Upcoming Conference: Increase K-6 Reading Comprehension

Achieving Literacy Excellence in Challenging Times 2012 National Reading Recovery & K-6 Classroom Literacy Conference February 4-7, 2012 in Columbus, Ohio The nation’s premiere K-6 literacy conference offers 120 sessions that focus on effective literacy instruction and successful classroom intervention practices. It brings you the richness of deep learning with ideas you can implement right away. The most highly respected literacy experts address topics such as comprehension, Common Core Standards, Response to Intervention, struggling readers, and others: Gay Su Pinnell - The Goal of Excellence: Literate Lives Katie Wood Ray – Read Aloud: An Essential Tool for the Teaching of Writing and Using Literature to Support Conferring in the Writing Workshop Peter Johnston – The Problems and Possibilities of RTI and Engagement, Motivation, and Literacy Learning Tony Stead – Strategies for Success in Helping Students Read and Comprehend Nonfiction and Meeting the Common Core Standards in Persuasive/Argumentative Reading and Writing Patricia Edwards – Building Foundations for Literacy Learning and Parents and Teachers Working Together Beth Swenson – Common Core Standards and Units of Study Dorsey Hammond – A K-6 Comprehension Centered Curriculum A Sampling of Other Topics Include: Meeting Individual Needs in Small Group Helping Older Struggling Readers Interactive Writing as an RTI Intervention Supporting Effective Word Solving Engaging Students in Informational Text Small Group Interactive Writing Instruction Deep Strategy Instruction in Guided Reading Supporting Teachers through Coaching Effective Coaching Conversations 120 research-based sessions on: Classroom Literacy for K-2 teachers and 3-6 teachers, Literacy Coaching, Children’s Literature, Administration, and Reading Recovery. Tailor your learning experience to meet your needs. View the 2012 National Conference brochure Who Should Attend: classroom and ESL teachers, Title I educators, literacy coaches, interventionists, reading and curriculum specialists, school administrators, special education educators, and Reading Recovery professionals. Expand the reach of this outstanding learning experience by bringing your school team. Flexible Attendance Options: 1 Day or Multiple Days, Weekend, Weekday You may register for a one-day Preconference Institute held on Saturday, February 4, attend the entire 3-day conference February 5-7, or choose the day(s) that work for your schedule. Registration payment choices are also available. Online registration will be open through Feb 1, 2012. PLUS Preconference Institutes on Saturday, Feb. 4. These Comprehensive one-day institutes give you the opportunity to fully examine one of the following topics: Supporting K-4 Readers Who Struggle- Pat Johnson and Katie Keier Language, Literacy, and Learning: A Basis for Achievement, Acceleration, and Success for ELLs – Mary Rosser and Sarah Bunn Going Deeper in the Coaching Conversation – Cathy Toll Strong Skills That Block Learning – Mary Fried and Leslie McBane Past conference attendees wrote: • This is consistently the best conference offering the most applicable material and information for my teaching practice. • It was brilliant! I feel energized and ready to try new ideas and old ones that were brought to my attention again! Thank You to Our Conference Sponsors! Gold: Heinemann and Townsend Press Silver: Pearson Bronze: Commerce National Bank Friend: SongLake Books, Mary Ruth Books, and Seedling Publications Register Now! Conference Website Hotel Information Keynote Speakers Gay Su Pinnell Katie Wood Ray Jack Gantos

Pot bracelets could be showing up at school

Sharing a link below of interesting information. As always, we are trying to keep you in front of the latest trends, news, etc.

Subject: Pot bracelets could be showing up at school

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/29609837/detail.html

Great Link to Available Resources

Recently, a resource was shared with me and I thought it might be helpful to a lot of administrators, teachers, parents and students.

[Link]www.helpmykid.org

The home page lists how it can help you….for example “is your child skipping school”…”using alcohol and drugs”…it has a page where you can specify the “problem” and then links you with Franklin County Resources.

Enjoy!

ASCD SmartBrief Special Report:Promoting Respectful Schools (Part I)

