lead4ward 101
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Audience: For teachers and leaders new to lead4ward tools and resources
Launch your lead4ward work and learn how to use the student-centered, teacher-friendly tools, resources, and strategies from lead4ward to make learning meaningful and engaging.
What you will learn:
- Explore lead4ward resources, including Snapshots, TEKS Scaffolds, Academic Vocabulary, IQ Released Tests, Student Learning Reports, and much more
- Determine which lead4ward tools and resources to use in planning
- Use Instructional Strategies Playlists to engage learners
Your solution for:
- Identifying resources to guide the work
- Obtaining district sustainability
- Getting started with lead4ward
Principal as Process Champion (K-12)
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Audience: For Principals and Assistant Principals
There are more student expectations in the curriculum than most of us can wrap our heads around; and, as a principal, it’s almost impossible to be an expert in all content areas. What if we committed to becoming champions of the process standards? The process standards are consistent across grade levels, highly correlate with overall performance on assessments, and help teachers differentiate for learners. Not only are the process standards foundational to T-TESS, they can also serve as an awesome way for developing Student Learning Objectives (SLOs).
What you will learn:
- The importance of the process standards in learning
- How to support teachers in effective planning using the process standards
- Classroom observation tips for supporting process standards during instruction
Your solution for:
- Focusing a principal’s role in the PLC
- Being more intentional about planning using the process standards
- Providing better feedback and support for teachers
Connected Content Sessions
Data: Analysis to Action – Recommended Summer/Fall
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Audience: For leadership teams (principals and teacher leaders)
Note: Combination of Data 411 and Diggin’ Data Sessions
Leading learning requires strategic, focused, and meaningful use of multiple measures of data (STAAR, local tests, and evidence other than tests); using those data to set priorities; and mapping those priorities onto a professional plan.
What you will learn:
- Use the lead4ward data module in eduphoria or DMAC to create Leadership Report Cards for each grade level and content area
- Analyze and interpret multiple measures of state and local assessment data
- Select campus priorities in each content area to create a professional development plan
- Develop a data plan for the year
Your solution for:
- Using data to inform the campus or district improvement plan
- Developing TAIS/school improvement plan
- Meeting the T-PESS standards
- Developing a data-based professional development plan
Data Optics: Integrating Data Types and Data Visualizations
This workshop is offered for schools subscribing to the lead4ward data tools module in systems such as eduphoria, DMAC, or schoolcity.
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Audience: For district, campus, and/or teacher-level leaders responsible for generating, analyzing, and interpreting data reports
Data Optics is a hands-on workshop where participants generate lead4ward reports using their own data. For those just starting out with lead4ward tools, the workshop focuses on understanding and using the data tools throughout the school year. An advanced version is available that encourages more purposeful data conversations and response opportunities through customization. The workshop also explores local assessment programs and ways to integrate data types and data visualizations.
What you will learn:
- Overall design and purpose of each tool/report
- Integration with other lead4ward resources for planning instruction
- How to generate custom reports and apply filters
- Methods of connecting and synthesizing student performance and progress data
- Targeted use of frequency distribution and descriptive data in assessment and instruction
- Deeper and more purposeful analytics by blending data types and lead4ward visualizations
Your solution for:
- Maximizing lead4ward data tools to inform instruction
- Improving the way data is organized and analyzed for better decision-making
- Developing a comprehensive data “plan”
Note: contact lead4ward for workshop options based on level of understanding or experience with lead4ward data tools.
Planning Instruction: Building the Capacity of the PLC
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Audience: For campus teams:
- leadership team (principal and teacher leaders) OR
- PLC (principal and a selected PLC)
PLCs are challenged to maximize limited time to plan instruction that is relevant, engaging, and rigorous. Learn how PLCs can use the lead4ward Planning Guide to distribute planning between the PLC and the individual teacher. Apply the learning to an upcoming unit of instruction.
What you will learn:
- Use the lead4ward Planning Guide and the lead4ward app to maximize planning time
- Create engaging learning experiences by selecting appropriate instructional resources
- Communicate concepts using a variety of visuals
- Determine academic vocabulary important for concept development
- Determine evidence of learning
- Use the lead4ward tools and resources in planning (Student Learning Reports, Field Guides, IQ Released Tests, TEKS Scaffolds, Academic Vocabulary)
- Enhance lessons and activities with Instructional Strategies Playlists
- Discover options for implementing the planning routine
Your solution for:
- Answering the questions that guide PLCs developed by the DuFours (What do we want students to learn? How will we know they are learning? How will we respond when they don’t learn it? How will we respond if they already know it?)
- Creating a planning process that has structure, yet allows teachers to address differences in their classes
- Providing a common set of expectations for planning
- Connecting data to instruction
Rules of Engagement: making every moment count through the Strategies Playlist
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Audience: For administrators, leaders, and teachers wanting to increase student engagement
Prerequisite: While not required, we strongly encourage participants to have gone through the planning instruction class before rules of engagement.
We know that learning is not a spectator sport, but how do we teach the standards, prepare students for high-stakes testing, and keep them engaged all at the same time? lead4ward’s Rules of Engagement helps educators acquire the tools to succeed in all these areas!
Through lead4ward’s Strategies Playlist and resources on our APP, participants will better understand how to engage students behaviorally, emotionally, and cognitively in the learning process by strengthening their desire to learn, motivation to participate, and academic success.
What you will learn:
- Why do students need to move and talk?
- How do you ensure students are learning?
- How do you “think up” instructional strategies?
- How do you manage an active classroom?
- What is the connection between strategies and lead4ward’s Planning Guide?
Your solution for increasing student engagement through:
- Movement and discourse
- Rehearsal and practice
- Extended thinking
- Learning from mistakes
- Evidence of learning
Get ready to move around, rehearse strategies first hand, and leave totally inspired as we learn how to teach, reach, and engage students like never before!
