Spruce Scoop
Joy. Hope. Resilience.
Week of March 30, 2020
5th Six Weeks
Virtual: Week 2
Remote Learning Spruce Data Board
1,422 Chromebooks Checked Out
1147 Google Classroom Log Ins
1,797 People / 16,173 Meals
Attendance System
Refer to the email sent: REDRED: 3/29 - ATTENDANCE -Online Teaching and Learning (6:56pm)
Step One: Attendance Link Assignment
- Teachers: Post the attendance link as an assignment for regular student attendance: http://tiny.cc/remotespruce
- Attendance Link Tutorial - If you need help, please review Mr. Power's tutorial below (Thank you Mr. Powers) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K-NVo5-h9WeLe4aG4a28JOTHzXiZF-ms/view?usp=sharing
Step Two: Knowing Which Scholars are Checked In
- When you want to start checking which students are checking in, use the following link: http://tiny.cc/teacheraccess It will take you to our attendance workbook housed in the Drive.
Tutorial Video Instructions:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XoLpzwidosxJGF6cL5Rd9ZNzedDyRTG5/view?usp=sharing
Professionalism Online
Our new normal may be virtual meetings, conferences, feedback, etc., but nothing about expectations for professionalism has changed. The link below gives guidance on things to consider before posting:
- Would it sound the same when the student/ their parent/someone who doesn't know you reads it?
- Are what students seeing / hearing in your background something you'd want shared?
- Is this verbal / typed response the same I would give in person at a PLC, ARD mtg, tutorial session with a parent?
Let's make sure we are proud of our Super Spruce online footprint!!!
2nd WEEK ONLINE LEARNING - ENGAGE & EMPOWER
2nd Week Priorities
Engage Scholars:
Empower: Teach your students how to work online.
- Provide clear, straightforward instructions.
- Use video wherever possible.
- Require appropriate and academic language
- Delete inappropriate posts and address the student individually. Contact parent and/or admin if necessary.
- Invite multiple students to zoom meetings or google hangouts for small group collaboration.
- Have I planned ways to teach students HOW to engage online and complete assignments?
- How can I motivate and inspire my students and share their successes?
Engage: Which students are not accessing Google Classroom or responding to other outreach?
Students who are engaging:
- Connect with them individually. Provide praise, gratitude, and guidance to keep them motivated and confident.
Students who are not engaging:
- Use Remind, Talking Points, or the old-fashioned phone to call these students and their parents. Get to the root cause of why they are not online, troubleshoot where you can, and seek assistance from counselors or administrators if you cannot solve the problem.
- Keep a log of all parent contacts, noting date, time, purpose. Share the log with your appraiser
Teacher Reflection Questions:
- Have I prepared relevant, engaging and accessible lessons?
- Are my students responding to the communications I am sharing?
- What next steps will I take regarding students who are not engaging?
- What problems am I anticipating (that I or students will have) What support do my students need to address these problems, before they occur if possible?
What do ENGAGING online lessons look like?
- Are there opportunities for discussion (discussion boards, video conferencing, etc.)
- Are you collaborating with peers and your coaches to develop and engaging lessons?
From the eyes of many of our scholars:
- Remember, many of our students have been or have become primary caretakers, breadwinners, and/or teachers for their younger siblings.
- Their days may be very full and they may have trouble prioritizing their own learning and schooling.
- Be compassionate, open-minded, and flexible in helping them find ways to engage in their own online schooling.
Spruce Online Learning Site
All in Learning: The Time-Saving Resource
Have you ever wondered the following:
- Is there an easy way for me to have my students watch a video of my lesson, then complete practice questions/a quiz, and get it all graded quickly in one quick platform?
- Is there an easy way to input grades from assessments into PowerSchool without spending a long time doing copying/pasting?
- Is there an easy way for me to give a test virtually and make my students show their work or include a short answer response?
- Is there an easy way for me to use the All in Learning clickers during my live lessons on Zoom?
The answer is YES! Using ALL IN LEARNING!
