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Director's Notes
I trust everyone has now comfortably settled in after an enjoyable and restful holiday season. It’s always nice to have a break in the routine and equally nice to return to school and that routine. As I have often said, the North Country communities are fortunate to have an exceptional group of dedicated educators guiding and teaching their children. As one educator recently told me, “working with students is by far the best part of my job”.
In concert with its mission “To promote excellence in education for SAUs and their learning communities through cost effective collaboration", NCES has recently undertaken two interwoven initiatives as follows:
- First, this past September, NCES received a $67,000 two year grant from the Neil and Louise Tillotson Foundation of New Hampshire Charities to strengthen collaboration among North Country educational leaders. To accomplish that goal, a thirty member Task Force was formed, comprised of educational and community leaders. The Task Force, under the guidance and direction of Dr. Wayne Gersen who recently retired as Superintendent in Hanover, NH, has over the past four months, identified over 30 potential areas for cost effective collaboration, including bulk purchasing, sharing of instructional staff, Special Education staffing and programs, instructional and technology services and staff development.
- The second initiative was in the form of a $497,000 grant. NCES received this in December from the US Department of Agriculture-Office of Rural Development. The grant will provide video conferencing equipment to eighteen North Country schools, which in turn will provide an opportunity for districts to collaboratively share instructional resources, including sharing classes at the secondary level, both of which were identified as a high priority in surveys conducted earlier this year by the Collaborative Task Force. Toward that end, video conferencing equipment will provide a way for North Country schools to offer a wider array of electives and advanced courses to students in secondary schools. NCES envisions scheduling video-conference AP, running start and foreign language courses across two or three schools at a time. The video conferencing is also seen as way for students in small elementary schools to engage with students at their grade level in other schools, such as sharing verbal reports on science units that both schools are working on. Finally, this technology also provides the possibility for teachers to access professional development or to compare notes with colleagues in the same SAU without needing to travel.
These interwoven initiatives will open the door for increased collaboration among the schools in the North Country and expand the opportunities for our students. Stay tuned for more developments in this area in the months ahead.
Ray Healey
Executive Director
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iPad 101 – The Missing Manual
You may not have noticed when you took your shiny new iPad out of the box, but it did not come with a user’s manual. This session is for those who want an overview of the features and customization available on the iPad. Learn the basics of navigating iPad features, how to customize your device, and how to download and organize apps. We will highlight our favorite apps for enhancing personal/professional learning and how the iPad can help you organize information from journal articles to your recipe collection. Q&A as time allows. We’re convinced you won’t miss the manual once you learn the basics, and after these tips, you’ll appreciate this revolutionary device even more.
What this session is NOT: Due to the limited time together, we will be unable to assist with setting up email accounts and syncing to iTunes/iCloud during the session. We can try to help you individually after the session. Time permitting, we will demo some content specific education apps, but the focus of this session is personal productivity and maximizing the device as learning resource rather than on using iPads with students (that warrants a separate workshop).
We will cover features of the iPad 2. Owners of first generation iPads are welcome, but please note that a few items will not apply. To get the most out of this workshop, be sure to update to iOS 5. Not sure which version of the software you have? Go to Settings>General>About and the version will be in list. To update, connect your iPad to the computer with your iTunes account. It should automatically recognize you need an update and prompt you to do so. No worries if you don’t update. After this session you’ll understand the feature differences between the operating systems and why it’s worth updating.
Date: Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Time: 12:30 to 5:00
Instructors: Lori Langlois and Matt Treamer
Cost: Member school staff $40, Associates $50 and Others $60
Register: http://bit.ly/ncesipad
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Elementary Science with Vernier's Sensors & Probes
Join us for this two evening hands-on experience to help you integrate science activities with sensors and probes in your classroom. You’ll have access to the activities in the Elementary Science with Vernier lab book, enabling you to investigate the topics of temperature, motion, force, magnetism, light, electricity, and pressure. Once you understand the basics, there is no limit to using these mobile LabQuest devices and accompanying instruments in your classroom and out in the field.