Intentional Intervention: Evidence to Action – Recommended Fall
Maximizing Tier I
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Audience: For campus teams:
- leadership team (principal and teacher leaders) OR
- PLC (principal and a selected PLC)
Campuses accommodate a wide range of student abilities in their classrooms. As students struggle with learning, teachers and PLCs need structures and strategies to meet their unique learning needs of particular students. In this class campus/district leaders and teacher leaders learn on how to leverage local assessment and classroom evidence and/or STAAR data to strategically plan for intervention that supports all students.
What you will learn:
- Use data to inform areas for intervention
- Explore the new lead4ward Tier 1 intervention tool
- Create a Tier I intervention plan
- Connect the process and content standards to assessments
- Facilitate student goal setting and monitoring
- Instructional strategies to check for understanding
Your solution for:
- Addressing intervention in the general classroom
- Identifying manageable ways to respond when kids don’t get it
- Building the capacity of teachers to respond to student errors
Expanding Assessment
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Audience: For leadership teams (principals and teacher leaders)
Whether it is a teacher-created test, district benchmark, classroom project, or informal check for understanding, teachers use assessments to determine success in learning. In this class, learn ways to use evidence of learning to inform instruction, help students learn from their mistakes, rethink the design of tests, and explore ways PLCs can use evidence other than tests to evaluate progress.
What you will learn:
- Use multiple measures to gauge learning
- Create structures for the PLC to collect and evaluate evidence of learning
- Use strategies for maximizing the instructional value of tests
- Collect and evaluate evidence of learning other than tests
- Explain ways to check for understanding
Your solution for:
- Building assessment literacy
- Building better assessment
Accountability 2018: It’s Here! (Available June 2018)
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Audience: For district and campus leaders
Texas is transitioning from the “old” accountability system (which was based on 4 Performance Indexes) to a “new” accountability system (based on 3 Domains). This workshop explains the data measures and indicators that TEA uses in the new 2018 Accountability System. Its emphasis is on helping leaders connect the concepts and performance measures included in accountability with sound, professional-development practices and strong instructional systems that support learning for all students.
What you will learn:
- Understand current accountability system indicators and measures
- Connect accountability with professional development and student learning
- Interpret accountability reports
Your solution for:
- Understanding accountability indicators and measures
- Interpreting and taking action based on data
CALL to Action: Connecting Accountability to Leading Learning
Open Session Dates Coming Soon
Audience: For district and campus leaders
State accountability is in a state of change–transitioning from a system based on four Performance Indexes to a system based on three Domains. Amidst the uncertainty, certain concepts are clear and consistent: student progress is critical and student performance means supporting the learning of ALL students. Success in the new world of accountability will require that district and campus leaders be prepared to lead learning, prioritize work, maintain instructional focus, and provide ongoing support for teachers to ensure that students make progress and achieve success in learning.
What you will learn:
- Gain an overview of both the current and the future accountability systems
- Understand the instructional concepts embedded in accountability
- Identify decision-making dates and times
- Set priorities for professional development and instructional focus
Your solution for:
- Connecting accountability with instruction
- Providing a common set of expectations for planning
- Connecting data to instruction
leading learning series
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The leading learning series provides structure, tools, and implementation support to campus leaders throughout the school year. lead4ward is excited to offer two support solutions to campus leaders as they develop their expertise in leading learning:
- planning instruction – Is your campus new to lead4ward or learning how to use lead4ward resources to plan instruction?
- evidence of learning – (formerly staar4ward) – Is your campus applying lead4ward resources to plan instruction and ready to evaluate for evidence of learning?
CALL to Action: Connecting Accountability to Leading Learning
Open Session Dates Coming Soon
Audience: For district and campus leaders
State accountability is in a state of change–transitioning from a system based on four Performance Indexes to a system based on five Domains. Amidst the uncertainty, certain concepts are clear and consistent: student progress is critical and student performance means supporting the learning of ALL students. Success in the new world of accountability will require that district and campus leaders be prepared to lead learning, prioritize work, maintain instructional focus, and provide ongoing support for teachers to ensure that students make progress and achieve success in learning.
What you will learn:
- Gain an overview of both the current and the future accountability systems
- Understand the instructional concepts embedded in accountability
- Identify decision-making dates and times
- Set priorities for professional development and instructional focus
Your solution for:
- Connecting accountability with instruction
- Providing a common set of expectations for planning
- Connecting data to instruction
What is Leadership Coaching?
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Leadership coaching involves focused conversation around topics of the leader’s choice, designed to increase the leader’s confidence in his or her competency to lead. Coaching session topics may include:
- Assistance in implementing knowledge gained through lead4ward services (staar4ward, etc.)
- Anticipating challenges to leading change and action steps around conquering those challenges
- Planning for facilitation of productive meetings
- Campus, team, and personal goal setting
As well as:
- Planning for upcoming difficult conversations with parents
- Role playing conversations regarding evaluation of employees
- Follow through on commitments and changing habits
- Prioritizing and scheduling
What is the Heart of Teaching Induction?
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lead4ward is excited to offer the Heart of Teaching Induction program! Beginning teachers are our most valuable and precious resources! Helping these teachers to flourish and grow can be some of the most important work we do as educators. Creating an effective induction program will surround new teachers with the support they need to be successful. Induction programs can also contribute to:
- Higher teacher retention
- Lower attrition
- Increased teacher effectiveness
- Happier teachers
Leaders – Rockin’ Review: Volume II – Recommended for Spring
Updated Content Request PD
Audience: For leadership teams (principals and teacher leaders)
Let’s rock review for STAAR! A new twist on a classic, Rockin’ Review: Volume II for Leaders will focus on how to support teachers to motivate students to engage with content that they may have struggled with earlier in the year. We will anchor on the content that is essential for kids to learn and address the highly tested concepts.
Using examples from each content area, we will model NEW strategies, plan with the updated 1-2-3 plan, review the updated quick start guides, and deepen understanding of lead4ward resources that specifically facilitate effective review.
Leaders will learn how to:
- focus review on priority TEKS clusters
- leverage content strategies to engage learners
- explore hands-on/minds-on activities that provide meaningful practice
- activate student voice to create engaging review
- empower students to analyze and take ownership of common errors
- plan your next steps
Let’s rock this!
