Staff Newsletter
because it helps to know what's going on
April 26, 2019
Deeper Thinking Through Effective Questioning
Great News
Yay for us!!
ILEARN-Week 1
Fourth-grade students (and teachers) did an incredible job this week. We appreciate you "going first" and assisting us in reporting issues and working out any kinks.
We will be all set and ready for third grade to take ELA next week.
A special thanks to Kelsie for being in a hundred places at once, to the IA's and specials teachers for their flexibility, and to our small group testers for their support. What an incredible team of people we have in this building!!
Some lessons learned:
- Make sure to place the sign in your door that you are testing. Tell all of your small group testers that they may not come back into the room if this sign is posted.
- Small group testers will go to Renee in the library when they are finished. Send Renee an IM when your class is done testing so that she knows when they can be sent back.
- Continue to post the colored cards on your door during testing, but as a backup, IM Kelsie if you are having issues.
ILEARN Testing Info From Kelsie
Here are reminders for testing-
1. Cover all items in your classroom that can be considered a resource to students. If you're not sure, just cover it up anyway.
2. Make sure you have your student ID cards and red, green, yellow cards.
3. All students should have headphones (additional ones will be in your workroom in case a student needs new ones).
4. Scripts will be in my office (I will let you know if these need to be signed in/out).
5. Please be sure to document absent students and the test they missed here:
Here are the steps for you to login and begin the tests:
1. Start here - https://ilearn.portal.airast.org/users/educators
2. Click on "Test Administration".
3. Sign in with your username and password.
4. Allow the pop-up blocker and then refresh your page.
5. A test selection box will come up - be sure to click the plus sign next to the subject you are testing.
6. This will drop down and you will see 2 options, click the subject titled with "Summative" (example: ELA Summative, Math Summative, Science Summative").
7. Then press "Start Session" and the session ID for students will be in your top right hand corner.
8. Once students put this in, you will approve them under the "Approvals" button in the top right hand corner.
*There will be options for your students to choose from- each test is a different option for them (yay!), so just make sure they pick the right one for the test you are taking that day.
For students to login:
1. Students do NOT login to chromebooks.
2. When they open the chromebook, have them click on "Apps" and then AIRSecure.
3. Some chromebooks may ask you to pick your state and assessment. Choose Indiana and then there will only be one assessment option, "Indiana Assessment".
4.. This will bring up a login screen. They will use their cards for the first name and STN.
5. They will then also put in the code that is on YOUR screen. (Similar to NWEA)
6. They will then have a screen to double check their name is correct and then they will have to be approved by you before beginning the test.
Data Team Meeting
An Update on Nhut
Call Out for Presenters
DCSC Certified Staff-
We will be holding a full day of tech training on August 2, 2019, consisting of six tech sessions for every staff member. Three of these sessions will be mandatory (Schoology, Google, and Classroom Management) and three of these will be optional teacher-selected sessions. The goal is to lead with instruction and let technology help us out instead of the other way around. Our first step in organizing this training day is to find staff willing to present sessions. We have GREAT people in the district and will need your help for this day to be successful! Each staff member will be compensated for 4 hours of planning time per session to prepare during the spring/summer. In order for presenters to get the fullest benefit from the training as well, we will only schedule someone to lead three sessions maximum so they can also attend three sessions. This survey will tell us ANY possible sessions you may be thinking about leading. Once we get these forms in, we will divvy up the sessions and see what we have covered and what we still need. Feel free to suggest as many sessions as you can think of even if you are suggesting more than three. The optional sessions will center around the 4 C's (critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration). This may help you think through possible sessions. If two people select the same session, we will choose one person to lead and then find something else for the other person. If interested, please fill out this form by April 30th.
Additional information about the training- exact times, lunch information, what happens if you cannot attend on the 2nd, who is required to be there, etc. will all be sent out as soon as we have all the details worked out. Thanks for your patience as we work through the planning process!
News from Morgan Walker
DCSC Certified Staff-
One of the goals this year is to ensure we have a guaranteed and viable curriculum for every course and that it is organized into a central location. This work can be done during PLC time, grade level/department meetings, during your prep/school day as needed, and I am also opening back up Title II grant funds for certified staff to work outside the contract day for pay if they choose (see info below). Thank you for the work that has already gone into this organization-- I have heard from many of you that this has been a valuable exercise and you are feeling more organized and in step with each other! The IDOE actually put out a document that we could use to organize our curriculum that looks incredibly similar to our Essential Standards chart recently- so we are on the right track! :-)
Fun fact: DCSC staff have logged 573 hours of work OUTSIDE of contract time on curriculum mapping thus far!
