ASCD Association News
Strengthen your professional-development program
ASCD SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
The ASCD institutional membership is available to any school or district interested in creating or strengthening its professional-development program. The institutional membership offers educators group access to professional learning tools, publications, online research archives and more. Learn about the specific member benefits associated with this type of ASCD membership and find out how you can use it to grow your professional learning community.
New PD Online course: Teaching With Poverty In Mind
ASCD SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
Rooted in the work of Eric Jensen, co-founder of the United States' first brain-compatible learning program, ASCD's new Teaching With Poverty In Mind PD Online course delves into current research to help you understand how poverty affects the developing brain. You'll learn about the effects of poverty on students' health and academic performance and connect with strategies for combatting the many negative effects of poverty in an academic setting. Learn more.
Increase your comfort level with differentiated instruction and the new standards
ASCD SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
We've added several new courses on differentiated instruction (DI) and Common Core State Standards to our lineup of PD Online® Web-based multimedia training programs. Pick the DI course that most closely matches your learning goals or take all four new courses back-to-back. And don't miss two new PD Online courses that will show you how to use the Understanding by Design® framework to implement the Common Core State Standards. Learn more in a recent press release.
View archived Whole Child Virtual Conference sessions at your leisure
ASCD SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
At ASCD, we believe that every learner has the right to be healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged. And we recently hosted a free Whole Child Virtual Conference to help schools around the globe integrate a whole child approach into their cultures. No matter where your school falls on the whole child continuum, be it the early implementation stage or well beyond, these sessions are chock full of tips and strategies you'll be able to employ right away for the benefit of your students. Get inspired.
Revolutionizing the way we teach and learn
ASCD SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
ASCD's three-day summer conference kicks off in St. Louis on July 1 and zeros in on topics most relevant to you -- creating an environment for learning, actively engaging students, gathering assessment data that aligns with the Common Core State Standards and many more. Join education experts and colleagues for all three days or jump-start your conference experience by participating in one of five pre-conference institutes on June 30. Featured conference presenters include Judith Hilton, Robyn Jackson and Marc Cohen. Learn more.
A health iceberg
ASCD SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
When you break health into its distinct components -- physical, mental, emotional, social -- and organize them into a hierarchy like that of Maslow's, you will find physical health on top, says Whole Child program director Sean Slade. That makes the physical component of health the tip of the well-being iceberg, but "what lies underneath, is hidden, and is larger and potentially more destructive than what lies atop," he explains. Slade employs this analogy in a recent Whole Child Blog post in which he discusses why we must address all aspects of student health, not just fitness and nutrition. Read on.
What would a school designed by your brain look like?
ASCD SmartBrief | May 23, 2012
In a recent Inservice blog post, neurologist and educator Judy Willis shares her vision of an ideal school. It's a place where brain research informs learning structures so "learning takes place in mixed age groups with flexibility of time and work areas suited to their activities" and "students in both indoor and outdoor spaces learn through online games chosen by students for knowledge and skillsets they want to acquire." Read the full post.
New book: Minding the Achievement Gap One Classroom at a Time
ASCD SmartBrief | May 23, 2012
There is something you can do now to close learning gaps for students falling short of standards -- including English-language learners and students with special needs. In their new ASCD book, authors Jane E. Pollock, Sharon M. Ford, and Margaret M. Black explain how to use readily available tools to improve all students' access to, interaction with, and mastery of lesson content and to design daily lesson plans that clarify learning goals and require students to use high-yield learning strategies, seek feedback, and reflect on their progress. Preview and purchase.
The challenges of supporting new teachers: A conversation with Linda Darling-Hammond
ASCD SmartBrief | May 22, 2012
Educational Leadership editor-in-chief Marge Scherer recently spoke with educator Linda Darling-Hammond about the preparation and support new educators need in order to survive their first years in the profession. During the interview, Darling-Hammond discussed teacher preparation factors that matter for keeping educators in the teaching profession. She also pointed to professional development schools with model programs and took the time to dispel the notion that teachers are not academically able. Read the full interview in the May issue.
Three teacher evaluation mistakes to avoid
ASCD SmartBrief | May 22, 2012
Is your school district implementing a new teacher-evaluation system? Avoid common implementation mistakes with tips from ASCD author Robyn Jackson. In her latest ASCD EDge blog post, Jackson outlines three big blunders that no district should repeat, the most egregious being not providing follow-up professional development, feedback and coaching that helps teachers respond effectively to an evaluation. Read on.
