Update From THIS I.F.
You make a Difference!
Tiny Miracles
I forget sometimes that these are everyday blessings that I should revel in but often see only the unfinished tasks and boisterous problems arising.
Thanks to each of you for all you do and the reminders that you give me of success and hope for our students. I am thankful for each of you and the daily miracles you bring out in the lives of our students.
Thank you!
Dates to Know
940-1020 1st PLC
2-3 3rd PLC
Tuesday Nov 14th
940-1020- K PLC
Wednesday Nov 15th
9-40-11 EC PLC
1-2 5th PLC
Thursday Nov 16th
940-1020 2nd PLC
1-2 5th PLC
Friday Nov 17th
Landing of the "Pilgrims"
Letter
The level is not too difficult--
Thoughts about and to our Military
This might spark letters to military families to say thank you!
Great discussion of perspective. How would this be different from Dad's point of view?
Curriculum WOWs in the Building...
- Heather H. great job helping students think through math problems and truly understand. A student "got stuck" and you continued to push and help him think through with student talk and modeling but never gave him the answer. He had to inch his way to the finish line! AWESOME!
- Michelle R. Great job making students dig for word meaning. You helped them find the clues but made them dig for the connections through questioning. Super job!
- Tara--thanks for the consistency...you always do reading strategies consistently and repetitively! The students' brains thank you AND so do I!
- Third Grade thank you for getting CBM CCSS Math completed!
- Andrea thanks for modeling more than one way! Using the active board to manipulate place value but also taking time to draw it out on the board to show it again. Seeing things more than way can reach our students--Thanks!
- Many of you are starting to dig in and begin trying to bring in those stragglers who are almost there with attention, effort and engagement. Some of you are using seating, check in and out sheets, positive jobs and at times negative dojos--thanks for not allowing students to "sit back" and hang out here at TES. WE ALL WORK HERE! Thanks for all of you for helping to set that tone with students. (Lindsey Atwater, Emily, Jessica and Lisa--I have seen this extra in your rooms this week! Thanks!)
- Thank you Jennifer for bringing the Book Fair to our students. You put in such work and effort. Several students mentioned "you are amazing decorator" and I agree. Helping students visualize and simulate a topic through realia--wow! Thanks for all you do!
- Mrs. Watts--we can always count on you to get interventions in! Teachers remember that these logs should be kept in purple folders for MTSS documentation. Thanks for your hard work!
- Third Grade teachers bringing all students together to set Reading and Math expectations. Love that you all are showing students what you want and continue to model and hold accountable. It is hard I know but will really pay off in the end. Thanks for your effort and time to do this!
- Ways to keep engagement--hands on head, choral reading, thumbs up, write your ideas, draw what you think, Great Ideas and these sure help keep students on task and part of the lesson!
- Classroom management goes hand in hand with engagement. Brandy I love the "blurt cube" idea. What a great reminder and way to teach self control. (If you have students who blurt out--see Brandy for a cool idea) This could be a Tier 2 intervention for students.
- Encouragement and application of academic vocabulary! Tasha love your students can use words like schema and connections correctly in context and in explanations! Lindsey A. students explaining math work using phrases such as "I converted" or "I chose to use the area model to multiply because..."
- Heather W. continuing to reinforce classroom expectations with the 4 block, proving answers and using evidence. Thanks for helping to hold students accountable.
- All assistants--WOW! Thank you for your quiet presence that just seem to keep everything moving and "together." We are blessed you are in the building and helping both adults and children!
- Amy Douglas--your planning and flexibility make a huge difference! Students are maximizing tech time and learning to apply some valuable skills. Thank you!
Google Classroom
The following people have completed the last two I posted:
Lauren Hefner
Tashia Little
Bill Miller
Jessica Herman
Emily Durmire
You will get a 1 hour CEU. Several of you have done one or the other. As I see two completed or with responses--I will add your names to the credit. Thanks for taking time!
A Few Ideas to Begin--Christmas Holiday Fun!
Idea to Teach Point of View
This video is short--and just sweet. You can review Big 5 with it, teach point of view, or even reinforce compare and contrast with it.
It has a surprising note at the end which is a great way to discuss Author's Purpose. After you see video--how does the note change the purpose? Re-watch video and discuss how the author supported his purpose throughout the video.
Stopping Points:
.23 to discuss what did the snowflake signify? Was it the same for the bear and the hare? Why was the hare's reaction different?
.56 Begin thinking about the Big 5 (stop and discuss frequently)
1.03 Where is the bear going? How do you know?
1.39 What causes the bear's reaction?
At the End
-discuss author's note--how does this change the story?
-point of view discussion
-Review of Big 5
A Snowman Story
Here is a video to get students thinking!
Teaching Suspense and Surprise Endings
This is a fun commercial to teach students that sometimes our inferences are wrong and how an author can "trick us." Go back through it a second time and find the "tricks or techniques" used to keep the watcher (reader) interested.
Resources
Resources to Follow Up MTSS Training
TES Goals--Plan with these in mind!
- Increase student to student interaction in conversation, summarizing, and discussion of content
- Vocabulary through student talk and rigor of text
- Complexity of Text
- Increase questioning of deep comprehension with all reading groups at each level. Do not wait for a student to be reading on a level for them to answer questions on that level orally.
- Application of phonics to multi-syllabic words in 2-5 and strong emphasis and mastery in K-1
- Growth Mindset and STAMINA
Growth Mindset Resources
Think on this information:
- Family income is a strong predictor of achievement.
- Growth Mindset exhibits a strong relationship with achievement across all socioeconomic levels.
- Lower socioeconomic students are less likely to hold growth mindset than wealthier peers.
Growth Mindset CAN buffer negative effects of poverty on achievement.
Google Drive to Materials (Add to this if you have any good resources)
Kelly This
Email: kthis@alexander.k12.nc.us
Location: Taylorsville, NC, United States
Phone: 8282922293
Twitter: @This1This