Mentor Monday
Week of November 10, 2014
THANK a Veteran
There really isn't anything else to be said but to thank a veteran for the freedoms we enjoy!
A little history in case you have ever wondered: WWI, the war to end all wars, officially ended on June 28, 1919, when the Treaty of Versailles was signed. However, an armistice (temporary cessation of hostilities) between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the 11th day, of the 11th month, in the 11th hour.
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…" (www.va.gov) and it officially became a legal holiday in 1938.
Mentor Discussion
End of 2nd Six Weeks
Can you that believe that this is week 12 already??
Your grades should completed this week, including a minimum of 2 major grades and 6 major grades. DON'T FORGET the grading policy change that went into effect at the progress report: Students have until the Wednesday (November 19 this time) following the end of the grading period to make-up/retest any grade in the grade book. Grades must be posted and finalized by 5 pm on Wednesday, November 19.
Strategy of the Week
Four Corners
Four corners is used like a multiple choice whole class assessment as they choose the corner of the room designated to matach their reponse or similar way of thinking. Once students reach the corner of their choice you can have them discuss why they chose that corner, have one person speak out as to why they chose that corner. This gives students in the group a chance to notice gaps or inconsistentencies in their own reasoning and begin to question their ideas. Teachers also receive a visual of which idea is most prevalent in the class and can circulate during discussion and receive insight into student reasoning.
A challenge to this type for formative assessment is preventing students from watching the "smart kid" and simply following him or her. One response to this is ABCD cards: all students have cards that match a corner and they have to select and show (to the teacher) their answer prior to getting up and moving. Then they return to their seats prior to the next question. Another way to respond to this challenge is the commit and toss.
Science Formative Assessment by Page Keely - I know it says science, but these are strategies that are good for any classroom!
Commit and Toss
Commit and Toss is an anonymous way for students to answer a question without being identified for having "wild" or incorrect answers.
Students write their answer (and their reasoning if wanted by the teacher) on a sheet of paper, ball it up and toss it around the room like a snowball fight (you have to have rules for this "fight," i.e. a time limit or number of tosses, etc.). Students pick up the snowball closest to them and share the ideas on the paper.
Students can experience a sense of relief when they realize that they are not alone in their way of thinking and that wrong answers can be just as valuable in forming learning opportunites as the right answer...usually more so. This method of formative assessment also gives the teacher as snapshot of class thinking.
Commit and Toss could also be used in conjunction with Four Corners, but students go to the corner designated by the snowball they picked up and discussion can still occur based on the ideas of someone else. This prevents anyone from simply following their friend to a corner to monkey around.
Science Formative Assessments by Page Keely
Got a great lesson??
Upcoming Testing
STAAR EOC Retest
- December 1-5, 2014
- Test administrator training: Wednesday, November 12 at 7:30 or 4:00pm
Dress Code plug
If they can't or won't fix it, send them to Ms. Jernigan (room 234) and be sure to fill-out the form.
URL: http://goo.gl/bCVvcF
NFHS Upcoming Events
Monday, November 10
North Forney FFA Chapter District LDC Contest - 4:30pm
SWIM -Mesquite Dual @ Rockwall YMCA
Thursday, November 13
SWIM-at YMCA Rockwall
High School Musical @ 7:00pm
Friday, November 14
National Honor Society meeting - 7:30am
HIgh School Musical @ 7:00pm
Saturday, November 15
Falcon Fall Festival @ NFHS cafeteria - 9am-4pm
Book Fair (through November 21)
High School Musical @ 7:00pm
Sunday, November 16
High School Musical @ 6:00pm