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Ensuring Meaningful Conversations with ELL Families
All district communication with ELL families needs to be in the language they understand. To facilitate this effort at each school and district department, language access supports are available in all District languages. The following language access supports are available:
- Document translation
- Robo calls in multiple languages
- Interpretation (meeting interpretation via District-approved communication platforms and 3-way phone calls)
- Personalized phone calls
Please visit the District's Language Access Website and watch a short video to help you ensure meaningful communication with ELL families.
Thanks to Ms. Mirela Hodzic and several ESOL students for being models for the photos we took this summer!
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Enrollment Collection
Each year the school district is required by the state to collect enrollment data on the last Wednesday in September. This year, that date is Sept. 30, 2020. These enrollment figures are submitted to the state and are used in the calculation of state monies to be allocated to the District. Click HERE for instructions and HERE for a special collection form for this purpose. If you have questions contact PupilAccounting@slps.org, or phone, Sue Salas at 314-345-2226 or Stacey Woolfolk at 314-345-2223.
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Meal Distribution UPDATE
Five-day meal kit distribution will end today, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020. On Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, we will transition to a seven-day meal kit distribution.
Mondays will continue to be the pick-up day.
Existing sites will continue to distribute meals with pick-up from 9am to 1pm.
Starting Sept. 28, 2020, we will extend hours at four sites to give our families evening pick-up options. These locations are: Mallinckrodt gym, Mullanphy gym, Nance gym and Lexington cafeteria. They will distribute from 9am to 5pm on Mondays.
We will be scheduling a robocall and social media to alert families, but please help us spread the message, as well!
This institution is an equal opportunity employer.
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ZMD Virtual Field Trips
Zoo Museum District (ZMD) Virtual Field Trips are being offered free-of-charge to the Saint Louis Public Schools for the 2020-2021 academic school year. As in the past, all designated ZMD field trips are mandatory. Mandatory ZMD field trips are to be scheduled between September 2020 and May 2021. Please ensure that the participating institutions are contacted to make the necessary arrangements as soon as possible, as space may be limited on certain days. LINK
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FREE Digital Literacy Resources for PK-12
Are you looking for free digital literacy resources to support independent reading in all content areas?
Are you looking for high-quality resources to support content-area current events and general student news? Check out this list of resources!
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Virtual Education from the St. Louis Aquarium Foundation
Classes are 30 minutes long, aligned to state learning standards and Next Generation Science Standards, and include:
- Virtual mini-tour of the Aquarium prior to your class
- Live Zoom virtual lesson with one of our educators
- Pre-recorded interview with a biologist featuring our aquatic animals
- Live animal interaction with Q&A session
- Independent follow-up activity for students to practice what they’ve learned during the virtual class
Click HERE for details or email Amelia Rodgers: LINK
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Upcoming PD Day: Sept. 25
Districtwide, Site-Based Professional Development is on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020.
All staff must be on site for PD.
*** All ISCs will be closed for the day ***
Schools will adhere to the following schedule:
- (8:15 am-11:15 am) - Synchronous Teaching
- (11:15 am-12:30 pm) - Lunch, Travel
- (12:30 pm-3:30 pm) * - Site-based Sessions
* Teachers should ensure students have clear expectations and asynchronous work to complete during the afternoon session.
Frontline/MyLearningPlan: All site-based sessions will be entered into Frontline/MyLearningPlan by school. Schools will be responsible for entering their own sessions for Sept. 25, 2020. Staff are responsible for signing up for these sessions based on your respective school sites. Staff have up to 5 days after the PD sessions have concluded to sign-up and receive credit.
Please direct all immediate questions concerning accessing your specific school training to your school leadership team members.
Thank you for all you do on behalf of the students, staff and families in SLPS!
