April 15th, 2011

New Cleaning Crew:
Greg is no longer our cleaning crew.  Two ladies, Linda and Deborah so if you happen to be here and two ladies come in, you will know who they are.

ACHE Professional Developments


2011 ACHE Professional developments provided by the grant: 
May 9th :  PLT training. (Phase I of the ACHE PD)   AMSTI Schools have been invited from Oxford City  and St. Clair County and Attalla City. (Etowah Middle has completed phase I and phase II of the ACHE grant) Pleasant Valley E, Weaver E,  White Plains M, and Ohatchee E have been invited to participate.  White Plains has accepted.  If a lot of teams want to come then  I may need 2 days and if so May 10th may be the second day. 


May 13th:  Science Content Professional Development:  Tommy Morgan and Kellye McDowell will be presenting this session.   The five Phase I  PLT teams from 2010 will participate.  (Alexandria E, White Plains E, Wellborn E, Saks E and Floyd E)


A math content PD will take place at a later time. I'm trying to schedule with OGAP but it is proving very difficult.  That PD would be in August or September.


Math Specialists and Common Core Training


From Steve:

Steve Ricks

Good Afternoon,

As we discussed at our last statewide staff meeting, we will be offering a training on the new Course of Study: Math at the UM site on MAY 18 and at the Troy site on MAY 19.  The UM site will have 2 possible sessions from which to choose -  K-8 and 9-12.  The session at Troy will only be K-8.

PLEASE have any of your staff that you want to attend register for the sessions by the middle of next week.  Space is limited.  After a week of allowing AMSTI to register we are opening the sessions up to other SDE sections until all of the slots are filled.  In other words, first-come, first served but with AMSTI staff being allowed to register early to be sure they are accepted.

From Tanya:  See email forwarded on 4/13/2011 for directions and session titles.


Job Postings:


A few points to remember:  Things I've learned about job postings

• Human Resource Matters and job posting are very hot topics.
• We NEVER want to give the impression that we have a "favorite" candidate.  Because we do not.
• Some people tell us they are going to apply and then something changes their mind and they do not apply.  
• We can speak freely in our office about who we think is applying but that information should not be shared with anyone else. 
• Some people apply and tell everyone they are applying.
• Some apply and see what happens before they talk to their administrator and if their administrator finds out from someone else, word of mouth at church, grocery store, etc. it puts people in a bad spot..
• I do not know who has applied until the position closes.
• We can not schedule interviews until the position closes and we will not share with anyone who is being interview. The interview list must be approved by HR.
• To be involved in the interview process you must have completed a training by HR. 
• Any one who has not been "trained and approved" by HR to interview can sit in on an interview but can't ask questions.
• We will make every attempt to get everyone "interview" certified.  HR has a new director so I'm not sure about the new process.  It seems to change each time we post a job. 
• HR matters must be handled with the utmost confidentiality.

March 25, 2011 and April 8, 2011

FYI for Science Specialists:

Good afternoon, everyone!

I know some of you are getting ready for printing for summer training. For science, please go with the presenter’s guides and participant packs that you received for last summer.

As you know we are rewriting guides in 5-E format, but will only have certain grades/years complete by April.  We are not scheduled for total completion until December of this year.  Because of that, I’m afraid it would get confusing if I said for you to use new in certain grades/years but old in others.

As always, if you have any questions, please let me know!

Sandy

The print bid will go out to bid next week. 


Math Specialists: 

We know there is a lot of interest by specialists in the new Math COS.  On May 18 and 19 we hope to offer a one day training on the new math COS, including Common Core Standards, for AMSTI math specialists.  We have selected two locations -May 18 at AMSTI-UM and May 19 at AMSTI-Troy.  This should allow those in the southern part of the state to drive into Troy and those in the northern part to the UM site.  This training will likely be the first of several PDs that may be offered on the new COS over the next year.

Steve

We will attend on the 18th.  We will want to be able to turn this training around and offer it to our schools AFTER curriculum and instruction from the SDE hold their summer trainings. I will contact our central office curriculum AMSTI contact and ask that they remind their math teachers of the training provided by the Inservice Center during the summer.

Online courses

At the present time, only math journaling and science NB will be offered to our participants online.  These course are NOT open at this time. 

By the time the course opens, we will have a plan in place for the specialists serving the grade band to monitor the online courses.  Steve gave the directors a draft of a plan and as soon as it is finalized we will discuss it at a staff meeting.  We will plan to discuss the online course offerings the first staff meeting in May. I believe both courses will be ready for teachers in May.  We will open it to teachers after our staff meeting.

Day with Ban Har
Please remember that AMSTI is happy with it's current curriculum and believes that AMSTI supports Singapore math.

Please be an AMSTI cheerleader at the Day with Ban Har and look for the ways that AMSTI supports Singapore math and point those out to the people at your table when there is discussion time.  Singapore math is a practice not a curriculum.  I think we will have assigned seats.  I am a table facilitator.

Tod will provide talking points.  I will send to everyone.  Tod has been on vacation this week.

