Inside Dallas ISD

Choosing a college can be a life-changing experience. However, that experience can be a daunting challenge for prospective first-generation students whose families may be unfamiliar with college. Additionally, some families face financial or other limitations that prevent them from having their student visit an actual college campus. Short of making an on-campus visit, college fairs where exhibitors bring the college experience to students often prove the next best option. That’s the idea behind the HBCU Experience set for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 21, at Skyline High School, 7777 Forney Road. The fair will connect students in elementary, middle and high…

In early March, Irma De La Guardia, a Dallas ISD teacher at Harry C. Withers Elementary School, was named the National Association of Bilingual Educators’ 2015 Teacher of the Year. Given De La Guardia’s noted skill at teaching, The Hub asked her what five tips she would give a new bilingual teacher. She responded: 1.      Engage all students with multiple response strategies: Some of my favorites are white boards, think, pair, share and choral response. 2.      Stay in the language of instruction: Use visuals and anchor charts to help students in their second language. Post your anchor charts in e-classroom. 3.     …

Students, staff, parents and volunteers celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with green thumbs on Tuesday, March 17, as they planted a new garden at John Quincy Adams Elementary School. Fifth-grader Raymond Arguelles relished the opportunity to grab a shovel and help with digging duties. But he’s also looking forward to making a few new friends, too. “A lot of times, you hardly see that,” he said of birds and wildlife, gesturing to a banner emblazoned with a large blue jay. “With a garden, they might just stop by.” Tuesday’s installation marks the 27th garden coordinated by nonprofit REAL School Gardens, and…

Alex Sanger Elementary School students shouted their favorite color, did (safe) karate chops, and performed a variety of other dance moves during a special Koo Koo Kangaroo concert on Tuesday afternoon. Koo Koo Kangaroo, an interactive comedic dance-pop band from Minnesota, performed at Alex Sanger Elementary after its students won a GoNoodle contest sponsored by Children’s Health. GoNoodle is an online service that provides “brain breaks” in classrooms through brief, interactive videos designed to encourage body movement. To win the GoNoodle contest, Sanger Elementary had the highest percentage of GoNoodle users in Dallas ISD between Feb. 9–March 6. “Brain breaks…