Kagan Cooperative Learning
Region 4, we are excited to host an upcoming Kagan Cooperative Learning Workshop. This opportunity will be held at the Bell Conference Center on the University of West Alabama campus on October 6 – October 7, 2021 from 8:30 a.m.- 3:45 p.m. Materials for all participants will include the following: Cooperative Learning Book, Cooperative Learning Course Workbooks, Action Plans, and Software (Mixed Pair Share). We would love for you to send a team!
Workshop Highlights include:
- Pump up the fun, friendships, and liking for learning and each other with classbuilding and teambuilding
- Experience why group work simply doesn’t work for everyone, andwhy Kagan Structures do
- Save valuable time and energy with easy-to-use structures that make lesson planning a snap
- Keep students on task and effectively manage disruptions with engaging structures
- Master the different types of pairs and teams, how to form them, and when to use them
- Provide students the will to work together and the skills to do so successfully
- Take away hot management tips that will make managing your cooperative class a snap
- Fully understand and implement basic principles that spell success for your students
- Create an environment where all students are accountable for complete engagement, every day
SERC 2021 Robotics Conference
Birmingham Holocaust Education Center: Teacher Workshop
Teaching with Stories-Romania
Thursday, October 14, 2021
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Virtual Session via Zoom
To register, or for more information, visit www.bhecinfo.org.
PowerSchool for Administrators PLU
The Alabama Technology in Motion program at the UA-UWA In-Service Center is offering a face to face PowerSchool for Administrators PLU in Demopolis this semester. The sessions will meet from 3:45 PM to 5:15 PM in the STEM Lab at Demopolis Middle School. The dates are September 30, October 14, October 19, and October 29. The focus will be on administrative tasks in the PowerSchool SIS with practice on topics such as attendance, student searching, reports, and gradebook management. To earn the PLU, participants must attend each session and complete online tasks in a Schoology Course. This PLU is open to all administrators and teachers with administrative certification in the region. Please consider sharing this opportunity with the educators in your school or district. I have attached a flyer to assist with this task, and the registration link is below. Thanks!
Registration Link: https://alsde.truenorthlogic.com/ia/empari/learning2/registration/presentRegistrationDetails/416343
October 15: Rise to the Challenge Dyslexia Conference
When
Friday, October 15, 2021 from 7:45 AM to 4:15 PM CDT
Where
St. James Church9045 Vaughn Rd.
Montgomery, AL 36117
- Register now via this link
- Keynote speakers: Natalie Wexler and Linda Farrell
- For more information, view the following site!
October 16: Alabama Conference on Grading and Assessment for Learning (ACGAL)
Registration and session proposals are now open at www.acgal.org
Note the following important information:
- The conference will be a hybrid event this year with both in-person and virtual options
- Masks and social distancing are required for the event (in-person)
- All sessions will be streamed live AND recorded for participants to access after the conference ends. We will share access information directly with registrants.
If you are an educator in Region 4 who would like to attend, please contact Tami Barron at tbarron@ua.edu regarding scholarship availability.
PLUACLD911: Dare to Lead (UA-UWA Regional Inservice Center)
The Dare To Lead™ program is based on the research of Dr. Brene' Brown and is a culmination of a seven year study of courage and leadership. Our district and school leaders will learn how to BRAVE trust. If school leaders are to be brave and courageous they will make mistakes and, in some cases, fail. We will learn how to rise. The Dare To Lead™ program will provide participants the skill sets to create brave and courageous cultures. This will be a virtual PD led by Dr. Kelly Horner, Founder of Horner Education Consulting Group. This session has been approved as an ACLD-PLU as well.
There are EIGHT key learning outcomes for the Dare To Lead™ program.
• Recognize vulnerability as the emotion we feel during times of uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure.
• Explain why courage requires vulnerability.
• Establish a clearer link between what I learned and behaviors I want to change.
• Recognize the critical role that self-awareness plays in daring leadership.
• Give examples to support how armor – not fear – is the greatest obstacle to daring leadership.
• Identify the four skill sets that make up courage: rumbling with vulnerability, living into our values, BRAVING trust, and learning to rise.
• Recognizing vulnerability is the birthplace of many of the behaviors that define daring leadership, including creativity, accountability, and difficulty conversations.
• Give examples of why daring leadership requires showing up for hard conversations and rumbles, including giving and receiving feedback
The virtual training will take place on 10/20/2021; 10/27/2021; 11/3/2021; 11/10/2021; 11/17/2021; 12/1/2021; and 12/8/2021 from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Participants will also be provided with a copy of the text, Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts and will receive 1 ACLD-PLU upon completion.
