Norris School District

Norris Professional Development January 5, 2009

Session Descriptions (A-Z):

403B Plans Reviews & Updates – Single session; (no other sessions except Adobe Acrobat training run during this time). Overview by Steve Ott and representatives from MidAmerica, the 3rd party administrator for the new Norris School District 403(b) plan, effective January 1, 2009.  Session will include a worksheet that will help you as an individual determine your risk-tolerance.  All payroll deduction contributions will go to our 3rd party administrator, MidAmerica, who will distribute them to the respective vendors.  You will have access via MidAmerica to go online and shift your investments from one fund to another on your own, once you are signed up.  Learn specifics about this important investment option as you finish your lunch on January 5^th. 

403B Visits with Vendors: Representatives from the eight vendors in the new Norris 403(b) plan are invited to be here for you to consult with following the presentation.  Single session following Plan Reviews and Updates in the MPR.

Adobe Acrobat Pro – Interactive PDFs in Education.  By invitation only for those working with multimedia and interactive forms.  Includes ClickStep Teacher Training manual and access to full-blown Adobe.  Contact Skretta if you believe you qualify for this training and need it for your work.  Full day workshop runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with break for lunch.

AED Awareness: Interactive review of Sudden Cardiac Arrest / AED Protocol led by Jodi Derks, RN with multiple AEDs to train on.  This mandatory safety training is a REQUIRED SESSION FOR ALL.   Session lid 25 – first come, first served.  Plan accordingly!  Single session; repeats. 

Angel Courseware Development: For teachers using Angel with grades 5-12.  Gain expert insight and guidance in advancing the application of Angel for classes you have already initiated.  Add some content and enhance your web-accessible classes for second semester.  Lynne Herr facilitates.  Single session.

Angel Introduction to Online Courseware Development: Learn from ESU 6 Tech Expert Lynne Herr how to make technology serve your course content to advance teaching and learning.  Insert the power of web-accessible tools into your teaching process by synthesizing course materials including assessments and syllabi into an easily-navigated course format.  All Norris students grades 5-12 are licensed users; this session will give those new to Angel an opportunity to learn how you can incorporate this fantastic tech tool to enhance learner outcomes.  Single session. 

CPS (Classroom Performance Systems) Clickers – Strategy swap session for current users only.  Tech Wizard Lynne Herr from ESU 6 will provide updates and technical consultation for users of the CPS hardware and companion software.  Will include discussion of CPS- Angel integration / compatibility. Double session.

Economics – It’s In the Bag – Special presenters Dr. Roger B. Butters –and Jennifer Davidson of the Nebraska Council on Economic Education.  Come see how you can bring economics to life by getting your students up and out of their chairs and learning on the move.  Attendees will be shown how to implement experiential learning activities into your classroom and how to improve student learning while having a great time in the process.  Every participant will receive free gifts and prizes.  Session offers highly relevant content for those seeking interventions for critical thinking and problem-solving School Improvement goals.  Single session; repeats. 

Fit and Functioning –Pacers Program Training - k-12: OTD Jennifer Piening presents a program for general classroom use that shows how integrating three core components of fitness (flexibility, strength, endurance) combined with the use of a documentation chart for classroom data collection and some basic materials can lead to big gains in student alertness, attentiveness, and overall engagement – fostering better student learning in the process.  Fight the student fatigue and behavior problems that can result from a too-sluggish classroom in just minutes a day of carefully planned PA (physical activity)!  This school health and wellness action plan strategy will get you (and your students) in gear for a lively second semester.  Double session.

Kindergarten Assessment Work: Revisions of kindergarten-level assessments for vocabulary, letter and sound recognition, and math graphing.  Double session.

LUNCH: Lasagna, lettuce salad with dressings, garlic bread stick, and ice cream bar served up with love and prodigious amounts of culinary acumen from your Food Service Director Linda Truscott and her talented team.  (Warning: this tasty food and great hospitality may lead to enhanced feelings of gustatory satisfaction and convivial camaraderie).  Sorry folks, lunch does not count as one of your required sessions, but you would be a fool to pass it up.

