News from the World of Writing
This summer, writing cluster leaders will be provided training via WebEx, an online presentation program. KDE will be providing at least three hours of professional development on topics such as on-demand writing assessment, conferencing, reflective writing and transactive writing. Cluster leaders and teachers will be able to download and view sessions and materials for the summer cluster leader update. These sessions will then be available to be used with staff as needed.
Summer online training will be available the week of July 23. The recorded sessions will be online at Kentucky State Government WebEx Training Center.
In addition, there will be an opportunity this summer for teachers to attend a portfolio scoring accuracy verification session in July. This worthwhile activity will give participants feedback on their portfolio scoring accuracy and may enable them to qualify for future statewide scoring activities. Not only will this session help us identify our skilled scorers across the state, it also will give feedback regarding how accurately individuals can score portfolios.
Finally, the Writing Advisory Committee (WAC) has several position openings for teacher representatives for 2007-08. This committee provides a voice for Kentucky teachers to express their needs, interests and concerns about writing instruction and assessment. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact Dena Cole for an application or call her at (502) 564-2106. The deadline for applications is July 13.
KTLC Needs You
The theme for the 2008 Kentucky Teaching and Learning Conference is Student Learning for the 21st Century – Every Child, Every Day. This theme will connect with the 2007 theme of Rigor, Relevance and Relationships by focusing the conference on student learning in high-quality (standards-based, rigorous and relevant) instructional experiences. The 2008 KTLC will showcase excellence from schools and districts across the state in these areas of emphasis:
Ø Assessment for Learning: How is assessment for learning used as a tool to engage students in the learning process?
Ø Technology: How is technology being used to engage students? How is technology making curriculum accessible to all students?
Ø Teacher Leadership: What roles do the coaching and mentoring of teachers play in engaging students in standards-based, rigorous and relevant experiences?
Ø Closing the Achievement Gap: How does engagement of students help close achievement gaps within all populations?
Ø Successful School Culture: How can a school create a culture that supports engagement in standards-based, rigorous and relevant instruction?
KDE plans to invite presenters who can share information about the great things going on in schools and districts related to the areas of emphasis above. If you know of someone doing high-quality work in one of these areas, please share that person’s name, your name (as the person recommending), school/district, area of emphasis and a short rationale for inclusion with Robin Chandler. Working together, we can make this the best Kentucky Teaching and Learning Conference ever.
Welcome Our New ISN Consultant
Please welcome to the ISN family our new consultant, Judy Littleton. This newly created position will be responsible for managing the communication for the network. Judy has been with KDE since October 2004 and most recently was an SBDM consultant. Please join us in welcoming Judy to our team.
Quotable Quotes
“It is virtually impossible to create and sustain over time conditions for productive learning for students when they do not exist for teachers.”
Seymour Sarason