The "Oskaloosa Syllabus"
August/September, 2015 - "News YOU Can USE"
Welcome New Teachers to Oskaloosa!
Standing, left to right: William Pester (MS Special Education), Joseph Kane (HS Special Education)​,Brett Hoffman (6th Grade Science/Math), Allen Herrmann (HS Special Education), Alex Knoot (MS Special Education), Steven Overbergen (3rd Grade), Janna Lundein (HS TAG), Matt Johnson (HS Special Education) and Amanda Russell (Elementary Special Education).
Balanced Literacy - The BIG ROCK for the Year
What Balanced Literacy LOOKS Like ( SOME examples)
- Consistent Routines
- Active Learning
- Reading AND Writing DAILY
- Gradual Release Method - I Do, We Do Together, You Do Together, You Do Independently
- Workshop Model
- Independent reading at instructional level
- Modeling and whole class reading of a Mentor text at Grade Level
- Balance of assigned and choice reading
- Using data to inform instruction
What Balanced Literacy SOUNDS Like: (SOME examples)
- Rich discussions
- Whisper Reading
- Siting of Text Evidence
- HOT questions being asked and answered
- Learning Targets explained and discussed
- Variety of modes to teach (music, audio, video, pictures)
- Feedback
What Balanced Literacy IS NOT
- Packets
- Worksheets for busy work
- Only Lecture
- Whole group only
- Lock-Step approach using a "manual"
- Work used as punishment
- Isolation of skills
- No collaboration
More On Literacy - Wonders and Traits Learning
Reading Wonders and Traits Writing
Training was provided to K-6 Teachers on August 19th. The trainers were well-received and provided an overview of the organization of the materials. Traits Writing training was held the next day on August 20th for 7-12 Language Arts teachers. In the future the expectation will be ALL teachers will utilize the language of traits and implement the writing process outlined. This year, however, grades 7-12 Language Arts teachers will use the writing process and language outlined in Traits. Grades K-6 will implement next year.
REMEMBER THOUGH - these are resources and you will need to recall all you know about quality Literacy instruction.... PHILOSOPHY BEFORE PRACTICE..... This is key - if Balanced Literacy and QUALITY Literacy instruction is not based on a lock-step approach (see above article), then you will need to draw on your knowledge of the Iowa Core and the last several years of training.
I look forward to observing classrooms this year to watch quality instruction taking place!!!
One Minute Literacy Idea
One Word
My 2 Words Remain my Goal: Together and Attitude
One Word Wordle - Last Year
The "Happiness Advantage" - Shawn Achor TED Talks
It takes "One Word" a step further - if we want the culture in Oskaloosa to be positive - and then...because we are more fulfilled... our students will benefit with higher quality education - then it is worth exploration. Here are the 5 things he says can lead to the "Happiness Advantage"
1. Write down three new things you are grateful for each day into a blank word document or into the free app Journal. Research shows this will significantly improve your optimism even 6 months later, and raise your success rates significantly.
2. Write for 2 minutes a day describing one positive experience you had over the past 24 hours. This is a strategy to help transform you from a task-based thinker, to a meaning based thinker who scans the world for meaning instead of endless to-dos. This dramatically increases work happiness.
3. Exercise for 10 minutes a day. This trains your brain to believe your behavior matters, which causes a cascade of success throughout the rest of the day.
4. Meditate for 2 minutes, focusing on your breath going in and out. This will help you undo the negative effects of multitasking. Research shows you get multiple tasks done faster if you do them one at a time. It also decreases stress and raises happiness.
5. Write one, quick email first thing in the morning thanking or praising a member on your team. This significantly increases your feeling of social support, which in my study at Harvard was the largest predictor of happiness for the students.
What will you do to increase your Happiness Advantage?
Smothers Brothers
We were entertained by two very talented people at our Welcome Back - I found the song "Talk to the Trees" they sang and a did a bit to - remarkable how much they were like the original act!!! Check it out - you will see how lucky we were to have them perform for us!
District Leadership Team (DLT) Members Needed by September 1st
- 2nd Grade
- 1 MS
- 1 HS
- 1 Special Education person from each building
- 1 Encore person to represent Encore at Elementary
If you are interested in serving as a leader, please call or e-mail Dr. Cooksley ~ the first meeting is on September 1st!
