Just ASK Publications & Professional Development (Just ASK) is based in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. Established in 1989, Just ASK provides products and services for educators in formats that facilitate a shared understanding and use of best practice in teaching, learning, and leading in classrooms, schools, and districts in the 21st century.
JUST ASK RECOMMENDATION
The NEA website (www.nea.org/tools/lessons/black-history-month.htm ) presents a treasure trove of resources and lesson ideas to celebrate Black History Month. More great resources (especially those related to music and the arts) are available on the Teacher Vision website (www.teachervision.com/holidays/black-history-month).
The February Mentoring Calendar is now available. Access the calendar and other mentoring resources at https://justaskpublications.com/mentoring-resources/
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” -Nelson Mandela
In the latest issue of EmpowerED 3.2.1 Marica writes about Change Leadership. Read at https://justaskpublications.com/change-leadership
Please share this Valentine’s Day treat with your protégées and colleagues. It features a great six-minute collection of “Quips and Quotes” set to music. It is sure to bring smiles and nods of agreement from the recipients. https://youtu.be/4PSjoJEZucw
The previous issue of Making the Standards Come Alive! focused on Classroom Meetings as an important tool for bringing students together. The February issue focuses on Classroom Community Building Circles, another way to celebrate differences, build relationships, and make connections. Read this month’s issue at https://justaskpublications.com/msca/classroom-community-building-circles/
In the latest issue of EmpowerED 3.2.1 Marcia writes about Innovative Education. Read at https://justaskpublications.com/innovative-education/
Both the January and February issues of Making the Standards Come Alive! focus on classroom meetings. Heather Clayton writes with a strong voice about how we can (and should) integrate the development of our students as well-grounded, intellectually curious, and compassionate people into their school experiences every minute of the day. Do check out “Classroom Meetings” (https://justaskpublications.com/msca/classroom-meetings/) and also revisit “Let’s Hear It for Civility!” (https://justaskpublications.com/msca/civility/) and “Let’s Hear it for Empathy!” (https://justaskpublications.com/msca/empathy/)
The January launch of EmpowerED 3.2.1 was a phenomenal success! Marcia Baldanza is now writing shorter more frequent commentaries rather than a monthly e-newsletter like her previous publication Professional Practices for the 21st Century Leader.
Each EmpowerED 3.2.1 features 3 Big Ideas, 2 Quotes, and 1 Question with lots of links to resources from different perspectives such as business and industry, medicine, athletics, economics, recreation, and parenting as well as music and the arts. The goal of Marcia’s brief commentaries is to advance our thinking about how that wide array of information connects and supports our work as educational leaders.
Access the first postings ‘Hard Conversations,” Relationships Built on Trust and Integrity Matter, “ and “The Power of Small Wins” and subscribe at https://justaskpublications.com/empowered-321/
TALK ABOUT CHAMPIONS!
Bruce Oliver's January 2020 issue of Just for the ASKing! is the first in the 17th year of Bruce’s authorship of that newsletter. That means he has penned over 160 issues! Congratulations are definitely in order! Feel free to send him a quick note of congratulations on a job well done at [email protected] or at least take a look at the Just for the ASKing! Library at https://justaskpublications.com/jfta/jfta-library/
Don’t miss Bruce's insightful and delightful commentary about how to orchestrate a championship-level learning environment. He really hits a home run with this issue available now at https://justaskpublications.com/jfta/we-are-the-champions/
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
As of January 2020 Marcia Baldanza is writing shorter more frequent commentaries rather than a monthly e-newsletter like her previous publication Professional Practices for the 21st Century Leader.
Access the first issue and subscribe at https://justaskpublications.com/EmpowerED-321
Each EmpowerED 3.2.1 features 3 Big Ideas, 2 Quotes, and 1 Question with lots of links to resources from different perspectives such as business and industry, medicine, athletics, economics, recreation, and parenting as well as music and the arts. The goal of Marcia’s brief commentaries is to advance our thinking about how that wide array of information connects with and supports our work as educational leaders.
We don’t think you can find a short read like this anywhere else.
The Just ASK Team wishes you a prosperous, personally positive, and professionally productive year. We look forward to learning from and working with you in 2020!
It’s Christmastime in Alexandria Virginia, site of the home offices of Just ASK! Pictured here are the lights on King Street and the George Washington Masonic National Memorial lighted in red and green. One of Just ASK’s offices is located on King Street less than a block from the Masonic Temple so it is a part of our daily landscape. Right now, that view makes us smile even more than ever. May your smiles also be bright as you celebrate your own holidays this time of the year! (Photograph was taken by Chris Bridner and was publisher by The Zebra Press.)
Our colleagues from Palmdale School District stopped by the Just ASK booth at the 2019 California Induction Conference in Palm Springs. We were delighted to meet Janet Simons, Palmdale’s new Coordinator of Teacher Support and Federal Programs (third from left).
Thanks for all you do! The world is a better place because of all your efforts to support student learning and well being.
Just ASK is excited to be a Platinum Sponsor of the California Induction Conference again this year. Julie and Paula will be in Palm Springs, California, for the conference December 2-4 and are looking forward to seeing our California friends and colleagues in that beautiful setting! https://www.californiainductionconference.com/
Just ASK November Birthdays!
Don't forget to vote!
