March 8, 2013

March 8, 2013

New Math Trainers:
At our summer trianing  we will have a lot of new trainers.  The ones from this area, I want to include in their contract a "facilitating adults" PD.  I hope to offer it on May 29 or May 30.  I want to use the Coaching Conversations book, the facilitator's guides that Kay copied for you and some stuff from a TTT from about 5 years ago.  



Housekeeping:

Please remember to take a van for all PD and all out of inservice area trips.   Staff PD is budgeted based on taking the van and the number of overnight trips. 

Remember to include all activities on the site report, even you think it doesn't "fit" a category, place it in other.

Any activity you facilitate, please keep a copy of the sign in sheets.  I need a copy for my records. 

Any activity where we are paying for subs:  copy of the sign in sheets to: Tanya, Lynn, Nancy, and Kay (if related to OGAP or Robotics; MSP stuff), Barry (if it involves kits) and the yet to be named PD coordinator for CEU credit. 


Random thoughts:

Shelley : at our staff meeting please share with us your experience at Randolph County BOE. I think this was a content literacy connection, right?

Math:  OGAP assessments for the summer training.   Have you given any to use in the summer?  Didn't we decide to have a randon sample set to use during the training?

OGAP for April:  We need to take OGAP preassessment to the Weaver teachers so they can give them at their convenience.  probably 3rd grade

Does anyone remember anything about the registration process for summer training that we need to change or any ideas on how to improve?   You can comment on this blog and I think everyone gets the  comments or at least can see the comments or you can share at staff meeting on March 18th.

March 1, 2013

March 1, 2013:

Lots happening! - I need about 1 hr to bring everyone up to date on Monday AM.  1030?

Summer training plans:

I hope to being getting packets ready to mail to schools on Monday and Tuesday. All helping hands appreciated.


Cherie will you please make me a set of calendar postes to use for planning. July 2013 - June 2014?

Harrassement Prevention Training:

Remember to complete it by March 15th.   

Evaluation process

Remember staff evaluation training?   All have to be completed by March 31 but since spring break is march 25-29 then actually they have to be completed by March 22. 


AND I learned a new fact today about the thermostats.  Once you move the dial, press the button too. 











Science

Middle School Kit Conversion

• The converted modules will be used in this summer’s training following the new training plans as disseminated at the last director’s meeting.
• · 6^th grade will remain as is until the entire grade can be converted. If you have monies to purchase the necessary items for Earth in Space, I recommend that you do that and hold them until we convert (providing space allows).

 · A TTT upgrade will be held on April 23-24 at the AMSTI-UM site. We are targeting existing 7^th and 8^th grade trainers for this upgrade. We expect all middle school specialists to attend unless there is some issue, so please let them know about these dates.
 · Costs will be covered by the SDE.

Math

• Not that I know when this could happen, but if the math TTT is a different as rumors indicate, then we may need to think of offering sessions this summer (like I said, who know when) as kind of a here's what's new and how it will help with College and Career Ready Standards.   No materials could be associated with it unles sthey can be pulled from Old math kits.  Probably 1 day or 1/2 day for each grade level, but there would not be a stipend tied to it BUT if it is 6 hours then they can use it as a FLEX day.

• Old math kits:   Barry needs help in inventoring and breaking those down so we can use the pieces that are usable.  ie books, rulers, pattern blocks, cubes, etc.  These could be used in any trianing and supplied to those in attendance.  OR taken with you next year to schools and given an replacements to AMSTI trained teachers only. 

• CMP books- same for them.  We need to take additional student books or obselete teacher books and give them to AMSTI trianed teachers who are using them and could use some more. 

• We will need to document who get what:  ie  Spencer Barnes was given a bucket of snap cubes to replace the ones children lost.   Vinnee Barnes was given 30 Bits and Pieces to replace lost books and because her class sizes are greater than 30.  etc.  Nothing major just who got what. 
• I will bring to our staff meeting copies of emails from Lorrie Moody and Leigh Twigg on specific PD they want for their teachers. 
• Calculators are being sent out to schools whose principal responded to a request for a list of math teachers at their school. 
• 3 systems have requested to borrow calculators.  We are working on getting together 50 for each systems to borrow. 

January 11, 2013

WOW!  First post of the new year and first post since Nov! 

• OGAP PD scheduled for February 27,28 and March 1 for K teachers from Calhoun  County.   Lorrie Moody has sent the information to principals.    Additive Reasoning. I've completed the PD request form that we discussed using in order for all parties to have knowledge of the PD. It has  been emailed to you.