THE video BELOW EXPLAINS EVERYTHING MENTIONED AND MORE. This 44 minute video will be WELL WORTH your time as it will save you a LOT of time grading, tracking data, and more!
The skills taught are timestamped below (bolded sections are highly recommended):
- 02:25 how to create assessment in an efficient way, share with teams, and automatically grade in PowerSchool
- 08:17 see what students see when they log into All in Learning
- 11:50 the "progress tracker" to monitor students
- 16:32 uploading grades into PowerSchool without having to copy/paste
- 22:00 how to do short answer/show your work in All in Learning
- 35:38 how to input videos into All in Learning assessments (so you can teach and then have students practice and then assess)
- 38:55 how to use clickers during Zoom or live chat with students
NOTE: google classroom can be linked with All in Learning, BUT you cannot do all of the things above when you link it to google classroom. The google classroom sync messes up your rosters. It also makes you unable to post grades in PowerSchool automatically. It’s best to avoid syncing google classroom and All in Learning. Instead of syncing google classroom, post on your google classroom “go to allinlearning.com, sign in with google, and take the test”or something like that.
I know we are all trying out a lot of new things right now, but this is one might be the most beneficial to you and your time!
Update to Live Video Chat Time Slots
The following changes were made to accommodate scholars as a response to the data we have seen with the times students are logging in. This does not affect PLC times.
Grades!
Grading during this time will continue to follow our district’s regulation. This means:
- A MINIMUM of 15 grades each six weeks
- At least 2 classwork/homework grades each week (12 total)
- 3-5 major test/project grades total over the six weeks
For this past week, if you only gave one assignment to students, consider entering it into PowerSchool as two assignments (duplicating the grade) or create a participation grade for the students.
Weekly grades are to be entered into PowerSchool by Monday, 11:00 pm, for the previous weeks’ assignments. Ms. Boyer will be checking grades every Tuesday to ensure grading requirements are being met.
Week of March 23rd Data:
- 25% of teachers were on track
- 22% of teachers were almost on track (1-2 grades away)
- 53% of teachers were way off track (>2 grades away)
Please see the chart below for the required number of grades due each week:
Week @ a Glance
- NEW - Wacky Wednesdays
- Fall Out Friday via ZOOM (Link sent Thursdays)
WACKY WEDNESDAYS
Send pictures to Ms. Taylor by 4:30pm sporting your gear!!
We are asking scholars to do this as well!
Meal Distribution
Staff On Campus
Only staff members on campus on Mondays and Thursdays are:
- Ms. Taylor
- Ms. Fisher
- Ms. Walker - Reed
- Ms. K. Lewis - Cafeteria Lead
- Mr. Caballero - Custodial Lead
- 8 additional custodial and cafeteria staff members
All staff contact Ms. Taylor directly via text or phone call to receive approval. Thank you for your support!
Laptop Distribution
- Monday 3/30 and Thursday 4/2 @ Spruce from
- 10 to 1pm.
- Please remind scholars on your GC's to visit our campus website for weekly updates.
DISD At Home Learning Teacher Required PD - Due 4:30 3/31
All in Learning PD Video Viewing PARTY
PD Video Viewing Party: Ms. Boyer will host two AIL Trainings on Zoom where you can view the video above together (a PD viewing party, of sorts): one on Monday 3/30 at 3pm and another on Thursday 4/2 at 3pm. This is especially for anyone who wants to watch the video with her so she can answer any other questions you might have. At those times, click the link below:
Topic: All in Learning PD Viewing Party
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 367 615 094
Session Title: “At home Learning Expectations for Teachers 6-12.”
To access the training:
Log in to Cornerstone: Use link below - Mandatory At Home Learning Expectations PD
- Select LEARNING tab.
- Select LEARNER HOME.
- You will see the Featured trainings
- Select the 6th – 12th grade training.
- Once you finish the course, you will receive an email confirmation.
- Forward the confirmation email to Mrs. Fisher.