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Technology Updates
For the time being, the District has disabled private chatting. This includes both “student to student” and “student to teacher.” Teachers still have the following ways to connect with their students:
- Email
- Chat during a meeting with the entire group for whole group instruction
- Send a message through OneNote
Microsoft is working on updating permissions to allow “teacher to student” but not "student to student" chatting. We do not have a timeline yet, but we will make the necessary permission updates after testing in our environment.
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Tips from Student Support Services
Virtual Strategy: Use Physical Movement to Increase Engagement: The CDC recommends that children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 do 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily, and we can help by getting them moving in class! For younger children, this could be a quick game of Simon Says while older children might enjoy a round of Copycat where everyone stands and follows the leader who states their name and includes a movement/dance that the group must remember and do. Each person that follows has to repeat all of the names and movements that preceded them and then include their own! Take a look at this Game Guide for more than 300 pages of games and activities or this short article for other physical engagement ideas! These and other resources can be found in the Toolkit below!
Resources Toolkit: Are you looking for resources for managing behavior virtually, assisting teachers with class discussions on difficult topics and social and emotional learning strategies? If so, please take a look at Culture & Climate Resource Toolkit, as it lists various resource links.
EdPlus: EdPlus is offering a $500 package to all SLPS schools this year that include individualized virtual support: professional development, data analysis, classroom observations and more. Click HERE to learn more.
SIS Bullying Corrections: Casetta Brown is reaching out to school leaders to take care of all 2019-2020 school year bullying corrections. Please don’t delay in connecting with her or replying to her email to ensure that your school’s records are accurate and complete per DESE and the Office Civil Rights compliance. This information needs to be corrected by Friday, October 2, 2020. Please access these files for making corrections or if you need instructions.
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REMINDER: Title 1 Annual Meetings
From the Office of State and Federal Programs: All Title I Annual Meetings must be completed by today, Friday, Sept. 18. The following items are required components of the meetings:
- Newsletter or other announcement for the meeting
- Meeting agenda, sign-sheets, and minutes
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GOOD NEWS: Helping Graduating Seniors Make Some Tough Decisions
Anthony Scales, student adviser at Sumner High School, was recently featured in The 74, a nonprofit news website focusing on education issues in the United States. Mr. Scales talks about how his role took some interesting turns once COVID-19 hit and more and more colleges and universities announced virtual-only starts. Check out the story HERE.
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FOCUS ON: Virtual Learning
Educators across the district started the year strong in support of our virtual learners. We continue to be amazed at the talent and innovation being highlighted in schools and classrooms. As we are finishing up the third week of virtual instruction – it’s a good time to reflect and refine our practice.
Effective Virtual Learning
Our core academic focus for the 2020-2021 school year, is to ensure that the student experience (whether virtual or in-person) is robust and engaging with the right balance of synchronous instruction and asynchronous independent work designed to promote critical thinking, problem solving and grade-level proficiency. The three key levers for effective virtual learning are:
- Asynchronous playlists
- Online classroom space (Teams, website, SIS)
- Synchronous engagement
Truly effective virtual learning occurs when there is a seamless transition between live asynchronous classroom instruction (in-person or virtual face-to-face) and asynchronous virtual playlists. In addition to standards-aligned, highly engaging live instruction, an effective virtual classroom teacher is able to leverage scaffolded, asynchronous instruction in an online classroom space. Students are empowered to work at their own pace, in any location (school, home, library...) with minimal barriers to achieving mastery. Click HERE to access a rubric to support in creating a pathway for proficiency for teachers to lead effective virtual learning.
Virtual Learning Resources
The SLPS Virtual Learning Playbook for Educators is a resource for teachers that has been designed for ease of access and continued support. This resource provides background information, equity aligned research to support our pedagogical practices, and several toolkits for best practices in virtual learning. Click HERE to access the playbook.
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FOCUS ON: Read Alouds and Independent Reading
The Literacy Brief of the International Literacy Association, The Power and Promise of Read-Alouds and Independent Reading, highlights five benefits of read alouds and independent reading:
1. Two powerful instructional practices—teacher-led read alouds and in-school independent reading—have the power and promise to set students on a path of lifelong reading.