Mathematics - Elementary: Teachers need to bring their Assessment Logs and assessments.  Focus on reviewing the math assessments, assessment accommodations, opportunity to learn, and re-teaching schedule for those  not achieving proficiency by April 1.    Discussion will also focus on when and how intervention opportunities can be scheduled for struggling math learners. Single session. 

Mathematics – High School: Finalize plans and determine shared assessment responsibilities; coordination of common assessments.  Required of all HS Math personnel.  Outcome will be assigning dates and responsibilities for re-teaching and re-testing state standards assessments.  Double session.

Mathematics - Middle School: Teachers need to bring their Assessment Logs and assessments.  Focus on reviewing the math assessments, assessment accommodations, opportunity to learn, and re-teaching schedule for those  not achieving proficiency by April 1.    Discussion will also focus on when and how intervention opportunities can be scheduled for struggling math learners.  Single session. 

Music Exemplary Program Application: alignment of curriculum and instructional practices to align with NMEA Exemplary Program Award Criteria; collaborative work on application due to state February 1.  Required of all Music personnel k-12.  Double session.

Physical Education Program Evaluation: preparation of relevant student achievement data for upcoming Board report.  Evaluation of current curriculum and instructional practices to build k-12 alignment.  Review of recommendations of wellness initiative (Alliance for a Healthier Generation) in regards to k-12 PE.  Triple session.

Pod Collaboration (Grades 1, 2, 3): regrouping for reading remediation is the challenge.  Meet in Pod Groups and reconvene across Pod Groups as desirable to share strategies.  Outcome will be development of plan to incorporate additional reading time for high-intervention students.  Analysis of daily schedule to consider balance of this new wrinkle in schedule with Success Maker, Title I pull-outs, and Spanish instruction.  Proactive team problem-solving!  Triple session. 

Preschool Small Group Differentiation Planning Session (PK): The preschool serves  3 and 4 year olds with widely varying  abilities, making planning for differentiated small groups an arduous challenge.  Outcome of these session swill be tailoring small group activities for second semester to incorporate language, cognitive and motor skills needs identified in IEPs. 

Reading and Writing (k-12): All k-12 grade-level reading and writing specialists with state assessment responsibilities convene in MS Media Center. Building and grade-level regrouping will occur following assessment updates and general full-group information.   Outcome of building- and grade-level groupings will be a plan that ensures we are teaching all of the AYP standards through the use of core and supplemental district curricula before the AYP test deadline. 

Science – High School: meeting to coordinate state assessment data collection and recording and discuss curricular alignment to the state assessments.  Required of all high school science teachers.  Outcome will be a plan to record all state assessment data and goals for science curriculum.  Double session. 

Science – Middle School: meeting to coordinate state assessment data collection and recording and discuss curricular alignment to the state assessments.  Required of all high school science teachers.  Outcome will be a plan to record all state assessment data and goals for science curriculum.  Double session. 

Social Studies – K-12: preparing students for post-secondary success: First hour convenes all k-12 social studies personnel identified for participation.  Special guest presenter Dr. Tom King of Doane offers the post-secondary perspective on preparing students for History and Social Studies success in college.  Second hour breaks elementary from secondary for analysis of reading content and development of a current scope, sequence chart filtered through lens of operational state standards to ensure adequate coverage without duplication of content. 

Vocational Education – MS, HS: Curriculum walk led by Tony Glenn, director, Industrial Manufacturing & Engineering Systems, Nebraska Department of Education.  Focus on alignment of program with the nationally acclaimed NCE (Nebraska Career Education) model.  Triple session.

Web Page Updates – Basic: Required for notified personnel; optional for others.  Facilitated by Jim McConnell / Noel Erskine.  Review of basic web page management skills including pasting pictures and text, creating new pages, and fundamentals of navigation / design.   You should attend this session if your web page (a) does not include any visual content such as a portrait (b) lacks basic biographical information (c) does not include content description or study aides for students.  Accomplish all three within an hour! Single session.

Web Page Updates – Intermediate and Advanced:  Facilitated by Jim McConnell / Noel Erskine.  Tips and tricks for taking your standard web page to the next level – consider aesthetics and utility in web page design.  Attend this session if you have a grasp of the basics and are now seeking tips on how to enhance your web page design and content.  Single session.