December 17, 2018
A Communication Tool for the Seven Hills Staff
3rd Grading Period Leadership Assembly Preparation:
Star Leader 3rd Grading Period: https://goo.gl/forms/eGT9HCuhy2UIvUnT2
Trust is the Foundation of Empowerment:
"Trust between you and your students and between your students and their peers sets the stage for empowerment. Trust is created by a deliberate focus on our credibility and the 13 Behaviors of High Trust, both of which have been proven to be predictive of trust in an organization. Trust affects our ability to do everything else in the classroom."
- Empowering Instruction Field Guide page 22 -
Over the last month, I have reviewed the 13 trust behaviors in the S'more each week. In October, I asked each of you to reflect on the levels of trust in your classrooms. Remember, in order to truly empower students to be leaders of their own learning, you have to know where you stand with trust in your classroom and with your students. Take time before you leave for the break to reflect on the level of trust in your classrooms. This will require straight talk...with yourself...List each student in your classroom. On a scale from 1-10 , with 1 being "a little" to 10 being "a lot", ask yourself:
- How much do I trust this student?
- How much does this student trust me?
- How much does this student trust peers?
- How much do peers trust this student?
Total each question, and divide each by the total number of students for an average trust level.
Reflect:
- How does this compare to the results I had in October?
- How will you build trust where there is low trust?
- Which of the 13 Trust Behaviors might help you most right now? Which has the greatest leverage with the students you have the lowest levels of trust?
If you would like to organize your reflection, make a copy of the Google Doc linked here:
We will reflect on this when we return from break in January. Take the time now to be prepared in January.
Preparing for January 7 PD:
- ELL tier 2 or 3 student
- Eco. Dis. tier 2 or 3 student
- GT student
- SPED student
- Tier 1 student
Please make a copy of the on demand assessment for each of these student groups and label it with a sticky note about the student group the sample fits. We do not want any names on these. Turn the set in to Kim Blackburn by the end of the day on Wednesday, December 19.
Also, we will have some time on January 7 to plan writing. Please understand that this is our last full day of professional learning at the campus level for the year. We will use the day to focus on our high functioning whirlwind and the wildly important. I strongly encourage you to be prepared for the rest of the week before you return on January 7. Begin with the end in mind...you don't want to be frustrated when you return.
3 Full Instructional Days to Create Moments that IGNITE, MOTIVATE, and MATTER!
In order to meet our campus WIG and end of year proficiency standards in literacy, we must be paying careful attention to the MOY goal! Knowing that Christmas slide is just as real as summer slide, we need to push students to meet WIGS and be at their MOY goal before break. To ensure that we reach this goal, these things need to continue to happen over the next 8 Days:
- Guided reading/strategy groups happen daily. Should a schedule change impact your day, make sure you are finding time to meet with your struggling readers every day.
- I strongly encourage you to send extra books home to read over the break.
- Students should have the opportunity to write every day in all content areas...remember this is a lead measure directly connected to our campus WIG.
- LEAD Time happens at least 2 days this week, and students are engaged in meaningful work and lead measures that are aligned to WIGs, predicitive of achievement of WIGs and influencable by teachers and/or students.
- Students should have the opportunity to complete weekly Lexia minutes in pursuit of target units , and should be tracking progress on a scoreboard. Teachers need to be checking the home screen to make sure that students are progressing through the units as well as completing the minutes. You will be using Lexia data on January 8. Remember, you can also encourage students to practice with Lexia at home over the break.
While our campus goal is focused on literacy, we simply cannot forget about the whirlwind over the next 3 weeks.
Math: When determining where you may be able to give and get a little more time, do not take time away from math instruction or the problem solving block. When planning math instruction and intervention, the following need to be considered:
- Problem solving block needs to be occurring regularly to apply the math skills learned during the instructional block/guided math block.
- Students need to be writing in math...daily is preferred, multiple times per week is a non-negotiable. We need to be working on moving from explanations to justifications.
- If you need any support with math, remember, Meredith Cunningham is here weekly!
- Lead Time should happen 3-4 days a week,which would be a great opportunity for students to engage in Think Through Math.
- I encourage you to send communication to parents to have students log-in to TTM over the break for practice.
- Students should be spiral reviewing skills and working on computational/fact fluency. I strongly encourage you to send home practice with students on this over the break.
When thinking about WIGs for the 3rd grading period:
- Are students consistently tracking progress on their lead measure trackers?
- Are students updating scoreboards regularly?
