February 10, 2016
There is so much happening around the SRI community – take some time to read through and join the conversations!
Gene Thompson-Grove Interview on The Perkins Platform
SRI Board Member, Gene Thompson-Grove, was the guest this week on The Perkins Platform Radio/Podcast. You can listen to the recording at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/the-perkins-platform/2016/02/10/coaching-teachers-and-leaders-for-equity-excellence and share with your networks.
Winter Meeting 2017 – Denver – Planning Team
As we finalize the materials from our very successful Miami Winter Meeting, our attention turns to planning and preparing for the 2017 meeting in Denver, CO. Be sure to save the date – January 13-15, 2017!
We are looking for SRI affiliates who are interested in being a part of the planning team to help us design and implement the Denver Winter Meeting. The time commitment is a few hours a month, now until about September, then 5-10 hours a month as we get closer to the Winter Meeting. If you are interested in serving SRI in this capacity, please email Heidi Vosekas (heidi@schoolreforminitiative.org).
Looking for Some Virtual Connections
We’ve received specific requests from the SRI community for the development of virtual learning communities related to specific interests and topics. If you are interested in being a part of the following conversations, please email Kari Thierer (kari@schoolreforminitiative.org), and we will get you connected with others who share this topic of interest.
Supporting District-Level SRI Implementation/Change Efforts – This group is provided for folks who are doing work at the district level, trying to implement SRI tools and practices across schools, as a stand-alone change effort or as part of a district-wide improvement effort.
Supporting Students Involved in the Juvenile Justice System – In many states, the largest group of students are those that are part of the juvenile justice system. This is a group for people who want to spend time thinking about how best to serve this traditionally forgotten population, and how to support teachers who are supporting students moving in and out of the juvenile justice system.
Do you have a topic that would benefit from some national virtual connections? Please email Kari (kari@schoolreforminitiative.org) and we can share with the SRI community and help you find the learning community you need to dive deep into the topics that interest/inspire/challenge you!
Using Google Docs to Support Virtual Learning Communities
SRI Affiliate Jessie Odgren shared a great way to use Google Docs to support a ‘virtual consensogram’ activity on the SRI Facebook Page. Consenograms are used in learning communities as a way to assess participants needs, knowledge, attitudes, on specific topics. Many SRI facilitators use them as a way to check understanding and gauge learning over time (beginning of a 3- or 5-day session, end of same session).
In the virtual world, Jessie recreated this activity using Google Forms (part of the Google Docs suite).
1. First, you need to create a Google Form using the questions you want to ask.
2. Then, as soon as everyone submits their answers, you can view a summary of responses in bar graph form and have discussion questions around what the responses say about the particular learning community group.
You will need to have a way for participants to view the information – either through a shared link to the results, or using a screen sharing option in your virtual connection.
Want to know more? Email Jessie Odgren (jodgren@islandinstitute.org), join our Facebook Group so you can keep up with these great conversations; and be on the lookout for an upcoming webinar series on ‘How to Facilitate Virtual Learning Communities Online’ that we hope to launch in March!
Teach to Lead New Orleans – Deadline Extended
The deadline to for submissions to be considered for the Teach to Lead New Orleans summit has been extended to February 22nd.
SRI is a national partner for this initiative of the US Department of Education. Teach to Lead Summit #7 in New Orleans this spring! Educators, submit your ideas for the Summit by Feb. 22nd (new deadline!) at http://svy.mk/1NnnNPt. Join teachers from around the country and work together to advance teacher leadership! To learn more and get inspired, go here: http://tinyurl.com/osq4sa9.
Are You Offering Summer Seminars? Are You Interested in Attending Summer Learning Opportunities?
Although it is still Winter, we are dreaming about the warm weather and the amazing learning experiences that will be offered throughout the SRI community. If you are an SRI facilitator who is planning to offer summer learning, please be sure to get your events posted ASAP. If you need help, contact Chris Jones (chris@schoolreforminitiative.org).
If you are interested in attending some great summer professional learning, be sure to check out the SRI events calendar. It will continue to be updated throughout the next few months. Don’t see what you are looking for? Let us know and we can see if we can help you find a session that suits your needs, or we can create one that work!
Do you have news to share? Interesting things happening in your area? Please let us know so we can share with our community! Email Chris, chris@schoolreforminitiative.org.
Thank you,
Kari Thierer, Heidi Vosekas, and Chris Jones
on behalf of School Reform Initiative