Connected Content Sessions
CSI (Connecting Standards to Instruction)
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Audience: Special Education Leaders and Teachers
It is more important than ever for special education teachers and instructional leaders to connect their understanding of the rigorous learning standards with effective, specially designed instruction in order to prepare students with disabilities for success in the next grade level and ultimately, life after high school.
Topics covered:
- Understanding the Learning Standards (TEKS) – design and construct of the TEKS, categorization of the TEKS (Process Standards, Readiness Standards, Supporting Standards) and their role in instructional planning
- Using data, knowledge of the structure and design of the TEKS, and identification of the long strand standards to inform the decision-making process
- Developing an effective, informed, simple PLAAFP statement that focuses on involvement and progress in the general education curriculum
- Adapting Instruction to Support Student Learning – prerequisite skills, accommodations and instructional adaptations, and connecting standards to instruction
IEP to Action
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Prerequisite: CSI: Connecting Standards to Instruction – Audience: Special Education Teachers and Leaders
Participants will apply the knowledge learned in CSI: Connecting Standards to Informed Decision-Making to the IEP planning process. This hands-on training takes a deeper look into the process, readiness, and supporting standards and the role they play in our curriculum. We will focus our attention on the long strand standards — content standards that build across grade levels and have relevance in future learning and in life — that will provide your students with special needs multiple access points to the rigor of the curriculum.
Participants will:
- Practice and learn how to write meaningful PLAAFPS based on effective instructional strategies and student’s involvement and progress in the general education curriculum
- Use an informed decision-making process to select high-impact standards for IEP goals and objectives
- Select, practice, and write measureable, high-impact standards-based goals
- Select instructional strategies to support IEP goals and help students access the rigor of the standards
- Practice, develop, and select progress-monitoring models to support IEP goals and inform PLAAFP statements
- Build a plan for your Special Education PLC to learn the strategies for intervention and enrichment
Reaching Rigor: Creating Success for Special Education Students
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Prerequisite: CSI: Connecting Standards to Instruction – Audience: Special Education Teachers, General Education Teachers, or Both (K-12)
Strategy instruction is the only instructional method that has been shown through research to enable and prepare students with disabilities and other “at-risk” students to meet the complex learning demands of secondary and post-secondary schools.
In this workshop, participants will
- Explore various strategies to support struggling students in the areas of reading, math, science, and social studies
- Practice methods for teaching strategies to students, help students evaluate the effectiveness of the strategy, and help students generalize and transfer the use of the strategy
- Develop an implementation plan for embedding strategy instruction throughout the school year to prepare students for accessing rigor and achieving self-determination
Special Education ePLC
The Special Education ePLC is designed to facilitate discussion among Special Education teachers who teach students with high incidence learning disabilities in inclusive settings across the state. Teachers will use the content from the online pre-recorded webinars to facilitate constructive conversations about how to make the content in the TEKS accessible for students with disabilities and provide methods for students to develop effective strategies to access that content. Each webinar will help teachers:
- Explore the specificity of key process standards
- Purposefully use the processes
- Learn how to effectively teach new strategies to your students
- Plan instruction
- Explore strategies for K-12 students who are struggling to access the content and rigor of the TEKS
Reading
Comprehension Strategies in Action (K-5) or (6-HS)
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TEKS Clusters: Process, Figure 19
The ability to apply the cognitively demanding comprehension strategies is critical for understanding what is read. This session focuses on providing a framework for implementing learning and leveraging comprehension strategies that support the understanding of what is read and provide a foundation for analyzing what authors do.
This workshop includes:
- Turning theory into action
- Building an interactive reading notebook
- Integrating multiple texts and genres
- Finding low-prep ways to teach, practice, and transfer
Reading & Writing Academy (6-EOC) – A Year-Long Service
Are you looking for innovative ways to provide Reading and Writing instruction? The goal of the lead4ward Reading and Writing Academy is to provide a learning and support system for educators with face-to-face professional development and virtual support throughout two consecutive school years. Participants will synthesize, adapt, and transfer current and new learning to provide effective reading/writing instruction, practice, and assessment. Following a learn, practice and reflect model, academy members will leave with the confidence and competence to set in motion relevant change to promote students as lifelong readers, writers, and learners.
This academy emphasizes:
- Big idea/shift
- Making it work — pacing and timing
- Reading and writing process
- Effective independent reading practice
- Genre study
- Instructional variety
- Student Learning Reports
New TEKS
Wave Goodbye, Say Hello: New ELAR TEKS (K-5) or (6-EOC) – Available Summer of 2018
New Content Request PD
TEKS Cluster: 2017 TEKS
Is it that time already? Join lead4ward as we sort through the new and old TEKS as a way to determine curriculum and instructional “keepers” and shifts.
This workshop includes:
- Comparing and understanding content and cognitive changes
- Learning the new lead4ward resources, including new Know to Show documents
- Exploring possible unit clusters
- Identifying routines, activities, and resources to continue
- Identifying new routines, activities, and resource needs
Review
Reading – Rockin’ Review: Volume II – Recommended Spring
Note: For Tested Grades
Updated Content Request PD
Let’s rock review for STAAR! A new twist on a classic, Rockin’ Review: Volume II for Reading will focus on how to motivate your students to engage with content that they may have struggled with earlier in the year. We will anchor on the content that is essential for kids to learn and address the highly tested concepts.
Using Reading examples, we will model NEW strategies, plan with the updated 1-2-3 plan, review the updated quick start guides, and deepen understanding of lead4ward resources that specifically facilitate effective review.
Teachers will learn how to:
- focus review on priority TEKS clusters
- leverage content strategies to engage learners
- explore hands-on/minds-on activities that provide meaningful practice
- activate student voice to create engaging review
- empower students to analyze and take ownership of common errors
- plan your next steps
Let’s rock this!
Process
Problem Solving in the Math Classroom (K-HS)
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Workshop available beginning June 2018
Do you want to develop self-sufficient, independent thinkers? Are your students struggling with how to start a math problem or effectively communicate their understanding of the content? This session will focus on the effective planning of the process standards to support students with “Tools to Know” to initiate the problem-solving process and “Ways to Show” their understanding of the content.
