Points of Pride
November 2, 2018
Instructional Focus:
Between the carnival and Halloween, I think it will be essential for each of our rooms to reset expectations and routines early next week. We will need to establish what we want normal to look like in the coming weeks.
When I went to a PD at Hartford Elementary in Chandler (the full Thinking Maps school) they used a circle map to start math with a "number talk." I snapped a picture of a second grade example and attached it below. If we allow students to do a quick "number study" this will promote better number sense and a better conceptual understanding. Check out some of the pictures. Here are a couple more math examples:
Upcoming Events:
- 11/6: Election Day; Fall picture make ups @ 9:00-11:00
- 11/7: 2:15 release-PD with Brandie Harris-"Formative Assessment and Cognitive Rigor" (2:30-4:00)
- 11/8: Math Committee @ 7:30; Veteran's Day program @ 9:00; 4th grade to Town Hall @11:00-12:30; PTSO Meeting @ 6:00
- 11/9: Chick Fila Breakfast in the Sylvia's Shop; 1st grade to Child's Play @ 9:00-2:00; Field Day for grades 3-5 @ 9:30-11:00; Silly String Mr. Bircher @ 2:45 on the intermediate playground
- 11/12: No school for Veteran's Day
- 11/13: New to SPE meeting @ 7:30; School Council @ 4:00
- 11/14: 2:15 Release-PLC-Monthly Data Team form is due; "It's Getting Chili Outside" Lunch-11:30-1:00 (more information in newsletter)
- 11/16: Leadership Team @ 7:30; Spelling Bee @ 1:15 (will be televised, more information coming)
- 11/17: Gilbert Days Parade
Welcome....
Additionally, we FINALLY were able to fill Todd's old custodian position. I could write a book with what I have learned through this hiring process. Jerry Scott will be joining us on Monday. He is retired from the military and just moved to Arizona from Minnesota.
"It's Getting Chili Outside"
The ladies in the front office have all volunteered to cook a crockpot of chili to share. Come up during lunch on 11/14 and enjoy time with co-workers. I would encourage you to enjoy lunch outside of your normal routine for this. Go eat somewhere different to "refresh" and "recharge."
Additionally, we could use some assistance with toppings, if you are interested in pitching in to help fill out this meal, please reach out to Sonja.
This Week's Reflection....
I can't thank you all enough for coming out and making this such a successful event for our students. There were SO many smiles.
I know that this week was TOUGH with spirit week, Halloween, and Fall Festival. We will look at how we can schedule a little different next year.
While I do feel it's important to have an event in the fall, I am interested in your feedback on the Fall Festival. PTSO prides itself on doing it they way they do "for teachers," but if we feel it's not benefiting as much, we need to look at it. Please give your feedback.
Remember, this weekly reflection is mandatory for certified staff, optional for everyone else.
ATI Small Group Testing....
Use the following form to write the names of students you feel would benefit from having a small group setting. Please be mindful that this should be a small group. Last year some of these got pretty big. Sue, Melissa and Carissa, please place SPED. General Education teachers, please place any non-SPED. If you could get this done by Friday, I would appreciate it.
Additionally, if you think they need reading only support, place an "R" by their name, or an "M" for math. If they don't have a letter, I will assume they need both.
Creative Responses from last week's prompt:
Many people shared that "I don't get it" was the worse. Here's a couple others:
"It's a full moon" -Lindsay W.
"You can't make me"- Melissa D.
Substitutes.....
- While trying to schedule a half day substitute for teams, we noticed that we have some people that arrange a sub, then don't put it into AESOP. We love that you found a sub, but please also put it into AESOP as soon as possible. This will save a lot of work for Maria.
- We had two people out with no substitute this week. Please know that I try not to split classes when I can, but it takes a collective effort. I pitch in as well. These are all "our kids."
- We already have four people out on Friday. With this being before a three day weekend, I anticipate we won't be able to find many. Please be here if you can.
Celebrations:
- I would like to give Ricardo a shout out for helping me with my ice. Not only did he give me bags to use for the ice, but he helped me carry it and put it into the freezer. He also went above and beyond to clear off the top of the PTSO freezer so I could have access to it. I didn't ask him to do any of this, he just did it.-Melissa
- I would also like to give all of 4th grade a compliment on how well their WIN time is going. The students we share have made some amazing growth. All of the resource students are being expected to participate in the classroom and they have done a great job with differentiation in the learning. The resource kids are scoring higher than their typical peers on CFA's. :) It feels like a well oiled machine. -Melissa
- I am so appreciative and proud of the dedicated COPE paraprofessionals we work with everyday. They always go above and beyond the call of duty!!-Darlene
- I would like to say thank you to our custodial staff. Ricardo was the first one to work on Friday, and the last one to leave (he waited until every bounce house was gone). You all worked so hard daily, but especially for the carnival. Thanks!-Robert