Feb. 25, 2021

Standards and Instructional Support Newsletter

Commission and committee updates

Follow the work of two groups tasked to make specific recommendations for revisions to the social studies academic standards.

• Holocaust and Genocide Studies in Colorado Public Schools  
• History, Culture, Social Contributions, and Civil Government in Education  

For questions, contact Joanna Bruno at bruno_j@cde.state.co.us. 

High Impact Instruction Module series 

The Office of Standards and Instructional Support has developed learning modules to build leaders' and educators' standards literacy in an effort to support their understanding of the 2020 CAS. These modules were intentionally designed to support smaller and rural districts that may not have district-level content specialists; however, any and all systems can use the materials. Access the modules here.

Setting the Standard Webinar Series

The Office Standards and Instructional Support continues to host ongoing Setting the Standard virtual webinars.

Join the team to stay up to date on high impact instructional strategies, CDE resources for teaching and Colorado Academic Standards implementation updates.

For questions, contact Alyssa Wooten at wooten_a@cde.state.co.us. 

Setting the Standard Podcast

CDE's Standards and Instructional Support Office has its own podcast with topics that focus on teaching, learning, assessment, curriculum and academic standards.

Episodes include news, resources, interviews from the field and tips for improving teaching and learning in schools and classrooms. Find more information on Anchor.

Submit feedback on first group of standards content areas 

The Office of Standards and Instructional Support is accepting feedback on the social studies, visual arts, music, dance, and drama and theatre arts standards. The feedback received will assist committee members in their work of making recommendations for revision to the standards. Please provide feedback by completing the pre-revision survey.

Visit the Colorado Academic Standards Review and Revision webpage for more information.

For questions, contact Joanna Bruno at bruno_j@cde.state.co.us.

The Arts

Arts Quarterly Updates
Interested in keeping up with what is happening with the Arts across the state? Access the quarterly Arts Update here.  

Mathematics

Final call for PAEMST nominations
Do you know an excellent 7-12 grade teacher of mathematics, science, computer science, engineering, or STEM? Nominate them for a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Nominations are due by Monday, March 1, and can be submitted using the form on the PAEMST website here.

Virtual Mathematics Conferences
Registration for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics virtual annual meeting is open. The conference will be held over two weeks, April 21-24 and April 28-May 1. Find details and more information here.

Are you considering the benefits of attending a virtual NCTM conference? Michelle King, an assistant professor of math and math education at Western Colorado University, discussed her experience at the conference on the latest episode of the Setting the Standard podcast. Check it out here.

Social Studies

Gilder Lehrman National History Teacher of the Year Award
The National History Teacher of the Year Award recognizes outstanding K–12 American history teachers across the country. The 2021 award honors outstanding elementary or secondary school teachers. Nominations are due Friday, April 30. Nominate a teacher today using the form here.

World Languages

Still time to attend CCFLT conference events
The Colorado Congress of Foreign Language Teachers (CCFLT) is hosting its annual spring conference virtually. The conference began earlier this month but conference-related events and activities will continue through the month. Previous conference sessions are available to watch online here.

Science

Three-dimensional learning
Learn more about three-dimensional learning in science! Watch an educator discuss how she transitions to three-dimensional standards. Learn more on the science webpage.

Computer Science

Colorado Computer Science Leadership Group
The Colorado Computer Science Leadership Group is reconvening for its spring meeting. This group is composed of computer science leaders in Colorado - generally district level, but also including higher education, lead teachers, consultants, teachers, principals and other interested educators. Contact Chris Summers at summers_c@cde.state.co.us for more information.

Reading, Writing, and Communicating

Thank you from the Colorado Language Arts Society
On behalf of the Colorado Language Arts Society (CLAS), thank you to each educator that participated in the “Teaching in Tumultuous Times” roundtable discussion earlier this month. Participants and CLAS leadership gained important strategies and professional relationships. For more information, contact Jacqueline Smilack, CLAS president, at jacqueline_smilack@dpsk12.org. 

National Council of Teachers of English
The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) offers an interactive and insightful way for English Language arts and literacy educators and leaders to stay connected. NCTE gatherings are a member-exclusive online way to foster conversation, brings new ideas and build relationships with fellow members during the isolating time of COVID-19. Information on past and upcoming member gatherings can be found here. 

Colorado Counsel International Reading Association
The Colorado Counsel International Reading Association (CCIRA) Conference on Literacy is one of the largest in the Rocky Mountain region. Each year, the association hosts speakers, authors, students, teachers and vendors who remind us why literacy matters.

Get an on-demand dose of inspiration fro the CCIRA blog and the new podcast series. 

Comprehensive Health

Online resources for teaching health skills
CDE has collaborated to create a Moodle course that supports educators in teaching health education. The course will equip educators to implement high impact teaching strategies and effective health education practices. Each course module focuses on one important aspect of health education. The modules have been created to be viewed sequentially; however, they are self-contained, meaning there is flexibility to view the modules individually.

Modules have been created by Colorado health educators with support from the Colorado Education Initiative and funding from the Colorado Health Foundation. Access the course here.
 
Learn more about the course modules or how to use the modules in your district by contacting Jamie Hurley at hurley_j@cde.state.co.us.

Personal Financial Literacy

Last chance to apply for MoneyWi$er Financial Innovation Awards
The 2021 MoneyWi$er Financial Innovation Award application are due Monday, March 15.

The awards are presented by the Office of the Colorado Attorney General in partnership with CDE and recognize distinguished districts, schools, educators and students who have demonstrated a priority in personal finance education throughout their school and community. The 2021 awards are the third and final year of this initiative to promote and increase financial literacy education in Colorado.

For details and eligibility, visit the Colorado AG website. 

• March 1 - Nominations due for PAEMST award.
• March 8 - Holocaust and genocide committee public feedback survey closes.
• March 15 - MoneyWi$er Financial Innovations award applications closes.
• April 30 - Standards Review and Revision public feedback survey closes.