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Educator's Edge
November 2022
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Meet Ivona Todorovic, the 2023 North Dakota State Teacher of the Year
Our NDSTOY Chapter asked Ivona Todorovic a few questions as she begins her time as the NDSTOY. She graciously took time from her hectic schedule to answer a few questions about how she came to be a teacher, how her students inspire her, how her colleagues make her a better teacher, and her hopes for the coming year. You don’t want to miss what she has to say.
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Looking Back and Forward
North Dakota State Teacher of the Year Chapter
While there is no “slow” time of the school year, October can be surprisingly busy. After the hustle and bustle of the new school year and the establishment of routines, many teachers are shocked to realize that October has come and gone. In addition, adults and students who spend most of their days in school might wonder why they are so tired! A quick look at schedules and planners verifies a multitude of athletic events, meetings, and conferences. In addition, parent-teacher conferences, seasonal changes, shorter days, and family activities all seem to be scheduled for these precious pre-snow days.
Next month, we will share information about ways to celebrate our teaching profession and participate in a virtual professional development opportunity. For this month, we decided to take some words of wisdom shared by our members over the past year. We hope you find them inspirational, motivational, and helpful reminders to take care of and enjoy these days filled with learning.
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5 Reasons We Will Always Be Educators
By Erin Jacobson and Marijke Leibel
We have all heard the alarming statistics about the number of educators who are thinking of leaving the profession. As coordinators of the North Dakota Teacher Support System, which supports and retains beginning teachers through mentoring and coaching, we wondered what we could do to encourage teachers to think about staying for the long term. As we engaged in professional learning with mentors, beginning teachers, and instructional coaches, we heard many stories, listened to challenges, and spent countless hours thinking about how we can best support and retain effective teachers in our state. From their experiences and ours, we have created this list of five things that give us joy and are the reasons we will always be educators.
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Gratitude - Not Just for November
ESPB is very thankful for teachers and the work you do with the children of North Dakota. We have a lot to be grateful for, and there are many benefits of cultivating gratitude in ourselves and our students.
Gratitude is no longer just a "soft skill,” and gratitude can lead to higher grades and life satisfaction among students.
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ExcELlent Educators: Tidbits for Teaching English Learners in YOUR Classroom
It’s All About Perspective
At a recent training, a new “label” was introduced for students in our classrooms who are learning English as an additional language. You may now hear “Linguistically Gifted” instead of English learners, ESL, English Language Learners, and the like. Although it is still a label, this new term carries a more asset-based connotation and helps people understand that students are advanced in their language. How many of you can say you are bi/multi-lingual?
Our linguistically gifted and immigrant students bring many potential learning opportunities to your classrooms. Consider how you can tap into students’ and families’ global knowledge and experiences to enhance your instruction.
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Teacher Innovation Grant
Congratulations to Michael Jacobson for being chosen as the round 4 Teacher Innovation Grant recipient. Jacobson and his team are from Legacy High School in Bismarck and plan to use the grant funds to purchase 3D printers. These 3D printers will be used to teach CTE students about creating assistive technologies for exceptional students. Jacobson and his team plan to use a Fargo, North Dakota company, Lulzbot, to purchase their printers.
Do you or another teacher you know have an idea for an innovative project? If so, the next round of Teacher Innovation Grants will be opening on January 11, 2023. Visit the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) website or contact Taylor Olsen for more information.
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English Language Arts Standards Review
The NDDPI is working with a committee of content specialists to revise the current English Language Arts Content Standards. A statewide committee consisting of North Dakota community leaders, business, industry and labor representatives, and North Dakota citizens will meet to review the drafts of the standards and provide feedback to the writing committee.
The NDDPI is seeking individuals to serve on the review committee. This committee will review the drafts of the content standards and provide feedback to the writing committee that will be used to revise the current English Language Arts Standards.
Review committee applications must be submitted by November 14, 2022. The review of the first draft will occur on December 7, 2022.
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Please contact the Office of Academic Support with questions regarding the writing committee application process.
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NDDPI Seeks Input on Draft of Mathematics Content Standards
The NDDPI is seeking feedback on the first draft of the revised North Dakota State Mathematics Standards.