Retaining beginning teachers is a matter of principal
ASCD SmartBrief | May 21, 2012
"Creating effective schools and increasing student achievement necessitates that instructional leaders support new educators," writes principal Laura Kacer in a recent ASCD Express article. Having witnessed a higher than average teacher turnover rate at her own middle school, Kacer decided to invest in a holistic approach to mentoring. In the article, she shares key lessons learned from that experience and explains how to set new teachers up for success. Read on.
ASCD summer reading list offers PD opportunities galore
ASCD SmartBrief | May 21, 2012
We've compiled a list of not-to-be-missed summer reads that offer essential classroom support and proven strategies that will reinforce your work this coming school year. The list offers opportunities to connect with new books from the education experts you've come to rely on and to explore a variety of hot topics in education today. Whether you're interested in improving your understanding of the Common Core State Standards or ready to delve into effective instructional strategies, there's something for you. Browse our summer reading list.
How to attend a conference -- the ASCD tenth Annual Conference, that is! (1955)
ASCD SmartBrief | May 18, 2012
Despite incredible technological advancements and the conference's expanded scope, the core of the ASCD conference experience has not changed radically over the past 50 to 60 years, points out ASCD reference librarian David Snyder in a new Inservice blog post. Snyder shares highlights from an archived Educational Leadership article from 1955 in which then ASCD Executive Secretary and EL editor George W. Denemark tells prospective attendees how to attend an ASCD conference, capturing the spirit of ASCD events as he reflects upon a past conference. Read the post in Inservice, and let us know what you think of the blog's new look and feel.
Webinar: Embedding standards in the UbD framework for curriculum, assessment and learning
ASCD SmartBrief | May 18, 2012
In an upcoming ASCD webinar, co-creator of the Understanding by Design™ (UbD) framework Grant Wiggins will provide practical strategies for effectively embedding the Common Core State Standards into the framework. Join Wiggins on Wednesday, May 23 at 3 p.m. EDT to learn how to address the new standards as part of an engaging, robust curriculum. Sign up.
New book: How to Create a Culture of Achievement in Your School and Classroom
ASCD SmartBrief | May 17, 2012
In their new ASCD book, authors Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Ian Pumpian identify five pillars critical to building a culture of achievement. "How to Create a Culture of Achievement in Your School and Classroom" offers action research tools that can help your school move in the right direction and explains why culture makes the difference between a school that enables success for all students and a school that merely houses those students during the school day. Read sample chapters.
Purchase.
Investing in healthy recess to nurture the whole child
ASCD SmartBrief | May 17, 2012
"A school that provides time and space for students to run, talk, and play helps ensure every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged," says Jill Vialet, founder and CEO of Playworks, a national nonprofit that leverages recess and play to promote learning and physical activity. In a recent Whole Child Blog post, Vialet discusses the benefits and challenges of recess and dissects what research says about how schools can support learning with a healthy recess. Read on.
The don'ts and don'ts of teaching
ASCD SmartBrief | May 16, 2012
Nobody clearly warned Gary Rubinstein about the big blunders to avoid as a first-year teacher, and he made them all, losing the respect of his students. Now a seasoned educator, Rubinstein shares a list of 10 rookie teacher "don'ts" in the May Supporting Beginning Teachers issue of Educational Leadership. "As teachers, we might learn from our mistakes. Our students won't," he explains while outlining mistakes ranging from trying to teach too much in one day to making tests too hard. Read on.
Archived Virtual Conference sessions available all summer long
ASCD SmartBrief | May 16, 2012
This summer, revisit powerful sessions that made your 2012 Annual Conference experience unforgettable or experience an ASCD conference for the first time by accessing our Virtual Conference archive. Archived content includes 21 Annual Conference sessions presented by leading thinkers in education -- Heidi Hayes Jacobs, Charlotte Danielson, Robyn Jackson, Doug Fisher, Pedro Noguera, and many others -- as well as exclusive Virtual Conference interviews. Access to the archive can be purchased any time this summer and is available free of charge to all attendees of the in-person event. Visit the archive.
So you want to be a blogger
ASCD SmartBrief | May 15, 2012
Encouraging fellow educators to embark on the "wonderful journey" of blogging -- be it for personal reflection or student use -- educator and Web 2.0 Classroom blogger Steven Anderson shares resources you can use to get started. In a recent ASCD EDge post, Anderson points to blogging platforms and tutorials on how to use them, then offers a wealth of additional tips and resources for success. Read on.
