DRAFT
MINI MAG
Maryland Assessment Group
2015 Mini Conference
March 14, 2015
Chesapeake College, 1000 College Dr
Wye Mills, Maryland 21619
Contact us at: juliankatz1@comcast.net
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MARYLAND ASSESSMENT GROUP
MINI CONFERENCE
March 14, 2015
Chesapeake College, 1000 College Dr
Wye Mills, Maryland 21619
MAG BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Deborah Gilmartin
Melissa Mulligan
Stacy Shack
Julian Katz, Executive Director
Participants who wish to gain continuing education credit and/or MSDE professional
development credit must attend all six sessions, complete a reflection log, and meet
other local requirements (if necessary).
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Saturday, March 14, 2015
Location: Kent/Humanities Building
7:30 to 8:30 Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 to 9:20 General Gathering, Session 1
PARCC for Parents
Judy Jenkins
Participants will view a variety of parent resources, created by educators in PARCC states, which they can
"tweak" for their own uses. Learn messages that resonate with parents.
9:30 to 10:20 Session 2
Formative Assessment Performance Task Repository
Kyla Dunn & Denise Stringer, Maryland State Department of Education
For the past year, MSDE has worked with Measured Progress to develop a Formative Assessment
Performance Task Repository. Tasks presented will cover Math and ELA in Grades 1 through 12. All
Tasks are available on MSDE Blackboard as well as individual LEA systems. Come see these new
resources and discuss how you can incorporate them into your teaching
“Traditional” Computing Methods in the Common Core
Oliver Jenkins, MathEd Constructs, Inc.
The Common Core standards are viewed by many as downplaying the importance of standard algorithms
in the development of computational skills. In this session, the manner in which “traditional” computing
methods unfold in curricula aligned with the CCSSM is explored. See how the standards actually
advance both knowledge of and proficiency with computational algorithms.
Raising for the Bar: Preparing All Students for PARCC
Janise Lane & Lindsay Sullivan, Baltimore City
We will share our current work and strategy plan that incorporate our transition utilizing the CCSS in
curriculum, assessment and professional development. Goals have helped our school leaders, teachers
and students prepare for the demands of CCSS and PARCC assessment. Our session will allow
participant interaction to analyze the implications for their future work.
Strategic Writing Plan
Sherry Eichinger, Andrea Broomell, Stephanie Kilchenstein, & Crystal Nickle, Cecil County
Participants will learn how Cecil County has developed a strategic writing plan using specific learning
strategies. Students in grades 1 through 5 are learning to efficiently and effectively use what they have
learned about the structure of a sentence and paragraph to meet the demands of the MCCR Standards.
Using Challenge Based Learning Projects to Make STEAM Accessible For All Students
Quornelia Hypolite & Justin Leonard, Prince Georges County
This session will focus on using challenge based learning (CBL) projects and other instructional strategies
to provide access to STEAM and STEAM related topics for all learners including students with
disabilities, English language and at risk learners
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10:30 to 11:20 Session 3
Mix and Blend: Recipes for Learning
Val Emrich & Erin Senior, Maryland State Department of Education
This BYOD session will explore digital resources that support personalized learning. Educators will have
an opportunity to access resources from multiple areas including STEM and Adolescent Literacy.
Participants will investigate resources that include lessons and professional learning opportunities. Group
discussions will focus on how digital resources support teaching and learning.
Building PARCC-Like Tests to Use in the Classroom
Marnie Stockman, Performance Matters
PARCC it here! Come learn how to use the Performance Matters UNIFY platform to build technologyenhanced items and tests that students can take online. Come experience a test and learn about the
possibilities of interactive items.
Preparation is Half the Battle; Avid and Testing Strategies That Build Success on Common Core
Assessments
Alexis Pogonowski & Debra Curdts, Anne Arundel County
Audience will be provided multiple testing and AVID strategies that can be implemented across the
curriculum in any content and build student success on CCCSS and PARCC with take-it back packs that
can be shared with teachers immediately.
Project 100
Annette Wallace & Amy Vadella, Worcester County
Pocomoke High, in partnership with Wor-Wic CC developed Project 100. Their plan for 100% of PHS
graduates to be enrolled in a 4-year or 2-year college, trade school, or the military upon graduation.
Project 100 begins during a student's freshman year and will include a detailed 5-year plan for every
student. The project will culminate with Intent Night - where students will sign a letter of intent
specifying his/her commitment to education/career plans after graduation. The speaker at the first annual
Intent Night will be Dr. Lillian Lowery.
The Little District That Could
Linda Wilson, Caroline Marshall, & Tamu Davis, Dorchester
Listen and hear how one small district made and continues to make the transition to the MDCCRS from
the District level to the Collaborative Planning Table.
11:30 to 12:20 Session 4
Virtual Coaching of Teachers (both)
Ameetha Palanki & Melissa Perlman, Show Evidence
Instructional coaching and teacher-led observations, while invaluable, are costly and time consuming.
What if you could support teachers without leaving the building? Learn how to use video and other
artifacts of teacher practice to provide ongoing feedback aligned to your evaluative framework for the
purposes of improving instruction.
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Innovative Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement
Deborah Ritz & Patricia Korpacz, Worcester County
Learn a practical approach to planning for transdisciplinary studies. Develop units through which students
can master curricular learning criteria and develop critical thinking processes. We will share strategies
and the process we use to plan units in which disciplinary lines are blended to maximize learning and
creativity.
