Staff Weekly Update
For the Week of March 16th, 2015
Our Silent Auction Event Was a huge success! A wonderful evening of fun, food, and competitive bidding! :)
Is there an app for that? ZCS now has one!
Te@chThought: The Most Important Question Every Assessment Should Answer
Highlights below from this SHORT article! Click here to read it in its entirety.
- There is a difference between assessment of learning and assessment for learning
- Traditionally, tests have told teachers and parents . . . this is how you did, this was the bar, & you either cleared it or you didn’t. And it’s all past tense.
5 Strategies For Assessment For Learning
1. Sharing Learning Expectations
2. Eliciting Evidence
3. Feedback
4. Self-Assessment
5. Peer Assessment
What Every Assessment For Learning Should Tell You
- During assessment of learning, a test (of some kind) is given to communicate student understanding. Years of research has let us know that consistently hoping for “understanding data” from your average classroom assessment is hopelessly problematic. (This proves my theory that hope is not a strategy!)
- But, simple shift to assessment for learning can quickly modernize the instruction of any classroom. Change goes from exams which are evaluative to those that are reflective of both process and understanding.
How to Filter Your Google Search Results Based Upon Reading Levels!
Google-ReadingLevels
Calendar Items & Reminders
Mon. 3/16
- IREAD-3 Testing for two of our 3rd grade classes!
Tues. 3/17
- IREAD-3 Testing for two of our 3rd grade classes!
- 8:00 - Grade Level/Team Meetings
- 12:30 - Staffing for Student - conf. room
- 1:00 - 3:00 - Elementary Principals Meeting - Connie/Martha - ESC
- 3:30 - Parent meeting - Largent/Luchenbill - Jessica's room
- 3:45 - 504 meeting - Cox/Clayton - Lisa's office
Wed. 3/18
- Make-ups for IREAD-3!
- 8:00 - Tech Tidbits - Kyle - Media Center. Topic: Google Drive
- 8:15 - ACR - Largent, Watson, Knueven, Fure - conf. room
- 2:30 - Staffing - Largent, Cox, Strawmyer, Fure - conf. room
- 4:00 - 6:00 - Balanced Math with Courtney Flessner - Topic: Inspecting Equations - music room
Thurs. 3/19
- 9:30 - Tornado Drill! *Please double check to ensure you know of your location*
Fri. 3/20
- 3rd Quarter grades available to parents!
- Cafe, Bus Drivers, Custodial Staff Appreciation Day - hosted by 1st Grade, USS Team, & Instructional Assistants
- March Birthday Breakfast - hosted by 3rd Grade
- PTO Spirit Day: College Wear!
- 8:00 - ACR - Largent, Andries, McKinney, Fure, Ivey - conf. room
- 10:00 - Initial ACR - conf. room
- 1:00 - 2:00 - Connie @ ESC for meeting
Important Notes from Our School Treasurer!
Have you worked hard at a grant? Have you ever received a donation of any kind in your role as teacher? If so, please read the bullet points below . . .
- Any donations you receive through Donors Choose, ZEF Grants, other Grants, or donations of any kind must be reported to the Board of Trustees.
- When we receive donations such as Chrome Books, iPads, (technology)., IT needs to be notified at the same time as the Board, so they can pick up, tag, and return those items to SGE. The IT department will never be aware unless we signal to them of such donations.
- Ultimately, it is important to realize the Board accepts the gifts on behalf of ZCS, and they become the property of Zionsville Community Schools. So, you may ask, I do this work and get a grant or a Chromebook and it is the property of the school district? Yes.
- Always notify Connie, Martha, and Jen of such donations and/or grants/DonorsChoose items for pre-approval.
Custodial Needs? Feel Free to Call Kathy!
Just wanted to make sure you knew that Kathy Boyne is happy to help out if you need her assistance. I highly advise you enter these two numbers in your contacts ASAP:
- Kathy's personal cell phone: 1-765-894-0606
- Sodexo cell phone: 1-317-590-3479 - Kathy has this phone during the day & Rose has this phone during the evening!
Here are our beautiful birthday friends for the month of March!
March 17th - Vicki Watson
Monthly Lifelines
September - Respect
October - Flexibility
November - Gratitude (I am grateful for ALL of you!)
December - Generosity
January - Responsibility
February - Friendship
March - Perseverance
April - Self-Control
May - Integrity
*Fantastic* 5 minute video regarding giving praise for effort over intelligence! How will this change the way you praise your students?
Carol Dweck - A Study on Praise and Mindsets