- Make sure you are planning for end of grading period assessments or progress checks on WIG achievement before the break. For many of you, this will also correlate to the first SLO progress check. The end of the grading period is December 21. We look forward to celebrating student success next week as you close out 3rd grading period WIGs. What a WONDERFUL way to send students off for the break! Please note that this assessment data will be used in January PD, and will also help you develop new WIGs and Lead Measures for the 4th grading period...The information gathered now is important.
I want you to know that while I do have high expectations for quality instruction and intervention to continue to take place, I am not suggesting you remove all opportunities for a little fun. No Grinching here! I just ask that you choose wisely. Remember, the more consistent the routines, the more relevant and meaningful the work, the more opportunities to IGNITE curiosity and INVITE Connection, the more engaged students will be. Most importantly, I want to make sure you have the support you need to meet these expectations. Please let me know how my team can support you best. Tanya, Molly, Jen, the Intervention Team and I are here for YOU! YOU are our WILDLY IMPORTANT!
#7HillsLEADS...A Challenge:
What story will you tell this week? Will you share how you are IGNITING student learning? Will you share how you are encouraging students to INVESTIGATE? Will you share how you are INVITING connections? So many GREAT things happening in our classrooms! We have to tell our story or someone else will!
Habit Focus of the Week: Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
Habit Huddle Connection:
Staff 7x7 Week 7:
It's the final week of the 7x7 contract! If you and your accountability partner have held each other accountable over the last 7 weeks and have completed the tracker, you can turn the trackers in to Kim Blackburn for a prize! Woot Woot!
Habit 7 Connection:
Habit 7 encourages us to seek continuous improvement and renewal professionally and personally. Sharpen the Saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have--you. It means having a balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of your life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual. Here are some examples of activities:
- Physical:Beneficial eating, exercising, and resting
- Social/Emotional:Making social and meaningful connections with others
- Mental:Learning, reading, writing, and teaching
- Spiritual:Spending time in nature, expanding spiritual self through meditation, music, art, prayer, or service
"Renewal is the principle—and the process—that empowers us to move on an upward spiral of growth and change, of continuous improvement. "
Dr. Stephen Covey
As you renew yourself in each of the four areas, you create growth and change in your life. Sharpen the Saw keeps you fresh so you can continue to practice the other six habits. You increase your capacity to produce and handle the challenges around you. Without this renewal, the body becomes weak, the mind mechanical, the emotions raw, the spirit insensitive, and the person selfish. Not a pretty picture, is it?
Living a life in balance means taking the necessary time to renew yourself. It's all up to you. You can renew yourself through relaxation. Or you can totally burn yourself out by overdoing everything.
Habit Family Challenges:
This cycle of habits, we will offer opportunities for families to learn more about each habit each week. Families who complete the challenges will receive recognition on the boards in the cafeteria. Activities for this week will be in mailboxes on Monday. Please make sure you are turning in the packets as they are finished, and that they have a first and last name on them.
Campus and District Announcements and Updates:
Check out the latest editions of the C&I Newsletters: https://www.smore.com/j8n9q
Duty...Please make sure you are on time to all duty assignments.
Habit Huddle: teachers and staff without homeroom classes, please make sure you are going to your assigned classrooms for Habit Huddle every day.
Recess Monitoring: Staff on duty at recess MUST actively monitor all areas of the playground. One staff member needs to be monitoring the field and another needs to be monitoring the playground and blacktop. The best places to stand are down by the backstop, between the chickens and the backstop, and at the top of the hill on the backside of the playground. If you have three staff members, the third staff member can stand on the blacktop side of the playground. Thank you for your active monitoring to ensure student safety.
Students need to check the lost and found.
Reminder to let Lighthouse Team know what service project your grade level has chosen. https://goo.gl/forms/Q9hfGZfBhwg4VKfM2
- Please remember to check ride changes every day in the google folder. We add changes until 2:45 when the bell rings.
Winter Party Times:
Please take note of the following important times, and make sure you have communicated to parents:
PK/PPCD Early Release Schedule:
- AM: 7:40 - 9:40
- PM: 9:40 - 11:40
Early Release Lunch Times:
10:10 - Kinder
10:20 - 2nd grade
10:30 - 4th grade
10:45 - 1st grade
10:55 - 3rd Grade
11:10 - 5th Grade
Winter Party Schedule:
PK/PPCD: AM 9:00, PM 11:00
Kindergarten: 9:00 - 10:00
1st Grade: 8:00 - 9:00
2nd Grade: 8:00 - 9:00
3rd Grade: 9:00 - 10:00
4th Grade: 9:00 - 10:00
5th Grade: 8:00 - 9:00
Save the Date:
Note: Students have been invited to join in the dress up fun this week!
