Category: Professional Development

Maine DOE Data Management Systems Summer Training

The Maine Department of Education Data Team is holding their annual summer training during the first two weeks of August.  The focus of the training this year will be on tips and resources to assist districts with their data reporting, and viewing/certifying their reports. The sessions will be focused on sharing resources to assist districts with the data tasks required.

Training Dates and Locations

August 6, Caribou High School, 308 Sweden St Caribou, ME 04736

August 7, Brewer High School, 79 Parkway south Brewer, ME 04412

August 8, Ellsworth Elementary/Middle School, 20 Forrest Avenue Ellsworth, ME 04605

August 12, Cony High School, 60 Pierce Drive Augusta, ME 04330

August 13, Mt. Blue High School, 129 Seamon Rd Farmington, ME 04938

August 14, Mt. Ararat Middle School, 66 Republic Avenue Topsham, ME 04086

August 15, Buxton Center Elementary School, 912 Long Plains Road Buxton, ME 04093

All sessions will begin with registration at 8:30, with presentations beginning at 9.  We will serve a light lunch and will finish no later than 4:00.  Coffee and water will also be provided throughout the day.

Topics for each session:

  • How student and staff data is used for EPS and Accountability
  • What’s new for 2019-2020
  • Accurate, Complete and Timely Data Submissions
  • Data Security
  • Our Website and Where to find helpful resources
  • Data Collection and Reporting Calendar
  • Maine Schools and School Approval changes
  • NEO Staff – Entering Staff information
  • MEIS – Maine Educator Information System
  • Synergy – Manual and Uploads
  • Graduation (NEO) requirements and reporting
  • Student Reports (NEO) – where to find them and how to utilize them
  • Behavior, Truancy and Attendance (NEO) – importance of these reports and important resources

To register for the training, please visit Summer 2019 Training Registration.

If you have any questions, comments. or concerns regardin these training sessions, please contact Ryan Cunningham Maine DOE Data Systems Helpdesk Manager at (207) 624-6809 or Ryan.L.Cunningham@maine.gov.

Building School Capacity Through Community Collaboration

On June 12, the Maine Department of Education (Maine DOE) is joining the Maine Resilience Building Network (MRBN) to provide a free, full-day opportunity for school and community prevention partners to learn and think about ways to collaborate to address challenging topics such as mental health, substance use, and student health.

Participants will learn about resources and funding that is available to develop, implement and evaluate comprehensive activities and programs that are focused on supporting safe and healthy students.

All school personnel who are familiar with their school district’s Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) and are knowledgeable of their school’s goals to provide students with access to a well-rounded education and to improve school conditions for student learning are encouraged to participate.

All community prevention partners who have the tools and resources to address safe, healthy, supportive and drug-free environments and are wanting to work with schools to address problems that relate to mental health and substance use are encouraged to participate.

In addition, pediatrician Dr. Ken Ginsburg, via Zoom from Philadelphia, will engage with participants to discuss strength based approaches to reaching teens through school and community engagement efforts.

The day’s agenda will also include: school and community prevention partners’ success stories; a panel presentation with representation from Maine DOE, programs within Maine DHHS, MRBN, and the CAN (Child Abuse and Neglect) Council; an overview of Dr. Ginsburg’s Building Blocks of Resilience (the 7Cs); and facilitated discussion.

This learning opportunity will be held in the Bangor Savings Bank in Augusta on June 12, 2019, beginning at 8:30am and ending by 4:00pm.  Lunch will be provided.

Registration and an agenda for the day can be found here.  Registration closes June 4, 2019

For more information or to ask questions, please contact Sarah Adkins, Student Assistance Coordinator at the Maine DOE at sarah.adkins@maine.gov, 624-6685, or Kini-Ana Tinkham, Interim Executive Director, Maine Resilience Building Network at kini.tinkham@gmail.com.

Department of Education Seeks Educators for Standards Revision Writing Teams

As a part of our regular review cycle schedule, The Department of Education is performing a review of the Maine Learning Results for English language arts, career and education development, and mathematics, and is looking for participants to serve as part of the writing teams for each content area. The purpose of each writing team is to revise the current standards based on guidance provided from a steering committee. For more information about the standards review process, check the new Maine DOE standards revision website.