This workshop includes:
- Rubric for evaluating students’ use of the process standards
- Identification of the different types of mathematical thinkers and how to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of ALL students
- Instructional strategies for supporting students with how to start the problem-solving process and/or communicate their understanding of mathematics
Review 360: Math (3-HS) – Recommended Summer/Fall/Spring
[Formerly known as Relevant Review]Request PD
Review of learning happens every day and in many different ways! How can we build independent thinkers and problem solvers? How can we help students confidently transfer what they have learned in multiple ways? We purposefully plan with content, process, and reflection/review in mind.
Join us to learn how to:
- Create purposeful plans for review (daily review, reviewing for tests, etc.)
- Go from newly introduced concepts to understanding, application, review, and transfer
- Build confident kids by providing strategies for transferring learning in multiple ways
- Vary instructional strategies and classroom activities to make meaningful connections
Whole Numbers
Number Sense (1-4) – Recommended Summer/Early Fall
TEKS Clusters:
Representing and Comparing Whole Numbers (Gr. 1-3)
Representing and Comparing Whole Numbers/Decimals (Gr. 4)
As place value is the foundation of all that grows in Mathematics, it is essential that our students have a rock-solid understanding of how to represent and compare whole numbers. This session focuses on the place value progression throughout the grades–how the conceptual understanding of place value extends to a better understanding of comparison of values as well as how to support a student’s ability to develop their own algorithms and effectively employ the use of properties of operations when adding and subtracting.
This workshop includes:
- Student-level activities that build conceptual and procedural fluency within the base-10 system
- Spiraling activities to continue reinforcing place value understanding throughout the year
- Strategies that use efficient, accurate, and generalizable methods to add and subtract two-digit whole numbers
Algebra for the Young Minds: It’s Elementary (3-5) – Recommended Fall
TEKS Clusters: Addition/Subtraction of Whole Numbers (Gr. 3)
Multiplication/Division of Whole Numbers (Gr. 3)
Whole Number Operations (Gr. 4-5)
Being able to select the appropriate operation(s) and represent real-world situations with an appropriate number sentence/equation are foundational for young learners in securing their understanding of whole number operations. This session focuses on how to move students from concrete to abstract representations of math problems to build that algebraic mindset.
This workshop includes:
- Using strip diagrams effectively as a means of representing math problems
- Creating activities that allow students to connect the use of strip diagrams to the selection of appropriate mathematical operation and identification of the number of steps in a problem
- Adjusting existing instructional materials to reach more transfer and rigor
Fractions
Studying the Parts that Make Up the Whole of Fractions (2-5) – Recommended Fall
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Workshop available beginning June 2017
TEKS Clusters:
Fractions (Gr. 2-4)
All Operations with Fractions (Gr. 5)
Is the sum of all your parts not equaling the whole when it comes to the Fractions strand of Mathematics? Fractions can be very complex for young learners until they understand the value of a “whole” and experience the “parts of the whole” through a variety of concrete representations. Spend a day experiencing the verticality of Fractions in the elementary curriculum.
This workshop includes:
- Engaging in activities that vertically align to the developmental acquisition of fractional understanding
- Connecting the concrete, pictorial, and abstract thinking of fractions
- Unveiling what released STAAR items demonstrate about the expectations of fractional understanding
Data Analysis
Growing Graphs in the Primary Grades (K-2) – Recommended Fall
TEKS Clusters:
Data Analysis (Gr. K-2)
Data analysis is critical to emerging mathematicians as this concept transcends all strands of mathematics and, more importantly, relates to real-world expectations. Interpreting data represented on real object, picture, pictograph, T-chart, tally-mark, bar-type, and bar graph is just plain tough to teach to young thinkers. Add in the process standards, and rigor is off the chart.
This workshop includes:
- Connecting the concrete, pictorial, and abstract thinking of graphs
- Adjusting existing instructional materials to reach more transfer and rigor
- Using graphs as a means of spiraling other math concepts
- Discovering how 3rd grade released STAAR items inform K-2 planning for instruction
Geometry and Measurement
The Long and Short of Measurement (K-2) or (3-5) – Recommended Spring
TEKS Clusters:
Measurement (Gr. K-4)
Geometry and Measurement (Gr. 5)
Measurement can be complex for young learners without having those hands-on experiences and relation to real life. Come lengthen your knowledge of the measurement standards, build capacity within your instructional practices, and weigh in on some new ideas.
This workshop includes:
- Keeping, tweaking, or trashing measurement lessons based on the study of the standards
- Unlocking the hidden messages found with the realigned/newly released STAAR items
- Recrafting some of our instructional practices to support a more conceptual understanding of measurement
Review
Math – Rockin’ Review: Volume II – Recommended Spring
Note: For Tested Grades
Updated Content Request PD
Let’s rock review for STAAR! A new twist on a classic, Rockin’ Review: Volume II for Math will focus on how to motivate your students to engage with content that they may have struggled with earlier in the year. We will anchor on the content that is essential for kids to learn and address the highly tested concepts.
Using Math examples, we will model NEW strategies, plan with the updated 1-2-3 plan, review the updated quick start guides, and deepen understanding of lead4ward resources that specifically facilitate effective review.
Teachers will learn how to:
- focus review on priority TEKS clusters
- leverage content strategies to engage learners
- explore hands-on/minds-on activities that provide meaningful practice
- activate student voice to create engaging review
- empower students to analyze and take ownership of common errors
- plan your next steps
Let’s rock this!
Full Streamlined Science TEKS
Full Streamlining Ahead! with the Science TEKS
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Audience: Science leaders, Administrators, Science teachers
The streamlined Science TEKS standards will be in effect for the 2018-2019 school year. What changes have been made, and how will they impact instruction and student learning?
In this workshop, participants will:
- Study the streamlined standards to determine instructional impacts that will occur this year as well as down the road
- Use new lead4ward resources to help plan instruction to for the new standards
- Connect content with process standards to support student learning
This full-day training comes with customized options to meet your needs.
