Wolcott's Weekly "What's Up"
Office of Teaching and Learning 12.15.2014
TEACHING AND LEARNING UPDATES
KUDOS- WE 2014
Special thanks to Tarah Tesmer for organizing another wonderful WE event on Friday. Thanks also to all of our other great presenters including the students who came and shared what they have learned, how they learn and what we can do to help them more.
And thanks to the learners, who came with the attitude of getting better in the name of students!
Math Fact Practice
Two years ago, while identifying priority standards at the Woodridge Community Library, Tom Hierck and I conducted an activity where we asked staff to make a list of things students needed to know and have mastered by the next grade. Staff overwhelmingly cited the lack of math fact fluency as a major setback to student success in the math classroom. At that time, staff unanimously asked for time to be set aside daily to address this issue. Staff also referred to NCTM's recommendation of 15 minutes daily for this purpose. Thus, the 15 minute fact time was allocated as a local priority during the writing of our new curriculum.
At the start of this year, when asked about how well prepared students were for the new year, we were given one of two pieces of feedback: 1) Students need more math fact practice, because they still aren't fluid, or 2) I can really see the benefits of the daily fact practice time.
Please remind staff why this local decision was made.
New Common Core Writing Newsletters for Parents
Please make sure all teachers of the new writing curriculum send a letter home to parents at the start of each unit.
SAMRi ^Teacher Camp!
Downers Grove 58 has invited our staff to join them for a morning of connecting, creating, and learning with fellow teachers! Sessions are 50 minutes long and you design your schedule tailored to your specific professional learning needs.
For more information, see the link below:
Saturday, Jan 17, 2015, 08:00 AM
Herrick Middle School, Middaugh Avenue, Downers Grove, IL, United States
LEADERSHIP AND LEARNING RESOURCES
Principal's To Do List
- Send Kim Superits your completed After School Programming template for second session by December 17th.
- Make sure teachers involved in PARCC Testing are signed up and have received log in and password information for the practice site.
- Refrain from scheduling DEB during the week of January 12th (ACCESS Testing Week).
- Schedule mid-year assessments and data review sessions.
- Thank Rising Star/School Improvement Teams members for volunteering to serve as teacher leaders within your building!
On the Radar
12/16
- Principals Teaching & Learning Team Meeting
1/6
- District Admin Meeting
1/7
- ELL Resource Teachers will be released during the PM to fill out ELL Accommodations documents for PARCC
1/12
- Tentative BIP/FBA Training @ PDC
1/13
- Principals Teaching & Learning Team Meeting
- RTI Committee Meeting
1/14
- Music & Art Curriculum Writing at PDC
1/15
- Professional Development Council
1/16
- Building Spelling Bee Winners to Kim
- PARCC PNP Forms completed in Skyward
- PARCC Accommodations completed in Skyward
1/20
- District Admin Meeting
1/23
- End of Quarter
1/27
- Principals Teaching & Learning Team Meeting
1/28
- District Spelling Bee @ JJHS 6:30 PM
Stay Strong and F.O.C.U.S.ed!
Greg Wolcott
Email: wolcottg@woodridge68.org
Website: www.woodridge68.org
Location: 7925 Janes Avenue, Woodridge, IL, United States
Phone: 630.967.2035
Twitter: @TeachLearn68