Welcome to November! As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, we would like to say "Thank you!" to all of teachers, administrators, and school personnel in Region 4. We are blessed to partner with you and wish you all the best during this season.

As a reminder, please follow our social media pages on Facebook (@uainservice) and Twitter (@UofARIC) for ongoing announcements.You may find any of our newsletters at: http://inservice.ua.edu/newsletter. All of our newsletter opportunities are listed in chronological order by date.

If you would like to request specific support for your school or district, please complete our request form at http://inservice.ua.edu/learning--growth.html.

Happy learning!

Dr. Holly Morgan

Director, UA/UWA Regional In-Service Center

November "Byte-Sized" Professional Learning Menu: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LMAAYElcwi4HpfszvrSk972Frrr_2PYskXsvXBHyrbk/edit?usp=sharing

· This month’s PD features micro-sessions on topics that are “right on time” for your teachers, counselors, technology coordinators, administrators, and CO staff to help navigate through digital learning and other topics.

• Collection of lesson plans, resources, and activities for teaching and learning during this election session to help students think critically about the role of elections, voting, and civic participation in creating and sustaining a just and healthy democracy and includes
• Teaching ideas that explore election news and related history;
• Virtual classroom activities, simulations, and guides geared towards community-building and fostering inclusive, constructive discourse; and
• Online materials to build connection between history and students’ everyday lives.
  

• https://www.alsde.edu/sec/isvcs/ss/Instructional%20Resources/ELECTION%202020%20TOOLKIT.pdf
• ALSDE Contact – Ms. Nettie Carson-Mullins at ncarson-mullins@alsde.edu

Join Dr. Robert Mayben on Tuesday, November 3 at 3:30 pm for "Using Canva to Enhance Your Schoology Experience." In this session, you will discover how the free and easy-to-use graphic design tool, Canva, can be used to enhance your Schoology lessons, materials, and activities.

Register via PowerSchool section #389150.

Through the Scholastic Awards, teens in grades 7-12 (ages 13 and up) from public, private, or home schools can apply in 29 categories of art and writing for their chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited and published.

Submission portal is open September 1 - December 12, 2020

For a full list of category descriptions click the link below:

https://www.artandwriting.org/what-we-do/the-awards/categories/

How to Enter:

https://www.artandwriting.org/affiliate/AL001W/

For more information on the Alabama Regional Awards, you may contact Dr. Robin Bynum at 334-670-5978.

AASCD Virtual Curriculum Bootcamp: The 2020 Fall Curriculum and Instruction Bootcamp for a one-day, intensive training with multiple topics to choose from.

November 5, 2020

8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Virtual Conference

Topics Include:

• Alabama’s Journey to Reading Success: Navigating the Alabama Literacy Act (ALA)
• COVID-19 Impact on Supporting the Whole Child for School Leaders
• Extending Learning Beyond Traditional and Virtual Learning Environments through Resources and Supports for Parents and Families
• Building Numerical Understanding and Reasoning
• Nuts and Bolts of Remote Instruction for Teachers (For Novice Skill-Level Remote Instructors)
• Relevancy and Engagement in Remote Instruction for Teachers (For Intermediate Skill-Level Remote Instructors)
• Remote Learning Supports for Special Education Instruction
• ALSDE ACAP Assessment Updates

Schoology Boot Camp: Basic Training

Get ready for training in the basics of using Schoology! Please join Lori Franks as she hosts a 4 part series on how to navigate the Schoology platform, design effective instruction, and collaborate using this learning management system. Once you have learned the basics, Lori will follow up with 2 new training series for you to get the most out of Schoology. Sessions for Basic Training are scheduled for October 15, 22, 29, and November 5 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Don’t miss this chance to grow your Schoology muscles!

Register via PowerSchool Course Number #257524

3rd Annual Alabama Conference on Grading and Assessment for Learning (ACGAL) Conference:

• November 7
• Keynote Speaker: Dr. Doug Reeves
• Virtual Conference
• Registration is now open at https://acgal.org/registration/
• Cost: $50 (Groups of 5+ are $40)

ALABAMA TEACHER MENTOR PROGRAM (ALSDE - FACILITATED BY ATIM)

Open to educators in their first or second year of teaching

Four Meetings per Cohort (See Registration Information for Specific Dates)

3:30 PM to 5:30 PM for each meeting

ATiM is working with the Alabama Teacher Mentor Program (ATMP) to offer a course to new teachers. The course will cover several months and will be a blended format of content that will assist new teachers. The topics will include Digital Citizenship/Communication, Classroom Management, Innovative Teaching with Technology, and Effective Student Engagement. Participants will learn about technology tools to support each of these topics. There will be four synchronous meetings in Zoom, and the course modules and tasks will be housed in Schoology. Registration Link: https://alsde.truenorthlogic.com/ia/empari/learning2/course/search/doCourseSearch?searchString=257424&originalSearchString=

