Dear Curriculum and Instruction Leaders,
This month I want to suggest a new role for each of you — Chief Well-Being Officer! Each of you has been on a complicated and difficult journey this year. It is easy to get overwhelmed and overstressed in our current environment. It’s critical that we take the time to invest in our own well-being so that we can invest in the well-being of our teams. Think of it like this. When we get on an airplane the flight attendant always says that adults need to put their oxygen mask on first before helping others. The same applies here. To encourage a focus on your well-being, I want to provide this article from Jen Fisher, Deloitte’s Chief Well-Being Officer (Yes — this is a real position at a major corporation like Deloitte) titled “How to be the Chief Well-being Officer of Your Life.” Fisher provides the following ideas to promote well-being in your own life:
- Set priorities
- Involve others
- Schedule it
- Allow for failure
- Revisit your well-being goals regularly
- Find joy and give thanks
Please read on to learn more about a new guidance document created by the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) to support your efforts to reopen schools and help create powerful learning environments and experiences for students. You will also find information about upcoming professional learning, highlights from CDE, and grant opportunities.
Enjoy!
Shannon Baker, Ed.D.
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English Language Arts
WRITE — This 10-week course introduces elementary educators (K-5) to culturally and linguistically responsive instructional practices, with an emphasis on academic literacy and writing instruction. Register here.
The ELA Literacy Leaders Network supports coaches, TOSAs, and district leaders in a range of responsibilities that may include: developing leadership voice, designing professional learning, providing instructional coaching, curating and developing resources, and integrating literacy instruction through the content areas. Register here.
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Computer Science
“Strategies for Effective and Inclusive Computer Science Teaching” is being offered for middle and high school teachers in March. This free, seven-week, Canvas-based learning will train teachers to look for and adopt inclusive practices in computer science education systems. Developed at the University of Texas and with sections on culturally responsive pedagogy, intersectionality, and teaching for neurodiverse learners, teachers will learn to challenge their own practices and the systems around them to advocate for equitable Computer Science experiences. This offering is open to Region IX teachers. Email Mark Lantsberger directly to inquire.
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History & Social Studies
SDCOE, in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE), is proud to announce our second live webinar supporting California’s State Seal of Civic Engagement. In this webinar, educators, including school and district leaders, will collaborate around the State Seal of Civic Engagement indicators. Attendees will discuss ideas related to local criteria and resources for implementation. Register for this meeting March 2 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Exploring the Environment of Civic Action — SDCOE is pleased to partner with OCDE and the California Global Education Project on this FREE two-part, web-based workshop for elementary educators. Participating teachers will learn about the History-Social Science Framework, and the environmental principles and concepts embedded within. Participants will receive materials, collaborate, implement lessons, and share student work.
Session Dates and Times: March 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. (Part 1) and April 27 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. (Part 2). (Registration information will be forthcoming).
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Library Media Services
Join school library staff as they gather to learn, share, and network. Library Network meetings happen on the third Thursday of the month at 3 p.m. (March 18, April 15, May 20, and June 17). |
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Physical Education and Health
SDCOE Health and Physical Education Advisory Meeting
Leaders from throughout San Diego County are invited to join us as we discuss trends, legislation, litigation, best practices, and opportunities in health and physical education. The advisory meeting will tackle big issues, leverage assets, and develop strategies to increase students’ health and physical literacy.
SDCOE Health and Physical Education Hangouts
Teachers and leaders are invited to “Hangout” to discuss pressing issues and best practices related to health and physical education from 3 to 4 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of every month. It is a great opportunity to network and to keep up with the “latest and greatest” during a time when things are constantly changing. Register for the Hangout here.
Health Education Framework Rollout Series
Join us for one or more of the four sessions designed to rollout the new California Health Education Framework. Each session includes a 90-minute online module and a 90-minute synchronous collaborative meeting that take place from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on the dates below. Click one of the dates for more information or to register.
Session 3: Growth, Development, and Sexual Health; and Injury Prevention and Safety
Session 4: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs; and Personal and Community Health
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Links to Learn From
- Section No. 1 — Determining Essential Learnings
- Section No. 2 — Measuring and Monitoring Student Learning and Performance
- Section No. 3 — Grading Guidance
- Section No. 4 — Strategies to Accelerate Student Learning
- Section No. 5 — Implications for Dual Language and Multi-Language Learners
- Section No. 6 — Empowering Students by Building on Assets and Agency
Student Leadership Opportunity! Become an SDCOE Student Board Member
- Students in 10th and 11th grade from all public high schools in San Diego County are invited to submit an application to represent the youth voice across our region as a member of the San Diego County Board of Education.
- Applications can be submitted online or by printing the packet and mailing it in by March 5.
- Visit the Student Board Member webpage for details and to apply.
