Dear Curriculum and Instruction Leaders,
As we begin to close the door on 2022, I think it is important to make sure that we are keeping our physical and mental health in mind. As I think back to the middle of the shutdown, I remember the focus on self-care as we were all experiencing a common life-changing event. While we are still dealing with the effects of the pandemic, we have emerged into the world. We aren't going through one singular event together, but I am reminded that each day someone in our lives is going through life events that impact their minds, bodies, and hearts. The same is true for the staff we work with and the students we serve. All of you spend time focusing on others, but it is critical to keep our focus on caring for ourselves so that we can care for others. With this in mind, I offer up two things to consider, one simple and one very unique, from Everyday Health...
Know Your Personal Signs of Stress:
Sometimes self-care is about knowing when you’re getting overloaded or overwhelmed, and responding with micro-habits that prevent all-out burnout, says Cynthia Ackrill, MD, a wellness and leadership coach based in Asheville, North Carolina. For example, she says, are you starting to withdraw from friends? Are you sitting in traffic swearing? Getting more headaches or stomachaches lately? She calls this learning from what you consider to be your overwhelmed “emoji” key. (We all have a unique one that resonates with us, right?) When you feel the need to text that emoji to everyone on your contact list, take it as a cue to ask yourself what you need. Maybe you need to roll your shoulders a few times and then go take a short walk. “It’s about building up an awareness and having the self-knowledge to check in and adjust,” she says.
Take a Forest Bath:
The Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” simply means walking in an area with trees and deeply inhaling the air. Trees release certain chemicals, like terpenes, that have been associated with the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which sends your body into “chill-out” de-stress mode. The practice is so powerful that forest bathing has been shown to decrease measures of depression, according to research published in June 2019 in Environmental Health and Preventative Medicine.
So, as we say goodbye to 2022 and you have some time away from work, I encourage you to pull yourself out of the daily whirlwind and breathe in some trees! I am going to be searching for some trees or at least going into my backyard and breathing in the air from my small bushes.
The remainder of this newsletter is full of information and learning opportunities for staff and students across the curriculum. Enjoy and I will see you in 2023!
Shannon
Senior Director, Curriculum and Instruction
(she-her-hers)
|
|
Equity Conference 2023
Join hundreds of educators, parents, students, policymakers, advocates, and community members to advance educational equity for California’s students at the 2023 Equity Conference Jan. 19 and 20 at the Town and Country Resort San Diego. Register your team today.
|
|
Considering an Ed.D.?
Join USC for an in-person information session for the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Program led by USC representative. With a three-year program and one class night per week, the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership program will prepare you to become a critically conscious leader with the skills to address inequities in education.
Concentration options include:
- Educational Psychology
- Leading Instructional Change
- Higher Education Administration
- K-12 Leadership (offered online and on campus)
Dec. 12; 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
San Diego County Office of Education, JRRTC Comm Labs
6401 Linda Vista Road
San Diego, CA 92111
|
|
Nov. 29, 2022 — Curriculum and Instruction Leaders Network Meeting Recap
At the Curriculum and Instruction Leaders Network meeting held on Nov. 29, we heard a variety of presentations focused on expanded learning opportunities, student centered assessment, and the implications for the arts in schools with the passage of Assembly Bill 185 and Proposition 28. More information about the meeting can be found by clicking the links below.
The Riverside County Office of Education 2022-23 Plans, Templates, and Statutory Deadlines document was shared at our October meeting as a support for those responsible for developing plans, monitoring implementation and expenditures, and ensuring deadlines are met in conjunction with fiscal oversight teams.
|
|
Student Civic Learning Opportunity
San Diego County Board of Education Student Member
Students in grades 10 and 11 from all public high schools in San Diego County are invited to submit an application to represent youth voice across our region as a member of the San Diego County Board of Education for 2023-24. The online application will be posted on the SDCOE student board member webpage on Dec. 1 and the application period closes on Feb. 1.
|
|
Countywide Learning Acceleration Opportunities
Elementary Literacy Learning Acceleration Grant Participation Opportunity
In partnership with the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence and Saint Mary’s College, we are offering free professional learning opportunities for ELA and EL TOSAs across California as part of a statewide learning acceleration grant. We are offering Teacher Leader training in both Reading Recovery and Descubriendo la Lectura. After training, these Teacher Leaders will help build system capacity within districts by supporting the implementation of literacy interventions and training teachers across their system. The project will fund tuition, fees, (up to $15,000 per Teacher Leader) for 16 units of graduate coursework, all professional books, instructional materials, and more.
