Food for Thought
Principal's Weekly Communication -Week of September 28
Inspiration for the Week
School Improvement
The minutes can be found at this link: https://docs.google.com/a/d47.org/document/d/1eJojz76gPoMyiWH5dMxFpjNN7G7qO7noWeIOZHje5ic/edit?usp=sharing
Our next meeting will be on Oct. 9th.
Fall MAP testing is complete. At our first PLC we learned the purpose of goal setting and MAP testing. At our second PLC we walked through setting up our class and individual student goals. 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.
Additionally, Monica will be reviewing grade level data to help identify students to be looked at for possible RTI instruction according to the RTI flowchart. This information will be communicated out in the next week to teachers.
Teaching Innovation
Want to Learn More?
Research tells us that when students know the expectations, they are more likely to achieve those goals.
“The starting place for all effective instruction is designing and communicating clear learning goals.”
Robert Marzano (2009)
“I Can” statements empower students, provide a common focus, communicate what is important, build community and engagement and increase motivation and confidence.
As you use I can statements think about the following:
Does your “I Can” statement capture the following information? (What the Students Need to Know, Understand, Do?)
Do 90% of the students in the classroom know where the learning objective is listed?
Do you list the learning objective on student assignments?
How are you communicating this to parents?
Article explaining the benefits of learning targets: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar11/vol68/num06/Knowing-Your-Learning-Target.aspx
Sample of I Can statements used in K-5 ELA Units is now in our Husmann Shared Folder under ELA Units. https://drive.google.com/a/d47.org/folderview?id=0B0qsNkTrIbyWfmI3a3ZCN2FKNVpTbTZkTDZpQzBzTHdCcV9PQnpsLWxMaDhndWhRV3V1YWc&usp=sharing
Did You Know?
Monthly Principal Coffees
We just had our first Principal Coffee. The focus of this first coffee was for us to introduce ourselves, share our educational backgrounds, our leadership philosophies, how we plan to communicate with families and generate a list of topics parents would be interested in learning more about.
Our next Principal Coffee will he held on Tuesday, October 13th @ 7:00 PM in the LMC. The focus of the discussion will be centered around the following questions:
How are we currently providing educational excellence for all students here at Husmann?
How are we currently not providing educational excellence for all students?
What are solutions to enhancing the educational excellence for all students at Husmann?
Online Progress Reports
https://drive.google.com/a/d47.org/file/d/0B8YGPzLTRJcCdlhUNUR0Z2NxR3c/view?usp=sharing
Brief articles have been added to every building's home page/website that includes a link to the videos that Jason so expertly created! (K-5: progress report changes; 6-8: grading changes)
October 5th-Progress report training with Jason Brogan
October 19th Synergy Report card Training
Units of Study
Unit 2 has been posted!. Check your Unit pacing calendar for your grade level.
https://sites.google.com/a/d47.org/d47ccssela/
NOW AVAILABLE: Individual Grade Level courses (All Things K-5, respectively) in which participants will explore the newly revised Units of Study and will share ideas for implementation. Time will be set aside for discussion regarding the new progress reports, rubrics, and record keeping forms that connect to the units. In addition, a class on grant writing is included in the attached catalog for review and registration. Courses begin in October. Register now via the ERO link on the website.
https://ero1.eschoolsolutions.com/user/Login.taf?
ELA Posters for 2nd Grade:
YOU ROCK!
- Our custodians Luis, Mike, and Richard rock because they not only make our school shine, THEY shine by being kind and caring to our students!
- Cindy DeVoe rocks because she is always flexible with scheduling. She shows each student patience and understanding-Mary Alice Howe
Mike, Richard, and Luis rock for always making my room look awesome and never forgetting the little things I ask of them and for always having a smiley happy attitude!
Jenny Nixon
Adrienne Hentz is one awesome Para! She is able to juggle many responsibilities in our Kindergarten class and doesn't miss a beat. The children love the extra attention she gives them and I appreciate her ability to anticipate their needs along with my own. She definitely makes a positive difference each day!-
Penny Reese
Cathy Thurston, my colleague rocks! She's coordinating the Kane County Cougars Reading Program, the Shower for Laura Rill Moore, the water cooler in the faculty rooms, and she's still being patient with me as we test and group and teach!
Jill Kuhns rocks! She participated in a Chicago marathon to raise funds for clean water in three world countries.-
Gina
Grade Level teams rock as they are embarking on a new adventure with goal setting in their classrooms. Thank you for demonstrating a willingness to learn and the grit to applying it to the classroom.
Encore teachers rock as they are getting creative in finding time to collaborate within their busy schedules. Thank you for seeing the value in this.
Husmann Happenings Coming Up
10/5
- PLC-Report Cards with Jason
10/6
- 5th Grade Band
- RTI Grades 4 and 5
- Fall Olympics
10/7
- Dining for Dollars @ Georgio's
- Chorus
10/8
- PPS Team mtg
- Recycle Day
- J Scott Savage Author Visit grades 3-5
- RTI Mtg grades 2 & 3
10/9
- 5th grade band
- PBIS Leadership Mtg