SBMS Staff Update
September 8, 2023
Staying the Course
Principals Message - Walking the Walk
HAPPY FRIDAY TIGERS!
Hopefully you have noticed a considerable up tick in the amount of time the admin team is spending in your classrooms. That being the case, I wanted to take a moment today to share some thoughts on what you can expect from classroom walkthroughs now and in the coming months.
First and foremost, please understand that classroom walkthroughs are not meant to be evaluations or assessments of your teaching abilities. Instead, they are designed to foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and professional development. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
A Focus on Growth: Walkthroughs are a chance for both you and our leadership team to observe classroom practices, identify strengths, and pinpoint areas for growth. It's an opportunity to reflect on your teaching methods and make adjustments that benefit both you and your students
Open Dialogue: We encourage open and honest conversations during walkthroughs. If you have questions or concerns about the process or feedback, please don't hesitate to reach out. This is a collaborative effort, and your input is valuable.
Variety of Perspectives: Different administrators and peers may conduct walkthroughs at various times throughout the year. This diversity of perspectives can provide you with a well-rounded view of your teaching practice and offer fresh insights.
Professional Development: Walkthrough feedback is not meant to be punitive but rather a tool for professional development. If we notice areas that may benefit from improvement, we will talk about them and work with you to provide resources, training, or support.
Student-Centered Focus: Ultimately, the goal of these walkthroughs is to enhance the educational experience for our students. By refining our teaching methods, we can better meet the needs of each and every child in our care.
Recognition of Success: While we seek to identify areas for growth, we also want to celebrate your successes. If we see exemplary teaching practices in action, we will acknowledge and celebrate them as examples for others to learn from.
I am hopeful you will approach classroom walkthroughs with a sense of openness and a growth mindset. We are all dedicated to providing the best education possible for our students, and walkthroughs are just one tool to help us achieve that goal. Your hard work and commitment to continuous improvement are appreciated and valued.
Thank you for your dedication to the SBMS school community. Together, we can create an environment of excellence that benefits both our students and our professional growth.
GO TIGERS,
James
Instructional Focus
Monitoring progress is a crucial skill for students that empowers them to take ownership of their learning journey. By regularly assessing their own performance, students gain a deeper understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to set achievable goals and adapt their study strategies accordingly. This self-awareness fosters a sense of responsibility and motivation, as students can track their improvements over time and take pride in their accomplishments. Moreover, self-monitoring equips students with essential life skills, as it encourages them to be proactive, organized, and resilient when facing academic challenges. Ultimately, students who are adept at monitoring their progress become more independent, confident learners who are better prepared to succeed academically and in their future endeavors.
(I will continue to include a link to the district curriculum documents in this sections for your convenience)
Instructional Philosophy - ACTION ITEM
Progress monitoring is a collaborative effort and when our students realize that we are in it with them, they will gladly jump on board!
Please watch the short video and reflect on ways that you can build upon the student progress monitoring measures you have in place and help them understand that you are in it with them. Please email me directly your brief reflection on ways students monitoring their own progress can grow in your classroom/department.
AP Updates - Action Item
Hey y'all,
The AP team just wants to pass along a few reminders and updates!
1. Lesson plans are due each week by Monday at 8am. They should include the TEK(s), student friendly objective, timed lesson activities, CFA's, etc. We will continue to provide feedback throughout the year, if you have any questions let us know. We are here to serve y'all!
2. In the upcoming weeks, your admin team will organize goal-setting conferences with each teacher to delve into your professional learning aspirations and your goals for fostering student growth. To streamline this process, we request that you make use of the TTESS Goal Setting 23-24 template. This template will aid you in strategizing both your personal professional learning and your targets for student growth. It's imperative that all goals are entered into Strive for approval no later than September 20th, as the goal-setting conferences are slated to commence on September 21st. If you need any assistance entering your goal into the Strive system please reach out to your evaluating administrator or Mr. Egan!
3. We are still working on setting up tardy sweeps in E-Campus, we apologize for the delay. There have been some issues importing all of our new students from Skyward. We will keep you posted and let you know when everything is operational.
Y'all rock,
Hunter and Akeiah
Coaches Clipboard - STRATEGY INCLUDED
Looking for a strategy to get your students talking about content and working together to answer questions? Rally Coach is a great option! Rally Coach is a Kagan strategy in which students are partnered and take turns solving a problem or answering a question out loud. While Partner A answers the question out loud, they explain their thought processes and problem solving strategies. Partner B listens to this thinking, makes sure the thoughts are accurate, and encourages their partner, especially when the struggle is real. When the question is answered correctly, partners switch places!
Any strategy you incorporate in class requires clear expectations for your students in order to succeed. Let your students know that you are trying out a new strategy with them, tell them how you expect them to speak with and treat each other, and monitor while they do. Tie the expectations back to being safe, respectful, and responsible.
Let me know if you plan on trying this out in class, I'd love to come watch! If you would like some help modeling the strategy or have questions about it, you can email me, track me down in person, or fill in the IC Request Form.
Counselors Corner
Counselors are continuing to provide individual and small group counseling services with students referred by our staff and parents. We appreciate our staff being in tune with the social and emotional needs of our students.
We will begin conducting “Minute Meetings” with each student next week. This gives us an opportunity to meet with each student on a personal level and give insight into students’ needs. We will use this assessment data to form small groups with a tentative date to begin in mid-October during lunches, advisory, and tiger time.
Important dates to remember:
09/11 Begin minute meetings with each student
09/15 SEL Lesson: ‘Names are Important’
09/22 SEL Lesson: ‘Similarities and Differences. Building Community and Respect for All’
09/27 Hispanic Heritage Celebration & fall concerts
09/29 SEL Lesson: ‘Gossip and Rumors’
Homecoming!
AVID Update
Opportunity for some $$$
The BEEF Grant Application is OPEN!
The application link: https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarships/BEEFTeacherGrant2023
Application Deadline is October 1st.
Upcoming Events - HIGH PRIORITY ITEMS
August 16 - First Day of School
September 27 - Hispanic Heritage Celebration Night, Open House, Fall Band Concert combined Event - Required for all Teaching Staff
October 5 - Picture Day
October 27 - Halloween Glow Dance
November 17 - Make up picture day