Upcoming
Professional
Learning Opportunities 

Unpack the NEW Science Standards

You've asked for support and we have a great opportunity!

NIESC is pleased to host author and consultant, Sarah Henry, as she facilitates a 2-day workshop designed specifically to help all science teachers understand and make the most of the new Indiana Science Standards.  

In this 2-day, professional learning session, we will unpack the new Indiana Science Standards to better understand 3D learning and the content within the standards. We will apply this to “thinking like a scientist”. Participants will have time to develop units/pacing guides with other participants.

Goals:

  • Gain a better understanding of the 3D learning model and how to read the new standards for science instruction
  • Gain tangible strategies and understanding of teaching students to “think like a scientist”
  • Create collaborative opportunities for teachers and curriculum leaders to begin developing units/pacing guides for the new standards

Teacher Buy-In for SOR - The Early Literacy Cadre will learn from Melissa Gill as guest speaker for the group on February 2 @ 9 EST. This will be a virtual event, to support those navigating the Science of Reading. All are welcome to join. Zoom Link

More Early Literacy Support for You
Multi-Sensory Approach to Phonics
 
Are you ready to learn about using Multi-Sensory Approaches in Phonics Instruction for the K-2 classroom (or during intervention)? While utilizing The Orton-Gillingham Educators’ Guide, we will discover & discuss the fundamentals of multi-sensory instruction.
 
Educators will leave understanding the purpose behind visual and blending drills, the basic rules of language, & the purpose of assessment to guide instruction for students to succeed.
 
This session will utilize multiple phonics instruction resources while allowing teachers to share their ideas and/or strategies.  Teachers will leave with a toolbox of tips to implement quickly during their literacy block!

The Effective Universal Instruction book study described above is an asynchronous book talk of Effective Universal Instruction: An Action-Oriented Approach to Improving Tier 1.  This is the kick-off to the Educations Service Centers of Indiana (ESCI) Strengthening the Core initiative, a statewide focus on quality Tier 1 environments and instruction.  More to come on this series - buy your books now!

This 2-hour mini summit will feature short, powerful, focused sessions that provide educators with a strategy or protocol to shift or lift instructional practices.

Shifts will introduce a classroom move or practice that may take you into a new way of thinking or approaching instruction.

Lifts will take a common classroom strategy or process and introduce ways to elevate and enhance those practices for greater impact!

Sessions will last only 15 -20 minutes and include a mini-lesson and a try-tomorrow demonstration for quick application in your classroom!

SOR Supports through Region 8 Virtual Info Session on February 15-learn more about how Region 8 coordinates virtual trainings in Orton-Gillingham and LETRS.  This session will be recorded and sent to you if you cannot attend.

Asking Higher Order Thinking Questions - Free Virtual Opportunity
Bill Reed will be hosting a virtual event on February 23, from 4:00 - 5:00 EST focusing on how educators can change DOK 1 questions into DOK 2 and DOK3 level questions. Bill will also talk about DOK 4 level work. 

Integrating Literacy & Science Instruction to Support Accelerated Learning

Join Natalie Wexler, author of the Knowledge Gap, and Rebecca Abbott (UC Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science) on Monday, February 13, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. EST for a conversation about how to improve achievement in the reading AND science classroom.  (You'll still get the recording if you register but don't attend.) 

Accelerated learning describes how we support students in making progress toward grade-level learning goals. In contrast to typical remediation strategies that focus on practicing discrete skills, accelerated learning emphasizes building the knowledge necessary for students to comprehend grade-level content.

  • How can literacy instruction be woven into science instruction in a way that supports accelerated learning and attends to all aspects of students’ learning journeys?
  • What role does professional learning play in supporting educators in effectively using instructional materials to do this?

Reserve your spot now, and you’ll be entered to win a free copy of Natalie’s book, The Writing Revolution: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades.

STEM/Lit Cadre 2
The IDOE, CELL of U Indy, and NIESC are gearing up for cohort 2 for the Indiana Literacy Cadre. Interested? Complete the interest form to receive more information. An informational webinar will be help Thursday, February 9, from noon to 1 PM EST via Zoom. Register for the webinar.

Desmos Classroom Best Practices-Virtual PD

Desmos Classroom is a free digital platform that allows math teachers to interact with their students. Quite simply, it’s a sequence of screens, each with a different task, prompt, or question. The screens in each activity can be as simple or sophisticated as the teacher desires.  This workshop is unique in that it focuses exclusively on Desmos Classroom. Throughout the workshop, we break down into build-along sessions, where teachers can put their new understanding into practice by creating to meet their individual needs. 

Objectives include:

  • Practical ways to teach lessons using Desmos Classroom.
  • Proven techniques to employ to get students to engage in lessons.
  • Addresses all levels of teacher familiarity, from beginners to experienced users.
  • Strategies to improve the depth of student thinking using the Classroom platform.
  • Practical ways to create and use Computation Layer to add engagement to your lessons.
  • Classroom-tested lessons and tips to reach students' levels of understanding. Click Here To Register