MSP reporting
The activity log that is in development will not "roll out" to be used until at the earliest in August.  I will work with Kay to make sure we have what we need to record hours spent with teachers.

PR
If a teacher has said to you that they will write a letter in support of AMSTI, please ask them to write letters.  Hand written letters are the best and letters from children.  Also, there is no special time for letters.  It would be great to have them sent to legistators all during the year.   If a teacher would send me an email about AMSTI or the onsite support then I can send it to Steve who will send it to Dr. Morton.  Constant PR is what we are looking for.


AMSTEC
At the AMSTEC conference, promote AMSTI.  That is our mission on that day.

Summer training and Trainers:
I'm making progress on securing trainers.  Yellow sticky note is a confirmed trainer, pink sticky note : I'm waiting to hear from them.

I plan to work on the "what needs to be completed for summer training" next week. 

I hope to have definite days for GLOBE for the new hires from August 2010 by next week.

March 4, 2011

Summer Trianer poster is up on my wall.


 A yellow post it means they are confirmed.  A pink post it means I have contact them.  I'm asking Suzan Morris for suggestions on Science trainers and using some names from the New Hire Training that took place in the fall in Birmingham.  I have only placed pink post its for year 2.  In my email I ask the trainer if they are interested in training year 2 and year 1.  If they choose only one year, then I will search for another trainer for the year we 
need.


A Day with Ban Har - The Mathematics of Singapore


Math Specialists, please refer to Ben Hicks email and register by March 11 for The Day with Ban Har.


Principal Visits

All 2009 schools have had a visit from either myself or Kay.  Carol and Kay conducted the Coldwater Faculty meeting for their registration.  THANKS!

2007 and 2008 schools:  I will send an email to the principal / assistant principal  (cc the central office AMSTI contact) with information concerning the summer training AND I will send a packet of information to the principal and the AMSTI CO contact).

February 25, 2011

Principal visits:
I have met with DeArmanville, White Plains E, Sardis HS, Etowah HS, and Weaver E.

Next week I meet with:  Ashville MS, Moody HS, Centre MS, Etowah HS, Coldwater E and White Plains M.

I will begin notifying all other AMSTI schools next week.  We will mail packets of info to them as well and email information to them concerning the 2011 New Hire Training.

Summit
For the Summit in May, we will not stay at the hotel where the Summit is taking place.  When I thought I reserved two rooms, (2 doubles), the only reserved one room with 2 queen beds.  Evidently in hotel speak that means 1 room, 2 queen beds since I guess 4 guest could stay in a room.  They wouldn't give me another room at the conference rate and wouldn't let me extend the stay at the conference rate since Kay and I have tot stay there until the 5th.  Anyway, we will be at the Springhill Suites in Montgomery.   Rate is less there anyway and we don't have to pay for parking there!

February 18, 2011

• If you do not have anything scheduled for July 5-22, please hold.  More info as I am allowed to share.  Waiting on word from SDE. 
• Important Dates
  September 13-14, 2011  - Material Managers Meeting - Huntsville
  September 27, 2011 : Director's meeting - UM
  October 11 - 13, 2011 :  OGAP training: Math Specialists - ??
  November 29, 2011:  Director's meeting - UM

I will be at UM AMSTI for meeting all day on this Friday,  February 18 and in Montgomery all day Tuesday, February 22. 

• Math Specialists: 

Do not schedule anything for April 15th.   All AMSTI math specialists, directors and assist directors will participate in a PD by Ban Har  , “A Day with Ban Har.”  MOre info as it is shared with me. 

• Science Specialists: 

DeArmanville and Coldwater have both responded.  Please contact Mr. Gover and Ms. Copeland to plan for sustainability cycles.  Please remember to "cc"  Maniscalco, Michael; Mitcham, Clay; Nothdurft, Debbie; Bennett, Roy; Goodwin, Khristie, and Dr. Goodwin.   During any planning sessions where you are aligning the curriculum to the standards please invite Ms. Goodwin.    Mr. Maniscalco is the assistant principal at Coldwater and Mr. Mitcham is the assistant principal at DeArmanville.   Let me know if you need email addresses.  

• Spring Break:

Please let me know which Spring Break you will be following.  The one in March (JSU is closed and some of our schools) or the one in April (when some of our schools are closed. )

• March, April and May Staff Meetings: 

We need to move our April Staff meetings of some conflicting dates.   Unless there is something I'm unaware of, lets move our April Staff meetings to April 11 and April 25. The March 7th staff meeting will be a normal staff meeting.  We will move Planning for Sustainability with Joanne to April 11 so that it can be connected to our training at the Statewide staff meeting March 28-31.  