• I would like to plan a small group OGAP for multiplicative in May after testing and a big group co facilitated with Diane Duncan (I think) in May so we can offer sessions this summer. 

• UNA is hosting a Celebration Day for Shelly Hollis on January 28th at 11:30.  I am going to attend.  If you would like to attend, please let me know.  I know we have TTT planned for Anniston's Lead Team so math specialists will not be able to attend.  

• A list of my meetings or obligations until our next staff meeting.  I will do my best to provide this to Kay each month so it can be on your agenda. 

I will be at a Leadership Development Meeting Monday, January 14th at UM.

MSP grant planning for the Robotics part on January 15 (AM only)

I am meeting with Jacksonville City on January 17th and then set up for Piedmont's PD.

Piedmont's PLT PD is Januaary 18th.  

RPT meeting in Montgomery on January 23

Key Leader meeting in Cullman on January 24

CORE Workshop (JSU is partnered with 18 local school systems on a grant) on campus.

Directors meeting January 29-31 in Montgomery.

• Share Point

Specialists: Please check your Sharepoint access.  According to Steve, everyone should have viewing access to the DSP summaries that we looked at in our RSS meeting. If not, make a list of who either can't get into Sharepoint or who can't view.  Remember, Sharepoint doesn't like Apple products.  Email me one list please and I will forward to the correct person [yet to be identified]. 

• Power Standards

Lots of systems are looking at Power Standards.   Because of my work with Piedmont, I've done some research, read a book and put together some slides.  I'm going to dropbox that to you so you can be familiar with teachers are referring to Power Standards. 

• Specialits: Please begin with January printing out your Google Calendar and staple it to the "days worked" for you submit to Lynn.  Make sure both match and you have submitted any leave forms required. 
• K-5 Science specialist, I emailed  you information from Sandy Ledwell on YOUR TTT for the safe kits.  At this time there is not a TTT planned for teachers to my knowledge.   This is so you can train kits that you are not currently trained.

One last reminder:  one more time

Google Calendar:

Keeping your calendar up to date is documentation.

"inviting" Tanya and Kay to an event that takes you out of the office/school is notifying/requesting time off from work.

Please remember: Just because it is "on your calendar" I will not see it unless you send me an invite. We have grown too big for all of your calendars to show up on my screen.

• Please, please, please, please remember to "invite Kay and Tanya" to any event that will take you out of the office/school regardless if it is NCD, annual leave, sick leave, using time spent/worked during summer training, etc.
• If your event is after hours (after 3:30 or 4:30 depending on whether you arrive at 7 or 8) then we do not need to be invited.
• I can not stress the importance of this enough. This is very important.This has to become a habit for everyone. The invites need to be in advance and not last minute unless something comes up.
• Please keep your calendar updated at least weekly. As soon as you know you are going to need to be out of the office, please place it on the calendar.

• Please remember, if an emergency keeps you from work, please text or call Kay AND Tanya then update your calendar accordingly.
• Happy Friday!
• Tanya 

November 16, 2012

Friday Updates - on Monday, November 19th, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving. Hope you get to spend it with those you love.

Info/Reminder:

 travel reimbursement procedures.

• Remember to use  new travel form[July 2012].     It is on our shared drive. "G" drive
• Any travel (other than travel to schools) requires an agenda/conference booklet to be submitted with the request for reimbursement. If you attend a PD [training at another site] a sign in sheet with the date and times will work for documentation.
• For recording keeping purposes, please submit travel to schools separate from travel to state meetings or pd you attend.

Google Calendar:

Keeping your calendar up to date is documentation.

"inviting" Tanya and Kay to an event that takes you out of the office/school is notifying/requesting time off from work. 

Please remember: Just because it is "on your calendar" I will not see it unless you send me an invite. We have grown too big for all of your calendars to show up on my screen.

• Please, please, please, please remember to "invite Kay and Tanya" to any event that will take you out of the office/school regardless if it is NCD, annual leave, sick leave, using time spent/worked during summer training, etc.  
• If your event is after hours (after 3:30 or 4:30 depending on whether you arrive at 7 or 8) then we do not need to be invited.
• I can not stress the importance of this enough. This is very important.This has to become a habit for everyone. The invites need to be in advance and not last minute unless something comes up. 
• Please keep your calendar updated at least weekly. As soon as you know you are going to need to be out of the office, please place it on the calendar.  
• Please remember, if an emergency keeps you from work, please text or call Kay AND Tanya then update your calendar accordingly. 

