Tiger Beat
Acton Weekly Update: 11/13/16
Nuts and Bolts
Major Saver Campaign begins soon. We need every teacher to show the video in the link below to get students excited about this fundraiser. The fundraiser supports our FTEF that gave us so many grants last year. We will earn a portion of the sales also. Please show the video and read the specific directions that will be placed in your mailbox on Thursday, November 17th.
YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/Sd5lnWv2X3k
DROPBOX: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jhcnysbt162nwtj/blue_envelope_prizes_15_limo_full_assembly.mp4?dl=0
The video is generic and lacks specific details and dates. Those specifics can be found in the announcement to give the students more information.
PRIVACY: FERPA
Reminder, student privacy is a must. DO NOT talk in the open about students. The staff lounge, an empty classroom or the front office may be places to congregate and talk to your peers. However, the conversations can very easily be overheard by parents, volunteers or even staff members who SHOULD NOT have access to private information about our students. Student behavior and struggles are private conversations. Student IEP needs are private conversations. Student home life is a private conversation. Please be aware and please be responsible for appropriately handling student information.
Curriculum and Instruction
- MIDTERMS END ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16!
- MIDTERMS ARE POSTED FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18!
- 15th District Technology PD-#twitterchallenge (bring iPAD and smartphone)
- 16th PLC- Ronna: SMEKINS!!! Grade Level Team Focus
From Ronna:
We are making the decision to take ISTEP applied skills tests paper pencil as long as the IDOE will allow it. However, we need to ensure we are still focusing on giving our students exposure and practice with keyboarding and online computer skills.
FTCSC DIBELS GOALS: Accuracy 85% and Fluency 80%
Ways to Respond to Independent Reading, Read with A Buddy, or Read Aloud Time~
1.) New Title: Write a new title for the book you are reading. Explain why you chose this new title.
2.) Movie Comparison: Think about a movie that is similar to a book that you have read. Explain why the book and the movie are alike.
Literacy Activities That Engage the Brain~
High Frequency Words: Place high-frequency words on the floor in a path. As students walk the path, they must read the word on which they are about to step.
There will be NO CogAT testing next week. It has been moved back to the week of November 28th.
From Shari:
I think this short read is a GREAT resource filled with many resources for different content areas, grade levels and skills! The DOE just put out the November issue- using this link provides access to all of the previous month issues as well! Please forward to your teachers if you feel it is a good idea! J
http://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/ccr/teachers-toolbox-november-2016.pdf
Reaching ALL Learners
Let students teach one another: Peer teaching is a core engagement strategy used to build students’ comprehension of content. It’s helpful to vary the format, so students stay fresh and engaged in the process. You might have students~
· Summarize a lesson in five bullet points. Each bullet point consists of a label that prompts the student to recall the related properties. Each student gets a few minutes to revise or check their bullet points for accuracy. Then students pair up, and each partner teaches the other about the topic using the bullet points.
· Choose two topics/labels, such as hurricane winds and tornado winds, or two-legged mammals and four-legged mammals, and generate properties for each. Then students compare and contrast the properties of each label with a partner. Next, each pair groups with another pair and shares its findings.
From: Engaging Students With Poverty In Mind
Athlete Mentors
Technology
This Tuesday is a District Technology Tuesday. We will start out our next few Tech Tuesdays all together in the LGI so Katie Reynolds can share exciting PD from the Tech Team meetings. This week she will be helping every teacher set up a professional Twitter Account. As a district we will be participating in a twitter challenge and I'd like all teachers/staff to participate. Once you have your twitter handle, please share it with me.
From Nadine:
Happy Friday Teachers and Staff!
Below are links to a few recent blog posts I’ve added to www.fttechtips.comTake a look at the titles and click on one you’d like to explore!
1. Great Google Tech Blog with LOTS of good info!! ~ I will do a Facebook Live PD on this next week!
2. Vizia! Option for Adding Questions to Videos!
3. Google Photos! Free up Space on your iPad! ~ You will definitely want this on your iPad!
https://youtu.be/aEK37MBTUPkChromebook Carts will be checked out to Nadine on days when she is in our building for professional development with teachers. These days will trump other reasons for using the Chromebooks. This means that some teachers may need to reschedule with Krissy. Fridays will be affected with assessments.
Google Drive: Help organizing your Google folders Link to Google Drive Organization Tips
Don't forget to fill out the HQDL google form to record your lessons.
https://docs.google.com/a/ftcsc.k12.in.us/forms/d/1Zi837nZQiqXkajkiL7fTkHYCZew29XU5zkUiqgwTJwU/edit
From Katie Reynolds (Tech Team Rep):
I wanted to share out these ideas on Digital Etiquette. This is more relevant for the older kids, however the younger kids might benefit from being exposed to the idea of digital etiquette/digital common sense. Below is the page from Nadine's website with tons of helpful ideas, as well as a free Brainpop on the subject.
Upcoming Events
UPCOMING EVENTS
November
16 Mid Term Ends
18 All Pro Dads 7:45- 8:30 AM
18th Mid-Terms Posted
21 School Board meeting
23-25 Thanksgiving Holiday
28th-Dec 16th Acuity B
28th-Dec. 12th 1st, 2nd and 5th HA Testing 2nd and 5th will be using both computer labs and the all the Chromebooks on the 15th and 17th at the times above (see Nuts and Bolts section)
December
1-16th NWEA 4th Grade
1 Choir Concert 6:00-7:00 PM
1 Third Grade Music Program 7:15-8:15 PM
3 Breakfast with Santa 9:00-11:00 AM
6 PTO Meeting 6:30-8:00 PM
7 Monkey Joe’s PTO Fundraiser Night 6:00-8:00 PM
15 Last Student Day
16 Winter Celebration Parties 3:00-3:45 PM
16- Jan 3 Winter Break