September 27, 2011 Sign up Forward Archive Advertise News for the Education Profession ASCD SmartBrief Special Report: Promoting Respectful Schools (Part I) Students learn best in an environment in which they feel safe and respected. This two-part ASCD SmartBrief Special Report on Promoting Respectful Schools looks at what educators can do to create such learning environments. Part I looks at how bullying affects students and how educators can address the problem. Part II, to be published Thursday, looks at how schools can develop a culture that focuses on tolerance and respect. We hope you find our special report on Promoting Respectful Schools helpful. If you don’t receive ASCD SmartBrief daily, we urge you to sign up for our timely e-newsletter. ASCD SmartBrief delivers the stories making news in your profession directly to your inbox — for free. At a Glance A little respect can go a long way Bullying is a serious problem in schools, yet responses to bullying incidents can go only so far, writes Marge Scherer, editor-in-chief of ASCD’s Educational Leadership. She shares stories from educators who reflect on their role in changing a disrespectful culture into a respectful one. While it is possible for everyone to bully and be bullied, the teachers note, it also is possible for anyone to promote respect and a more positive school environment. Educational Leadership (9/2011)      Free whitepaper: Facing Down Bullying Download our free whitepaper on the expanding awareness, definition, tactics and strategies surrounding student bullying. Learn steps educators and organizations on national and school levels are taking to promote safe, positive learning environments. Click here for more. Who Bullies and Why? Bullying comes naturally to many students Research has found that teachers and administrators witness only about 4% of all bullying incidents, and it continues to be an increasingly subtle — and serious — problem. Bryan Goodwin, vice president of communications at McREL, writes that studies show more than 70% of bullying is indirect or psychological. Typical bullies are not necessarily stereotypical outcasts and may even be popular or interested in improving their social status. While bullying comes naturally to many students, Goodwin writes that schools should take such behavior seriously and that the most effective preventions work to change the school climate. Educational Leadership (9/2011)      A quarter of high-school students report being bullied About 25% of high-school students say they were bullied during the 2008-09 school year, primarily by being the focus of jokes or the subject of rumors, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The bullying most likely was to take place in the classroom or school hallways. While fewer students say they were bullied online, a growing number of online incidents resulted in students getting into fights at school or avoiding certain parts of the building. U.S. News & World Report/High School Notes blog (8/24)      Other News 9/11 attacks led to harassment of some Muslim students Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (9/8)      Free whitepaper: Differentiating Instruction Download our free whitepaper exploring how tailored lessons can engage students at varying learning levels. Visit us online. The Role of Technology Professor: Technology makes bullying easier Bullying increasingly is taking place through text messages, e-mail, social media, video recordings and websites. Kathleen Conn, a professor at Neumann University and a cyberbullying expert, said online bullying originated among male students, but girls more frequently are taking part. Conn said advances in technology have made it easier for students to engage in cyberbullying, which is most common among middle-school students. The Mercury (Pottstown, Pa.) (8/23)      How to prevent bullying on social networks Many educators are beginning to realize that social-networking tools such as Facebook and now Google+ can be used by students to create groups that include, exclude and otherwise bully their peers. In this blog post, graduate research and teaching assistant Ira Socol suggests educators bring these tools into the classroom with forethought and care regarding how they can be used to support open learning environments, while protecting against the creation of harmful and unsafe situations for students. Edutopia.org/Ira Socol’s blog (8/1)      School has students report bullying online A Nebraska middle school offers an online reporting system on its website for students who are bullied. Students can report bullying incidents anonymously, and administrators receive the reports and take action. Since implementing the online reporting this year, administrators say they already have seen a decline in bullying as students become more empowered to report incidents. KHAS-TV (Hastings, Neb.) (9/6)      Should schools be able to punish students for online bullying? A West Virginia high school had the authority to discipline a student for creating a harassing MySpace page about another student, according to a federal appeals court. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit found that “[s]uch harassment and bullying is inappropriate and hurtful and … it must be taken seriously by school administrators in order to preserve an appropriate pedagogical environment.” The case is the latest to consider the scope of school discipline when the Internet is involved, and rulings have come down on both sides of the issue. Education Week/School Law blog (7/27)      Free whitepaper: Awarding Achievement Download our free whitepaper on how understanding motivation is key to effective recognition programs. Learn more. Preventing Bullying The power of restorative practices Restorative practices, in which students assume responsibility for their bad behavior and receive support in repairing the damage, more likely are to improve student behavior than simply doling out punishments, says Laura Mirsky of the International Institute for Restorative Practices. She writes about three restorative practices that work, including a conference in which the parties discuss the incident and how the situation can be repaired. Other approaches are to have students express how they have been affected by certain behaviors or to hold group discussions in a circle about concerns. Educational Leadership (9/2011)      Using student pledges to deter bullying Maurice Elias, director of the Social-Emotional Learning Lab at Rutgers University, in this blog post encourages teachers to consider their position on creating a pledge for students to sign to help prevent bullying in school. Elias suggests that a powerful and effective pledge created, in part, by and for students would affirm values the students seek to uphold, and would be signed publicly by each student. Edutopia.org/Maurice Elias’ blog (6/13)      The role of mentors in ending bullying Middle-school students who are mentored by college students could be less likely to become bullies, according to the architects of a bullying-prevention program. Education professor Tammy James and middle-school health teacher Marnie Gibson also say that college students could help younger students open up about bullying in a way they will not around adults. “They’re more likely to listen to older students because they look up to them — as opposed to adults looking down on them,” one student said. Daily Local News (West Chester, Pa.) (8/25)      Other News Teacher: 10 steps to decrease bullying The Washington Post/The Answer Sheet blog (8/26)      ASCD Resources Additional Educational Leadership issues Educational Leadership: Promoting Respectful Schools (September 2011) Digital EL: Promoting Respectful Schools (September 2011) Educational Leadership: Schools, Families, Communities (May 2011)      ASCD Resources Book: Inspiring the Best in Students PD Online® course: Bullying: Taking Charge, 2nd Edition Education Update: Cyberbullying: Is It Happening In Your Class? Inservice blog post: Why Respect for Students is a Positive Practice Inservice blog post: Buddy or Boss? Inservice blog post: Building Respectful Schools and Individuals Inservice blog post: Why We Must Teach to Learning Needs, Not Race ASCD Express: Setting Up Teachers for Success Whole Child Podcast episode: A Whole Child Approach to Addressing Bullying Whole Child resources intended to help develop environments that keep students physically and emotionally safe Research a Topic: Character Education      Product announcements appearing in SmartBrief are paid advertisements and do not reflect actual ASCD endorsements. The news reported in SmartBrief does not necessarily reflect the official position of ASCD. Read more at SmartBrief.com A powerful website for SmartBrief readers including: Readers’ Choice Search Archive Grab our News Widget Get this RSS Feed Publish your Press Release Recent ASCD SmartBrief Issues: Monday, September 26, 2011 Friday, September 23, 2011 Thursday, September 22, 2011 Wednesday, September 21, 2011 Tuesday, September 20, 2011 Lead Editor: Amy Dominello Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information