PROFESSIONAL WEBSITES
PROFESSIONAL ARTICLES
It is important that we recognize ALL the Excellence in Teaching occurring in all of areas of our academic programs. The highlights are on a weekly rotation throughout the year. Each content/department will be highlighted on a weekly basis.
Catch a Timberwolf Staff member being ELITE in their 20 Square Feet, Joyful, Hopeful, Resilient, SEL Champion, or simply did or said something that was the spotlight of your day/week!
Thank you for taking a moment to highlight your fellow staff member! You made someone's day!!
Spotlight on Coach Martinez, Ms. Rudd, Ms. Brown, Ms. Davis
Ms. Hogan writes:
Shout out to Coach Martinez and Ms. Rudd for being proactive about making a special instructional calendars for the remote learning units.
Shout out to Ms. Brown for hosting 1:1 Zoom tutoring with her SPED students for geometry (starting next week).
Shout out to Ms. Davis for trying a variety of methods to make and upload videos for her students.
Spotlight on Mr. Hunter, Ms. Reed, Ms. Fisher, and Ms. Price
Ms. Brown writes:
Mr. Hunter, Ms. Reed, Ms. Fisher, and Ms. Price checked on my status and sent words of encouragement for safe travels. It's always good to hear from the people that we work so closely with when unforeseen things happen. We were able to move my daughter out of her dorm completely, and she is now ready to finish out her first year of college online back in Dallas. I was able to use the information from the awesome Teachers/staff of Spruce to set up my daughter's virtual learning.
Spotlight on Mrs. Hogan
Ms. Hogan!!! You would think she has been leading zoom conferences and doing e-learning all of her career! She has been such an incredible person to bounce ideas off of and has really spurred the math department on to be EXCELLENT in this new adventure! We are so so lucky to have Ms. Hogan on our campus!
Spotlight on Mrs. Hogan
I'd like to submit Ms. Hogan's name. She is always happy to help and her positive attitude is contagious, even over text! Ms. Hogan reached out to make sure I was good to go with Google Classroom, etc. and I'm not even in her department. It made me feel supported, even though we are working miles apart. Thanks, Ms. Hogan!
Spotlight on Mr. Guinn
Ms. Joyner writes: (from before Spring Break)
I'm pretty sure Sr. Guinn's side hustle must be Superman, because he was SO helpful and supportive during TELPAS testing. He made sure the teachers testing were good to go with a smile, and his corny test morning jokes alone should be Oscar nominated.
Seriously though, thank you Sr. Guinn! I always get anxious giving tests and I very, very much appreciate you!
Ms. McDaniel
My first assignment was for students to illustrate what they did during their Spring Break. I wanted to share with you how Art gives students a way to express how they feel. This explains how some of our seniors maybe feeling right now.
End of Day Procedures
- At dismissal, walk all of your students to the A or C stairwell or Early College exit (see below)
- All students must exit the building and re-enter through the auditorium door
- If you are leading an after school activity, please pick up your students by 4:45 in the auditorium
- Teachers on dismissal duty will ensure all students leave the auditorium WITH a staff member
- A staff member will remain in the auditorium until 6:00pm with students who are waiting lengthy times for their ride to arrive.
1st Floor Dismissal
2nd/3rd Floor Dismissal
NEW SPRING 2020 DUTY ROSTER WITH MAP AND LOCATION SPOTS
BEHAVIOR CHEAT SHEET
- a student won't go to their class
- you smell a prohibited substance
- students are on your floor with the wrong colored hall pass
- a student is out of dress code
- students are in the building before/after school (updated)
Staff Parking in Rear
MANDATORY CLOCK IN
- Monitors & Parking Attendant: 7:30 am
- Administrators: 7:50 am
- Clerks: 8:00 am
- Teacher Assistants: Ranger 7:30, 8:00, or 8:15
- Teachers: 8:15 am
8:20 AM Duty Begins
Please be at duty post ready to go a couple minutes early so that doors are opened at 8:20am. Teamwork makes the Dream Work!!