|
|
Updates and Learning Opportunities From the Curriculum and Instruction Department |
|
Equity Leadership in Action
From Theory to Action: Developing Personal Agency as an Equity Leader
The San Diego County Office of Education is presenting a five-part series for site and district leaders to grow as equity leaders, led by Dr. Angela and Wendell Bass. Participants will meet once a month from Jan. 24 to May 16. The cost is $30 to cover the price of the book Case Studies on Diversity and Social Justice Education by Gorski and Pothini, which will be used throughout the series. Register now to participate in this learning opportunity.
|
|
|
P-3
Getting Started with Transitional Kindergarten — Jan. 12
SDCOE is offering a professional learning session to support educators with TK classes on their sites. This accelerated session will provide a high-level overview on what to expect in TK classrooms. The intended audience is district leaders, site leaders, and educators working with TK students. This session will be held on Jan. 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. Register today.
Participants will learn about:
- 4-year-old brain research
- Creating space that supports a 4-year-old
- Play-based learning
SDCOE Transitional Kindergarten and Early Educator Pathway
SDCOE is offering a pathway program for multiple subject credentialed teachers only who will be assigned to teach transitional kindergarten. The pathway program consists of the completion of two or four courses. Upon completion and passing of each course, participants will obtain a transcript with six or 12 semester units from the University of San Diego and may be eligible to obtain a Site Supervisor Child Development permit, which is one option to teach transitional kindergarten.
Learn more about the next cohort, which starts in January 2023.
|
|
The Arts
Arts Leaders Collaborative
It's time for arts education leaders in San Diego County schools and districts to reconnect. Please join our community for a time of celebration, reflection, and community building as we prepare to move forward into 2023. This session is open to arts education leaders who are school site and school district employees in San Diego County. Capacity is limited, so please register today.
|
|
Computer Science
Getting Ready for CS Ed Week
Computer Science Education week is Dec. 5-11. Help your elementary teachers plan and get ideas from this slide deck on how they might participate.
SCRIPT has Arrived in San Diego County!
Does the implementation of Computer Science (CS) in your district feel haphazard sometimes? Do you wish you and your leadership team had some time to really think through making CS a priority? Wouldn’t it be great to have real pathways for students to follow in CS? Do you ever wonder if there is somebody who can help facilitate some future visioning and planning?
The Strategic CSforALL Resource and Implementation Planning Tool, a.k.a. the SCRIPT, is a framework to guide teams of district administrators, school leaders, and educators through a series of collaborative visioning, self-assessment, and goal-setting exercises to create or expand upon a computer science education implementation plan for their students.
Save the Date! The Computer Science Administrators Workshop is Coming in the Winter of CS, Jan. 24.
This is an introductory excursion into how districts offer CS and are trying to consider that in an equitable way. This full-day workshop is designed for school administrators representing their local education agency (LEA), as a site, district, or county lead for CS, and interested in learning how to scale and sustain equity-minded computer science education as part of an ongoing professional learning community. The workshop was co-developed by UCLA Center X and the CSforCA advocacy group; it should be a powerful day. Consider finding a team of colleagues to join us on that day as it will offer opportunities for you all to look at your system as a whole and find ways to move CS forward to best serve all of your students. Registration information is forthcoming, so check the SDCOE CS webpage in the future.
|
|
History Social Science
Scholarships Available: The Teacher Institute of Colonial Williamsburg
San Diego County 5th grade teachers are invited to apply for a scholarship to attend the Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute of Colonial Williamsburg. The institute will be held from June 18-24 in Williamsburg, VA. Scholarships include admission to all institute activities, room (double occupancy), most meals, and airfare. Participants will join a cohort of other teachers from the county as they are immersed in an inclusive approach to teaching American history and civics content. They will collaborate with fellow teachers and Williamsburg staff and share instructional strategies and resources. Learn more and access the application on this flyer.
Vietnamese American Refugee Experience Model Curriculum
Educators and community members are invited to learn about and provide feedback regarding the development of the Vietnamese American Refugee Experience Model Curriculum. SDCOE is partnering with National University to host a virtual information and listening session on Dec. 5, from 4 to 6 p.m. See this flyer or visit the Model Curriculum website for more information.
Holiday Networking and Resource Giveaway Open House
Join other elementary and secondary educators interested in improving economics education in the classroom to network and to receive free books, posters, and other educational materials. A free grab-and-go dinner will be provided by the California Council on Economic Education. This event will be held on Dec. 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. See this flyer for information and to RSVP.