Educational Leadership wants your stories for an upcoming "Tell Me About ..." column
ASCD SmartBrief | May 15, 2012
Educational Leadership is developing an issue on the topic of feedback for learning, and we're collecting educator stories for the crowd-sourced "Tell Me About ..." column. Tell us about a time when your feedback to a student had a strong effect -- either positive or negative -- and it may appear in our September issue. Submissions must be 200 words or less and received by June 15. Access the submission form.
Creating, cultivating, and sustaining a culture of achievement
ASCD SmartBrief | May 14, 2012
We're looking for examples of school cultures that support and sustain student achievement for an upcoming issue of ASCD Express. Tell us your story, detailing how your school conveys high academic expectations and supports students in that regard or delving into the school's efforts to support staff stability. Whether you're a teacher, administrator, or specialist, we want to hear from you. June 22 is the deadline to submit your 600 to 1,000-word essay on this topic to us. Learn more.
Webinar tomorrow: The principal's role in bringing Common Core State Standards to routine use
ASCD SmartBrief | May 14, 2012
Join presenter Judy Carr for a free ASCD webinar on the principal's role in driving implementation of the new standards on Tuesday, May 15, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT. Carr will explore essential levers for change, addressing the importance of PD, a common vision of effective implementation, as well as teacher evaluation and walkthroughs. Register now.
New year, new opportunities
ASCD SmartBrief | May 11, 2012
Developed through a partnership between CareerBuilder and ASCD, the free ASCD Job Ramp website was developed to simplify the job hunt for educators of all professional levels. Access the jobs site day or night, weekend or weekday, to browse U.S. openings in education. And don't forget to take advantage of custom search options and personalized alerts. Browse openings in your area.
Making sense of competing ESEA reauthorization proposals
ASCD SmartBrief | May 11, 2012
ASCD's public policy team has developed a resource that offers a straightforward comparison of the changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act proposed in bills passed by the Senate and House education committees. The PDF looks at key areas of standards/assessment, accountability, teacher and leader effectiveness, school improvement and funding. Get informed.
The first time you felt like a real teacher
ASCD SmartBrief | May 10, 2012
This month, Educational Leadership is commemorating the 10th anniversary of ASCD's Outstanding Young Educator Award program with a Supporting Beginning Teachers column dedicated to inspiring stories from past award recipients and finalists. Winners describe the first time they felt like real teachers, and the responses range from a moving description of school-community partnerships to a story about students completely taking the reigns -- and finding their own way to success -- in a newspaper journalism class. Read on.
New Common Core State Standards leadership institutes and online PD coming your way
ASCD SmartBrief | May 10, 2012
ASCD is pleased to announce two-day Common Core State Standards-themed leadership institutes for superintendents, principals and key administrators ready to connect with essential tools for effectively implementing the new standards. Institutes will be held in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Detroit this August, and will be led by experts Judy Carr, Sue Beers and Deborah Childs-Bowen. To further support your CCSS work, ASCD has also launched a new PD In Focus online video channel dedicated to CCSS. Learn more.
Seven more ways to go from on-task to engaged
ASCD SmartBrief | May 09, 2012
"Increasing time on task is pointless if the tasks themselves are not productive," reiterates professional-development director and author Bryan Harris in a guest Inservice blog post. Following up on his popular 2011 post that shared seven strategies for taking students from on-task to engaged, Harris offers seven more. He encourages colleagues to seek student opinions by asking questions that don't have right or wrong answers and suggests using celebrations to emphasize, "if it's worth learning, it's worth celebrating." Read all seven strategies in Inservice.
Now that I know what I know
ASCD SmartBrief | May 09, 2012
Dan Brown discovered the equation "effort + intelligence + people skills = success" in his student years, and decided it would naturally apply to teaching. What he found in his first year as an educator in the Bronx was that it takes a lot more to be successful. Now, with professional certifications and years of experience under his belt, Brown writes about the "sea of factors" that he's since added to the equation in a recent Educational Leadership article. Read on.
Google Docs for administrators -- 5 ideas to get started
ASCD SmartBrief | May 08, 2012
Are you drowning in end-of-year paperwork? Give your paper-intensive processes a digital go, suggests educator Kyle Pace in a recent post on the ASCD EDge professional networking community for educators. Pace shares tips for taking everything from student information cards to end-of-year checkout forms paperless with Google Docs and Google Forms. Read on.
Podcast: What does it take for children to be mentally healthy?