The Department will be convening three writing teams, one for each content area under review. The writing teams will serve as a representative sample of Maine K-12 educators covering K-12 grade levels, geographic locations, and content area strengths. While specific dates are still to be determined, a majority of the work will take place in July and August, and will include at least one face to face meeting in Augusta.

All interested educators are encouraged to participate. To help ensure that the geographic diversity of our state is represented, those who teach in the following counties are strongly encouraged to apply: Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, or Washington.

Participants will receive contact hours for time worked, be reimbursed for travel costs, and be provided lunch at face to face meetings.

If you are interested in participating as a member of one of these writing teams, please complete the application associated with your desired content area by 4:00pm on Friday, May 24th to be considered. We will reach out to interested participants with more information in the coming weeks.

Links to Writing Team Applications:

English Language Arts: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ELAwriting2019

Career and Education Development: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NG69J98

Mathematics: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MathWTApp

For further information, contact Beth Lambert at (207) 624-6642 or beth.lambert@maine.gov.

 

Learning for the 21st Century- a Professional Development Opportunity for Educators

Join the Maine Department of Education as we explore knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for 21st century careers as well as the intentional actions of educators that support students’ skill and will to fuel their learning. During these day-long workshops, participants will delve into the principles of formative assessment as they examine strategies for building units of instruction that integrate multiple content areas. Sessions will be led by teams of the Department’s content specialists. Units will integrate combinations of world language, social studies, visual and performing arts, science, English language arts, health education and physical education, and mathematics. Units will also incorporate strategies for technology integration and family engagement.

Structure of the Day:

School districts are strongly encouraged to attend as teams of three or more people. Teams will gather at the beginning of the day for a panel presentation and discussion. Then, team members will attend breakout sessions where they will experience integrated lessons and units incorporating the principles of formative assessment drawn from Hattie, Fisher and Frey’s (2018) Developing Assessment Capable Learners text. Finally, at the end of the day, teams will reconvene to share, process, and apply what they experienced in the breakout sessions, as well as have opportunity to connect with other teams to gather additional ideas.

Team Configuration:

Teams may include PK-12 educators, administrators, instructional coaches, and special education instructors.  Schools are encouraged to include representation from multiple grade levels and all content areas when forming teams and to divide up team members across breakout sessions.  The time at the end of the day will be more productive if participants attend as part of a team, but if an educator attends without a team, accommodations will be made to group single participants for sharing and planning. When registering participants, be sure to gather information about which breakout session each will attend.  Session descriptions are included below.

Registration Dates/Locations/Links:

Elementary (Pk-5):

July 9th at the Ramada in Lewiston, 8:30-3:30

July 24th at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer, 8:30-3:30

Secondary (6-12):

July 10th at the Ramada in Lewiston, 8:30-3:30

July 25th at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer, 8:30-3:30

Registration Cost:

$75/team of 3 or $30/ person.  Individual registrations are accepted but teams are strongly encouraged.  Register by June 28, 2019.  Credit or debit cards are necessary for registration.  Cancellations must be made at least a week prior to the event to be eligible for a refund.  A morning snack and lunch will be provided. Participants will earn 6 contact hours.

For more information please contact Lee Anne Larsen, leeann.larsen@maine.gov or Beth Lambert, beth.lambert@maine.gov.

 

PK-5 Breakout Session Selections

Session 1: Laying a Foundation for Future Learning

Wendy L. Ostroff describes curiosity as being aware and open, checking things out, experimenting and interacting within one’s surroundings. Come explore with us ways to create the conditions for curiosity in the PK-5 classrooms. Together, specialists in Career and Education Development, Early Childhood Learning, Physical Education, and World Languages have designed learning experiences to pique curiosity about inventors, inventions and innovations and how they change daily life.  Presented by Maine DOE Specialists Jean Zimmerman (Physical Education), Lavinia Rogers (World Languages), Nicole Madore (Early Childhood), and Diana Doiron (Career and Education Development).

Session 2: Mimicking Animals

Humans have imitated and mimicked animal characteristics for as long as man has walked the earth. In this strand we will explore how humans use strategies inspired by nature to solve health and safety problems, then to communicate those out while embracing strategies that are proven to advance student learning and develop assessment capable learners.  Presented by Maine DOE Specialists Danielle Saucier (English Language Arts), Susan Berry (Health Education), and Shari Templeton (Science).

