Friday Faculty Focus
News and Notes about #BeBCMS-SY 19- Issue 13
#Thankful
The month of gratitude has arrived. Just like that, it's November. Every November, people get focused on just how grateful they are. They post it on social media, tweet about it, and try to make an extra effort to count their blessings. I encourage us to do the same in a personal way. Every day is a day to start again and make an impact. That is a blessing! The work we GET to do, another blessing! The lives we GET to impact: a major blessing! Make time this month to take mental stock of all the blessings that we have in our lives. 2018 has been a particularly challenging year for me and my family personally, but I still am covered up with gratitude. It's the journey..... that's the reward. Thank you for another great week!
Up and Coming:
- SMILE! Be Happy! #BeELITEInYour20SquareFeet: Your body language talks! LOVE what you GET to do every day!
- Interested in teaching the ELITE Summer Experience? We need you! Dates are the first four weeks in June (No Fridays) 9-2 (Teacher 8-3 or 830-330) Please let me know here if you are interested: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfVLHh8DYQQraYl3dH9JTPd30pt6P3PZWnNmvOeuWVWbF9mhg/viewform?usp=sf_link
- 100% participation HAPPENED at our SCHOOLHOUSE! We rocked it! Thank you to EVERYONE! You all gave something and that is how you start November! We will have a staff luncheon this month and do our drawings for the prizes! Thank you to Ms. Solomon for leading the charge! Once we have a final total, I will let you know how much we raised!
- Vote for the Quarter ONE Marigold https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScmjb86c7uEq53sE-I2u-OmAvlWjtEXeYk7iVhflMwToLqCsg/viewform?usp=sf_link
- AM Breakfast continues as is
- Did you attend our ELITE Board Meeting? If you did, you scored JEANS for all next week for free!
- October Selfie Reading Challenge: Winners will be announced Monday 11/3
- PM Buses continues as is: Please be on time for supervision!
- Absences: When you are absent, you need to contact me via text or email. You then need to put the absence in AESOP. You then need to fill out a leave form from Ms. Amonda. Failure to work this process may result in you having to take the day unpaid. Please follow our procedures for absences.
- The Innovation Center-- Wednesday 11/3 Bring a current lesson plan
11/7- No Innovation Center! Enjoy your morning!
11/14- All Faculty: Strategy Smorgasbord!
11/28 All Content for Extended Writing Review
- TKES observations have started. PLEASE make sure you are checking and signing off on your observations. The system is not emailing you right now to let you know. We have notified HR and they are working on a solution.
- AdvancED work has begun. Team Leaders will discuss this with you next week. We need to get these surveys done!
If you are a teacher (certified) please take this survey:
https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/84648/23501
If you are a staff member (non-cerfitied) please take this survey:
https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/84655/23501
Students will need to take this survey:
https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/84645/23501
And we will discuss Monday where that will happen!
- Lesson plans are due, in hard copy form, to the binder by Friday at 4:00. The binder will be in the data room on Fridays.
- Student Council is rocking the canned food drive! Please bring in your donations!
- Teams: I will meet with you each to discuss your targets and buckets in the month of November.
- WIN team is 30 minutes drop and read and it is an EVERYONE expectation. Have a book and be ready to READ! There are lots of variations to this-- so be creative!
- Please make sure your weekly communication to your parents is ready. This needs to be up to date weekly. Email Mr. Kicklighter to put it on the website.
Staff Shout Outs!
- Ms. Swindell and Ms. Romberg for an ELITE Red Ribbon Week
- Ms. Solomon for rocking the United Way campaign
- Ms. Jersey for fixing breakfast for our North end Principal meeting
- Ms. Dyson for setting up and working the book fair
Congratulations John!
