Like many of you, this week I heard of the passing of Sir Ken Robinson. I felt like I lost a mentor. Robinson always reminded me of why I became a teacher. I have always loved teaching, from day one I have loved it. However, there are some days you need a reminder. Robinson was more than a reminder. His words were an emotional catalyst to persevere and strive to be better. He was an educational revolutionary and prophetic speaker that gave us such great thoughts as “Imagination is the source of all human achievement” and “There’s a wealth of talent that lies in all of us”. My personal favorite, “For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail. It’s just the opposite: we aim too low and succeed.” Thank you Sir Ken Robinson. We will remember you now and when we need to the most.
September 2, 2020 Faculty Meeting: Focus on Curriculum
We will start in a full faculty ZOOM meeting and then move to breakrooms to give the What, Why, How, and with Whom for meeting time. Then during the meeting, you will meet in your MS/HS Vertical Team or Grade Level Team in breakout rooms, like before. While in your breakout session you will follow the process/protocol below. If you have questions in your breakout rooms, C5 and the Coaching Collaborative will be available for assistance.
Once in breakout rooms with your team or department, follow the process/protocol below:
- DIALOGUE: If you do not have your units documented, that will be your SMART goal. If you have units, then move
- DIALOGUE: Use the Unit Self-Assessment Tool to review a unit.
- DISCUSSION: From your finding, use the SMART goals to share the highest priority for documenting the unit (Stage 1 complete, then Stage 2 complete, then Stage 3)
- DIALOGUE & DISCUSSION: Plan out the documentation on the Vertical Team Planner due for review to C5 on Sept 7 (as has been stated August email)
*ES will be working on curriculum development in Science and Social Studies this year. We believe that focusing on documentation of Science and Social Studies will help maintain familiarity with these content areas since the priority this year is on literacy and math. It will also support our readiness for the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year.
It is important to know, you will have the time to draft your SMART goals. We will give you support to make further suggestions and improvements after your turn in your Vertical Team Planner LINK HERE
Helpful Resources
MASTER AISC Curriculum Documentation Framework and Process
Faculty Meeting on Curriculum Documentation Presentation
AISC Curriculum Decision-Making Matrix
Curricular Program Change Form
Please reach out to me if you have any questions.
International School Services (ISS) CHALLENGE WINNER---AISC
COVID-19 has forced schools to rethink how they operate, educators to re-imagine their practice, and students to adapt and learn in new ways. Although this pandemic presents unprecedented challenges for schools, it is also an opportunity that enables us to reimagine and reinvent schools in ways never seen before.
To scale these great practices, ISS recently opened our innovation management platform, ISS CHALLENGES, to educators around the globe. At its core, ISS CHALLENGES allows schools to pose questions and then crowdsource ideas from the wider community. The first external challenge asked educators around the globe to reflect on the question,“What new practices should schools keep or implement as a result of our experience with online learning?”
AISC responded by sharing our new Virtual New Faculty Orientation Program. Developed to onboard new faculty post-hiring and pre-arrival to campus, AISC created an online course for orienting new faculty to India, Chennai, and our school.
ISS recognized our work as one of seven international winners of ISS CHALLENGES. Thank you, ISS for the recognition!
If you would like to read more about the ISS CHALLENGE and AISC’s participation, please see the links below:
1. ISS - General release - https://www.iss.edu/blog/reimagine-school-with-iss-challenges
2. ISS - AISC release - https://www.iss.edu/blog/online-faculty-orientation-course
3. Medallia - General release - https://www.medallia.com/blog/six-winning-ideas-for-virtual-schooling
Director of Teaching and Learning Coffee
Thursday, September 3, 8:45 am, ZOOM link below
Come to Thursday’s Director of Teaching and Learning Coffees to hear celebrations of programs through the re-accrediation process of the Middle States Association. The following topics will be discussed: MSA Protocol: Excellence by Design, Standards for Accreditation, and upcoming survey opportunities to provide feedback. I will also provide the opportunity for questions and answers and hear what topics you would like to hear relating to the re-accreditation process and the MSA Virtual Accreditation Team visit on November 30 - December 3, 2020. Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87673442372?pwd=MTBUTDFWWm1SalJBa2NCci9ZalpLZz09
Professional Learning Resources
AISC is now offering subscriptions to two digital newspapers. Access The Times of India and The Economic Times using the following login credentials:
Select “Sign in with email or mobile”
username: wmarion@aischennai.org
password: Aisc@2020
Select Chennai Edition
username: wmarion@aischennai.org
password: Aisc@2020
Wellness at AISC
All the information on Faculty Wellness from our Wellness Coordinator, Priya Venugopal, 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
Tribute to the late Sir Ken Robinson, Washington Post Article
Congratulations on your appointment for next year!!
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