The Buzz 4/11/16
What you need to know to be in the know...
Our Mission:
Chandler Elementary will create a safe and positive environment where all students and adults work together using 21st century strategies to achieve high academic growth.
Let the countdowns commence!!!
Ever feel like there is always a countdown... Countdown to school starting, countdown to the weekend, Fall Break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, ISTEP, I-Read, Spring Break, more ISTEP, end of year...REPEAT!!!! The anticipation while counting down can be great. Countdowns give us something to look forward to. They can be very purposeful when setting a corresponding goal. I personally love a good countdown...and say long live countdowns!! Heck I am already counting down to when kids come back to school...7 hahaha!!! All this anticipation is great, as long as we continue to take care of business in the moment.
So what are we counting down to as a collective staff, ISTEP? End of Year? Can anticipation ever be bad? Does the fear of 10 days until ISTEP, while by its nature is worthy of being a worrible event, can make us lose sight of what being ready grinding us to a crawl in covering non-tested curriculum. Does counting down to the end of the year can push us towards being less structured, using more time on irrelevant, non-instructional activities.
There is a magnificent quote by someone ("Unkown") that says, "Sometimes we're all too quick to count down the days that we forget to make the days count." As we look towards these upcoming events, how do we continue to make our days, hours, and minutes count so our students are ready to be successful going forward? On a test? In the next grade? What gift will you provide the next grade level by front-loading their kids academically or behaviorally?
Staff Meeting
Building Update
As always, I will continue to inform you of new developments!
Lexia Update
Skyward
Turnaround Award Winners
In-service Opportunity
The Zones of Regulation is a positive “mentoring” type program which divides our emotions into 4 “zones” and teaches children how to cope with their emotions and recognize their “triggers.”
I would like to do a mini Inservice any interested staff. Rather than using a clip up/down method that shames children and labels them as the bad kid, I'd like to encourage and help implement this program with anyone interested.
Please e-mail him if you are interested in more details or to join!
Notice: Support Staff Planning Day
STEAM Resources
Making Assessment Authentic...
As we move towards a Project Based, STEAM focused approach to teaching/learning, assessment looks very similar and quite different all at the same time. Here is a great read, easy read, that looks at what assessment looks like in a STEAM classroom.
http://www.edutopia.org/stw-assessment-tips-get-started-replication
When looking at the list, which of these do you already do? Which could you be more intentional about? Which do you have further questions about?
All Things Reading
Here is a nifty little resource that has a variety or reading activities you may be able to use with your students. The last resources section has about 15-20reading activities to use with your students during reading block. Just something to peruse over break!
Indiana Academic Standards for English/Language Arts and Content Area Literacy
Educators’ Toolkit for Indiana’s K‐12 Reading Selections
Family Events:
April 15 - Dudes 'n' Donuts (during breakfast)
April 29 - Chandler TurnAround Award Dilly Bar Party 2:00 (Cafe)
April 28 - 5th Grade Family Science Night 5:00-7:00 (Gym)
May 6 - Muffins w/ Moms (during breakfast)
Summer School - Welcome Chamberlain Students!
We are still looking for teachers to teach summer school, if you are interested please let me know by e-mail.
Just for fun:
TLT Update
TLT started a 3 week process of preparing for the NIET site review last Tuesday. This includes identifying reinforcements and refinements in our TAP implementation over the past year, articulating our TAP goals progress this year, and discussing how we will continue to ensure we are embedding TAP into our culture and making it sustainable long term.
As part of this process, I would love to know what you feel the TLT has done well this year, and how we could better use TAP processes to support student achievement and staff development. If you have thoughts or ideas write any TLT member an e-mail, or schedule a time to sit down with one of us to share your thoughts.
Remember that Survey season is also coming fast. We will begin taking them as they become available!
From Central Office...
Today’s Focus
Service & Purpose
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?'”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
Reflections to Guide Your Journey
What is the last thing you have done for someone else?
What is the best thing you have done for someone else?
How did helping someone else affect your quality of life?
How are you doing the same for someone else?
Who is someone in your life that may need help?
How can you go about making a positive impact on them?
No matter what model of English Language Acquisition your school district uses, best practice says that culturally-competent educators are the most effective. Spanish4Educators' summer program in Guatemala allows for your educators to become immersed in the Latino Culture and Spanish Language in order to return as more culturally-competent educator for your students.
We are forming a great cohort for our trip to Guatemala from July 10-23. We offer re-certification and graduate credits, and will accept groups from 4 to 15 (including a group discount). We also offer extended programs for up to two weeks, as well as a culminating excursion to the majestic Mayan ruins of Tikal.
We have been taking groups of teachers to Guatemala for the past three years, and would love to have your educators included in this year's cohort! Please forward this email to the educators in your district who would benefit from our program. I would love to answer any questions that you have.
Best wishes,
Steve Foster
Program Coordinator - Spanish4Educators.org
Email: Info@Spanish4Educators.org
Mobile: 970-412-7245
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
None this week! Sorry if I missed you!!!
Calendar Items
Monday
Mr. Hufford, Mr. Kauffman, and Mrs. Miller to IPLI.
Support staff planning AM (Meeting at 8:35)
ALL SCHOOL PM CLUSTER 3:05 (Art Room).
5th grade Parent Night 6:00 (GMS)
School Bd Mtg 6:00 (admin bldg.)
Tuesday
Chandler TLT 3:15
Wednesday
Orchestra - 3:45 (GMS)
Thursday
IDOE - PLN (Mr. Hufford out AM)
K-3 HA Family Game Night 6:00 (cafe)
5th grade Parent Night 6:00 (GMS)
Friday
Dudes N' Donuts during breakfast (cafe)
In fact...Let's have a trio of Jeans Days this week!
Just in case you forgot...
Triple P
Both Alison and Leon are trained in Triple P. Alison has written this short explanation of the program.
Triple P is a parenting program in the beginning stages of implementation in Elkhart County. The philosophy behind Triple P is that ALL parents, even the most stable ones, can benefit from support; and there should be no stigma attached to asking for help. Practitioners from schools, social service agencies, and churches have been trained to help parents find strategies to deal with common behavior issues. Mr. Bauman and Mrs. Romero have recently completed training and received accreditation as Triple P practitioners. Mrs. Romero is ready to begin working with our Spanish-speaking families. In the fall, Mr. Bauman and Mrs. Romero plan to begin a 3 part series of seminars in both English and Spanish. Please speak with Mrs. Romero if you have any questions.