Content standards are concise, written descriptions outlining the knowledge and skills students are expected to know and do at a specific stage of their education and illustrate what students have learned upon completing a grade level or grade span. Academic standards do not describe specific teaching practices, curricula, or assessment methods.
The North Dakota Standards for Mathematics were last revised in 2017. Over the past three months, a North Dakota educator committee has diligently worked on rewriting the standards and seeking feedback. The NDDPI asks that all interested stakeholders provide input on the draft standards through the survey linked below.
For more information about the standards review process, contact Davonne Eldredge, Assistant Director, Office of Academic Support.
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Professional Development
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Happy Teacher Habits: 11 Habits of the Happiest Most Effective Teachers on Earth Book Study
November 21, 2022
This is no ordinary teaching book. It is a success roadmap through an educational system that is becoming increasingly harder to navigate. It will expose the falsehoods and misinformation teachers are bombarded with every day and reveal the secrets to what really matters in creating a happy and fulfilling career.
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The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine Book Study
November 14, 2022
In Thrivers, Dr. Borba offers practical, actionable ways to develop resilience in children from preschool through high school, showing how to teach kids coping skills so they can thrive tomorrow.
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 The Rural Experience in America
Community Civics Through Historical Inquiry
Attention K-12 teachers:
Register today if you want to learn more about:
- Historical Inquiry
- Service Learning
- Place-Based Education
- Public History
Travel and project funding reimbursement (up to $750 each) included.
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For Students
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High School Cyber Madness Registration Now Open!
The State of North Dakota Chief Information Officer Shawn Riley announced the upcoming second annual North Dakota Cyber Madness High School tournament. This event is a three-round competition for, and open to, all North Dakota High School students (including public, private, tribal, and homeschool students who reside in North Dakota). All high schools are encouraged to form teams of up to five students and a coach.
North Dakota schools/coaches can register teams now. Registration closes on February 10, 2023.
Please contact the ND Cyber Madness Planning Committee for questions or additional information.
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Invitation to Receive Engaging Education Resources at No Cost
The History & Legacy Branch (H&L) of The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration (VWC) invites teachers to receive educational resources at no cost. The H&L Branch offers visually engaging posters and easily digestible primers for students on various topics about the Vietnam War and Vietnam veterans.
Additionally, a Teachers’ Toolkit is available with resources, Vietnam War websites, lesson suggestions, media sources, and more.
To request hard copies of these resources, please email whs.pentagon.wso.mbx.vnwar50th-edu@mail.mil. Emails are monitored regularly.
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Join Us for National History Day
April 28, 2023
National History Day (NHD) is an academic program focused on historical research, interpretation, and creative expression for 6th- to 12th-grade students through project-based learning. The Inquiry Design Model is a great way for students to approach NHD in North Dakota. The program promotes a love of research and history, and the development of critical thinking, writing, and research skills. While many people traditionally think of NHD as a competition, the framework and curriculum can also be used in the classroom without the contest aspect.
This year’s theme is “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.” Check out the national website and the ND Studies website for more information. You will also find important dates and deadlines, how to register your school, and contest updates. Students can participate individually or in groups of five, be it through a class assignment, individually or through a school club or organization.
Are you worried about the time involved? We’re here to help teachers with every step! Please contact Laura Forde with questions, concerns, and assistance or ideas as to how to include NHD in your classroom or school. We would love to see you at the ND Heritage Center in April!
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Sign Warrior Calendar
We Need Your Help to Recruit Sign Warriors!
Signs provide important visual cues to drivers. Even the most attentive driver can encounter dangerous situations if signs are damaged or missing. We must respect our signs. That’s why the local road agencies in your area are working with the North Dakota Local Technical Assistance Program on a sign protection awareness program in schools across the state.
The program features a “Sign Warrior” cartoon superhero. The Sign Warrior’s motto, “Save Our Signs!” encourages 4th-grade students to be alert to the four major dangers to North Dakota road signs: shooting, stealing, graffiti, and other damage. These activities do not respect our signs. The program features a drawing contest so that young artists can help us illustrate these dangers and the efforts of the Sign Warrior to protect the state’s signs.
This link will provide contest guidelines, specifications, and contact information.
Please recruit your 4th-grade students to become Sign Warrior artists.
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