Kleckner's Korner
March 22, 2021
Changes to the 21-22 School Year
1. We will be losing our last double section of bilingual in 5th grade, I'm sure this isn't a surprise to anyone. Alberto and Isabel will start a 4th/5th grade switch like Reianna and Kathy are doing now.
2. We are losing both of our ABC sections. Ashley, Jean and Natalie will be going to Stephens Elementary. Hunter and Marshana will be going to Rowlett Elementary. Our kiddos will be split among those schools as well as Daughtery, Steadham and Lister. Students were split based on transportation needs. Their sections will complete the full K-5 ABC sections at those schools.
3. We will be gaining two ALE sections one K-2 and one 3-5. This could cause some rearranging (again) of classrooms due to students' needs, stay tuned.
4. Pending board approval we will be receiving another gen ed pre-K class next year! :)
3rd, 4th, 5th grade teachers
June Intersession Sign Up
If you haven't taught intersession before I highly encourage you to do so in June. It's super fun, less stress than a regular school day, and you're done by 12:30! Just ask Traci and Marshana how great it is! Click on the form below to sign up! Paras if you are interested in working please use the form too.
Virtual Math and Reading Night March 30th - Required for all Professional Staff - 6-7pm***
We will have 4, 15 minute sessions (6:00, 6:15, 6:30, 6:45)
- Live Mystery Reader (Linsey) at 6:00 and 6:30
- Live Mystery Reader (Evan) at 6:15 and 6:45
- Physical Math Game with Movement (Dahlia)
- Karen N. - Book Talks
- Grace - Counselor's Corner
- Esther and Daniela - help desk
- Karen C., Joann, and Ann - floaters - pop into rooms and assist getting parents to the next sessions.
- ALL other teachers - Bilingual teachers will be doing the reading lessons (so we can offer 2 sessions of Spanish), Gen Ed. teachers will be doing math lesson (one of which will need to be recorded so parents can refer back) and Alberto we'd like you to do a Science lesson.
- Selena is already working on the Canvas classroom we'll use that night.
- Grade levels will come up with a theme for their grade level, you can even pick your book and then go with a theme from the book.
- Bilingual teachers - you'll want to have at least 3 questions you can ask after you've read the book.
Jams from Jana!
As we move into STAAR season, it brings on more and more small group time. While your kids are working asynchronously, consider coming up with some ways to make them accountable for their online sessions.
Here is a recording sheet that I made to help students keep up with their Imagine Learning Sessions. I printed it for F2F students and loaded it in Canvas for the remote kids. It has definitely improved their time on the program. Just making them accountable for recording progress in some way will really help to ensure that they are actually doing the assignments we are giving them!
Click here for a copy if you want to use it in your classroom.
Prodigy Tournament! Starting March 1st-30th!
If a class correctly answers more math questions than other partnered schools, they win!
There are four weekly prizes and one grand prize. Students and teachers can win prizes by accurately answering as many questions as possible. Prizes include:
- Exclusive swag! (pencils, shirts, and more)
- Prodigy Memberships (one month, six month and yearly memberships for students)
- Amazon gift cards (for teachers)
This is a great opportunity to boost engagement across campus. Encourage teachers to participate in The Next Prodigy by directing them to the official The Next Prodigy website!
Substance from Selena....
The Lead Forward training on spiral reviews is something that can easily be implemented into your five minutes of time for bell ringers at the beginning of the day or as an ending to the day.
The presentation included how to incorporate parts of problems or texts each day for students to look at them differently, integration of much student-led conversation, and the Lead Forward strategies/games you can use makes it very interactive for the students--there are specific ones already earmarked for each day that would fit well. This would be a routine that would be easy to replicate each week, and the students would become familiar with the format. I really appreciated how it shows the students to apply their thinking from one context to the next, which will benefit them greatly!
One important point the presenter noted, this spiral review is for areas that were harder for your students, not just for test prep review. See me for more details, and I will gladly help you plan these on our next planing day!
Reading
Math
Writing
Entries from Esther
*I-station Reminder*- Please ensure that your students have taken their March I-station ISIP test, this is the last week to get those in, remember you will need that data for your March 1069's.
* For your 1069's that will be due in March, please create new documents for your students. I have created a BOY folder for all the previous 1069, we will not be adding any more information to those forms. Please put all your new 1069's in your MOY folder.
Thank you to everyone that has updated the MOY PSM Track sheet. Uploaded PSM's were due in the shared drive by March 5th and the MOY Track sheet should have been updated at that time.
All signed PSMs will be due on March 26th.
Please complete the following:
- Update the PSM Track sheet once you have uploaded your PSM's.
- Add a Parent/Teacher Email address for any students that you need the PSM emailed to for signatures.
- Print your PSM and send them home to all your F2F students. When they are returned, please put them in my box. I will update the PSM Track sheet once I have received them.
- I will email the PSM for your virtual students or F2F students as needed- but please make sure that you follow up with the parents so that they are looking for the email, I will update the Track sheet when I email the PSM's and when they are signed.
Help Information:
Please remember that links to PSM Examples, the Track sheet, and Blank PSMs are all available in the shared drive. If you have any questions or need any help, please let me know. Please note that everything that you need can be found on the Student Profile Report/ Learning Continuum.
Weekly Administrative Information Packet
Important Dates to Remember ***Denotes New Information
March
22 - Quarter 4 Begins
23 & 24 - 3rd-5th grade STAAR Interim testing (Remote students will come on the same days)
***25 - Virtual Transfer Fair - 3-6pm
30 - Prodigy - Game Based Learning PD - 90 minutes - dinner will be provided by NorthPlace Church and then we'll lead straight into Math/Literacy night from 6-7.
April
1 - Cycle 3 Awards
2- Student/Staff Holiday (Good Friday)
6 - 4th grade STAAR Writing - Paper test only
13 - 4th grade STAAR Writing - Online Test (3rd grade will be asynchronous, students will stay home and work on activities allowing teachers can help proctor)
21 - Early Release - afternoon District PD - Registration opens in April
May
11 - 3rd, 4th, 5th - STAAR Math - Paper test only
12 - 3rd, 4th, 5th - STAAR Reading - Paper test only
13 - 5th - STAAR Science - Online and Paper (4th grade asynchronous, students will stay home and work on activities allowing teachers to help proctor)
14 - 3rd and 4th - STAAR Reading Online - (K, 1, 2, 5 - asynchronous)
18 - 5th - STAAR Math Online (3rd grade asynchronous)
19 - 5th - STAAR Reading Online (4th asynchronous)
21 - 3rd and 4th - STAAR Math Online (K, 1, 2, 5 asynchronous)
28 - Student/Staff Holiday
31 - Memorial Day - no school
***June
8 - Early Release - afternoon campus PD
9 - Full Day District Staff Development - registration opens in May
Counselor’s Corner
If you need assistance with individual concerns or counseling services, please reach out to Mrs. Medrano-Johnson at gmedranojohnson@garlandisd.net,
or fill out the following Park Crest Request for Counseling Services form.