The Educator Guide

Wishing you the Best Year Ever!

Starting strong We're all familiar with New Year's resolutions - the important thing(s) that we envision achieving in the coming year. Sometimes we keep our resolutions quiet, while other times we share widely in hopes of gaining some friendly accountability. As someone in the field of education, it's always felt as though the "New Year" was actually the launch of the new school year in the fall, not January 1st. As to our outward appearance, we might indulge in purchasing some new school clothes for the fall, freshening up our look a bit. More deeply though, it's around this time of year that we're considering what, who, and how we're going to be as educators for the upcoming school year. Do you have any resolutions for this year? Is there an improved version of you as an educator that you are resolving to achieve this year? The purpose of this prompt is simply to nudge your private reflection, but for those that wouldn't mind sharing their resolution for the new school year (here), it would be neat to share and celebrate these resolutions publicly in a future newsletter. Have an excellent week and a rejuvenating Labor Day weekend!

Educator Highlights Spreading Positive Vibes

Congratulations to Ashley Helmer from Hemlock Middle School! Saginaw ISD and Hemlock Middle School are proud to recognize Ashley Helmer! Mr. Chase, principal of Hemlock Middle School, shares that "Ashley is always willing to step up whenever needed. She is a dedicated educator that is always there for her students. She does this all while raising three beautiful kids of her own. She is a great teacher/leader who never settles." Mr. Chase adds, "Ashley stepped up into a Student Council Advisor position. She has helped to improve the culture at HMS in a big way. She has innovative ideas that help to move our building in a positive direction, and she is always willing to help in whatever way she can." Thank you, Ashley. It sure sounds like you are of incredible value to Hemlock and the students are lucky to have you!

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SISD Professional Learning Guide 2021-2022 Saginaw county educators, you're invited to check out county-wide professional learning opportunities for the school year at this link. Some items begin in the coming weeks, so we encourage educators to check it out at their earliest convenience. For questions, email Josh Hook or Heather Phelps (jhook@sisd.cc, hphelps@sisd.cc).

Seventh-Grade Social Studies Teachers The first 7th-grade GIANTS Network session will be held virtually on Wednesday, September 29th from 4-7:30 p.m. Collaboratively presented by Dr. Phil Gersmehl, David Johnson, Rebecca Bush, and Roy Sovis, this 5-part series examines the connections between spatial thinking and temporal thinking through analysis of cause and effect of major events in Ancient world history and Geography. Interested teachers are invited to view the flyer containing all necessary logistical information. There is NO COST for participation in this series and SCECHs are available.

Getting to Know You Looking for some new procedures for promoting connectedness in your classroom at the start of the year? The National School Reform Faculty (NSRF) has compiled a list of protocols, with descriptions, and many can be easily adapted to fit your situation. If you're looking for some new ideas, check here.

Advice for Teachers EducationWeek sought out the education community to compile advice for educators for this coming school year, with each piece of advice containing just 5 or fewer words. Whether a new or veteran teacher, you'll likely find this advice relevant. You can read the brief article here.

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