“As a teacher, I need to build a class for editors, architects,
scientists, writers, and mathematicians who don’t hesitate to continually
critique each other’s work” Ron Berger from An Ethic of Excellence:
Building a Culture of Craftsmanship with Students
Kerala
Flood Assistance
Many of you
may be aware that our neighboring state of Kerala is severely affected from the
recent floods. We at AISC are helping the people of Kerala by supporting them
in their efforts to rebuild their state. We are collecting donations for the
government school children on Wayanad District in Kerala. You can donate school
supplies to the children of Kerala. We are collecting the following items.
Please donate
only NEW items:
1. School bag
2. Stationery
(pencils, eraser, notebooks)
3. Lunch
box/snack box
4. Water
bottle
Collection
boxes will be kept at various points around the campus from Monday through
Friday.
For those who
wish to donate money, click here
Thank you,
Balajee
Ginhapalle, SEVAI Program Manager
Team and Committee Survey for 2018-19
SURVEY
ASSIGNMENTS LINK HERE
Early
Release Professional Learning Strands for 2018-19
Developed by
Learning Coaches and the Teaching and Learning Leadership, the purpose of
the Professional Development Strands is to create personalized and relevant
professional learning during dedicated time. The Strands were created as
a partnership with AISC Leadership and Learning Coaches for teaching faculty to
have time for deep understanding of an educational topic with a consistent
group of colleagues.
2018-2019
Strands
New Faculty
SBAR
Inquiry Through UbD
Making Data Useful for You
Sheltered Instruction
Enhancing instructional strategies (for teacher assistants)
Project Based Learning
cNet: WLD
cNet: PE/Health
cNet: Early Years 3/4
Strand Sign
Up: September 5--please
bring device to FAC Cafeteria to take survey
Strand
Assignment: September
11
September 5:
Strand
Rollout Early Release Professional Learning Day
- Refreshments in FAC Cafeteria, 2:00-2:30
- All Faculty Meeting in FAC Cafeteria 2:30-3:20;
- Parade of Nations Information in FAC Cafeteria 3:20-3:30
- Section Meetings 3:45-5:00
October 10:
Strand Session 1
November 14: Strand Session 2
February 20: Strand Session 3
March 20: Strand Session 4
April 3: Strand Session 5
May 15: Strand Session 6 w/ Internal Strand
Celebration / Culminating Project
Dates to
Remember
Adaptive
Schools Foundations Training @ AISC October 19-22, 2018
In order to
internally train some of the 65 AISC faculty who are not Adaptive School
trained AND to make an opportunity for individuals to be eligible for Advanced
Training (scheduled for Nov. 2018 on the AISC campus), TALL approved offering a
voluntary Foundations Training for October 19-22, 2018. For more
information on the training, please see the AISC website, Professional Learning Event Descriptions LINK HERE.
The dates of the
on campus training for Adaptive School Foundations Training (AISC Faculty
only)--4 total days--October 19-22. If you previously signed up for the
April 2018 training that was postponed, your name has already been added to the
list of interested participants (unless you have told me otherwise) .
There is no personal professional development expense associated with
this training.
Final approval
of attendance would be handled by your respective supervisor. This survey is to
indicate interest to attend. If you have already arranged with your
supervisor to attend, you have also been added.
Deadline for
signing up would be September 7, 2018. Sign Up LINK HERE
UN
International Peace Day at AISC
AISC celebrates our community and international-mindedness on UN
International Peace Day on Friday, September 14 with a Parade of Nations that
is the first hour of the school day. Different from other years, a normal
school day will follow the Parade of Nations, as the Country Pavilions have
moved to International Day on Saturday, September 15. The Parade of Nations
will start out with the countries coming to the FAC Stage, and then the MS and
HS students will proceed to the FAC Cafeteria, with the ES students remaining
in the FAC Theater for a short program. More information on the Parade of
Nations will be shared by Todd Welbes, and more information about International
Day will come from Kirsten Welbes.
Information on UN International Day of Peace
Each year the UN International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21
September. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to
strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and
peoples. The theme for this year is The Right to Peace.
The United Nations invites all nations and people to honour a
cessation of hostilities during the Day and to otherwise commemorate the Day
through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.
If you are interested in linking to this day and event, please see
these resources for event.