Full Day Training = 3-hr AM session of your choice + 3-hr PM session of your choice
| Morning Workshop Options (choose 1) | Afternoon Workshop Options (choose 1) |
| Grades K-5 Streamlined TEKS Overview | K-5 Streamlined TEKS Overview |
| Grades 6-12 Streamlined TEKS Overview | K-5 Process TEKS and Planning |
| 6-12 Steamlined TEKS Overview | |
| 6-12 Process TEKS and Planning |
Process
The Power of Process in Science! (K-5) or (6-EOC)
Process = Engagement + Thinking – That’s the Power of Process!
Process standards are all about “how” we learn! Explore how to go beyond basic-level thinking and help foster life-long learners and problem solvers through teaching the process standards.
Participants will:
- Discover how to easily plan and incorporate the process standards in daily instruction
- Learn ways to help foster scientific questioning and communication
- Learn how process standards help student learning in all content areas
- Understand how process standards will be assessed on the STAAR Assessments and how to best prepare students for the rigor of dual-coded questions
Review 360: Science (3-EOC) – Recommended Summer/Fall/Spring
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Review of learning happens every day and in many different ways! How can we build independent thinkers and problem solvers? How can we help students confidently transfer what they have learned in multiple ways? We purposefully plan with content, process, and reflection/review in mind.
Join us to learn how to:
- Create purposeful plans for review (daily review, reviewing for tests, etc.)
- Go from newly introduced concepts to understanding, application, review, and transfer
- Build confident kids by providing strategies for transferring learning in multiple ways
- Vary instructional strategies and classroom activities to make meaningful connections
Physical Science
Physical Science Matters (K-5) – Recommended Summer/Early Fall
New Content Request PD
Workshop available beginning June 2018
TEKS Clusters:
Properties and Patterns of Objects (Gr. Kinder-1)
Properties of Matter (Gr. 2)
3.5 Physical Properties of Matter (Gr. 3-5)
Exploring matter and energy is generally the first big unit of instruction for the school year. These concepts are sometimes difficult for students, and yet they are essential to an overall understanding of physical science. This workshop digs deep into the content and process of teaching matter in the elementary classroom.
This workshop includes:
- Exploring how young scientists learn through their senses and ways to support this development
- Digging deep into what students need to know about the properties of matter
- Addressing how to deal with difficult content
- Exploring how Physical Properties of Matter is highly tested on STAAR
- Exploring and creating hands-on investigations that enhance student learning and make connections that can be implemented immediately
Physical Science Matters: Matter and Energy (6-8) – Recommended Summer/Early Fall
New Content Request PD
Workshop available beginning June 2018
TEKS Clusters:
Elements and Compounds (Gr. 6)
Physical Characteristics of Matter (Gr. 6)
Interactions of Matter and Energy (Gr. 7)
Properties of Atoms, Chemical Formulas and Reactions (Gr. 8)
Exploring matter and energy is usually the first big unit of instruction for the school year. These concepts are sometimes difficult for students, and yet they are essential to an overall understanding of physical science. This workshop digs deep into the content that helps support conceptual understandings and how it plays a crucial role in middle school grades.
This workshop includes:
- Investigating what concepts are hard for students to understand at each grade level and ways to support learning
- Identifying specific grade-level lab investigations that address the difficult concepts of physical science
- Integrating Instructional Strategies that help support the transfer of learning from the taught to the tested
- Providing an in-depth look at how these concepts are tested on STAAR and how to address them in instruction
Physical Science: Force, Motion, and Energy (K-5) – Recommended Summer/Fall
New Content Request PD
Workshop available beginning June 2017
TEKS Clusters:
Force, Motion, and Energy (Gr. Kinder-5)
This workshop focuses on how to support emerging scientists and make meaningful connections between science vocabulary, hands-on investigations and active learning.
This workshop includes:
- Building strong content understanding and linking content to critical vocabulary development
- Discussing age-appropriate, hands-on lab investigations
- Using the process skills
- Identifying lab investigations that enhance learning
- Focusing on how STAAR items can inform our instruction and support learning
Physical Science: Force, Motion, and Energy (6-8) – Recommended Summer/Fall
New Content Request PD
Workshop available beginning June 2017
TEKS Clusters:
Force, Motion, Potential, and Kinetic Energy (Gr. 6)
Law of Conservation of Energy (Gr. 6)
Force, Motion, and Energy Relationships (Gr.7)
Force, Motion, and Energy (Gr. 8)
From investigating potential and kinetic energy to learning about Newton’s Laws–middle school is jam-packed with force, motion, and energy! It is important that students build on the basic understandings of force, motion, and energy to gain the competencies necessary for physics.
This workshop includes:
- Learning ways to engage and build strong content understanding
- Exploring the important role each grade level plays in the development of the TEKS Cluster
- Identifying specific grade-level lab investigations that enhance learning
- Focusing on how STAAR items can inform our instruction and support learning
Earth Science
Earth Science: Forces that Change the Earth (K-5) – Recommended Summer/Fall
New Content Request PD
Workshop available beginning June 2017
TEKS Clusters:
Rocks and Water (Gr. Kinder)
Rocks, Soil, and Water (Gr. 1)
Natural Resources and Changes to Earth’s Surface (Gr. 2)
Natural Resources and Changes to Earth’s Surface (Gr. 3-4)
Earth (Gr. 5)
Earth is always changing around us. There are slow changes that occur and some that change in an instant! These are essential for students to understand the importance of the Earth’s natural resources as well as how the Earth is always changing through force.
This workshop includes:
- Identifying student-level activities that build conceptual fluency of Earth science
- Recognizing how STAAR items can inform instructional practice
- Connecting hard-to-learn concepts, academic vocabulary, and hands-on learning
- Using grade-specific, hands-on lab investigations and activities that can be used in class instruction or center-based learning
Earth Science: Forces that Change the Earth (6-8) – Recommended Summer/Fall
New Content Request PD
Workshop available beginning June 2017
TEKS Clusters:
Structure of Earth (Gr. 6)
Impacts of Earth’s Systems (Gr. 7)
Impact of Natural Events (Gr. 8)
How is the Earth shaped? How does it change? How does it move around us? Abstract in nature, these concepts are hard for students to learn, which makes it essential for targeted instruction and hands-on investigations.
