Dec. 17, 2012

HEADLINES

Rapid City teacher presented with $25,000 Milken Award

Congratulations to Alayna Siemonsma! The fourth-grade teacher and former literacy leader at South Park Elementary School in Rapid City is South Dakota’s latest recipient of the Milken Family Foundation’s National Educator Award. Siemonsma was surprised with the award, which comes with an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000, during a school assembly last month. To learn more about the Milken Educator Awards and to view a video of the award presentation, go to: http://www.mff.org/newsroom/news.taf?page=videos&vid=1292



Applications for Davis-Bahcall Scholarship, summer science program now open

High school seniors and college freshmen can now apply for Davis-Bahcall Scholarships and the chance to study next summer at the Sanford Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory in Lead, Princeton University in New Jersey, and overseas if funding allows.

Applications are available on the South Dakota Department of Education’s (http://www.doe.sd.gov/secretary/scholarships.asp). Up to 12 South Dakota students will receive scholarships. The deadline to apply is Jan. 15, 2013. LINK TO

Select students will be invited to interview for the program at various locations in the state, and recipients will be announced by early March. Davis-Bahcall Scholarship recipients spend one month in the summer studying fields such as physics, engineering and geology, learning from distinguished professors from around the world.

In addition to the one-month summer study, scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to apply for pre-selected summer internships.

To be eligible for the scholarships, high school seniors or college freshmen must attend public or private high schools or postsecondary institutions in South Dakota. Home-school students also are eligible. Students must have a demonstrated interest in science and intend to pursue advanced degrees in math, science, engineering or technology.

The scholarships, which are funded by the 3M company and the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium, are named for renowned physicists Dr. Ray Davis and Dr. John Bahcall.

Contact the Department of Education’s Sam Shaw with any questions at Sam.Shaw@state.sd.us.



NAEP releases new reading vocabulary results

For the first time ever, the National Assessment of Educational Progress issued a separate report on student vocabulary. The report, which was released earlier this month, analyzed results from the 2009 and 2011 NAEP reading test.

Following the 2009 Reading Framework, vocabulary items were developed about the meaning of words as they were used in the context of passages that students read. Results were reported in scale scores and percentiles. Since the results are a subscale of the reading scores, no achievement levels were established for vocabulary.

South Dakota’s Grade 4 and Grade 12 scores were not significantly different from the nation’s scores at those levels; however, South Dakota’s Grade 8 score was slightly higher than the national average.

While there is no significant gender gap for vocabulary, the gap between American Indian students and other South Dakota students is still present. American Indian students who scored in the 90th percentile amongst their own ethnicity still would only fall around the 65th percentile amongst their Caucasian counterparts.

Data provided through the vocabulary results has the potential to guide South Dakota teachers as they continue the shift to the Common Core State Standards in English language arts. Vocabulary is a key piece of Craft and Structure, which asks students to interpret words and phrases as they are used in text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.

To view the report in its entirety, including select test questions, go to: http://nationsreportcard.gov/reading_2011/



New advanced, Common Core options available for Electronic Resources Challenge

The E-Resources Challenge is a self-paced learning opportunity that guides you to explore and discover content and features in the South Dakota State Library’s electronic resources. This time around, the State Library has something for beginners, school personnel, trustees and Challenge alumni with contact hours for each option.

Learn more about online journals, encyclopedias, practice tests and other resources while earning continuing education contact hours (see table below) all from the comfort of your own home or classroom. The 10-week course will examine one or two electronic resources per week. The first lesson will be released Jan. 21, 2013. You can start any time after that; however, the Challenge ends on April 8.

Register now at http://sdlibrarychallenge.blogspot.com/ and receive an email when the first lesson is posted.

Challenge type Who it’s for CEUs Work Expected
Basic Challenge Those who have never taken the Challenge: librarians, trustees, school teachers & staff, volunteers 9 Completion of all lessons
Advanced Challenge Those who have taken a Challenge previously, but want to review or dig deeper 9 Completion of all Advanced lessons
Common Core connections Teachers/school library staff 9 Completion of CCC lessons: Name standard to be addressed and brief synopsis of how the resource will be used to address that standard
Basic or Advanced + Common Core connections Those who want to do it all! 18 Completion of Basic or Advanced + CCC


Questions? Contact Julie Erickson at Julie.erickson@state.sd.us, or Jane Healy at Jane.healy@state.sd.us .



