Weekly RoaR
Week ending October 2, 2015
Dates to Note
Monday, October 5
Fair Day, No school
Wednesday, October 7
WTG Wednesday, 3-4PM
Friday, October 9
Dino Beat, 3-4 Recognitions
PTA Days: Dress like a Pirate
Friday, October 16
Fall Picture Retakes
Parent Conferences
'Tis the season... to share alllll of the data you have taken thus far.
Here are some pointers to help make this time productive for you, the parents and ultimately the student:
- Set the stage for collaboration. When asking parents to sign up for conferences, it may be beneficial for you to ask them to communicate any questions or concerns that they would like to address during their time with you. Getting these in advance will help you to prepare, reflect and formulate educated responses.
- Start with the positives. You are talking about that parent's most precious gift. Make them believe that you do indeed care about their child.
- Drive your conversations with DATA. You cannot have a child scoring in the "average" range on AIMS and then claim that they are struggling. Be specific, show examples or test results that support your case.
- Maintain confidentiality. It is NEVER appropriate to discuss another student during a conference. Period. If the parent wants to discuss another child, remind them that you cannot do that due to confidentiality, and likewise, you would never discuss their child with another parent.
- Have a plan! Parents almost always want what is best for their child. If you feel otherwise, it is probably a misconception or miscommunication. Share what you are doing in class to help their child (e.g. intervention, guided reading, extension activities, reading buddies, PALS, etc.), give them suggestions, and solicit suggestions from the parent. Collaboration and teamwork with the parents is completely necessary for student success.
- Follow up, if necessary. If a parent requests resources or information that you do not have on hand, do your best to get these to the parent in a timely manner.
PDAS Observations
We will begin full observations now. Just letting you know. Our goal is to have them all finished by January-ish.
(Psst. Mrs. Abrams, this is a meme.)
Attention Dodd Teacher-Parents
This is a friendly request/reminder for those who work at Dodd and have children that you have birthed...please ensure that they are adhering to the following:
- from 2:30 to 2:55 (during dismissal) they are in your room.
- after 2:55, please make sure that your child(ren) are not running the halls. It is perfectly acceptable for them to go to the playground or to a fellow teacher kid-friend's room, but please remind them that other teachers and staff members are working, tutoring and/or coaching a UIL team.
Thank you!
Education Nugget: 5 Practices that PROVOKE Misbehaviors
The newest issue of ASCD's Educational Leadership (EL) is fantastic!
I'm attaching one of the articles that really stood out to me. It provides five practices that teachers (even great teachers) do that unintentionally cause students to behave or react in ways that are not conducive to optimal learning. I've attached the article below with my highlights.
Campus Proclamation: Please read
We fully support the free/cheap incentives that you have set up in your classrooms, but please keep these rewards or positive reinforcements in your classroom.
- Students may not be shoe-less in the hallways or at CAMP, recess, or lunch.
- Students may not chew gum or have candy in CAMP classes.
- Students may not carry toys or dolls to lunch or to CAMP, unless it is fulfilling part of the student's IEP or 504 (e.g. fidgets).
I cannot think of any other examples at this time, but I'm sure you get the drift.