This workshop includes:
- Grade-level, specific content focus and strategies that support conceptual development
- A focus on STAAR items that inform how these concepts develop in middle school
- Grade-level, specific hands-on investigations that enhance learning
Earth Science: Exploring Space and Weather (K-5) – Recommended Late Fall/January
New Content Request PD
Workshop available beginning June 2017
TEKS Clusters:
Seasons and Space (Gr. Kinder)
Weather, Seasons, and Space (Gr. 1)
Patterns in the Natural World (Gr. 2)
Space and Weather (Gr. 3)
Earth’s Cycles and Patterns (Gr. 4)
Space (Gr. 5)
It is important to understand how our atmosphere and solar system affect our world and daily lives. These concepts can be complex for learners because of their abstract nature. That is why it is so important to make meaningful connections in the events that occur and patterns we can see through space and weather.
This workshop includes:
- Various methods to make impactful connections between the content, academic vocabulary, and hands-on investigations
- Focusing on STAAR items that inform instruction
- Grade-specific, hands-on investigations that can be used in classroom instruction
Earth Science: Exploring Space and Weather (6 – 8) – Recommended Late Fall/January
New Content Request PD
Workshop available beginning June 2017
TEKS Clusters:
Organization of Solar System (Gr. 6)
Sun, Earth, and Moon (Gr. 8)
Characteristics of the Universe (Gr. 8)
Climatic Interactions (Gr. 8)
It is important for students to build on their understanding of space through understanding the organization of our solar system and how our atmosphere impacts the oceans and weather of our planet. This workshop is geared for 6th and 8th grades, which focus on space and weather.
This workshop includes:
- Exploring ways to connect the important content to everyday investigations and strategies to support conceptual understanding
- Focusing on how STAAR interesting items inform instruction
- Identifying grade-specific, hands-on lab investigations and activities that can enhance learning
Life Science
Investigating Life Science (K-5) – Recommended Spring
New Content Request PD
Workshop available beginning June 2018
TEKS Clusters:
Basic Needs of Plants and Animals (Gr. Kinder, Gr. 2)
Characteristics of Plants and Animals (Gr. Kinder-1)
Relationships of Plants and Animals (Gr. 1)
Animals and Environments (Gr. 3)
Survival of Plants and Animals (Gr. 3)
Interactions of Organisms in Ecosystems (Gr. 4)
Animal Adaptations and Behaviors (Gr. 4)
Organisms and Environments (Gr. 5)
Animal Adaptations and Behaviors (Gr. 5)
Every day, learners interact with the world around them. This workshop explores the balance and roles of living organisms and their responses to the environments in which they live.
This workshop includes:
- Building on understanding from previous grade levels and connecting new content of the roles living organisms play in the balance of their ecosystem
- A focus on how to engage emerging scientists with content and academic vocabulary
- Interacting with interesting STAAR items and using them to inform instruction
- Exploring activities and investigations that can be used in classroom instruction or center-based learning
Investigating Life Science (6-8) – Recommended Spring
New Content Request PD
Workshop available beginning June 2017
TEKS Clusters:
Classification of Organisms (Gr. 6)
Relationships of Organisms and Environments (Gr. 7)
Variations of Traits in Populations and Species (Gr. 7)
Interdependence of Living Systems (Gr. 8)
This workshop explores interactions and relationships among living organisms and the ecosystems in which they live–from the basic building blocks of life to the complex relationships among biotic and abiotic factors in ecosystems.
This workshop includes:
- A focus on the important concepts that build vertically from 6th – 8th grade and the important role they play in building a foundation for Biology
- A focus on STAAR interesting items that inform instruction
- Grade-specific activities and investigations that can be used in classroom instruction
Biology
DNA: Replication, Transcription, Translation, and Mutation – Recommended June/Early Fall
New Content Request PD
TEKS Clusters
B.6 Mechanisms of Genetics
The concepts taught in this workshop are important to Biology learners because they help students explore the components of DNA and evaluate the significance of changes in DNA. Topics of study include: DNA coding, mutations, codon charts, and the structure and function of DNA.
This workshop includes:
- Breaking down the TEKS specificity, processing, and needed vocabulary
- Using the Planning Guide and interesting STAAR items to inform instruction
- Discovering high-yield vocabulary instructional strategies to use with students
- Experiencing engaging lab activities to use with students to create memorable learning
- Justification stations using varied stimulus with open-ended responses that elicit evidence of learning from students
- Using digital tools to enhance formative assessment on free platforms such as Formative, Padlet, and ChatterKids (optional)
Homeostasis: Functions of Living Things – Recommended Late Fall/Early Spring
New Content Request PD
TEKS Clusters
B.10 Levels of Biological Systems
This workshop explores the importance of biological process and systems in plants and animals as they relate to homeostasis. Topics of study include: Animal systems structure, function, and how these systems interact to support life. Vascular plant structure, self-fertililzation, and tropisms that allow plants to react to external stimuli.
This workshop includes:
- Breaking down the TEKS specificity, processing, and needed vocabulary
- Using the Planning Guide and interesting STAAR items to inform instruction
- Discovering high-yield vocabulary instructional strategies to use with students
- Experiencing engaging lab activities to use with students to create memorable learning
- Justification stations using varied stimulus with open-ended responses that elicit evidence of learning from students
- Optional: using digital tools to enhance formative assessment on free platforms such as Formative, Padlet, and ChatterKids
Review
Science – Rockin’ Review: Volume II – Recommended Spring
Note: For Tested Grades
Updated Content Request PD
Let’s rock review for STAAR! A new twist on a classic, Rockin’ Review: Volume II for Science will focus on how to motivate your students to engage with content that they may have struggled with earlier in the year. We will anchor on the content that is essential for kids to learn and address the highly tested concepts.
