Essential Skills Info in Synergy

Teachers can now access their current student’s Essential Skill Work Sample information in Synergy. This report will list the name of the Work Sample as well as the trait scores.  A quick reference guide on how to run this report can be found on the IT Synergy Support page here. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Slaughter at aslaught@pps.net.

Teacher Channel: Deeper Learning

This Week: Productive Struggle in Math

Common Core Math Playlist: Engaging Students with “Productive Struggle” We’ve got 6 new videos showing how Kentucky teachers are using Math Design Collaborative (MDC) to teach students how to persevere while problem-solving. A Passion for Fractions See how Becky Pittard gives students a variety of solutions to encourage deep thinking. Don't Give Up! Plan, Persevere, Revise Watch how Madeline Noonan introduces a new problem to her students and helps them work through tough challenges.

TeacherVue Work Samples

Schools are required to offer a local performance assessment once per year for grades 3-8 and once during high school in each of 4 subjects: writing, math, science and speaking. PPS uses work samples scored with state scoring guides to fulfill this requirement.  The due date for entering work samples into Synergy to fulfill this requirement is May 29, 2015.

High school work samples used for demonstrating proficiency in the Essential Skills should also continue to be recorded in Synergy throughout the year.

Instructions for entry of work sample scores in Synergy for K-8 teachers can be found here and instructions for high school data clerks are here.

For questions about work sample requirements, contact Mike Shadder, mikes@pps.net, (for Essential Skills specific questions contact Susan Payne, spayne@pps.net).  For Synergy questions, contact the IT Service Desk at itservicedesk@pps.net or x63375 option #2.

Essential Skills Math

Essential Skills Math
October 1st, 8:00-11:00 am

Essential Skills Work Sample Training for Math will be offered on Wednesday, October 1, from 8 – 11:00. This training is for new high school math teachers and any other PPS math teacher not yet trained. Upon completion of the training and submission of the appropriate Assurance form, teachers will receive access to the PPS Secure Work Sample site. This will be the only offered training for Essential Skills Math this school year. 

Teachers can sign up via the Learning Campus.