Houston A+ Challenge

01/01/2022

Happy New Year!

11/30/2021

It’s Giving Tuesday! Donate today!

https://www.houstonaplus.org/donate

11/29/2021

Tell a friend about us.

Now more than ever, every teacher need us!

On , help us grow our impact by asking a friend to support this work with us.

Let’s strengthen our impact to strengthen learning.

&StrongerTogether

11/12/2021

The Vic Samuels Award is now available for all students interested in project-based learning. Click on the link below for more details!

https://www.houstonaplus.org/programs

11/12/2021

All teachers interested in project-based learning, click on the link below for more details about the The Joe Foster Award!

https://www.houstonaplus.org/programs

11/01/2021

We are still working alongside teachers as they get Smarter & Stronger for all kids!

05/21/2021

Wondering what services we provide? We collaborate with educators about current, best practices that can be implemented to support learning for ALL students!

05/12/2021

There’s nothing more exciting than to see students grow as readers, writers, and problem solvers. Awesome job, Epps Island!

05/07/2021

This is how we show appreciation to our teachers! We hosted a private, virtual comedy show with Comedian Eddie B!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week and Happy Friday!

05/06/2021

Here's another leading leader, Instructional District Coach, Patrick Campbell share his thoughts on supporting teachers to assure healthy student relationships post pandemic.

05/06/2021

Listen to Principal Erin Chavez share her what she has implemented to support student learning post pandemic.

05/05/2021

We are still learning and discussing topics with other educators leading the path. For our last Chew & Chat, we are highlighting two leaders for Teacher Appreciation Week.

Tomorrow we will share videos from Erin Chavez and Patrick Campbell as they discuss what they have implemented around topics that are pertinent to student learning after a pandemic.

Thank you for watching our Chew & Chat segments this year and we hope to leave you with some things to consider as we close out the school year.

04/30/2021

Donate | Apluschallenge

Less than 12 hours left in our Spring Into Action fundraising campaign. Let’s cross the finish line to our $2,021 goal for Houston educators.
www.houstonaplus.org/donate

Houston educators know how to overcome obstacles, but they need timely professional learning resources to ensure all kids learn at high levels.

04/28/2021

Schools are strapped for resources, time and capacity. Houston A+ Challenge exists to fill the void with high-quality professional development to teachers and leaders. Professional learning that includes:
💚Tips for creating a welcoming learning environment for all students.
🛠️Tools that equip them with innovative ways to maximize instructional time.
🧠Strategies to teach their students that develop lifelong learners and level the learning after a year of anything but normal.

Give these tools and the gift of relationship-based coaching to educators at a time when they need it most. Will you join our community of donors and make a gift today?

Spring into Action for Houston! A donation today will bring change and innovation to public schools in 2021.

www.houstonaplus.org/donate

04/28/2021

Now more than ever teachers and principals need ongoing professional development so they are ready to educate our future leaders.

Spring into Action for Houston and give these tools today by becoming a new donor or renewing your gifts to A+! Consider a $5 or $10 monthly gift to sustain your impact.

Visit www.houstonaplus.org/donate and get involved today!

04/27/2021

We are so thankful for those who donated last week in assuring we are able to impact student learning and teacher growth. Thank you!

04/23/2021

This spring, teachers across the city are adapting to what normal means now in their teaching journeys. If ever there were a time for change and innovation in education, it is now.

You make a difference for educators across Houston and provide on-the-job training they need to keep pace with teaching and learning in 2021. Will you consider a $5 or $10 monthly gift to sustain your impact?

www.houstonaplus.org/donate

04/22/2021

Houston educators know how to overcome obstacles, but they need timely professional learning resources to ensure all kids learn at high levels. Especially as they aim to make up for pandemic learning losses.

Individuals like you bring top-notch coaching and on-the-job training to local teachers and leaders.

Will you Spring into Action today to make Houston educators smarter and stronger? Every dollar counts toward our goal of $2,021. Consider a $5 or $10 monthly gift to sustain your impact!

www.houstonaplus.org/donate

04/22/2021

We believe in student choice and student ownership of their own learning. One way to promote this is by incorporating read alouds. How often do you read to your students?

04/21/2021

We know challenges over the past year greatly impact teaching and learning in schools across our city. We also know the dedication and resilience of Houston teachers.

We invite you to raise the bar for the professional learning local educators receive. Now more than ever teachers and principals need ongoing professional development so they are ready to educate our future leaders.

Will you Spring into Action for Houston and give these tools today by becoming a new donor or renewing your support to A+!?

Consider a $5 or $10 monthly gift to sustain your impact.

http://ow.ly/Flew50EupVc

04/20/2021

We teach our kids to read. We teach our kids about numbers. We teach our kids to value education and we teach our kids to love all.

Today we teach our kids history. History that shows justice and to value all mankind. We will continue to stand for equity in education for all kids and we will continue to stand for justice for all.

We stand in solidarity with George Floyd’s family and all victims and families who have experienced inequality.

04/16/2021

“Student engagement is the product of motivation and active learning. It is a product rather than a sum because it will not occur if either element is missing.” ~Elizabeth Barkley

We assure that we share engaging and meaningful lesson ideas with all of our teachers.

