Hillcrest Staff ARTery
We are the heART of Hillcrest!
The week of January 18th - 22nd
Bus Duty:
AM - Jody, Anna & Amy W.
PM - Cici, Lee & Cory
Treats: Anna E. & Emily
Word of the Week: Joyfulness
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Monday, January 18th - NO SCHOOL - MLK DAY- HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIE S.! NICE TO HAVE YOUR DAY OFF!
- A reminder - - - Hawk Talk deadline is January 20th
Tuesday, January 19TH (Day 1)
- 8:20 - Staff Meeting
- 1:00 - 1:50 - 4th grade Fire Dept. Program
Wednesday, January 20th ( Day 2)
- 8:20 - 9:00 - SWIM team meeting/Caroline's room
Thursday, January 21st (Day 3)
- 8:00 - 1:00 - Calvin @ principal's meeting
Friday, January 22nd (Day 1)
- 1:00 - 1:50 - Fire Dept. Program (4th grade)
- 4:40 - Susie's send off party - Sports Page (9014 South Lyndale Avenue)
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE S. ON JANUARY 23RD!
Upcoming Events
January 25th - PD and Grading Day - NO SCHOOL
January 29th - Rally in the Lunchroom - 3:15
January 29th - Report cards go home
February 2nd - Kinder Registration
February 9th - PTSA Meeting - 6:30/Media Center
Staff Meeting Schedule (Topics)
1/19 - Close Reading w/Rachel Gens (3 of 4)
2/2 - Achievement Gap at HC
2/16 - TBD
3/1 - TBD
January 25th Schedule
REGISTER FOR THE MORNING PD SESSIONS HERE
http://bloomingtonschools.info/register
HC will be following the same schedule as all other elementary schools on this day in order to allow for intra-district PLC meetings. This means that we will be starting at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m. If you have a conflict with this early start, please let Calvin know.
8:00 - 10:00 Standards Work Presentation (at school site)
- Presentation on Unit of Study
10:00 - 11:00 Deeper Dive into RAT with building Super CT and MD (at school site)
11:00 - 12:00 Lunch (on your own)
12:00 - 2:00 Grading / Report Cards (on your own)
2:00 - 2:30 Travel Time
2:30 - 3:30 PLC Time (choice of the teachers)
Martin Luther King Jr. (Holiday on Monday, January 18th)
Help students in grades K-5 put in perspective the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., his impact on the Civil Rights Movement, and his significance to American culture and history. Learn more here. (This was taken from the NEA website and work shared is by Phil Nast, 1/8/16)
Lesson Plans
Dr. King's Dream
Students in grades K-2 learn about the life and work of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., listen to an excerpt from his “I Have a Dream” speech, and create picture books about freedom for Americans today.
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Me: Identifying with a Hero
Students in grades K-2 learn about the life of Dr. King, record information on a KWL chart, and keep a journal of thoughts and ideas.
How Big Are Martin’s Big Words? Thinking Big about the Future
Students in grades 3-5 listen to a reading of Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and then analyze excerpts from King’s speeches for "big" words, words not necessarily as large in length as they are in importance: Freedom, Peace, Love.
Let Freedom Ring: The Life & Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Students in grades 3-5 view photographs of the March on Washington, read Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, and investigate how Dr. King used language from "My Country 'Tis of Thee" in his own speech.
Activities
Martin Luther King Jr. Interactive Timeline
After listening to a reading of A Picture Book of Martin Luther King Jr. by David A. Adler, students in grades 3-6 use sequencing skills to create a timeline of MLK’s life.
Martin Luther King Jr. Quiz
A printable ten question quiz.
King Crossword
This printable crossword for elementary students includes an interactive version and an answer key.
Background Resources
I Have a Dream: Celebrating the Vision of Martin Luther King, Jr.
A source of activities, lessons, and websites.
Martin Luther King Jr.
NY Times archive of articles on MLK.
Commemorate the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This K-8 teacher source provides whiteboard resources, book lists, and activities.
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site: Lesson Plans and Teacher Guides
This curriculum package for K-8 teachers includes a teacher guide, lesson plans and units, exhibits, a problem-solution project, and references. The package is available in 5 PDF sections totaling 303 pages.