Session 3: Putting the You in Comm_nity

It takes a community to raise a child and this includes making sure that students understand that they are part of a bigger world. Take a look at what it means to be part of a community through the eyes of early childhood, visual and performing arts, and social studies as we explore an integrated approach to instruction that focuses on helping students take ownership in their own learning. Presented by Maine DOE Specialists Joe Schmidt (Social Studies), Nate Menifield (Visual and Performing Arts), and Sue Reed (Early Childhood).

6-12 Breakout Session Selections

Session 1:  To Tell the Truth: Using Decision-Making to Your Advantage

As the rate of change in the world increases faster than ever imagined, students need to be able to think on their feet, process new information, and make good decisions. Come explore with us ways to support students to think critically about the world around them by examining how Career and Education Development, Health Education, and Social Studies could use problem solving to develop decision-making skills that are necessary for success both in and out of the classroom.  Presented by Maine DOE Specialists Susan Berry (Health Education), Joe Schmidt (Social Studies), and Diana Doiron (Career and Education Development).

Session 2:  Graphical Literacy, S’il Vous Plait

World Languages, Mathematics and Science all build upon knowing how to read and interpret data found in a variety of graphical formats. We will utilize graphs to tell a story and to explore the intersections between content areas while practicing proven strategies that move the needle on student learning. Presented by Maine DOE Specialists Lavinia Rogers (World Languages), Michele Mailhot (Math), and Shari Templeton (Science). 

Session 3:  STRENGTH AND STAMINA: SUPPORTING ASSESSMENT CAPABLE LEARNERS

In Visual & Performing Arts, Health & Physical Education, and English Language Arts

Building learning strength requires a growth mindset to set goals that are challenging and reachable. Building leaning stamina involves persistence, problem solving, planning, and practice. VPA, HPE, and ELA specialists will provide support for evaluating learning to set growth goals and model strategies for building stamina while focusing on the student’s overall experience throughout the school day, the school year, or the education pathway. Presented by Maine DOE Specialists Jean Zimmerman (Physical Education), Morgan Dunton (English Language Arts), and Nate Menifield (Visual and Performing Arts).

 

 

Professional Learning Opportunity: Learning Design Lab at Bucksport Middle School

Bucksport Middle School is proud to host a Maine Department of Education Learning Design Lab on Wednesday, June 5th, 2019. The Learning Design Lab will focus on technologies used for project-based learning. Participants will learn from students and teachers in four different classes, spanning grades 5-8.

  • The school’s Digital Media Club will share how they have created a digital newspaper, video announcements, and event recordings;
  • The Gifted and Talented Art program will model ways iPhoto can be used for photo manipulation;
  • 7th grade social studies students will show how they are using several technologies for their Greek mythology project; and
  • Several 5th & 6th graders will introduce participants to their TinkerCAD projects that were used to create bubble wands and boats with 3D printers.

After visiting classrooms, educators will have time to debrief the experience with lead teachers and to be supported as they plan ways to bring what they’ve learned back to their schools. Bucksport Middle School students and teachers are looking forward to leading a day of learning, as well as an afternoon work session where they and participants can develop new ideas together!

  • Date: Wednesday, June 5th, 2019
  • Time: 8:30am – 2pm (arrival begins at 8:00am with light refreshments)
  • Location: 100 Miles Lane, Bucksport, ME 04416
  • Open to all Maine educators who have completed the fingerprinting and background check process through the Maine DOE as part of your employment in your local district.
  • Free to attend
  • Contact Hours: Educators can earn 5.5 contact hours
  • Registration (please complete by Thursday, May 30th at 5pm):

Agenda

8:00am: Arrival (light refreshments will be provided)
8:30am: Welcome and Introductions
9:00am:  Student-led presentations
–Digital Media Club (Grades 5-8)
–Digital Photo Manipulation (Grades 7-8)
10:00am: Break
10:15am:  Student-led presentations
–Greek Mythology Project (Grade 7)
-3D Printing (Grades 5-6)
11:15am: Lunch (will be provided)
11:45am: Conversations with lead educators
12:45pm: Supported planning time
1:45pm: Closing and Reflections
2:00pm: End

For answers to questions or more information, please contact: Amanda Nguyen, Digital Learning Specialist at Amanda.Nguyen@maine.gov

Social Studies Standards Revision- LD 283

On April 19, 2019  Governor Mills signed LD 283, which contained the revised Maine Learning Results for Social Studies. While personal finance has always been included in the standards, this bill and the subsequent revision of the standards were designed to make explicit the importance of this content area.

