Mustang Musings
May 26, 2019
ARC Focus of the Week
As we wind down the year, please continue to conference with your students and add growth points. Students can no longer be moved to the next reading level, but they can have points added in transition.
Please continue to encourage engaged reading. Every minute of reading counts!
On Target for IRLA Reading Level
Our goal is for every child to show at least a year of growth this school year.
At this point in the year, our students should be at these points:
K-.80
1st-1.80
2nd-2.80
3rd-3.80
4th-4.80
HES creates readers!
1hour of reading each day equals more than 2.66 years of growth without any other interventions.
On Target for Reading Practice
Spring is here and as the days are getting longer and the weather gets warmer, this percentage may drop. Keep encouraging your students to read! Maybe a reward could be a few extra minutes to read. I know I would LOVE to have a few free minutes to read! What about you???
Steps calendar for this month and next
Turnaround Tuesday
Our next "Turnaround Tuesday" will be next Friday, June 7th. Since that is the last day to count steps, I will not be passing out additional books. Please have all of your book bins in the book room by the close of business on Friday, June 7th. We will be using classroom books for reading for the following week. If you are in need of classroom books, please let me know and I will get you baskets of "HES" books to use.
Teach the Teacher
Higher level questioning...It's not just for gifted students!
These question stems are great for encouraging deeper learning and that is critical for all students...not just those who have been identified as gifted. This link has some other great tips for increasing reading engagement!
Reflecting on student growth
This is a great time to reflect with your students on their growth this year! Are they happy with their growth? Did they wish they had attained a higher level? What are their goals for next year? I wonder if helping them to reflect on their hopes and dreams as well as what they can do to reach their goals might encourage some of our students to continue reading this summer?
The power of mindfulness
I was talking with a dear friend this past week and she said she is working on becoming more mindful. As I reflected on what it meant to be mindful, I thought about how powerful that could be in the classroom. Read this article to learn more about how mindfulness can create a happier classroom!
Summer Reading
These have all been shared with each of the appropriate grade levels, but here they all are in case you would like to utilize some of the other first through high school leveled resources.
What can I do for you?
- Modeling
- Side-by-side coaching
- Coaching and modeling of using the IRLA
- Round up resources
- Assist with differentiating lessons or materials
- Cover your class so that you can observe a colleague's class
- Cooperatively plan a lesson or series of lessons that meet best practices
- Serve as another pair of hands for a lesson
- Offer strategies for classroom management
- Help you connect with other teachers in the district
- Lend an open ear for a topic of your choice
- Reflect on student learning in your classroom through conversation and observation
- Work collaboratively to bounce ideas off one another to address a concern
- Evaluate new students to guide instruction
ARC Swimming Pool
Hardy Elementary School
We are creating students who are lifelong readers!
Email: lhenk@iwcs.k12.va.us
Website: http://hes.iwcs.k12.va.us/
Location: 9311 Hardy Circle, Smithfield, VA, United States
Phone: 757-357-3204
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hardy-Elementary-School-205065852892284/
Twitter: @Mrs_Henk