I wanted to take a moment to remind you of the timeline of this work. The goal was to have at least ONE course finished by the end of the first semester. Following the winter break, the goal is to have TWO additional courses completed during the second semester. (Elementary teachers should be able to finish all work by the end of this school year.) Starting next year, we will work on TWO courses per semester until all of them are complete. **If you find that you are having trouble finishing in the time given to you during PLC time and you are unable to work outside of that time, please let me know. I will do my best to work with you and help in any way I can to finish! You are welcome to move faster than that, of course!
**Certified staff- I have sent out vouchers for winter and am ready to open up work through the end of the year. If you are working on this outside the school day....click here to submit a form so I can pay you for this time. (This page is also located on the training page of the Curriculum site.) You can submit up to 10 hours at this time and each hour will be paid out at $27.39 per the teacher contract. If you start working and decide you need additional time over the 10 hours, please let me know before you submit so I can ensure I have additional grant funding to cover. All hours must be submitted on the Google Form by April 1st (no fooling!). At that time, I will send out Accounts Payable forms for staff to sign and return to me for payout and decide if the form can be opened up again.
S2S Meetings
It is getting close to the time of year where we sit down together and wrap up your year during our system to system meeting. You can begin to schedule times with me once you know you will have your SLO data back (if you used NWEA as the measure.) At this meeting, please bring evidence of Domains 1 and 3 of the RISE rubric. Let me know if you have any questions.
End of Year
Make sure you keep your student data up to date in the "Class of" documents and South's Data Dashboard. We will be utilizing the Class of 2028 document to create student placement for fourth grade.
You do not need to take down any Bulletin Boards that you plan to use in the fall, they may stay up over the summer unless they are faded, ratty, etc. and need a face lift.
Mini-Grants Due Today
Mini-Grants: Mini-Grants are due by Friday, April 26th.
We would love to grant your school and classroom needs this year, please just let us know how we can help!
Flyin' High with RTI
Jaymee:
I will only be able to see my 8:00 group on the days we have ILEARN.
Renee:
3rd grade SpEd students and Math Lab students have been added to my Schoology course. Materials have been posted for next week's lessons should these students have time to try it out!
4th grade:
I should have my Math Lab Schoology course ready by Monday! Again, should your students have time, they can try it out. Since you're mainly reviewing next week, I'll be including mainly review materials.
Friday's Schedule:
Subtraction Review Group (4th grade): 1:00-1:25
Multiplication Review Group (4th grade): 1:25-1:45
Zen Zone (3rd or 4th): 1:45-2:15
Life Hacks
- Hate the feeling of putting in cold eye drops? Run the bottle under hot water for a few seconds. You'll barely feel them.
- If you're feeling nervous, start chewing gum. Your brain will reason that you're not in danger because you wouldn't be eating if you were.
- Remove gross, unpleasant odors in smelly shoes or gym bags by placing dry tea bags in them and leaving overnight.
April Birthdays
Danielle Anderson, April 4
Teresa Ogden, April 6
Tammy McDugle, April 9
Reminders
- Post any recommended dates on the 2019-20 Draft Schedule outside my office
- Final student of the month nomination due to Sandy April 22.
- Don't forget....Send any students down to the office with a "positive referral" to sign the Great Big Book of Awesomeness. Students who sign will get a notification to take home to their parents.
- Don't forget to "Sign In" each week on the 2018-19 PD Sign in for PGP Verification" Doc
CIC Meetings For The Year
Upcoming Dates
Apr. 23: ILEARN-4th
Apr. 24: ILEARN-4th
Apr. 25: ILEARN-4th
Apr. 27: Orff Dance Festival @ Ben Davis
Apr. 29: NWEA window opens
Apr. 30: ILEARN-3rd
May 1: ILEARN-3rd
May 2: ILEARN 3rd
May 6: ILEARN 4th
May 7: ILEARN 4th
May 8: ILEARN 3rd
May 9: ILEARN 3rd
May 13: ILEARN 4th
May 14: ILEARN 4th
May 15: 3rd grade field trip(half of 3rd)
May 16: 3rd grade field trip(half of 3rd)
May 16: 4th grade to visit Middle School
May 16: Talent Show
May 17: NWEA and ILEARN window closes
May 20: Second grade to visit @9:00a.m.
May 21: Field Day
May 23: Yearbook signing
May 23: All ipads must be turned into the library server room
May 24: Student celebration/last day