The signed bill is currently going through the Maine Administrative Procedure Act to officially become law through the Secretary of State’s office. It is anticipated that the law will go into effect near the end of this school year. This timeline allows schools to begin planning for implementation during the summer of 2019. Planning is underway for a series of professional development opportunities around the state in 2019 and 2020, as well as online resources, to help support schools as they transition to use of the revised standards.

In the meantime, a new Social Studies: Standards & Instruction website has been created, along with links to related pages and resources, to help educators and districts begin planning for any curricular changes that are deemed necessary in light of the revised standards.

#DigCit4ME Challenge Highlights Top-finishers and Concludes with Webinar Opportunity on May 9th, 2019.

Since January 2019, educators across the state of Maine have been participating in a blended learning experience designed to support schools as they integrate Digital Citizenship concepts into various student learning opportunities. In particular, participants learned how the Health Education and Physical Education Standards intersected with the Common Sense Media Framework, as well as opportunities to explore these concepts within other content areas.

The #DigCit4ME Challenge featured in-person workshops (agenda and resources)  and an online game designed collaboratively between the Maine Department of Education and Alludo Learning.

Several educators asked questions about the process of designing a blended learning opportunity, so the Department will co-host a webinar where the team from Alludo Learning will discuss the pedagogy behind their design (including gamified learning, evidence-based learning, choice-based learning, and digital badging) and the Department will talk more about our process of designing this blended learning opportunity. Educators will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the presentation.

Webinar Details:

Additionally, the Department would like to celebrate the participation and success of educators who joined the #DigCit4ME Challenge. Educators and districts competed in the online game, and the results are in:

Districts:

  • First Place: RSU18
  • Second Place: MSAD 17
  • Third Place: Boothbay Region Schools
  • Fourth Place: Falmouth Schools
  • Fifth Place (tie): RSU 10 and Yarmouth School System

Educators: *There were some educators who would have placed with high scores, but we didn’t have permission to print their names!

  • First place: Tim Hebda (Wayneflete School)
  • Second place: Matthew Drewette-Card (MSAD 46)
  • Third place: Maria Reinstein (RSU 10)
  • Fourth place (tie): Kelly Fraser (MSAD 44) and Carisa Hammer (MSAD 17),
  • Fifth place (tie): Allison Braley (RSU 25), Chris Kierstead (RSU 18), Ryan Palmer (MSAD 75), and Nick Shuman (York School Department)

Congratulations and thank you for everything you did to provide evidence of your learning!

Overall participation:

Credit: https://www.alludolearning.com/maine-doe-pilot?rq=digcit

For answers to questions or more information, please contact:

Amanda Nguyen
Digital Learning Specialist
Maine Department of Education
Amanda.Nguyen@maine.gov
Office: 207-624-6656
Cell: 207-441-5757

Maine’s Transformational Leaders’ Network Summer Conference Registration ENDS SOON!

Register Now! Closing May 10,2019!

WHO:  YOU if you are a building principal

WHAT:  Maine’s Transformational Leaders’ Network  Summer Conference

WHEN:  Sunday, June 23, 2019 (check in 4:00)– Wednesday, June 26, 2019 (ends 2:00)

WHERE:  The Senator Inn in Augusta (Lodging is available Sunday night for those who need it; there are no formal activities that evening)

The Maine Department of Education invites you, as the leader of a Maine school, to take advantage of a great opportunity to join the Transformational Leaders’ Network (TLN) for a yearlong experience. The Network brings principals together to support school improvement and, most importantly, to promote leadership growth.  The TLN is part of DOE’s commitment to support schools trying to improve. Principals from across Maine have been TLN members for the past five years and have found it extremely helpful in their leadership of school improvement.

“I’ve left the TLN feeling really energized and feeling that I can continue this hard work with my staff, with fresh ideas and fresh focus…”

“When we go to these meetings, it is very positive. There is a lot of support for each other and we are not sitting there saying, ‘Poor us.’ We are looking at the work that is being done by schools and the positive things that are going on in schools and we are using that to help each other, in order to raise the aspirations of kids, but also of teachers, and let them know that we are all in this together.”

DOE will cover the costs for the conference registration, hotel lodging, daily breakfast and lunch (dinners will be on your own), and required texts. Contact hours for the conference and for TLN sessions throughout the year may be used for recertification.

