In place of old school "Lesson Plans," GISD is asking teachers to customize, or tailor, the provided lessons to meet the needs of their students and classroom.

We will discuss this process in this week's PLC meeting.

Click the image below to access the blank templates and examples of completed frameworks!

Please read through each slide and make adjustments for your grade/class. Some slides are generalized, and some require you to add your specific schedules and procedures.

Feel free to add slides with additional information you would like to share with your parents!

(This is also a good time to be sure everyone is connected to your class DOJO, so consider adding a QR code for them to connect in real time.)

Testing Window:

• Dates: August 19 - September 13 📅

• Student Progress Reports: September 16 📈

Administration Details:

• Grade Levels: K-5 📚

• Schedule: K-1 teachers, review the attached schedule. 2nd-5th grade teachers, follow your grade level plans. 🕒

• Preparation: Ensure students are familiar with the platform and have needed materials (e.g., headphones) 🎧

• Accommodations: Review and support necessary accommodations 📝

• Make-up Testing: Student who are absent will complete MAP assessments during designated make-up days 🕰️

Action Items:

• Grade Level Plans: 2nd-5th grade teams, please share your MAP schedule plans with Hicks, Valdora, and Hale before the start of testing. 🗂️

• Review Schedule: Confirm testing times, sessions, and locations ✅

• MAP BOY Letters: Letters for the BOY assessment have been placed in your boxes. Please send home by Friday and share a copy on Class Dojo 📬

• Kimberlin MAP Training Guide: Read the campus MAP testing guide and review campus-specific information 📚

Who receives testing:

K-2: all students

3-5: students at or below the 5th percentile on MAP reading and/or students who were placed in Tier 3 through MTSS committees (these students will be tested by the interventionist or dyslexia therapist)

Here are the training materials for administering mCLASS:

Slide deck to be used when doing initial training

MCLASS landing pages:

mCLASS landing page (English)

mCLASS landing page (Spanish)

Math: K-5th all students

Reading: 3rd-5th all students (we do not have i-Ready for K-2; mCLASS is the replacement)

The slide decks below are to be used as a mini-lesson by teachers prior to students taking the diagnostic. Many of the slides have a teacher script in the speaker notes.

K-2 i-Ready

3-5 i-Ready

• When the Heat Index exceeds 100 degrees- all outside activities should be cancelled.

• When the air quality level reaches Red or Purple- all outside activities should be cancelled.

• When the air quality level reaches Orange- outside activities should be limited to 20 minutes with frequent water breaks.

• Special care should be taken for students with respiratory or other health conditions.

Please allow students to remain indoors upon parent request. Contact your school nurse or Health Services at 972-487-3268 should you have any questions.

• Waters will be made available for teachers on recess/outside dismissal duties
• Encourage students to bring water bottles outside or go inside for water as needed

Check out the position-based training ‘checklists’ (including recommended pacing and timelines) to support your completion by the assigned deadline!

• All Employees - all campus and district personnel will complete these trainings as required by TEA & GISD Board Policy will complete a total of 6 courses (5 hours)

• Employees Interacting with Students - employees with daily student interaction will complete a total of 9 courses (6.5 hours)

• Employees with Instructional Responsibilities - employees charged with instructional responsibilities will complete a total of 12 courses (8.25 hours)

Click here for more information and troubleshooting tips.

Garland ISD is excited to announce our new partnership with ParentSquare, which is transitioning away from School Messenger to enhance our communication efforts. Historically, our district has relied on School Messenger to keep our community informed, but we are now moving to ParentSquare to provide a more unified and robust communication platform.

ParentSquare provides a seamless experience, offering features that enhance parent and guardian involvement. These include an intuitive mobile app, two-way language translation, and comprehensive engagement tools. The platform comes pre-loaded with class lists to facilitate the onboarding process, ensuring a smooth and efficient start.

Some features include:

· Mass notifications and Urgent Alerts

· Mobile application for administrators and parents (iOS and Android)

· Attendance notifications

· Teacher and classroom communication

· Direct Messaging with two-way translation

· Social (Facebook and Twitter)

· Forms and Permission Slips

· Appointment Sign Ups (parent-teacher conferences)

· Calendar and RSVP

· Volunteering and classroom supply sign-ups

· And so much more!

Communication to Parents

Parents will receive an activation email for their ParentSquare account beginning August 9. Those who do not register will still receive text, email, and phone notifications. Parents who do create an account can interact by viewing photos, downloading attachments, leaving comments, messaging teachers, signing permission slips, and managing their communication settings and preferences.

ParentSquare Resources and Training

All Garland ISD staff will receive access to their ParentSquare account beginning August 2. Garland ISD will provide a variety of resources to ensure an effective launch at each campus, including training videos, letters, PowerPoint presentations for parents, and more. To access the ParentSquare resources please click here.

SHOUT OUT TO...

Katy, Crystal & Sarah from Lauren Reavis : These three have been so helpful and supportive in the last few weeks leading up to school starting, I'm so thankful to get to be part of such an amazing team!

Tilson, Johnson, Carrion, oh my! from Kara : Thank y'all (and so many more of you) for the extra help!

Renning from Garza : Thank you for your support, advice and hugs! Looking forward to having an amazing year together!

First Grade from Garza : Thank you for letting Kinder join your group during PD days. Looking forward to sharing a table with you this school year!

Katy Valdora from Sarah Gibson : THANK YOU for taking the time to guide me through all things SPED in Frontline!

Charlotte Ballard from Sarah Gibson : Not only do you bring the "calm to Kimberlin," you ALWAYS stop to check on me...even when I know you are busy!

Melinda & Reeves from Sarah Gibson : That poster though! Thank you both!

Najeda McNeal from Sarah Gibson : I am so excited to work with you this year! You are a wonderful addition to KAE!

Jodi Norris from Sarah Gibson : We would not survive without you. You are doing an amazing job!

HAVE A SHOUT OUT YOU WANT ME TO INCLUDE IN NEXT WEEK'S NEWSLETTER?

SHOUT OUT YOUR COLLEAGUES! Enter it HERE!

AUGUST

20 PLCs

• Lesson Customization
• TTESS Goal Setting
• PL Check-Ins

22 Parent Info Night 5-7p

SEPTEMBER

2 Labor Day (NO SCOOL)

20 STEM Night (PTA Math/Science Night)

OCTOBER

3 5th Grade Camp Mtg - 5:30pm