Request to become an AMSTI School

• If anyone asks you about the possibility of joining AMSTI or their school becoming an AMSTI school, please ask them to put their request in writing and email to Tanya.  I keep an email file of everyone who wants information about joining AMSTI. I will begin recording the information on Steve's spreadsheet.   See quote form Steve's email. 
• From Steve:  "Many of you already have some way of recording who is contacting you to join AMSTI that indicates when, what was requested, contact info etc. It is very important that you build a record of this information. Should funds become available to bring on new schools, you will want to have a record to help with the selection process. Also, at an upcoming site staff meeting you should let staff know to be sure and share with you any questions or information they receive regarding requests for AMSTI. Otherwise, if someone other than you speaks with someone calling in, he/she may say “We aren’t accepting new schools” and let it go without you being aware and having a record of the contact."

Updates below apply to Specialists

• Update on dates:
• Math TTT :
• South: January 29 – 31 – USA and Troy
• North: March 5 – 7: UAH, UNA and Athens
• The following is tentative:
  Central : Feb 5-7:
  Central : Feb 26-28:
  March 12-14: ?

• CCRS:   Thanks for Everyone's help.  Kay and Melanie: great job facilitating sessions!
• Please enroll on STIPD for  CCRS.   
• The sign in sheets had been copied and given to Janis before I made sure everyone had signed in.  THEREFORE,  Melanie, Kay, Polly, Shelley see Janis to "sign in" on her copy of the CCRS sign in sheets.  
• Gadsden CIty and Cleburne County have asked for help in turning around the training.   Hold January 2nd for Gadsden CIty (Math specialists).  We will not do the training for them but will plan with them and be there for support.  They are going to do K - 8.
• Cleburne County is also asking for help.  I do not know the grade bands.   They are suppose to email me.

November 26, 2012:
Let's meet after lunch, 1:30 and go over a few things. 
Please read/look over the following before we meet on November 26th at 1:30.

AMSTI Guidelines: October 2012
Responsibilities: page 7
Site schedule: page 8
Responsibilities: pages 9-11
Module equipment and materials: compressed training: page 20
Logo Usage: page 36
Compressed training: pages 37-38
Professional Development Leave: pages 40-41
Previous Kit experience: page 50
Last sentence on page 52
2nd and 3rd paragraph on page 53

JSU Staff Handbook revised June 2010: should be the copy I gave you a few weeks ago
PR: page 12
Telephone: page 13
Personnel records: page 14
Use of University equipment: page 15
Regular, Full time employment: page 18
Professional Service Providers/Outside employment: page 18
Working hours: page 27
Last paragraph page 30
Health Insurance: page 33
Life Insurance: page 36
Retirement programs: page 37
Long term disability: page 39
Direct deposit: page 44
Flexible benefit plan: page 45
Holidays: full time staff: page 47
Annual leave/ absence report/sick leave: pages 48-50 and 52
Inclement Weather: pages 57-59
Jury duty/ Absence from duty: page 60
Resignation: page 62
Employee recognition and service awards/health clinic/parking/HR: pages 69-70

 

November 2, 2012

Dropbox:
If possible, (if you haven't already) install dropbox on your computer.  I've created a folder to share with everyone and when I add something to the folder, if you have dropbox installed on your computer, you will see a notification that a folder has change.

I have added the AMSTI Guidelines for FY 2013 to the dropbox folder.

I have updated the AMSTI school list with the most current changes of principals.  I've added email addresses for the principals and added a column of assistant principals (that we work with) and their email addresses. 

Research Articles:
Because of our MSP grant (s) I recieve articles on math and science.  Recently, I've been saving the ones that might be of use to us on the "G" drive.   There are other articles that I have collected over the years.   Anytime you need an article to share in a PD or with a group of teachers, check the "G" drive.  There are some really good research articles in the Article folder. The articles from MSP recently have dealt with Common Core for Math and for Science.

Calculators for the End of Course Test

From Steve:

Jeff and Martha Anne are working on a way to check out calculators. They will run it by several directors for “issues glitches” before we send it out.

I apologize that this was tossed upon you –but it happened to us too, without warning.

Please instruct whomever is speaking with schools calling to request calculators to explain that when the department wrote the FAQ, they knew that AMSTI had calculators but didn’t understand almost all were already out in the math classrooms-not stored at the site. If we don’t have calculators available just say we would furnish them if we had them, but they are all already out in schools.

Message should be positive, we wish we could help, but they are already in the schools.