Who should attend?
The primary audience for these sessions is elementary educators. Middle and high school educators are welcome to attend, but note that the experiments demonstrated will be geared for K-6. With that said, the LabQuest, LoggerPro, sensors and probes are indispensable to middle and upper science classrooms. This is a great introductory session to familiarize yourself with the equipment for any grade level.
Individual or team participation. Limited to 15 individuals or team combinations.
Dates: Thursday, March 8th and Monday, April 9, 2012
Time: 4:30 to 8:00
Instructors: William Church and Steve Roberts
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
This series is made possible through the Rural School Educator Effectiveness Collaborative
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Making Friends with Fractions!
This is a two- part series intended for K-8 teachers.
Developing ConceptualUnderstanding via Multiple Representations
Date: March 1, 2012 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
During this workshop participants will discuss and try out different ways of representing fractions using words, pictures, and manipulatives. Classroom-ready models and activities will be provided.
Four Arithmetic Operations With and Without Traditional Algorithms
Date: April 12, 2012 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Using meanings of operations and the models developed during the first workshop, participants will discover the “whys” behind the traditional algorithms for operations with fractions. Classroom-ready models and activities will be provided.
Locations:
- Plymouth State University, Highland Building
- North Country Education Services (Gorham) - video conference with onsite facilitator
- Southwest NH Education Support Center (at Keene State College) - video conference with onsite facilitator
Instructor: Dr. Natayla Vinogradova, Director of the NH Impact Center
Cost: $20 for series. Priority to staff from SAHE partner schools.
Registration for NCES & PSU sites:
Registration for Keene site:
This series is made possible through the Rural School Educator Effectiveness Collaborative.
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Inquiry Science
Inquiry science engages students in doing what scientists do. Come and learn how you can help students identify measurable and researchable questions, and design and conduct a scientific inquiry. Join us for this three-evening series.
Electricity
Date: February 15, Postponed to March 7, 2012 from 4:00 to 6:00
Use background knowledge of electricity to create a working switch.
Simple Machines
Date: April 4, 2012 from 4:00 to 6:00
Ecology
Date: May 9, 2012 from 4:00 to 6:00
Biological sampling techniques, mapping and related mathematical skills.
Series Presenters: Winchester Elementary Teachers Heather Pelkey - 4th grade, Valerie Wilber - 4th grade, Linda Balk - kindergarten & coach, Deborah Black.
Cost: $60 for series (priority to SAHE partnering schools)
Locations:
- Video conferenced to North Country Education Services, 300 Gorham Hill Road, Gorham, NH
- Keene State College ~ Southwest NH Educational Support Center
Registration:
This series is made possible through the Rural School Educator Effectiveness Collaborative.
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Implementing Common Core State Standards
The NH DOE has developed 8 Common Core Messages that help to capture an overview of the Common Core State Standards. This session will focus on those messages and investigate resources and tools available to use with staff in order to conduct discussions and work relating to implementation of CCSS. Resources will include websites, webinars, presentation tools, and examples of curriculum materials created by NH schools. Time will be provided for teams to determine next steps for implementation plans.
Target Audience: School and District Administrators, Curriculum and Instruction Specialists, Teacher Leaders, General
Presenter: Christine Downing, NHDOE Consultant
Date: March 28, 2012
Time: 8:30 to 12:00
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
Cost: Free, registration required by calling 800-268-5437, 603-466-2907 or emailing lisa@ncedservices.org.
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Common Core State Standards for Mathematics
The Common Core State Standards in Mathematics were released in June 2010. So what does this mean for mathematics curriculum, instruction, and assessment in New Hampshire and its schools? Come learn about these standards including:
- how they were developed;
- what is emphasized at each grade level;
- how do they support learning progressions;
- why mathematical practices are important; and
- how will these new standards be assessed.
Target Audience: Mathematics educators K-12, curriculum and instruction, administrators, teacher leaders and coaches.
Presenter: Christine Downing, NHDOE Consultant
Date: March 28, 2012
Time: 1:00 to 4:30
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
Cost: Free, registration required by calling 800-268-5437, 603-466-2907 or emailing lisa@ncedservices.org.
