Tiger Times
NEWS AND INFO FOR SLATER STAFF 8.6
This week we really focused on the following routines:
- building relationships
- school and class expectations, rituals, and routines
- positive narration
While we've made it through the first week, we will continue to practice routines and procedures in the next week, warmly demanding 100% execution. We will be on the lookout for ways to celebrate teachers and students who "keep it 100!" Our student population continues to grow each day, so be sure to reiterate, model, and practice routines.
This week, in addition to solidifying the basic rituals and routines, be sure to practice systems for cooperative and collaborative learning. Routines to practice include (but are not limited to):
- using timers to manage group work
- group roles
- voice levels while working in groups
- traffic patterns inside the classroom when transitioning between groups
- team points (remember the prizes from pre-planning ;-) )
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FIRE DRILLS
As required by state law, two fire drills will occur next week. The are tentatively set for Tuesday and Thursday. Managing elementary classrooms is a difficult task, but it can become exceptionally difficult during chaotic situations, such as during fire drills. Although school fire drills can seem like more hassle than they are worth, they are very important safety procedures. These drills teach students how to react and behave during an emergency. Even though fire drills are just practice, it is very important to act seriously. To maintain the class during the drills, use basic concepts of classroom management and expect excellence.
During the fire drill the children will respond to the situation how you respond to the situation. Therefore, it is important to remain calm and act as if it were an actual emergency. Once the drill sounds have the children immediately line up at the classroom door.
Lead the children through the school calmly and silently to the designated meeting area. Make no stops along the way. Once your class has reached the meeting place, immediately take roll to see if every child has made it to the meeting area. While waiting for the drill to end, enforce the rules and warmly demand 100% execution with fire drill protocols.
Be sure to practice fire drill routines BEFORE the fire drill happens. Practice
- How students should line up in your classroom.
- How you will silently walk through the hall.
- Where you will silently walk to.
- Staying silent throughout the drill.
- What a student should do if the fire drill begins while they are in the restroom.
LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES:
Here is the link to the Lockdown one pager that outlines the three types of lockdown: Interior, Exterior and Full. You may want to consider placing it near your workstation and/or taking a picture of it with your phone. Here is the link to the Emergency Preparedness slides we reviewed.
TRANSPORTATION
Here is the link to the Slater transportation Doc that you can use to track the way your students get to and from school.
Please be advised that you must wear their ID Badge anytime they are on the school grounds. You should also be using your ID Badge to enter the building each day. If you have lost your badge, it needs to be replaced immediately. You cannot wait and hope it turns up. There will be a random ID Badge audit in the coming weeks. You must have you badge on your person to past the audit.
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Please update your student’s “Primary Mode of Pickup” in PikMyKid. Students can be found and updated through the “All Student’s” menu. This is also where you can add new students to your classroom list.
Be sure to update your student’s Please feel free to sign up for one of PMK's daily Q/A Webinars for staff to chat live on zoom and get quick assistance from PMK support: https://kidio.as.me/QAWebinar
Lastly, below you will find the link to the training session from preplanning:
Password: #tyV0mWP
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Instructional Resource of the Week
#1 - Distract the Distractor video focuses on a quick strategy to capture your students’ attention in a non-intrusive way. https://www.teachhub.com/classroom-management/2019/08/5-classroom-management-tips-for-starting-the-school-year/
#2 – 5-second solution video supports Slater’s overall goal of getting 100% participation from students when practicing rituals and routines in the classroom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_HPLMQStug&list=PLh8j72So6cvxxUkP43BdnmYyvauARDRho&index=1
Have an awesome ritual or routine to share? The first 4 to send one to Kemp will win a prize!
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Kemp's PortalPortal
Who: This can be used by all teachers, subjects, and grade levels
How:
- Go to www.portaportal.com.
- Enter "dkemp" in the Guest Access.
- Click on the "+" signs to open the drop down options.
- Enjoy!
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From Instructional Technology Coordinator Britt
We've come to the end of week 1 with our scholars! I have enjoyed meeting with many of you and assisting with your instructional technology needs. I am grateful to work with such a diverse group of professionals who are eager to learn new and exciting ways to deliver instruction.
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Culture Resource of the Week
Wearing masks is something we can definitely classify as the new normal. Slater has a schoolwide mandatory mask policy. As with any other new content or expectation we have to explicitly and intentionally prepare our students. In this Edutopia article by Lori Desautels, she gives us 7 strategies for supporting our students with mask wearing mandate while simultaneously bolstering their sense of calm.
Click HERE to access this resource.
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TO DO LIST
- Be sure you've sent positive communication home for each individual child by Monday, August 16.
Please use the ADP console in the main office to clock in and out each day. If you are having any issues doing so please email Ms. Curry ASAP. In the coming weeks we will be adding the biometric option to clock in. Ms. Curry will send communication about setup in the near future.
- Continue to enter attendance in Infinite Campus and complete the paper attendance.