Monday Memo from the Heights
Week 26: February 26 - March 1, 2024
Instructional Focus of the Week...
What is Real Formative Feedback?
Real-time formative feedback emerges from verbal and nonverbal interactions that occur during a daily lesson. The dialogue is a rich source of information, yielding feedback learners can use to correct errors or misconceptions-or extend accurate understandings-while in the act of learning. Quality questioning generates this dialogue and the resulting feedback.
As students respond to the teacher's questions, the teacher listens for information that can guide the next instructional step, which often takes the form of a follow up question. Student to student interactions generate peer feedback to augment that of the teacher. These dialogical interactions promote self-questioning and reflection leading to self-regulation, the most powerful form of feedback.
What is Quality Questioning?
Quality questioning is a process that depends on the preparation of a limited number of focus questions:
- As a part of lesson design
- Ongoing partnership with students to develop skills
- Mindsets that enable them to effectively participate
When strategically planned and intentionally executed, intentional use of classroom question practices will engage ALL students in thinking and learning. These three practices work together like a three-legged stool by supporting quality questioning and generating feedback both students and teachers can use.
Week 2 of 2
Quote of the Week:
"Students who are loved at home, come to school to LEARN, and students who aren't, come to school to be LOVED."
~Nicholas Ferroni
FRAME the Lesson
Teachers,
YOU must each POST your lesson frames daily as it is a district expectation. We will do a check this week. Be on target and have your lesson frames posted.
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Teacher should make additional references to lesson frame during instruction to “re-center” lesson focus and direction of the learning activities.
***ALL lesson frames should have the TEKS posted alongside them.***
Lesson Frames must be posted daily.
Master Schedule: PE/Conference & Lunch
2023-2024 SISD Calendar
Notes from the Principal
No Afterschool Tutoring on Monday as we have a Faculty Meeting. The meeting is mandatory for all as we will get STAAR trained. Please plan on attending from 3:45 PM till 5:30 PM.
Grades:
Be sure to complete and submit your grades so that you can go on intersession break and enjoy your time. Be sure to submit all 9 weeks tests in Eduphoria. You must have at least 2 grades per content area per week. Citizenship grades must be posted too.
Spring Intersession:
All STAAR teachers are expected to participate in our Spring Intersession from March 4-7, 2024 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. STAAR Teachers will be paid for planning from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM. You must be on campus to login and qualify.
We must have at least 6 students for the class to make. We will not send anyone home. Work hard to get the right students to participate. Be sure to submit your ROSTER to Ms. Hansen by Monday at 5 PM. All permission slips are due to Ms. Rosario by Monday at noon.
We will provide breakfast. Scholars will walk through the cafeteria to get their breakfast before starting their day in class. We will begin walk by at 7:45 AM and scholars will head to the classrooms by 8:00 AM.
Afterschool Tutoring:
Be sure to send a ClassDojo message to your families so they know your schedule for afterschool tutoring, dates and time. Remind them to pick up on time.
Afterschool Tutoring continues. Be sure to SUPPORT your grade level and help each other out. All scholars need tutoring. Be sure to support your grade level to reach our end of the year goals.
To serve our scholars in Afterschool Tutoring, we must honor these steps:
- Communicate the need for children to attend.
- Ensure you have a team of 6 to tutor.
- We will only tutor on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays.
- We may tutor up to 3 consecutive days.
- Lesson plans must be submitted by Wednesday each week to Ms. Rosario, our secretary, along with daily sign-in sheets.
- You must ensure your clock-in and clock-out when you tutor.
- PLEASE remind your parents via ClassDojo which days you will tutor.
- Pick up must be at 4:30 PM.
- Administration will be on duty to assist, but you WILL NEED to help us expedite by loading in the cars.
- We need EVERYONE helping to load cars. Together, we are better!
Planning Framework:
Be sure to plan using your planning framework allowing you do plan with a PLC mindset on a weekly basis. Remember, PLCs are not just on Mondays. All grade level members should be planning weekly with the team. Planning is the key to our success.
Be sure to start your lessons with the LESSON FRAME. You should always start with the lesson frame by writing it out. Then move on to your electronic lesson. It is vital that you start and end with your lesson frames. These should always be posted throughout the week. You MUST post the TEKS as well.
TEKS:
Your TEKS must be posted with your lesson frame. Be sure to do this on a daily basis. Most lesson frames change throughout the week.