2023 Civic Learning Award Applications Now Available
The Civic Learning Award Program, co-sponsored by the California Chief Justice and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, identifies models in public schools that engage youth in civic learning. The awards are presented at three levels (Merit, Distinction, and Excellence) in the categories Elementary, Middle, and High School. Schools receiving the highest honor, the Award of Excellence, traditionally receive a visit by the Chief Justice. Learn more here.
|
|
Library Media Services
The Instructional Media Resource Associate (IMRA) course starts on Feb. 2. This course is designed for library paraprofessionals and includes information on School Library Standards, equity in the school library, technology, collection management, etc. The course is completely online for eight weeks. Register or contact Cindy Dunlevy for more information.
|
|
Mathematics
SD Math Leaders Summit
All San Diego-area math leaders are invited to attend this free event, March 2, as we learn, collaborate, and network together. Our theme this year is "Rethinking Math Intervention.” We'll explore structures and instructional practices that help us shift from a deficit-view that sees our students as broken with gaps to fill, to an asset-view that empowers our students as mathematicians, developing in the Standards for Mathematical Practice and their view of themselves as doers of math.
Registration is now open for this year’s in-person or asynchronous virtual event.
|
|
Physical Education and Health
Health Education Framework: Sessions 1-4
This four-session series, based on the NEW California Health Education Framework, is designed to build students’ knowledge and skills in the six content areas of Health Education.
Session topics include:
-
Session 1: CA Health Education Framework Overview
-
Session 2: Nutrition and Physical Activity AND Mental, Emotional, and Social Health
-
Session 3: Growth, Development and Sexual Health AND Injury Prevention and Safety
-
Session 4: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs AND Personal and Community Health
Each session includes a 90-minute online module for participants to complete prior to the scheduled professional learning date. Register for the entire Spring 2023 HEF Series or individual sessions:
Physical Literacy Institute
Strategically deliver equitable and meaningful instruction designed to increase the physical literacy of all students by incorporating:
- Social emotional learning
- Universal design for learning
- Standards-based assessment
- Culturally responsive teaching
- Grading for equity
Technical Assistance and Professional Learning Available
Contact Paige Metz for customized consultation and support.
|
|
Science
The California Science Test (CAST) Data Institute is coming Jan. 26. This event is designed to assist district teams in looking at and using CAST data to inform implementation efforts in science. Districts are invited to bring a team (TOSA/science specialist, administrator, classroom teacher, and data coordinator) who will collaborate together to:
- Conduct an analysis of CAST data using structured protocols and processes
-
Determine additional data to collect to evaluate status of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) implementation
- Develop an action plan for further investigation of NGSS implementation
- Create communication talking points about CAST to share with educational partners
The learning and processes used in the CAST Data Institute can be used back in districts to share CAST results, refine science implementation plans, and clearly communicate information to multiple educational partners. Review the flyer for more information or contact John Spiegel.
The SDCOE Science team is pleased to announce our Spring 2023 professional learning series designed to build K-12 teacher’s understanding and skills in designing and implementing student-centered assessment aligned to the NGSS. Participating teachers will build their assessment literacy skills as they create a vision for student-centered classroom assessment, learn to use tools to evaluate assessment tasks, and design and use equitable formative and summative science assessment tasks. This practical, hands-on experience is being offered in partnership with California Science Project and San Diego Science Project and utilizes tools and processes of the CA NGSS Assessment Toolkit for Student-Centered Assessment. For more information, including dates and registration information, refer to the Building an NGSS Classroom for Student-Centered Assessment: Pathways for Professional Learning document.
Leading Science for K-8 Administrators
Participating educators will learn about tools and insights from the Instructional Leadership for Science Practices (ILSP) project, engage in science learning, and practice collecting evidence of student learning in science. All participants will receive The Instructional Leader’s Guide to Implementing K-8 Science Practices. “This is an essential guide for any K-8 instructional leader who wants to empower all teachers to provide all students with rich science experiences and develop the cognitive and noncognitive skills students will need to thrive in more advanced courses, work, and society.” More information can be found by accessing this flyer.
Meeting dates:
- Feb.3, in person 9 a.m. - Noon
- March 17, virtual 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
- April 28, in person 9 a.m. - Noon
- May 12, virtual 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
|
|
Legislation Focus from Capitol Advisors
Capitol Advisors has produced a series of comprehensive client briefs detailing new education laws that were passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Newsom in 2022. Each brief is organized by subject area and includes an executive summary highlighting major changes Capitol Advisors think you should know about. Bills signed by the Governor take effect on Jan. 1, 2023, unless the bill specifically states otherwise (i.e. budget bills).
|
|
Contact Shannon Baker with questions, comments, or feedback about Curriculum and Instruction News and Updates. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
