Professional Learning Collaboratives

Welcome to the second PLC Day for the 2012-2013 school year. We continue to be very excited about the opportunities that are before us as we build a collaborative culture and work with colleagues as connected learners.

The registration for Day 2 is online (you will receive an e-mail on Monday morning, October 8, 2012 to let you know the registration window has opened) and you have five session choices to choose from. Select the session you are most interested in and each session will be limited to 25 participants. Remember, that several of the sessions offered on Day 2 will be repeated again at one of the other PLC days.

Session choices for Wednesday, October 17:

• Whotube? YOUtube!  Using iMovie in the Classroom – Become the Spielburg of your campus!  You will learn how to get started using iMovie on your Mac to make movies to teach concepts, publish student’s work, make slideshows, create professional development, perform at assemblies…the possibilities are endless!  Everyone will think you’re a pro! (Rm 223, Science Lab, Intermediate)
• The Four Big Questions – How do we move forward in this rigorous world and meet all the needs of our students?  How do you plan for students that are struggling, while planning for those that excel academically?  How can we build on what students learned last year, while preparing them for the next year?  How do we know that we are assessing our students to the level they need to be assessed?  Come join us as we walk through the 4 BIG questions that can drive your team planning while answering all of the questions that are running through your head.  If attending please make sure to bring a copy of your TEKS. (Rm223, Science Lab, Intermediate)
• Why School? – Focusing on passing the test is not nearly enough any longer. The test doesn’t come close to capturing what our kids need to know to be able to do at this moment of rapid or radical change, and the longer we wait to start the conversation around doing school “differently,” instead of simply “better,” the more we’re putting our kids at risk. Based on the book by Will Richardson, this session will discuss and debate the merit and process of needed change in the learning environment. Come join us in this conversation about Why School?.  (Plato Lab, High School)
• ePortfolios:  Educating Students to Infinity and Beyond – Generate an eportfolio by using student blogs.  Learn how to set categories for subjects, reflect on learning with blogs, publish work, embed PDF files and more.  Let’s share ideas and learn from each other how to make the best use of student blogs. (Library, Middle School)
• Watch Your Language: How Powerful Prompts and Praises Shift Literacy Understanding – Looking for ways to have authentic conversations with struggling readers during guided reading, read alouds, and talk alouds? Participants will look at strategies, fluency, and ways to grasp the subject of reading. This session addresses reading issues at both elementary and secondary levels. (Rm 122, Middle School)

Registration Information:
Registration opens on Monday, noon, October 8, 2012 and closes on Friday, October 12, 2012 at midnight. Sessions are limited to 25 participants each.

Use this link to register: https://docs.google.com/a/woisd.net/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFNvTGVGUG12OFMydkhfZ0F4WFlRYlE6MQ

PLC Intro 2012 from White Oak ISD on Vimeo.

Professional Learning Collaboratives

Day 1 ~Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Welcome to the first PLC Day for the 2012-2013 school year. We are very excited about the opportunities that are before us as we build a collaborative culture and work with colleagues as connected learners.

The registration for Day 1 will be online and you have five session choices to choose from. Select the session you are most interested in and each session will be limited to 25 participants. Remember, that several of the sessions offered on Day 1 will be repeated again at one of the other PLC days.

Session choices for Wednesday, September 19:

• Interactive Notebooking – Do you need to know how to use a writer’s notebook or a reader’s notebook (regardless of the subject and/or grade level you teach) in the classroom with your lessons? Would you like great activities for teaching vocabulary? Interactive notebooks are research-based tools, allowing differentiation based on student needs, interests, and traits. Students use them to analyze and synthesize information, creating notes, responses, and graphics. You will leave with several notebook activities that will engage your students in the learning process. (HS PLATO Lab)
• Harnessing the power of Google and WONECKS blogs – How can we use the Google Apps system and blogs with our students? What about with PBL? Collaboration? Publishing? Creating artifacts for eportfolios? Let’s share ideas with each other and learn new ways to use the tools we have at our disposal regardless of grade level. (Rm 122, Middle School)
• The Four Big Questions – How do we move forward in this rigorous world and meet all the needs of our students? How do you plan for students that are struggling, while planning for those that excel academically? How can we build on what students learned last year, while preparing them for the next year? How do we know that we are assessing our students to the level they need to be assessed? Come join us as we walk through the 4 BIG questions that can drive your team planning while answering all of the questions that are running through your head. If attending please make sure to bring a copy of your TEKS. (Rm223, Science Lab, Intermediate)
• Symbaloo – Your APPy Place –These Symbaloo EDU PD Certified presenters will give you a hands-on experience and show you how to make Symbaloo: Your APPy Place. Participants will learn how Symbaloo EDU can fuse together webmixes to be used for student differentiation, building e-portfolios, creating digital library collections, embedding multimedia including Google docs, Glogster, Animoto, and much, much more. Have all of your most visited sites one click away right on your homescreen. You will leave AMAZED!
• Laptop (not iPad) needed to create your own Symbaloo. (Rm. 214, Computer Lab, Intermediate)
• Bard’s Take on the PBL Tale…Burn Bright, NOT Out! – Details, details coupled with intuitive, experienced based lesson methodology to get edge of seat enthusiasm, target lifelong learning and nail the essential elements of learning, and life all while having fun. The product is the student, not the stat. (MS Library)

Registration Information:

Registration opens on Monday morning, September 10th and closes the next Monday, September 17th at noon. Sessions are limited to 25 participants each. If you fail to register during this window, you will be assigned a spot in an available session.

Register at this link (must be logged into your school mail account to access this): https://docs.google.com/a/woisd.net/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGZIYkZhYjBIZ1lNb1hjZkJuQzNLNFE6MQ

As a White Oak ISD instructional staff member, you are a member of TCEA. As such, you have access to TCEA’s free lunch and learn webinars. The linuep for 12-13 is linked HERE.

Even if you cannot attend it live, register for it. They will email you the link to the recording of it after it ends. I’m sure you will find something of value with this resource. You can see the upcoming sessions and register for them HERE.