Food for Thought
Principal's Weekly Communication -Week of October 26
PBIS
Our third 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 our students thrive and staff feels connected. We will continue our work at our next meeting.
The minutes can be found at this link:
Our next meeting will be on November 6th.
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 second meeting. We reviewed our data and then set a goal. We then reviewed indicators in the area of Learning Environment, Educator Quality, and Teaching and Learning to select indicators that will help us reach our goal. Data will be reviewed with teams at our upcoming PLC and again at our Institute day on November 3rd. At our next meeting we will assess the three indicators we chose by determining what research says is best practice and then reflect where our building is with implementation of the indicators. Once we determine where we want to go and our current reality we will create tasks that will fill the gaps. Thank you to the Rising Star Wars Team for their professionalism to have candid conversations and share their perspectives. The work this team is doing will set the stage for our school improvement plan.
Fountas and Pinnell
Hi teams,
Those of you who trained last week already received this info as a part of the training, but I wanted to be sure all of you had access to this great online resource. It is similar to the CD ROM that came with the Phonics kit, but way better! I would be happy to show you more about it at a team meeting or before school sometime...let me know. The website and codes are on the attached resource sheet.
Technology Integration
New research tab on my website that includes a link for safer images:
https://sites.google.com/a/d47.org/icoach-thorsen/research
(This site will provide pages you can copy and hang in your classroom. Each page includes links with QR codes to help provide kid friendly sites to research.)
Creative writing station idea with QR Codes:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Byc0Paug44y3bWItQ3MxUnREVjQ
(This has a Halloween theme, but I can work with you to adapt this idea for a creative writing station in your classroom.)
Virtual field trips:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=100hrDf19lTbSJHU4_v4R9YV9ts9hMu5DV_r6BZfZdIU
(This is a page I set up for 2nd grade at Husmann. Please know there are many great places for vitual field trips that will tie into your curriculum. Just let me know if you are interested.)
https://sites.google.com/a/d47.org/icoach-thorsen/ (Just wanted to keep sharing my website)
Subs and Announcements
Bim and Lisa have been working on the procedures for substitutes can use to check out a laptop, log in, and access morning announcements. More information to come from them next week. Once you get the directions please put the information into the sub folders so they can log in.
username: subhus
password: fuq67Vaj
Wee Deliever
Wee Deliver will be starting this week. Start putting your letters in the mailbox by the office! You could also have parents write letters during conferences. See Emily with questions.
Spirit Banner Award
Erin's Law
This year I will once again be teaching the students about Erin's Law, the Illinois state-mandated sexual abuse program that is age appropriate. The plan is to do this the week of Halloween, Oct. 26-30th during STEM time. All parents were notified in September via district email blast. I will email you individually if any parents in your class have opted their child out of this discussion, in which the student would just sit on the benches near the office for about 30 mins or so.
Just a reminder that we as educators ARE mandated reporters, and there have been reports made at other schools in the district after this discussion with their students. If a student discloses something to you, you need to make a call, whether you think it is true or not! If a parent asks you about Erin's Law during conferences, feel free to send them my way. Let me know if you have any questions!-Emily
Gina rocks! She goes above and beyond to do what's best for kids and their families. She attends conferences, meetings, etc (as a sub you don't have to). She has been a great asset to the Husmann community. Thanks Gina!
I'm nominating Bim Prathan for my "You Rock" award. What an amazing co-worker and friend we have in Bim. He always has a smile, (often a donut), and a great attitude while helping out the tech challenged among us. Bim goes above and beyond here at Husmann and I can't thank him enough for all he's done for me. Bim Prathan, YOU ROCK!!!!! Joy Burney
I'd like to give a shout out to Katie Felz for collaborating and sharing her ideas about guided math with me. It's always so much easier when you have someone to bounce ideas off of. You Rock Katie!
Jen
Penny Beam rocks because she truly knows her students and supports them emotionally as well as academically. She's also an awesome tailor!-Jenni Atkinson
10/26
- PLC
- Photo Retakes
- Whole School Picture
10/27
- 5th Grade Band
- RTI Meeting
- 5th Grade Field trip
10/28
- Monica @ Core all day
- Tom Watson Author Assembly
10/29
- Recycling
- 2nd Grade rehearsal
- PPS
10/30
- Halloween Parade-Weather Permitting
- Halloween Parties
- 3rd and 4th Grade Field trips