Staff Newsletter
because it helps to know what's going on
September 27, 2019
***Today is Homecoming, which means DJFL will take over the west parking lot. Make a run for it after school!!!****
Have your classroom procedures become routine?
rou·tine - ro͞oˈtēn/
noun
a sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program.
If you haven't established key procedures in your classroom, it is not too late. The key is to explicitly teach your expectations, practice them with students, and then reward and hold accountability as needed. Please reference pages 351 - 377 of your Teach Like a Champion 2.0 book.
Reflect on your established routines and procedures now. What do you expect in the following areas? How long does each of these take to complete in your room?
- Entry/Exit Routine - What is expected for students to do upon entry of your room? ...stand and talk, run around the room, or get started on Do Now? Does the bell tone release, or do you?
- Asking/Answering Questions Routine - What is expected for students to do when help is needed? ...use a hand signal, raise hands, use a prop to signal, or yell out?
- No Materials Routine - What is a student supposed to do if he or she does not have an assignment, book, or writing utensil? ...do nothing, ask another student, share a book, complete a think sheet, get a pencil from a donation bin?
- Getting Out of Seat Routine - Are students allowed to get up whenever or have you set expectations for when it is appropriate to throw away trash? Do students need to ask for permission? Should they ask for permission?
- Turning in Work Routine - Do all students leave their seats to put work in a tray? Do you use row leaders, have a student assigned to the job of collecting?
- Distribution & Collection of Materials - Do students get dismissed by section/row and have a traffic pattern established? Do students get up and walk the long way around taking precious instructional time with them? Do you get all the supplies back and neatly put away?
- Helping Students Maintain Organization - Do you expect they write down their homework or objective somewhere? Where do they put notes?
- Shared Reading - Do you use Control the Game? (pg 72 of TLaC)
- Correcting Teacher Errors/Other Student Errors - How are you creating a culture of error?
- What to do if they Finish Early - Do students sit and talk? Do you have extension activities planned? What is acceptable to you?
- How to Mark up Text - Do students highlight everything? How do you teach them to identify the important?
- Habits of Discussion - How are students to engage with one another to enhance the learning of all students in both large/small group and paired discussions? Have you explicitly taught ground rules for when someone is talking (Track the speaker, using follow on and follow on prompting, or sentence starters). What do you expect to hear when listening in on group conversations?
- Moving in the Hallways - Has your grade level discussed expectations?
The whole goal of teaching routines and procedures is to remove the excuses so that readiness to learn is expected, learning time is maximized and preserved for all students, and supplies and materials are well managed so that we continue to have them available for student use. Tight transitions between learning activities are evidence of excellence.
Tips for Parent Teacher Conferences
Conducting effective parent-teacher conferences can boost family involvement in your classroom and help promote positive outcomes for you, your students, and our school.
A parent-teacher conference is a great opportunity to:
- share academic progress and growth based on classroom observations, testing data, assessments, portfolios, and assignments
- learn from parents or guardians so you can be better informed about students' strengths, needs, behaviors, and learning styles
- discuss enrichment or intervention strategies to support students' learning
- discuss issues that may be interfering with students' learning and growth
- share the resources parents may use to help their child at home
Book Fair Basics
10 Minute Preview Sessions:
- Thursday, Oct. 3rd- Russell, VanSickle, and Rodgers from 2:15-2:25 (pack up early before math).They will attend Book Fair in the morning.
- Friday, Oct. 4th: For it to work for 4th grade, Math will need to switch back at 2:00 instead of 2:10.
11:20-11:30- Anderson, Swartz (on way to lunch)
12:25-12:35- Dodd, Wilson (on way back in from recess)
12:40-12:50- Legan, McDugle (during science)
12:50-1:00- Amor, Adolf (during science)
2:00-2:10-Foltz, Rawley (math would end early)
2:10-2:20- Crosley, Doub
Shopping Hours:
- Friday, Oct. 4: Russell, VanSickle, Rodgers
- Monday, Oct. 7: Vrabel/Adolf, Swartz, Foltz
- Tuesday, Oct. 8: McDugle, Anderson, Crosley PLUS: 5:30-6:00 and 7:30-8:00 (before and after tour of South and Town Hall meeting)
- Wednesday, Oct. 9: Legan, Wilson, Doub
- Thursday, Oct. 10: Amor, Dodd, Rawley, PLUS: Family Shopping Night from 2:30-7:30 (late parent/teacher conference night)
- Friday, Oct. 11: last minute shopping first thing in the morning, Golden Ticket winners right after announcements (Specials teachers, these winners might be late to first special)
*If students bring in money after their class shopping day, please send them down first thing in the morning.
