Food for Thought
Principal's Weekly Communication -Week of October 5
PBIS
Our second meeting was productive. We partnered up to review our current behavior matrix. Solidifying the matrix builds the foundation for our universal expectations school wide. When we are all speaking the same language and having the same expectations students thrive. We will continue our work at our next meeting.
The minutes can be found at this link:
Our next meeting will be on Oct. 9th.
Map Data
We know this is new for staff so we wanted to support you through the application of the newly learned content. Please remember we are available to model for your class the goal setting process, assist with individual goal setting with your students, help run reports or just be a thinking partner for you. We are here for you as we begin our shift to incorporating MAP data into our culture of instructional planning and delivery. In our Husmann Central Folder, you will find a MAP Resources folder that contains all of the resources we have gone over.
We will use our PLC meeting on October 26th to discuss Core instruction and identify students scoring in the bottom 25% according to MAP data. We will review classroom assessment data and identify students in Tier 1. We will then work together on the Elementary Planner and collaborate on effective instructional strategies and interventions to use in the classroom. We will also take a look at which students are scoring in the 90th percentile. How are we differentiating instruction to meet their needs?
School Improvement Planning Through Rising Star
Our team had our first meeting. We reviewed our goals and indicators chosen from last year. From this analysis we will determine our goal this year, choose indicators that will help us meet those goals and then create tasks that will need to be accomplished. This work will help keep our school focused on our mission of providing educational excellence for all of our students. Our next meeting is Oct. 20th.
Let's Help Our Students Achieve More
Reposted from Dorit Sasson
The process of setting goals allows students to choose where they want to go in school and what they want to achieve. By knowing what they want to achieve, they know what they have to concentrate on and improve. Goal setting gives students long-term vision and short-term motivation.
Having sharp, clearly defined goals, which students can measure, will allow them to take pride in accomplishing those goals. They can see clear forward progress in what might have seemed a long drawn out process.
By setting goals students can:
1.improve their academic performance
2.increase their motivation to achieve
3.increase pride and satisfaction in performance
4.improve their self-confidence
Now wouldn’t you like to see your students become better believers of their academic abilities? And remember, goal setting is an ongoing process which can (and should) be done all throughout the school year.
Goal Setting Helps Self-Confidence
By setting goals and measuring their achievements, students are able to see what they have done and what they are capable of. Seeing their results gives the confidence and assurance that they need to believe they can achieve higher goals.
I Can Statements
One big idea that came out of Jason's discussion of the report cards, is that we want students to be able to talk about what they are learning, not just the "number" they receive. To help encourage this, you may want to consider using some sort of self assessment tied to student learning goals. This can be done in a variety of ways. One example, below, is for individual students to reflect on an "I can" statement. There are blank copies in our Husmann Central folder under "literacy resources." Another option is to have students self assess as a class. Here is a quick video of one way this could look
Check with Jenni if you would like to brainstorm more on this idea.
Example:
I can re-read when I get stuck on a word when I am reading.
I can do this by myself.
I can do this with some help.
I am still unsure.
We just learned this reading strategy. I don’t always remember to use it when I read to myself. When I buddy read, my buddy helps me remember to do this.
ELA Units Update
All elementary grade levels have their revised Unit 2s posted to the ELA UoS website (Kindy only has one unit that covers all of Trimester 1). All Trimester 1 Assessments, and Unit 3s, are are in the fine-tuning stage, and will be posted in the near future.
"All Things" Grade-level ERO courses are now open for registration. These ERO courses will focus on “All Things” relevant to a particular grade-level. Topics discussed/addressed include, but are not limited to: the new Standards Based Progress Reports, the revised Units of Study, math stations, etc. We have an awesome lineup of coaches/classroom teachers who will lead these courses, and I strongly encourage you all to sign up. Most grade-levels only meet once a month, which will hopefully make them easier to commit to as well. Please know that this is not strictly a Units of Study ERO. The purpose of these courses is to provide you with a fun/safe/engaging group to attend that can help you with anything related to your grade-level.
The Progress Report video that was shown at Parent Night is posted on your school’s website, and Parent-Teacher Conferences resources are headed your way soon. With Parent Night behind us, the focus on our (CORE) end will shift towards creating/providing additional resources to help you, and the families you serve, better understand the shifts our new Progress Reports bring. The following projects are in the works, and will be rolled out in the very near future:
Standards Based Progress Report FAQ for website
Informational video that focuses heavily on the differences between End-of-Year and End-of-Trimester benchmarks
Talking points for parent conferences
Common comments that can be used with the Progress Reports to alleviate confusion/concern among parents
The ELA rubrics that you received on the first days of school are now posted on the ELA Units of Study Website. They are listed in the “Additional Resources” section under each grade level. I’ve included a slideshow below that illustrates how to find them. ELA Rubric - Online
Setting Norms
- Developing agreed upon norms for group behavior makes collaboration and group meetings more effective by guiding team behavior.
- Norms enable team members to hold each other accountable for any behavior that is negatively impacting the success of the team.
- Clearly assigned roles and responsibilities help the team build internal capacity for planning and holding effective and focused meetings
We will post these norms on each of our meeting agendas. You can also access them here.
- Thank you to all Husmann Staff for being positive with students, each other, and parents. This consistent behavior is truly what sets us apart as being an Excellent School-M&G
- Thank You to Jill Kuhns for putting together a great two days of Olympics for our students It was a great opportunity to apply the concepts and skills being taught in PE class.-M&G
- Thank you to the teachers that gave their time to be at Georgio's. The families really enjoy seeing you at events.-M&G
- Thank you to Adam Bell for being flexible with teaching space during conflicts with the auditorium.-M&G
- Thank you to the staff for delving into goal setting. Our students benefit greatly from this.-M&G
- Thank you to Tina for getting creative to bring literacy alive with our two Author Visits.-M&G
- I would like to send a You Rock to Lisa Noonan for ALWAYS going above and beyond, but especially for organizing and tabulating the Tom Watson book orders!-Tina
- "You Rock" goes to Rita! Thank you, Rita for sharing a tech tidbit to the 5th grade team. FOSS Web has ready made Smart Notebook lessons that can be downloaded onto teacher iPads and used with the Notebook app or shared through teacher laptops. More info to come as this gem can help multiple grade levels.-Kristin
Claudia Majzner has gone beyond for the past years to voluntarily organize and run the fall Olympics for the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders! She encourages fitness and fun and is fantastic at it!-Jill
Thank you to all of the staff that volunteered to be on the announcements! You are contributing to a positive learning environment at our school.
I would like to nominate Selena Bavaro. She rocks because she is learning all about the Synergy IEP system and teaching us as we go. She uses her own time at home to learn Synergy so that when we ask her questions, she can help! Talk about above and beyond! Selena, you TOTALLY rock!
DFTBA (Don't forget To Be Awesome)-Penny Beam
10/12
- No School!
10/13
- 5th Grade Band
- Staff Meeting
- Vision & Hearing
- HPTO Principal Coffee
- 5th Grade Play Practice
- 2nd Grade Field tri
10/14
- First Grade Field trip
- 5th Grade OLSAT testing
- Chorus
10/15
- PPS Team mtg
- Recycle Day
- 5th Grade program
10/16
- 5th grade band
- 4th Grade Field trip