Monthly Archives: November 2016
16-17 Staff Safety Surveys
Staff: BISD is conducting a survey of campus staff, students in grades 3–12, and parents November 14 – December 2. The purpose of the survey is to gain insight on safety concerns across the District.
“Click Here” to take the survey. It is important that you take this opportunity to provide valuable information to District leadership regarding school safety.
In addition to being a staff member, if you have a student in BISD, please take the Parent Survey. (Parent Safety Survey)
The survey is open November 14 – December 2.
#WeAreBirdvilleISD #BISDShines
Former Watauga Middle School and Birdville ISD graduate (Haltom High School) Halapoulivaati Vaitai is a starting offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles. (He also played college football at TCU.) Vaitai recently sent a message of encouragement to the Watauga Middle School football team. #BISDShines #WeAreBirdvilleISD
Blended is dynamic. Blended is progressive. …
D
oes blended presume that students–not just teenagers, but human learners in general–are equipped to grapple with rigorous, higher-order concepts without explicit and direct instruction, the inaugural stage in the lesson cycle?
I believe it does.
I believe that our new instructional model is not just dynamic, but it is also flexible. Blended learning operates within certain prescribed parameters–data-driven instruction, student agency, flexible grouping, station rotations–yet it is agile enough to adapt, to change, to accommodate to thrive.
I believe that student performance will shape the trajectory of learning.
If direct instruction in required, then blended will allow for it. If students can learn collaboratively or autonomously, then blended will embrace that too. Systems are sustainable.
~ Scott Evans, Richland High School
Elementary and Secondary Digital Learning Blogs
Higher Education Opportunities
Becoming a Dual Credit Adjunct
What does it take to become a TCC Dual Credit Adjunct teacher in BISD?
Birdville ISD and Tarrant Count College are partnering to provide information to teachers interested in becoming adjunct instructors in the BISD/TCC Dual Credit program. TCC will provide an overview of the credentialing requirements and help interested parties examine their educational transcripts and work history. You may only be a few short steps away from achieving a career goal!
Friends of Texas Public Schools TEA releases 2016 accountability ratings
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) today released the 2016 state accountability ratings for more than 1,200 school districts and charters, as well as more than 8,600 campuses statewide. The ratings reveal that approximately 94 percent of school districts and charters across Texas have achieved the rating of Met Standard.
Daylight Saving Time Ends Nov. 6
Daylight Saving Time 2016 ends on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 2 a.m. Turn your clocks back one hour.
Blended Learning: Thoughts from Blended Learning Teachers
Tools I have implemented in my classroom
Stations
- Using stations this week in the classroom.
- Station 1- Nonfiction pieces to better understand main idea and important details. QR codes are used to quiz students on Google Forms. Bonus: It grades them for me!
- Station 2- NoRedInk students get a better understanding of where they are in their writing.
- Station 3- Book club students will read, conference with me, book talk, and/or complete reader responses.
~ Angela Gruver, Richland High School
This has been an amazing journey so far! I have found it easier to let the students be the leaders of the classroom and they have really approached the challenge with vigor. At the beginning of the year, I found it difficult to do this, but my students have shown me that as long as they know I’m there to help them over any bumps, they enjoy being in charge of the pace of their learning. I have also enjoyed being able to work with small groups and the students who struggle the most with the skills we focus on in that unit.
~ Heather Palmer, Richland High School