Elementary Math Teacher (EMT) Institute

Click here to read all about math professional learning going on this summer in TCS.
https://tcs-emt-institute.blogspot.com/ 

TCS Hosts Educator EdCamp June 22

TCS held its first district EdCamp for educators at HTHS, June 22.
Click here to see more photographs and tweets from the EdCamp.  https://storify.com/aprilpc/trussville-city-schools-teacher-edcamp

Many thanks to all of the teachers and administrators who facilitated sessions and shared their knowlege and expertise with other educators from Trussville and St. Clair County Schools.  We are grateful to our supporters who provided breakfast for participants (Army National Guard), snacks for participants (Magnolia PTO and Cahaba PTO), and lunch for the presenters (Paine PTO and HTMS PTO).  We are thankful for our ever gracious hosts at HTHS for opening their classrooms and library for our use.

In a follow-up survey of participants, ninety-five percent of respondents rated the EdCamp a great or very good experience.  Ninety-four percent of respondents said they would attend another similar EdCamp next year if offered the opportunity.

TCS Hosts Parent EdCamp

Click here to see photos from the June 23 TCS Parent EdCamp https://storify.com/aprilpc/tcs-parent-edcamp .

Melanie Dimler Attends AP Summer Institute

Melanie Dimler attended the Advanced Placement Summer Institute for AP Physics 2 at Walton High School in Roswell, GA. This APSI was taught by Dr. Jiang Yu of Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts.

HTMS Science Teacher Attends Space Camp

Abbie Copus, HTMS sixth grade teacher, was selected to attend Space Camp.  Engineer and author Homer Hickam, whose memoir Rocket Boys inspired the feature film "October Sky," former shuttle astronaut Wendy Lawrence, and author Ed Buckbee were among the notable speakers . Participants learned about the history of space travel, as well as new information about the cutting edge technologies at work in the new era of deep space exploration. Abbie shared that we are teaching the generation who will take America to Mars, and she is excited to share with her students what is going on right now with NASA and its partners.

In addition, Abbie participated in many sessions demonstrating innovative, STEM/project-based learning opportunities. Participants received resources to go along with these lessons, and were also invited into the NASA Educator Resource Center, where they were given additional resources to use freely in their classrooms.  

Participants were able to experience all the simulators, mock missions, and training that young space campers experience while at camp.  Alabama is underrepresented as far as students who attend Space Camp, and Abbie plans to encourage students to apply, with first-hand knowledge of the wonderful things space camp has to offer.  

Abbie shared that Space Camp was overwhelmingly beneficial to her as an educator. She feels better equipped now to create a more comprehensive learning environment for her students. In her report, Abbie said, "I feel blessed to have come away with the experiences and resources I now have, as well as the network I was able to build with fellow educators with whom I can continue in collaboration.  

Thank you all for your continued support for educators at TCS. I'm so proud and blessed to work in this system, and I appreciate all that you all do on a daily basis to make TCS the best."   

Abbie's Space Camp Team, Destiny
(Note the guide dog who spent the week with the team)

TCS Math Coaches Present at UNA

TCS math coaches, Jana Walls and Lisa Lothspeich, were asked by the University of North Alabama Regional Inservice Center to present at their annual Professional Development for Teachers and Administrators, June 15.  

During their three hour session, Jana and Lisa shared best practices for developing and assessing multiplication fact fluency.  They demonstrated strategies for introducing the facts, expanding conceptual knowledge, facilitating connections, and the methods for building fact fluency.  

CPR Training for SpEd Teachers and Paraprofessionals

Special education teachers and paraprofessionals are receiving training today on CPR by the Trussville Fire Department.