EAST PAULDING MIDDLE SCHOOL
October 2, 2017
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK
UPCOMING EVENTS
10/2/17 - Grade Level Meetings (October Faculty Meeting) - 816 During Planning
10/4/17 - Student Fall Picture Retakes and Club Photos
10/5/17 - NO PL!! Enjoy your day.
10/9/17 - ELA Title II Day
10/10/17 - Math Title II Day
10/11/17 - Statewide Fire Drill - Time TBD
10/11/17 - PSAT - 8th Grade Only
10/12/17 - Science/SS PL - Sarah Graham - 816
10/13/17 - Leadership Team - 816 - 7:30am
10/13/17 - Science Title II Day
10/16 - 10/20/17 - CONFERENCE WEEK
10/23-10/27/17 - RED RIBBON WEEK
10/23/17 - Social Studies Title II Day
10/24/17 - PE/Connections Title II Day
10/24/17 - PTSA Halloween Dance - 4:00-5:30pm
10/26-10/27/17 - 8th Grade Field Trip to Savannah
10/26/17 - 6th and 7th RTI Meetings - 816 - Planning
THINKING OUT LOUD
1. Does the homework you assign help students prepare for the next day's instruction or reinforce what they learned today?
2. Is the amount of homework you assign reasonable?
3. What is the purpose of the homework you assign?
4. How do you show students that the homework you assign is meaningful?
5. Do you give students a grade for completing their homework?
6. How do you hold student's accountable to doing their homework?
Mission and Vision Temp Check
"Ultimately, I believe that what's more important than a school's mission or vision is that the people inside the building are on a mission.
I believe in unity, teamwork, accountability, and perseverance. I don't believe in quitting and I don't believe in giving up.
I believe in people and I believe in kids.
I have a vision of a school that works collaboratively to find a way for kids to be successful. I envision teacher leaders being the first line of defense for teacher accountability. I hope to see a team of teachers who are willing to teach each other and learn from each other to improve the instruction they provide to our students."
My question to you is where are we?
While our mission and vision centers around students not the adults, it is how we, the practitioners, the professionals, work together that drives the ability for our mission and vision to live.
Mentoring opportunity still available
If you are interested, see Mrs. Howey or Mr. Aarons.
TKES OBSERVATIONS
During our 1st round of observations, we did not consistently observe evidence of Differentiation or Assessment Uses. This statement does not mean that you were not utilizing data to provide individual student support, it just means that we did not observe it during the time we were in your rooms. We will be specifically looking for evidence of these standards during the upcoming observations.
However, while Standards 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8 are extremely important to student success, please know that the first things I look for when I walk in to a classroom are positive relationships and authentic student engagement. Don't get so caught up in the "weeds" that you forget that our greatest instructional tool is the relationships you plant, cultivate, and nourish with your students.
That brings me to this little nugget of truth...
If you are CONSISTENT in your practices, those practices shine no matter how good or bad they are. How do you want to shine?
2017-2018 School Improvement Plan
STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES
1. Teachers will utilize academic vocabulary and anchor charts to increase student achievement in the classroom.2. Teachers will provide specific daily learning targets as a tool to direct student focus for each class period and monitor student progress via feedback and assessments.
WHERE ARE WE NOW
We are collecting data during formal and informal observations for all strategies within our SIP. As the year progresses, we should see gains within the environment and teacher behaviors. Student behaviors will only increase as you model and promote expectations.
Within your Daily Snapshot, you should be identifying what you determine as your daily learning target. At this time, some of you may be writing this as an EQ, and there is nothing wrong with that. The most important things to remember with your learning targets is that students are aware of them, they align with the standards you are teaching, and the instruction or activity you have planned supports the learning target.
MONITORING
TKES Observations have began. Within our feedback, you may see comments referencing how we see your supporting our SIP initiatives.
- Updated Daily Snapshots
- Notebook for Archived Snapshots
- Evidence of Collaboration Among Grade Level Contents (this doesn't mean same)
- Early Stages of Development and Use of Anchor Charts
- Attempts at Learning Targets
UPCOMING PL
On 10/12, Science and Social Studies will spend some time with Sarah Graham as we discuss interactive word walls and vocabulary focus.
Title II Days will be spread throughout the month of October. We will answer some questions on Anchor Charts and Vocabulary to get a pulse of where you are. You will participate in some active classroom visits and begin talking about learning targets.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
10/11 - Laurie Parker
10/14 - Monique Prince
10/15 - Andy Aarons
10/16 - Kara Bechtel
10/19 - Jill Barron
10/22 - Scott Calta
10/23 - Cherie Divin
10/29 - Courtney Burchfield
10/30 - Leigh Stone
Like us on Facebook - East Paulding Middle School
follow us on twitter - @epmsraiders
Contact Information for Tom Alverson
Email: talverson@paulding.k12.ga.us
Website: http://www.paulding.k12.ga.us/Domain/29
Phone: 678-350-8027
Facebook: facebook.com/eastpauldingmiddleschool
Twitter: @epmsraiders