ASCD SmartBrief | May 08, 2012
The May episode of the Whole Child Podcast examines why it's crucial for us to ensure that each learner is socially, emotionally, and mentally healthy, presenting three expert viewpoints on what school and school community members can do to promote good mental health. You'll hear from Mental Health America's public-education director Erica Ahmed; Principals Australia Institute's and MindMatters' national business and professional product development manager Jo Mason; as well as associate child-development professor Philip C. Rodkin. Download the podcast.
Grow your understanding of differentiated instruction with two new PD Online courses
ASCD SmartBrief | May 07, 2012
Whether you're looking for an introduction to differentiated instruction (DI) or are ready for an in-depth exploration of how to teach with student differences in mind, we have two new self-paced, Web-based PD Online courses available to you. ASCD's interactive multimedia training programs contain text, audio and video content that can help you grow your repertoire of professional skills. Learn more.
- Browse additional DI resources on our Research a Topic page.
Free webinar on Common Core State Standards for English language arts
ASCD SmartBrief | May 07, 2012
Join Meredith Liben and David Liben of Student Achievement Partners this Wednesday, May 9 at 3 p.m. EDT for an ASCD webinar on making your Common Core State Standards efforts effective through a focus on text complexity demands. Explore different aspects of text complexity and find out how the new English language arts standards differ from predecessors. Register now.
- And don't miss our lineup of in-person Common Core State Standards institutes coming to a city near you.
Before evaluating teachers, how about supporting them?
ASCD SmartBrief | May 04, 2012
"It seems to me that a lot of new evaluation schemes attempt to hold teachers accountable for factors they don't control and penalize them for shortcomings for which they are not responsible," writes high-school teacher James Boutin in his ASCD Express New Voices column. Boutin explains why teacher evaluations discussions we're currently having are premature, touching upon issues that he says must be addressed first, like the absence of effective supports for educators and the lack of useful ways in which to assess teacher efficacy. Learn more.
Focus on learning, not grades
ASCD SmartBrief | May 04, 2012
Are your students more focused on earning points than improving content knowledge? In his May Education Update column, teacher and 2011 Outstanding Young Educator Award winner Brad Kuntz discusses how teachers who answered yes can get students to focus on their learning goals -- not grades -- with proficiency-based education. Kuntz shares what can be done on the classroom to get students to focus on what counts. Read on.
Supporting beginning teachers
ASCD SmartBrief | May 03, 2012
Teaching is a complex art and new teachers have a different set of needs than their seasoned colleagues. The May issue of Educational Leadership explores the theme of "Supporting New Teachers" with articles on mentoring, teacher prep and more. Both veteran and new teachers can learn important lessons and tips in this issue. Read more.
Help build a whole child community
ASCD SmartBrief | May 03, 2012
How can teachers show their students they're positive influences in their local communities? Brad Kuntz, ASCD's 2011 Outstanding Young Educator Award winner, shares suggestions on how teachers can be engaged community members and, in turn, be good role models for students. "Be a positive presence wherever you are, because whether or not you are in the classroom, you are still a teacher," Kuntz writes. Read more.
One-Day CCSS Institutes around the U.S
ASCD SmartBrief | May 02, 2012
Are you prepared to bring the Common Core State Standards into your classroom? ASCD is hosting several one-day institutes around the country throughout May and June focusing on the best strategies for implementing the new English language arts and math standards. School-based administrators, teacher leaders, and teachers can choose from 11 institutes to attend. Learn more and register.
Evaluating teacher accountability
ASCD SmartBrief | May 02, 2012
In her recent ASCD Express article, retired teacher and cofounder of the Network of Michigan Educators, Nancy Flanagan, explores the topic of accountability and teacher evaluations. "Can we put first priority on producing gains in standardized indicators, while simultaneously demanding that teachers be responsive to individual children: their diverse needs, aspirations, and goals?" Flanagan asks. Read her answer and more in the full article in ASCD Express.
Register for ASCD's free Whole Child Virtual Conference
ASCD SmartBrief | May 01, 2012
How can schools implement and sustain a whole child approach in education? ASCD invites educators from around the world to participate in the 2012 Whole Child Virtual Conference from May 3 to 11. Participants will learn from educators who have successfully implemented the whole child approach in schools around the world and discuss how they can bring the approach into their own schools. Learn more and register for free today.
Demystifying the "Natural Born" teacher
ASCD SmartBrief | May 01, 2012
Exceptional teachers aren't all that mysterious, according to educator John Smith. Rather, the most gifted teachers share several qualities. In his ASCD EDge post, Smith says that great teachers make sure all students comprehend the material, teach students to think critically and adjust their teaching approach as they go. Read more.
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