HIGH SCHOOL FEATURES:
[Featured Classroom] [Professional Development] [Field Trips / Traveling Exhibits]
[Competitions, Awards & Recognition] [Previous Professional Development Info. / Photos]
FEATURED CLASSROOM
IHS A.P. Class Proves Language of Art
Universal for All Students
Seeing Beyond Barriers
|
Photo: Students from the International High School taking AP Art History view
Cildo Meireles' Missao/Missoes (How to Build Cathedrals), featuring a floor of pennies and a ceiling of cow bones. |
The amazing thing about walking into a classroom at International High School is standing next to the instructors as they proceed to introduce you to their students - from Vietnam, Mexico, Burma, Honduras, Germany, Russia, Ghana, and on, and on.
Even more amazing is watching as these same students, taking the same courses taught in all of our high schools, required to master the identical standards, are doing so while concurrently learning the language of their new home - English.
Or, is it the instructors who work daily to pull off these dual objectives (content + languge) that are most amazing? While the ELPS [English Language Profiency Standards] may be new to some of us, they're hardly anything new to these instructors who have been incorporating them into their planning daily since I.H.S. opened five years ago.
In October, Olson and IHS colleague Ian Grayson presented a session addressing instructional strategies for ELLs in the Social Studies Classroom at the Texas Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference in San Antonio. Latecomers were hard pressed to find an available seat in this hot topic session, but those who did, like the woman pictured here at the conclusion with Olson, were the recipients of concrete strategies and wise advice grounded in experience.
One of those instructors is Kyle Olson and what Mr. Olson has done in this, his fourth year teaching at I.H.S., is nothing short of amazing. Mr. Olson is teaching the first ever AP course specifically audited and created for ELLs! And for the determination of Olson and his colleagues toward the goal of making that milestone happen as well as the I.H.S. students who have stepped up to the plate, we salute them this month as our featured classroom.
Not only have the students stepped up to the plate in taking the rigorous A.P. Art History course, Mr. Olson also has the class stepping out as part of the course experience - interacting with the subject matter itself! Recently the class was able to participate in an exciting field-based learning experience at the Blanton Museum on the UT campus. We asked Kyle to tell us about bringing the A.P. program to I.H.S., about this exciting opportunity for extended learning at the Blanton he coordinated, and to share a few of his student's reflections regarding the experience. Here's what he said:
"I feel that AP Art History is a perfect fit for International HS because our population of emergent English Language Learners possess the cognitive and analytical skills required for the course. They only lack sufficient English to articulate their thoughts, however I do believe that the visual analysis and personal interpretations required for studying Art History will motivate and add in their language acquisition. The students are making great progress in their reading and writing abilities as well as in their apprenticeship into the discipline of Art History."
The opportunity to visit the Blanton allowed the students a chance to examine various pieces of Art from a wide-range of historical periods, such as the classical-age Battle Collection, European portraiture from the 16th-19th century, casts of Greco-Roman sculptures, and contemporary portraiture as well. Students participated in a guided tour led by Docents from the Blanton museum examining works from their collection and making comparisons of Art from different periods reflecting a common theme (ex: propaganda in European Art from the 18th century and propaganda in contemporary art).
While eating lunch the students were joined by the UT Art History undergraduate association president, who spoke with the students about his journey from a high school AP Art History student to an undergraduate Art History major at UT. Lastly, the students participated in a tour of sculpture and architecture on the UT campus led by a UT graduate Art History student Sharita Gajendragadkar where together the students discussed specifically how the statue of MLK on the UT campus reflects a Roman statue of Caesar Augustus in composition and purpose."
Quite an appropriate place to wrap up the day for this diverse group, standing before the great Civil Rights leader! We appreciate Kyle sharing a few of his student's reflections about their day at the museum with us.
Kyle Olson received his Bachelors degree in International Studies from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX in 2003, his teaching certification through Texas State University in San Marcos, and is certified in composite social studies and ESL. In addition to teaching AP Art History he also teaches 10th grade World History at I.H.S., serves as the campus’ AP coordinator / GT Advocate, and is the head coach for Boys Soccer at Eastside Memorial.
FALL 2008 SECONDARY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
In addition to the following offerings listed below,
please remember to use the navigation bar on the lefthand top of this page
to visit your specific High School course's page
to find information regarding content-specific professional development opportunities.
Discovery Education Streaming Videos
Teacher Workshop
Date: Saturday, December 6; 9a.m. - 4p.m.
Location: Garcia Middle School
AUSTIN ISD
Professional Development
Vision Statement:
Professional learning in the Austin Independent School District advances student learning by enhancing the knowledge, skills, and performance of all individuals to create a strong and effective district learning community committed to the philosophy that
all children can learn.
Are you a bit rusty with your United Streaming skills?
Did you know it's now called Discovery Education Streaming and that there are thousands of added videos and features?
Nationally-recognized trainers from Discovery Education are providing a workshop just for Austin teachers and seats are filling up fast!
