- Cama-i, quyana tailuci!
- (Central Yup’ik)
- "Greetings, thank you for coming!"
Last Call, Reminder, New!
Last Call:
Last Call! The Great Influenza: Virtual Watch Party
National Book Festival Presents will host its first online conversation featuring author John M. Barry, who wrote “The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History” about the 1918 pandemic, in conversation with David Rubenstein. Library of Congress collections are also good resources on the 1918 pandemic, including newspapers and photographs. Take a look at the links and search for “1918 influenza.” Join the Watch Party on the Library of Congress Facebook page on April 11.
Last Call! Supporting Educators in Implementing Reading Across the Content Areas
Join the Regional Educational Laboratories (REL) for a free webinar to discuss strategies to support educators in implementing reading across the content areas for all students, including English learners and students with disabilities, to promote literacy. The webinar will be held April 13.
Last Call! Springtime in Alaska Webinar
Springtime activities for children age 12 months through preschool will be discussed for parents, educators, and those that work with early childhood educators. The objective of the course is for early childhood educators to gather new ideas to share in their education settings as well as with the parents of their programs. The webinar will take place April 14.
Last Call! Sensory Processing and Early Childhood Mental Health
Facilitated by the Programs for Infants and Children (PIC), this class will include understanding the different sensory systems of young children, basic information about sensory processing and self-regulation, emotional factors and reactivity, behaviors resulting from difficulty with sensory systems, and strategies to address sensory related behaviors. The webinar will take place April 14 and 16.
Last Call! 2020 Ninth Circuit Civics Contest: The Right to Vote
The Ninth Circuit is hosting its 2020 Civics Contest, and the theme is Right to Vote. The essay and video contest is for high school students in the western United States and Pacific Islands. Alaska high school students won first place in 2017 and 2019! The deadline has been extended to April 15.
Last Call! Strategies to Support Remote Learning Along a Continuum of Internet Access
The Regional Education Laboratories (REL) is hosting a webinar designed for administrators from state education agencies, districts, and schools; teachers; school board members; and others interested in strategies to support remote learning through internet connectivity and without connectivity. The webinar will take place April 16.
New:
NEW! Learning Express: College Admissions Tests
Jimmy King, Learning Express Consultant and trainer extraordinaire will introduce participants to the College Admission Test Prep offered in Learning Express Library available on SLED. SAT, ACT, AP exam test prep. The Test Prep includes practice tests, tutorials, eBooks, and other content to help students score higher on the high-stake tests. He will also cover tutorials that help students write their college entrance essays and other important college prep content. The webinar will take place April 20 at 9am.
NEW! Virtual Story Times and Copyright Issues
As librarians have had to pivot away from face-to-face programming and towards virtual, many have expressed concern about potential copyright infringement issues. The School Library Journal published the article, Publishers Adapt Policies to Help Educators, listing all of the publishers allowing educators and librarians to read their books online during the pandemic. The list is being updated daily. The Programming Librarian’s blog post, News: Online Storytime & Coronavirus, It’s Fair Use Folks, covered the basics of fair use and how it applies to virtual story time during the pandemic.
NEW! “Grab the Mic” Initiatives Encourages Young People to Tell Their Stories
Jason Reynolds, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, will connect with young people at home through his new video series and newsletter. On April 14, Reynolds will debut his first initiative in support of his platform “GRAB THE MIC: Tell Your Story”—including a monthly newsletter for parents and educators and a biweekly video series intended to inspire creativity in young people. Both will be hosted on Reynolds’ GRAB THE MIC Resource Guide.
Reminder:
NEH will receive $75 million in supplemental funding to assist cultural institutions affected by COVID-19 as part of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act economic stabilization plan appropriated by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Trump.
Prince William Sound College Extends Online Course Offerings for Teachers
PWSC will continue its popular "for Teachers" courses online. Course costs have been reduced to $119 for 3 500-level UAA credits. Classes will cover content in ALEKS Math, ALEKS Chemistry, Web Database Systems (MySQL), or NCCER Certification. Classes will be taught synchronously online and with instructor directed hands-on experiential learning projects that students can do at their homes. Teachers have a choice of two instructional sessions: April 20 - May 1 (teachers will need an agreement signed by their district to participate) or May 24 - 30. Email Woody Woodgate at wawoodgate@alaska.edu for more information.
Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program
The U.S. Department of Education is inviting applications for fiscal year 2020 for the Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program (TSL). The purpose of TSL is to assist States, Local Educational Agencies, and nonprofit organizations to develop, implement, improve, or expand comprehensive Performance-Based Compensation Systems or Human Capital Management Systems for teachers, principals, and other School Leaders The deadline for Notice of Intent is May 4.
USDA Announces Online Tool to Help Families Find Meals for Kids During COVID-19
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the launch of an online tool – the “Meals for Kids” Site Finder – to help families find meals for children while schools are closed during the coronavirus pandemic. This is the latest in a series of swift actions USDA has taken to keep children and low-income individuals fed during the ongoing health crisis.
USDA is opening a second application window for funding under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program. Electronic applications for window two may be submitted through grants.gov beginning April 14, 2020, and are due no later than July 13, 2020. Paper applications will not be accepted under the second window. Additional information on how to apply will be available on grants.gov on April 14.
Prince William Sound College For Teachers Courses
Prince William Sound College is pleased to announce the Summer 2020 For Teachers professional-development offerings for Alaska teachers. The lineup will include courses in technology, environmental science, math, chemistry, and construction. Each course is based on a one-week summer experience followed by an implementation exercise during the fall. Courses will cover lesson planning focused on place-based and experiential learning, and the Alaska Cultural Standards. Teachers can earn three 500-level college credits that can be used toward teacher recertification.
Outer Coast Summer Seminar 2020
Outer Coast is seeking curious, community-minded students for its upcoming Outer Coast Year (for students who will have graduated high school before August 2020, deadline May 15 for Fall Semester). The program is intended to support students in their understanding of themselves, their role in community, and their abilities to effect positive change in the world. If you have any questions please email johnny@outercoast.org.
ASDN Offers Sessions and Courses for Alaskan Educators During COVID-19
The Alaska Staff Development Network (ASDN) is offering many sessions and courses for Alaskan educators during COVID-19. Please see the resources page for professional development opportunities, partner resource sites, and many resources for distance learning.
ACPE Offers Resource to Prevent Default During Outbreak of COVID-19
In this unprecedented environment, one of the primary concerns for the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) is ensuring meaningful relief is available for the state student loan borrowers impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To mitigate adverse economic impacts, the Commission has implemented a number of strategies to support borrowers.
ASDN’s Live Remote Teaching Support Sessions
Looking for ideas? Feeling isolated? Under quarantine? Join Alaska Staff Development Network for free, high quality 1-hour ZOOM professional development sessions on moving the traditional classroom off-site or online. Sessions available now on math, literacy, rural reaching and meaningful connections online.
AKCIS.org – Alaska Career Information System
This online personal learning and career planning system is offered to everyone in Alaska for FREE by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE). Students assess their interests and values to focus exploration of 16 National Career Clusters and over 570 occupations. AKCIS activities are relevant from grades 3 through 12. For information and assistance in sharing this resource with your students, contact the ACPE team at akcis@alaska.gov
GCI Offers Free Internet Upgrades Through May 31
In response to COVID-19, many Alaskans are working from home, adopting new social-distancing behaviors and managing students who are home from school due to closures. To support this new way of living and doing business, GCI announced special packages to support Alaskans’ expanding need for connectivity at home.
2020 Census Resources for Students at Home
The Census Bureau is carefully monitoring the situation and working with national, state, and local health authorities as the 2020 Census is underway. They are adapting their operations where needed, but the goal is the same - to ensure a complete and accurate count of everyone, including children.
National History Academy Seeking Applications
National History Academy is seeking applications from Alaska high school students for this summer. Based in Middleburg, Virginia, the Academy inspires students to learn about the foundations of our country, visiting more than 35 defining historic sites such as Monticello, Gettysburg and Washington, DC, and learning from 30 national leaders. Plus, all 2020 students will also have the special opportunity to see Hamilton: The Musical at the Kennedy Center. The Academy has scholarship funding specifically set aside for Alaska students, so please encourage students to apply.
USDA Food and Nutrition Services Extends Public Comment Period on Proposed Regulations
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is seeking public comment on two proposed regulations related to the Summer Food Service Program, and the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The comment period has been extended to April 22.
