B & T Tiger Update
August 10, 2020
Reflections from Cornelius
Since I wasn't able to discuss with all of you, I wanted to share a few of my thoughts about key points that Cornelius made:
- First and foremost, we must think beyond the constraints of school. I loved the various ideas Cornelius had to connect with kids (zoom calls to talk about favorite music, meeting in a video game, or doing a read-aloud for siblings). These are things that have never been possible to do before, but they help your kids connect to one another on common interests, and they allow us to learn so much about our kids!
- What matters: Cornelius talked about what were the important things to focus on, they included:
- Authentic connections - we started this with our individual zooms. Continue to look for ways to connect with your students and to connect them to one another.
- Skill acquisition - remember, content is not important when our kids have 24/7 access to Google. Instead, we need transference of the skills that are truly important.
- Time to practice skills - we don't learn from being told how to do something, we learn from actually doing the thing. Value the time that is spent in observation of student participation. Give them time to apply their skills. Let them choose how they apply their skills!
- Keep them curious, not busy - think about finding ways to not simply fill the time that kids are working, rather think about ways to keep them curious about what they are learning.
The quote above from AJ Juliani went with some of what Cornelius said too. He talked about knowing the learning outcome that you're seeking. What is it that our students need to know? How can they show it? The assignments don't matter, it's the learning outcomes that do. Remember that having students turn something in isn't the only way for us to judge mastery. Can they show us how they did it in a small group or individual zoom? Could they record a video? Could they create a sketchnote of their thinking? Could they record a conversation explaining something to a friend? All are outcome-focused, not assignment focused.
As you continue to collaborate with your PLC, keep coming back to these questions:
- What will we be reimagining?
- Who will you work with?
- What barriers can we anticipate?
Finally, I'd like us all to think about one last thing: What could school look like if we were not limited to the vision of what school has been for so many years?
This is deep work. Let's get to it!
Upcoming Schedule
*** During virtual learning, the dress is casual
Monday, August 10th (7:50-3:50):
- Trice and I will be providing breakfast items in the staff lounge. Grab and Go
- PLC today - your team may choose when to hold your PLC, it may be before or after virtual learning. Today's topic: Cheer each other on for what we will be doing today!
- 9:00 - Virtual Learning Begins
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday (8:40-3:50) - Virtual Learning starts at 9:00
Thursday, August 13th (7:50-3:50)
- 7:50 PD with Allie - Workshop Model in a Virtual Instruction World
Friday, August 14th
- Lunch provided by PTO - Served at 11:45 in the Staff Lounge - feel free to grab and go
Monday, August 17th
- PLC - before or after school - Focus is setting team norms for this school year, and working on team goals and areas for growth. PLC Leaders, look for an email with more info.
Thursday, August 20th
- Intended for teacher collaboration, personally directed PD, training completion, etc.
- We will be offering an OPTIONAL PD on Feedback in a Virtual Learning Space - look for more details.
Quote we're contemplating this week:
"You can’t make student-centered decisions unless you know students from multiple perspectives. And you can’t know students if you don’t use a wide range of formative day to day assessments that goes far beyond mere data collection."
~ Dr. Mary Howard
Indiana Department of Education - Digital Learning - Teaching and Learning
- Student-Centered Learning
- Curriculum Framework
- Equitable Access
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Technical Support
- Professionalism
Use the button below to access!
Where Do I Go Next?
This week and last week has been filled with learning! We learned more about Canvas, our new students, our families, and reconnected with staff! Throughout this week I know you are working on building relationships with your students, finding creative ways to gauge where they are at as learners, as well as creating norms and procedures. As we move through this week, it is natural to start planning what comes next with our instruction.
As we begin to prepare for week 2 in virtual instruction, we might start to think through these questions:
- We know the flow of our workshops and the school day with in person learning, but how does that look in a virtual setting?
- How can we reimagine our workshops?
- How will balanced math and balanced literacy fit in?
- How will I reimagine the flow of small group time?
~Allie
School Safety Update
These trainings are due by September 4th, 2020.
Shout out to you... Thank you FES crew!
This year, please share the good news and good deed of you and your team members. Please email me your celebrations, so that I may share them here each update!
- Our first week was an absolute whirlwind. Kudos to each of you for what you have done to get ready for our start of the year, begin connecting with your students, and just being a genuinely awesome group.
PGP Form Below
Fishers Elementary School
Website: https://fes.hseschools.org/
Location: 11442 Lantern Road, Fishers, IN, USA
Phone: (317) 594-4160
Twitter: @FESTigersHSE