Principals will bring their own school improvement goals to the conference and, in a variety of formats, draw up plans for their leadership work in the coming school year.

What are the objectives of the TLN?   

  • Establish a supportive learning network
  • Develop knowledge of the resources available to you and your staff to assist in successfully transforming teaching and learning
  • Reduce the isolation that you may often feel by connecting you with other leaders engaged in improving their schools
  • Provide a forum for celebrating successes and addressing challenges with your colleagues

What are the objectives of the Summer Conference?

  • You will be guided to develop two workable plans:
  1. Goals and initial actions to improve teaching and learning at your school
  2. Goals and initial actions for your personal leadership growth that will help make the goals of school improvement a reality
  • You will come to know and trust fellow principals as learning colleagues in order to support each other in the hard work of improving your school
  • You will deepen your understanding of how school leadership can contribute to school improvement
  • You will expand your skill set and your strategies as a school leader

What can you expect to come away with after the Summer Conference?

  • Two workable plans that connect your leadership growth to facilitating school improvement in the coming school year
  • First Steps that you can work on over the summer
  • A feeling of support, authenticity, and safety within the TLN that will sustain you and your work over the coming year.

REGISTER BY Friday, May 10, 2019! Space is limited so we ask you to register right away using the following link:

https://forms.gle/MsVvi82drf8UP6yv8

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to one of the following individuals who will be working with you at this conference:

Stephen MacDougall                                                Fran Farr

(207) 754-5436                                                         (207) 439-9659

smacdougall831@gmail.com                                  franfarr522@gmail.com

 

Gordon Donaldson                                                    George Marnik

(207) 667-2382                                                           (207) 461-6047

gadjr11@gmail.com                                                  george.marnik@maine.edu

 

Sally Mackenzie                                                          Linda Bowe

(207) 798-9619                                                           (207) 322-7256

sarah.v.mackenzie@maine.edu                              lbowe23@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

Assessment Capable Learning for the 21st Century -Save the Date!

Join the Maine Department of Education as we explore knowledge, skills, and dispositions that are necessary for 21st century careers and the intentional actions of educators to support students developing the skill and will to fuel their learning. Participants will delve into the principles of assessment capable learning as they examine strategies for building units of instruction that integrate multiple content areas. Sessions will be led by teams of the Department’s content specialists. Units will integrate combinations of world language, social studies, visual and performing arts, science, English language arts, health education and physical education, and mathematics. Units will also incorporate strategies for technology integration and family engagement.

School districts are encouraged to bring teams of three or more people. We will gather as teams at the beginning of the day for a panel and some discussion. Then, each team member will attend a different breakout session where they will experience integrated lessons and units incorporating the principles of assessment capable learners. Finally, at the end of the day, teams will reconvene to share, process, and apply what they experienced in the breakout sessions. Teams may include educators, administrators, instructional coaches, and special education instructors.  Schools are encouraged to include representation from multiple grade levels and all content areas when forming their teams.

When:

Elementary (Pk-5):

July 9th at the Ramada in Lewiston

July 24th at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer

Secondary (6-12):

July 10th at the Ramada in Lewiston

July 25th at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer

Cost:

$130/ team of 3 or $50/ person; lunch provided. Individual registrations are accepted but teams are preferred.

More details about this opportunity and the registration will be provided after April school vacation week.

For more information please contact Lee Anne Larsen, leeann.larsen@maine.gov or Beth Lambert, beth.lambert@maine.gov.

Exciting Summer Agriculture Opportunity for Teachers!

Teachers of all grades:  Looking for an exciting and informative summer opportunity related to agriculture?  Consider the upcoming July 29 – August 2, 2019 “Agriculture for ME on Land and Sea” Summer Teachers’ Institute. Located at the University of New England, on their beautiful coastal Biddeford Campus, and offered by Maine Agriculture in the Classroom!  With stimulating local trips, talks featuring hands-on activities, and high quality lesson plans to take home with you, this event promises to be a great success.  The cost of the 5-day training (registering through July 1st) is just $200, including lodging, travel and meals, with scholarships available.  Participants will receive 36 contact hours, or 3.6 CEUs, from the University of Maine for re-certification credit, as well as many valuable materials.  For further information, and to register, please go to https://www.agclassroom.org/me/programs/summer_inst.htm For any additional questions, please contact Maine Agriculture in the Classroom at maitc@mainel.gov or (207)287-5522.