Team Thomson News & Notes
#ThomsonRocks Week of: May 12, 2019
Important Information for You!
While there are only nine days until Intersession 3.0, the days will be very busy. Please be sure you have all the important dates noted that pertain to you. Thank you all for remaining focused and keeping your structures in place for our little ones. Let's continue to finish strong!
Literacy Essential #3
Essential 3: Small group and individual instruction, using a variety of grouping strategies, most often with flexible groups formed and instruction targeted to children's observed and assessed needs in specific aspects of literacy development.
This week let's focus on the fifth bullet which states that the teacher is deliberate in providing quality instruction to children in all groups, with meaning-making the ultimate goal of each group’s work...think about guided reading/strategy group instruction, even with your lowest readers who's stories do not have lots of 'meat', how are you ensuring that there is some comprehension work down with each book they read. If you are working on fluency because the students are reading word by word, are you having them go back to read in a natural way? Are you ending the lesson with some comprehension work? Part of being 'deliberate in providing quality instruction to children' means reading the books and planning out the work that will be done prior to sitting down with the students.
Snow Days Officially Forgiven!
By now you should have seen the email from Michelle Edwards confirming that the Governor has finally signed the bill that eliminates the need for us to make up a snow day on May 24th. We will not have school on Friday, May 24th!
5D+ Observations and Final Evaluations
I am currently working on round four observations! It has been a delight to observe you and your students. I am in awe of the growth I have observed in terms of student talk. The students are really talking about why and how they think what they think and using evidence to back up their thinking. To hear these young people talking about their learning, thinking, and understanding is amazing and a testament to good modeling and questioning. Congratulations on the tremendous work you have done to grow your professional capacity. It shows in the work the students are producing. As we finish up NWEA testing this week, I look forward to reviewing all of the student growth data. Following Intersession, Anna will begin scheduling evaluation meetings. I look forward to meeting with each of you.
Advanced Ed Visit
Thank you to everyone for doing an outstanding job preparing for the External Review with Advanced Ed. Thanks to Megan C. and Rachel for their extra work in preparing the documentation and to those that participated in the before-school teacher panel. I am always very proud of our building and this week’s visit was a wonderful reminder of just how special our building is and how fortunate we are to work on such an amazing team!
Cardinal Code Focus for the Week: Review Week
This week's Cardinal Code Lesson Focus for the week is a Review Week. Please use this week to review areas that you find need some attention for your classroom. I appreciate the time you will take to intentional reteach and review lessons this week.
Quotes Worth Reading
"Some times being a teacher is exhausting,
and some days are just tough,
and some times you fight the tears until the
end of the day...
but some days you get to be the reason
a child understands for the first time,
feels encouraged, and experiences success...
and your teacher heart is filled with joy!
-Unknown
May your teacher heart be filled with joy this week because you are making a difference in the life of a child!
Celebrations & Announcements
Birthdays: None this week...
Welcome Tiffany Sayles! I am sure that by now you have noticed that we have a new member of our Thomson Team. Tiffany has joined us to be an enhanced SE parapro. She comes to us after working and gaining a tremendous amount of experience as a SE parapro in the EI classroom at Gates. Please be sure to introduce yourself to Tiffany!
Save the Date: Lori O'Brien's 'Farewell Tour' Retirement Party will be held Friday, June 7th.
Important Upcoming Dates:
Week of May 12th-PLC Week
Monday, May 13th-Kindergarten/DK Curriculum Meeting (All teachers) 4:15-6:15 p.m.
Tuesday, May 14th-Fire Drill; Child Studies
Wednesday, May 15th-Staff Meeting (Agenda: Data Review, End of Year Procedures); Williams Property Field Trip for DK; KRA Training (Natalie & Megan)
Thursday, May 16th-Elementary Principals Meeting (Natalie); Title I Parent Meeting, 4:00 p.m.
Friday, May 15th-DIBELS Window closes; GISD Elementary Principal Meeting (Natalie)
Monday, May 20th-ACC Meeting, 4:15-6:15 p.m.; PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 21st-KRA Teacher Training
Wednesday, May 22nd-KRA Teacher Training; Walk-a-Thon Money Due; Senior Farewell Walk through Thomson, 1:15 p.m.; CMC 4-7 p.m.
Thursday, May 23rd-NWEA Window Closes; PTO Walk-a-Thon (Please watch for a schedule)
Friday, May 24th-NO School, Enjoy!
Tuesday, May 28th-Friday, May 31st-No School-Intersession 3.0
Week of June 3rd-PLC Week
Thomson Elementary
#ThomsonRocks
Home of the Thomson Teddies!
And..
Where Kids Come First and Futures Begin!
Email: nmiller@davisonschools.org
Website: www.davisonschools.org
Location: 617 East Clark Street, Davison, MI, United States
Phone: 810-591-0911