Online Training Offered by the Office of Early Learning to Assist School Improvement

The newly established Office of Learning is dedicated to transforming and supporting the state’s early childhood classrooms.  As defined by the WVDE and the WVBE, early childhood education in the state of West Virginia will include Pre-K – 5^th grade.  As part of the support, reflections and feedback provided to the Office of Early Learning from past TLI participants assisted in the preparation of a year-long agenda to support those who participated in TLI, as well as support the state early childhood field (Pre-K-5^th Grade) as a whole.

The Office of Early Learning has prepared a series of webinars titled – “Transforming Elementary Classrooms—Extending the Work of Teacher Leadership Institutes.” This series of webinars is designed to support teachers in early childhood.  The content of these webinars will extend the work from the Teacher Leadership Institutes. All teachers and administrators are invited to participate. Topics for these webinars will be designed for the identified audience and are identified within the registration information. These webinars are voluntary. Due to the limited slots, teachers are encouraged to come together and participate in groups. It is necessary for only one person from each group to register. Below is a list of schedule webinars. **Additional resources can be found at the Office of Early Learning website – http://wvde.state.wv.us/oel/ - Continue to check the website frequently, as well as joining the Office of Early Learning’s Twitter page to receive ongoing tweets throughout the year.

Instructional Practices Inventory in West Virginia Schools

Why use IPI?

• For overall school improvement in learning and teaching
• To increase student engagement with the curriculum and their own learning
• To use data collaboratively to help your school continue to grow

The West Virginia Department of Education's involvement in the IPI process has given teachers the ability to reflect upon their collective teaching practices, thus raising the bar of expectations toward higher level and deeper thinking, in addition to developing a more active and engaged student learning environment.  WVDE’s continued focus on student engagement has expanded into 50 counties and the WVSDB.  This expansion has allowed for more than 2,075 IPI coders to be trained and certified statewide.  For additional information about the IPI process and development, please visit Dr. Jerry Valentine’s website at www.ipistudentengagement.com. *(Please note this site is still being developed, but will give you an idea of what type of IPI resources can be accessed).

**IMPORTANT** For those currently using IPI, data should be uploaded when completing an IPI coding.  This data is used for research and continued development of the IPI process.  To upload your data, visit the IPI site at http://wvde.state.wv.us/ipi/.  To upload a WebTop login and password are required.  Each coding should be uploaded once.

Courtesy: Glenna Heinlein, State School Improvement Specialist at gplymale@access.k12.wv.us

A Must Watch Video

This is how we transform learning. A whirlwind of energy and ideas, Stephen Ritz is a teacher in New York's tough South Bronx, where he and his kids grow lush gardens for food, greenery -- and jobs. Just try to keep up with this New York treasure as he spins through the many, many ways there are to grow hope in a neighborhood many have written off, or in your own.

(Filmed at TEDxManhattan.)

Stephen Ritz teaches at-risk kids in the South Bronx.

Here is the link.