Tardy AM Procedure (Amended for 'C' Days)
Rear Entrance - ALL DAYS (9:00 am to 9:20 am)
- Our late door entrance, rear of campus/upperclassmen entrance, is open from 9:00 to 9:20 am.
- Scholars will be given a colored tardy pass (see picture ABOVE) with the time/date written on it by late door check in monitors (Rubio/McWhorter/Espinoza). We need this process to be fast and will only involve the monitor putting the time/date on the slip and sending scholars off to class. Students may pick up breakfast but they have the time/date stamped on their pass and are to move quickly to class (5-7 minutes).
- The late door (upperclassmen entrance) is closed at 9:20 am.
Front Door Entrance - A/B DAYS (9:21 am to 9:40 am)
- Scholars that arrive after 9:20 am enter through the front of the building and check in with Ms. Edison.
- Between 9:21 am and 9:40 am scholars will receive the colored tardy pass from Ms. Edison or designated staff member when she is absent.
- If a scholar arrives after 9:40 am they will sign into the Late to School Log and be escorted to ISS for the remainder of the period.
Front Door Entrance - C DAYS (9:21 am to 9:48 am)
- Scholars that arrive after 9:20 am enter through the front of the building and check in with Ms. Edison.
- Between 9:21 am and 9:48 am scholars will sign into the Late to School Log and be escorted to ISS for the remainder of the period.
Teacher Moves:
- Every student that has arrived late should be allowed into class and still be marked tardy in attendance by you the teacher.
- Every* student should have a pass and show their teacher their pass upon entrance into class. ( * See exception below)
- Teachers should check the time on the pass against the time the student arrives in class to make sure it is reasonable. If not, teacher should follow-up accordingly with appropriate student interventions such as student conference, parent contact, etc.
- No teacher hallway passes allowed before 9:45 am. There are some scholars in the halls with hallway passes, please let's NOT slip on this expectation.
* exception - Keep in mind tardy passes will not begin being issued until 9 am. That means students arriving just minutes before 9 am will not be getting a pass yet will probably still be tardy to class. Please allow some leeway with students within the first 5 - 10 minutes of class time each day for not having a pass depending on what time they actually come through the metal detectors. This is a great opportunity to have a conversation with your student about not arriving at the last minute to school and being caught in this awkward situation of being asked for a pass and not having one.
Monthly Fire Drills
BEFORE THE DRILL:
· Review the e-mailed evacuation map for your floor;
· Review the e-mailed color-coded buddy system and find your buddy teacher/staff member; and
· Print a copy of the attendance rosters.
DURING THE DRILL:
· Use the proper stairway/exit,
· Exit the building quickly and orderly with students,
· Take attendance and ensure that all students are present once outside,
· Communicate to your buddy and person in charge of your stairwell if a student is missing, and
· Wait for the bell to ring before re-entering the building.
AFTER THE DRILL:
· Use the proper stairway/re-entry point,
· Enter the building quickly and orderly with class,
· Report DIRECTLY back to class with students,
· Take attendance and ensure that all your students returned to class, and
· Reset class and resume teaching and learning.
H. Grady Spruce High School
Located in the heart of the Pleasant Grove region of Dallas, Texas, H. Grady Spruce High School serves a diverse population of students and their families. Our neighborhood maintains a strong tradition of community, hard work, and pride. Families have made Pleasant Grove their home for generations, and many of our students can claim a legacy of Spruce alumnae that go back to the founding of the school.
H. Grady Spruce High School was built in 1963, replacing Rylie High School. The school is named for Henry Grady Spruce, a native of Omen, Texas, who earned degrees from Southern Methodist University and the University of Chicago. He devoted much of his 35-year YMCA career to youth, including 25 years as director of the Dallas YMCA's Camp Crockett near Granbury.
Email: frataylor@dallasisd.org
Website: https://www.dallasisd.org/spruce
Location: 9733 Old Seagoville Road, Dallas, TX, USA
Phone: 972-892-5500