SDP Educator Weekly
newsletter
february 26-March 1
in this issue
- Action Items
Opportunities for:
- Paraprofessionals
quicklinks
Good morning colleagues,
This spring, I am excited to share that we are bringing our annual educator symposium back as an in-person event on April 20th. We invite you to join us for this day of professional learning facilitated by SDP teachers and counselors, which is grounded in the theme of educational justice. We are delighted to have Sharif El-Mekki, Founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development, join us for a keynote in the morning.
Mark your calendars now for April 20th, from 9:00am-3:30pm at School of the Future. Registration opens on March 6th and will be advertised through this newsletter. We look forward to having you join us for this incredible networking and professional learning event!
With gratitude for all you do,
Meredith
General Announcements
Author Event With Andrea Wang
You are invited to join a book launch event with bestselling author Andrea Wang (author of Watercress, The Nian Monster and The Many Meanings of Meilan) for her new Middle Grade Novel: Summer at Squee. This event will be hosted by the Asian American Caucus of the NCTE. You can learn more HERE. Please email Meredith Seung Mee Buse, ambuse@philasd.org, with any questions.
Online Adaptive Programs–Middle of Year Diagnostic Window
Reminder: i-Ready, Achieve3000, & Imagine users should complete the OAP Middle of Year Diagnostic Assessment between Feb. 1 to March 1st. If you have any questions regarding the OAP Middle of Year Diagnostic, please contact the Office of Diverse Learners MTSS Academics Team at oapvendors@philasd.org.
National #SELday on March 8, 2024
Calling all educators! We invite you to join the millions of educators across the country in recognizing #SELday in our schools and classrooms on March 8, 2024. #SELday is an opportunity to spread the word about the importance of social and emotional learning and highlight the SEL successes in your buildings. We’ve compiled some ideas to make #SELday a time of joy and learning for your school communities. Be sure to share your plans with the SEL team so we can spotlight the ways our district is #SELebrating on March 8! Questions? Email Lauren Thomas, Director of Social & Emotional Learning, at lkthomas@philasd.org, or call at 215-400-4870.
Introducing the Teacher Grade Impact Report (GIR) for Educators!
Empowering teachers with unprecedented insights, the Teacher Grade Impact Report (GIR) is now available to all educators at master schedule schools. Formerly exclusive to administrators, this tool delves into grading practices, offering a real-time analysis of student performance. The Grade Impact Report (videos) enables teachers to identify categories impacting grades, refine grading strategies, and collaboratively plan improvements, fostering a transparent and supportive educational environment. Accessible through Infinite Campus, this report is designed for biweekly use, providing valuable data for course enhancement. Dive into the Grade Impact Report to demystify the grading process, empower educators, and elevate the educational experience! Teacher Office Hours: Tuesdays, 12-1 pm, from February 20th to April 2nd. Link to Office Hours. Questions? Email gsloan@philasd.org.
Professional Development
Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL)
LEARN MORE about this professional learning opportunity and APPLY today! Questions? Email Donna Sharer at dsharer@philasd.org.
Save the Date: Educator Symposium
Educator Symposium is on the horizon! Educator Symposium is a day of professional learning facilitated by SDP teachers and counselors for SDP PreK-12 teachers and counselors. Save the date: April 20, 2024, 9:00am-3:30 pm, in person at School of the Future. Registration via CVent begins March 6th. Please email Cristina Hart at cehart@philasd.org with any questions.
Opportunities for Students
PSTV Contest Series
Thank you for considering entering our PSTV digital Media contest! See details below:
In this contest you will be reflecting on some of the things you did last year. Talking about routines or activities that you enjoyed about 2023 and how you want to move forward into 2024. You can tell us about your resolutions, any fun plans you’ve already made for 2024, or anything you are looking to change or do more of in the new year. There should be 2 main parts to your entry, reflecting on 2023 and plans for 2024.
You can submit your entry in 3 ways. VIDEO, AUDIO (or a written piece recorded), OR DRAWINGS - https://www.philasd.org/pstv/contest/. Questions? Email Shelley Wolfe, swolfe@philasd.org, Executive Director.
Opportunities for Teachers
Summer Opportunity for Middle & High School Educators (Social Studies/ELA)
"The Missing Stories: Reclaiming History through Community Archives" is a six-day NEH institute (June 24-29, 2024) for twenty-five middle and high school educators to learn about archival research, South Asian American history, and oral history methodology. Our goal is to empower educators to teach histories that prioritize the narratives of marginalized communities, as documented by the communities themselves. The institute will take place at SAADA’s office, located in downtown Philadelphia. Participants will receive a $1,300 stipend to cover their expenses.