October 28, 2021: NBCT Component 3
A Zoom link will be added to the notes section of the PowerSchool listing and will be shared with you via e-mail approximately two days prior to the session.
Are You Interested in Pursuing National Board Certification? Our UA/UWA Support Cohort is Ready to Assist You!
For the fall semester, all informational sessions will be offered virtually. In the spring semester, candidates will be assigned NBCT mentors who will support them face-to-face and/or virtually in their NBCT journey.
Click here to be added to the UA/UWA NB email distribution list in order to receive ongoing updates regarding NBCT support.
PLUACLD926 Digital Citizenship Best Practices that Just Make Sense (PSPL Section #414760)
PLUACLD926 focuses on supporting educational leadership as they educate their staff members and students in the appropriate, safe, ethical, and legal use of technology. There will be three after school Zoom meetings (Nov 3, Nov 18, and Dec 1), and all other work will be completed online by participants between the virtual meetings. Registration Link: https://alsde.truenorthlogic.com/ia/empari/learning2/registration/presentRegistrationDetails/414760
Alabama's Teacher Observation Tool: UA/UWA Region 4 Training for Administrators
Title: Alabama’s Teacher Observation Tool: An Overview for Administrators
Course Description: Alabama Achieves, the strategic plan of the Alabama State Department of Education, specifically focuses on providing students with highly effective teachers. The ALSDE has partnered with Cognia in creating a teacher observation tool that provides educators with specific areas of strengths/growth and aligns with the Alabama Core Teaching Standards. The instrument also assists educators in developing professional development plans and choosing informed professional learning experiences. In this session administrators will be able to
Understand the Teacher Observation Tool
Utilize the Teacher Observation Tool for classroom observation
Calibrate scores on the Teacher Observation Tool
Time: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Region 4 Dates: November 9 or 10 (Choose one full day to attend; two sessions are open each day)
Region 4 Location: Bryant Conference Center, 240 Paul W. Bryant Dr., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Click on the direct links below in order to register via PowerSchool for the following opportunities in Region 4:
ARI Region 4 Lunch and Learn Sessions
ARI Lunch and Learns for Administrators- As outlined in the Alabama Literacy Act (ALA), the ARI local and regional literacy specialists must be clear and intentional in working with the school administrators to create a strategic plan for coaching that includes coaching and mentoring teachers daily (p.10). This strategic plan for coaching will assist in a seamless transition to the 2021 Alabama Course of Study: English Language Arts (ELA COS). Each Lunch and Learn will include time to explore a specific area of foundational reading from our 2021 ELA COS and support administrators in ensuring all educators in our buildings have a clear understanding of how the science of reading is explicitly incorporated to enable K-3 students to master grade-level content.
Lunch & Learn 1
September 30, 2021
Lunch & Learn 2
December 2, 2021
Lunch & Learn 3
January 27, 2022
Lunch & Learn 4
March 10, 2022
Lunch & Learn 5
- April 28, 2022
All sessions will be held via Zoom from 10:00-11:00 am. Register in PowerSchool via the following link to receive the Zoom links.
You may also review ARI updates via their ARI Literacy Leadership | Smore Newsletters.
January 12-13, 2022: Cognia Innovate, Elevate, Transform Alabama Conference
Save the Date – January 12 – 13, 2022
INNOVATE, ELEVATE, TRANSFORM ALABAMA Conference
Strategies for thriving in the new normal
As we all continue to evolve and adapt to a new normal, Cognia celebrates a return to in-person events to learn from each other and to make a difference for learners. We want to invite you to save the date for our next Alabama conference on January 12 and 13, 2022 in Montgomery, AL.
As always, we’re dedicated to helping you embed continuous improvement in schooling every day—and meet your most difficult challenges. During the “Innovate, Elevate, Transform” conference, you’ll experience the Cognia community and learn about impactful solutions and inspiring successes. You’ll learn from experts, build strong connections with peers, and share best practices with colleagues and friends from across Alabama.
Though this event, you’ll gather insights that help transform your teaching and assist in effectively leading your district, school, or classroom. Together we’ll explore topics you can apply in your everyday practice, including how to:
· Improve instruction with engagement for all
· Learn strategies to reach your students in all learning environments
· Make assessments meaningful
· Explore equity in the classroom
- Get support for continuous improvement in and out of the classroom
- Identify accreditation key processes and practices
Elevate your teaching and learning at this year’s conference. We are excited to see you! Let’s move forward together.
Registration information will be coming in October 2021. Mark your calendars now!