USDA Farm to Schools grant winners announced

Are you looking for hands-on materials – buffalo hide, dip pens, butter churn – to use in your classroom? Consider renting an education kit from the South Dakota State Historical Society.

Kits on 14 different topics are available. At the heart of all the kits are hands-on objects. A teacher’s guide with topic information, photographs, worksheets, and activities with lesson plans are a part of each kit. Lesson plans list the South Dakota standards each activity helps meet. Teacher’s manuals can be found on the web at www.history.sd.gov.

The kits are:
• Buffalo and the Plains Indians
• Mining in South Dakota
• South Dakota Environments
• South Dakota Immigrants
• Fur Trade: Bridging Two Worlds
• Dakota, Nakota, Lakota Life
• Cowboys & Ranch Life
• South Dakota Places
• Homesteading
• One-Room Schoolhouse Learning
• Lewis & Clark in South Dakota
• Trading Posts & General Stores
• Archaeology in South Dakota
• South Dakota Transportation

Kits rent for a two-week period for $23 ($13 if the kit is picked up and returned to the Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre). The borrower is responsible for return mailing costs, about $20 per kit. For more information or to schedule a kit, contact Ronette Rumpca at (605) 773-6011, or email: ronette.rumpca@state.sd.us.



South Dakota represented on Nutrition Association’s National Board of Directors

South Dakota now has representation on the School Nutrition Association’s National Board of Directors. Brandon Valley School District Food Services Director Gay Anderson was voted in as the board’s Education Committee Chair during SNA’s 2012 elections. For more information, visit the School Nutrition Association website at:www.schoolnutrition.org



UPCOMING EVENTS

Common Core Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects
Jan. 10 – Feb. 27, 2013, Multiple locations statewide

The South Dakota Department of Education is providing workshops for the Common Core State Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects. Teachers of all content areas for grades 6-12 are welcome to attend. Participants will learn foundational components found in Common Core for ALL content areas. The workshops will include understanding of the standards as well as strategies for implementation.

Social Studies/History, Art, Music & World Language Training Dates
Jan. 10 – Rapid City, Best Western Ramkota
Jan. 18 – Pierre, AmericInn
Jan. 23 – Rapid City, Best Western Ramkota
Jan. 25 – Pierre, AmericInn
Jan. 29 – Aberdeen, Best Western Ramkota
Jan. 30 – Mobridge, Pizza Ranch
Feb. 1 – Watertown, Watertown Event Center
Feb. 4 – Plankinton, Plankinton School District
Feb. 7 – Huron, Crossroads
Feb. 25 – Sioux Falls, East Dakota Education Cooperative
Feb. 26 – Sioux Falls, East Dakota Education Cooperative
Feb. 27 – Mobridge, Pizza Ranch

Science & Technical Subjects Training Dates
Jan. 10 – Rapid City, Best Western Ramkota
Jan. 1 – Pierre, AmericInn
Jan. 23 – Rapid City, Best Western Ramkota
Jan. 25 – Pierre, AmericInn
Jan. 28 – Sioux Falls, East Dakota Education Cooperative
Jan. 29 – Sioux Falls, East Dakota Education Cooperative
Jan. 29 – Aberdeen, Best Western Ramkota
Jan. 30 – Mobridge, Wrangler Inn
Feb. 1 – Watertown, Watertown Event Center
Feb. 4 – Plankinton, Plankinton School District
Feb. 7 – Huron, Crossroads
Feb. 27 – Mobridge, Wrangler Inn

Deadline for registrations is two weeks prior to the training date and a minimum of 20 participants is required. Graduate Credit is available. To find times, location and registration information for all workshop dates, to go: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGtLN0FBZHVWUHZ6eTVWX0NnRmVOYXc6MA.



