Welcome to the WDE’s October PD Newsletter
Each month, this newsletter will highlight all the relevant upcoming Professional Development offerings for Wyoming educators. While the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) will highlight these offerings for the upcoming month, educators can find all relevant PD opportunities on the PD calendar page or the Professional Development page on the WDE website.
Recipients can opt-out of receiving this newsletter by changing their subscriber preferences here.
From 3:30-5:30 p.m. on September 28: Jan Hoegh: Determining What Students Need to Know
In standards-driven classrooms, the amount of content students are expected to know is often overwhelming. Proficiency scales can support teachers in organizing and delivering instruction, assessment, and feedback so that students clearly understand what they need to know and be able to do. In this session, Jan K. Hoegh outlines how K–12 teachers can effectively create and utilize proficiency scales during instruction to improve teaching and learning.
- Understand how to create proficiency scales to clearly frame classroom instruction and assessment.
- Examine various ways that teachers, students, and parents can use proficiency scales.
- Discover how to support exceptional learners.
This is the first virtual webinar in a six-part series. Attendees must separately register and attend all six webinars to receive one PTSB credit. Register for the first webinar here. Webinar dates: September 28; October 26; November 30; January 25; March 8; March 29.
September 30-October 1: Innovations In Learning Conference
The Innovations Conference is an opportunity for educators from kindergarten through higher education, to share and explore innovative teaching and learning practices for classrooms and distance learning environments.
This conference is hosted by the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE), the Wyoming Distance Education Consortium (WyDEC), the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming community colleges, the Wyoming State Library, school libraries, and the Wyoming Arts Council.
PTSB and UW credit are available for those who attend. Register here. Virtual meeting information will be sent upon registration.
From 3:30-4:30 p.m. on October 6, 13, 20, 27: Workforce Wednesdays
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Team will be hosting a new series of professional development every Wednesday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. beginning in October and concluding at the end of May. This series is intended for CTE teachers, school counselors and students. CTE teachers who attend in-person will earn 1 focused professional development point for each in-person attendance. The FIRST Wednesday includes business and industry stakeholders representing diverse backgrounds and expertise in the featured industry sector from various geographic areas in Wyoming. The SECOND Wednesday includes organizations that offer training in the featured industry sector for the month such as community colleges, apprenticeship programs, and private training programs. The THIRD Wednesday representatives from Workforce services and the US Dept. of Labor will discuss relevant laws and best practices of student learner agreements, funding for apprentices or interns, OSHA, etc. The FOURTH Wednesday includes CTE teachers from around Wyoming sharing best practices from their programs.
October topic: Construction Trades
Refer to this Zoom link to join the meeting.
9 a.m.-noon on October 14: MTSS: Tier 2 and Tier 3
At Tier 2, schools provide small-group, standardized academic interventions, or targeted behavioral or mental health supports, using validated intervention programs to support students identified as at-risk. At Tier 3, schools provide intensive and individualized interventions for students not responding to Tier 2. During this training, participants will learn the essential features of Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions, how to evaluate interventions using the Taxonomy of Intervention Intensity, and how to ensure fidelity for Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions. Participants will evaluate a Tier 2 intervention using the Taxonomy of Intervention Intensity, and they will practice an effective teaming process for Tier 3 supports using standardized tools.
Partial PTSB credit will be available to those who attend this event. Register for this event here.
3:30-5:30 p.m. on October 26: Jan Hoegh: Planning High-Quality Instruction
Once a school or district has invested time into identifying priority standards and developing proficiency scales, a common question asked by educators is, “What is our next step?” This learning opportunity provides an answer to that question. Jan Hoegh will overview two phases of instructional planning based on proficiency scales that lead to educators being confident that all students will show growth over time.
- Learn strategies for mapping classroom instruction based on proficiency scales.
- Examine eight steps for planning instructional cycles that include high-quality instruction and assessment.
- Explore how to effectively use assessment results for ensuring high levels of student achievement.
This is the second virtual webinar in a six-part series. Attendees must separately register and attend all six webinars to receive one PTSB credit. Register for the second webinar here. Webinar dates: September 28; October 26; November 30; January 25; March 8; March 29
3:30-5 p.m. on October 26: Tips and Tools for MTSS Implementation in Secondary Schools
Are elementary multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) models appropriate for secondary settings? Although the essential components remain the same the focus and approach to implementation differ. This session will clarify the similarities and differences between elementary and secondary implementation and share tips and tools for successful implementation in secondary settings. Examples of effective secondary implementation will be shared.
Register for this event here.
1 p.m. on October 26 and Noon on October 28: Northern Rockies Association For the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind Conference
Conference sessions will target technology, practices and strategies utilized when working with individuals who are blind or have low vision. Topics will include access technologies, evaluation, orientation and mobility, cerebral visual impairment and adult services.
PTSB credit will be available for those who attend. Register here.
4-5 p.m. on October 27: E-Learning Collaborative: Empowering Student-Centered Online Learning (October Meeting)
The WDE and the American Institutes for Research invite you to participate in the eLearning Collaborative, a new professional development series. This exciting series will focus on two strands:
- Supporting students at a distance.
- Developing and improving online content and courses.
The eLearning Collaborative will include the following resources and learning opportunities:
- Monthly pre-recorded presentations on topics such as the foundations of online course development and a multi-tiered approach to identify and address student mental health needs.
- Reflections on the presentations through asynchronous conversations on the Canvas course.
- Monthly Learning Collaboration meetings to discuss and reflect on the presentations in grade band teams.
To join the eLearning Collaborative register below. For help with enrolling, see the enrollment instructions document here.
3-4 p.m. on October 28: Leveraging Title I Funds Within a Tiered Intervention Model: Supporting Data Literacy at All Levels
This training focuses on data literacy at all levels with particular emphasis on supporting data collection and decision making as well as supporting continuous system improvement. Target audience: open.
Registration is not required; if interested in joining, contact Les Koch at les.koch1@wyo.gov.
4-5 p.m. on October 28: E-Learning Collaborative: Developing and Improving Online Content Courses (October Meeting)
The WDE and the American Institutes for Research invite you to participate in the eLearning Collaborative, a new professional development series. This exciting series will focus on two strands:
- Supporting students at a distance.
- Developing and improving online content and courses.
The eLearning Collaborative will include the following resources and learning opportunities:
- Monthly pre-recorded presentations on topics such as the foundations of online course development and a multi-tiered approach to identify and address student mental health needs.
- Reflections on the presentations through asynchronous conversations on the Canvas course.
- Monthly Learning Collaboration meetings to discuss and reflect on the presentations in grade band teams.
To join the eLearning Collaborative register below. For help with enrolling, see the enrollment instructions document here.
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