Sipley School Weekly Howl
Week of February 11, 2019
Staff Appreciation
Friday - February 15 - Barista Day - Enjoy a drink made specially for your!
In between, we have some fun and tasty give aways! I hope everyone is enjoying all of this! We are fortunate to be a part of D68!
Academic Transformation Plan Update
Here at Sipley, we will ensure that behavioral expectations (CHAMPS) is shared at the start of every lesson and that we are using our three step process and our T-chart in the proper manner.
We will focus on our use of the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) model of instruction, a key component of Eureka Math, the workshop model, and Amplify.
We will continue to focus on formative assessment for purposeful planning.
I want to take a deeper dive into teaching the whole child. We will do a book studies on White privilege and uncovering our unconscious biases. We need to work toward seeing the world through a lens that is not ours and is that of the students we serve. More to follow on that as we will begin this year.
i-Ready Meetings with i-Ready
Data is to be used as a flashlight, not a hammer. Meaning, we use data to inform our decision making that leads to the growth of our students. When data looks good one is happy. When data is not so good, one is sad, angry, embarrassed, or upset. Last week I shared an individual e-mail with you that was aimed at presenting the data to you so that you can begin reflecting on student growth, not to become angry, sad, embarrassed, or upset. Grade levels that take state exams are given comparison data every year. They learn how all students in the state performed at their grade, how all students in the district performed at their grade, and of course how their students performed. That allows one to question whether students made equivalent growth as their peers in the State and District and then why or why not. That reflection is the most important thing one can do with data. It is an important quality that the very best teachers do all the time. Is our pacing adequate, is the curriculum rigorous or are adaptations needed, did absences interfere with student growth, was an intervention appropriate, are behaviors impacting student growth, were the testing conditions positive, did students have the stamina to take the exam, were my goal setting meetings with students helpful, were they prepared for what they needed to be prepared for, is my tier I instruction up to par, am I pushing students, am I differentiating as I need to, etc. I shared then that we would meet with i-Ready staff and I will be meeting with you as well. My hope in your i-Ready meeting is that you leave there with a good understanding of the data that will leave you asking good questions to reflect upon, which you can seek answers to, which will lead to your next steps. When I meet with you, I can answer any questions that you have. My goal in meeting with you is to seek out what I can do to support you and to hear your next steps to ensure individual student growth.
I look forward to the time we will have together.
Lesson Plans
If lesson plans are not turned in on Monday morning, I will be in your room to get them as I must review them. If lesson plans are not written, a verbal warning will be give, then unfortunately, you will leave me no choice but to proceed through other avenues to gain your lesson plans. All certified staff must submit lesson plans with the exception of Brad, Amanda, Kate, and Brianne.
A Glance at the Week Ahead
Monday - All Staff Meeting
Tuesday - i-Ready Meetings with i-Ready
Monday, February 18 - No School - President's Day