The deadline to apply is Tuesday, March 5. Apply HERE. Please reach out to us at institute@saada.org for any questions!
ACE Webinar - March 5th
Join American College of Education to learn more about partner
benefits. Information to be presented includes: tuition reduction grant
opportunities, program information and Q&A time. Sign up even if you cannot attend live as we will send a recording the next day.
Register here and join us when you can. Questions? Email Regina Ceribelli at regina.ceribelli@ace.edu.
Introduction to Structured Literacy K-3 Teachers - Cohort Two Now Open!
K-3 teachers are invited to participate in the Introduction to Structured Literacy cohort two. Please note that this opportunity is only open to those who have not previously taken this course. This paid, asynchronous PD is open to the first 300 registrants. The deadline to apply is February 27th, and all applicants will be notified by February 29th if selected. You can view more information and register HERE. Questions? Email dschultz@philasd.org.
Opportunities for Teachers
Prepare for the Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024
On April 8, Philadelphia will experience a partial solar eclipse beginning at 2:08pm with the peak eclipse at 3:23pm. Looking directly at the eclipse can cause retinal damage, so schools or families interested in organizing viewings are encouraged to build solar viewers at home. Please check out the following sites HERE, HERE, and HERE.
To reserve pinhole projectors from OCI, please use THIS FORM. Questions? Email Dr. Daniel Miller-Uueda at duueda@philasd.org.
Instructional Resources
Illustrative Mathematics
Good Morning Math Community,
After our eligible content update, we received questions about how to integrate PSSA/Keystone released items into math class. So, here is our recommendation.
Because we know that providing students with high-quality math instruction helps prepare them for the PSSA/Keystone, teaching IM with integrity is the best preparation.
Since the wording of the tests is unique, we suggest integrating 1-2 PSSA/ Keystone released items per week into the last part of your math class. In K-5, this could take 5-10 minutes and just slightly shorten your center time 1-2 days each week. If possible, pick items that align with the content you are currently teaching. Doing this in small doses allows you to give feedback and doesn't impact much instructional time. Let us know if you have any questions at math@philasd.org!
Term 2 ELA Focus Areas: PSSA Strategies: (K-8)
Purposeful Annotations for Text Dependent Analysis: During close reading we ask students to annotate text using different strategies and techniques. Preparing students for annotating with a purpose requires instruction and modeling. The purpose of this resource is to provide educators with information necessary for understanding annotations and strategies for guiding students to purposefully annotate in preparation for analyzing text, whether during collaborative discussions or when writing in response to a TDA prompt. The essential idea of annotating text is to help the reader during and after reading. There are four main annotating concepts explored in this resource: 1) why use annotations, 2) what should be annotated, 3) how to annotate, and 4) how to use the annotations. Let us know your key takeaways at ela@philasd.org.
Term 2 ELA Focus Areas: Expanding Structured Literacy: Vocabulary (6-12)
Vocabulary Instruction: Vocabulary can be classified into three tiers when identifying words for direct instruction. Take a moment to review the definitions of Tier I, II, and III vocabulary HERE. When selecting words for intentional instruction, your primary focus should be on Tier II words. These are the words that significantly impact student learning. This does not negate the need for domain-specific language in ELA instruction, but it emphasizes that Tier II words hold greater utility for students in both their education and their lives, making them a higher priority. Questions? Email ela@philasd.org.
Instructional Resources
Tech Tidbits: Improve Student Comprehension with Reading Mode
Do your students struggle to focus while reading long passages on their Chromebook screen? Available right in Chrome, Reading Mode creates a customized experience that reduces distractions, allows fonts and styles to be adjusted, and allows for greater focus and comprehension. Do you want to learn more? Then this Tech Tidbit is for you. See the video HERE. For more information, click this stepper. Questions? Email the Office of Educational Technology at edtech@philasd.org.
New Student Information System (SIS) Functionality
Message Center for Teachers
The Grades Messages and Missing Assignment Messages have been updated so that teachers can now send these messages to students, in addition to their parents/guardians. Teachers can now select which type of recipients to include in the message, including: parents/guardians with the “Messenger” box checked and students themselves.
In support of this update, the Sent Message Log and Recipient Log have been updated to indicate whether students were included in the message.
Please refer to the stepper HERE. Questions? Email SIS PD at sispd@philasd.org.
Curriculum and Instruction is Hosting Core Instructional Resource Engagement Sessions
In support of Accelerate Philly priority area 3, SDP leaders, staff, families and the community are invited to join the Office of Curriculum and Instruction for virtual conversations in March & April. These events will focus on sharing information and gathering feedback with regard to core instructional resources for: ELA K-8, ELA 9-12, Math Pathways, and Math K-12. Click here to register. Questions? Email ela@philasd.org.