February 8, 2019

Welcome to the February edition of the PL Lighthouse! 
This monthly email blast and webpage has been designed to serve much like a lighthouse, to serve as a way forward and help in navigating through the busy school year. Nothing else speaks of safety in the face of adversity and challenge quite like the lighthouse. ​

The PL Light Bulb is Turning 5!
On February 20, 2014, the first message went out district-wide asking for school leaders to embrace personalized learning and to join the inaugural personalized learning cohort! Join us for a PL birthday celebration with events throughout the day and the official designation for February 20th as #PLday @PersonalizeDISD

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Ways to Celebrate:

• Use social media to share your why via Twitter and/or Instagram using #PLday @PersonalizeDISD. Use templates (tiny.cc/plday) to print and use with staff and students. Remember if you include students in pictures, make sure you check to see that they have their media release forms signed. The PL lightbulb will award individuals/campuses that celebrate in the most personalized way.
• Shadow-a-Student either on your own campus or sign up at one of the personalized learning campuses. The Shadow a Student Challenge is a fun, illuminating, and supportive journey where educators come together to empathize with students and take new kinds of action at their school/district.
  • To sign up and take the pledge, go to www.shadowastudent.org.
  • If you’d like our team to help match you with an opportunity to shadow a student at one of the personalized learning campuses, email Kristen at [email protected].
  • Download the toolkit at tiny.cc/sastoolkit
• End the birthday week by getting your Google on at the sold out Google Summit, Saturday February 23rd. Didn't get a ticket for the event? Join the waitlist to be the first to get tickets if they become available. Can't make it to the Summit but curious what your current level of Googliness is? Take the free readiness assessment to find out.
• Plan for a formal birthday celebration and cake at our last design studio of the year, Tuesday, April 2nd. This is also when we’ll formally introduce our new personalized learning schools for the 2019-2020 school year.  

MAP Testing Updates
Thanks for your patience! You are all doing a great job in getting MAP testing started at your campuses.

Here are a few tips and common questions that we have encountered so far that may be helpful to look over:

1. What is the difference between the K-2 MAP Growth test and the 2-5 MAP Growth test for second grade? THe MAP growth K-2 version has audio, requires headphones or earbuds, and is designed for non to emergent readers.  It covers the TEKS through Grade 3, allowing for that upper adaptability. Last year, it was listed as MAP for Primary Grades. 2-5 is appropriate for 2nd grade students who are reading independently, and for the most part, at grade level.
2. Why is the data for Spanish in Reading not showing all of the information on the report?
   Since the Spanish Reading MAP test is a field test, the data report will be limited. For example, they will receive a RIT score, but they will not see all of the data that they do for other subjects.
3. Are there accomodations for the 2-5 MAP Spanish test?
   Some accommodations are available but text-to-speech is not available yet for MAP Growth 2-5 Spanish Reading.
4. How can I find out which students still need to take the MAP test?
   Please see this video that shows how to check by running a report.
5. If a student does not complete the MAP test in one session and is suspended to finish a second day,  can that student be added to another proctor’s roster ?
   Yes. The student(s) can finish the test in another class or under a different proctor. The test will start them from where they left off.
6. When can I receive training on MAP reports?
   You can access report training by joining the MAP online course in Unified Classroom. Click here and enter the code 6QB9R. We will also be holding open office hours for campuses that are anxious to learn more about MAP reports:
   1. Tuesday, February 8, 2019 from 9-11pm
   2. Friday, February 15 from 1-3pm.
      To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/cei-thjf-kgg ​​

April Design Studio [April 2nd]
Our last design studio will be held on Tuesday, April 2nd 6th from 8:30AM-4:00 PM and will be held at Edison Learning Center [2940 Singleton Blvd.,Dallas, TX 75212].

It is crucial that principals plan to join their team and attend for the full day- as this is when you'll be finalizing your PL plans and identifying supports for the 2019-2020 school year. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Kristen as soon as possible. 

• [Action item]: Please submit team members attending no later than Friday, March 1st COB by adding names + contact information to the spreadsheet here. We'll use this list to send out final communication to attendees Monday, March 25th. If you have any questions about who should attend from your campus, please reach out or join the PL monthly huddle to ask. 
• [Action item]: Forward the design studio calendar invite to team members attending. 
• As of right now, we will not be providing lunch for this workshop, but we'll let you know as we closer to April.

Spring Conferences
Blended + Personalized Learning Conference
April 4-6th 
Providence, Rhode Island

If you’re planning to attend the Blended and Personalized Learning Conference April 4-6th, let us know! If you're interested, please know that the PL central team will not cover registration and travel, but we're happy to help assist you in doing so. Check out the conference trip itinerary here and please add the name(s) of who will be attending. We'll use this list to send out directions for submitting your advance (you may submit after February 18th), reimbursement, and an invitation to a district dinner at the conference.  Also, if you're planning to attend and want to help facilitate some mini-workshops within sessions, we're looking for some extra hands. Reach out to Kristen ([email protected]) for more information. 

Education Elements Personalized Learning Conference 
May 14-16th
Atlanta, Georgia 

If you’re planning to attend the Personalized Learning Conference May 14-16th, let us know! If you're interested, please know that the PL central team will not cover registration and travel, but we're happy to help assist you in doing so. Check out the conference trip itinerary here and please add the name(s) of who will be attending. We'll use this list to send out directions for submitting your advance (you may submit after March 12th), reimbursement, and an invitation to a district dinner at the conference.  Reach out to Kristen ([email protected]) for more information. 

Innovation in Teaching Fellowship
It's time to fill our next cohort of the fellowship

This fellowship is a 10-month experience that equips educators to grow in their understanding of and pilot Next Generation models in their classrooms. Fellows will draw from research, best practices, and their own ingenuity to design and test personalized learning in their classrooms.

This opportunity is open to any teacher in Dallas ISD. If you know someone who would make a great fellow, nominate him/her at tiny.cc/nominateafellow. Teachers do not need to be nominated to apply. 

Applications are due by Friday, March 29th at 11:59 PM CST.

To learn more and apply visit www.thepltoolbox.com/fellowship. 

We're so excited to host our first-ever Google Summit Saturday, February 23rd. This Summit is to help teachers and administrators learn how to better leverage G Suite for Education. Throughout the day participants will have choice in sessions designed for Google beginners to advanced practitioners. 

While this event sold out in less than 48 hours (yay!), you can still join the waitlist to be the first to get tickets as they become available. Can't make it to the Summit but curious what your current level of Googliness is? Take the free readiness assessment to find out.

This Summit will officially kick off a summer partnership with Google and Fried Technology to certify teachers and administrators in level 1 and 2. Dates and registration will be shared at the Summit first, then out to the PL, MIZ, and VILs Cohorts, and then will be opened up to the entire district. 

If you have any questions, reach out to Kristen at [email protected].