JWL Weekly Update
Volume 7 * Issue 8 * week of September 3, 2018
Instruction Focus
1. Effective instruction
2. Classroom management with student engagement
Effective instruction has to be planned with a targeted direction; thus, we frame our lessons.
Framing the Lesson
The "We will" statement comes first and directly relates to the Student Expectation (SE) from the TEKS and is the focus of the lesson. The "I will" statement comes after the "We will" and is the product or task being used to evaluate student mastery of taught skill.
Please know the objective statements are not to be the same statements.
Let's look at a few objectives from last week to clarify a few points on our posted objectives.
Example 1:
We will compare and order whole numbers to 1,000,000,000 and represent comparisons with symbols
I will compare given numbers from greatest to least
The "We will" statement comes directly from the Student Expectation (SE) statement from the TEKS. This tells the learners what they are responsible for understanding at the conclusion of the lesson. The "I will" statement as written does not clearly state what the learners are to do as when numbers are compared one is to use symbols to show greater than, less than or equal to; however, when put into an order, the whole numbers may be arranged from greatest to least. To rewrite this "I will" statement, one might write, "I will justify the greatest to least order of 5 given numbers." With this particular check for mastery, the educator can have studentswrite how they ordered 5 given numbers. When students offer their justification, they may use the symbols (>,<, or =) to explain how the whole numbers are to be ordered from greatest to least. Students may also be asked to verbally justify their product with their group or class.
Example 2:
We will sequence the plot's main events (beginning) and explain their influence on future events.
I will read pages 15 to 32 from the weekly text and write 3-4 complete sentences about the middle of the story.
The "We will" statement references the SE; the lesson's focus is on plot structure and how events influence future events. The "I will" statement as it is written begins with an agenda item: "read pages 15 to 32 from weekly text." This portion of the statement does not demonstrate mastery of the SE. The latter portion of the statement needs clarification. A possible rewrite of this "I will" statement might read, "I will infer and justify the next event(s) to occur in the story." This "I will" statement calls upon learners to connect their schema with events from excerpt of read text to determine next event. Then learners will use text evidence to justify their reasoning as to how current event(s) influence the coming event(s). This task, too, can be completed in written form. Teacher may also utilize small group purposeful talk for students to share their justifications of next events.
Now, reflect upon your objectives in your lesson plans. Do the "I will" statements give a clear product aligned to the SE?
Many write the objectives verbatim from the pacing guides; however, as several teachers have commented this week, the objective statements need to be more specific. Remember, you are the professional and if an objective statement is needing clarification please address accordingly.
You may have also noted, that the "I will" statements have a higher Bloom's verb than the SE verb. As per Fundamental 5 on page 27, "Note how the teacher is able to deliberately move the students to higher levels of cognition by stretching the rigor between the objective and closing question, product or task. The example objective is written at the comprehension level (key verb: identify) of Bloom's taxonomy. Successful completion of the example closing product will require student cognition at an even higher level of rigor, synthesis (key verb: create)."
The sample objectives read:
"We will identify the components of an effective lesson frame."
"I will create and share a lesson frame with my table group."
Below is a Bloom's verb chart to reference as you review and write your lesson objectives.
Routines & Procedures
Use your teacher radar and know when students are off task. Circulate the room with purpose. Be in the Power Zone (Fundamental 5). For example, move among the desks and around the perimeter; identify 3 spots on the perimeter to which you can circulate and monitor student work.
Implement a planned whole class reset to re-establish student behavioral expectations when a class routine has slowly weakened.
Attendance
Goal: 98%+ Attendance
Weekly Attendance Percentages:
K: 96.41%
1: 96.53%
2: 97.59%
3: 96.93%
4: 96.64%
5: 97.84%**
JWL: 97.01% We did not meet our 98% goal this week.
(We were off by 1%, or 8 students, from meeting our goal of 98%.)
What will you do to encourage perfect attendance in your classroom?
**Congrats to fifth grade for highest weekly attendance rate. You've just earned your white attendance belt!
Belt status:
White:
First grade: Week of August 20
Fifth grade: Week of August 27
What's Your Mindset?
Learning and the Brain:
Why do we sometimes struggle when we are learning something new? Scientists have discovered that learning is about creating and strengthening neural pathways in the brain that allow information to transfer between brain cells. The first time a signal crosses from one brain cell to another requires the greatest effort. The first trip is the most difficult, but transfer becomes easier over time. As we continue to apply effort to new challenges, we establish more stable and reliable pathways, until the connection is so strong that information transfer is effortless.
This brief clip from the BBC documentary, The Human Body, demonstrates how establishing new neural pathways between brain cells is like building a bridge to cross a ravine.
Click the link above to view the video associated with this excerpt.Heads Up
Thank you cards
Thanks!
Lexia & Dreambox
Your students are to be on both programs and meeting target usage weekly.
Starting this week, we'll be looking at usage percentages. At the end of each month, you'll need to print your classes' usage reports to submit to the coordinators (per Ninja calendar). Please note, at your 9 week data check-ins your classes' usage reports for these programs will be discussed. When students use the programs with fidelity, the students GROW!
Istation
We will be looking at scores for Overall Reading and . . .
K: Phonemic Awareness
1: Phonics
2: Vocabulary.
This is their BOY and is reported to TEA at the end of the year. We use this data to monitor growth from BOY to EOY.
Golden Tickets
Those on duty in these areas: please be sure students are signing in with the Google Form. (see below)
K & 1: Pardoe in Lopez's computer lab
2 & 3: Harvey in Harvey's computer lab
4 & 5: Snow in library with COW cart
Thank you to Mrs. Lilley, Ms. Hurd, Mrs. Stack, & Mrs. Robb for sending your students.
They are the only ones that have signed in as of last week.
Teachers: If you see that your students are not attending, please ask them why. Let's verify if there are valid concerns (ie, transportation issues) or if they are "skipping".
DRA Assessments
Here's a link to the DRA2 resource sent by Mrs. West.
Parent Communication
Last week 29 teachers sent messages via Remind. Our top users last week were as follows:
- Individual teacher: Ms. Vasquez
- Most participation: Ms. Virgel
- Team: First Grade (again)
DEIC Elections
PLCs with Coordinators
In order to facilitate longer one time per week PLCs, below you will find the PLC coverage schedule as well. Be sure you click on the correct tab: PLC coverage.
This Week's Ongoings:
LPAC training on Tuesday
College Day
Use this opportunity to get students excited about going to college!
Teacher Choice Sessions on Wednesday
- Classroom Management (Reed)
- Grading Made Easier (Nichols)
- Google Drive: the In's & Out's (Holloway)
- ESL Certification Test Prep (Huggins)
If you haven't RSVP'd please do so that leaders can be prepared. Deadline to RSVP is Tuesday, Sept. 4 by 3:00pm.
PTO Elections & Meeting on Thursday, 9/6 @ 6pm
If you have parents that are interested in being a part of JWL's regular activities, encourage them to join PTO, or even consider being elected as one of the PTO officers. All positions are available this year.
- President
- Vice President
- Treasurer
- Secretary
- Parliamentarian
Grades due for progress reports on Friday
Calendar & Upcoming Events
Friday Feedings
- September 7: Baked potatoes and salad
- September 14: Breakfast for lunch
- September 21: Pop's Chicken (if PTO agrees to foot the bill) :)
- September 28: STUCO is hosting Caffination Stations (hot cocoa, coffee, &/or tea selections available). Sorry no lunch planned for this date; however, you will have been paid on the 25th!