Teacher Times #12
November 18, 2013

TAPCo. Birthdays of the Week

Ruben Gonzalez 11/24

SESIS Training Resources and Bulletin

SESIS was upgraded on October 28 with new screens and navigation features. For additional information, see this recorded webinar on the new user interface and this accompanying slideshow, both available on the SESIS website. You may also access new quick reference guides for SESIS tasks, including the following guides: Declassify a Student, Adding a Student to My Student Caseload, and Refusal or Request to Conduct Initial Evaluation.

For the latest SESIS news, read the monthly SESIS Bulletin. For questions, email sesiscommunications@schools.nyc.gov.

Professional Development and Student Opportunities

Professional development and student opportunities are posted on the PD and Student Opportunities page. This week’s highlights include:

§  Register by November 19: Engineering and Inquiry City Technology for Grades 4-5 Teachers
§  Participate on November 20: Register for Go Math! Webinar: “Keeping the Pace"
§  Register by November 21: Code X Webinar: Engaging Students in Academic Discourse
§  Participate on November 23: Free Reading/Dialogue on Daniel Beaty's book, Knock Knock My Dad's Dream for Me
§  Register by November 24: History vs. Hollywood: A Film and Book Club for Educators; Presented by the Paley Center for Media and the New-York Historical Society
§  Apply by December 6: Free Museum Experience Program for High School Students
§  Apply by December 9: Violet Richardson Award for Outstanding Girl Teen Volunteer
§  Apply by January 3: KiNY Foundation Essay Contest
§  Ongoing through November: November is CUNY Month
§  Ongoing: 3GNY's WEDU Program: Grandchildren of Holocaust Survivors Bring Stories to School Classrooms

Grant Opportunities

Grant opportunities are posted on the Grants website (you can visit the page on any computer using this link). This week’s highlights include:

§  The Fender Music Foundation Grant

Pic Of The Week

Registration Links for Session 3 of the Common Core Curriculum PD Series

The first and second sessions for each of the Common Core-aligned curriculum professional development (PD) series listed below have already taken place. This overview provides the year-long schedule for each PD series and registration links for the third session of the series, which will take place this winter.

§  Register by November 20 for curriculum team sessions for ReadyGen, Go Math!, Code X, and CMP3.
§  Register by November 20 for curriculum team sessions for high schools and middle schools that did not purchase Core Curriculum materials. These sessions will focus on shifting pedagogy in the core content areas.
§  Register by December 20 for general sessions for ReadyGen, Go Math!, Code X, and CMP3.

For additional Common Core curriculum PD updates, see the announcement below. For questions, email curriculumpd@schools.nyc.gov.

Common Core Curriculum Professional Development Updates

The NYCDOE is offering the following professional development (PD) and resources on Common Core-aligned curriculum and instruction:

Registration Links for Session 3 and Core Knowledge for Pre-k: See the action item above.

Additional Guidance and FAQs on Implementation: As noted in the October 29 edition of Principals’ Weekly, additional guidance and answers to FAQs on implementing ReadyGen, Go Math!, Code X, and CMP3 have been posted on the Common Core Library. Note that the information in the guidance was shared with reviewers conducting Quality Reviews and Principal Practice Observations before Quality Reviews began. You are encouraged to share this guidance with teachers.

Online Resources Reminder: The following online resources are available to schools that opted into the Core Curriculum programs below:

§  Code X: You are invited to participate in the next Code X webinar, “Engaging Students in Academic Discourse.” The first half of the webinar will focus on building vocabulary and strategies for scaffolding evidence-based conversations, including facilitating Socratic Seminars. Participants will then discuss strategies for facilitating the “Collaborate and Present” task and for creating a supportive learning environment for rich conversations in their classrooms. All webinars will take place from 4:00–6:00 p.m.; register here: November 21 and November 25.

§  Go Math!: Register here for the third Go Math! webinar, “Keeping the Pace,” which will be held from 4:00–5:00 p.m. on November 20. In this webinar, participants will explore the NYC Go Math! yearly plan and discuss making instructional decisions to improve lesson pacing.

To see a complete list of online resources for each Core Curriculum program, click here. For questions, email curriculumpd@schools.nyc.gov.