Deconstructing the College & Career Standards for Instructional Planning
Kimberly Edler, Cecil County
This professional development session will focus on a process for deconstructing ELA and Math College
& Career Readiness Standards for the purpose of instructional planning. Participants will identify what
students should know, understand and be able to do in order to implement the College & Career
Readiness standards through deconstruction, as well as alignment to planning. Exploration of anchor
standards, grade specific standards and the progression of standards in ELA and Math will be included in
this professional development.
Using Study Island and Waggle to Help Students Prepare for PARCC
Tim Dixon, Prince Georges County
The presenter will share how Study Island and Waggle are being used at their school to help third through
sixth grade students prepare for PARCC testing. Both Study Island and Waggle offer online assessments
that closely simulate PARCC questions and are aligned to CCSS.
Constructing Sentences to Paragraphs
Andrea Broomell, Sherry Eichinger, Stephanie Kilchenstein, & Crystal Nickle, Cecil County
Participants will hear how Cecil County has developed a strategic writing plan using learning strategies.
Students in grades 1 through 5 are learning how to efficiently use what they have learned about the
structure of a sentence and paragraph to meet the demands of the MCCR Standards.
12:25 to 1:00 Lunch
1:10 to 2:00 Session 5
From Scores to Feedback: Advancing Student Authentic Learning
Ameetha Palanki, Melissa Perlman, Dee Shorts, & Patti West-Smith, Show Evidence
PARCC asks students to analyze text critically and write cogently and uses rubrics to evaluate their work.
This can be a promising practice provided we move beyond the score. Learn how MD teachers tagging
evidence from rubrics to provide feedback to make scores more meaningful to the student.
Formative Assessment: Make IT Take IT
Teresa Miller Dennig, Worcester County
It is very difficult for teachers to create formative assessments that are generic and can be taken into the
classroom for immediate use. This workshop will provide teachers the opportunity to create formative
assessments that will fit any subject and is a very down to earth productive workshop.
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How to Leverage Teacher Evaluation to Enhance Student Achievement (C)
Lita Kelly, Juanita Briscoe, Michael Brooks, & Bridgette Blue-Laney, Prince Georges County
Teacher evaluation processes impact a school district’s mission/vison and educational systems. To
support the implementation of Common Core and enhancement of student achievement, this presentation
will address cultural changes and present the data story that districts can use to achieve the goal of using
teacher evaluation to leverage student achievement.
Formative Assessment for Maryland Educators (FAME): Get the Low-Down on Getting Started with
Formative Assessment
Lisa Loudenslager, Lindsey McCormick, Jaclyn DeMatos, Kathryn Belmonte, & Andrea Saloka,
Caroline County
Formative assessment is a widely-used term in education these days, but are you sure what you're doing is
truly formative? Learn about the five elements of formative assessment as a comprehensive instructional
approach and hear a panel of teachers speak about their experiences implementing formative elements to
their instructional repertoires.
Discourse in the Elementary Classroom...Really? Really!
Regina Teat, Dorchester County
Student learning and classroom practice tells us that classroom discussions are crucial to mathematics
learning. Learn how to help students explain their mathematical ideas and to engage in other students'
mathematical ideas through talk by learning to listen to others, asking respectful questions and reflecting
on their own understandings.
2:10 to 3:00 Session 6
Professional Learning in Maryland
Angela de Guzman & Bruce Riegel, Maryland State Department of Education
Develop an understanding of Professional Learning vs. Professional Development. Identify the new
standards for Professional Learning in Maryland and examine how the new standards affect professional
learning in schools and districts. Also explore resources through Learning Forward and Maryland
Blackboard Learn that will support effective professional learning.
Harnessing the Power of Student Work
Steve Silvius, Three Ring, Inc.
Student work provides primary evidence of learning and growth. It allows us to assess 21st century skills,
non-tested subjects and tricky aspects of the Common Core. Three Ring makes it easy to use student work
throughout your district. Come see learning and growth examples from across Maryland.
Universal Thinking Verbs: Instructional Support for Student Learning
Pamela Mesta & Brian Wienholt, Carroll County
Come to this interactive session to explore the cognitive complexity in the CCSS and PARCC
assessments. A common group of verbs will be explored that identify fundamental thinking skills
necessary for college/career success. Cross-curricular connections and strategies will be shared that
promote a shared understanding of these essential thinking skills.
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Building Your Professional Learning Network
Marcia Porter, Caroline County
Harness the power of social media and bookmarking sites to develop your own Professional Learning
Network. Educators are tweeting, writing blogs, tackling CCSS and PARCC, and creating lessons to
share. BYOD and start tapping into this wealth of expertise and begin sharing your knowledge.
Writing Supports for Students with ADHD or LD
Patricia O'Malley, Compass Educational Services, LLC
Executive functioning difficulties can be the primary cause of frustration for children with LD and/or
ADHD, especially when tasks require writing. This session reviews the common weaknesses in skills and
executive functioning of students with LD/ADHD and offers strategies and tools to help improve their
writing skills. Resources provided.
Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/MDAssessmentGrp
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Chesapeake College, Wye Mills, Maryland
Campus Map
Kent/Humanities Building
Building #3
Join us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/MDAssessmentGrp