Pam's Pages
Week of March 7 - 11
Every Child - No Excuses
DISTRICT NEWS
Employee Transfers
Employee Transfer Period for 2016-2017
The transfer period for the 2016-2017 school year opened on February 16th for employees seeking a position at another campus or department within the district. Employees can access the link on the Human Resources homepage under For Employees – Transfer Information. The following items are needed for Professional, Paraprofessional and Auxiliary transfers:
Professional
Transfer Form - link will be active on February 16, 2016
Letter of Interest
Resume
Paraprofessional/Auxiliary
Transfer Form - link will be active on February 16, 2016
Letter of Interest
The transfer period for the 2016-2017 school year will close on June 10, 2016. The only transfers that are allowed once the transfer period is closed are promotions, or changes in positions that are mutually agreed upon by both supervisors. If you have any questions please contact the Human Resources Department.
Action Based Learning Certified Training-2016 Summer
Action Based Learning, (our motor lab is based on this) is a program that uses fundamental movement to support learning with intent and purpose of preparing the brain to receive knowledge. Participants in this training will learn the neuroscience behind Action Based Learning and implementation models to bring back to their campuses.
This is a dynamic and interactive training that will assist teachers and administrators with the growing demand for differentiated instruction needed to meet the needs of Every Child.
Dates of training: June 20-23 in Houston
Costs of training:
$675- individual
$650- three or more
Cost includes: Training materials, transportation to and from hotel to school, and continental breakfast and lunch for three days.
Darlene Evans, Kinesthetic Classroom Coordinator Darlene.evans@springbranchisd.com 281-799-3448; For more information: www.actionbasedlearning.com.
*** MWE staff - If you are interested in attending this training, please let me know.
Organizational Health Inventory Survey
The Organizational Health Inventory (OHI) is a school climate survey developed by The Ohio State University’s School of Educational Policy and Leadership. This survey was designed to help school leaders determine the overall “health” status of their campus and address areas of concern. The OHI measures the dimensions of organizational effectiveness to realize strengths and diagnose weaknesses.
All campus faculty and staff will receive an email with a link to the OHI survey on Monday, March 7, 2016. This survey will stay open until Thursday, March 24, 2016. Personnel that do not complete the survey by the end of the first week will be sent a reminder email. Please note that email invitations to participate in the OHI survey may not be forwarded between staff members.
Director of Mathematics, Ann Worley
This is what we are focused on the following:
supporting campus leadership, teachers & students
Collaborate with Reading & Science to provide uniform data templates and Student Reflection pages.
Use practice STAAR data to help campus leadership identify students and help them align their programs and practices to meet kids’ needs.
We have not abandoned our other priorities!
Work with gr 5 and gr 8 teachers to help them differentiate instruction
Work with iCoach work groups to redefine how we look at curriculum and creating a viable, vibrant teaching support system within ITS Learning.
Director of Elementary Humanities - Penny Guerrero-Konicek
This is what we are focused on:
Learning session for K-1 teachers - CCP Units of Study
Data sheets for campuses to use for Grade 4 STAAR Writing Assessment
Instructional support for Improvement Required campuses
Assist campuses with creating reading and writing intervention plans as requested
2 grade 4 writing professional learning sessions
In the future Elementary Humanities will focus on:
Facilitating taking student writing deeper
Supporting purposeful planning
Collaborating with the ELL department
Providing grade 5 reading curriculum for accelerated instruction between 1st & 2nd - Reading STAAR
Director of Science, Donald Burken
For the last month, the science team has been focused on the following:
Support teachers in planning and following up with classroom visits.
PD showcasing upcoming content
Met w/principals to discuss campus needs as requested
Work with the teams to create common assessments, to analyze the data, and create plans of action
Provided training for 5th and 8th grade teachers regarding creating folders for students to utilize during instruction.
Met w/secondary DC’s to discuss campus visits & share information.
Setting priority standards for science in grades K-Biology.
Reviewing curriculum to make sure that it is viable. Where it is not, we will be revising curriculum.
Working with APs on how to incorporate ELL strategies in the content areas.
The science team is looking forward to working with:
Analyze the STAAR practice tests and meet with teams to hold data conferences.
5th grade teachers on building plans for the rest of the year.
Teachers and grade level teams to purposefully plan
Teachers to create blended learning lessons.
Director of ESL/Bilingual, Gretchen Holtsinger
For the last month, we have been focused on the following:
Central Monitored Calibration sessions for TELPAS.
Mid-year assessment LPACs.
Curriculum development for middle school ESL newcomer classes.
The ESL/Bilingual team is looking forward to working with:
American Institutes for Research to plan for initial needs sensing phase of Professional Development Framework for English Learner Support.
Drs. David and Yvonne Freeman to provide bi-literacy training for K-2 teachers.
Principals to develop specialized programs to serve newcomer students.
Secondary ELA and ESL teachers on new standards and curriculum for English I/II for Speakers of Other Languages.