***************CONGRATULATIONS NATS!***************
What’s a principal to do? If you are pondering how to promote deeper learning, eliminate archaic practices, make faculty meetings optional, or other puzzling challenges, don’t miss the practitioners’ stories in the latest issue of Just for the ASKing! https://justaskpublications.com/jfta/whats-a-principal-to-do/
WAY TO GO NATIONALS!
GOOD LUCK IN GAME SEVEN!
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights and symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance". Here are some fun facts about diwali https://www.wordzz.com/diwali-infographics/.
Way to go Nats!
******CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!******
ALL 18 ACPS ARE FULLY ACCREDITED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), Virginia, serves over 15,600 students from more than 114 countries and speak 119 languages. 61% come from economically disadvantaged families and 41% are English-language learners. The T. C. Williams Scholarship Fund, now in its 33rd year, this past year raised over $450,000 for scholarships for seniors; more than half of the recipients are the first in their families to attend college.
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. said at the accreditation announcement, “This kind of success doesn’t happen by chance, nor does it happen overnight. It happens through planning, preparation and dedication for all students to experience success regardless of their life circumstances. It has taken the hard work and commitment of six superintendents and many staff over the course of 20 years to get ACPS to where it is today.
Superintendent Hutchings was joined for the accreditation announcement by six former superintendents (pictured below), all of whom contributed to this accomplishment: Herb Berg (1995-2001), Rebecca Perry (2001-2008), Morton Sherman (2008-2013), Alvin Crawley (2013-2017), and Lois Berlin (2017-2018).
Special greetings to our friend and colleague Ronni Reed!
View our resources for Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners at https://justaskpublications.com/areas-of-focus/meeting-the-needs-of-diverse-learners/
Don’t miss the latest issue of Making the Standards come Alive! In which Heather provides up-to-date guidance about helping students understand math. https://justaskpublications.com/msca/math-fact-fluency/
The first day of the Just ASK five-day Coaching Academy hosted by OCM BOCES, Liverpool (greater Syracuse area), New York, is today! The academy is designed and led by Just ASK Senior Consultant and author Brenda Kaylor who has an accomplished record as a coach, professional development director, and consultant. School districts participating in the academy include North Syracuse, Batavia, Cortland, Homer as well as OCM BOCES staff.
Just ASK Senior Consultant Julie McVicker once again made her annual visit to Rangely, Colorado, to work with new teachers from Meeker and Rangely School Districts. Each new teacher attending received a copy of Why Didn’t I Learn This in College? so that they can expand and refine their use of the approaches and strategies they explored with Julie.
Hiring a high-performing teacher or principal can seem daunting, especially when hiring for a high needs or transformational situation. Hiring coachable high performers can buffer some of the natural learning curve that all new teachers and principals encounter and, thereby, reduce the impact of that learning curve. Read what Marcia Baldanza learned in an online course in the latest issue of Professional Practices for the 21st Century Leader. https://justaskpublications.com/just-ask-resource-center/pp/hiring-coachable-high-performers/
The September Mentoring Memo features two powerful reading recommendations and two Just ASK tools every new teacher needs this month. Access them now at https://justaskpublications.com/mentoring-memo/
What an awesome way to start the school day!
The way this teacher greets her students 👏
Regardless of how experienced or new to teaching one may be, we can all use an update on fresh ideas and timely reminders that can make the classroom environment the best it can be. Read what Bruce Oliver has to say in this issue of Just for the ASKing! https://justaskpublications.com/jfta/the-best-management-program/
https://justaskpublications.com/professionalpractices/timely-tips-for-new-principals-and-teachers/
With the opening of school some of our new principals and teachers are new not only to their positions, but also to the school, the district, and perhaps even the state. They worry about not being able to meet the demands of the position and that others will be more skilled and have greater knowledge.
In this issue of Professional Practices Marcia Baldanza (https://twitter.com/BaldanzaMarcia) gives tips for new principals and teachers and she also discusses the power of professional stories and having one-on-one conversations where expressing willingness helps better understand the perspectives of others.
++++++ WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!++++++
Use coupon code backtoschool2019 to get 20% off all Just ASK books.(https://justaskpublications.com/product-category/books/)
Just ASK teaching resources will help you decide which teaching strategies are right for your classroom. Be sure
to check out the books featured below!
The 20% off backtoschool2019 code is valid through September 6, 2019. Kits, PLC Packs, and collections are not included.
The Just ASK Mentor's Opening of School Checklist is now available. Access it now at https://justaskpublications.com/mentoring-memo/
2214 King Street
Alexandria, VA
22301
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Every Student Deserves an Awesome Education! Kim Mogilevsky is the Director of Professional Development and Senior Curriculum Designer for Studies Weekly. This company publishes Social Studies, Science, and Math based textbooks for K-6 students. Kim uses Just ASK's publications and products to support her work. Learn more about Studies Weekly: www.youtube.com/user/studiesweekly For more information about Just ASK publications: http://www.justaskpublications.com/publications-and-products/ View on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWvXVycdTaI
Another video of our partner Orange County Public Schools, Florida and the New Beginnings program. We have worked together on this for years and it truly is a great program for supporting teachers new to the profession!
Congratulations to Orange County Public Schools, Florida for another successful start of the year with their New Beginnings program for new teachers!
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