local connections to global issues.
WTU Tech Tuesdays
Upcoming sessions on Netiquette & Productive Communication with Families, Flipgrid and Sway! Register here
Reinventing the Algebra 1 Experience
On Thurs., November 5th, from 1:15-2:00 PM, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be hosting a fireside chat with an esteemed leader in the field, Bob Moses, President and Founder of The Algebra Project, and Henry Hipps, Deputy Director on the K-12 Education team, about why reinventing the Algebra 1 experience is necessary and timely. Anyone is welcome to attend!” To register for this fireside chat, please register here.
The Future of Early Math: What Science and Practice Tells Us
Omo Moses, Founder and CEO of Math Talk, will participate in a virtual panel and webinar, Tuesday, November 10th, 3:00pmET - 4:30pm ET, The Future of Early Math: What Science and Practice Tells Us, co-sponsored by The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and the National Association for Family, School, And Community Engagement. Register here.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND UPCOMING EVENTS
Omowale Moses has done a lot of exciting work over the last two years in early childhood and family math and recently authored, Sometimes We Do (Math Talk).
Lynching: Reparations as Restorative Justice, an online conference 9:00 a.m. EST - 1:00 p.m. EST, Tuesday, November 17th, 2020, hosted by the Civil Rights Restorative Justice Project at Northeastern Univ. School of Law. To register, click here.
Speakers will include Ta-Nehisi Coates, Angela Y. Davis, Congressperson Sheila Jackson Lee and Dread Scott. Additional speakers include Margaret Burnham, Ron Daniels, William “Sandy” Darity, Quanda Johnson, Maxine Jones, Evan Lewis, Joey Mogul, Thomas Moore, Sheila Moss, Ángel Nieves, Nkechi Taifa, and Annie Whitlock.
Ignite My Future: TECHademy (12/9 @5:30-8:30pm)
All educators welcome to join and receive no-cost transdisciplinary resources and strategies designed to effectively engage with the foundations of computational thinking across subject areas. Teachers participating in a Ignite My Future in School Virtual TECHademy will receive:
• A motivational Keynote on “Computational Thinking in the World Around Us” • Best Practices of online learning, modeled by Discovery Education Professional Development experts • Access to Ignite My Future In School.org – no-cost website with educator and family resources and opportunity to join a global community of collaborative educators through IMFIS Learning Leaders • Five “Grab and Go” lessons that are immediately ready to be used in a virtual environment • A digital event bag with free digital tools like GooseChase and a Certificate of Participation
BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE WTU ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK, AND INSTAGRAM TO KEEP UP ON THE LATEST FROM YOUR UNION.
Oct 5 - PD Newsletter
Tech Tool Tuesdays (every Tuesday at 5-6:30pm)
Please join the WTU Professional Development Instructors for Tech Tool Tuesdays. As we prepare for both the known and unknown of 2020-2021, get ahead of the curve with these workshops that explore best practices in online learning. Click here to explore the weekly topics and to register. You can join for one or multiple sessions.
To view last week’s PD Newsletter, click here.
AFT Needs Your Help.
The AFT is collecting instructional videos for teachers to help them improve their distance learning experience for themselves and their students, and we need your help.
What: Have you recorded yourself doing a lesson, watched a tutorial on how to use a specific online tool or platform that you think was particularly helpful? Is there one you wish you could watch? We need any and all help to launch this new Community on Share My Lesson(SML).
Why: We are hearing from our members that they need short instructional videos to help them see how new tools are actually being used by colleagues in the field on different platforms to teach various subjects and grade levels. For example: Show us how you conduct a morning meeting using Zoom or how you taught a lesson using Jamboard or send us a think-a-loud or tips you think would be helpful for your fellow educators during this challenging time.
Where: Here is the link to the Google Form for submitting videos/ideas: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1V4qknA9Tsdm45VZZe-jPIPUQ6a83WqyNzULUDfxKwpY/edit
This will be an ongoing project, just like collecting lessons on SML, so please spread the word and ask your colleagues to jump in and help create this new exciting set of resources to help enhance you and your colleagues’ teaching. We can’t do it without you!
Oct 1 - PD Newsletter
Professional Development News Letter
October 1, 2020
It is our absolute pleasure and honor to announce this year's esteemed group of WTU Teacher Leaders, facilitated by Rachel Thomas and Sarah Elwell.
