2019 OFLA Awards: Let’s Recognize Ohio’s World Language Teachers!

Posted on October 8, 2018 by

Beth Hanlon, OFLA Awards Chair
Spanish Teacher, Oberlin High School

Ohio is full of amazing world language teacher who deserve recognition! I am sure you do not need to look far in your school building, your district, or your group of teacher friends in order to find someone deserving of an OFLA teaching award. Why not consider taking that extra step to nominate that deserving and amazing teacher you know for a 2019 OFLA award?

Each year OFLA seeks nominations in fourteen categories: eleven for OFLA members and three for non-OFLA members. This year the OFLA board added the “Pre-Service Teacher Award” in order to recognize outstanding pre-service professionals from Ohio teacher training institutions.  The categories are listed below.

Please see this page for more information, including complete descriptions of award categories, and a nomination form. Any questions should be directed to: pres2018@ofla-online.org. A nomination letter, CV or résumé, letters of support, and additional support documentation are due November 1, 2018. Continue reading →

Posted in Awards, Executive News, Fall 2018, General, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Important Legislative Changes: Elementary Licensure and PBIS Training

Posted on October 8, 2018 by

Barbara A. Sposet, Ph.D.
Chair, Teacher Education & Licensure Committee
Baldwin Wallace University

“The Only Constant is Change” – Heraclitus, Greek philosopher
Changes affecting both EPP’s (Education Preparation Providers or Teacher Education Programs) and in-service teachers were announced in late August by the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE). They include a change in licensure grade band levels and a change in teacher preparation/school district requirements.

Sentate Bill 216 will change the current PK3 license to a PK5 license effective fall, 2020. All other licensure grade bands (e.g., 4-9; 7-12 and PK12) will remain the same. Currently PK3 Continue reading →

Posted in Cardinal, Committee News, Fall 2018, General, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

AATG OHIO FALL CONFERENCE 2018

Posted on October 8, 2018 by

Julie Schonauer, New Philadelphia High School/AATG Ohio President,

EINLADUNG
Werte KollegInnen!
Eure Ohio AATG lädt alle Mitglieder und Interessenten zu einem eintägigen Treffen mit
dem Thema Entdeckungsreise deutscher Wurzeln in Ohio im Herbst herzlich ein. Wir
möchten euch bitten, den deutsch-amerikanischen Tag am Samstag 6. Oktober 2018 frei Continue reading →

Posted in Affiliates, Cardinal, Fall 2018, General, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Mary Townsend, ODE Master Teacher, French Teacher, Kettering Fairmont High School

Posted on October 8, 2018 by

KETTERING FRENCH TEACHER WINS NATIONAL AWARD

Mary Townsend, ODE Master Teacher, French Teacher, Kettering Fairmont High School

Mary Townsend, French teacher at Kettering Fairmont High School, was recently named recipient of the Valette / American Association of Teachers of French Legacy Award. This Continue reading →

Posted in Fall 2018, General, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

AROUND THE STATE

Posted on October 8, 2018 by

Ryan Wertz and Kathy Shelton, World Language Consultants, Ohio Department of Education

We would like to begin by welcoming everyone back for the 2018-2019 academic year. It’s shaping up to be an important year for world language educators here in the Buckeye State. Here’s a summary of all the state-level initiatives taking place in Ohio this year:

Professional Development
Before the new school year ever began, more than one hundred K-12 world language educators attended a workshop that ODE world language consultants held at the Ohio Department of Agriculture facilities in Columbus. Over the course of two days, our team led sessions on Implementing Backward Design, the 3 Modes of Communication, IPAs and Cultural Resources, Writing IPAs, the Ohio Model Curriculum for K-12 World Languages, the NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements for both Communication and Intercultural Competence, Using the ODE Rubrics to Score Writing Samples, Teaching Grammar in Context, and Target Language Strategies (Thanks to OFLA Past-President Beth Hanlon for leading that last one!). Feedback from the workshop was very positive, and given the popularity of the event, we are already thinking about workshop possibilities for summer 2019. Stay tuned! Continue reading →

Posted in Around the State, Cardinal, Fall 2018, General, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Hello again, Beginning Teacher (and Veteran Teacher) Tribe!

Posted on October 8, 2018 by

Nicole Hanlon, OFLA Beginning Teachers Chair
French Teacher, Buckeye Valley High School

Fall is officially upon us! With the changing in the colors of the leaves and the arrival of boots, scarves, and cooler weather comes the season of DEVOLSON. DEVOLSON is an acronym invented by the teacher blogger Love, Teach and stands for “Dark and Evil Vortex of Late September, October, and November.” The name is kind of funny, but, as Love, Teach mentions in her original 2012 blog on the subject, it stands for the time of the year where she finds that “teachers are the busiest, craziest, and, usually the saddest.” It’s easy to start the year full of energy and anticipation and riding on the high of the new year, but as September winds down and we start to relax into our routines, the demands of teaching and life can make us tired and the stress can start to pile up. Continue reading →

Posted in Committee News, Fall 2018, General, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

BACK IN THE GROOVE: Autumn PD Updates

Posted on October 8, 2018 by

Holly Haputa, Professional Development Chair, Spanish Teacher, Avon Lake High School

I hope you’ve had a smooth start to the year and have implemented something you took away from the Spring conference in Cleveland or one of our four 2018 summer professional development offerings!

Teacher-driven professional development continues to drive OFLA regional professional development. Do you have a personal expertise you could share with the membership? A fantastic classroom activity? A cool classroom hack? A life-saving tech tool? We are looking for you! OFLA is looking to expand online and onsite professional development opportunities.

If you have a presentation you’d like to contribute or if your district is interested in hosting OFLA Regional Professional Development, please contact me at hollyhaputa@gmail.com

Posted in Fall 2018, General, Professional Development, Uncategorized | Leave a comment