Steve Ricks

Director

Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI)

Alabama Department of Education

Gordon Persons Building

50 North Ripley Street

Montgomery, AL 36104

www.amsti.org

(334) 353-9151

October 26, 2012

CCRS -

• No science specialists will be asked to lead a session.  Sandy and Martha Ann will hold a Go To Meeting to share the ideas and how to answer questions at the meeting.
• Math WILL need to attend and I'm hearing that something is being prepared for math to present.  Stay tuned for more info as it unfolds.

From our STaff meeting:

I wanted to clarify that all specialist will continue to keep up with their contact hours as they always have.  The only contact hours reported on the MSP yearly report in Sept 2013 will be contact with teachers concerning OGAP and Robotics.   That has nothing to do with an activity log or sustainability notes/documentation  or regular contact hours that you write down in your calendar.  We still need that info and will collect it with the new activity log when it makes it's presence. 

From Steve: 

• Good Morning.
•  During the weekend I received a memo that Dr.. Bice sent to superintendents that states that End of Course tests will be given this year in English 9-10, Algebra 1 and Geometry. However, legal council has advised that the tests CANNOT be counted as part of a student’s grade this year. Tests will be administered as planned at the end of a course, “whether that is at the end of a trimester, end of semester, or end of year depending on your local schedule.” As the tests have no impact on accountability or student grade this year, “you can now give the tests at the end of course or whenever it makes sense for you since there will be no pressure to have results reported in time to include on a student’s grade.”

Info from RPT meeting End of Course Test and Quality Core Facts

 

I have a PDF of Facts that I will share via skydrive or dropbox. 

 

 

Gloria Turner

Questions on assessment:

College and Career Ready Standards - 2nd Quarterly meeting. : JSU November 15

These are not  assessment meetings. Assessment will not drive instruction. THese meetings should be about instructions.

This training should be turned around.

LEA sharing -

Math lessons on CCRS, rubric

ELA literacy standards in content areas

Job alike sessions: math, ELA, administrators

LEA team planning - AMSTI, ARI, Instructional Service will let the systems know what they can assist with as they go forward

Teams can add media, career tech, etc. ARI team leaders have current numbers

From LEA meetings: questions about assessments: - see letter from Dr. Bice in the shared folder.

Global Scholar formative assessment - and ACT quality core: optional ACT quality core is an option for formative assessment for the HS,

One year contract with Global Scholar: Last year, LEA can get money for using something other than Global scholar -

Will give ARMT+, data from this year will be baseline - need a way to link scores from Explore to 3rd grade -- comment has been made that items on ARMT+_ That do not lineup with CCRS will not be counted

Accountability : know the terms - this is what we will be using when we look at data from districts

Common Questions about ACT quality core: current and final decision: this school year, quality core will not count as part of the student's grade. [end of course test]. This is a year for systems with no pressure of accountability to try our online and paper and pencil, etc. this is the transition year to try things without accountability tied to it. Biology will not be given. Doesn't match standards. Will next year.

92 commonly asked questions.

No calculators supplied. AMSTI calculators in a school can be used. - AMSTI supplying calculators is not a doen decision.  this is still up for debate and decision.  Not sure AMSTI knew this was going to be stated. AMSTI calculators in a school can be used but we don't have an endless supply so we can't supply the state with calculators.   

ACT educator resources : school systems should have a user name and password for educator resources: generic username and password

alstateuser Act001

Www.act.org/qualitycore

Alabama state

Educator resources: ENglish 9, 10, Algebra I, Geometry

Select a course and there is a list of resources

Course objectives: content standards -

Standard has a number adn it is different from the numbers on the CCRS, there is a document that matches CCRS standards and ACT standard - will be posted on CCRS website

ACT course standards worksheet - increase the rigor on the high school core courses

Gap 1 and Gap 2 - difference in written curriculum and taught curriculum

Gap 1 - yes or no I'm teaching this - some standards may not be in that course (may be in 8th grade)

Gap 2 - teachers get together and talk about

Blueprint: the weighting of each items- according to the content

Items level 1: recall, level 2 and level 3: strategic thinking

Launch test builder:

Cognitive level

multiple choice, open ended and short answer questions

Test will be two 45 minute test for the end of course test - 2 separate sitting - can be one day or two day

3 types of test : formative, benchmark and then an end of course test

Benchmark for each content cluster

ACT difference from Global scholar -- the formative and benchmark can't be given online. Must be printed and scored by hand --

PDs coming in January or FEbruary - instruction folks, Explore, Plan and Quality Core - some teachers, field staff, state dept, etc... 3 days and then 2 days total of 5 days - focus is to increase the rigor of core hs courses - program that has assessment built into it

No connection between quality core and Global scholar

Common among the districts:

Districts were well prepared

Lack of turn around -school calendar a barrier

Differentiate support is the right way to go

 

October 5, 2012

Sorry!  Forgot to post this on Friday so this is a Monday update! October 8,, 2012

• Thanks for a great week of OGAP PD.