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CCSS for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects
The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects were released in June 2010. So what does this mean for curriculum, instruction, and assessment in New Hampshire and its schools? Come learn about these standards including:
- how they were developed;
- what is emphasized at each grade level;
- how do they support learning progressions;
- why text complexity is important; and
- how will these new standards be assessed.
Target Audience: K-12 Educators of ELA, Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects; Curriculum and Instruction administrators, Teacher Leaders and Coaches
Presenter: Christine Downing, NHDOE Consultant
Date: March 28, 2012
Time: 8:30 to 12:00
Location: NCES, Gorham, NH
Cost: Free, registration required by calling 800-268-5437, 603-466-2907 or emailing lisa@ncedservices.org.
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Graphing and Analyzing Winter Data from Hubbard Brook
Teachers are often encouraged to bring their students outside and collect data in the “real world.” Indeed, field studies are engaging, place-based, and help students develop important science process skills. But many times the field study ends with the collection of data. To add meaning and closure to the lesson, as well as to stay true to the process of science, that data should be graphically represented and analyzed.
- Are you comfortable using Excel to graph data?
- Once your students have collected data, do they (and you) know what to do with it? How can we help students learn to interpret graphs?
- Are you familiar with the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in Woodstock, NH? What types of winter-related measurements are made at the HBEF, and what are these measurements telling us in terms of winter climate change in New Hampshire?
If you would like to improve your graphing and data analysis skills join us for a day-long session at NCES. We will start simply with an optional 1.5 hour Introduction to Excel; teachers who have not entered data into spreadsheets or made graphs from spreadsheets (or who could use a refresher) are encouraged to attend this session. We will then move into the heart of the workshop and work with three datasets to practice graphing and analyzing data. Teachers will learn the difference between descriptive, comparative and correlative data sets as well as which types of graphs are appropriate to make with which types of data. We will practice interpreting the graphs we make and discuss when it’s appropriate to add trendlines.
We will work with data in the context of winter climate change. Hubbard Brook's decades-long ecosystem research and monitoring has captured significant changes in the characteristics of winter: daily temperatures, snow depth, and ice duration on Mirror Lake are just a few examples. These physical changes affect the greater ecosystem, and some of the data we work with will provide you with examples of just that.
This active and informative workshop is brought to you by the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation.
Instructors: Jackie & Geoff Wilson, Hubbard Brook Research Foundation
Date: Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Time: 8:45- 10:00 Introduction to Excel (optional) and 10:15- 3:00 Graphing and Analysis Workshop
Location: NCES building, 300 Gorham Hill Road, Gorham, NH
Cost: Member school staff $30, Associates $40, Others $50
Register: http://bit.ly/nceshubbard
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Attention Social Studies Teachers
History Day in NH 2012
It's still not too late to get involved with National History Day in New Hampshire! Email Kelsie Brooks at kmbrook@mail.plymouth.edu if you would like to be a judge, teacher, or volunteer for this year’s competition. The competition is on March 31st!
NERC Scholarship
NH Council Social Studeis offers a 1st or 2nd year teacher scholarship to attend the Northeast Regional Social Studies Conference in Sturbridge, MA. April , 2012. Information on the conference can be found atmasscouncil.org/nerc. NHCSS will reimburse a full-time 1st or 2nd year NH Social Studies teacher up to $300 to cover registration and hotel room. Applications must be received by March 1 and should include teacher’s name, home address, home phone, email address, school name, school address, school phone number, and principals name and phone number. Also include a brief statement, 40 words or less, why you should receive this scholarship. Notification will go out March 6th. Send information to Sharon Johnston, NHCSS President, PO Box 285 Farmington, NH 03835 email:thenhcss@gmail.com (please list NERC Scholarship in the Subject line.)
