December 20, 2017
IN THIS EDITION
- Letters About Literature Writing Contest
- WIDA Lesson Planning Workshop
- ACCESS 2.0 Field Testing Invitation, Test Session Set Up, ELLs Checklist, and Webinars and Q&A Sessions
- Ongoing WIDA ACCESS 2.0 Webinars and Q&A Sessions
- Do You Know an Exemplary Wyoming Math or Science Teacher?
- CenturyLink STEM Grant
- TEAMS State Competition
- Science Standards Workshop Added
- Science Olympiad
- "Living In A Material World" Grant
- How to Comply with the OSHA Lab Standard
- Giant Floor Maps
- Documentary on Native Mineral Rights Lawsuit
- Geo-Inquiry Institutes
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Deadline: January 12, 2018
The deadline to enter the Letters About Literature writing contest is a few short weeks away. Wyoming students can win Amazon gift cards up to $150 during state competition and advance to national competition. Letters will be judged in three grade levels: 4-6, 7-8, and 9-12.
Students are asked to pick an inspiring book and send a letter to the author -- living or dead -- and share how the book affected their life.
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A teaching guide is available that provides activities and addresses how the program can dovetail with curriculum for teaching reading, and writing.
January 17-18, 2018 in Casper
Registration is open for a two-day learning opportunity presented by Suzanne Johar from WIDA to enhance participants' lesson planning processes. Specifically, participants will focus on creating contexts for meaningful language use within settings that integrate content and academic language learning.
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Throughout this process, participants will explore elements of the WIDA Standards Framework in depth as they design instruction that promotes students' content learning and language development.
Contact Antoinette Hallam, antoinette.hallam@wyo.gov, (307) 777-5217.
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Small Stipend Available
As we prepare for the third operational year of the ACCESS 2.0 assessment, WDE would like to share details of an upcoming writing field test for the computer-based ACCESS for ELLs 2.0.
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This will be the only field test for this year, and it is on a volunteer basis and may be administered before or after a student completes the operational test. This field test is an excellent opportunity and gives students and administrators practice and preparation for testing.
- Testing time will be 20-30 minutes, and participating campuses will receive a small stipend for school supplies.
- Students in grades 1-3 may test through February 16, 2018. (All students in grades 1-3 will hand-write their responses).
- The window for grades 4-12 ends March 2, 2018. (All students in grades 4-12 will keyboard their responses).
WIDA states are held to the following U.S. Department of Education Peer Review Guidance:
- Must provide evidence of appropriate field testing
- Field-test student sample must be representative of the “population” of final test takers (of adequate size and diversity).
If you would like to participate, contact Alex Bauer at (608) 265-0601 or alex.bauer@wisc.edu as soon as possible and receive a small stipend.
Contact Antoinette Hallam, antoinette.hallam@wyo.gov, (307) 777-5217 with questions.
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You can now set up test sessions in the WIDA AMS through February 27, 2018. Campuses may add newly enrolled EL students to test sessions who were not classified as ELs on the WDE Form 684 file that was submitted in October.
For the WIDA AMS User Guide, click here.
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It is important for district and school test coordinators and test administrators to use the Wyoming ACCESS for ELLs Checklist before, during, and after testing. The checklist is a summary of all tasks to be completed for online and paper administration by all personnel involved. We are asking for feedback on this "working document" to make it more helpful or accurate. Please follow this link to provide feedback on the checklist. |
 If you're looking for guidance on administering ACCESS 2.0, follow this link to WIDA ACCESS 2.0 webinars and Q&A sessions.
Upcoming webinars
- Technology Coordinator Support for Test Administrators - January 4 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. MT
- Managing Students (Online) - January 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. MT
- Managing Students (Paper) - January 17 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. MT
- Technology Troubleshooting - January 18 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. MT
- Managing Test Materials (Paper) - January 24 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. MT
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Nominations close April 1
Applications due May 1
Nominate a teacher for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The awards go to outstanding K-6 math, science, and computer science teachers. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to honor our nation’s greatest educators.
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Deadline January 12, 2018
Full-time public and private school teachers across the country in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 are encouraged to apply for grants up to $5,000 to bring technology into the classroom and promote innovative learning. Schools in CenturyLink residential service areas are eligible, along with a few other locations.
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February 19, 2018
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
University of Wyoming
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The UW College of Engineering and Applied Science and SAE International's "A World in Motion" program will host the 2018 TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Math and Science) State Competition. Students in grades 6-12 can participate and engage in an engineering design challenge that will put their problem solving, communication and teamwork skills to the test.
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The Wyoming Department of Education is offering K-12 science teachers a two-day professional development workshop, Implementing the Wyoming Science Standards. A second workshop, in Rock Springs, has recently been added.
The workshop will provide science educators an opportunity to:
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- Understand the organizational structure of the 2016 Wyoming Science and Content Standards
- Engage in lessons that utilize 3-dimensional instruction (cross-cutting concepts, disciplinary core ideas, and science and engineering practices)
- Experience ways to bundle science standards
- Evaluate and modify lessons to align to the new standards
- Collaborate with grade-band teachers to create a network of support
Registration for the workshop is available online at the links below and limited by venue size. Confirmation of registration will be sent to participants starting January 3, 2018.
Contact Sharla Dowding, sharla.dowding@wyo.gov, (307) 777-8753
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March 24, 2018
Casper College
The Science Olympiad tournament consists of approximately 18 separate events per division which may require an individual or groups from each school for competition.
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Competitive teams will require knowledge obtained in the classroom and/or preparation during the year. Cost is $125 per team before February 28, 2018.
Application deadline May 25, 2018
Members of ASM International know how rewarding it is to develop and produce the metals, glasses, ceramics, semiconductors and polymers that are at the heart of all new systems. Students, however, often learn materials science too late for effective career planning.
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The ASM Materials Education Foundation annually awards 20 grants of $500 each to help K-12 teachers bring the real world of materials science into their classrooms. “Living in a Material World” grants recognize creativity and enhance awareness of materials science and the role that materials play in society.
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How Does the Standard Apply to K-12 Schools?
Join WSTA and WDE on January 18, 2018, at 4 p.m. MT for a one-hour webinar to learn more about your obligations under this regulation. The 12 sections of the lab standard will be discussed during the webinar by Dr. James A. Kaufman, Founder and President of the Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI). Participating schools will be eligible to receive LSI’s K-12 Model Chemical Hygiene Plan.
Join the webinar at this link.
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The Wyoming Geographic Alliance is providing giant floor maps of North America, South America and Wyoming to teachers. The maps may be reserved free of charge. However, those using the map are responsible for arranging and paying shipping costs. The maps are easy to fold and can be easily moved by one person.
Contact Robert Rust at wga@uwyo.edu. For a preview of the map, view this video.
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A documentary is available to schools highlighting one woman's fight on behalf of hundreds of thousands of Native Americans who were cheated out of mineral rights money. "100 Years: One Woman's Fight for Justice" features the story of Blackfeet Nation member Elouise Cobell's lawsuit against the U.S. government. K-12 schools can access the film for $89.
The Montana Office of Public Instruction has created a free model teaching unit to accompany showing the film in class.
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National Geographic will sponsor Geo-Inquiry Institutes in each state in 2018. The institutes will highlight the Geo-Inquiry Process, which uses a geographic perspective to analyze space, place, and the interconnections between both the human and natural world. The process aims to help students connect complex components, see patterns, and make connections that change their communities. |
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