Tiger Beat
Acton Weekly Update: 4/21/2017
Brook Wessel-Burke
Daily Transportation
PLC FEEDBACK FORM LINK
SOS FORM
Fourth Quarter PD and PLC schedule
All dates are subject to change if necessary.
Nuts and Bolts
Please return the Volunteer Breakfast RSVP forms to me when parents return those to you.
ISTEP has gone extremely smoothly. Thank to all of you for your flexibility, carefully following the schedules and being prepared. We have this week to finish strong. Please continue to follow the schedule changes carefully.
Let's talk social media! I LOVE it! Facebook and twitter are great ways to keep parents informed on upcoming events, and provides a glimpse into what we do everyday. I hear great feedback from parents about how much they love seeing their kids smiling and learning. However, I've heard of some concerns about teachers being on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter ( or whatever else there is out there) during school hours. PLEASE know that this concern has not been brought up here and I want to keep it that way. Please do not be on your personal social media accounts during the school day except during your 30 minute duty free lunch. Prep time is not an option either. Again, if you are posting on a school/class page, that is fine-just not personal. THANK YOU
APRIL
26 Midterm ends
27 Grading window closes
28 Midterms posted
Grade levels can start working on class placements any time. Go to the Google Shared folder. Choose EOY Procedures, Class Placements, Class lists sheet
Curriculum and Instruction
FTCSC DIBELS GOALS: Accuracy 85%and Fluency 80%
Ways to Respond to Independent Reading, Read with A Buddy, or Interactive Read Aloud Time~
1.) New Title: What could be another title for what you have read today? How does your new title explain the main message or idea?
2.) Playwright: Students often enjoy turning parts of stories into plays.
3.) Keep a Journal: Encourage your students to write about what they are reading in a journal each day.
Boost those Skills:
A great source of nonfiction reading is Newsela.com, a free news site that adapts breaking stories to your student’s reading level {4th-12thgrade}
FORI (Fluency Oriented Reading Instruction): Another combination fluency strategy: Teacher reads the story and the class discusses for comprehension. Students echo and partner read over the week. Students reread at home. Text is also available as a free reading choice.
Reaching ALL Learners
Embody Respect
You can’t change what’s in your students’ bank account, but you can change what’s in their emotional account. It may require a considerable shift in your thinking. It is fruitless simply to demand respect from students, many just don’t have the context, or background, or skills to show it. Instead,
· Give respect to students first, even when they least deserve it.
· Share the decision making in class. For example, ask students whether they would prefer to do a quick review of what they have learned to consolidate and strengthen their learning or to move on to new material.
· Maintain expectations while offering choice and soliciting input. (e.g., “Would you rather do your rough draft now or gather some more ideas first?”).
From: Eric Jensen’s Teaching With Poverty in Mind
Technology
Nadine is spending her entire day at Acton on May 2 &4. If you haven't set up Google Classroom with her, you are priority. PLEASE sign up ASAP!
Athlete Mentors
What's Coming Up
Weekly Updates 2016-2017 : 2nd Semester
April
26 Midterm ends
27 Grading window closes
28 Midterms posted
28 KG Field Trip Indy Zoo
28 Family Game Night 6:00-7:30 PM
May
2 PTO Meeting 6:30-8:00
3-19 EOY Dibels
4th Fifth Grade Music Program 6:00 PM
8 Drills
9 5th gr field trip Symphony
10 Kindergarten Assessments
12 Kindergarten Assessments
17 Grading window opens
22 Kindergarten (AM) and First Grade (PM) Awards Celebrations
23 Second (AM) and Third Grade (PM) Awards Celebrations
24 Fourth (AM) and Fifth Grade (PM) Awards Celebrations
25 Grading period ends
25 Last Student Day (pending no snow days)
26 All Grades posted & Verified
June
2 Report cards mailed