NESC newsletter
April 2022
NESC ConnectEd
Lessons with our outstanding state partners take place each Tuesday, 3:45 - 4:15 CT!
This project is supported in part by the North Dakota Afterschool Network's STEM Next Opportunity Fund Grant and a grant from the ND Council on the Arts, which receives funding from the state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The NESC at a Glance
Something New for Our TLC Schools

Did you know that the NESC has a Career and Technical Education component to its programming?  The Technology Learning Cooperative (TLC) is part of the ND Career and Technical Education Emerging Technology project that began as a high-tech initiative in the late 1980’s. Emerging Technology consortium groups consist of 6 to 20+ schools that rotate a variety of technology-based equipment between the member schools in the consortium. This rotation concept enables schools to share the cost of equipment and keep expensive equipment in use as it is rotated and shared from school-to-school. The high-tech equipment gets used by students and teachers year round rather than collecting dust or growing outdated on a shelf when a school or particular class is completed using it within their lessons and/or curriculum.
 
The NESC's TLC enhances and adds to its inventory each year, upgrading existing equipment and creating new modules. Since inception, the TLC has had a “GPS” module which included the use of compasses and handheld GPS devices, as well as curriculum that merged various geography activities with these devices. A few years ago the original GPS module morphed into the “GPS-Aviation” module with the addition of flight simulator activities and then drones.  Now, it's completely become a stand-alone aviation module which includes new drones as well as new high-end laptops that run the newest flight simulator software with rudder pedals and yokes. You can fly from Rolette to Langdon, or Maddock to Petersburg with true satellite graphics which are identical to the landscape in your backyard!  
 
Each school in the NESC's TLC membership will get the Aviation Module at least once per year, and it’s available for checkout at other times during the year when not in use during the regular rotation. Check out if your school is a member and explore our other equipment on rotation by accessing our website: http://www.nesc.k12.nd.us/technology-learning-cooperative-tlc/.
NESC Technology Specialist, Jamison Brekke, learning the new flight simulator software
Members at Work
Langdon 21st CCLC Students Engage in STEAM

The NESC Student Services Specialist, Cortney Shuley, partnered with Langdon's 21st Century Community Learning Center and grade 4-6 STEAM Camp students for STEAM learning through water exploration. The group engaged in a STEM2D activity during their after-school programming, learning about water usage, water conservation, and water pumps, and creating their own water pump stations. Students completed a challenge of moving water from one beaker to another, 100 cm apart using only 5 tubes, 4 connectors, and a syringe. The 4C's were evident in their practice as they worked through collaboration, communication, and critical thinking while being creative!
Celebrations!
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In May, we celebrate many wonderful people and roles within our schools. Thank you for all you do for students, families, and staff!


School Principal Day - May 1st
Teacher Appreciation Week - May 2nd - 6th
School Nurse Day - May 4th
School Lunch Hero Day - May 6th
NESC Learning Opportunities
Foundations of Reading
The Foundations of Reading learning series is aligned with the Science of Reading. It targets the five Big Ideas of Reading (phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension and vocabulary) in three key areas: instruction, assessment, and intervention. This three-part learning series is designed to provide educators with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to address a variety of students’ needs in reading. 

Objectives: 
Day 1
  • Identify and describe the five Big Ideas of Reading
  • Understand the scope and sequence of skills within each of the big ideas of reading
  • Analyze multiple instructional routines and materials to teach each of the big ideas
  • Evaluate current instructional practices and explore ways to enhance those practices 
Day 2
  • Identify the continuous improvement cycle and the vital role of assessments within the cycle
  • Understand the different purposes of reading assessments
  • Analyze a variety of assessments that can be used to measure reading and guide instruction
  • Evaluate current assessment practices and explore ways to enhance those practices
Day 3
  • Understand how to plan targeted instructional needs in all five Big Ideas of Reading for class-wide, small group or individual interventions
  • Apply data-based decision making to identify the instructional matches for students
  • Evaluate current intervention practices and explore ways to enhance those strategies

Delivery: Site facilitators will guide participants in Devils Lake, Minot, Bismarck, Williston, Dickinson, and Jamestown locations while a remote instructor delivers series content. 

Audience: K-5 Classroom Teachers, Title Teachers, Special Education Teachers, Interventionists, Coaches, Administrators, Educators who wish to improve outcomes for all students in the area of reading

Credit: (Optional) 2 credits available through Valley City State University. 

Cohorts Available:
Summer
  • Sessions 1-3 - August 1-3, 2022 (8:30 AM - 3:30 PM)
  • The Devils Lake location will be Devils Lake High School.
Fall
  • Session 1 - September 12, 2022 (8:30 AM - 3:30 PM)
  • Session 2 - October 3, 2022 (8:30 AM - 3:30 PM) 
  • Session 3 - November 7, 2022 (8:30 AM - 3:30 PM)
  • The Devils Lake location will be Lake Region State College.
Spring
  • Session 1 - January 9, 2023 (8:30 AM - 3:30 PM) 
  • Session 2 - February 6, 2023 (8:30 AM - 3:30 PM) 
  • Session 3 - March 27, 2023 (8:30 AM - 3:30 PM)
  • The Devils Lake location will be Lake Region State College.

