The Bailey Times
October 30, 2017
Purposeful Lesson Planning - My observations
1. Technology should be used in the classroom to enhance the learning not replace it! I am seeing both sides of this equation so to speak. I am seeing teachers who do not use it much at all and other teachers that use it daily to enhance their teaching. You are all individuals and have a comfort level with using technology, but we need to embrace it! We have already come leaps and bounds from where we were, but we have to continue to go to the next level. Our students are digital citizens and in reality what comes naturally to them does not to me but I will still need to meet them where they are and create a balance for this area. Creating a balance is the hard part and I am seeing some rooms with too much technology and others that barely use it at all. Just take a look at what you are currently doing. Is technology a motivation for the students and enhancing your lessons or is it barely used? Is technology used so much that the actual student work and teaching are lost in all the technology that is being used?
2. Vertical alignment - are you looking at the standards for your grade and making sure that you are at your grade level on the standard and not the repeating what has already been learned at the grade level below you, that you are at the rigor of the standard you are teaching and you are not spending too much time reviewing a previous grade level standard before moving forward. Example: Point of View
4th-grade students are asked to compare and contrast the point of view from which different stories are narrated and it is located under literature.
5th grade, students are asked to analyze the similarities and differences in points of view of multiple accounts of the same event or topic and it is located under informational text. That is a huge difference in what needs to be taught. You can't just teach 1st, 2nd, 3rd limited and omniscient but you have to follow what the standard says to actually do. Yes, you have to know what each POV means and the pronouns that help you figure it out but the actual standard moves from compare and contrast to analyzing similarities and differences.
3. Be careful about what you are using to guide your planning! If you are using Wonders only then you will not be covering the standards at the level necessary. Wonders is a resource and not a curriculum. You still have to look at the ELA standards and then pick and choose what you might want to use with Wonders. There is nothing wrong with using our reading series BUT you will need to be aware that it does not match up in all areas!
The end result is that you are all very good at what you do so it really just boils down to taking the time needed to be purposeful in your planning!
**Better Lesson is a great resource for lesson planning/videos, etc. The link is below!**
Testing Information for 2018
PD & Popcorn: November 9, 2017
Shelly O’Daniel – sodaniel@colliervilleschools.org
Please encourage all teachers to mark their calendars for our upcoming PD & Popcorn! Session descriptions can be viewed from the attached documents. The menu of options meets the needs of ALL teachers, and administrators are always invited! Teachers need to register in MLP and may choose the sessions that best meet their needs when they arrive.
PD & Popcorn
Thursday, November 9
Central Church
2005 E. Winchester Blvd.*Please park and enter at the WEST entrance.
I have attached the information to this email. I know this is Open House Night but it is over before our Open House begins if you are interested in attending!
Apple Teacher Program
In a previous Bailey Times, I put the information that is below about becoming an Apple Teacher. I am listing the information again for you in case you are interested. Nakia Powell is planning on doing a Coffee Chat on December 5th for anyone interested in learning more and getting help to get started! Carrie Moore is also ready and willing to work with anyone who is interested. So far we have the most teachers participating in the district! We are also going to be offering incentives for everyone that takes the time to be an Apple Teacher. Carrie Moore will talk more about the incentives when we have everything worked out!
Apple Teacher Program
Contact Person – School ITF
The Apple Teacher program is a free, self-paced, professional learning program designed
by Apple to support educators using Apple products in the classroom for both Mac and
iPad, as well as Swift Playgrounds (coding). Once completed, educators will be awarded
with certification as an Apple Teacher. Collierville Schools would also like to recognize
and celebrate staff who attain this certification showing their commitment to our district’s
Digital Learning Initiative.
- We will begin this district-wide program in the fall of 2017.
- Educators will complete the Apple Teacher program.
- Sign up to get started here https://appleteacher.apple.com/auth/#/signin/
- Educators who have already received or just receive the Apple Teacher certification
will notify the Technology Department here https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=1M13qvNWYUC29AO54DnBZMWWOLF5RdxDmvTLkoGhg0BUNjhFUTNKODRMSTUzR0lJRVA4Tk4xWEIwTC4u
- Educators are also encouraged to include the Apple Teacher certification in their
email signature (following Apple guidelines) and post the logo on their school
website.
- The school Instructional Technology Facilitator (ITF) will then post badges to
teachers’ classrooms/offices.
The Technology department will track and share results of each schools’ percentage
of educators with Apple Teacher certification. We hope that a little friendly
competition will spur our staff to grow professionally with the goal of student
learning in mind.
TNReady Score Report Resource for Families
The department has a website to provide additional information about TNReady score reports in order to help families better understand their students' individual score reports, as well as next steps for supporting their students' academic progress. The website includes detailed explanations of each section of the individual score report and links to additional resources. Click here to view the website.
Social Studies 5–8 Assessment Blueprint Now Available
The social studies grades 5–8 assessment blueprint for 2017-18 is now available on the department’s website (here). As a reminder, blueprints are designed to offer teachers an overview of the test structure. Blueprints also include descriptions of TNReady item types and, if applicable, subject-specific ancillary documents, such as calculator guidance for math. Blueprints are available for all TNReady assessments (here). Please reach out to Kadie.Patterson@tn.gov with questions.
October Coffee Chats for Teachers
October 31st: Carrie Moore - Schoology Part II
November 7th: Ashley Neugebauer - Powerschool Assessment
November 14: Katherine Perry & Meredith Flynn - Do you want to be an ESL teacher?
November 21: Carrie Moore - Ipad 101
November 28: Checks for Understanding - Curtis and Spiker
December 5: Apple Teacher - Nakia Powell
Check out some of these articles I read this past week. You may find something that interest you.
Great Lesson Planning Resource with TONS of information/videos/lesson plans!
Month at a Glance
October 30 - Nov. 3, 2017
- One For Books
October 31, 2017
- Teacher Coffee Chat Schoology Part II 8:00 library
- Sheryl Johnson will be in the building to help you with Achievement/Growth for 2018
November 1, 2017
- I will be out of the building at a TOSS Leader and the Law (I know you want to go too!)
- Run Club
November 2, 2017
- Author Breakfast at 8:00 in the library and then he will be seeing classes that morning - see the schedule that was sent out.
November 7, 2017
- Teacher Coffee Chat - Powerschool Assessment - Neugebauer & Moore
November 9, 2017
- Open House 6:00- 7:00
- Book Fair 5:00 - 7:30
- PD and Popcorn Central Church 4:45
November 10, 2017
- Celebration Breakfast for all Teachers and Staff 8:00 in library
- Lunch served in teacher lounge for all teachers and staff
- Veterans Day Program @ 2:00
November 14, 2017
- Teacher Coffee Chat - How to become an ESL teacher? What do ESL teachers do?
November 15, 2017
- Parent Coffee Chat 9:15 - 10:15 in Room 200
November 16, 2017
- Faculty Meeting 7:30
November 17, 2017
- Kindergarten Pow Wow and Feast 2:30
- PTA Meeting & Bingo Night 6:00 cafe
November 21, 2017
- Teacher Coffee Chat - Ipad 101
November 22 - 25, 2017
- Holiday
November 28, 2017
- Parent Coffee Chat 4:45 - 5:45 in library
November 30, 2017
- Leadership Team Meeting @ 7:45