Science Curriculum Team Members Needed
- 1st Grade
- 2nd Grade
District Advisory Commitee (DAC) Member All-Call
If you are interested in either staying on the committee, or want to join, please contact Dr. Cooksley. We meet the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
Grade Book/Parent Portal Updates
Grades should be direct evidence of learning - not just something to put in the grade book. We need to continue to communicate with parents our grading philosophy.
Below are the dates for 1st Trimester 15-16 school year:
Friday, September, 11th
Friday, September 25th
Friday, October 9th MID-TERM
(Grades will be posted by Tuesday, October 12)
Friday, October 23rd
Friday, November 6th
Thursday, November 19th End of 1st trimester
(Grades will be posted by Tuesday, November 24)
Purpose of Grading - Best Practice Expectations
Again this year let's review the expectations for best practice grading.
- If you are teaching the same grade or course you MUST have the same grading practices - same categories, same weighting of categories, same assessments counting the same
- Be thoughtful of what evidence of learning you are collecting for your grade book. You should not be grading all work students do - ESPECIALLY if it is early in the learning process.
- Student work should be thought of as EVIDENCE OF LEARNING. What is that? Does the work students are doing for you provide information on meeting the content/skill on a GLB or Component? If it does, together determine BEFORE you give students the work, whether it will be counted as a grade.
- Quality, timely feedback should be used as a way for students to improve their learning toward your Learning Targets.
- How much evidence is needed to accurately communicate learning? Only one grade determining a final grade is NOT enough evidence. Your team needs to determine which tasks will be used to show evidence of learning. Having too many may not provide accurate information either.
- There should be a balance of summative assessments put in the grade book and the use of quality formative assessments telling you whether students are progressing.
- Tasks should align to your Learning Targets - ALWAYS!
- If you do not have a reported grade every two weeks - then update the parent portal so parents know what you are working toward in your classroom. Weekly would be even better communication!
- You may put grades in the grade book, but not attach it to a GLB - it is there for the teacher as historical information only - not figured in the students' overall grade. This way parents can see if students are turning in daily classroom work. Win, Win
- The only approved coding is the 1-4. DO NOT use any other created scale in your classroom.
- Practice work should not be used unless it is for "Practice making Permanent" types of work. New learning should take place in the classroom - NOT AT HOME!
- Extra Credit should NOT be given - rather, students should be challenged or extended if the assigned work does not adequately challenge them.
- The only approved grading scale is the district grading scale - DO NOT use any other grading scale in your classroom.
If you EVER have ANY questions, please do not hesitate to ask!
September Challenge
Whose Classroom Is This?
PEERS Is BACK
PEERS is sponsored by Vermeer - if you want more information, go to the website below and click on the <Classroom Experience> tab to complete a request form.
Wear Your Lanyard EVERYDAY!!!
No Child Left Behind Update
House Bill Highlights - the "Student Success Act" -
- No democrats voted for this bill and 27 Republicans voted against it
- Maintains the NCLB testing regimen with annual testing
- Eliminates 70+ programs including funding for PE, literacy, counseling, etc.
- Prevents education funding increases for four years
- The President has threatened to Veto this bill
- Teacher evaluations are not required
- Title I dollars may be used for school choice
Senate Bill Highlights - the "Every Child Achieves Act"
- Voted 81-17 and has bipartisan support
- Maintains the NCLB testing regimen with annual testing
- No private school vouchers
- No mandated performance targets for state accountability
- No Universal Pre-K
- Requires states to include one measure beyond test scores and graduation rates in accountability systems
- Teacher evaluations are not required
- Maintains programs like PE, Counseling, etc.
- Creates a new Safe and Healthy Students Program addresses student health (physical and mental), community engagement, and bullying/harassment
NCLB waivers will go away once the bill is reauthorized in the near future. No timeline for approval was given at this time.
- Please contact members of Congress (both House and Senate) to provide your thoughts on either bill. You may write to them or go to their website and send them a message.
T-Shirt Oders Due to Central Office by August 28th
PLC Shirt and Jeans - 2nd Wednesday of Each Month
Reminders!!
- If you are attending a conference or workshop you need to complete a Conference Request form (staff resource page)
- When you return from a conference or workshop you need to complete the conference reflection AND conference planning forms (staff resource page)
- Request a sub on AESOP (sub program)
- Update your grades/information every two weeks - weekly is preferred
- Blue PLC Shirts and jean may be worn on the 2nd Wednesday of each Month
- Wear your lanyard with the Mission/Vision and Tool for Improvement expectations
- If you are using a school vehicle, you need to request that vehicle 5 days in advance. You are responsible for completing the transportation request yourself.