Cost: $50/participant

Go to the ND DPI Science of Reading site to access registration links for the three cohorts: https://www.nd.gov/dpi/education-programs/nd-science-reading

Questions: Erin.Lacina@nescnd.org, 888-701-NESC
NESC 2022 Regional Fall In-service
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Lake Region State College, Devils Lake
 

Questions: 
888-701-NESC
North Dakota Standards-Based Learning -
Prioritization and Proficiency Scales
Coming up this summer, the North Dakota Standards Based Learning Implementation Team will be continuing its work with North Dakota Content Standards.  This work will focus on prioritization and proficiency scale writing for Social StudiesScience, and Health standards.
 
We need you!
  • K-12 Science Educators
  • K-12 Social Studies Educators
  • K-12 Health Educators
 
For ND educators, by ND educators!
  • Our cohorts will prioritize content standards and create standards-based learning resources for use by ND educators
 
No subs needed!
  • Don’t worry about writing sub-plans, all cohorts meet in June
 
Our cohorts are a click away!
  • All cohorts will meet virtually, no driving necessary
 
We value you, your effort, and your experience!
  • Stipends offered at $225 per day
  • Continuing Education Credit available (for those participating in at least 2 full days)
 
Are you interested?
  • View this attachment for more specific information, and to apply for a cohort today!
Using the Visual Arts to Teach Life Science
All K-12 teachers are welcome to register!

Workshop Description:
The workshop will be fun and fast paced with many hands-on activities educators can use in their classrooms, discussion of classroom and curriculum integration, and identification of local resources. North Dakota resources, environment, and wildlife will be emphasized in this workshop. Field trips will be taken to demonstrate the use of natural areas as classrooms. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to experiment with different media including clay, watermedia, pastel, and colored pencil. No previous art experience is required for this workshop. All materials will be provided.

Objectives/Outcomes:
  • Identify art methods to teach life science concepts.
  • Provide meaningful art experiences by using integrated thematic instruction.
  • Acquire a basis for teaching ecological concepts and environmental stewardship to students through the visual arts.
  • Provide educational experience outside the traditional classroom.
  • Integrate resources and developed lesson plans into the existing curricula.
Dates: June 1-2, 2022

Times: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Location: Devils Lake

Facilitator: Sherry Niesar, ND Game and Fish

Cost: Free

Registration Link:

Registration Deadline:
May 23, 2022
Prioritized Instructional Planning
Two Canvas, Self-paced Courses Available!

  • One for leaders of professional learning teams
  • One for individual educators

Content and format are the same for each course, but the design of the courses is tailored for facilitated team delivery or individual study and application of the content.

Module topics include:
  1. Determining What Students Sill Need to Learn
  2. Effective Planning for Teaching the Most Critical Content (Part 1)
  3. Effective Planning for Teaching the Most Critical Content (Part 2)
  4. Effective Monitoring of Student Learning (Part 1)
  5. Effective Monitoring of Student Learning (Part 2)
  6. Crosswalking Benchmark Assessment Data with the North Dakota Priority Standards

Courses are available through June 22, 2022.
NESC Graduate Credit
The NESC is partnering with Valley City State
University to offer cafeteria graduate credit to member educators for NESC professional learning events.


Graduate Level
Professional Development
Credit Courses
(up to nine credits) for $275!
Purchase an annual subscription to gain access to online Graduate Level Professional Development Credit courses at a significant savings only available to NESC members. You'll be able to take one course each term for a total of three courses per year. 

Courses are offered through a partnership with University of North Dakota and Virtual Education Software (VESi). 
  • Three courses per year (up to nine credits) for $275
  • Learn online at your own pace from the convenience of your home
  • Choose from over 30 online courses for license renewal and salary advancement
 
View the full list of available courses, access course info/FAQs, and purchase the annual subscription at the following link: https://www.virtualeduc.com/nesc.
 
Questions? Call 1-800-313-6744.
NESC Partner & North Dakota Learning Opportunities
Past NESC Workshops - Continued Support
I encourage you to follow Dr. Marcia Tate (@drmarciatate) on Twitter. This former NESC in-service presenter brings the perspective, motivation, and instructional mindset we could all use right now!

Stop here if you'd like a reminder of Dr. Tate's 20 Instructional Strategies That Engage the Brain along with summaries of the research and tips for making those strategies come to life in the classroom.
Mission
The NESC supports schools through leadership and collaborative opportunities.

Vision 
The NESC positively impacts schools' capacity to offer high-quality education.