Spark

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SPARK is the digital professional learning platform for Willard Schools. Instructors can earn badges, microcredentials, and District Growth hours while learning about and implementing innovative instructional strategies. There are no due dates. You decide what you want to learn, when, where, and how.

You must meet your DGH requirement before you can earn IE hours.

DISTRICT IE PAGE Links to an external site.

DISTRICT DGH PAGE Links to an external site.

Getting Started

Complete the SPARK Orientation Lesson to learn how to navigate the SPARK platform, and earn your first badge! Then you are ready to click on another badge below and start learning innovative strategies to implement in your classroom.

Credentials from other Sources

If you have earned a badge in another platform (ie Google Certified Educator, Flipboard Ambassador) and would like it added to our SPARK Leaderboard, use this form to submit a request.

Questions

Please contact Amber Hainline, Canvas Learning Coordinator, with your questions regarding SPARK.

WEBINAR RESOURCES

WEBINAR SITES:

Corwin Monday Webinars Links to an external site.

EdWeb Links to an external site.

ASCD Links to an external site.

OER Links to an external site.

3-2-1 FORM

After viewing your webinar, submit this form to count it toward DGH, IE hours.

TECHNOLOGY TOOLS

Canvas: Canvas is the blended learning platform used by teachers and students at the High School and Middle School. Earn 15 of 21 Canvas badges to become a Willard Certified Canvas Teacher.

Chromebooks: At Willard, Chromebooks are used by students in grades 2-12. Teachers will be transitioning to Chromebooks as a provided laptop.

G Suite: The G Suite lessons will help you maximize your use of G Suite for Education in order to transform your students' learning. Earn 11 of the 14 Canvas badges to become a Willard Certified GSuite Teacher.

Hapara: Hapara works with G Suite, making it more efficient and easier to use in the classroom. It is used by teachers in grades 3-6.

Thinglink: With ThingLink, teachers and students can easily design interactive infographics, maps, and drawings.

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY BEST PRACTICES

Designing Tech Amplified Lessons: The use of digital tools should be tied to academic goals and utilize research-based instructional strategies. Learn the 4 steps to design amplified lessons.

Meaningful school communication is the essential catalyst to getting the kind of parental and community engagement students need to succeed. Earn 2 badges to become a Willard Certified Communication Partner.

Digital Citizenship and Safety: Complete a free, online, self-paced course from Google to learn how to create a safe and positive experience online.

Remote Learning: Best Practices: How do we apply what we know about best teaching and learning practices in the face-to-face classroom to a remote learning environment? Earn all 5 badges to become a Remote Learning Master.

Virtual and Blended Learning: This session is for pre-K - 12 teachers. We will explore routines, tools, and procedures to assist in the transition from the seated to the virtual environment. After reflecting on best practices, teachers will identify current practices already being used, share mastery experiences, and make a plan to implement new learning.

WHOLE PERSON INSTRUCTION

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Discussions that Don't Stink: Learn seven discussion strategies you can use to engage students in deeper learning.

Understanding Dyslexia: This lesson prepares teachers to support students with dyslexia and related disorders.

Required

EduProtocols: These lesson workflows (Iron Chef, Math Reps, The CyberSandwich, etc) allow for student choice, stimulate higher order thinking skills, and scaffold the development of the 4Cs.

Brain Gym: Brain Gym is a series of fun and simple moves teachers can use to enhance the experience of whole-brain learning.

4 Cs in the Classroom: Learning and innovation skills are what separate students who are prepared for increasingly complex life and work environments in today’s world from those who are not. Those skills include: Communication, Collaboration, Creativity and Innovation, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving.

Priority Standards: Instructors will use the REAL Criteria to prioritize a group of standards. Instructors will reflect on how the identification of these standards will impact your practice.

Vocabulary: Making Meaning That Lasts

Conscious Discipline Overview: This session will provide participants an overview of Conscious Discipline. You will look at differences between the traditional discipline model and the Conscious Discipline approach. This course will provide an overview of the different brain states and the 3 hierarchical needs of safety, connection and problem solving.

Student Discourse and Productive Discussions: In this K-12 session learn how to help students be successful in conversations and collaboration both in the classroom and beyond.

Blevins Phonics Resource for Intervention: This session is for K-4 teachers of beginning or struggling readers. We will engage in an introduction to navigating the Blevins resource binder as well as learn how to connect student interventions to our district dyslexia screeners.

4DX: Powerful Teacher and Student Goals: This session is for all PreK-12 teachers interested in the 4DX goal setting process. You will experience::

An overview of the 4DX Goal Setting Process
A hands-on learning experience around closing class proficiency gaps
Learning around creating a system for setting and sustaining student growth goals.Home School Partnerships

Home School Partnerships: This is a K-12 session featuring some of Willard’s own educators on the topic of partnering with families. If our profession is going to survive this season and stay relevant we will have to be more intentional about putting the focus on our relationships. Even though building relationships isn’t new, relationships are more important than ever.

*This session was originally presented at Willard 101 and was requested to be shared with all Willard staff.

Culture in the Classroom: This session gives you a background for building culture in your classroom and several practical strategies to help you create a belonging classroom culture.

*This session was originally presented at Willard 101 and was requested to be shared with all Willard staff.

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Universal Design for Learning: These modules will explain the WHY, the WHAT and the HOW of implementing UDL in your classroom; a proven scientific framework to increase engagement and self-assessment for all learners.

To begin, click on the first item in the module UDL overview. You may return to the course as needed by clicking on the image to the left of this text.

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The Science of Learning: These modules will help you explore how we learn, the principles that must be in place in our classrooms for learning to occur, and the strategies that best support learning. Pink Glitter Thank You So Much For Your Purchase Circle Sticker (7).png

Harkness Discussions: Learn about a non-obtrusive way to assess student understanding and increase engagement through Harkness Discussions.

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Digital Notebooks: Looking for an engaging and easy way to keep notebooks digitally? Look no further than this lesson on creating Digital Notebooks in Google!

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LEADERSHIP

Creating a Culture of Innovation: This lesson provides administrators with tips and strategies for fostering a culture of innovation with their teams.

Growth Mindset: People’s theories about their own intelligence have a significant impact on their motivation, effort, and approach to challenges. A growth mindset is the understanding that abilities and intelligence can be developed.

DGH

SPARK Lesson Designer: SPARK lessons are created in-house by instructional coaches, teachers, administrators, directors, etc. You can earn a badge for creating a lesson for the SPARK platform. Contact Amber Hainline for the template

Connecting with our Strategic Plan: The five year Strategic Plan, Dreaming for the District, was crafted by our community to guide Willard Schools to grow. Throughout the year, our staff and students will become a vital part of carrying out this plan.

Pre-K - 8th Student Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity: In this reflective session we will examine the importance of student belonging and its ties to student achievement. We will clearly define diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Connections will be made with the 7 Habits and 5 Core Paradigms of Leader in Me, and our district Strategic Plan. Participants will also learn how to recognize dignity and about the importance of honoring dignity in themselves and others.

HS Student Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity: In this reflective session we will examine the importance of student belonging and its ties to student achievement. We will clearly define diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Connections will be made with the 8 Core Values that have been identified by HS staff. Participants will also learn how to recognize dignity and about the importance of honoring dignity in themselves and others.