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Content Area Spotlight: The Arts |
One year ago I thought my 2020-2021 calendar would be filled with travel around the state for the rollout of the new California Arts Education Framework. After several starts and stops, the Framework Planning Committee has begun meeting! In the meantime, I have been presenting introductory sessions on the Framework and have been engaged in several other important projects all focused on connecting educators and leaders with one another and with resources to continue providing meaningful arts education to our students.
Each Wednesday from 4 to 4:30 p.m. I host a Twitter chat (#CaArtsEdChat) to engage a community of educators to support one another. Whether you’ve never participated in a Twitter chat before or are an expert, you can use this link to see the questions for the week and learn how to join the conversation.
Last October in place of our Arts Empower Mega Conference at Balboa Park, we held a one-hour virtual Arts Empower Mega Rally. You can watch a video of the event on YouTube to hear from teachers, leaders, and best of all students who are using the arts to thrive during this difficult time. The event was such a success that we are presenting an encore event on March 11. The Arts Empower Mega Rally Encore: Student Spotlight will be an opportunity to hear from a student panel and see powerful artwork created by our students as they cope, connect, and communicate during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are planning another event in May to spotlight educators.
The San Diego Area Arts Leadership Community, which is presented in partnership with the Southern Counties California Arts Project, has continued meeting every other week. This community of TK-12 school district arts leaders investigate arts education topics and current research to maintain awareness of issues and policies impacting arts education in California. The community provides a system of support for arts leaders to share, reflect, problem-solve, and learn from each other, especially in our current circumstances with shifting contexts in face-to-face, virtual, and hybrid models of instruction.
Next month we are launching a new set of professional learning experiences for the Arts community. The first pair of sessions, Music that Unifies: Developing Empathy and Understanding Through World Music, have been designed to utilize the power of music to broaden a student's world view and develop a greater sense of empathy. The sessions will reinforce both the need for discipline-specific music and arts instruction as well as integrated instruction to benefit the whole child. We will explore the lives of people in other parts of the world by introducing students to the music that is part of their daily lives, rituals, and celebrations, while also introducing and reinforcing key music standards. Join us!
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Closing the Digital Divide
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond recently announced a $1 million competition to spur innovation that closes the digital divide for California students, educators and families. Read the news release here.
2021 Revision of the Mathematics Framework
The California Department of Education (CDE), Instructional Quality Commission, and State Board of Education are commencing the revision process for the Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten Through Grade 12 (Mathematics Framework). Information and updates concerning the revision of the Mathematics Framework will be posted here. Select the link below to access an online survey to review and comment on the various sections of the draft Mathematics Framework. The online survey will remain open through April 8. |
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Health Education Framework Mini-Grants
Receive up to $5,000 to support the implementation of the new California Health Education Framework in the following content areas:
- Nutrition and physical activity
- Mental, emotional, and social health
- Growth, development, and sexual health
- Injury prevention and safety
- Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
- Personal and community health
Funding may be used to support after-contract hours or release time for staff attendance at the SDCOE Health Education Framework Professional Learning Series, collaboration, planning, curriculum/lesson design, and much more!
Institutes for K-12 Educators
Grants to government agencies to host humanities programming for K-12 teachers.
Funding is intended to offer professional development programs that convene K-12 educators from across the nation to deepen and enrich their understanding of a variety of topics in the humanities and enrich their capacity for effective scholarship and teaching. The National Endowment for the Humanities Institutes for K-12 Educators program serves to: Allow immersive study of topics of significance to the humanities; foster new fields of study and/or revitalize existing areas of inquiry; reinvigorate teaching and increase intellectual impact in the classroom; and build lasting communities that foster participants’ intellectual and professional collaboration. Institutes for K-12 Educators are awarded at two levels:
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Level I: Open only to projects that are new or have not been previously funded by NEH. This level supports preparation for and execution of an institute, as well as moderate follow up and outreach.
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Level II: Required of previously-funded projects and optional for first-time projects. In addition to Level I activities, this level requires a robust program of dissemination beyond the participant audience.
Book Love Foundation Grant
Grants to full time pre-K-12 teachers for book purchases to enhance their classroom libraries. Teachers must demonstrate that they are already committed to the support of readers through current classroom practices such as maintaining access to a range of books, conferring regularly and purposefully to understand and support students' changing needs, and sharing their own contagious passion for reading. Teachers are also asked to demonstrate a commitment to curate a book collection that represents the world, and who increase empathy and understanding of LGBTQ, social justice, and mental health issues through inclusive books as represented by the Gracie’s List collection. Note: The books received from this grant are not intended for a school-wide library and are given to support the work of a classroom teacher (not to the school or school district.) Teachers are advised to ensure this is clear to administrators before applying.
ACS-Hach High School Chemistry Classroom Grant
Grants to high school chemistry teachers for projects that promote student development and enhance classroom education.
Funding is typically intended for instructional materials, student-led science outreach activities, student-conducted field studies, professional development, and laboratory supplies and equipment. Applicants must be a high school chemistry educator teaching in a U.S. school.
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Contact Shannon Baker with questions, comments, or feedback about Curriculum and Instruction News and Updates. |
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