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News from The Alaska Department of Education

Tags: news

NEW! Alaska Statewide Virtual System Discussion Board

AKSVS teachers, are you looking for a place of discussion and support? Interested in meeting and sharing with other Alaskan teachers using AKSVS? Check out the Teacher Channel Discussion Board through the Alaska Professional Learning Network.

NEW! SJM Artist-in-Residence Virtual Regalia Making Class with Pamela Johnson

The Sheldon Jackson Museum is pleased to offer a virtual child’s regalia-making class with artist-in-residence Pamela Johnson (Tlingit). The intensive online class for ages 17 and up will be held October 7-16 on Zoom. To register, call the museum directly at (907) 747-8981.

 

 

NEW! Virtual Watercolor Postcard Workshop

At this virtual workshop for kids ages 7-12, get inspired by historic tourism images from around Alaska, learn watercolor painting techniques from local artist Hollis Kitchin, and create your own hand-painted postcard to send to a loved one or keep for yourself. Participants will need to be able to access a Zoom meeting and a webcam. Space is limited. Materials will be provided and pick-up information will be sent when your registration is confirmed.

 

 

Trauma Engaged Toolkit Professional Development Opportunities

This fall AASB & DEED will be hosting a series of webinars featuring the Transforming Schools Framework and Toolkit. The first session will take place on September 15th and will focus on Self Care. Please continue to check back as more sessions are added.

 

 

Scavenger Hunt Phone App Technology Guides Place-based Education

A mission, a map containing cryptic codes that unlock clues, and an Xtra Tuff boots-wearing secret agent named Northern Flying Squirrel. These are all part of an updated scavenger hunt phone app – launching on September 4th. This mission was made possible thanks to a continuing partnership between the Alaska State Museum and the U.S. Forest Service.

 

 

 New DEED Science Education Listserv

DEED launched a new Science Education! The listserv will be a space for science teachers in Alaska to share information on teaching practices, instructional resources, community partnerships, lesson plan and unit ideas, professional development opportunities, and to discuss topical concerns in science instruction. DEED will also use it to push out notifications regarding opportunities in science education.  All science teachers in Alaska (pre-K, K-12, and collegiate) are encouraged to join.

 

 

DEED and AASB Release a Trauma-Engaged Toolkit for Alaska Schools During the Pandemic and Beyond

DEED and the Association of Alaska School Boards unveiled a new resource for Alaska schools, the “Transforming Schools Toolkit”. This online resource is a companion guide to the “Transforming Schools: A Framework for Trauma Engaged Practice in Alaska,” released in 2019.

 

 

Teaching Dr. King’s Social Justice Principles to a Digital Generation

In response to student interest in issues of equality and social justice, these timely curricula for both high school and elementary school students are based on the nonviolent social justice philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Both MLK curricula are ideally suited for online learning. For more background on this timely and unique educational initiative, please watch the recording of the Alaska Smart Start 2020 Summer Virtual Summit session on August 10.

This MLK curriculum is keyed to national and state history and social studies standards

This MLK curriculum is keyed to national and state ELA reading standards

 

 

Museum From Home

Alaska museums and cultural centers offer a rich diversity of online learning opportunities, activities, and experiences that you can explore right from your home!

 

 

Needs Assessment of Alaska’s Mixed-Delivery System of Early Childhood Care and Education

This needs assessment is funded by a Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) awarded to DEED by the Administration for Children and Families, and jointly administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education. For Alaska, the core grant focus on children birth through age 5 years is expanded to include children prenatal through 8 years of age where data and information allow.

 

 

Extended Availability of District FY20 Perkins Funds due to COVID-19 Interruptions

Districts with unspent FY20 Perkins funds have an additional 3 months to expend awarded funds on Perkins/CTE activities.  These funds normally would have expired on July 1, 2020 but are now available through September 30, 2020. For questions or comments please contact Brad Billings.

 

 

Documenting the Impact of COVID-19 on Life in Alaska

The Alaska State Libraries, Archives, and Museums Division is documenting the impact of COVID-19 on life in Alaska. You can help by sharing documents, images, journals, audio recordings, videos, and other digital or tangible items relating to COVID-19 in Alaska.

 

 

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?

  • For students to access BrainPop: click the LOG IN tab (not ENTER CODE)
  • For teachers to whose schools are set up to use BrainPop Educator: use the ENTER CODE

If you have the username and password for DEED’s statewide subscription, please only share it in a way that no one on the internet besides your patrons or students can access the username/password. (i.e. direct e-mail ok, posting to your social media/website/blog is NOT.) If you don’t have the current SLED database credentials, visit the SLED Password Request form and fill it out completely. Expect a response within one business day. The SLED usernames and passwords are good for nearly all the SLED Databases and resources. One request will empower you to help with just about anything SLED related. Contact Martha Ketsdever, BrainPOP Account Manager for Alaska State Libraries, for more information.

 

 

Seeking Public Review and Comment on State Content Standards

DEED is seeking review and comment on state content standards. We encourage parents, educators, and communities to take a few minutes to provide input on Alaska's current English Language Arts and Mathematics standards adopted in 2012.