There will be 4 different sessions during the day:
- an energetic look at 50 ways to integrate Discovery Education videos
- how to effectively download the media into Powerpoint, MovieMaker, PhotoStory, and iMovie
- using the Assignment and Quiz Builders
- making effective digital stories
Some sessions will be hands-on lab settings. Lunch will be provided. e-Campus training credits will be given. Register now on e-Campus, Course #15880
Looking East, Looking West: Global Issues 2009
Thursday, January 22 & Friday, January 23
Texas A&M University; Donald L. Houston Center
World Room Educational Outreach programs extend the scope of International
Programs and Texas A&M University by providing Texas teachers with current
information on global topics such as geography, current world affairs,
science and technology issues, cultural awareness, international leadership,
and world history. For registration information and more details, go here.
Field Trips / Traveling Exhibits Recommendations
In addition to these upcoming offerings, don't forget to browse through all the great extended learning opportunities available in the Austin-area found on our Museum / Field Trips page.
ACCESS Announces
Spring '09 Traveling Exhibits
for Austin schools
Fifteen Austin schools participated in bringing the ACCESS-sponsored traveling exhibits program to their campus learning communities last year. The two exhibits for the 2009 program - beautifully constructed, thoughtfully designed, and graciously provided through a grant from Humanities Texas - have now been announced and will be available for bookings beginning January 9 through April 16, 2009:
- The Blessings of Liberty: The U.S. Constitution
As the blueprint for our nation’s government, the Constitution represents a set of beliefs and a way of life. This exhibition seeks to explain the immense importance of a document that holds answers to challenging questions of government, cryptic though it may seem.
Developed by a national consortium of scholars and institutions, "The Blessings of Liberty" consists of twelve poster panels addressing the transformation of the United States from a group of colonies to a nation united by a single document.
- The Bill of Rights
Adopted on December 15, 1791, as the first ten Amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights is the very basis of our society, the document that guarantees the rights and privileges of all citizens. This exhibition provides compelling images of everyday people and figures of historical importance, coupled with concise texts.
"The Bill of Rights" is made possible in part by a We the People grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
ACCESS (the Austin Collaborative of Cultural and Educational Sites and Schools) seeks to promote and facilitate opportunities for experiential learning between local cultural venues and our school’s teachers and students. Those who join enjoy the benefits of opportunities for regular collaboration with local museums and art houses and a summer art institute each year. For more information visit www.austinaccess.orgClearly the subject matter of this year's exhibits is applicable for incorporation into the instructional program at all grade levels and these are presentations that can be proudly displayed in any school's library or other public space. For that reason ACCESS hopes even more teachers will consider bringing this unique method of learning to their campuses this year, especially our high schools. For details about the design, content, and supplementary materials available with each exhibit, click here to view 2-page flyer.
Reservation bookings are now being taken for the 2009 program, contact ACCESS member Sue Soy by email or phone
512-974-7388.
ACCESS provides a 2-hour workshop prior to the program's launch - the goal of which is to provide those who have booked the ACCESS program with strategies and ideas for incorporating the exhibits into their curriculum. ACCESS member Terry Loessin in the Social Studies Curriculum office should be contacted to register for the workshop, either by email or phone, 512-414-9638.
Leading the workshop this year is someone well-versed in matters of U.S. History, America's Founding Documents and, perhaps more importantly, how to convey the relevance of these documents to students. His years of experience in this area and the honors he has received over the years attest to his qualifications for being this year's guest presenter. We know teachers will appreciate the strategies provided by Jim Furgeson of McCallum High School.
Vanished:
German-American Civilian Internees
in Texas,
1941-48
Sponsored by the TRACES Center for History and Culture, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, this traveling exhibit will be touring the state of Texas starting December 2008 and reservation bookings are now being taken.
To view the panels, click here and scroll down.
During World War II, the U.S. Government interned 15,000 German-American civilians at over 60 camps and detention centers across the country - seven of them in Texas. Utilizing 13 narrative panels, an NBC "Dateline" documentary featuring Camp Crystal City, props from the period and down-loadable teaching materials, TRACES will circulate two copies of this exhibit around Texas from December 2008 through 2010, with showings in about 55 communities. Guest speakers and related programs complement this story's educational value and impact.
While especially relevant to communities with high numbers of German-American residents, all kinds of communities across the state of Texas will have an opportunity - in most cases for the first time - to discuss the implications as well as legacy of the U.S. Government's WWII "enemy alien" internment program. A sliding fee scale for Vanished showings and optional scholar guest speakers are available. Contact Michael Luick-Thrams;
Executive Director of Traces.
To the Moon:
The American Space Program
in the 1960s
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of President Johnson’s birth, the LBJ Library and Museum is presenting a major exhibit on space entitled To the Moon: The American Space Program in the 1960s. The exhibit opens on August 27, 2008, and ends on July 20, 2009, the 40th anniversary of the moon landing. As Senate majority leader, Johnson co-sponsored the legislation creating NASA, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2008. To read more about the exhibit, please click here.
"Fighting For Democracy:
Who is the 'We' in 'We, the People'?"