2. A broader application of read-alouds occurs not only across grade levels and content areas, but also across a wider variety of text genres and forms.
3. A key component in motivating students to read is a teacher who uses the read-aloud to demonstrate enthusiasm for reading and to model reading practices.
4. The benefits of independent reading are inarguable; the best readers are those who read the most and the poorest readers are those who read the least.
5. Teachers must provide meaningful opportunities for students to discuss, evaluate, and reflect upon their independent reading.
You may access the full brief HERE.
Many free websites are available to support your classroom “read aloud” routine. Some offer stories read by celebrities. Others are audible. All are beautifully illustrated, often with visible print. Check out a few of our favorites HERE.
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Curriculum Specialists:
- Dr. Esther Palsenberger, Elementary ELA, 314-779-5939
- Judine Keplar, Secondary ELA, 314-532-6427
- Zehra Khan, K-12 Math, 314-532-3574
- J. Carrie Launius, Elementary Science, 314-934-5258
- Dr. Valentina Bumbu, Secondary Science, 573-544-6835
- Dr. Glenn Barnes, Social Studies, 314-934-5267
- John Grapperhaus, Visual Arts, 314-934-5320
- Kaye Harrelson, Performing Arts, 314-934-5445
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Curriculum Corner: Visual Arts with John Grapperhaus
It's time for the 11th annual Kevin Coyne Safety Art Contest.
We would love to see each school represented in this year’s Safety Art Contest. The theme is "Getting Through COVID-19 Together.”
In addition to prizes for 2D art, we will also award outstanding video entries (limited to 2 minutes).
- Entries are due to this folder no later than Oct. 16: FOLDER
- 2D Art Template: TEMPLATE
- Contest Flier to Share: FLYER
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Curriculum Corner: ELA, Secondary with Judine Keplar
Professional Development
The following sessions are being held on Microsoft Teams on Friday, September 25 during the Site-Based PD window (based on school requests). If your ELA team would like to attend, please contact Judine Keplar to RSVP. Please make sure you arrange participation with your school leadership team. These sessions are being held to support your site-based PD schedule, not to replace any site-based PD sessions.
Weekly Lesson Planning and Content Support
Looking for fresh ideas or just want to partner with your Curriculum Specialist or fellow colleagues while you plan? Join in on open sessions each week for support!
Important Links
This workbook is updated regularly, so be sure to check back frequently for new resources!
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Curriculum Corner: Science, Elementary with Carrie Launius
The SBG material is 100% aligned to the Missouri Learning Standards. Each exit ticket and assessment for the standard is written to support our curriculum. It is important that you use the assessments provided. This will give you an accurate snapshot of the depth of your students knowing the standard. The proficiency scale can really pinpoint when your students know the standard or what they might still need to know to reach meeting expectations.
The assessments in grades 3-5 are three-dimensional. They mirror the way our students will be tested on the MAP test. Think about using the exit tickets and assessments as a tool for learning. After they are given and scored, ask students to correct them, so they see the correct answer. Review with them what the correct answer is and how you got to it. Use your ELA read aloud, think aloud skills in science to help our kids gain better success in learning.
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Curriculum Corner: K-12 Math with Zehra Kahn
The CFA1 and STAR math assessments results will give teachers insight into what skills to focus more on during instruction. Teachers can make informed decisions about how to divide their time teaching skills and concepts using the CFA1 data. For grades 3-8 math teachers can use IXL to bridge the gaps in learning: IXL Skills Plan. IXL’s Fall Power-up skill plans cover key concepts from last year and prepare students to move ahead. It also connects with Envision and Big Ideas Math textbook topics. If you need support in planning lessons you can always join me during Math Lesson Planning every Wednesday (K-5), Thursday (6-8) and Friday (9-12).
Classroom Observations in Teams: Classroom observations started the week of Sept. 14 and will continue throughout the year. Please contact Zehra.Khan@slps.org with any questions or requests.