PowerSchool Course #257424

Our center has partnered with the National Echoes and Reflections Program to offer the following virtual study:

· Analyzing Propaganda & Teaching Media Literacy: The Holocaust as a Case Study

Media literacy skills have become essential for young people to successfully navigate and

critically assess the ever-increasing amount of information they receive throughout their

day - on social media, advertisements, television, and film. Therefore, it is crucial for

students to comprehend and identify how media, both historically and in

contemporary society, can be used as a tool to incite hate and violence against certain

groups. This learning opportunity examines the events of the Holocaust through the lens

of media, by examining propaganda deployed by the Nazis to discriminate against Jews and

other minorities. Educators will gain the tools to facilitate classroom discussions on the role

and impact of Nazi propaganda during the Holocaust and support their students to critically

analyze media in today’s world.

This 3 hour, free virtual learning will be divided into two afternoon sessions on November 12 and 18 from 4:00-5:30 pm. Teachers will receive curricular materials that they may use with their classes. Any middle school and high school teachers (open to all subject areas) may register in PowerSchool via the following link: Teachers may register in PowerSchool via the following link: https://alsde.truenorthlogic.com/ia/empari/learning2/registration/presentRegistrationDetails/388580

Are you interested in pursuing National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification? Join us for our 2020-2021 candidate support! Our schedule can be found at http://www.inservice.ua.edu/announcements. The schedule includes dates and session information, along with PowerSchool registration information for each session.

Please contact the following NBCT faciliators for more information:

Anna Daly, adaly2@ua.edu or Krissy Stevenson, kstevenson@tcss.net

Join us virtually on November 12 from 5:00-7:30 pm for "Component 2: Instructions and Planning." Register via PowerSchool section #376220 in order to receive the session Zoom link.

Component 2 is Differentiation in Instruction. Candidates will collect student work samples that exhibit a student's growth over time and how your instructional choices lead to that growth. Candidates will review student samples and discuss next-steps of instruction to facilitate student growth.

Join us on Friday, November 13 for our fall NBCT writing retreat! Candidates will focus upon their writing samples for Components 3 and 4 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Substitute reimbursement will be provided for all candidates. Register via PowerSchool section #382455 to reserve your space!

Join Dr. Robert Mayben on Tuesday, November 17 at 3:30 pm for "Level Up Your Teaching with Online Discussions." Register via PowerSchool section #389153.

Are you looking for more engaging and in-depth learning experiences for your students? In this session, learn tips, features, and best practices for using online discussions to enhance learning experiences for your students whether they are completely online, hybrid, or face-to-face. This session will benefit users of Schoology, Google Classroom, or any other learning management system.

PowerScheduler Training for October and November

The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), along with PowerSchool Group LLC, will provide training on how to build your master schedule for the 2021-2022 school year. This is critical training to assist each LEA with the ability to train primarily middle and high schools – this may also include schools that have middle and high school grades within a K-12 school.

IMPORTANT: The PowerScheduler courses offered are sequential and require attendees assigned to attend both Course 1 (Fall 2020) and Course 2 (Spring 2021) as a group.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, both cohorts will meet virtually. Each LEA in the UA-UWA in-service region may send up to 3 representatives.

The following is a recommendation of who should already be signed up to attend from your LEA. The recommendation comes from the Program Director of Alabama PowerSchool Implementation:

· 2 of 3 should be either school counselor, school administrator, or scheduling coordinator.

· 1 of 3 should be the Technology Coordinator or the PS SIS Administrator The same 3 attendees will participate in both Course 1 and Course 2 and all should attend as a group due to work needed to be done as a team.

Training is being delivered using a train-the-trainer model. The 3 LEA attendees will need to provide training to others within their LEA including software use, documentation, checklists and the steps learned during this course.

Dates for the UA-UWA In-Service Region:

October Cohort meets 10/26 through 10/28

November Cohort meets 11/16 through 11/18

Please contact Alabama Technology in Motion Specialist, Dr. Robert Mayben, if you have any questions including registration.

Advancement Courses, A Wiley Brand, in conjunction with UWA, is pleased to announce a free professional learning opportunity through PowerSchool. This online course, “Fostering Cultural Awareness and Inclusivity in the Classroom,” is open to the first 200 registered participants. Acceptable completion of this virtual course will result in 15 Clock Hours earned.