Using Science examples, we will model NEW strategies, plan with the updated 1-2-3 plan, review the updated quick start guides, and deepen understanding of lead4ward resources that specifically facilitate effective review.
Teachers will learn how to:
- focus review on priority TEKS clusters
- leverage content strategies to engage learners
- explore hands-on/minds-on activities that provide meaningful practice
- activate student voice to create engaging review
- empower students to analyze and take ownership of common errors
- plan your next steps
Let’s rock this!
Process, Strategies, and Spiral Standards
Power of Process in the Social Studies Classroom (4-EOC)
starting June 2018
Do you want to develop self-sufficient, independent thinkers? Are your students struggling with how to apply their understanding of the content to a variety of stimuli? This session will focus on the effective planning of the process standards to support students with “Tools to Know” to initiate the critical-thinking process and “Ways to Show” their understanding of the content.
This workshop includes:
- Engaging activities that reveal ways to analyze and interpret social studies information (primary sources, secondary sources, and visuals)
- Ways to foster social studies reasoning skills and how to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of ALL students
- Instructional strategies for supporting students with how to start the critical-thinking process and/or communicate their understanding of social studies content
- Comprehension strategies that will enable the successful acquisition of new content knowledge
- An understanding of how process standards are assessed on STAAR and how to best prepare students for the rigor of dual-coded questions in tested and non tested courses
Social Studies Playlist: Strategies and Routines (4-EOC)
New Content Request PD
TEKS Clusters:
All clusters.
Move beyond the lecture and liven up your Social Studies classroom. Engaging students in the learning process is mandatory for content retention. How can you do that when there is so little time and so much content? Discover historical analysis routines and practices for students to embed and internalize for transfer to independent analysis of primary and secondary sources. Experience effective strategies from the lead4ward playlist that include rigorous thinking and rich content! Effective social studies routines and engaged strategies will enrich all social studies classrooms.
This workshop includes:
- Discovering historical analysis routines and practices you can use that will help students embed and internalize their learning and transfer it to independent analysis of primary and secondary sources
- Experiencing effective strategies from the lead4ward playlist that include rigorous thinking and rich content
Grade 8
Exploration and Colonization (Grade 8) – Recommended Summer
New Content Request PD
TEKS Clusters:
Exploration and Colonization (Gr. 8)
The Exploration and Colonization unit sets the foundation for representative government, understanding the impact of human and physical geography on historic events, and the results of economic geography on people in different regions. As the first unit of the school year, students need to develop their historical thinking skills, practice working with primary sources, and analyze cause-and-effect relationships with a variety of stimuli. This session focuses on the concepts and processes that will build for the remainder of the school year.
This workshop includes:
- Exploring knowledge and skills and focus priority student expectations
- Conceptualizing how to effectively “reach” all of the content standards associated with the historic era
- Recrafting some of our instructional practices to support a student-centered classroom
- Integrating the process standards and spiral standards in planning routines
- Preparing activities that allow students to access and transfer their content knowledge
Constitution: The Constitution and Principles of Government (Grades 7 & 8) - Recommended Summer/Fall
Constitution: The Constitution and Principles of Government (Grades 7 & 8) – Recommended Summer/Fall
New Content Request PD
TEKS Clusters:
Texas Government (Gr. 7)
Constitution (Gr. 8)
Understanding the seven principles of government is key to unlocking the complexity of the Constitution and our governmental systems. As one of the most cognitively complex units, and most heavily assessed on 8th grade STAAR, vertical alignment is crucial. In 7th grade, students learn how the Texas Constitution reflects the principles of limited government, republicanism, checks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, and individual rights. A deep understanding and ability to apply the learning to a variety of stimuli is paramount for student success in 8th grade.
This session focuses on the principles of government, the Bill of Rights, the amendment process, and the ratification of the Constitution.
This workshop includes:
- Exploring knowledge and skills and focus priority student expectations
- Conceptualizing how to effectively “reach” all of the content standards
- Recrafting some of our instructional practices to support a student-centered classroom
- Integrating the process standards in planning routines
- Preparing activities that allow students to access and transfer their content knowledge
Industrialization (Grade 8) – Recommended Fall/Spring
New Content Request PD
TEKS Clusters:
Industrialization (Gr. 8)
The understanding of the dynamic relationship between industrialization, urbanization, and immigration is crucial for student mastery of the Industrialization unit. Learning must go beyond the who, what, when, where, and why of this era. Cause-and-effect relationships are vital to developing an understanding of the economic, cultural, and geographic implications of the “progress” of the time. In addition to stimuli analysis, it is crucial that students are able to make connections between events, people, and the economy.
This session focuses on the impact of technological advancements, population density, push-and-pull factors surrounding immigration, and the cultural shifts from an agrarian to urban society that occurred during this era.
This workshop includes:
- Exploring knowledge and skills and focus priority student expectations
- Conceptualizing how to effectively “reach” all of the content standards associated with the historic era
- Recrafting some of our instructional practices to support a student-centered classroom
- Integrating the process standards and spiral standards in planning routines
- Preparing activities that allow students to access and transfer their content knowledge
U.S. History
Rise of a World Power (High School USH) – Recommended Summer/Fall
New Content Request PD
TEKS Clusters:
Rise of a World Power (USH)
The United States’ rise as a world power began with the Spanish American War and was solidified due to World War I. Though there is chronological overlap with the Progressive Era, this thematic topic allows students to dig deeper into foreign policy, territorial acquisitions, and the impact of alliances. Content ranges from interventionist policies to isolationism and technological advancements during World War I to the formation of the League of Nations. During the fall semester, students need to develop their historical thinking skills, practice working with primary sources, and analyze cause-and-effect relationships with a variety of stimuli. This session focuses on the concepts and processes that will be built upon for the remainder of the school year.