Lesson Plans:
Be sure to work on the grade level lessons together. You MUST copy plans into your individual account. You must ensure your INDIVIDUAL lesson plans are ready for next week, each Friday. Due: Friday, March 1. Each Administrator will review and provide feedback.
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COVID:
COVID is back. We have had 3 cases on campus. If you are feeling ill, it is vital that you communicate with Nurse Diana and your respective administrator. You must have a doctor's note with a COVID test to report to leaves@sisd.net. Keep us in the loop. You are important to us and we want you healthy. You must practice social distancing and wear a mask if you suspect you are not feeling well.
Campus Walk-throughs:
Campus walk-throughs continue with T-TESS walkthroughs this week. Each administrator will conduct at least 5 walk-throughs. Be sure to review the feedback information listed in Eduphoria with 24 hours of the walk-through. We are here to help. These walk-throughs will help us provide feedback and support as needed. This week's tool: SISD Instructional Walk-through Form.
Acceleration/Intervention Time:
Ensure you are using this time to REMEDIATE and ACCELERATE. If you have GT scholars, you must be serving them through project-based learning. Work together as a grade level to come up with grade level projects. Communicate with your families.
Be sure you are offering STATIONS to intervene and remediate for MATH and READING. Your scholars will grow if you work with them in small group and provide station support for them to apply the skills daily.
***Every teachers' INDIVIDUAL lesson plan MUST list the scholars that you are serving in math and reading. Also, include your acceleration/intervention groups.***
Duty Schedule:
If you are on duty this week, be sure to BE on TIME! It takes all of us working together to keep our scholars safe. We know that all teachers will be in their classrooms on Monday to receive parents and scholars. If you have NOT going to make your duty day, BE SURE TO HAVE A COLLEAGUE HELP YOU. A duty station that is not filled will result in a written reprimand. Thank you!
***If you are not in due to illness/training, it is your responsibility to find coverage for duty!***
Dismissal:
PK & Kinder dismissal will begin promptly at 2:20 PM. Do not be late.
1st-5th Grade dismissal will begin promptly at 3:10 PM. Do not be late.
Importance of Supporting our Scholars
In order to prepare for STAAR and ensure all of the scholars have supports, I am asking for your assistance to help build capacity in our scholars through our Saturday Learning Camps. We have a groups of scholars in need across the board. Together, we can help to give them confidence in applying their skills and ensuring we build their proficiency.
This is collective responsibility at the height of us finding our GREATNESS!
- Saturday, April 6 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
- Saturday, April 20 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
- 2 hours dedicated to math, 2 hours dedicated to reading/writing
- For 5th Graders, 2 hours dedicated to science
We need your support to ensure your children are healthy and in class so our teachers can support them to reach their full potential.
We will need your support to bring in your children to the Saturday Learning Camps, as they are selected by their teachers to attend to help them practice their skills in a small group environment and find their success.
NOTE:
Email will go out today to ensure we have AMPLE support for teachers. The goal is to make all 4 sessions (100%) as we have a group that is STRUGGLING. We CAN make a DIFFERENCE, but it will take time to GROW these scholars. You each saw the data for Fall Interim Testing and MP2 Checkpoints. We are not close to keeping our "A Rating."
Be sure to PLAN accordingly and CALL in your SUB today. We will be struggling in January with subs.
More Notes from the Principal
Lesson Plans:
Weekly, you should maintain your INDIVIDUAL and Grade Level plans for instruction in Forethought. It is vital that you maintain these as district instructional officers will be on campus throughout the year to visit and observe. Each week, your plans should be ready for the following week on Fridays.
Request to Leave Early Forms:
We always try to work with each of you when having to leave early. By district policy, we cannot release anyone until 2:30 PM. That is 60 minutes from the time of dismissal. This is a time when NO OTHER time can be arranged for appointments, etc. Submit your form to your respective administrator 24 hours in advance, especially if you need coverage. We will limit the times you are allowed to leave early. If we do not have coverage, you will need to collapse your class with your grade level. We can only serve 4 teachers per day.
Running Late:
We are a big campus and need your help when you have the occasional interruption. PLEASE, call your respective administrator if you are running late. Do not call the front office. We have to find you coverage and need to be informed.
PLC Meeting Schedule:
Professional Learning Community Meeting Schedule
- Monday, February 26: No PLCs
Be sure to know the 4 PLC questions. We have divided when to address each question.
