November News!
The UA/UWA Regional In-Service Center has had a busy month of professional learning sessions for October. Check out some of our highlights. Participants enjoyed a week with Jacquie Moreno, Brainspring facilitator, as they learned about multi-sensory phonics instruction from October 28-November 1.
PCN West: Session #1
On October 3, the UA/UWA Regional In-Service Center held the first session of Powerful Conversations Network West, in partnership with the Alabama Best Practices Center. This year's network is studying All Learning is Social and Emotional: Helping Students Develop Essential Skills for the Classroom and Beyond by Nancy Frey, Douglas Fisher, and Dominique Smith.
Technology in Motion Training: Robots and Coding!
Technology in Motion training is in full swing! Be sure to check out their information and future offerings in the newsletter below. Also, feel free to contact Dr. Robert Mayben, UA/UWA Technology in Motion, at rmayben@ua.edu.
ASIM and AMSTI: Learning never stops!
Alabama Science in Motion (ASIM) and Alabama Math Science Technology Initiative are here to support you! Check out this recent biology training that was held at the UA Arboretum. Teachers here investigated the amount of carbon removed by this tree in a year.
Leaders of their Own Learning: Shout out to our region!
Take a look at Ron Berger's new companion text, The Leaders of their Own Learning Companion. The introduction, written by Cathy Gassenheimer, includes praise for several Alabama schools, including Rock Quarry Elementary in Tuscaloosa. Congratulations!
NEW National Board Candidate Support Cohort to be offered in Marengo County!
- Thanks to an increase from the ALSDE in our National Board Candidate Support funding, we will now offer a National Board cohort in the southern part of our region.
- The first session will be held on Tuesday, November 12 at the Marengo County Board of Education in Linden, Alabama. Each session will be held from 4:00-6:30 pm.
- The focus of this session will be an introduction to the National Board process and an overview of Component 4.
- To view the schedule for the 2019-2020 southern cohort, visit http://inservice.ua.edu/announcements.
- Please e-mail Dr. Holly Morgan at hgmorgan@ua.edu if you plan to attend! We hope to see you on November 12!
PowerSchool Learning Platform Updates
- If you would like to review the help information for how to find a course, you may access training: https://alsde.truenorthlogic.com/ia/empari/help/Content/pd/B_Topics/courseparticipant/searchcourses.htm
- Dr. Robert Mayben and Dr. Holly Morgan provided additional training for district administrators on October 25 and 29. If you are in need of this training (log-in, create a course, administration), please contact us.
- Additional update: Look for more information coming soon to curriculum directors and superintendents regarding current status of PowerSchool and edits.
- Additional update: If you are labeled as a "district administrator" in PowerSchool, you can now update your district's accounts (username, e-mail, first and last names).
- Information needed: Any course that was previously created before the close of Chalkable and will continue to collect attendance/surveys in PowerSchool must be manually reassigned to your school/district. Please e-mail a list of any of these courses to Mr. Rhett Cutts, ALSDE Professional Learning, at rcutts@alsde.edu.
- For ongoing updates, please visit the PowerSchool link on the ALSDE website at https://www.alsde.edu/dept/data/Pages/powerschool-all.aspx.
National Board Candidate Support-Tuscaloosa Cohort
- Our next candidate support session will be on Thursday, November 14 beginning at 5:00 pm.
- The focus of this session will be an overview of Component 2.
- To view the 2019-2020 support schedule, visit http://inservice.ua.edu/announcements
- For more information, please contact Dr. Holly Morgan at hgmorgan@ua.edu
Alabama Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference
- November 14-15
- McWane Science Center, Birmingham, Alabama
- Theme: Making Math Matter
- For more information and registration information, visit https://acotom.wildapricot.org/event-3471424.
AMSTI Iron Bowl STEM Competition
- Who can participate? all students in grades K-12
2. Create groups of2-5 students based on their favorite team, Auburn or Alabama.
3. Each group will complete the STEM challenge to the best of their ability!
4. Take pictures or videos of each group's completed challenge and post to social media.
a. Tag us @AMSTI4all (works for all social media platforms)
b. Use #AMSTiironbowl AND #wareagle OR #rolltide to vote for your team.
5. The deadline for posting your projects will be Tuesday, November 26.
To view the informational flyer, visit http://inservice.ua.edu/announcements
November 18-22: Brainspring Structures Course for Grades 6-12
The UA/UWA Regional In-Service Center will host a Brainspring Structures Orton-Gillingham Course on November 18-22. This 5 day/30 hour training is designed for 6-12 teachers, instructional coaches, intervention, and resource. The cost of this week-long training is $1,225 per person (classroom materials set included).
- Registration flyer and session information can be found at http://inservice.ua.edu/announcements
- Register at http://brainspring.com/courses
- Brainspring will be responsible for all training registration. The In-Service Center is only hosting space for this event in order to offer it to the region.
2019 Learning Forward Alabama Conference
- November 21-22, 2019
- Hyatt Regency Birmingham
- To view the conference flyer, visit http://inservice.ua.edu/announcements
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
- Teens in grades 7-12 can apply in 29 categories of art and writing for a chance to win scholarships and have their work exhibited and published.
- The submission portal is open from September 12, 2019-December 12, 2019.
- For more information, visit http://inservice.ua.edu/announcements
UA/UWA Alabama Science in Motion
ASIM Biology Training: December 4, Interested participants may register via the Google Form link and choosing either or both Day(s) 7 and/or 8. https://forms.gle/JsjPzCgs1NxWEqmU8
- December 4th is open for sign-up. It is Day 8 of ASIM Bio year 1 training which involves the following labs that also have a heavy environmental science concentration: Watershed Pilot Lab, S8AquaEcosystems, S4GlobalCarbon, S10EcologicalSuccession
- For more information regarding biology training and support, contact specialist Lisa Clark at lclark@ua.edu
- ASIM Chemistry Training: Chemistry training dates will be held in early spring 2020. Look for specific dates in next month's newsletter. For more information regarding chemistry training and support, contact specialist Brooks Moss at moss020@ua.edu.
- ASIM Physics: ASIM Physics, Thursday December 5, Year 2 Day 8 – Electricity Day 2 of 3
- For more information regarding physics training and support, contact specialist Julie Covin at jcovin@ua.edu.
Technology in Motion with Dr. Robert Mayben
Professional Learning Groups for 2019-2020
Applications are now closed for the elementary and secondary Professional Learning Groups for 2019-2020. If you would like more information about the Alabama Technology in Motion program, you can visit the UATiM site at www.uatim.org or the ALSDE site at atim.us. Please contact Dr. Robert Mayben at rmayben@ua.edu for more information and specific requests.
Spring 2020 ACLD PLU – There will be a new PLU offered in the spring. Look for more information on this learning opportunity later in the fall semester.
AMSTI UA/UWA
- Math training K-12
- Science training K-8
- For more information, contact Sara McGee, AMSTI Director at smcgee@ua.edu
UA/UWA Regional In-Service Education Center
Dr. Holly Morgan, Director
Mrs. Tami Barron, Administrative Assistant
Ms. Angela Lewis, Office Associate
Email: uauwainservice@gmail.com
Website: www.inservice.ua.edu
Location: 260 Kilgore Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
Phone: 205-348-3319
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uainservice/
Twitter: @UofARIC