Monday, December 17:
- Merry Monday Breakfast
- 4th Grade Musical Dress Rehearsal at 2:00 pm
Tuesday, December 18:
- Spelling Bee, 8:30 am
- 4th Grade Writing Mentors Meeting, 3:30 (Don't forget to send Kevyn Austin your picture!)
Wednesday, December 19:
- Sharpen the Saw Clubs & Sharpen the Saw Club Specials Schedule
- Student Lighthouse Leaders will come around to judge ugly sweaters
- Blackburn's Favorite Things Extravaganza, 3:30 bring a medium sized container for a few sweet treats!
- Ultimate Book Challenge has been postponed until January
Thursday, December 20:
- Leader Rally 7:40 - 8:00
- Early Release (see lunch pick up times posted above)
- Winter Parties (see times posted above)
- Polar Express Day: Movie may be shown to students; staff and students wear pajamas
Friday, December 21:
- Student Holiday/Staff FLEX Day
Save the Date:
- Because we had to cancel a Sharpen the Saw Club this round, we will reschedule for Thursday, January 10. This will be the last round for this cycle of Sharpen the Saw Clubs. We will pick up with new clubs on Friday, January 18. This will be a fast turn around after the break to get clubs together and students registered. We tried to squeeze one more round in this next week, but it simply wasn't possible.
Happy Birthday to You:
From the CIT:
Seven Hills Spelling Bee will take place Tuesday, December 18th at 8:30 AM. 2nd-5th Grade students will be able to participate in watching the event. Molly will send more information on Monday.
Teacher Mentors will need to meet with their mentees before Christmas break to collaborate and review goals to see if they are being met. Please turn in your documentation sheet to Molly before leaving on Thursday.
DRA assessment begins after our break--see upcoming assessment schedule below. Molly will have the testing documents xeroxed for you in the PLC room by the end of this week.
Assessments this week:
Kinder
12/17-12/19 KMath.3.Module4-6
1st Grade
12/13-12/17 1Math.3.Module 5
2nd Grade
12/18-12/20 2Math.3.Module5
3rd Grade
12/14-12/18 3Math.3.Module5
12/17-12/20 3.ELA.3.CBA
4th Grade
12/18-12/20 4Math.3.Modules4-6
12/13-12/17 4Science.3.Energy CBA
5th Grade
12/14-12/18 5.Math.3.Modules4-6
12/17-12/19 5Science.3.Earth CBA
12/14-12/20 5.ELA.3.CBA
Upcoming Assessments:
Kinder
1/8-1/25 KMath.MOY 18-19
Jan 8-24 MOY DRA2
1st Grade
1/8-1/25 1Math.MOY 18-19
Jan. 8-25 MOY DRA2
2nd Grade
1/8-1/25 2Math.MOY 18-19
Jan 8 - 25 MOY DRA2
3rd Grade
Jan 8-25 MOY DRA2
4th Grade
Jan 8-24 MOY DRA 2
5th Grade
Jan 8-25 MOY DRA2
From the Librarian:
This week we will have a guest reader visit Seven Hills! He is the pastor at Fellowship of the Parks in Haslet, off of Avondale-Haslet, Chuck Menchaca. Chuck is from Louisiana and will read “Twas the Night before Christmas, Cajun Style. FOTP will also provide hot chocolate for our students. I will send out a sign up sheet when I have time slots set. I would love for everyone to have an opportunity to bring their classes. More details to come!
I am packing up book fair Monday morning, but if you have students that bring money, they may come up until 8:30.
Please do not send students to check out books this week, but they are welcome to return books. I will also have sign ups for story walks and pop-in reading this week. I’ll get that schedule and the guest reader schedule sent out ASAP.
** I need some staff members to volunteer to read 1-2 UBC books over the break. In late January we will have the staff-student UBC competition to see which student team will move on to the District competition. Please share with your students that everyone who signed up to be in the UBC will get ot be on a team. (this is a change, many may not know yet)
Please Share This Information With Parents:
Check Out the Latest Edition of the Campus Newsletter:
First Annual 4th Grade Winter Musical Set for Tuesday, December 18:
For the past several years, Seven Hills has presented a winter program with students from each grade level singing various winter holiday themed songs. Wanting to expand the depth of performance opportunities we offer students, a decision was made to change the format of the Winter Social. The musical provides our 4th grade students an opportunity to experience a full production including auditions and dress rehearsal. The musical also offers students an opportunity to find their voice in singing, role playing, dancing, stage management, and even set design! The musical is a collaborative effort with the 7 Hills Specials Team. We are so proud of the hard work the 4th grade students have put into the production, and hope that you will join us for the musical. We look forward to the 4th grade musical becomes a time honored and highly anticipated tradition at Seven Hills Elementary.