Can we make some posters to use in all PD which establish NORMS for the PD?  That way it doesn't have to be in PP slides especially when we have visiting presenters.

No one is surprised that Mr. Baeza has already contacted me on how to bring OGAP to all of his teachers.   We will begin to work on an implementation plan and how to roll this out to all schools with a lead team over the 3 year grant period.

At our next staff meeting I will explain the MSP grant process this year.   As with each 3 year MSP grant plan, it is different than the previous one.

• From Steve:

Good Afternoon,

The SDE group responsible for the CCRS Implementation Team Meetings (Quarterly Meetings) with the School System Teams has made a request that ALL AMSTI Science Specialists, including ASIM Specialists attend the next quarterly meeting(s) scheduled during Nov. 13-15. (These are the meetings where AMSTI directors have been asked to help with set-up, registration, etc. each quarter –the first quarterly meeting was on Sept 11-14-you helped with it).

The topic at the quarterly meeting will be Content Literacy standards.

While all AMSTI Science Specialists should be in attendance, the Middle School Specialists will have an extra role. The AMSTI MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE SPECIALISTS should be available and prepared to answer questions regarding what content literacy practices look like, if asked by local school system team members during the meeting. This will mean that the AMSTI middle school science specialists will need to get with the ARI regional staff member and be sure they are on the same page. We suggest that this occur at the upcoming RSS meeting (Oct. 16-17).

Sandy will send the PPT presentation for the CCRS-IT Quarterly Meetings ahead of the meeting to the MS Specialists.

As teachers will be responsible for implementing Content Literacy Standards, the session should benefit all of us.

Please be sure to notify your science specialists of this.

More to come as we learn it. Please see me individually with issues.

Paul, please send to ASIM.

Steve Ricks

Director

 

ALSO from Steve:

• At the state board work session a few minutes ago Dr. Bice shared detailed recommendations for them to consider in the FY14 budget they will start looking toward at the next board meeting. There were a lot of changes, including improving the divisor for teacher units, etc. One single bullet among several said AMSTI-increase $10,000,000. The only comment was that this would be with a new differentiated delivery model that we were already beginning to implement.

  Later in looking at the actual line items I noticed ARI is set for a $10 million decrease. The phrase “repurpose of funds” was used a great deal during the entire presentation.

  It is good that we see a 10 Mil recommendation. However, a LOT would have to happen to make it a reality. Remember 10Mil was actually IN the budget the state board sent to the legislature last year and we got only about $1..7 mil. There was a lot of talk/support for expanding career tech and creating a virtual high school (the latter not in the budget).

  If you see a board member, be sure you continue to urge the $10 mil increase.

  Steve Ricks

  Director

   
• **** Be careful and Don't discuss the budget issue at any setting or meeting where other initiatives are present.  Steve just wants those that know state board members to urge the increase.

• JSU CCRS dates:  November 15, February 14 and May 2 - at the JSU InService Center and should be listed on STI PD.  I think registration is at 8 and sessions begin at 8:30.  We will need to help with registration.   
•  
• Our next RSS meeting is October 16 and 17.  October 16 we will meet at the JSU InService Cetner.  8:30-3:30.  October 17, we will travel to Birmingham(Lincoln Center, bring your laptop)  for a Global Scholar training.  Wednesday begins at 8:30 so will meet at the site and leave at 7 am so meet at 6:45.  I will invite ASIM (probably only Krystal is close enough) and the ARI team members from this area to ride with us.  We will take both vans.   Because we are leaving early on Wednesday,  Tuesday morning, everyone involved in the RSS meeting should  be here at 8 am, and as soon as we clean up on Tuesday afternoon, we will go home.
•  
• On Tuesday, October 16, we will have 90 minutes to present information concerning the Math Practice Standards and Key Concepts.  We will use what ever we already have developed.  We will need copies made for 25 people.   This will need to be done on Monday, October 15th.
•  
• Great website from MSP net for STatistics Lesson Plans for K - 12.  http://www.amstat.org/education/stew/index.cfm

 

I think this is all.  I've review all my emails and notes from the past two weeks and I think this is all the news I need to pass onto you at this time. 

Have a great week!

Tanya