Dragon Tales
November 4, 2019
November is here!
We did it! We survived October and are going strong!
October came and went so fast, I can't believe it! Just like I knew we could, we were able to reset and make some gains. Things are coming together in the office, systems are getting clarified and relaunched, classes are getting settled and teachers are working hard to implement our campus plays and district curriculum. What a great place to be!
This week brings a new challenge... our first book fair and Literacy Night as a new Dessau! We want to make this night a success so please make sure you are advertising it to the parents and talking it up with the kids. Offer incentives for students who show up! For the grade level who has the most students in attendance, with at least 40% of students coming, your team will win an extra field trip to the Austin Aquarium!
Hope you enjoyed this weekend and the beautiful weather that brought in November! As the holidays approach, we will all get stretched a little thinner with the demands of time from family and friends. We need to remember to consider this a blessing and not an imposition :) Yes, we are all under pressure from deadlines, but we need to keep our own mental health and happiness a priority. (Yes, that includes me too!) LOL!
Shout out to Ms. Martinez who was a fearless contestant and won lunch for the entire campus at our last ESF PLC day!!!! Go Martinez! I'll let you know when that will happen! Yum!
Let's keep digging deep to make us the best teachers we can be and get our kids ready for the future! I truly appreciate all of your hard work and dedication to our school family!
Have a great week!
Carolyn
Teacher of the Week!
Congratulations Ms. Berger!
Your parking spot is MUCH closer to your new room!
Keep posting those fish and celebrating each other.
Powerwalks
Lesson Frames
Here are a few clarifications from calibrating with district...
- Frames need to be big enough to be seen across the room. Remember, not all students have great vision.
- If you are in intervention time, remember to have a frame so we know what the learning expectation is at that time.
- Looking for evidence of critical writing across curriculum, including all special areas!
- To get credit for your frame, you must include Blooms level verbs that increase with rigor as you move from the "We will" statement to the "I will" statement. It also needs to connect to the verb in the TEK. (Remember you should be creating your frames as a team. Don't do it in isolation)
- Remember that your "I will" needs to state how they are showing mastery: writing, speaking with academic language, drawing, etc.
The good news is that we are already doing most of this. We just need to fine tune or practices! To help get you closer to where I know you want to be, I created a document that shows you what we use to help select levels of instruction during our powerwalks. I think it will help you see what is needed to get beyond remembering and understanding (Worksheets rarely do it). In addition to attaching that doc, I will also attach a document of Blooms verbs :) Trying to make this as painless as possible for you!
Remember, powerwalks are not an exact Science and it is designed to anticipate real life things that happen. It provides us with trend data to see how we are doing across campus and in specific classroom in regards to using best practices. Don't get discouraged... I know we are just learning this together. All I need is for you to be open to suggestions and willing to implement them :)
Our Fundamental Five books finally arrived and we will get them checked out to you this week. It is super easy to read and will help you understand the philosophy behind this. If you have questions about the practices or the Powerwalks,just reach out to Trudy, Lesley, Terri or myself. We are here to support you!
DES Teacher Birthdays!!
No birthdays this week, but stay tuned for our update birthday board and special recognition feature. Trying to add a little something special to our day :)
Things to know...
- If you are a Veteran, please email me your name and branch of service so we can recognize you in our assembly, Monday, Nov 11 in the cafe. Everyone wear red, white and blue!!
- Lets get writing up our bulletin boards! We know you are having your kids write. Please update your bulletin board and feature student writing! This will allow everyone to see the development of writing as we move from Kinder to 5th grade. Remember to keep names of students and grades hidden from view :)
- Urgent, complete the student survey this week if possible! (Grades 3-5) Remember to provide accommodations to those who have them. Look for email reminder!
- It is time for the annual Pflugerville Education Foundation Fundraiser. Be on the look out at home for mail that allows you to make a one time donation or sign up for a monthly donation to support PEF! Remember that half of what we donate comes right back to the campus! If you donate $100, $50 goes to the Foundation to support all of its awards to schools and $50 comes right back to DES for us to spend as we see fit! Win win!
- Please submit your classroom guided reading times, guided math times and intervention times to your IC contact (PK - 2 - Terri/ 3-5 Lesley) by Wednesday. Thanks a bunch!
Instructional Coaching Spotlights: A few more ideas for exit tickets
DRA /EDL News
All grade level teachers needing training on DRA / EDL will need to attend training after school on Tuesday, November 5th
Years of Service
EHRLICH KATHLEEN DES ED ASSOC SPED BEH 10
SPEAR BRANDI DES GRADE 3 10
PARKER CAROLYN DES PRINCIPAL ES 15
WARREN KATHY DES PE ES 15
WYLY TARYN DES MUSIC ES 15
Congratulations 5th Grade!
Take the morning off and report to work at 9:00, on Wednesday, Nov 6th!
Enjoy your FREE breakfast at our new Waffle House!!!!
Go Waffle House! Way to support our teachers!!!
Calendar of Events
Nov 4 - 8:
Book Fair
Nov 5:
DRA / EDL training after school
Nov 6:
FREE breakfast and late start for wining teacher team
Staff Meeting in the Computer Lab
Nov 7:
Thanksgiving Dinner for lunch! (Aramark)
Literacy Night
Family book night: 5:00 - 7:30
2nd / 3rd grade musical: 6:30
Nov 11:
Wear red, white and blue! If you do, you can wear jeans!!!
Morning assembly to hear concert and celebrate Veteran's Day
Nov 13:
A-Team off campus
Nov 14:
PLCs during conference
Nov 18:
CAAC 3:15 - 5:00
Jeans day for staff who paid Sunshine Dues!!! ($20)
Nov 21:
Parent Tech Training, 5:30-6:30 (Looking for a few volunteers)
Nov 25 - 29
Thanksgiving Break
Dec 5:
PLC
Dec 9:
Wear jeans day for those who paid Sunshine Dues!!
CILT Meeting 3:30 - 5:30
Dec 18:
ESF PLC: Lots of subs /All team leaders off campus
Dec 19:
4th / 5th grade musical
Dec 20:
Early Out at noon!!!
Dec 23 - Jan 3:
No School
Jan 6:
Teacher prep day / no students
Jan 15:
Staff Meeting
Jan 20:
No School
Jan 22:
Secondary Committee meetings
Jan 27:
A-Team off campus
CAAC 3-5 pm
Jan 28:
Fine arts Night, CHS
Jan 29:
Staff meeting