Team Talk
The Road To Distinctions Week Of February 1, 2016
Classroom Environment and Culture
How teachers structure the classroom environment and create cultures that are inviting and respectful of student learning efforts form the broad dimension for observers. Specifically observers pay attention to the following.
- The physical environment-how teachers use resources and space to purposefully support and scaffold student learning.
- Routines and Rituals that support learning- how systems and routines of the classroom facilitate student ownership of learning and independence as well as reflect values of community, inclusivity, equity, and accountability for learning.
- Classroom Culture and Climate- What discourse and interactions reveal about what is valued in the classroom.
Excerpt from:
Leading for Instructional Improvement
Key Action 1
Improve the quality of Instruction and increase student achievement through effective and purposeful lesson planning. (Linked to district key action# 2. Implement the TEI system, tying teacher evaluations to student achievement results).
Key Action 2
Key Action 3
Seniors doing their thing
Kudos to our Senior Scholars for having 93% of our Apply Texas standard met by the District College and Career Readiness Standards and also for implementing the GO TO COLLEGE TEXTING PROGRAM.
Our counseling team was recognized in a recent meeting for this accomplishment. There are great things going on here at Franklin D. Roosevelt!
Kudos
Your Turn
"I Am Roosevelt, The Power of One"
Do your actions embody our core beliefs, values, and vision?
Values:
Sense of urgency
Commitment
Development of the craft
Vision
Franklin D. Roosevelt will improve the quality of instruction for all scholars by committing to developing, supporting, and monitoring systems that will transform our community to embody a culture that leads our scholars to college and post- secondary success.
Something to consider
What teacher moves will you implement for scaffolds for student learning?
Do you use different instructional strategies based on planned and in the moment decisions to address individual learning needs (differentiation)?
Do you typically deliver instruction according to your learning style?
Look For's
- Good First Instruction
- LO/DOL alignment matching the TEKS/SE
- Student engagement
- Maximizing of instruction
It is suggested that you continue to review the rubric not just for the spot observation indicators, but domain 2.4 checking for academic understanding and 2.6 for activating higher order thinking skills.
Student Engagement
Intellectual work:
Who is doing the work and what is the nature of the work?
Engagement strategies:
What are the particular structures, strategies, and approaches will you use to elicit student engagement in learning?
Talk:
What is the substance of student engagement as embodied in communication between teacher and students (accountable talk)?
PBIS
The Principal Leadership Executive Team (PELT) met Friday to discuss ideas and iniatives that could systemicaly enhance our school culture.
What? Scholars and staff should be recognized in a systematic way for academic success and behaviors that we would like to see school-wide.
Why? When individual scholars are acknowledged for positive behaviors, it rewards them for their efforts. It also reminds non-compliant scholars what they need to do differently in order to be eligible for the same type of rewards.
How? In order for this to be effective it must be systematic and implemented with fidelity. Scholars and teachers must internalize the connection between their hard-work and rewards. This means that the system for incentives and recognition should be regular and predictable.
What have we done so far?
Teacher of the month
A-B Honor roll board
Scholars of the month
Team Talk Kudos
Girl Power Symposium
Power lunches
Future Initiatives:
Male Symposium
Motown Academic Review (academic pep rally)
6th Annual Buzz Free Prom Fashion Show
Peer mediation
Black History Program
Cinco De Mayo program
Staff Cafeteria Duty/Hallway Captains
Incentives
There is more to come.
Attendance Matters
Last Week:
Teacher attendance-10 teachers absent at least 1 day.
9th Grade- 93.26%
10th Grade -92.28%
11th Grade- 92.29%
12th Grade- 95.29%
School attendance total-93.13%
Pathway To Impact
Teacher as Leader, It begins in PLC's.
Students are only one part of an ingrained system of schooling in our country that has emphasized individual achievement and survival of the fittest for much of the last century. Teachers have also learned to close their classroom doors in order to innovate and succeed independently while presiding over their own classroom kingdoms (Elmore 2004; Tyack and Cuban 1995). Now, in the face of increased accountability and districts' desires to improve educator effectiveness, many school systems are implementing professional learning communities (PLCs) to support teachers in collectively using assessment data and student work to identify instructional strategies to meet student's learning needs.
This week we will continue to assess the quality of our upcoming common assessments using the released STAAR exam to align academic vocabulary, teacher moves , and skills that our scholars will need to be successful.
Let's continue to blaze a pathway that will have a profound impact for our scholars. We must provide the platform that gives our scholars hope because, "Hope Lives Here".
Re-Tester Information
U.S. History 38% Pass Rate
5 re-testers remain 3 seniors
English I 37%
78 re-testers remain 5 seniors
English II 30%
71 re-testers 11 seniors
Biology 33%
23 re-testers 2 seniors
Algebra 35%
43 re-testers 2 seniors
Lets help our seniors actualize their dreams
It is imperative that the 60/30 model is effectively used within the classroom the one day a week as designed during our P.D. session on January 4th. If you have re-testers in your class, but are not sure who they are, please reach out to us for assistance.
Together, we can and will reach our goal of earning distinctions.
Biology Goal
Algebra I Goal
Algebra I re-tester Goal
English Re-testers Goal
English I Goal
English II Goal
Happening Now
2-1 B Day
Spot Observations
PLC
Mustang Academy (SLO progression)
2-2 A Day
Spot Observations
PLC
2-3 B Day
Spot Observations
PLC
2-4 A Day
Spot Observations
PLC
ILT 4:30 Rm. 113
2-5 B Day
Spot Observations
No PLC
Academic pep rally (refer to email Ms. Morris sent)
Coming up
2-8 A Day
Spot Observations/Extended observations
PLC
2-9 B Day
Spot Observations/Extended observations
PLC
2-10 A Day
Spot Observations/Extended Observations
PLC
2-11 B Day
Spot Observations/Extended Observations
PLC
2-12 A Day
Spot Observations/Extended Observations
PLC
On The Horizon
Spot Observations/Extended Observations
PLC
2-16 B Day
Spot Observations/Extended Observations
PLC
2-17 A Day
Spot Observations/Extended Observations
PLC
2-18 B Day
Spot Observations/Extended Observations
PLC
2-12 A Day
Spot Observations
No PLC