Work-Based Learning Opportunities Training
Jan. 22, 2013, Pierre

Learn all about Entrepreneurship Experience, Senior Experience, Service Learning and Youth Internship, strategies for implementation and resources to get started. This training is designed for those who are new to work-based learning or those who would like to revise their current program to meet high school graduation requirements.

This training is designed for the teams of educators that will be implementing Capstone experiences or Service Learning. Plan to bring individuals that will be involved locally – teachers, administrators, counselors and/or community partners. All team members should bring a laptop to the training.

Beginning in school year 2013-14, schools must offer a Capstone Experience (Senior Experience, Youth Internship or Entrepreneurship Experience) OR Service Learning. Not all of the options have to be offered, though a school could choose to offer them all if they wish.

Check out the DOE Calendar of Events for more information, at: http://www.doe.sd.gov/onlinecalendar/index.aspx.



Dependent on the Environment videoconference series
Jan. 28 – March 18, 2013, via DDN

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks will be offering a series of free videoconference courses geared toward teachers of grades 4-8 through the Outdoor Campus in Rapid City. The courses will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. (Central) every Monday from Jan. 28 until March 18.

The series will feature four topics, each of which will take two weeks to complete. College credit will be available at the cost of $45 per credit hour for participants who complete at least two of the lessons or four weeks total. Those who participate in all eight weeks will have the option to purchase two college credits. Teaching materials corresponding to each lesson will be provided to participants free of charge.

Participants will experience new interactive ways to help young learners understand living creatures’ dependence on the environment. Project topics include:
Water Education for Teachers (Jan. 28 – Feb 4.)
South Dakota Ag in the Classroom (Feb. 11-18)
Project Wild: SD Game, Fish & Parks (Feb. 25 – March 11)
Project Learning Tree South Dakota (March 11-18)

Course offerings are made possible through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses. Please register early so nearby DDN locations can be reserved. For more information or to register, email Nico Red Horse at nicomas.redhorse@state.sd.us, or call (605) 362-2777.



Strengthening Families Facilitator Training
March 19-21, Sioux Falls

Strengthening Families is an evidence‐based program designed for parents and educators of the middle grades to impact youth ages 10‐14. There is an option to pay for continuing education or graduate credit. The event will help participants reinforce parenting skills, build family connections, and prevent teen substance abuse and behavior problems. Interactive activities will include discussion, learning games, role‐playing and family projects. For more information, including how to register, email Jessica.Kirkham@sdstate.edu or call 605-688-6037.



TEACHER FEATURE

Rapid City teacher looks to collaboration to produce results

When Alayna Siemonsma heard her name called as the newest recipient of the Milken Educator Award, the first thing she felt was shock. Looking around, she felt many of her colleagues were also deserving of such an honor.

“Accepting something like that is so hard because it is such a team effort at South Park,” Siemonsma said. “We do so much planning and thinking together, and all work together really well.”

Siemonsma often takes a team approach with the students in her fourth grade classroom at South Park as well. Her students have different math partners, reading partners and writing partners.

“I’ve found that balance of small group work, partnerships and individual assignments are really important and healthy,” Siemonsma said. “How I pair the students up depends on the task but it’s always intentional.”

Siemonsma strives to control the things she can in her classroom through intense planning and preparation. But groupings and assessment can cause her to adapt and change her direction when need be. She’s always looking for research to support her teaching methods.

Siemonsma obtained her master’s degree in 2000, not long after she first started teaching. “I was working with a bunch of women who were at the age I am now, and they all had one piece of advice: Get your master’s before you have a family.”

More recently Siemonsma completed the process to become National Board Certified. “Part of what got me into it was the opportunity to give myself and my family a raise, plus the challenge and the opportunity to stay current.”

Siemonsma said National Board Certification is “completely about me and my teaching. You’re looking at what you do every day, how you do it and why you do it. It’s reflective – what kind of a teacher I am and I want to be. If you’re looking for professional development that will change your teaching, National Board Certification is definitely an avenue you can take to do it.”