WHS 9th Grade Center News 2021-22
Week of January 31st - February 4th
Mustang 9 News
This semester we anticipate having lots of visitors on campus to see what we are doing here on the 9th grade campus in preparation for End of Course Exams. As we all know our scholars take 3 exams as 9th graders. Our goal is to have them pass the first time so that when they transition over to the mail campus they only have 2 exams to focus on. With that being said, it is important that we are doing the following:
- Use your data to drive instruction. Don't only focus on exams for data, but use the Do Nows, Exit Tickets, and student work to inform your instruction.
- Utilize Lead4ward resources when planning.
- Differentiate instruction. As we know, our students learn differently and would benefit tremendously from differentiated instruction.
- Create small groups for instructional purposes. Small groups and differentiation go hand-in-hand.
- Focus on mastery and not coverage of content. Yes, there is a Scope and Sequence that we must follow, but what is most important is that our students are mastering the content that we are teaching.
- Monitor student work. Don't just give scholars independent practice and then go sit at your desk. Walk around the classroom (take laps). Look at what students are doing. Monitor for specific things. Provide instant feedback. This is aggressive monitoring. Take a look at the video included in this newsletter.
You will see administrators walking your classrooms to see all the great things that are happening and even joining in sometimes by co-teaching along with you. When you see us enter the room please make sure that you just keep on giving the excellent instruction and we will do our best not to be a major distraction.
It is important that we continue with the implementation of our SpringWay Systems and Routines and everything we have learned during EPLT sessions. Instruction is our priority and we are charged with giving our scholars our best everyday.
Black History Month
Divine 9 Unity
Home Access Center
Enforcing School Expectations
- Students shouldn't be allowed out of class the first 15 minutes or last 15 minutes of class (use your professional judgment)
- If students are allowed out of class they must have an official pass.
- See something, say something. If you overhear students talking about something that could cause a disruption of the learning process please let an administrator know immediately. You all are our first line of defense when it comes to intervening before issues arise.
- When students are tardy to class please mark them tardy. If they are tardy to your class often please have a conversation with them about your expectations around attendance and contact their parents.
- Celebrate our students that are doing the right thing by making positive phone calls home or just giving kudos to them in class. A little bit goes a long way.
Technology Tuesday: Tech in 10!
SpringWay Systems and Routines
- Threshold - Greeting students and welcoming them into your classroom, providing positive feedback to scholars that are on task, and directing scholars that are in the hallway.
- Strong Start - Establishing a routine for scholars once they enter the classroom to ensure that instructional time is maximized.
- Do Now - 5-7 minute activity reviewing previously taught information. Scholars should be able to complete this on their own. Within the 5-7 minutes the teacher should review the Do Now with students.
- Cold Call - Teachers cold call on students to ensure 100% engagement in lessons. Students are called on randomly. This isn't used as a tool to "catch" students who aren't paying attention, but as a tool to ensure all students are engaged in the learning.
- Exit Tickets - A quick measure of the learning objective at the end of class. This is a piece of data that the teacher collects to determine if scholars are mastering the content or if re-teaching needs to happen.
- Board Configurations - A teaching tool that can be used by students to know what they should expect to learn during class and helpful to help keep the teacher on track during his/her lesson delivery. Teachers should practice "closing to open" to ensure their board configurations are up to date. "Closing to open" is when the teacher updates his/her board configuration at the end of each day in preparation for the next day.
Third 9 Weeks Instructional Focus: T-TESS Instruction Dimension 2.1 - 2.5
Remember:
- Utilize documents such as the Lead4ward Field Guides, textbooks, district Scope & Sequences and Unit Guides to help identify the academic vocabulary students must know in order to be successful in the unit.
- Students should have multiple opportunities to engage with vocabulary.
- Students need to have the opportunity to discuss content not only with the teacher, but with other classmates in order to hear other points of view.
- Provide students with the opportunity to read about content. When allowing students to read about the content, be sure to set a purpose for their reading. Pose a probing question or ask students to annotate for specific information. Don't solely allow for students to depend on PowerPoints to get information regarding your course.
School Store
Next semester, Ms. Grant will be spearheading the (re)opening of a school store for our kiddos. For those of you that were here right before Covid-19 rocked our worlds, we had already started the WHS STAAR Store that was partially incentive based using "STAAR" bucks that students could earn in class from their teachers.
Our goal is to once again create a space for students to earn the chance to purchase items from the school store. (Items will also be for purchase at the store as well!)
My Ask: Please donate items to the school store!!
Examples of items to donate:
- snacks (drinks, honey buns, Takis, hot fries, candy, etc.)
- gift cards (small denominations)
- movie tickets
- clothing items (new)
- games
- monetary donations towards the purchase of items are also welcome
These are just a few things that can be donated! Please reach out to me if you're in a giving spirit and would like to donate items towards stocking our school store! Let's catch some of those Black Friday sales. Thank you!
Important Dates
- EPLT (February 2nd/3rd) - This week EPLT will be in the 9th grade center library focusing on Aggressive Monitoring. You will attend during your conference period. This session will also be offered after school on Wednesday.
- Progress Report Submission (January 31st) - Progress Report grades must be uploaded by 3 p.m.
- Progress Report Distribution - February 4th
- February 11th - Half day of school
- Lesson plan submissions - Remember lesson plans are to be submitted each week on Thursday to the lesson plan folder via Google Drive.
Strive
Aggressive Monitoring
Learning Passport
Teacher Checklist
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sEFMyJMUErWvNBTMx2HAGObNtBu0jC3aqTkr9nbQbxo/edit#gid=0
We are here to help!
Mrs. Parker
9th Grade Center Principal
Mrs. Robinson
Mrs. Parker's Administrative Assistant
Mr. Hobbs
(A-K)
Darla Fuente
Mr. Hobbs' & Ms. Rose Administrative Assistant
Kimberly Rose
Counselor (A-K)
Ms. Malveaux
(L-K)
Ricci Scurlock
Ms. Malveaux's & Mrs. Francis Administrative Assistant
Brandy Francis
Counselor (L-Z)