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Digital.Readworks.Org

posted Jun 8, 2017, 7:33 AM by Heidi Leigh

Readworks offers a FREE high-quality digital library of nonfiction and literary articles, carefully curated to support reading comprehension.  
Digital.Readworks.org offers: K-12 student range, audio texts, paired texts, pre-made lessons, assessment features, and student login access

To learn more visit: 

Jo Boaler (Mathematical Mindsets) TEDx talk & youcubed.org

posted Mar 23, 2017, 12:58 PM by Heidi Leigh

Jo Boaler's recent TEDx emphasized the need for creativity and visual learning in order to bring inspiration to math instruction. See this 3 minute video on "Solving the Math Problem.

Jo Boaler's website, youcubed.org, has a wealth of resources and tasks to inspire and engage students in math. 

Below are a few highlights from youcubed.org: 

Week of iMath tab
"Week of Inspirational Math" is a weeklong set of lessons to inspire students to engage positively with math. This article gives a little more information. There are currently two weeks of iMath available on the youcubed.com website under the Week of iMath tab.  

Ideas & Tasks tab
Under Tasks you can choose a concept and a grade, then select a task...the tasks that need specific handouts have them available for download as a pdf. Also under this tab there are many other great resources to explore, including Making Group Work Equal, and the Mindset Card and the Positive Classroom Norms Poster from the Growth Mindset page. 

Courses tab
On the Online Courses page there is a free course called How to Learn Math that you can try out to see how mindset can be changed through math instruction. There is also an online self-paced course called How to Learn Math for Teachers that looks excellent (elementary teachers will see a connection with Number Talks). This course would take approximately 30 hours to complete, but may be worthwhile if a group wanted to tackle it together between now and fall. 

**MARCH 2017-APRIL 2017**
5-12 Math Teachers: If you are interested in registering in the above course please email Diane Giorgi dgiorgi@flaschools.org to express your interest.  If 5 or more register, there may be an opportunity to have registration fees covered.  Also, if you complete the course you may earn up to 30 CEU hours.

MN Center for Social Studies Education: K-12 Resources & PD Opportunities

posted Mar 21, 2017, 12:41 PM by Heidi Leigh

The following are Spring 2017 updates from the CSSE:


  • Visit the Minnesota Center for Social Studies Education (CSSE) website that includes additional resources, curriculum guides and a calendar of events that has opportunities for students.

  • The Minnesota Council for the Social Studies (MCSS) website features an Advocacy page with information and resources about current legislation at the federal and state levels.

  • The Minnesota Humanities Center is offering an Educator Institute from June 25-30 in St. Paul. The deadline to apply is March 31. Learn more

  • The Minnesota Council for History Education is offering a World War One Workshop in Edina, MN on April 1. Register now

  •  The Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education (MAGE) has two summer institutes for educators:
    • *Geography & GeoTechnology in Global Studies in St. Paul from June 26-30 — APPLY NOW
    • *Advanced Geography & GeoTechnology in the Social Studies Classroom in St. Paul from July 10-14 — APPLY NOW
    • *These institutes are FREE and each participant will receive a $30 daily stipend.

  • The Minnesota Council on Economic Education (MCEE) is offering “Using Children’s Literature to Teach Economics” from July 10-14 in St. Paul. Learn more

  • SAVE THE DATE Join us on August 8 at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul for History Fest!
  • Stay in St. Paul to participate in Learning Law and Democracy Foundation’s annual Update from August 9-11. Learn More


QUESTIONS? Contact Jessica Winkelaar 

Minnesota Center for Social Studies Education (CSSE)
Social Studies Specialist
651-259-3448 (MNHS); 651-582-8294 (MDE)

MN Agriculture in the Classroom *Resources*

posted Mar 15, 2017, 7:22 AM by Heidi Leigh

Click here to visit the website.

MAITC Mission
  • Increase agricultural literacy through K-12 education.
  • An agriculturally literate person is defined as someone who understands and can communicate the source and value of agriculture as it affects our quality of life.
  • Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) programs seek to improve student achievement by applying authentic, agricultural-based content as the context to teach core curriculum concepts in science, social studies, language arts and nutrition. By encouraging teachers to embed agriculture into their classroom, AITC cultivates an understanding and appreciation of the food and fiber system that we all rely on every day.
Attention: 1st grade & 4-6th grade teachers.
You can sign-up for a FREE subscription for the AgMag and AgMag Jr series that covers MN K-6 academic standards based content for geography, history, science, non-fiction literature. Sign up here: minnesota.agclassroom.org/educator/agmag.cfm

All teachers, may visit the online tools for the classroom at www.mnagmag.org

Physical Education Standards Review Process

posted Mar 6, 2017, 8:01 AM by Brad Ward   [ updated Mar 6, 2017, 8:02 AM ]

MDE is seeking feedback on the first draft of the next version of the K-12 Physical Education Standards. The window is open from February 27-March 16, 2017. From the Health and Physical Education page, "Legislation passed in 2016 requires the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to adopt the national physical education standards and “modify them according to state interest.” Using the SHAPE America National Standards & Grade-Level Outcomes for K-12 Physical Education as a base, the Standards Committee is determining the changes that are needed to ensure that the national standards address state statutory requirements and best practices in physical education."

Lifelines Training Available (Google Classroom/CEU)

posted Feb 9, 2017, 2:36 PM by Heidi Leigh

Click on the Professional Development tab and scroll down. There is now an opportunity for you to be trained in Lifelines, a suicide prevention program via a Google Classroom. You will also earn your mental health CEU.  

Become a GSuite Wizard!

posted Dec 30, 2016, 8:11 AM by Diane Giorgi

The entire suite of Google apps is now called GSuite. Check out this great Google resource for links to tips and tutorials on leveraging any and all of the Google apps in your teaching.

Update! Online CEU opportunity to learn more about how to support English Learners in the classroom

posted Dec 5, 2016, 7:55 AM by Heidi Leigh   [ updated Dec 5, 2016, 7:56 AM ]

Click on the 'Professional Development' tab or here is the direct link: https://sites.google.com/a/flaschools.org/flas-curriculum/professional-development

FLAS staff have two opportunities to earn CEU credit around meeting the needs of the EL student.  One is through Discovery Education and one is through a Google Classroom.  

District-Wide Bullying Reporting Form

posted Oct 18, 2016, 11:44 AM by Heidi Leigh

As part of the district's ongoing efforts to prevent and reduce bullying behavior, a district-wide bullying reporting form has been developed that can be used by staff, students and families to report bullying behavior. The form is now on the district website.  


Also, here is a link to a 12 minute video created by MDE to provide staff with an overview of the requirements of school districts under the Safe & Supportive Minnesota Schools Act.  If you have questions about the reporting form or educational resources around bullying, please contact Carolyn Carr Latady

Social Studies Curriculum Guides and Resource Lists K-12

posted Oct 10, 2016, 2:48 PM by Diane Giorgi

The Minnesota Center for Social Studies Education hosts Minnesota standards-aligned curriculum guides and links to online and print resources to support Social Studies instruction K-12, including possible materials and lesson plans in a benchmark-by-benchmark format. Check it out on the MNCSSE.org website.

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