Riverbend Elementary creates a YouTube Channel for Students
Riverbend Elementary in Juneau is setting up a YouTube Channel for its students to watch during the time away from school. It is still in the beginning stages, but it will have a variety of activities, lessons, and messages. Their goal is to stay connected to students and families and provide options for learning and playing. Their first video is of Kindergarten teacher Mr. Savikko with a song writing challenge for students.
U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration Educational Resources
The United States of America's Vietnam War Commemoration is a Department of Defense office authorized by Congress. The organization's History and Legacy Branch's professional historians and educators have developed materials to aid educators and students in gaining a greater appreciation of the Vietnam War, the veteran, and their importance to U.S. history. These resources are free and can be viewed online, shipped to middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities, libraries, and museums.
U.S. Department of Education to Host Digital Equity Summits
The 2020 Regional Digital Equity Summits will engage state and local education leaders and community collaborators, and help participants identify strategies, connect with resources, and explore partnership opportunities to ensure future digital learning demands are met. Following each Summit, attendees will have access to six-months of free, ongoing technical assistance as they build community action plans to address local digital equity priorities. Several Summits are available to choose from in the Spring/Summer. The Anchorage Summit will take place August 10-11.
Save the Date: Our Cultural Landscape Education Conference
The Sealaska Heritage Institute will sponsor its third education conference for teachers and administrators in Southeast Alaska in an effort to promote culturally responsive pedagogy in schools. The goal is to provide educators with a deep understanding of culturally-responsive education. The conference will take place August 3-8 in Juneau. Watch for registration information.
Applications open for ASDN’s Summer Code.org Computer Science Professional Learning Program
Middle and High School teachers are invited to participate in 5-day Code.org workshops this June and August in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Bethel. There is no cost to participate, and travel scholarships are available. Contact Cheryl Bobo with questions cbobo@alaskaacsa.org.
- CS Discoveries (Grades 6-10), June 1-5 in Anchorage or June 8-12 in Fairbanks
- CS Principals (Grades 9-12 and AP), June 1-5 in Anchorage or August 1-5 in Bethel
Earn Credits, Have Fun, and Learn to Integrate with the Arts!
The Alaska Arts Education Consortium has opened registration for four unique Arts Institutes. Educators from all districts are invited to attend. For more information contact Barbara Short, AAEC Executive Director, bshort@akartsed.org.
- Science and the Arts for Elementary Classroom Teachers – May 26-29, Anchorage Summer Academy, 2 credits
- Social Emotional Learning and the Arts – June 1-5, Soldotna, 3 credits
- Multicultural Arts Institute – June 15-20, Fairbanks, 3 credits
- Cultural Arts Institute – July 20-31, Juneau with trip to Klukwan, 4 credits
Interior Agricultural Institute Professional Development Opportunity
Alaska Gateway School District invites you to apply to attend a week-long training workshop. Participants will gain working knowledge of greenhouse and hydroponic operation and utilize a culinary art curriculum with students. The workshop will take place May 26-30 in Tok. Contact Jane Teague at jteague@agsd.us or (907) 940-5031 for more information.
Creative Coding is now included in BrainPOP Subscription
Many of you know that Alaska has a statewide license to BrainPOP, but did you know that your teachers can unlock additional features through individual accounts that can only be set up at the school level? At no additional charge to you? And now, BrainPOP is offering Creative Coding to teach coding and computer science to students and educators. Contact Martha Ketsdever, BrainPOP Account Manager for Alaska State Libraries, for more information at marthak@brainpop.com.
Join the Alaska Education Network – Project ECHO
Project ECHO is a statewide initiative focused on uniting Alaska’s educational leaders with the intention of building a support network. They offer 75-minute sessions via Zoom every other week with three themes to choose from: Educational Leadership, Instructional Development, and Positive Behavior, Safety, & Well-Being. All educators at any level are encouraged to join! There is no cost to participate! Sessions run through April 29. 500 level credit offered through UAA Pace.
To submit news items, please contact Rochelle Lindley at (907) 465-6535 or rochelle.lindley@alaska.gov. This newsletter is available weekly and in archived form at https://education.alaska.gov/news/infoexch.