Friday Focus
Moreau Heights Elementary
October 19
Giving our students HOPE for a better tomorrow one skill at a time!
PBS lesson
Our PBS lesson will again focus on Responding Appropriately to Peers.
Our Second Steps lessons all focus on EMPATHY.
All grade levels have a focus on Learning.
Kindergarten- Identifying Anger
1st grade - Similarities and Differences
2nd grade - Respecting Difference Preferences
3rd grade - Accepting Differences
4th grade - Joining In
5th grade - Responding with Compassion
Second Steps - Anti-bullying Program
Last year each grade level received a spiral with materials for this unit. It includes one spiral with disk and posters. Please locate these materials and talk about these as a team to make sure you are familiar in preparation for lessons in coming weeks.
Here are additional pieces in the link below.
Supporting Students in a Struggle
Great insight!
PBIS Intervention Ideas
Character Trait for October is Responsibility
If I had $500 for use in my classroom, I would . . .
The Jay Pride Alive Alumni Association is committed to giving back to our JCPS students and teachers. The Jay Pride Alive Award applications are now open. Please submit your application by filling out this form by October 31st. There are no parameters on what you can ask for - if it will benefit your students, ask for it. Reviewing your request with your principal prior to submission is suggested, but not required. Please keep requests under $500. Email questions to jaypridealive@gmail.com.
JCPS Foundation Grants
Check out the grant applications to see what is available. Grant applications close January 14th. More details will come soon!
Duties for the Week
Gym - Holliday/Lawrence and Watson
Cafe - Sexton and Ries
Collect students from the gym at 7:45
Calendar of Events
Monday, October 22
* Student flu shots start at 9:00
*Leadership Team mtg 3:45
* 5th grade football at Williams Field 6:45
Wednesday, October 24
*Specials Collaboration 7:45 - 8:15
*Sue meeting at BOE 9:30 - 11:30
*Pizza Order pick up 3:30 - 7:00
*Parent - Teacher Conferences 4:00 - 7:30
Thursday, October 25
*Kids Sight vision screenings for grades 1, 3, 5
*4th and 5th grade Jazz performance 1:00
*Principal PLC mtg 1:00 - 3:30
*Parent- Teacher Conferences 4:00 - 7:30
Friday, October 26
* No School - earned day off
Red Ribbon Week
Monday, October 29
*PBS Team 3:45
Tuesday, October 30
*School Culture Team 3:45
*Tier 2 Team mtg 3:45
Wednesday, October 31
*PBS Celebrations
*AMc IEP 1:15 (Treat, Haugen, McGeorge, Gragg, Cremin, Rackers, Lueckenhoff)
Thursday, November 1
*Inter-agency mtg for KM (Ogden, Haugen, Gentry, Gann)
Dawn's Words of Wisdon
In our faculty meeting Wednesday, Jesseca James talked about how an engaging classroom really helps prevent behavior issues. I have found this to be so true over the years.
When talking about engaging classrooms, there are 5 levels of student engagement.
- Authentic Engagement—students are immersed in work that has clear meaning and immediate value to them (reading a book on a topic of personal interest)
- Ritual Compliance—the work has little or no immediate meaning to students, but there are extrinsic outcomes of value that keep them engaged (earning grades necessary for college acceptance)
- Passive Compliance—students see little or no meaning in the assigned work but expend effort merely to avoid negative consequences (not having to stay in during recess to complete work)
- Retreatism—students are disengaged from assigned work and make no attempt to comply, but are not disruptive to the learning of others
- Rebellion—students refuse to do the assigned task, act disruptive, and attempt to substitute alternative activities
Think about which would most fit your current classroom setting. If you don't currently have authentic engagement, you can include many of our Kagan structures. Here are some other beneficial tips.
- Use the 10:2 method. For every 10 minutes of instruction allow the students 2 minutes to process and respond to the instruction. This can be done in various ways by having them write what they have learned, questions they may have, or by discussing the content with a fellow student.
- Incorporate movement into your lessons. Require students to respond to a question by moving to a certain spot in the room, writing on whiteboards, or standing (or sitting) when they are done thinking about the question, etc.
- Pick up the pace. One misconception is that we must go slow for students to really understand and engage in a lesson. There is a lot of evidence that shows that when teaching is at a brisk instructional pace, students have more opportunities to engage, respond, and move on to the next concept (Carnine & Fink, 1978; Williams, 1993; Ernsbarger et al., 2001).
- Provide frequent and effective feedback.
- Allow students 5-7 seconds of ‘think time’ when asking a question. At the end of the time draw a random name to answer the question.
- At the end of a lesson have students use the 3-2-1 method of summarizing by having students record three things they learned, two interesting things, and one question they have about what was taught. Allow time to share their findings with a peer.
- Periodically pause mid-sentence when teaching requiring students to fill in the blanks.
Student Engagement
Kelly's Coaching Corner
Could you add non-verbal signals to your procedures?
Non-Verbal Signals--click to watch three different video
Non-verbal signals may be used as a form of communication between teacher and students. Students can communicate a need, such as using the restroom, without verbally asking or interrupting the discussion. Signals allow the teacher to immediately know what the student needs, rather than stopping to respond to a general hand raised in the air. Teachers can also use non-verbal signals to reply to student requests and to emphasize actions that students need to perform.
Grade Card Window
If you have questions or need help, see a grade level colleague or Danielle McGeorge (our Infinite Campus expert).
October Birthdays!
October 4 - Beth Yaeger
October 9 - Jana Salmons
October 11 - Joe Twehous
October 22 - Sabra Watts-Hayes