Payment:
Students can bring cash, checks made out to South Elementary, OR use the new eWallet this year (like PayPal for the Book Fair!). Info on shopping times and payment are going home with classes beginning today (Friday).
Staff Shopping:
Look for a treat in your mailboxes soon! :) Feel free to shop any time you see me in the library!
Shout outs!!
"Shout out to Makenzie for always being willing to team up, trying different strategies, and being flexible!" ~Danielle A.
"Shoutout to Kelsie for always making sure to keep us specials teachers included and in the loop!" ~Abbie H.
"Shout out to M. Legan and T. McDugle for adding a great review activity for our test prep in reading!!" ~Michele R.
"A shout out to Kelly, Sarah, and Sandy for helping prepare all of the paperwork associated with Book Fair!" ~Renee
"I want to shout out to Kelly and Sandy for being so understanding about the time I have to spend at the Middle School and picking up my slack while I'm over there. They are the best!" ~Sarah F.
Have a shout out for one or more of your teammates??? Send it my way and I would be happy to share it in a future newsletter.
DCEF
Click here for more information.
MTSS
Thank you so much for diligently filling out the RTI Progress Update forms for our upcoming Data Team meeting on Wednesday. If anyone has any forms left, please place them in my mailbox by the end of the day. I'll be at a conference on Monday.
I will send you an update about groups and students after our data team with changes. Thanks so much!
News and Info from the IDOE
IDOE has created The Science of Happiness course, designed for educators to promote their own social-emotional wellness. Participants will earn 45 professional growth plan points after successfully completing the course. Please promote The Science of Happiness with educators in your district by sharing this short promotional video.
Find details about the technical requirements of the course for administrators and technology directors here. Enrollment information will be coming soon!
September Birthdays
Suzi Winings Sept. 4
Kelsie McGee Sept. 8
Taryn Bobergy Sept. 10
MaKenzie Colon Sept. 12
Taylor VanSickle Sept. 12
Kelly Siddons Sept. 15
Charity Rodgers Sept. 24
Reminders
- Your S2S meeting with Tina should be on the calendar. If not, send her an invite. Plan for 20 minutes.
- If you'd like to join the REC Team, reach out to Brandon.
- Think about the great things going on around you and send a shout out to Tina to add to the newsletter.
Data Team Meetings
Data Team Meeting Dates 2019-20
Wednesday, August 28th (organizational and placement mtg)
Monday, October 2nd
Wednesday, November 19th
Wednesday, January 22nd
Wednesday, March 5th
Wednesday, May 6th
CIC Meetings
Minutes from our meeting can be found here.
CIC Meeting Dates 2019-20
Friday, Sept. 6th
Friday, Nov. 1st
Friday, Jan. 24th
Friday, April 10th
Building Level Meetings
Faculty Meetings and/or Grade level/Dept. Mtgs:
Sept. 12 (Faculty)
Sept. 26 (Gr. level/dept.)
Oct. 24 (Faculty)
Nov. 7 (Faculty)
Nov. 21(Gr. level/dept.)
Dec. 5 (Faculty)
Jan. 16 (Faculty)
Jan. 30 (Gr. level/dept.)
Feb. 13 (Faculty)
Feb. 27 (Gr. level/dept.)
Mar. 12 (Faculty)
Apr. 9 (Faculty)
Apr. 23 (Gr. level/dept.)
May 7 (Faculty)
Upcoming Dates
Sept. 27: Reunification Drill
Sept. 27: Homecoming-wear your Danville Spirit wear
Sept. 30: Tina will be out for MTSS Regional Training. ReadUp, STEM Club, KKids
Oct. 1: PLC's
Oct. 2: Data Team Meeting, ReadUp, Choir Club
Oct. 7: Parent/Teacher Conference Week begins, ReadUp, STEM club
Oct. 8: Town Hall Mtg. @ South
Oct. 9: Picture retakes, ReadUp, Choir Club, School Board Mtg.
Oct. 10: Parent conferences late night.
Oct. 11: Intruder drill
Oct. 14-18 Fall Break
Curriculum Connection Newsletters
School Safety Newsletters
Newsletter 2-parent newsletter