Special Education
This is what we have been focusing on:
- Training for APs and Assessment Staff on the Special Education PBMAS Improvement Plan
- Meeting with Principals & APs to learn more about their Special Education Programs
- Gathering In-School and Out-of-School Suspension data by campus for PBMAS
- Gathering information related to an alternate reading program for possible use at the Middle School and High School level
- Providing support to Self-contained Special Education classrooms
In the future Special Education will focus on:
- Visiting campuses and classrooms
- Continue to establish relationships with Administrators
- Meet with Middle School and High School Administrators re Specialized Reading program for the 2016-2017 school year
- Special Education Staffing Allocations
- Prepare for our teachers and students involved in the 18-21 year old program to present to the State Board of Education to share highlights of our current program
CAMPUS NEWS
Notes from March 2nd Vertical Team Meetings
As Education (and our district/campus) moves toward personalized learning, here is where we are as a campus. The information March 9th Vertical Team Meetings will be reported in the next newsletter.
This information will be compiled and used to guide us as we make decisions about our goals for the 16-17 school year.
Tough to Teach/Learn Topics
K/1/2 = Writing, word problems, handwriting, basic social Skills
3/4 Language Arts = Grammar and punctuation, How to get assignments from reluctant workers, while at the same time moving others forward, inadequate and/or not enough technology
Standards Based Grading Ideas
K/1/2 = reteaching, using standards for grading, reteaching and then giving the higher grade
3/4 = using a 4 point proficiency system and converting them (with no zeros) to a traditional reporting system; not simply assigning a missing or failed grade after multiple attempts
Blended/Personalized Learning
K - differentiating centers
1 = using EPIC and differentiating centers
2 = using voice activated google docs, Happy Numbers, Epic, Khan Academy
3/4 = no penalties for taking extra time, flexible deadlines; Edmodo; Google Accounts
Are You A Whole Teacher? A Self-Assessment To Understand
(As we begin making the shift to personalized learning, should teachers also begin making shifts in teaching, and what would that look like?)
by TeachThought Staff
.... what ... students really need to know in a modern world.
And it is in that whole Habits of Mind/new knowledge demands context comes Jackie Gerstein's “Twelve 21st Century Skills & Attributes: Educator Self-Assessment.” Ms. Gerstein has has framed this concept (modern teaching) through 12 characteristics, and again through teacher self-assessment questions for each characteristic.
You can read more here–in fact, follow her on twitter, and add her blog to your favorite RSS reader.
Oral & Written Communication
1. Do you provide learners with opportunities to speak and write using their own unique and genuine voices?
2. Do you help learners create focus, energy, passion around the oral and written communication they want to make?
Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving
3. Do you promote and reinforce doing things that haven’t been done before, where you and your learners have to rethink or think anew?
4. Do you ask learners to generate and ask their own unique essential questions?
Collaboration Across Networks
5. Do you facilitate global communication and collaboration with your learners?
6. Do you give learners opportunities to collaborate face-to-face and virtually?
7. Do you assist your learners in developing their own personal learning networks?
Curiosity & Imagination
8. Do you promote, encourage, and reinforce inquisitiveness?
9. Do you encourage your learners to add their own “personal touches” to their learning experiences?
Initiative & Entrepreneurialism
10. Do you assist in learners becoming involved in meaningful work?
11. Do you provide opportunities for learners to take risks? Take their own initiative to do things?
Agility & Adaptability
12. Do you accept change as normal and natural? And assist your learners in doing the same?
13. Are you and your learners flexible?
14. Do you and your learners use a variety of tools to solve new problems?
Hope & Optimism
15. Do you model, teach, reinforce positive self talk? A ‘Can Do’ attitude?
16. Do you assist learners in enhancing their personal agency thinking?
17. Do you expose learners to stories that portray how others have succeeded or overcome adversity?
Self-Regulation
18. Do you model and assist learners in developing and understanding their own metacognitive processes?
19. Do you help learners develop their own ability to self-motivate?
20. Do you assist learners in reflecting on and evaluating their learning experiences?
Empathy & Global Stewardship
21. Do you provide learners with opportunities for perspective taking?
22. Do you assist all learners in understanding the interdependence of all living things?
23. Do you create opportunities for learners to put empathy into action; engage in pro-social behavior intended to benefit others?
Resilience
24. Do you help learners see failures as opportunities for growth?
25. Do you encourage and reinforce learners’ own intimate resiliency?
26. Do you insure that each and every learner knows “You Matter”?
Grit
27. Do you give learners opportunities to work on long-term, complex projects?
28. Do you assist learners in identifying and acknowledging the rewards of persevering through tough times?
Vision for the Future
29. Do you give learners the time, resources, and opportunity to identify and pursue their dreams?
30. Do you assist learners in developing the steps needed to achieve their dreams?
Whole Teaching; Are You A Whole Teacher? A Self-Assessment To Understand
Mike Morath - Commissioner of Education
At the Raise Your Hand Texas conference, we heard the new Commissioner speak. If you do not know anything about him, please take the time to look him up. He spoke to us about his philosophy of education, praised us for being on the "front lines" and talked about the new assessment for teachers (T-TESS) being a re-setting of expectations and a way to provide feedback to professionals about their professional growth. He also answered several questions from the audience.
One of his closing remarks was: "If the kids aren't learning, we aren't doing our jobs."
Meadow Wood Elementary School
Email: pamela.redd@springbranchisd.com
Location: 14230 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX, United States
Phone: 713-251-6210
Facebook: facebook.com/meadowwoodelementary
Twitter: @Pam_Redd