PL Summit 2019 keynotes, Google EDU pilot, raising the bar for the next generation of graduates in Kansas, a pop quiz.
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February 2019
FEATURED NEWS
PL Summit Speakers Announced!
We are so privileged to be joined by:
Principal Baruti Kafele - an educator with decades of experience, more than 150 achievement awards in education, and author of multiple best-selling books.
Golriz Lucina - Head of Creative at SoulPancake and co-author of the New York Times bestseller SoulPancake: Chew on Life’s Big Questions.
Chad Littlefield - co-founder of We and Me, Inc., co-author of an Amazon #1 bestseller, and a facilitator of meaningful conversations and connections; and more.
Just a Few Spots Left for the Google for Education: Personalized Learning Design and Launch Pilot with Education Elements
Education Elements teamed up with Google for Education to offer the Personalized Learning Design and Launch Toolkit to leaders at up to 20 selected districts. If your district is under 10,000 students, has purchased 2000 or more Chromebooks, and personalized learning is a priority for you, you can be part of our first district cohort: Apply now. Got questions? Email amy@edelements.com.
ON OUR MINDS
Rethinking School Across the State of Kansas
It began with a question: “What do Kansans want from their K-12 graduates?” Through engaging with the larger Kansas community, the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) learned that Kansans want to raise the bar for the next generation of graduates by increasing academic, cognitive, employability and civic engagement skills. To achieve this vision, KSDE is supporting schools to place students in the center, prioritizing their individual strengths and needs. The department set an audacious goal to redesign all Kansas schools around this vision by 2026.
Over the past two years, KSDE piloted a redesign program with two initial waves of schools called the “Mercury 7” and “Gemini I”. These cohorts received intensive support to re-envision the student experience and design innovative solutions to meet the needs of existing and future generations of students. In partnership with Education Elements, KSDE is using lessons learned from these initial waves to scale redesign across the state, supporting six regional service centers, 33 districts and 76 schools in the Gemini II cohort. This spring, KSDE is accepting applications for the Apollo redesign cohort. Follow their progress on Twitter: #KStothemoon@KSDEredesign@EdElements.
What is a critical step a teacher can take to target instruction within a station rotation model?
(Place your cursor over your answer to see if it's correct!)
Integrate both online and offline curriculum
Use the same formative assessments with each small group
Assign each student a device, such as a Chromebook or iPad
Differentiate station work in process or product
If the quiz is not working in your browser, see the bottom of the newsletter for the correct answer, and the Resources section below for more information on the Classroom Walkthrough Guide.
NEW! A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE EE TEAM
The new year is a time to set intentions and goals. As a realist, I recognize that many of us desire change and name a #resolution only to abandon it days later. Therefore, I’d like to share how we at EE are approaching resolutions a bit differently. This year, the EE team’s #resolution is not one of radical change so much as one that seeks to reinforce our strengths and build consistency in our actions.
The EE team came together in early January for our company-wide retreat. Our familEE members who live and work in all corners of the country had the opportunity to collaborate with each other IRL. Among the important discussions, celebrations and running around playing laser tag, we had an in-depth reflection on our core values. We went through activities to bring attention to and drive intention towards how we want to describe ourselves and how we want others to describe our team. We discussed what it means to embody our core values: Invest in each other, bring joy to our work, never stop learning, celebrate success, innovate and iterate.
For us, we perceive a strong correlation across our reputation, our impact and our ability to achieve EE’s mission. Reinforcing our strengths and building consistency in our actions is vital to grow our partnerships with districts and education organizations, as well as attract the very best talent to join our passionate crew. As K12 leaders, educators and advocates, we know you deeply understand the challenges of building and maintaining a positive reputation within your community. Moreover, how much healthier it is to focus on your mission, your students and what really matters when you are not fighting battles with your reputation.
Therefore, for 2019 we commit to staying the course, being personally accountable for our actions and continuing to be reliable and responsive partners to all of you. We’d love to hear what you want to be known for this year - and shift the conversation from new things we are starting to what we commit to continuing throughout this year.
RESOURCES
How Can You Tell if Personalized Learning is Happening in Your Classrooms?
This short walkthrough guide gives you questions to use when conducting classroom and school visits.
FEATURED BLOGS
7 Reasons You Can't Miss the Personalized Learning Summit 2019!
By Education Elements If you've never been to the PL Summit before - or you're making the case to attend again - here are the top reasons to join us in Atlanta, GA May 14-16 this year!
5 Common Coaching Misconceptions
By Ashley Paschal - Guest Author “Coaching" means something different to everyone. Many of us have had both positive and negative experiences with coaches in the past, which influence our definition of and expectations from coaching.
Feb 13 Council of Great City Schools, Albuquerque, NM Anthony Kim, CEO and Founder of Education Elements to lead various sessions under the theme of:3 Keys to Creating a More Agile District.
Feb 14-16 AASA National Conference on Education, Los Angeles, CA Session:How to Personalize Professional Learning For Teachers and Principals with Amy Jenkins, COO of Education Elements, co-led with Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, Alaska; Metropolitan School District of Warren Township, Indiana; and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Roundtable:Words Matter: How to Engage Your Stakeholders to Support Personalized Learning with Amy Jenkins, COO of Education Elements and Kira Keane, Partner, The Learning Accelerator
A career at Education Elements is unlike any other. It’s not just what we do, it’s who we are and how we do it that makes this place so unique. We come to work every day because we love what we do. You can love your job too. Check out our current openings:
The correct answer for our Pop Quiz is: "Differentiate station work in process or product." For more information download the guide in our resources section.
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