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August 2024
Discovery Ed Update
A Publication of ESC Region 11
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Welcome back! I hope your summer was relaxing and rejuvenating! I'm starting my 24th year as a Texas educator, and I still feel the excitement and anxiety that comes with the start of school. Here's to hoping that your time away was restful, full of smiles, and surrounded by what you love!
I'm ecstatic about my second year of being your resource for Discovery Education and other digital resources and ESC Region 11! Please check out some of the things I'm excited about this August and stay posted for more newsletters, learning opportunities, and announcements as we get the 2024-25 school year started. Have a wonderful first day!
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What's New?
A New Search Experience
You can now test the new search experience inside of Discovery Education Experience! You will be able to find standards-aligned, ready-to-use lessons tailored to students' needs much easier. That's not all — the new state and academic standards filter will enhance access to TEKS-aligned content across various subjects, grades, and courses.
*Note: The new search experience can be toggled on or off, so you'll have time to get comfortable with it before fully embracing the new interface.
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Quick Activities for All Levels
Every month, Discovery Ed publishes a calendar of daily activities for grades K-2 and 3-5. These simple, powerful activities can be assigned to students or used as a presentation.
Check the most recent calendars out here:
Together with the activity calendars, help students practice literacy using the daily sentence fix-its:
August Daily Sentence Fix-Its
In addition, look below to find learning activities for grade levels and special days in August!
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This choice board has engaging resources to support creating classroom culture.
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In this community-building activity, students will reflect on which values are most important to them and work with a partner to create definition of community that reflects those individual and another's shared values.
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Welcome students back to the classroom with immersive new assets from Discovery Education Experience. Explore resources that help students of all ages adjust to school and gain perspective about various student experiences around the world. Then, dive into exclusive new resources from such channels as DE Originals, Shark Week, Best of Interactives, and News and Current Events.
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August 19 - National Potato Day
What happens when a potato sprouts? This time lapse video shows the entire cycle from a potato ready to eat to a fully sprouted potato. Students can practice tracking key details and citing evidence during the video using the Stem Completion strategy.
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August 24 - Pluto Demoted Day
In 2006, following much debate, Pluto was reclassified as a "dwarf planet" and demoted from official planetary status by the International Astronomical Union. This article from Science News explores the messy nature of defining what constitutes a planet. Use the Placemat strategy to foster collaboration and debate around the demotion of Pluto.
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 Since the end of school, I've gotten to train 129 teachers and librarians at Region 11, Carroll ISD, Aledo ISD, and Springtown ISD on a variety of topics in Discovery Education. I can't wait for more opportunities as staff development for the new school year kicks off!
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Professional Learning Designed for Your Needs
Districts and charters that contract with ESC Region 11 for Discovery Education have access to professional learning. Need ideas? Check out the list below for possible professional learning topics:
- Getting Started with Discovery Education Experience (DEX)
- Designing Instruction Using Discovery Education
- Going Deeper with DEX
- What's New in Discovery Education
- Discovery Education Resources to Support Families
- DE at Home Resources
- Discovery Ed Does Dig Cit!
- Discovery Education Resources for Counselors
- Post-Secondary Success with Discovery Education
- Discover the New Tech Apps TEKS
- Supporting xxxxx with Discovery Education Experience
- *or whatever we can dream up!
Contact Andy Simpson to discuss your training needs and reserve a date.
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⭐ Become a DEN STAR in the Discovery Education Community!
DEN STARs are knowledgeable about using digital resources and want to continue learning about the most effective ways to use Discovery Education (DE).
They’re educators from all roles and backgrounds who receive custom resources and access to professional learning opportunities. They are also part of a like-minded community interested in using DE to reach all learners. To learn more, click the button!
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