Position Opening – The Wellington School

The Wellington School is accepting applications for the position of Head of Upper School beginning in the 2012-2013 school year.

The Wellington Upper School Head is responsible for envisioning and implementing a forward-thinking curriculum consistent with Wellington’s student-centered vision of education. The Head supervises and inspires the faculty, staff and students in the Upper School and is responsible for overseeing student discipline in the context of a joyful and purposeful atmosphere. The Head reports directly to the Head of School. The ideal candidate will have an advanced degree, administrative experiences preferably in an independent school setting, and a vibrant sense of the possibilities of a secondary school education.

Please visit www.wellington.org for more information about the school. Employment Opportunities in the About tab pull-down menu contains the link to The Wellington School application, the only application the school accepts.

Please submit the following documents in an e-mail attachment to Brenda Bell at bell.
· Application (download from www.wellington.org, About Tab, Employment Opportunities)
· Cover letter
· Resume
· Statement of educational philosophy

The application period closes on October 30.

Brenda L. Bell | Assistant to the Head of School

The Wellington School | Lifelong Learners, Lifelong Leaders
3650 Reed Rd, Columbus, OH 43220 | Voice: 614-324-1660 Fax: 614-442-3286
www.wellington.org

Craig Jones Appointed to Regional Equity Board

Congratulations goes out to Craig Jones, Counselor at The Wellington School (Columbus, OH) for his recent appointment to the ISACS Equity Committee. Please click on the link below for additional information about Mr. Jones’ appointment and the mission of ISACS.

http://www.wellington.org/podium/default.aspx?t=204&nid=718852&bl=%2fpodium%2fpush%2fdefault.aspx%3fs%3d483%26i%3d23324%26snd%3d1a9540b2-5a9a-4403-9624-ec733416ece0

Links and Resources to Commemorate September 11

Looking for ideas and/or lesson plans to commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of September 11th? Attached is a list of resources that may assist you. It is a rather lengthy list that includes plans from other districts, lesson plans and more.

Pearson also has free learning materials available to assist educators. They have created fully accessible and downloadable lesson plans for both elementary and secondary classrooms. These resources are available at http://www.pearsoned.com/teachers-can-mark-10th-anniversary-of-september-11-attacks-with-free-online-lesson-plans-and-activities/

Resources-for-Sept-11.docx

“Making The Grade” – MSN Town Meeting Videos

Below is a link of great dialogue videos from MSN’s “Making The Grade” town meeting. We hope you have some time to review and ponder thoughts, ideas, etc. being shared in the videos.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/44137501#44137501

Back To School Resources 2011

Attached is a list of resources being shared that are providing free school supplies, hair cuts, clothes, and physicals during the next couple weeks. Please go out if you are in need of assistance and if not, please pass the information to individuals who might be in need.

Back_to_School_Resources_2011.pdf

Marty Wicks Appointed to Franklin County Planning Commission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8/5/11

 

Marty Wicks Appointed to Franklin County Planning Commission

Marty Wicks, a mathematics teacher at Heritage Middle School in Westerville, has been voted onto the Franklin County Planning Commission as a board member.

The Commission is charged with long range planning (establishing a vision for the future), current planning (administering regulations related to land use and development), and development review (ensuring that changes to the physical environment comply with applicable codes and standards.)

Wicks said he is looking forward to serving on the Planning Commission board in an effort to help guide the community in its future planning. It also validates what he does with students in and outside the classroom, bringing active learning to the table (understanding what a water quality index is, zoning issues, and involvement in community dynamics), and allowing students to think more globally. He said, “This appointment will add more validity to his service learning efforts and offer a platform to engage students and community members more in a better understanding of operations.

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