February 11, 2022: 2nd Annual West Alabama Regional Counselors' Conference
We are excited to announce that we will host our 2nd Annual West Alabama Regional School Counselors' Conference on Friday, February 11, 2022 at the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy (2800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401). This will be a free event to support the school counselors within our region.
Register via PowerSchool with this link
When: February 11, 2022
Where: Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy
Session agenda will be shared soon!
Session topics include diversity/equity/inclusion, SEL, mental health, self-care, and more!
Network with colleagues in the region during our roundtable sessions!
AMSTI
AMSTI is offering targeted math training to support intervention. Session information, including dates, is included in the link below.
AMSTI Region 4 Professional Learning for Intervention
The link to register for any of these sessions is:
https://forms.gle/expaJz3cP4suXxBp9
More information can be found on the linked flyer.
Please contact Sara McGee (smcgee@ua.edu) if you need other professional learning needs.
Alabama Science in Motion
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)
Contact our specialists today to request on-site instructional support! We are here for you!
Training
If you are a new teacher needing ASIM training, please reach out to us directly via email, phone, and/or text.
Lab Safety
We are unable to provide printed safety contracts, but you will be required to have one on file for your students. You may use the Flinn Safety Contract (also available in Spanish) or a personal/district plan. Try paperless! Use your LMS platform and ask students and parents to sign digitally.
ASIM Biology
9/29/21 Anatomy (R2RepDev, R5Urine, R8Muscle, R11Lymphatic)
10/6/21 Biology (N3OwlPel, M29/M30PatDye, M18Chroma, + 1 more)
11/3/21 Environmental Science (S5CleanH2O, S7GlobClim, S10EcoSuc, M13PlanEn)
Sign up for desired days on the linked form.
ASIM Chemistry
Chemistry training will be offered on October 19th in 2104 Shelby Hall at the University of Alabama. Topics covered during this training include magnetism, covalent bonding, bond types and physical properties, and periodic trends. To register for this training, complete the registration form: https://forms.monday.com/forms/e6fa491c78b19b6966e574ff7100f082?r=use1
If you have any questions, contact Brooks Moss at moss020@ua.edu
ASIM Physics
10/8/21 Year 1 Day 5 - ACOS Standard 2 Forces
Lessons: Weight vs. Mass, Forces as Vectors, Force Tables, Newton’s 3rd Law
10/29/21 Year 1 Day 6 - ACOS #2 Forces continued
ASIM Physical Science - Physics portion
10/13/21 ACOS Standards 7 and 8
Lessons: Measurement, Analyzing Motion using Graphs, Run For It, Horizontal Friction, Force Diagrams
Scientist for a Day!
Would your students like to come work with research scientists in a bio or engineering lab for a day here on campus? It is called scientist for a day! ASIM Biology, in partnership with UA faculty, is proud to offer this event.
The Scientist for a Day Competition will be held on Friday, December 3, 2021.
Applications for students will open in October with students/teachers being notified of placement by November 10.
Interested students will write an essay, based on professor research summaries that are linked in the application (once it opens in October), that has their top 3 choices of who they get paired with and why as their competition entry.
We were not able to host this event last year because of COVID, but it is back! See 2019 highlights below:
https://www.ua.edu/news/2019/01/in-the-lab-ua-students-help-inspire-next-wave-of-scientists/
https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/news/20191116/high-schoolers-attend-scientist-for-day-program-at-ua
https://www.wbrc.com/2019/11/15/high-school-students-become-scientists-day-university-alabama/
https://wvua23.com/high-school-students-get-to-be-scientists-for-a-day/
Alabama Technology in Motion with Dr. Robert Mayben
Contact Dr. Robert Mayben at rmayben@ua.edu to support your school or district's technology professional learning needs. PLU opportunities and other training opportunities are posted in this newsletter above!
University of Alabama Online
NOW'S THE TIME TO APPLY – FOR FREE!
Take your career to the front of the class with a top-ranked graduate degree in Education earned around your schedule. At this time, GRE/MAT test scores have been waived from admission requirements. Submit your application during Free App Week (Oct. 18-22), and you'll save $65. UA's distance tuition is more affordable 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. With Free App Week and a possible free class, you've got nothing to lose and so much to gain!
UWA Online
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/
UA/UWA Regional In-Service Education Center
Mrs. Tami Barron, Administrative Assistant
Ms. Angela Lewis, Office Associate for In-Service Center and AMSTI
Mrs. Banks Gordy, UWA Assistant
Email: hgmorgan@ua.edu
Website: www.inservice.ua.edu
Location: 260 Kilgore Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
Phone: 205-348-3319
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uainservice/
Twitter: @UofARIC