MLK WEBSITES
Coaches Corner
For some of our students, following what might seem like a list of simple instructions isn’t as easy as it seems. Building the working memory necessary to remember and execute a list of directions is a skill that can be taught and practiced. That’s great news, isn’t it? What that means is that we can provide students with opportunities to improve their working memory!
Student can practice following 2-3 step directions as an energizer throughout the day. Not only will this give them a brain break, it will also develop their working memory. You don’t even have to come up with a list of directions because there is one right here! These can easily be used in a game like Simon says.
Students repeat a clapping/patting/tapping pattern. You can add complexity as you go by including pauses or rhythms. To really up the ante, while students are repeating the pattern, you’re giving the new pattern.
Having students play I Spy type games such as Find the Hidden Pictures or Spot the Differences is another quick and fun way to strengthen working memory.
To develop working memory and review content, try word or number chains. Students work in small groups. The teacher provides the topic word. The first student says a word that relates to the topic. The second student repeats that word and adds their own. For example, if the topic is states, the first student might say California, second student California, Wyoming, third student California, Wyoming, Rhode Island, etc. For a number chain, the prompt might be factors of 36 or odd numbers. Encourage students to make 3-4 word chains at the beginning, expanding on this as they improve.
Tech Team Information
September Topics
Where will printing happen?
Bring students to the lab
Check out Macbook Air cart
Individuals log in to classroom
Publishing & sharing work as alternates - Ask: Do they really need to print it?
Using The BPS HUB
Students need training on logging in and reading the Hub planner, writing notes.
It’s important to remember that the Hub’s audience is both students & parents.
October Topics
When are we sending CBs home?
Face-to-face distribution of devices for grades 3-5.
This will happen via a separate Curriculum Night/Chromebook Open House in September 2016. Specific date to be determined.
Action item: All grade levels should add headphones to Fall 2016 school supply list.
Chromebook Cases
Kids will be provided a charger, chromebook, case and a luggage tag
Luggage tags will have Student Name, Homeroom, Color coded label for Grade level, perhaps a personalized photo snippet for HC tags
Where won’t Chromebooks go in our building?
Chromebooks will not go to:
lunch
bathroom
locker rooms
bus
Action Items:
Communicate policy with our bus drivers and patrols.
November Topics
How will we prepare students to have devices?
2nd graders will have a chromebook experience this spring.
Digital Passport curriculum for digital citizenship, also this spring.
Chromebook and iPad bootcamp will be developed and taught.
How will we prepare teachers to have devices?
- Beginning in January, staff will have regular professional development focused on technology and digitization. January 25th, to be precise!
December Topics
Families without internet.
Students will be taught to use offline mode and a Chrome Extension called Pocket. It is then their job to pack up their digital backpack at the end of the day, same as a physical backpack. These students may need specific time to do so.
Hot spot pucks will be available as a short-term solution and on a very limited basis. The pucks will be available to everyone at Hillcrest with a check out period of two weeks. Pucks are very expensive and not feasible as a blanket solution, so communicating with families who might fall in this category is very important, in order to connect them with the district-suggested resources.
Hillcrest third grade class from 2014-15 published in COMPAS anthology
Lee's class, under the guidance of COMPAS’s Charlie Maguire, created an original song about the sun, moon and stars titled “Way Up In The Sky.” The exercise put to work lessons from the class’s “discovery” Artful Learning unit.
COMPAS artist residencies were funded through a Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) grant, which helped provide Artful Learning experiences at each grade level (K-5). Hillcrest is an MSAB grant recipient again this year.
Visit www.compas.org to learn more about the program.
Building Winter and Break Reminders
Winter is here . . .
- Please make sure students take their coats and boots home regularly, so that the hall can be kept clean.
- All boots should be put up off the floor at the end of the day (on top of hooks or in lockers).
- Please make sure that students stomp and wipe their feet before entering the hallways.
Personal Leave Requests Now Approved by Principal
Our weekly staff newsletter!
Contact Us
Email: ckeasling@isd271.org
Website: hc.bloomington.k12.mn.us
Location: 9301 Thomas Road, Bloomington, MN, United States
Phone: (952) 681-5300