Donald R. Marquis Memorial Teacher of the Year 2012
Nominations for the NHCSS Teacher of the Year are due by March 2, 2012 . The NHCSS Teacher of the Year will be honored at the 2012 New Hampshire "Excellence in Education Program" (known as the "EDies") in June 2012. In addition, the recipient will be awarded a year's membership in NHCSS, will receive support to attend the North East Regional Social Studies Conference (NERC), will be recognized at the NHCSS Annual Conference in October 2012, and will receive an award of $250.
James Madison Memorial Fellowships
All New Hampshire secondary social studies teachers are invited to apply for the James Madison Memorial Fellowship. This $24,000 fellowship is awarded annually to teachers to pursue a Masters Degree (MA, Med, or MAT) with an emphasis in Constitutional Studies. Applicants only compete against teachers from their own state. Detailed information about the program as well as an on-line application can be found at www.jamesmadison.gov. The submission deadline is March 1, 2012.
2012 Choices Leadership Institute, July 9-13, 2012
Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI
The Choices 2012 Summer Leadership Institute provides teachers with an opportunity to examine the concept of human rights and the challenges of enforcing human rights at an international level. Using the Choices curriculum unit, Competing Visions of Human Rights: Challenges for U.S. Policy, participants will learn from leading scholars in the fields of international law and foreign policy, explore effective instructional strategies for engaging students in the topic, and share best practices with other dedicated and innovative teachers. Time is also allocated to discuss and plan new ways to conduct educational outreach, which is a requirement of the Leadership Institute.
There is no charge for the Leadership Institute. Meals, housing, reading materials and a certificate of completion are provided. Participants pay their own roundtrip travel.
Project Archaelogy
The next Project Archaeology Teacher Workshop has been scheduled for April 20, 2012 at St. Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish, NH. The workshop flyer and registration form are available for download on the NH Division of Historical Resources’ website here: http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/programs/project_archaeology.html
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Military Culture 101
Children face enormous challenges when a family member is deployed to active duty in a "combat zone." Every day, they may have more to do or fewer opportunities to play ball because the family member is away. Every night, the news reminds them that their loved one may not come home. And the family member staying at home may be under additional stress creating an environment that is quite different from what these children have had before. Military 101 provides information to school personnel on what these children and their families face and how this can impact the life of the child and what it can mean to the child's education.
Date: Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Time: 8:30 to 12:30
Cost: Free
Register: Please call NCES at 800-268-5437 or 603-466-5437
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Reintegration and Special Topics: NH National Guard Follow Up
For those individuals who have already participated in a "Military 101" training (including those who attended the morning session), this session is designed and focused on the return of the Brigade and how it impacts the children.
Special topics include (but are not limited to):
- Reintegration
- Dual deployments of both parents
- The dynamics of being a "step" family
Date: Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Time: 1:20 to 3:45
Cost: Free
Register: Please call NCES at 800-268-5437 or 603-466-5437
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Education in the 21st Century...and Beyond
The LESCN 4th annual spring conference at Church Landing, Meridith, NH. Featuring keynote speakers Tony Baldasarro and Patrick Larkin. Friday, April 6, 2012. Visit http://www.lescn.org/ fmi.
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Learning Forward NH Spring Conference
Featuring Ruben Puentedura
May 9, 2012
SNHU, Manchester, NH
learningforwardnh.org
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Learning Forward SAI Pilot Invitation
Learning Forward is seeking schools to pilot the revised Standards Assessment Inventory. Learn more here.
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Classroom Management Strategies
NCES is assessing the need and interest in a classroom management workshop aimed at the high school level. Please notify Lori Langlois at lori@ncedservices.org with possible interest.
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Member Status
Not sure if your school is a member of NCES? Check here.
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SAHE Partnering Schools
Berlin Public Schools
Bethlehem
Colebrook Academy
Colebrook Elementary School
Fall Mountain School District
Gorham
Goshen-Lempster
Groveton Elementary School
Groveton High School (6-12)
Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District
Keene School District
Lafayette
Landaff
Lisbon
Nelson
Pittsburg School
Profile
Stark Village School
Stewartstown Community School
Stratford Public School
Winchester School District
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Contact Info
For more information:
Directions to NCES
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