This workshop includes:
- Exploring knowledge and skills and focus priority student expectations
- Conceptualizing how to effectively “reach” all of the content standards associated with the historic era
- Recrafting some of our instructional practices to support a student-centered classroom
- Integrating the process standards and spiral standards in planning routines
- Preparing activities that allow students to access and transfer their content knowledge
World War II (High School USH) – Recommended Fall
New Content Request PD
TEKS Clusters:
World War II (USH)
World War II is an extremely complex era. Students need to understand the impact of mobilization on the economy and how it contributed to the end of the Great Depression. Simultaneously, they learn that life on the homefront consisted of many sacrifices and hardships (including internment). The war itself is comprised of two unique and very different battlefronts. The war in Europe was mostly land based, while the war in the Pacific was based at sea with amphibious assaults used during the island-hopping strategy. There are people, dates, battles, and more facts to learn; however, instruction must go beyond the memorization of facts. While continuing to develop their historical thinking skills, students should be analyzing secondary and primary sources to “bring the facts alive.” This session focuses on the concepts and processes that will enrich the content of the World War II era.
This workshop includes:
- Exploring knowledge and skills and focus priority student expectations
- Conceptualizing how to effectively “reach” all of the content standards associated with the historic era
- Recrafting some of our instructional practices to support a student-centered classroom
- Integrating the process standards and spiral standards in planning routines
- Preparing activities that allow students to access and transfer their content knowledge
Contemporary America (High School USH) – Recommended Spring
New Content Request PD
TEKS Clusters:
Contemporary America (USH)
Contemporary history presents several unique challenges. Some if it is still very fresh, some is controversial, and parts can be very divisive. As a history teacher, it is crucial that the content we present is objective and allow students opportunities to draw their own conclusions. This workshop focuses on the Nixon era through 2009. Watergate, relations with the Middle East, the end of the Cold War, the Reagan era, advancements in technology, trade agreements, 9/11, and the War on Terror are all significant pieces of the puzzle that is “Contemporary America.” Students must be able to make connections between politics, foreign policy, geography, technology, economics, and social issues. In lieu of teaching history purely chronologically, this session emphasizes the connections and relationships that will to help students develop their conceptual understanding.
This session focuses on the impact of technological advancements, population density, push-and-pull factors surrounding immigration, and the cultural shifts from an agrarian to urban society that occurred during this era.
This workshop includes:
- Exploring knowledge and skills and focus priority student expectations
- Conceptualizing how to effectively “reach” all of the content standards associated with the historic era
- Recrafting some of our instructional practices to support a student-centered classroom
- Integrating the process standards and spiral standards in planning routines
- Preparing activities that allow students to access and transfer their content knowledge
Review
Social Studies – Rockin’ Review: Volume II – Recommended Spring
Note: For Tested Grades (Grade 8 and USH)
Updated Content Request PD
Let’s rock review for STAAR! A new twist on a classic, Rockin’ Review: Volume II for Social Studies will focus on how to motivate your students to engage with content that they may have struggled with earlier in the year. We will anchor on the content that is essential for kids to learn and address the highly tested concepts.
Using Social Studies examples, we will model NEW strategies, plan with the updated 1-2-3 plan, review the updated quick start guides, and deepen understanding of lead4ward resources that specifically facilitate effective review.
Teachers will learn how to:
- focus review on priority TEKS clusters
- leverage content strategies to engage learners
- explore hands-on/minds-on activities that provide meaningful practice
- activate student voice to create engaging review
- empower students to analyze and take ownership of common errors
- plan your next steps
Let’s rock this!
Social Studies ePLC (8th and U.S. History)
Social Studies ePLC – A Series of Prerecorded Webinars for PLCs
View more information
The Social Studies Professional Learning Community is designed to offer time for Social Studies teachers who teach 8th grade Social Studies or US History to collaborate, learn what’s new, and discuss issues related to content, curriculum alignment, standards, and testing.
Teachers often struggle to translate the unit bundle of TEKS into lesson themes and then to daily lesson plans. The goal of these webinars is to facilitate constructive conversations about how to make the content in the TEKS comprehensible for students and provide methods for students to develop pathways for recall.
The ePLC will include:
- Fifteen to twenty 30-minute recorded webinars to facilitate a PLC session for each major topic or era
- A platform to collaborate with other Social Studies teachers throughout the state
- Resources at your fingertips
General
lead4ward 101
Audience: Leaders and Teachers New to lead4ward
New Content Request PD
New to lead4ward? Come join us for a day of fantastic fun and amazing learning as we help you launch your lead4ward work! You will learn how to use the student-centered, teacher-friendly tools, resources, and strategies from lead4ward to make learning meaningful and engaging.
Our goal is that you will:
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the lead4ward resources including snapshots, scaffold, academic vocabulary, IQ released tests, student learning reports and much more
- Use the lead4ward tools and resources in the planning routine
- Create a playlist of instructional strategies to engage learners
What is the Heart of Teaching Induction?
View More Information
lead4ward is excited to offer the Heart of Teaching Induction program! Beginning teachers are our most valuable and precious resources! Helping these teachers to flourish and grow can be some of the most important work we do as educators. Creating an effective induction program will surround new teachers with the support they need to be successful. Induction programs can also contribute to:
- Higher teacher retention
- Lower attrition
- Increased teacher effectiveness
- Happier teachers
K-2
Ready, Set, Engage!
Managing the active K-2 classroom can be a challenge! This workshop will provide easy tips to help organize all the “stuff” that is involved in creating student-centered stations.
- Participate in over 20 active and engaged stations with a focus on the process standards
- Learn about how process standards help foster thinking and support STAAR tested grades
- Use lead4ward resources to help plan integration of process standards
Little Thinkers, Big Ideas!
The K-2 Classroom is full of inquisitiveness and wonderment. Let’s use that natural curiosity to:
- Anchor K-2 teaching and learning in rigor, engagement, and make natural connections to assessed grades
- Explore how rigor does not mean “make it more difficult” for the primary learner
- Model how sometimes there is more than one way to reach a solution
- Foster creative thinking and questioning in young learners
- Use lead4ward resources to help with vertical alignment and scaffolding up
- Participate and make plans from activities and hands-on stations shared in this workshop
