We're hiring! [A marketing coordinator, a finance manager and a few curriculum writers who know Common Core]

Insight is growing and we're hiring! We've got a number of exciting opportunities available and we're looking for more great people to join our team. Pass the word!

Marketing Coordinator 

Do you have a passion for blogging, social media and just getting the word out about great work? And have K-12 experience on top of it? Then be sure to check out the full posting and shoot us your resume if you think you might be a fit.

Finance Manager 

Are you an experienced bookkeeper? Have experience with Dynamics GP? Do you have a passion for supporting a rapidly growing education company based in Los Angeles? Then learn more about the position and send us your resume. 

Curriculum Writers for Grades K-6 (Common Core) 

We're looking to hire contractors to write units and lessons in English/Language Arts and Math for grades K-6 through Insight’s lesson planning platform, myCore™. 

Writers need to have deep knowledge of the Common Core and demonstrated experience in writing units and lessons aligned to the Common Core.

Here are the grades/subjects still open:

• Grade 1 ELA (4 units with six lessons each)
• Grade 4 ELA (3 units with six lessons each)
• Grade 5 Math (3 units with six lessons each)
• Grade 6 ELA (3 units with six lessons each)
• Grade 6 Math (3 units with six lessons each)

Learn more about job opportunities at Insight.

EdSurge Tech for Schools Summit - Here we come!

We're honored and excited to be one of 30 companies chosen to present at the EdSurge Tech for Schools Summit on this Saturday (Nov. 2) in Silicon Valley.

The event is designed to bring local educators and innovative ed tech entrepreneurs together, and provide opportunities for teachers to explore new products and to ask the tough questions of the entrepreneurs.

Jill Nyhus, Insight's VP of Business Development, and Nancy Goodman, Senior Project Director, plan to unveil and get feedback on Insight's new platform that provides meaningful feedback to classroom teachers through video-based observations, coaching and evaluations.

The event was announced after the overwhelming success of the first Tech for Schools Summit that was held in Rhode Island earlier in October.  The 30 companies that will participate at the Summit were subjected to a rigorous judging period, chosen by a panel of five independent judges from over 100 applicants.

The Tech for Schools Summit is a free, invite-only event open only to educators in Silicon Valley and Bay Area. EdSurge is co-hosting the event with NewSchools Venture Fund, Silicon Valley Education Foundation, and the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

Aligning Teacher Evaluation and the Common Core State Standards - Voice from the Field

The Common Core State Standards and teacher evaluation initiatives have great potential to prepare students for success in college and career and to improve teaching.

But the challenge is that in most states and districts these initiatives are not aligned. What would it look like if they were aligned, and how would teachers and students benefit?

Check out the guest article by Insight's Dr. Michael Moody and Maureen Sigler on EdNET Insight's Voice from the Field and let us know what you think!

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Follow us on Twitter! @insighteducationgroup and @drmichaelmoody

Another lesson in implementing the CCSS: Remember this is new

Here's another lesson in our "Implementing the Common Core" series from Insight Education's Dr. Michael Moody and Syracuse Superintendent Sharon Contreras.

Lesson: Remember this is new.

Dr. Moody: Give teachers the time and support they need to internalize this change, work with others to refine their practice with the standards, and break the work up into manageable chunks at the district and school levels. 

Superintendent Contreras: It’s important for us to be innovative in how we provide time, resources and administrative support for teachers. Otherwise, we will continue to hear about constraints rather than the awesome possibilities of the CCSS.   

Go directly to the source: teachers and building leaders are engaged in this work every day and have the most important insights into refining teaching and increasing student learning.

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Check out more lessons in the SmartBlog on Education post [September 16, 2013] and in our previous blog posts.

Follow us on Twitter! 
@insighteducationgroup, @drmichaelmoody, @SyracuseSchools and @SContrerasSCSD

Implementing the Common Core: Support your teachers in multiple ways

Here's another lesson in our "Implementing the Common Core" series from Insight's Dr. Michael Moody and Syracuse Superintendent Sharon Contreras.

Lesson: Provide several ways to support teachers during implementation. 

Dr. Moody: Successful implementation requires a thoughtful rollout of the new standards, and supporting teachers is a process, not an event.  

In addition to traditional professional development that explains Common Core Standards and connects it to planning, instruction and assessment, consider providing on-going, game-changing supports like coaching and online learning.

Superintendent Contreras: Absolutely. In SCSD, we’re providing our teachers and school leaders with school-based coaching, professional development and a full array of supports throughout the entire school year. Our teachers and principals also have access to several online learning tools to support their rollout of the CCSS.

How are you supporting your teachers for the Common Core rollout in your district or school? Submit a comment below. 

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Check out more lessons in the SmartBlog on Education post from September 16, 2013.

Follow us on Twitter! 
@insighteducationgroup, @drmichaelmoody, @SyracuseSchools and @SContrerasSCSD

Common Core Transition Guides for School-Level Leaders & Teachers

The Aspen Institute, together with Education First, Insight Education Group, Student Achievement Partners and Targeted Leadership Consulting, have released "Implementation of the CCSS: A Transition Guide for School-Level Leaders." 

The guide provides specific steps and tools for successful transition to the new standards at the school level.

• High-Impact Actions: Critical moves that the leadership team and other stakeholders should take to implement the indicator in their school.
• Measures: Examples of ways to collect and analyze data to assess the implementation of each indicator.
• Tools: Links to supporting materials that will help the leadership team and other stakeholders address the indicator. 

The guide also includes vignettes with discussion questions to encourage further exploration of the indicators among leadership team members and other school community members.



In addition, The Aspen Institute also released several new modules in its Tools for Teachers series, including:

• Implementing the CCSS: The Role of ILTs and LASW
• Close Reading and Text-Dependent Questions
• Designing Close Reading Instruction
• Engaging in Academic Writing
• Text Complexity and the CCSS

Send us a note if there is anything we can do to support you in your Common Core implementation initiatives.
 


@InsightEdGroup & @drmichaelmoody

Implementing the Common Core: Determine your curriculum

Last week, Insight's Dr. Michael Moody and Syracuse Superintendent Sharon Contreras led a conversation featured in SmartBlog on Education about key lessons for school leaders to consider in implementing the Common Core.

Here's another lesson to consider.

Lesson: Determine the curriculum you will use.

Dr. Moody: A real challenge is determining if you’ll “make or buy” CCSS-Aligned curriculum.

While there is no right answer, it is important that there is an answer.  Implementing the Common Core is not as simple as identifying a “Common Core curriculum” and then training teachers to use it. 

The new standards require real changes in the way we teach, what we teach and even how we think about teaching. Embracing this change (and putting the necessary resources behind it) is critical.  

Superintendent Contreras: In Syracuse City School District, teachers are developing curricular units, lesson plans and assessments aligned to the CCSS. There is no better way for teachers to learn about or to become vested in the standards.

What do you think? Have more lessons you've learned? Share in the comments section below.

Follow us on Twitter! 
@insighteducationgroup, @drmichaelmoody, @SyracuseSchools and @SContrerasSCSD