P'ville Elementary
News & Notes - December Edition
Upcoming Events for January
HABIT OF THE MONTH: "Seek first to understand, then to be understood"
Mark your calendars with these important dates/events:
January 6 - PBIS Assembly @ 8:20 AM, PTO @ 5:30 PM
January 8 - BLT Committee @ 7:15-7:45 AM
January 11 - Tech Committee meeting @ 7AM (HS LIBRARY), PD over Next Generation Science Standards 7:45-9:30AM, School Board Meeting 6:30 PM
January 12 - IPI Day
January 15 - PBIS Comittee @ 7:15-7:45 AM, End of 1st Semester/2nd quarter
January 18 - Teacher Work Day - Report Cards, Lighthouse Committee @ 8-8:45 AM
January 19 - Begin FAST aReading this week in computers class
January 20 - New TeacherMentoring Meeting @ 3:45 PM, SIAC Committee Meeting @ 5-6 PM
January 25 - PLC collaboration 7:45-9:30AM, DLT gone all day
January 29 - Trojan Tromp & Pride Table
building academic goal: by spring 2016, 100% of our students will be either proficient or growing at the expected rate on the fast assessment
Did you know this about ... ?
Carol is married to Rod with children, Adam (32), Drew (27) and Josie (17), plus a grandchild on the way very soon! She is a Pleasantville High School alumnus and graduate from some university in Ames I've never heard of and a master's from UNI.
Here are some questions Carol was willing to answer:
Q1: What made you decide to become a teacher? I knew in 1st grade when I learned how to read that I wanted to be a teacher, and I never changed my mind. I can still remember my first word I learned.
Q2: What advice would veteran Mrs. Beier tell her younger self just going into this profession? Enjoy your job because it goes fast. I still can't believe I've been doing this 30 years. It doesn't seem possible.
Q3: Is there a colleague, past or present, who left a valuable imprint on you as a teacher? I think Mrs. Anderson, just because she knew how to make learning fun, but we still learned a lot. We sometimes forget that now. We need to remember how to teach and have fun.
Time to leave the deep stuff and head to more comical questions. Carol had to complete the following phrases or similes:
Teaching TK is like ... (laugh) Childbirth! If you ever remember how bad this is going to be at first, you might not do it again. But after awhile, it all goes better!
The most bizarre thing a small child did in your class was ... The crazy things they would stick in their ears or nostrils from sand or water tables or centers. You just never know what a kid might find on the floor during rest time and where they might put it.
When I turn 70 and finally retire, I plan to ... NOOOO! Not 70! I plan to be a dealer at Prairie Meadows, so I can do math in my head and stay sane! I told a dealer that was my plan and she said, "Kindergartners and drunks are pretty much the same thing. You'll do well."
A teacher's greatest friend is ... "Teachers Pay Teachers"! Or the internet, period. You can find wonderful things online, print them off and make a great lesson fast.
Thanks Carol for all you do to help our students and how you keep the rest of us laughing!
Counselor's Corner
It would probably be a good idea that each classroom revisit "bucket filling vs. bucket dipping" actions during upcoming morning meetings.
Since most claims occur in less structured and harder to supervise areas, please be extra vigilant and proactive for potential bullying.
Semester PBIS Data
97.4% of students have 0-2 referrals this year, 1.2% have 3-5 referrals, and 1.4% have 6 or more. Last year these percentages (same duration of time) would have been 93%, 5% & 2%, so we're seeing signs of strong improvement this year!
Most common referral types: 40% disruption of instruction, 25% non-compliance & 25% physical aggression.
69% of referrals occur in the classroom with 18% on the playground.
Referrals by month: September with 39, October with 33, November with 27 and December with 26.
Remember the "pyramid"! These numbers look excellent in light of "common percentages" at each tier (80-90%, 5-15%, 1-5%)! You're hard work is helping to shape even greater kids!
Professional Development Corner
Orange Pride Classroom of the Month: 4B
Hattie Research - Infographic
Pictured below is an infographic showing some of the basic results of his 25 years of research findings around what works in helping kids learn. Everything above .40 ("the hinge point") should be strongly considered, BUT just because it's below doesn't mean it doesn't help (ex: homework, it helps but doesn't have major positive effects). Only those in red/negative numbers have detrimental effects.
As we wind up our quick snapshot of his work this year, keep the thought in mind that there are 30 things we CAN CONTROL that can help overcome the effects beyond our control (like poverty, home life).
Maintenance/Custodial Repairs Needed? Click here!
Pleasantville Elementary - Growing Learners & Leaders
Email: troff@pleasantville.k12.ia.us
Website: www.pleasantville.k12.ia.us
Location: 414 W Jones St, Pleasantville, IA, United States
Phone: 515-848-0566
Twitter: @PvilleCSD