Important Events! (The β’1)
#CelebrateMonday - October Selfie Reading Challenge Winners announced, PBIS Scholars of the Month (October) announced, Basketball practices after school
#TurnUPTuesday- Basketball practices after school, Baby Shower #1 after school, media center
#WinWednesday- Basketball practices after school, RCD Curriculum, Athletics Banquet 5:0O PM
#ThankfulThursday- Basketball practices after school, Baby Shower #2 after school, media center
#FocusFriday- Basketball practices after school
Coming UP
- December 4th: Coffee and Conversations: PLTW focus 8:45 AM
- Save the Date! Redskins on the Rise Community Day: Saturday, March 2, 2019
- PBIS events: End of Quarter 2/Semester 1 Celebration: Dec. 21st: Begin thinking now and communicate with Mr. Scott and Ms. Solomon your ideas
Sign Up for Athletics Here:
3 events min. per semester! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16Tzr1q9QiufUUWn_veX6FIjE6poQEaIofGAZhDXd0ow/edit?usp=sharing
What I'm Reading.... (The β’5)
I have been teaching an ESS PLC every Wednesday at 12:30. During that time, we have had ELITE conversations and reflections about our teaching strategies and practices. Two weeks ago, we discussed openings and that brought me back to my OLD favorite: Teach Like a Pirate! When I walk into a classroom just for a daily classroom visit, I am looking for three things:
1. What is the teacher doing?
2. What are the scholars doing?
3. How does the classroom FEEL?
Student engagement is NOT a scholar filling out a worksheet. That is busy work.
Student engagement is the consideration of these three things:
Are scholars:
1. Attracted to the work?
2. Persistent despite challenges and obstacles
3. Have a visible delight or joy in the work
Far too many times, we capture the student's attention at the beginning just to lose it when we put the powerpoint up or the worksheet in front of them. Every time we allow this, we have to restart their engines. What can we do to make sure our classrooms are high level, engaging, exciting classes.
As Dave says, if your classroom wasn't mandatory, how many scholars would be sitting in your desks? Gut check.
#ReadersAreLeaders
#LoveTheProcess
% of scholars within the grade band Lexile - % of scholars P/D in each content: 2016-2017-2018
Focus on......... Literacy (The β’15)
Our #BeBCMS Moral Imperatives to an ELITE school are not changing. Do you remember them?
a. Come to School- BE AMAZING- Go Home! Repeat
b. Bell to Bell instruction
c. ALL instruction/teaching will be on grade level and standards based
d. Take a STAND for teaching and learning. Get up!
Focus On:(The Innovation Center Work)
Literacy
We will increase our students ability to earn a 3 or higher on Extended Repsonse. Extended repsonse includes:
Coherence
Idea development
Organization of thoughts
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking (Reasoning)
The Innovation Center: Quarter Two will focus on our work with the extended writing in our classes. Thank you for brining a sample to Innovation Center this week. We will use your graded rubrics and samples and explore inter-rater-reliability in the coming weeks! On 11/28 we will all meet to discuss our Literacy Rubric comparisons!
No Innovation center this week. Next week: Strategy Smorgasbord!
NEW information:
The new Lexile bands for BCMS :
997-1070- 6th grade
1045-1120- 7th grade
1097-1185- 8th grade
PBIS Update:Data and Discipline
Let me know if you have a SMARTIES for SMARTIES class that needs to be recognized!
August 2017 28 Majors 201 Minors
August 2018 23 Majors 195 Minors
17% decrease in MAJOR referral behavior
September 2017 24 Majors , 225 MINORS
Septebmer 2018: 45 MAJORS, 227 MINORS
October 2017:
59 Majors
195 Minors
October 2018
61 Majors
292 minors
Highest minors ever!
**We also had 6 days less school in October this year, than last year**
Please take time in your team meetings this week to discuss behavior in learning spaces. Are you using your PBIS bucks? Are you building incentives into your learning day? Please think about how you can encourage ELITE behavior and praise the positive!
E+R=O!!!
8th 26 majors
7th 22 majors
6th 15 majors
October scholars of the month will be announced on Monday Nov. 5th. Please make sure your scholar is in the google doc.
#TweetOfTheWeek
βππππ π»π¦ππ πβ @DunnRandi Nov 1
More
Todayβs Agenda: Serve students. Serve teachers. Serve staff. Serve parents. Serve community. Repeat. #JoyfulLeaders #LeadLAP #KidsDeserveIt #tylerisdlead
You can find me @missliz31 and @BryanCountyMS
Hashtags for this year:
#BeBCMS
#IChoose...
#LifeInAMiddleSchool
#BeBCMS
#BeELITEInYour20SquareFeet
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