Teachers will lead PLC meetings. We will be present for support and guidance.
Focus will be to address the PLC questions and work on planning. Planning should be divided, shared and reviewed by the entire grade level.
The week that you are NOT in PLCs, you will not have PE/Conference that day.
You will use the time to get caught up on teaching and interventions/accelerated learning.
Please do not schedule parent conferences as we will not have coverage for you.
5th Grade/1st Grade: 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM
3rd Grade/Kinder: 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
4th Grade/2nd Grade: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
MP3 Duty Schedule
Children should not be on their devices or cell phones.
We have always done a great job of keeping our children SAFE.
Be sure to arrive on time for your designated area and week of safety service.
NOTE: If you cannot do your duty, YOU must find a replacement for the day. We are taking too many chances and when a child gets hurt, we will have to deal with that situation. Do NOT miss your duty!
Dismissal Schedule
Special Education Teachers, Coaches & Support Staff will cover cones week 1 of school.
Be sure that your grade level is ready to help each day (starting week 2):
Coaches cover cone 1.
Teachers will cover cones 2, 3, & 4.
Kinder Teachers will cover cones 5 & 6.
- Monday: 5th Grade
- Tuesday: 4th Grade
- Wednesday: 3rd Grade
- Thursday: 2nd Grade
- Friday: 1st Grade
Kinder teachers will submit a schedule of coverage. We will need 2 teachers on duty daily. If you are out, please ensure that you find a teammate to cover you. All cones must be covered daily.
***Unfortunately, if it is your grade level day, you will need to adhere to our system and ensure you are on duty. Rain or shine. It is vital that we all do our part.***
Checklist for the Week:
- BE on time for DUTY each morning. We are keeping track and it will be reflected in your Domain 4 of your T-TESS evaluation.
- Enter 2 grades per subject per week.
- Submit grades and Citizenship before you check out on Friday and start your intersession on the right foot.
- Be sure to enter all 9 weeks tests in Eduphoria.
- Complete your SLO goal and update your data tracker by Friday.
- Enter all RTI/LPAC/At-Risk documentation in Eduphoria by Friday.
- Keep you with your Student Data Trackers.
Emergency Drill Schedule for MP3
Calendar of Events
Week 26, Monday, February 26:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- NO Afterschool Tutoring, Faculty Meeting
Tuesday, February 27:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- Afterschool Tutoring
Wednesday, February 28:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- TELPAS: 3rd & 5th Listening & Speaking
- Coffee With the Principal, 8:30 AM in Library
- Afterschool Tutoring
Thursday, February 29:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- TELPAS: 3rd & 5th Reading & Writing
- 2nd Grade TELPAS Test, Reading & Writing
- Wear your favorite college shirt & jeans
Friday, March 1:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- Western Day, Wear your western attire!
- Wear your spirit shirt & jeans
- End of MP3
Spring Intersession Learning Camp:
- Dates: Monday, March 4 THROUGH Thursday, March 7, 2024
- Time: 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
- Grades: 3rd Grade through 5th Grade
- Free Dress; Bring a Snack
- Building Opens at 7:30 AM; Breakfast will be Provided
Week 27, Monday, March 18:
- No School for Scholars; Professional Development Day for Teachers
Tuesday, March 19:
- Scholars begin MP4
- Bring your favorite book to read
Wednesday, March 20:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- TeamSISD Board Meeting, 6 PM
Thursday, March 21:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- Wear your favorite college shirt & jeans
Friday, March 22:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- MP3 Perfect Attendance Celebration
- Wear your spirit shirt & jeans
Saturday, March 23:
- District Math Bee
Week 28, Monday, March 25:
- Bring a book to read
- No Tutoring, Faculty Meeting, 3:45 PM
Tuesday, March 26:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- Spring Parent Teacher Conferences, 4 to 6 PM
Wednesday, March 27:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- Coffee With the Principal, 8:30 AM
Thursday, March 28:
- Bring your favorite book to read
- Wear your favorite college shirt & jeans
Friday, March 29:
- No School in Observance of Good Friday
Horizon Heights ES
Email: jhanse@sisd.net
Website: https://www.sisd.net/horizonheightses
Location: 13601 Ryderwood Avenue, Horizon City, TX, USA
Phone: 915-937-7402
Twitter: @HHeightsES