What's Happening at School?
Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire Schools March 2019
GT/RA Teacher Leaders Attend NIET Conference in New Orleans
Teacher Leaders and Principals attended the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) Conference in New Orleans March 22-23. GT/RA Schools use the NIET TAP System for Student and Teacher Improvement Model to give multiple career paths, ongoing professional growth, and instructional focused accountability. Attendees were given the opportunity to attend sessions about reflective teaching and coaching teachers, student ownership of work and behavior, and data and measurement of student growth. GT/RA has used the NIET Framework the past three years in our Teacher Leadership Program. This month the state of Iowa adopted the NIET framework for Teacher Leadership in Iowa - https://www.educateiowa.gov/directors-blog/new-instructional-framework-iowa . GT/RA leaders are continually learning and working hard to improve teaching and learning.
GT 1st Grade Writing "If I Found a Pot of Gold"
RA Middle School Team Building
The Ruthven-Ayrshire Middle School students participate in team building on Friday afternoons. Students threw Koosch Balls at a hula hoop across the gym. If the ball landed inside the hula hoop, the hula hoop was moved closer to the group of students. The first team to have the hula hoop next to them was the winner.
Recycling Project by the GT Senior Class
The GT Senior Class has taken charge of the recycling program at the Graettinger School. Students sort the recycling in preparation for the recycling center. After discussing climate change, the Modern Problems Class decided to raise awareness for recycling through posters, shared their idea with the student body, and took action with the recycling project.
My Future's So Bright
GT 8th grade Reading and Language Arts students wrote about what their future may look like during the career unit 3rd quarter. Students included compound and complex sentences in their writing. The future looks bright for these students.
Are You Up for a Debate?
The GT 6th grade Reading and Language Arts class is learning how to debate by describing a speaker's claim and reason with evidence. After reading the article, "Should Everyone Get a Trophy?" by Lauren Tarshis of Scholastic Scope (Nov. 2013), students took side to the question, "Should Everyone Get a Trophy?" The students who said no, believed that you should work harder for the goal. The students who said yes, believed that no matter the effort you put into the activity, you should be rewarded.
Mrs. Giese reviews the chapter tests with the Algebra 1 students.
Intro to Business
High school students in Mr. Giese's Intro to Business class are learning about credit scores. Questions answered included: What is a good credit score? What things will change your credit score? What can you do with a credit score?
Favorite Animals
GT 1st grade students wrote informative paragraphs about a favorite animal. They included facts about their animals. With help from adults, students were able to produce and publish their writing.
Favorite Person
GT 3rd grade students gathered information about a favorite person. Favorites included Presidents, athletes, and singers. Students planned, revised, and edited their papers before publishing.
Kindergarten Math Strategies during March Madness
Peak into some classrooms.....
Using Inferencing Skills
The GT 2nd grade students used the clues left in their classroom to uncover the mystery of who took the chocolate chip cookies. It was determined by the evidence left that it was a Cleveland Browns fan - Mr. Hough!