- Andreiss Bluitt, Eastern HS
- Rebecca Bradshaw-Smith, Wilson HS
- Dawn Brodus-Yougha, Anne Beers ES
- Kristen Bryant, Ketcham ES
- Brian Crumb, Sr., Payne ES
- Kristian Ellingsen, Columbia Heights EC
- LeeTosha Henry, H.D. Woodson HS & Coolidge HS
- Ashley Kearney, Ron Brown College Preparatory HS
- Nantambu Kohlbatz, McKinley Technology HS
- Modestine Montgomery, River Terrace EC
- Dominique Moore, Johnson MS
- Gabriel Morden-Snipper, Bard Early College HS
- Kip Plaisted, Stuart-Hobson MS
- Carleather Ponder, Roosevelt HS
- Shannon Robichaud, School Without Walls @ Francis-Stevens
- Jessica Salute, Stanton ES
- Donald Thompson, Jr., Anacostia HS
SAVE THE DATE: WTU Teacher Leaders Research Symposium will be May 15, 2021!!! At this event, our teacher leaders will share their action research and policy recommendations.
Read more
Updates - September 28, 2020
Don't Let Certification Sneak Up On You!
For those who received an extension until March 2021 to recertify, the deadline will be here before you know it. The WTU is here to support you as you pursue recertification and/or an education promotion. Register now for quality, research-based, peer-to-peer professional development with the Washington Teachers' Union.
When you recertify, please bear in mind that it may take 10-12 weeks to process so please make sure you submit materials for certification at least 3 months prior to your license expiration date.
OSSE Educator Credentialing & Certification: https://osse.dc.gov/ed-credentials
Tech Tool Tuesdays (every Tuesday at 5-6:30pm)
Please join the WTU Professional Development Instructors for Tech Tool Tuesdays. As we prepare for both the known and unknown of 2020-2021, get ahead of the curve with these workshops that explore best practices in online learning. Click here to explore the weekly topics and to register. You can join for one or multiple sessions.
Sign up for the following Professional Development classes that are starting this week:
- Financial Literacy Fridays, 10/2-10/30, 4pm-6pm (2 PLU's per session + 2 PLU's for supplemental work) FREE
- Managing Behavior in School Communities, Thursdays, 4:30-6:30 (must register for FULL COURSE=45 PLU's) $150 registration fee
- Reading Comprehension Instruction, Saturdays, 10am-2pm (must register for FULL COURSE=45 PLU's) $150 registration fee
- Strategies for Student Success, Section 1, September 29 and October 1, 4pm-7pm (4 PLU's per session) FREE
- Strategies for Student Success, Section 2, begins TODAY September 28, 4pm-7pm (4 PLU's per session) FREE
- Tuesday Technology Tool, Tuesdays, 5-6:30pm (2 PLU's per session) FREE
Center for Inspired Teaching: The Impact of Trauma on Mental Health”
Center for Inspired Teaching is excited to invite you to the next Speak Truth seminar! The topic of discussion on October 1st will be, "The Impact of Trauma on Mental Health," a relevant topic especially during the pandemic and the imposition of social distancing measures. This seminar's discussion will be on the topic of mental health and mental disorder of people in general, but especially frontline workers, through the lens of trauma.
Due to the health crisis, Speak Truth has gone online and is using Zoom Video Conferencing. For safety reasons, we will not be sending out the actual Zoom meeting link until the day of the session, so keep your eyes and ears peeled in your inbox/texts for that! In the meantime please spread the word to your students and any high school students that would be interested in our upcoming discussion.
Date: Thursday, October 1st
Time: 6:00 -7:30 pm EST
Link to register:
WTU Teacher Leaders
It is our absolute pleasure and honor to announce this year's esteemed group of WTU Teacher Leaders, facilitated by Rachel Thomas and Sarah Elwell.