• For your March PD planning sessions: 
• ·         Science specialists attended content deepening session at ASTA and can develop workshops to deliver to teachers in summer and or September
• v  MSP workshops
  v  Need pre and post test
  v  Order training materials but can’t check those out to teachers
  v  Sandy Ledwell developed one for the ACHE grant
  Ø  Talk with Sandy before starting from scratch
• Math specialists - Gadsden city specifically Donehoo wants a professional development on more math strategies and how and when to incorporate them into Investigations

• Director meeting updates: 
• Reminder from Cathy Jones
• o   Pre test and post test
• §  Required as part of the reporting process
• ·         Pay attention to the direction
• ·         Recognized as an indicator of success of PD
• ·         Must be able to match pre to post
• ·         We want to document teacher growth
• ·         We need to do a good job of administrating the test
• o   Get better information when they fill out the id info on pre and post at the SAME time
• o   Suggest phone number
• §  Pre and the number
• §  Post and the number
•    Run on a different color
• o   Or write “pre” and “post”  before running off test
•   Need to pre and post for anything in MSP proposal
• o   Compressed training (if not in your MSP proposal, then do not use MSP money)
• o   New hire
• §  Some of the questions are not covered in new hire training
• o   Ensure that all specialists are well versed in the administration of pre-posts
• o   Give a week or two notice
• o   Check behind trainers/participants to organize materials
• Math COS
• ·         COS for 2010 official version not posted yet  implementation date is 2012
  o   Stay with 2003 COS (testing stays with)
  o   Few more testing items in 2009 – if you go with 2009 then you will be ahead of the game
  o   If at 2009, then stick with it
  o   In trainings, if schools are using 2003 then use 2003, if schools have adopted 2009 then use 2009
  o   2009 tested differently at 3^rd , 5^th, and 8^th
  ·         2010 COS
  o   Alabama 2010 COS for mathematics includes the Common Core State Standards
  o   The 2010  COS for math adopted by state board in Nov 2010
  o   A committee at the SDE is working collaboratively to develop training for the 2010 COS for math
  o   The grade K-8 standards for AL COS in math is identical to the CCSS for math (Common Core State Standards)
  o   Om grades Grade 9-12 there are Alabama Added standards for some of the course
  o   Alabama adopted the traditional course structure of Algebra, Geometry and Algebra II, etc
  o    The CCSS Committee has discussed setting a training date for SDE and field staff to participate in the training developed for the CCSS prior to the LEAs receiving the training beginning with the Mega Conference
  o   MORE in MARCH
  
  
  I will be at UM AMSTI for meeting all day on this Friday,  February 18. 
  
  
  Important Dates
  September 13-14, 2011  - Material Managers Meeting - Huntsville
  September 27, 2011 : Director's meeting - UM
  October 11 - 13, 2011 :  OGAP training: Math Specialists - ??
  November 29, 2011:  Director's meeting - UM

October 15, 2010

Power Outage
The power will be cut off on Wednesday, October 20 from 6 AM to 10 AM.


Dates for Summer Workshops


I didn't include any Alphabet Soup.  We will let that be by request.  If a system ask for help with curriculum, AMSTI materials and COS.   InService Days for schools systems will be by request.  


Please check the email sent on Thursday for compressed training.  I will submit the schedule to the InService Center next week.  

The days I have listed are days we will need rooms at the InService Center. 


I changed the name of Oreos and MIlk to Math and Science, making the pieces fit together. 


GLOBE new hire needs to be in July in order to take care of new hires from 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.  The dates do not have to be consecutive so I need 2 days from Polly and 2 from Carol and I'll fill in 2 days for new specialist.


I need dates from K-5 Math for Special topics for new hires.  Those days also need to be in July.




7-Jun-11 Tuesday Formative Assessment JSU InService Center - McClellan 8:30-11:30 K-12
14-Jun-11 Tuesday Differentiate Instruction - Strategies that work in EVERY classrom JSU InService Center - McClellan 8:30-11:30 K-12
16-Jun-11 Tuesday Math, and Science, making the pieces fit together. JSU InService Center - McClellan 8:30-11:30 K-8 math and science
21-Jun-11 Tuesday "E's" on Down the Road, Inquiry in Math and Science JSU InService Center - McClellan 8:30 - 11:30 K-8 math and science

October 8, 2010

Staff Meeting Monday, October 11
In preparation for the staff meeting on Monday, please review the reflection questions:

Please place short answers to questions 3 – 6 on sticky notes and place the sticky notes on the chart paper in the meeting room (in-service center) on Monday morning. We will begin at 9 am at the in-service center.

1. What is your current understanding of coaching and AMSTI’s expectation of you?

2. What do you think coaching should “look like” in your work?

3. How would you rate yourself in terms of coaching abilities at this time?

4. What are your strengths?

5. What are your needs?

6. What coaching skill(s) do you want to focus at this time?

7. What is your “next step”?

8. What else do you need in order to do this?

Proposed Change in scheduling:

Can we move the October 25, 2010 staff meeting to November 1^st and move the November 8^th meeting to November 15^th?  AND Delete the November 29^th?

Reminder from Steve:

Has anyone sent out any information concerning NAEP? If so, please let me know. If not, please do not do so without consulting me first. All communication concerning NAEP must be approved through the SDE beforehand.

From STEVE:

Gang,
I need for you to let us know BEFORE you send anything out regarding NAEP training. We will also give the Assessment Section at the SDE a copy so they will know what is going on.