Source: United Nations Peace Day 2018 LINK HERE
Kath Murdoch--Inquiry As A Mindset for Teaching and
Learning: A Workshop for Elementary Teachers--Aug. 17
Responsive
Classroom Training--Sept. 6-8
NESA Fall
Leadership Conference--Oct. 18-21, Athens
NESA Fall
Training Institute--Nov. 2-3, Amman
Joelle
Basnight & Megha Radhakrishnan, Adaptive Schools Foundations Training--Oct. 19-21
Carol Simoneau & Doreen Miori-Merola, Advanced Adaptive
Schools Training--Nov. 12-15
NESA Winter
Training Institute--Jan. 26-27, CHENNAI--SAVE THE DATE! PDF Brochure
Suzie Boss, Project Based Learning--Jan. 21-24
& Jan. 28 - Feb. 1
Erin Kent, TCWRP, Focus on Reading--Feb. 4-8
Erma Anderson Math Specialist in International Schools
Training--March 19-21---Institute #3
NESA Spring
Educators Conference--Mar. 29-31
Dr. Ochan Kusuma-Powell, Cognitive Coaching Foundations Part 1 (Days
1-4)--April 13-16
Professional
Growth and Evaluation Deadlines
Professional
Growth Plan Paperwork and Meeting---completed between September 15-30
SAP-X Quad
Blogging Meeting---September 27
SAP-S Summative
Paperwork---completed by September 28
Professional
Growth New Teacher Plan--completed by September 28
Professional
Learning Opportunities
Knowledge
Source Upcoming Workshops
A Reggio Emilia based Workshop for Early Years
Teachers LINK HERE
Performance towards Proficiency – Assessing Authenticity of Oral
Communication UNIS Hanoi, October 20, 21 2018 LINK HERE for more information.
Teaching and
Learning Through Inquiry By Trevor MacKenzie 18th – 19th March 2019, Hong Kong 22nd - 23rd March 2019,
Munich 25th - 26th March 2019, Dubai LINK HERE
The Association of International Schools of India, Leadership Conference, September 27-29,
Taj Lands End, Mumbai LINK HERE for more information
EAL
Shout-out!
Translanguaging
has taken the English language universe by storm! But what is it really? The
simplest definition I've ever seen is: "the use of different languages
together" (EAL Journal, 2016). Sure. That could work. However, a proper
definition comes from one of its leading researcher, Ofelia García, “practice
of accessing different linguistic features or various modes of what are
described as autonomous languages in order to maximize communicative potential”
(2009, p. 140). Let's unpack the latter.
Translanguaging
is more a study about communication, not language. When asked "how many
languages do you speak?" people often reply with a number. Translanguaging
posits that people do not have several monolingual repositories in their brain.
Languages are not compartmentalize nor do they have boarders. Translanguaging
claims that people pull various symbols, codes, and strategies to communicate,
and therefore, each person only has one all-encompassing, personal linguist
system or repertoire. With English as AISC's language of instruction, teachers
are adding new symbols, codes, and strategies to a student's growing linguistic
repertoire. And on the flip-side, teachers are also learning new symbols,
codes, and strategies from their students. Make sense? Stick with me...
If
translanguaging is all about communication, the producer of language and the
receiver of language both play a role. If their linguistic repertoire are
similar, communication should be easier. However, at AISC, similar repertoires
are often not the case. Here's a simplified way of how it might works:
The language producer pulls what he/she assumes
are the correct symbols and codes from his/her linguistic repertoire so that
the receiver will understand. In addition, the language producer may use
various language strategies, i.e. body language and gestures, for
clarification. As the producer is trying to communicate, he/she may need to
adjust or modify the delivery, until the receiver understands the message.
The language receiver works to decipher the
message by using all of the resources in his/her linguistic repertoire. If
he/she does not have the proper tools to understand, the receiver should be
giving clues to the producer that articulate, "I don't understand".
In a sense,
the producer of language could be considered the "teacher", which
means the receiver of language is the "learner". Simply put, in
communicating with our students, our students are able to add additional
symbols, codes, and strategies to our own linguistic repertoire. It's a win-win!
So, how do we
move forward? First of all, don’t give up! It's really not as tricky as it
might sound here. Second, as you plan activities make sure you are able to
answer a resounding YES! to these questions:
1.
Is
the language producer able to use their complete linguistic repertoire in order
to communicate? and,
2.
Does
the language receiver have the necessary tools to decode the message and
continue the conversation?
Phew! My
apologies. This was way more than 250 words. Translanguaging… a lot to unpack.
If you'd like
to unpack this further, please let me know! I love talking about this kind of
stuff.
Sarah
García, O.
(2009). Education, multilingualism and translanguaging in the 21st century. Social
justice through multilingual education, 140-158.
Wellness
at AISC
Interested to
read more about wellness activities at AISC and in Chennai? If so, click HERE for
AISC WELLNESS MATTERS BLOG to stay updated. We have lots of exciting events planned so be
sure to check in!
Worthwhile
Reading
From George Couros, The Principal of Change: Stories of Learning
and Leading LINK HERE
Four Ways Not To Let Others Dim Your Light
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