FSE Weekly Update
There's a Superhero in Each of Us!
Catherine Bruett, FSE Superhero Of the Week!
Other superheros this week are Mary Flores, Ms. Cooke, Jennifer B., Millie, Mrs. Q., and Ms. Martinez. Thank you for making FSE a great place to learn and work!
Coming Soon!
Custodian Hours Thanksgiving Week
Career Day December 2
Please complete Clarity Data Survey Before You Leave Today!
2 FSE Teachers Bring Back Great ELL Strategies
Celena Hernandez and Kathy Silva recently attending an amazing workshop on ELL Support. They are sharing some of the great things they learned. Let us know if you want a PLC to target ELL Support.
They explained,
This one session was just about how a teacher at Boerne High School walks and talks to each student every day. They take a walk in a straight line and double up with a partner. The partners have conversations and then when they get to the front of the line where she is the student converses with only the teacher. Sometimes it’s a test grade she said. The focus is to get them to have a conversation about their subject.
I have tried this during writer’s workshop once. They shared with their partners what they were going to write about and then one student would tell me at a time. I made it brief the first time since we were just learning how to do this. I also didn’t speak to half of the class. I wanted to try it out.
2. Incorporating Brain Breaks
Mirror Drill-my kids love this
1. Stand up
2. Partners face one another
3. Hold palms up in front of chest, facing partner.
4. The leader will move one hand at a time and the follower will mirror the movement.
5. Switch hands every minute
3. Another thing that stuck with me was during a Writer’s Workshop session. We don’t just have to have the students write on paper. This teacher who is elementary level brought in a pumpkin to class. The students said it was Halloween. She said no it’s called a pumpkin. They then brainstormed a story and she wrote their story on the pumpkin.
Teaching Channel ELL Support
"To help elevate ELL language they talked about making sure to create a supportive environment and do team building activities w/your students so they can bond. Also, teach students to monitor their own learning as well."
"It said that teaching channel is really good and has great videos for teachers to see clips of other teachers modeling different things."
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos?page=1&categories=topics_english-language-learners&load=1
Brain Breaks for ELLs
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/0B44vuTQF10cKYnUybFQyQm5xOUU
Math Tools for Encouraging Talking
Help students work together to make sense of Math! Celena and Kathy learned about these resources at the workshop. The more students talk about math, the deeper the understanding.
Angel Tree
The Angel Tree Board, which is located in the long office hallway, is ready for you to pick a name(s) for a student who needs a little extra cheer this year.
Please see timeline below:
December 14th – Deadline to turn in gifts to Ms. Torres;
December 20th – Santa to deliver gifts to students in Library at 2:00.
Each student has an Angel for a Toy, Book and Clothes. You may pick as many as you like. Please keep the Angel and use as the gift tag when returning your gift(s).
If you have any questions, please see Cynthia or Denise.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Optional Meeting November 29
Pick 1 Focus!
From The Literacy Teacher’s Playbook for K-2
When in Guided Reading, think of your 1 focus...don't try to fix it all.
In our literacy walks recently, we capture the following teaching points in 1 guided reading lesson:
1. 2 different linking charts
2. sequencing
3. silent e
4. blends
Based on the quote above, pick 1 focus point- perhaps the silent e, and select a book that uses silent e words. Have your entire guided reading lesson focus just on that.
Video of Sample Guided Reading Lesson
Great things this teacher does:
1. Sets a purpose for the lesson (inferencing)
2. Chooses just a few tricky words to review (chosen purposefully and before lesson)
3. Models making an inference
4. Reminds students to apply the skill before releasing them to read
5. Students are reading at their own pace while the teacher leans in and coaches/takes anecdotal notes
6. Includes a small writing component (could be extended since this lesson was short)
The teacher could have taken the opportunity to include a mini lesson on the different “g” sounds, but it’s clear that the focus of this lesson is making inferencing so she lets that go.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AHxqggc-yI
Weekly Good News Submission For November/December: Email Kim Cathey and Shelley Keck
Remember part of TTESS is sharing the school vision/mission and goals with the community. This will help meet Domain 4.4.
November 28- Ingle, Hajek, Kozowyk, Lewis
December 5- Morantes, Draper, Rosella Silva
December 12- Speech Team, Carmen Garza, Lis Kotzur
December 19- Yosko, Frantz, Lucio, Sisti
When you take pictures, send them to Anna Wood throughout the year for the yearbook! This will reduce stress at the end of the school year!
Save the Dates!
Please remember to check the !ALL South online calendar.
November 21-25- Thanksgiving Holiday
November 29- Optional Meeting
November 30- 4th Field Trip to the Alamo
December 2- Career Day 8 to 10 am
December 2- PTA meeting 2 pm
December 5- New Teacher Support Meeting
December 6- Faculty Meeting
December 7- 70th Day of School
Decmeber 8- 4th/5th grade Dance
December 9- Ag Fair 3rd-5th grade
December 12-16- Santa's Secret Workshop PTA
December 13- Choir Concert and Art Show
December 14-16- Food Service Audit (pray for our ladies, they are under a lot of stress!)
December 15- Fundraiser Celebration in the Gym
December 16- Fundraiser Movie Day
December 20 Spelling Bee; Gingerbread House Tour
December 21- Early Release; Party Day, End of 9 weeks
Happy Birthday to our November Birthdays!!!!
November 4- Susan Royal
November 9- Kimberly Embrey
November 16- Alice Alfaro and Michelle Garza
November 21- Brandon Johns
November 22- Amanda Castillo and Josephine Mehne
November 24- Daelah Laskowski
November 25- Jennifer Walter
November 30- Kelsi Powers