March 31, 2013

Happy Spring Break:

AMSTI is featured in an article by the Dept. of Commerce.  It is really a good article.  http://www.madeinalabama.com/2013/03/alabama-stem-education-initiative-gets-international-attention/

AMSTI Specialists: Please remember to enroll through STIPD for the April Statewide Staff meeting.

April Statewide Staff meeting snacks:
JSU – Candy other than chocolate  a case of water and 2 twelve packs of soft drinks.

The food you bring should be enough to last for 3 days for our group(Directors, Assistant Directors and Math/Science Specialists-also on Tuesday we will have SDE personnel for joint-planning ).

 

Tanya's out of office dates until the next staff meeting:

April 3rd:  Admin PLT (InService Center)

 

I have submitted a request for Math Journaling for the Summer participants.  I have requested the start date to be April 15 and the completion date to be May 24.  Each math specialist will receive information about being a Course Manager.

 

We will send out Math Journaling Codes in the registration packets. 

 

Registration packets are being "stuffed" and should go in the mail April 1st or 2nd.   OGAP will go to the schools and Robotics info will go to the Central office.    Everyone will receive a copy of what will be sent out so you can answer questions when they are posed to you at a schools, store, church, etc.

 

 

FYI:

• Calhoun County has requested the Quality Questioning PD for their teachers.
• I will develop and facilitate with help from science specialists if they are avaiable. 
• Dates: July 10 and August 7
• THe PD will be in 2 sessions each day.   Quality Questioning from 8-11 and Thinking Through Quality Questioning from 12-3. 

• They also requested Leading Through Quality Questioning for their Administrators.   That PD will be May 29 from 8 - 12. 

• Coaching training for our trainers (Equipping the Trainers) will have to be moved to May 28 and May 30.  I will develop and get input from everyone.  I can facilitate with help from science specialists who are avaiable. 

Hope everyone had a great and restful Spring Break. 

 

 

March 15, 2013

SCIENCE:

• Online classes:   all science specialists will be trained as online facilitators in August.  If you want to facilitate online classes please let me know and I will submit the names to Sandy.  There will be a rotation of facilitators.  All will be trained but everyone may not facilitate.  Also think of kits and rank them in the order you would like to facilitate. 

• From Sandy: Let me know if you have any suggestions: 

From:	Ledwell Sandy J (sledwell@ALSDE.edu)This sender is in your contact list.
Sent:	Tue 3/05/13 10:20 AM
To:

Good morning, everyone!

I need your help in identifying a teacher(s) in your region you feel would be good presenters and who are implementing literacy strategies in the classroom. Or, you could designate yourself if you feel you have particular talents in incorporating literacy in the classroom. Please see below for information – that’s all I know about the Summer Academies as it relates to science at this point. Keep in mind, everyone who is submitted will not be asked to lead a session, but I didn’t want to arbitrarily submit names without consulting you guys.

Everyone:

• PreService Training:  Either after our staff meeting or at 2:00 I need to discuss PreService Training with Kay, Amber and Tara.  I had a long conversation with Sandy, Tod and Shelia and have some updates. 

• From Steve:
  The blip that Change the Equation put up about us doesn’t seem overly positive. We currently have a link to it on our AMSTI home page. Looks like there are places for people to make comments. 
  It would sure be nice is some folks went to the comments section and included some positive comments.
•  
• One of the latest objections to the College and Career Ready Standards is that implementing them will drain money that should go to AMSTI and ARI:   Well, as much as we wish there was a bucket of money to come our way, here is the answer from Steve:

In 2009, as a result of the economy, AMSTI took a significant reduction in its budget (cut by approximately 1/3). To date, funding has not increased back to the former level. This reduced funding has hurt expansion. AMSTI continues to serve all previously trained schools with equipment and materials, additional professional development, and on site support (coaching and mentoring). AMSTI is also supporting all schools by helping teachers better understand and implement the new College and Career Ready Standards.

As an initiative of the State Department of Education (SDE), AMSTI supports the work of the SDE as it has been restructured under new leadership. Examples of AMSTI supporting Plan 2020 include collaboratively planning with each school district for focused support during the current or next school year, and provide training to administrator and teacher leaders concerning College and Career Ready Standards. This support is customized based on the differentiated support requested.

 

AMSTI Schools have shown tremendous growth in ARMT scores which assessed the former state standards. However, our growth on assessments like TIMSS which used different, more rigorous standards, has not been as strong. The new College and Career Ready standards will likely result in major increases on this assessment in the near future.

 

AMSTI is standards-based, so its program has always been designed to support whatever standards are adopted by the State Board of Education. The initiative has always based its work on the current educational research and best practices. As a result, many AMSTI schools feel better equipped to implement College and Career Ready Standards than those that have not previously participated in the initiative.

 

The role of AMSTI is to help teachers teach the state standards to their students in an effective and efficient manner. AMSTI is not responsible for what standards are selected by the state, but is charged with helping teachers deliver instruction on whatever standards are adopted. With the recent adoption of the more rigorous College and Career Ready standards, AMSTI has undertaken a retooling to specifically address these standards.

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