Below is a description of the course:

If culture is the air we breathe, what happens when you and your students bring 20+ different kinds of oxygen into the room? Truly understanding and embracing another culture is challenging in itself—but how do you apply that understanding to your teaching and help your students be more inclusive as well?

In this course, you’ll gain concrete strategies for becoming a more culturally responsive teacher and creating an environment of inclusivity where everyone feels valued and welcome. You’ll start by understanding your own culture so you can better recognize others’ perspectives and address bias in its many forms (implicit, explicit, unconscious, and conscious). In addition, you’ll learn how to promote self-reflection and social–emotional awareness in yourself and your students, and how to help your students become more compassionate, sensitive classmates and human beings.

After participating in this course, you’ll be able to approach instruction with an awareness of your own biases and will be more adept at fostering inclusion and better meeting the needs of your learners.

The PowerSchool Course number: 258781 and its registration link is: https://alsde.truenorthlogic.com/ia/empari/learning2/course/viewCourseSearch?courseId=258781

The PowerSchool Section number: 389212 and its registration link is: https://alsde.truenorthlogic.com/ia/empari/learning2/section/viewCourseSection?courseId=258781&sectionId=389212

PLUACLD680 LEADING AND LEARNING WITH DIGITAL LITERACY AND COMPUTER SCIENCE

ACLD PLU Offered Virtually by Dr. Robert Mayben, Elizabeth Sessions, and Elizabeth Whitehead

Four Meetings: December 1, December 2, December 8 and December 9

3:30 PM to 5:30 PM for each meeting

The focus of the focus of the PLU is knowledge and implementation of the Digital Literacy and Computer Science Course of Study. There will be four Zoom meetings, and all other work will be completed online by participants between/after the virtual meetings. This ACLD PLU is open to administrators and teachers with administrative certification.

Registration Link: https://alsde.truenorthlogic.com/ia/empari/learning2/registration/presentRegistrationDetails/385939

Section #385939

**In order to proceed with an abundance of caution, we have also moved the December 2 session to a virtual environment. If you are already registered for this cohort, you will receive a Zoom link by December 1. If you would like to join for session #2, please register via PowerSchool section #371121.

Join us for this incredible learning opportunity with Dr. LeeAnn Jung, CEO of Lead Inclusion and lead author of ASCD text, Your Students, My Students, Our Students: Rethinking Equitable and Inclusive Classrooms. Dr. Jung is also a clinical professor at San Diego State University with her co-authors, Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey. She provides support in the areas of inclusion, standards-based learning and grading, designing individualized and goals and interdisciplinary supports, and measuring progress. She has authored 6 books, more than 45 journal articles and book chapters, and has been awarded more than 4 million dollars in federal funding.

This opportunity will be offered in a two-part learning cohort. After the session on September 8, participants will leave with strategies for application within their school teams. Participants will return in December for a follow-up session with Dr. Jung. If you were unable to participate for session #1, you may still register for session #2. Books, training, and substitute reimbursement will be provided by the UA/UWA Regional Inservice Center.

December 2, 2020

8:30 am-3:00 pm

2020 Southern Educational Robotics Conference (SERC)

December 7-8, 2020.

This virtual conference is hosted by the Southeastern Center of Robotics Education (SCORE) at Auburn University and will attract over 250 K-12 teachers and administrators from across the southeast. Through plenary sessions, 45-minute breakouts, 90-minute deep dives, and the virtual exhibit hall, SERC will showcase a variety of robotics software and hardware platforms to new and experienced robotics teachers. 2020 marks the third year of SERC and the first year we have invited exhibitors.

Please visit www.aub.ie/2020conference to register.

The ARI Leadership Team will utilize the Journey to Success process to implement a plan of action for all K-3 schools. This process outlines five ‘circles of influence’ that must be cohesive and function effectively for schools to be successful. In each webinar, discussion will revolve around the circles and their current influences on student learning. Sessions will be 50 minutes in length, with a 15 minutes updates and a Q&A to follow.

A total of five webinars will be offered: October 28, December 9, January 14, March 4, and May 4. All sessions will be facilitated by Dr. Tiffany Davis and will begin at 11:00 am.

Register via PowerSchool Section #: 387414 or using the following registration link:

https://alsde.truenorthlogic.com/ia/empari/learning2/registration/presentRegistrationDetails/387414

Paula Young, ARI Literacy Leadership specialist for Fayette, Lamar, and PIckens counties, will also host Brunch/Lunch and Learn sessions at alternate times for Region 4.

