Wilson Weekly
Week of January 27th, 2020
Action Items
- iPads - To make sure your learners' iPads are working their best during assessments, please be sure they are updated to the latest iOS and that they are on the CISD Wireless.
- Wednesday Training - Due to TELPAS training and calibration dates, we will all meet for required Security & TELPAS training on Wednesday. *All staff are required to attend.
- Great Expectations Practices - With our GE Coaching visits next week, now is a great time to do a refresher on our GE practices and expectations.
- Visits - In addition to our Coaching visits, Dr. Hunt, Dr. Applegate, and Mrs. Streeter will be on campus for classroom visits Friday. Please check your hallways, bulletin boards, etc to ensure things are clean and tidy. Thanks!
- PTO Grants - The deadline for PTO grant submission is Friday the 31st. Please use the link below to access.
- Clinic Pass - Please help out Nurse April by ensuring that any kid that comes to the Clinic comes with a completed Clinic Pass. This will help her tremendously as she gets to know our kids!
MAP Testing
SOUPer Bowl!
It's time! Mark your calendar for this coming Friday, January 31st. Join us in this fun Wilson tradition. Use the link below to sign-up for your soup and/or side dish.
Supporting Language Learners
Hopefully you have seen your language learners benefitting from being taught what to say when they don't know what to say and gaining confidence when speaking in complete sentences. Remembering that everyone is learning academic language, these steps to achieving a language - rich, interactive classroom are great for all learners, regardless of EL status.
Randomizing and Rotating are two ways to ensure that all students are participating and we are not calling on the same eager students doing all the answering.
Randomize
Create a simple random selection system to call on students (index cards, popsicle sticks, etc.).
Explain the system to your class and model what it looks like.
Pose a question
Pause
Select a student to respond using a random selection system.
When planning for this step, think of your learners and what support they might need to answer the question. Think through these three things and add as needed by students:
Wait time - ELs may need more time to think, adjust your wait time as needed by the students
Sentence stems - lowers the amount of language a student must produce on their own without lowering the cognitive demand of answering the question
Peer rehearsal - gives students time to share responses with a peer, get feedback, and adjust their answers before offering thoughts to the whole group.
A rotating strategy works best with some classroom discussions. Here is an easy way to get everyone involved and avoid the problem of calling on the same students over and over.
Rotate
Divide students into groups of four, five, etc…
Ask students to count off within the group so that each person has a number.
Ask a question.
Give groups a chance to talk to each other about the answer.
Ask one number (all ones, twos...etc…) to stand up in each group.
Have the person that person share for the group.
If they have the same response as another group, they can respond with “We agree that ______ because…”
Repeat this procedure until each number from the group has been called, giving every person an opportunity to speak for their group.
The idea is to have every single student participating in classroom discussions in a way that is accessible but cognitively demanding. If a system is not in place, there are students being left out.
Total Response Signals
Total Response Signals are cues students can use to indicate they are ready to answer a question or move on to new material. This can be thought of as an instant ongoing assessment of student’s understanding. We can immediately check for understanding, see who is ready to move on or who still needs help. There are four basic types of signals; written response, ready response, making choices, and ranking.
Check in with Jennifer if you'd like ideas or support to implementing additional strategies to support your language learners!
New Educator Toys
Hopefully these can make your job just a little bit easier!
As soon as the laminator us up and running, we'll let you know. Also, be on the look-out for an email with a time that Courtney will offer an informal Cricut "training," so you'll know all the bells and whistles!
Week At A Glance
- Specials Team Time
Tuesday - Ed Foundation / PTO Camo Shirt Day
- Kinder Team Time
Wednesday
- 1st Team Time
- GE Coaching
- Test Security / TELPAS Training - All staff attend
Thursday
- 2nd Team Time
- PreK Design Day
- GE Coaching
Friday
- Rise & Shine
- SOUPer Bowl!!!
- Dr. Hunt, Dr. Applegate, Mrs. Streeter campus visit