New PD Offerings on February 17th!

Be sure to check out PD Place to view and register for upcoming professional development opportunities as they are continuously updated. Professional Development opportunities happen throughout the week, but I wanted to highlight a few of the great things we have coming up on Saturday, February 17th. Click the link below to register and to see additional opportunities:

Upcoming Professional Development

Using Benchmark Universe Resources And Online Assessments to Enhance Learning

This follow-up session is designed to help educators learn the Why, What, and How of Benchmark Universe. The session incorporates guided practice in site navigation, use of key features to promote technology-integrated instruction, and opportunities for interactive, engaging practice. Navigating the data interface and assessment reports is emphasized to build toward a data-driven model of instruction. Scoring constructed response items is included for educators of Grades 3–6. 

Participants attending this session will learn about:

• Resources on Benchmark Universe that support lesson planning, delivery of instruction, student practice opportunities and online assessment;
• Steps for creating e-book and online assessment assignments for students by class, group, and individuals;
• Customization tools for Weekly Presentations and e-books that support literacy development and language acquisition;
• Online assessment reports; score constructed responses (educators Grades 3–6).

Implementing Routines and Pacing That Support a Workshop Model

This session will highlight the resources available within BA to establish a workshop model. Teachers will discover lessons that offer strategies for developing a community of learners and managing whole-group, small-group, and independent time. A guided review of the program design will reinforce how BA supports the gradual release of responsibility to help move from mastery to transfer. 

Participants attending this session will learn about:

• How program design supports a gradual release of responsibility
• Establishing and maintaining classroom expectations 
• Strategies to support management of a workshop model 
• Characteristics of a workshop model

Narrative Writing with SpringBoard and the Common Core

Session three in this series of three Saturdays focuses on analyzing, understanding, and augmenting SpringBoard to achieve the expectations of both the CCSS and the CAASPP Performance Tasks with Informational Writing. Please bring your SpringBoard teacher’s edition and your laptop or device. Preferred audience will be 6-8 ELA teachers.

Current Buy Back Information

For the 2017-2018 school year, all teachers (including those with less than 100% teaching assignments) are contractually allowed to earn up to two days of per diem pay for attending approved professional development. You can find all the forms you need to submit for Buy Back on the Professional Development Forms Page. Once you have submitted all of your forms for Buy Back, you may submit additional hours to Human Resources for Salary Credit.