- Andreiss Bluitt, Eastern HS
- Rebecca Bradshaw-Smith, Wilson HS
- Dawn Brodus-Yougha, Anne Beers ES
- Kristen Bryant, Ketcham ES
- Brian Crumb, Sr., Payne ES
- Kristian Ellingsen, Columbia Heights EC
- LeeTosha Henry, H.D. Woodson HS & Coolidge HS
- Ashley Kearney, Ron Brown College Preparatory HS
- Nantambu Kohlbatz, McKinley Technology HS
- Modestine Montgomery, River Terrace EC
- Dominique Moore, Johnson MS
- Gabriel Morden-Snipper, Bard Early College HS
- Kip Plaisted, Stuart-Hobson MS
- Carleather Ponder, Roosevelt HS
- Shannon Robichaud, School Without Walls @ Francis-Stevens
- Jessica Salute, Stanton ES
- Donald Thompson, Jr., Anacostia HS
SAVE THE DATE: WTU Teacher Leaders Research Symposium will be May 15, 2021!!! At this event, our teacher leaders will share their action research and policy recommendations.
May 21 Updates
The WTU's Fall 2020 Professional Development Courses are Open for Registration.
All Fall 2020 Courses will be offered on-line.
Click here to see our Fall Line-Up and Register.
These are the WTU Professional Development courses that begin this month:
- FREE PRAXIS I Math ClassONLY FIVE SPACES LEFT!
- Hispanic Culture & Spanish Language I (graduate credit available through Trinity University)
- Restoring from the Inside Out: Building Capacity for Wellness\
- FREE Meeting Writing Expectations, Grades K-5
- Advanced Integration of Computer Technology(graduate credit available through Trinity University) ONLY TWO SPACES LEFT!
-
Managing Behavior in School Communities(graduate credit available through Trinity University)
Foundations: Organizing the Classroom for Teaching & Learning (graduate credit available through Trinity University) - FREE Strategies for Student Success Section 1and Section 2 (different topics in each series)
Don't Let Certification Sneak Up On You!
For those who received an extension until March 2021 to recertify, the deadline will be here before you know it. The WTU is here to support you as you pursue recertification and/or an education promotion. Register now for quality, research-based, peer-to-peer professional development with the Washington Teachers' Union.
OSSE Educator Credentialing & Certification: https://osse.dc.gov/ed-credentials
Tech Tool Tuesdays (every Tuesday at 5-6:30pm)
Please join the WTU Professional Development Instructors for Tech Tool Tuesdays. As we prepare for both the known and unknown of 2020-2021, get ahead of the curve with these workshops that explore best practices in online learning. Click here to explore the weekly topics and to register. You can join for one or multiple sessions.
Lessons on TV
The Washington Teachers' Union is pleased to announce that we will be continuing to provide Lessons on TV during the fall semester to help support students and families during this difficult time. Through our partnership with Fox 5, the WTU will air 30-minute lessons each weekday on Fox Plus, WDCA. We hope you'll volunteer to teach a lesson. Please click here to sign-up to receive additional information.
This fall, we plan to offer courses on a number of timely issues. In the coming weeks, we hope to emphasize lessons around Civic Engagement and Voting, Digital Citizenship and a number of other topics. Of course, we're open to your suggestions as well. Again, please click here to express interest in learning more and teaching a lesson. Please contact Sarah Elwell at [email protected] if you have any questions.
May 29 - Lessons on TV - High School
May 29 - Lessons on TV – High School
Kamellia Keo, McKinley Middle School
Ashley Kearney, Ron Brown High School
Kristian Ellingsen, Columbia Heights Education Campus
May 28 - Lessons on TV - Middle School
May 28 - Lessons on TV – Middle School
Sarah Hjort-Tyson, Hart Middle School
Kamellia Keo, McKinley Middle School
Potential and Kinetic Energy (Teacher Resources)
May 27 - Lessons on TV - 4th & 5th Grades
May 27 - Lessons on TV - 4th & 5th Grade
Rachel Thomas, Bunker Hill Elementary School
Context Clues and Inferences
Jared Catapano, Lafayette Elementary School
May 26 - Lessons on TV - 2nd & 3rd Grade
May 26 - Lessons on TV – 2nd & 3rd Grade
Raphael Bonhomme, School with a School at Goding
Picture Graphs - Hats & Picture Graph
Nadia Torney, Kimball Elementary School
May 25 - Lessons on TV - Early Education - 1st Grade
May 25 - Lessons on TV – Early Education – 1st Grade
Kalpana Sharma, Brightwood Education Campus
Graduation Day, My Memory Book
Busra Aydin, Wheatley Education Campus
May 21 - Lessons on TV - 6th - 8th Grades
May 21 - Lessons on TV – Middle School
Caneisha Mills, Hardy Middle School
Kamelia Keo, McKinley Middle School