Training & Professional Development for Texas Programs

Overview of Professional Development for Texas Programs

Executive Planning Meeting

Beginning with an executive planning meeting, a McGraw Hill Education team will meet with district curriculum leaders to plan and address specific instructional objectives. This meeting will help bring the right specialists to work with district teachers for implementation success.

By planning professional development opportunities and scheduling options together, McGraw Hill and the district administrative team can prepare impactful, useful, and sustainable training events for teachers and curriculum leaders.

Additionally, by planning as a single team, McGraw Hill PD team members can address the outlined goals and content defined by district leaders. Specific session agendas can be discussed and confirmed during the executive planning meeting as needed.

Professional Development Implementation

Our goal is to provide teachers with a comprehensive introduction to McGraw Hill curriculum, ensuring teachers have acquired the knowledge and skills to begin using the resources immediately in their classroom.

Initial Teacher and Administrator/Coach Training

A curriculum overview will be customized to address district requirements and may include the following topics:

  • Curriculum organization and orientation to materials
  • Digital resource overview and exploration
  • Lesson planning
  • Student assessment and evaluation
  • Differentiated instruction strategies and resources
  • Best practices and effective teaching strategies
  • Targeted intervention
  • Train the Trainer model

Virtual Training Resources

A unique feature of the McGraw Hill Education programs is how our virtual training resources provide step-by-step online training. Led by nationally-recognized educators, these training sessions lead teachers through video and printable guided practice, available 24/7 from wherever teachers and administrators access the program.

  • Initial Program Training: This three-four-hour session contains an program overview and provides teachers with a thorough introduction to Texas StudySync and prepare them for the first day of school. Grade-level sessions will focus on topics including:
    • Organization of the program
    • Alignment to TEKS and ELPS standards
    • Lesson structure and planning
    • Assessment and evaluating student achievement
    • Differentiation strategies
    • English Learner support and strategies
    • Effective teaching strategies
    • Targeted Intervention
    • Strategies for reaching all learners
    • Placement and diagnosis writing instruction
  • Weekly Webinars: Connect with other educators to learn and share best practices. Regularly scheduled basic and advanced webinars connect you with a StudySync expert on your schedule. Online implementation modules provide district educators with ongoing implementation and curriculum support. Designed as grade-level specific resources, Online Implementation Modules will be available for all teachers throughout the adoption and include online video libraries through the learning portal. The online format provides flexibility and access for teachers and coaches—short video clips of master teachers, model lessons and experts located at point of use. These video segments are correlated and aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for English Language Arts and Reading.
  • Live Chat Function: Immediate live assistance and feedback supporting Texas teachers in the classroom.
  • Texas StudySync Teaching Labs: Watch StudySync teachers model and present implementation strategies for Texas StudySync lessons in the classroom.
  • Best Practices: Recommendations on how to implement StudySync in your classroom, featuring teachers from across the country. Includes “no technology-no problem” infographics.

Follow Up Program Training

Following the initial implementation, McGraw Hill Education representatives and designated district and/or school personnel will determine a plan for further training. The follow-up training may include several topics:

  • On-going new teacher training
  • Digital deep dive
  • TEKS workshops focusing on new ELAR strands
  • Annual new teacher trainings
  • Digital deep dives
  • Assessment follow up
  • Small group instruction
  • English Language Learner instruction
  • Blended Learning
  • Novel Studies
  • Blasts - using current events to further reading, writing, speaking and listening skills
  • Texas implementation specialists assigned to each district for ongoing support for the life of the adoption
  • SyncUP Newsletter: Provides updates on new content and program features, tips and tricks from teachers using StudySync, and scheduled collaborative events
  • Tutorial Videos: Quick how-to videos on all aspects of using your StudySync account
  • StudySync Blog: Opportunities to collaborate with other Texas StudySync teachers

Technology Workshop

In this session, participants:

  • get an overview of the technology offerings;
  • train in the effective use of the components purchased with the program for motivating students, monitoring progress, and recording assessments.
  • receive ideas for effectively integrating the use of the Internet in classroom instruction;
  • learn how to register for the online student and teacher editions; and
  • explore the interactive activities and projects on ConnectED.

Teachers will have access to online PD videos, author videos, classroom model videos, and white papers. Participants must have access to internet-connected computers during the training session.

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Additional Professional Development for Texas K–5 Literacy

Start Smart for Texas Wonders and Texas Maravillas

In the first unit of every grade, the Start Smart pages of your Teacher’s Edition provide an overview and explanation of the instructional lessons and routines. 

Online Professional Development for K–5 Literacy

Your online Professional Development resources are available 24/7, on-demand, so you get the support you need, whenever you need it.

You’ll find Quick Start courses that will help you make the most of the digital workspace, classroom videos, coach videos featuring our authors, and whitepapers, as well as the Instructional Routine Handbook and Research Base Alignment.

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