The ARI Leadership Team will utilize the Journey to Success process to implement a plan of action for all K-3 schools. This process outlines five ‘circles of influence’ that must be cohesive and function effectively for schools to be successful. In each webinar, discussion will revolve around the circles and their current influences on student learning. Sessions will be 50 minutes in length, with a 15 minutes updates and a Q&A to follow.

A total of five webinars will be offered: October 30, December 9, January 14, March 4, and May 4. All sessions will be facilitated by Paula Young. Sessions will be offered at both 9:00 am and 12:30 pm.

To register for the 9:00 am session, go to:

Section # 388592

Registration Link: https://alsde.truenorthlogic.com/ia/empari/learning2/registration/presentRegistrationDetails/388592

To register for the 12:30 pm session, go to:

Section# 388595

Registration Link:

https://alsde.truenorthlogic.com/ia/empari/learning2/registration/presentRegistrationDetails/388595

• February 3, 2020
• 10:00 am-12:00 pm
• Each of these regional meetings, beginning with October 7, will occur 2-3 weeks after the ALSDE's Curriculum and Instruction meetings. The purpose of this timing is so that we may discuss specific items, updates, data, and requests for support based upon the information shared at the ALSDE meetings.

Calling all school counselors!

We are excited to announce that registration in PowerSchool is open for the 1st Annual West Alabama Regional School Counselors' Conference on Friday, February 5, 2021. Due to the current environment and in order to accommodate more participants, this conference has been changed to a virtual format.

This free opportunity is available to all K-12 school counselors in our region. A steering committee of counselors from both the north, central, and southern portions of our region have worked diligently to plan sessions based upon the needs reflected in our recent survey. These sessions include ethics updates for counselors, PowerSchool updates, data-driven programs, mental health, behavioral interventions, and social-emotional learning. Featured speakers are Dr. Amy Upton, Mr. Sean Stevens, and Dr. Greg Benner.

Register today at https://alsde.truenorthlogic.com/ia/empari/learning2/registration/presentRegistrationDetails/369118

***In order to proceed with an abundance of caution, this face-to-face session has been rescheduled for February 10, 2021.

Often times, when geography standards are talked about among teachers, it is immediately assumed that students hear about Alabama geography for the first time in 3rd grade; but, this is not the case! Important geographic skills and concepts are addressed in all grades, starting in kindergarten. The primary goal of this institute is to reestablish the importance of social studies standards as it pertains to geography in a fun, hands-on way. In this PD session you’ll learn about the Giant Traveling Map of Alabama. This resource is a large Alabama map from National Geographic that has recently been purchased by the UA/UWA Regional In-Service Center for your use. Attend this session with Sarah Stroud, Tuscaloosa County Schools, and you’ll learn how to check it out for your classroom. You have to see this to believe it—it’s incredible! ***Substitute reimbursement will be provided for each participant.

February 10, 2021

8:30-2:30

UA/UWA Regional In-Service Center

Register via PowerSchool Section #372936

• ASIM Biology Training and Support (Lisa Clark, lclark@ua.edu)

• ASIM Chemistry Training and Support (Brooks Moss, moss020@ua.edu)
• ASIM Physics Training and Support (Julie Covin, jcovin@ua.edu)

Training Opportunities:

• ASIM Physical Science Training will be Wednesday November 18. High school physical science teachers can contact Julie Covin or Brooks Moss for registration information.

• ASIM Physics Training will be Wednesday December 2. Physics teachers can contact Julie Covin for registration information.

Contact our specialists today to support you (either virtually or face-to-face)! We are here for you!

In addition to the ALSDE-OSL sessions and the ACLD-PLU mentioned above, please contact Dr. Robert Mayben at rmayben@ua.edu to support your school or district's technology professional learning needs.

Contact Sara McGee, AMSTI Director, at smcgee@ua.edu to request K-12 math or K-8 science support for your school or district.

Start Your Journey Today At UWA!

Choose from more than 70 degree and certification programs at the University of West Alabama Online.

Learn how an online program can give you the convenience and flexibility you need. Scholarships available at: https://online.uwa.edu/tuition/scholarships-partnerships/teacher-connect/

https://online.uwa.edu/

EARN YOUR MASTER'S, EdS OR EdD FROM UA ONLINE!

NOW'S THE TIME TO APPLY!
Advance your education and your career with a graduate degree in Education earned around your schedule. UA's distance tuition is cheaper than main campus tuition, and if you're a UA grad, you can get your first class for free through the Build on Bama tuition grant. For a limited time, GRE/MAT test scores have been waived from admission requirements. Submit your application during FREE APP WEEK (Nov. 8-15), and you've got nothing to lose and so much to gain!

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