Traveling Exhibit Comes to Texas
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO
INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES
JULY 29, 2008 - JANUARY 18, 2009
Fighting for Democracy traces the real-life stories of seven young men and women whose lives were forever changed by the events of World War II. Denied their fundamental rights, each of them, in his or her own way, chose to fight for equality, freedom, and justice overseas and at home. The exhibition features Hector Garcia, along with individuals who served in segregated units 
such as the Tuskegee Airmen, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Navajo Code Talkers, and Women's Air
Force Service Pilots.
Aimed at middle and high school students, Fighting for Democracy is an experiential exhibition that uses World War II as a case study to begin discussion about how women and minorities have expanded the meaning of “we” in “we, the people.” For more information, including a downloadable flyer, visit the Institute of Texan Cultures website.
NOTE TO TEACHERS: The purpose of this interactive exhibition is to provide a teaching tool and discussion piece for educators and their students. When visiting Fighting for Democracy, teachers and group leaders facilitate their students’ experience in the exhibition space, allowing educators to custom-tailor an educational experience to meet their curricular goals and to deepen their students’ understanding of democracy. Unlike a traditional museum exhibition, Fighting for Democracy is designed to engage youth participants in the content and to provide a safe space for them to vocalize their opinions through a facilitated experience. This exhibition offers a multimedia resource for educators, presenting information in photographs, pull-out cards, quotes, oral history clips, educational activities and discussions.
Competitions, Awards, & Recognitions
Join the Central Texas Quiz Bowl League Today!
Jason Flowers, Quiz Bowl coach at LASA, would love to see additional Austin high schools come on board and participate in the inaugural season of a Central Texas quiz bowl league.
"We already have a few other teams (from St. Stephens, Temple, and Trinity, in addition to 3 teams from LASA), but we would like to see some Austin schools as well. This would be a great opportunity to foster some good academic rivalry among our various schools...
I would be more than happy to have coaches or potential coaches direct their questions to me, and I have a myriad of other resources for interested coaches, including archives of free questions and various other things. I am also willing (as is my team) to have practice matches with anyone who is interested. We would ideally like to start the league games in November at some point, but we could even hold off until December if there were teams in the process of forming."
We hope you will consider Jason's invitation. Contact him at jflower@austinisd.org
For further information, investigate both The National Academic Quiz Tournaments website (including official tournament rules) and the Texas Quiz Bowl Alliance website.
Previous Professional Development: Information / Photos
TCI Academy Level 2 Workshop
Date: October 7 - 8, 2008
Location: The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
In 2007 the Teacher's Curriculum Institute added TCI Academy to meet the demand for high quality professional development. This innovative approach allows a school district's curriculum support staff to work closely with TCI Academy Trainers, who are classroom teachers and education experts with years of experience helping their peers become highly successful and effective teachers. We were thrilled that this year Dr. Bert Bower, one of the founders of TCI was able to join us and conduct the 2-day TCI Academy for 30 of our teachers in the TCI approach to learning.
TCI's History Alive Level 1 (3-day workshop)
September 16 - 18, 2008
Location: Austin ISD Professional Development Center48 Secondary Social Studies teachers attended this 3-day workshop facilitated by Jenny from TCI! History Alive Level 1 is packed with strategies that, when implemented with fidelity, have the power to transform the Social Studies classroom into a truly engaging learning environment.
Click here to see photos.
Fall District-Wide Staff Development
August 20, 2008
Location: Akins High School
Sessions on this day focused on the day's theme "Planning for Success: Closing the Achievement Gap in Social Studies with Rigorous & Engaging Instruction." Those in full attendance received 3 hours G/T credit in addition to Professional Development credit.
- A primary objective was introducing teachers to the new English Language Proficiency Standards and strategies for their incorporation in lesson design. [for background information on ELPS, go here]
Our thanks again to T.C.I. for our door prizes, the Akins campus for hosting us (Ski - you're awesome!), and to our Guest Presenters:
Christopher Rose; Assistant Director at the U.T. Center for Middle Eastern Studies
- Introduction to the Middle East.ppt
- Mr. Rose graciously provided his other resources on a DVD - feel free to contact us for specific additional requests from his presentation
David Courreges from the Texas Young Lawyer's Association
Several of the items presented at DWSD are available for download below:
- If you were not in attendance or did not have an opportunity to complete the
2008-09 Teacher Information Sheet, please complete and submit to our office as soon as possible.- Program bulletin
- Opening, Meeting the 2009-10 TAKS Challenge.ppt
- Statesman article, Texas Ordered to Improve Bilingual Education
- 2008-09 Testing Calendar
- PLANNING for Success: Closing the Achievement Gap in Social Studies.ppt
- Introducing ELPS.ppt
- ELPS Instrcutional Planning guide
- DWSD Feedback Form
- Additionally, if you did not receive a copy of the free Pearson resource book:
50 Content Area Strategies for Adolescent Literacy, contact us, we have a few extra copies.
Thanks everyone, again, for sharing with your colleagues throughout the day, your commitment to bringing the best Social Studies education to our Austin ISD students and your partnership with us in meeting the challenge of 70% on TAKS in 2009!
© AISD, 2007 /