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Curriculum Corner: Science, Secondary with Dr. Valentina Bumbu
As we dive deeper into content, please keep in mind:
Scope & Sequence/Pacing of Curriculum
Please consult your respective grade/subject curriculum plan. The sequencing and pacing of Learning Targets (LTs) pertaining to your respective grade/subject is important for building towards the three dimensions of a particular standard and addressing a particular phenomenon. Additionally, the Common Formative / Summative Assessments are strictly aligned to the curriculum pacing. Please Note: To access the LTs and proficiency scale for a particular standard, click on the hyperlinked standard in the curriculum plan.
Synchronous vs Asynchronous
Still confused which portions of the 5Es of a virtual lesson can be taught synchronously and which asynchronously? Click on this LINK for clarification.
Virtual Simulations and Tech Tools for Science
For a list, check this RESOURCE (also posted in your cohort channels in SLPS 6-12 Science Classroom Team).
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Curriculum Corner: Performing Arts with Kaye Harrelson
TeachRock is a resource for teachers looking for a way to engage students in music of our times. Distance Learning Packs that are sorted by grade levels can be reviewed: teachrock.org/distancelearning
Samples of lesson titles:
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Curriculum Corner: ELA, Elementary with Dr. Esther Palsenberger
ELA Highlights
Ms. Reese, a kindergarten teacher from Herzog displayed an outstanding lesson by showing different items starting with the letter S, such as shark and snake. She then displayed a video to promote the letter S. She allowed a short break by modeling the activities of jumping and stretching with her students before doing a read aloud. The students were all engaged and seemed to enjoy the interactive lesson. Great pacing!!! Nice job, Ms. Reese!!
Mr. Davis, a 1st grade teacher from Hickey, has all of his students introduce themselves in the morning by saying their name and how they feel. This allows students to practice using the mute and unmute icon as well as speaking virtually on the screen. Great idea for getting 1st graders comfortable learning and speaking in a virtual environment!
Updates
Don't forget to log into portal.office.com in order for the links to work within the Curriculum Plan
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Curriculum Corner: Social Studies with Dr. Glenn Barnes
Observations
Greetings all! I am scheduling observations daily to see the amazing work you all are doing and to assess where supports need to be developed based on trends I am seeing. I have already had the pleasure of checking out some of the good folks at AESM, CVPA, Roosevelt, Northwest, Busch, Cleveland and Clyde Miller. AICs, I will be sending you dates where I will “be in your building.” Elementary and middle will also be visited soon, as well. Each one of you has evolved and is working hard to make the content engaging for our students. I know one area we are all working on is adapting what we did in the classroom to the online environment. Please utilize the synchronous time to engage and solicit feedback from students. Identify misconceptions, but do not lecture them. I am including a couple visuals from Catlin Tucker to help you in the planning process of these times: ASYCHRONOUS VISUAL; SYCHRONOUS VISUAL
Also remember that I have scheduled planning time on Thursday mornings for secondary and Friday morning for elementary teachers. Drop in if needed.
Attention, Elementary Teachers!
Please be sure to utilize the grade level units for your particular grade. There are the bones of lessons that can be expanded and adapted to apply learning daily. Nystrom is another resource. I just added the atlases to the Team resources in the Social Studies channel. Please do not share these resources outside of your teams! Also, did you know the grade level units have the pre-assessments (CFAs) already in place? Also, the CSA is the last assessment in the quarterly units and these are also available in the grade level units. These CSAs are performance based, so be sure to explore these assessments and plan accordingly.
Thank You!
Mindy Nikolaisen is retiring. Thank you so much for all you have done over the years with social studies. From conducting PD to your work on the Federal Reserve Board for Educators, you have left a huge impact on the SLPS and Gateway STEM community. We know you are just a phone call away. Thank you for being a friend and colleague to many. You are appreciated.
Links
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Resource Reminders
FOR STAFF:
FOR STUDENTS:
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