Falcon Focus
December 8, 2014
Literacy Update
Kelly Leach is the Tribal Feeder Pattern Literacy Coach. The district has four this year that work directly with campuses and teachers. This is a first for the district to have these coaches and we got lucky with Kelly. She is working with us to be a resource, provide support and feedback, and to help. Thanks for working with in a positive and productive way. I brag all the time about your continuous learning mindset. Thanks for taking the time to make the learning with Kelly meaningful.
December 10th Work with Kelly Leach. (meet in team leads room during your conference) Bring the following:
- two guided reading lessons you have taught using the Jan Richardson template…especially if you had questions/celebrations about those lessons
- Bring questions about reading response journals
- Bring questions about writing workshop and/or writing notebooks
- She will share the Guided Reading Rubric that will be used when she does walkthroughs in January
- Any other questions regarding Balanced Lit Implementation
January 12th - Kelly Leach will be on campus to do Guided Reading Walkthroughs.
January 14th - Kelly Leach will be on campus to follow up, support, and provide feedback on the walkthrougs observed on the 12th.
PLC Data Analysis Meeting 12/9/14 Working Agenda:
District Required Dyslexia Training
- PLC journal for notes if you like
- Computer/ipad
(co-curr providing snacks)
Next Few Meetings at a Glance:
- 12/16: No Meeting
- 1/5: District Training on Transform, ELPS training, Data Analysis for Math Common Assessment and creation of next one (CIP#1 and DFG 4)
- 1/6: no meeting - it is combined with the work we will do on the 5th
- 1/13: Kinder VESTED Showcase and Technology Apps and Integration (CIP#3 and DFG #2) Fourth Grade Providing Snacks
- 1/20: Progress Monitoring Data Analysis and Writing Protocol and Analysis for Students' Writing that has gone through the entire Writing Process Analysis (CIP #1 and #2 and District Focus Goals # 1, 3, and 4)
Updates and FYI's
- December Character Quality - Caring
- Progress Monitoring - Dec. 3rd-10th
- Schoolview Walkthroughs and composition score collection - next two weeks.
- We will be meeting with your teams before or after the holiday break, but for now please know that the Schoolview Walkthroughs are about 4 minute walkthroughs to collect data on instruction, curriculum, and practice for the campus and for the district.
- Nutcracker Day on Friday - Lynda Knagg has sent out a schedule...please review.
- IMPORTANT LINK: Click here to access the collaboration calendar. School events, due dates, and important information is found on this calendar. We work hard to keep it updated. Thanks!
- 1st - 3rd year teacher meeting - bring questions about reading response logs and writing notebooks. If you want to bring some of your students reading notebooks and writing folders, that is fine, but not required. Please bring your Next Steps In Guided Reading by Jan Richardson. We will meet in Barb Thompson's room.
- FESTIVE FUN FOR FLORENCE STAFF: Dec. 15th-19th Jeans Week
Monday Dec. 15th- Red and Green Day
Tuesday Dec. 16th - Holiday Hat Day
Wed. Dec. 17th - Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
Thurs. Dec. 18th - Holiday Accessory Day
Fri. Dec. 19th - Holiday T-Shirt Day
Dec. 17th Double Co-Curr and treats provided by the office in the Conference Room.
Gifts of Time are this week - you guys have already been extremely gracious to our PTA volunteers and room moms. Thanks for going the extra mile with thank you cards or something like that to let them know how much these little "gifts of time" mean. I know they would spoil you without the thanks, but it is always nice to show our appreciation.
Working for a Bigger Purpose by Jon Gordon
This was a newsletter I wrote a few years ago that inspired me to write The Seed. I think it’s such an important message and we have so many new readers I wanted to share it again.
What if work wasn't just work? What if work was a vehicle to live and share a bigger purpose?
I believe there’s flawed perception in our society that in order to live a life of purpose we have to leave our jobs and go solve world hunger, feed the homeless, move to Africa or start a charity.
While these are all noble causes and many are called to do these very things, for many of us our bigger purpose can be found in the here and now, in the jobs we have, right under our noses. And when we find and live this purpose it will provide the ultimate fuel for a meaningful life.
You may not build libraries around the world but you can find the bigger purpose in reading to your children. You may not feed the homeless every day but you can nourish your employees and customers with a smile, kind word and care. And while you may not start your own non-profit organization you can begin a charity initiative at work. After all, "charity" means "love in action." You can make a difference every day and touch the lives of everyone you meet.
While these people may not be starving because of a lack of food, you can provide them with a different kind of nourishment that will feed their souls and feed your own in the process.
I heard of a janitor who worked at NASA and even though he was sweeping floors he felt his bigger purpose was contributing to put a man on the moon.
I met a bus driver who knows his purpose is to help kids stay off drugs.
I met an administrative assistant who has become the Chief Energy Officer of her company.
I received an email from a woman in the mortgage business who sees her job as a way to help couples save their marriages by keeping their homes.
I know a Popeye's Chicken employee named Edith in the Atlanta Airport who makes thousands of air traveler's smile each day. The list goes on...
Ordinary people with an extra-ordinary purpose. In any job our purpose waits for us to find it and live it. I can't tell you what your purpose should be but I can tell you that every one of us can find a bigger purpose in the job we have. I can tell you that every job, no matter how glorious or boring it may seem, will get mundane if we let it.
Purpose keeps it fresh and when we are filled with purpose, we tap into an endless supply of energy.
Florence Info.
Email: laura.lockhart@kellerisd.net
Website: www.kellerisd.net
Location: 3095 Johnson Road, Southlake, TX, United States
Phone: 817-744-4700
Facebook: facebook.com/FlorenceElementary.com
Twitter: @FESfalcons