Let's start the new year off with a little positivity. Tell us about an educator (teacher, principal, paraeducator, ESA, administrator) who is a beacon of light and both you and that educator will be entered to win a self-care kit at the end of the month.

January's self-care kit contains:

(1) Essential Oil Diffuser

(1) Lavender Essential Oil (relaxation)

(1) Copy of "Teach and Still Have Time to Pee" by Jamie Johnson

Enter by January 31 on the CSTP website.

Date: January 27, 2021

Cost: $205

CSTP's WERD Book Study featuring Caste (only a few spots remain)

Date: February 18, 2021

Cost: Free

Are you in need of professional development that can be done any time and at your own pace? CSTP is excited to announce the addition of four new asynchronous learning modules for educators including:

Each of these free online trainings are about an hour long and provide useful strategies that can be implemented into your classroom immediately. Clock hours are available for these new modules as well as the 16 previously available technology modules. The growing library of trainings allows educators to pick and choose topics based on their needs and interests.

For more information and to get started, please visit the CSTP website.

The Washington Library Association has recently put the finishing touches on the WA Digital TeachKit. With a focus on supporting remote and hybrid learning, the WA Digital TeachKit is a professional development resource that features over 20 commonly used digital tools in K-12 education. Designed by educators for educators, teacher librarians have researched, curated, and created profiles for tools including useful guides to assist educators in selecting and using educational technology. The tools selected for this guide represent commonly-used apps, services, and software already in use in many schools and classrooms and the guides are designed to help educators understand different kinds of digital tools and services and how they can fit into your instruction. If you're not sure which tool fits which need, these guides are designed to help you make the right choice. Every teacher really should check out this site to up their digital instruction abilities and resources for the new year.

Join us on Twitter on Sunday, January 24th at 7:00 PM for the next Teacher Tech chat moderated by the Schoology and Seesaw Help Desk teachers. Follow along using #TeacherTechWA on the @SchoologyWA and @SeesawWA accounts.

Whether you’re a high school student, a college graduate, a certified teacher from out-of-state, returning to the classroom, or somewhere in between, there is a pathway to become a teacher in Washington State.

Teachwa.org, is a newly launched website to help future teachers navigate their journey into the classroom. The website provides information on pathways into the profession, financial aid options, and an overview of the certification process. The website also highlights current educators and what inspires them to teach in Washington.

Are you running a course or book study online and want to offer Washington State clock hours? CSTP is an approved Washington State clock hour provider and can approve your courses for clock hours. It is free for the course instructor to apply for the course with course participants paying a nominal fee for clock hours.

CSTP is offering statewide online component facilitation for National Board candidates in January 2021. Component 3 kick-off in January, but registration is almost full. Register now to guarantee your spot!

We are excited to welcome Emma-Kate Schaake as our newest teacher blogger on Stories from School.

Emma-Kate is in her fifth year of teaching English at Tumwater High School. She is passionate about educational equity in curriculum design, classroom practices, teacher leadership, professional development, and student voice. She writes about her ongoing journey to unlearn myopic history, self reflect, and think critically about her role as an educator. In her free time, she devours books and hikes the beautiful PNW with her partner and puppies. She can be found on Instagram @msschaake.

"This phrase is one that I honestly believe could change all of humanity if it were embraced and appreciated fully; lives could be improved, our environment could be stabilized and nations would no longer be at war with one another. Wow—what phrase could possibly have such a powerful impact? Reasoned judgement."

"We teachers may be struggling to realize our value as purveyors of knowledge, but we know our true worth. It is obvious that we are invaluable when we are the ones coaching lonely youngsters through their studies, reminding them of their worth, laughing at their antics during Zoom meetings, and consoling them when their practices and games are canceled. That humanity is irreplaceable."

"For decades, the standard logic is that grades are necessary extrinsic motivation for students. Fear of getting an ‘F’ is what drives the student who gets an ‘A.’ While that may be true for some kids, secondary schools have for too long operated under the assumption that if fear of an ‘F’ might (might) motivate an ‘A’ student to perform, then giving any student a low grade should motivate them to invest time and effort."

Do you have a question about your Learning Management System? Submit it here, in our Facebook group or to our Twitter accounts.

Did your district or school switch to Canvas from another LMS? How did it go? Here's one story about supporting the switch.

Did you know that you can use Canva to easily create custom Google Classroom banners? Check out this short YouTube video to learn more.

You can use polls to check-in on students and check for understanding. Check out this YouTube video on how to use polls in Microsoft Teams.

Are you getting your report cards ready? Check out the Advanced Grading Strategies for Schoology in the Schoology Resource Guide.

Want a new student engagement tool for 2021? Use Flipgrid to make some #GridPals with a class somewhere else the world! #GridPals can be used to reinforce geography concepts, for SEL lessons, discuss books, and so much more! Check it out!

After a seven month hiatus, Some Good News with John Krasinski, returned with a new video for the holiday season. If this triggers your nostalgia for The Office, check the second video with some extra never-before-seen scenes for the sitcom and visit dundermifflin.com for more fun.

Your gift ensures that CSTP continues to support student achievement through a focus on teaching excellence. With you as a partner in CSTP’s mission, you directly make a difference in the lives of youth across Washington State schools. Donations are tax deductible and essential as CSTP works to support educators navigate unique models of student engagement during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Liking and sharing our posts on social media is another way you can support CSTP during these times. Thank you for sharing our message.