04/14/2021

JEN! 11/31 of my students got 100% on the unit test (The unit test was made of released STAAR questions aligned to the SE’s in the unit of study) for exponential functions! No student got less than 60%...So proud of them-thank you for all your coaching and resources! ~Algebra 1 Teacher, Spring Woods Middle School, Spring ISD

04/09/2021

Our partnership with ILT Orem MS is growing stronger. Teachers understand the value and have implemented independent reading time for all students.

“I know you are providing a service, but I am so appreciative of you. It’s good to know we are aligned with our thinking. “ K. Williams

03/25/2021

Have you signed up for the STAAR module?? If not, there’s still time to register for a session to learn and collaborate with other teachers and a Houston A+ coach!

Contact us at [email protected] for details.

03/22/2021

Happy Spring! We have more spots available for our private comedy show with Eddie B. Sign up today to attend any of our upcoming workshops and you will receive a complimentary ticket. Don't miss out!

03/12/2021

We are so excited for all educators for this well-deserved break! We’ve decided to add to the excitement!

Contact us today at [email protected] to sign up for our STAAR Test Prep workshop and you’ll receive a complimentary ticket to a virtual comedy show with Comedian Eddie B.!!

First come, first serve, so don’t miss out.

Happy Spring Break!

03/12/2021

It’s here!! We are still offering our STAAR Test Prep Workshop!

Contact us today at [email protected] to sign up!

03/08/2021

Since it's International Women's Day, we feel the need to highlight some leading women in education. We salute all women today and everyday!

"When women are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous." ~Michelle Obama

03/04/2021

Our Math coaches recently collaborated with Aldine's Mathematics coaches from 13 middle school campuses. The learning that took place will allow these content specialists to coach and provide professional learning and best-in-class practices to push thousands of students forward. Way to go Aldine ISD!

03/02/2021

Today we celebrate Read Across America Day!

02/18/2021

❤️

02/14/2021

Happy Valentine's Day!!

02/12/2021

We earned a 2021 Platinum Seal of Transparency! Learn more about our organization’s impact through our on : https://www.guidestar.org/Profile/76-0513493.

02/11/2021

Think of us when you shop for your special someone or treat yourself this Valentine's Day. AmazonSmile gives a portion of eligible purchases when you designate Houston A+ as your charity! Select us in the Amazon app settings or on your smile.amazon.com homepage!

02/04/2021

"I Don't Hate Math, Mom!" - Jen Mascheck, Math Specialist and Coach

Matt Barnes and Scott Van Beck from The Education Game invited our math coach, Jen Mascheck, to speak to their parents about how to encourage and coach students as problem solvers.

The podcast/video provides some practical strategies for parents around creating persistent, resilient learners as well as ways to find connections within mathematics and other disciplines students study across disciplines.

Click on the link below to hear their conversation.
https://youtu.be/582xTE6pyNU

Jen Mascheck has coached hundreds of math teachers impacting thousands of kids through her work at Houston A+ Challenge, the Houston area's premier teacher training organization. Now she offers her expertise so your child never says, "I hate math!"

Jen Mascheck has coached hundreds of math teachers impacting thousands of kids through her work at Houston A+ Challenge, the Houston area's premier teacher t...

01/28/2021

It’s here and we have made some changes. Contact us today to learn more about our virtual test preparation professional development.

01/12/2021

Opinion | Make Schools More Human

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/23/opinion/covid-schools-vaccine.html?referringSource=articleShare

"But we are realizing what we should have known all along: that you can’t widget your way to powerful learning, that relationships are critical for learning, that students’ interests need to be stimulated and their selves need to be recognized.

The same is true for teachers — they need to feel physically safe, they need support, they need their work to be recognized and honored, and they need working conditions that make it possible for them to succeed. All of this is doubly true in high-poverty communities, where in the name of urgency, we have moved the furthest from taking a human approach to both students and teachers."

This excerpt from this article highlights how much we value building relationships with our teachers.

The pandemic showed us that education was broken. It also showed us how to fix it.

01/11/2021

Looking for a way to uncover misconceptions in student skills with a relationship to understanding mathematics?!

Check out our math assessment booklets on our website.

The book includes assessments with at least two questions per student expectation to address the assessed standards for the grade level and several tracking charts.

Below are two sample questions found in the 8th grade book.

https://www.houstonaplus.org/product-page/a-mathematics-assessments-8th-grade

01/07/2021

Microaggression - a statement, action, or incident regarded as an instance of indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group such as a racial or ethnic minority.

Now more than ever we should listen to the wise, Haley Taylor-Schlitz and check our microaggressions. Our country is facing dynamics so many of us have never witnessed. As educators, we should pause and check our microaggressions. What message we are sending our future leaders in the classrooms? In public? At home? In the world?

Listening to Haley brings a breath of fresh air to know one of our arising leaders understands that expecting the best for all is needed. If you missed yesterday’s Chew & Chat segment, go listen. There are definitely so many gems dropped throughout her entire interview. Live in peace and enjoy!