Cat Tracks
Spring Shadows Elementary Wildcats Staff Newsletter
September 16 - 20, 2019
Classroom Helpers in Kinder!
Our Vision
Our Mission
Core Beliefs
- Each student has unique intellectual, emotional, social, and physical qualities.
- We embrace a child’s individual values, interests, and personalities.
- Parents are confident in their child’s social and intellectual educational growth.
- Educators lead their craft by preparing learners in our fast changing world
Friday the 13th Teaching!
Principal's Message
This week, I want to extend your thinking to the question:
"Am I noticing what does and does not work with my students?" John Hattie, author of multiple educational books including Visible Learning, states that we have to be in tune with how our students learn best.
Last week, I was deep into studying the "what" of our accountability. I've had multiple opportunities to sit with our research and accountability executive director Dr. Haffey about what we at SSE need to keep moving forward. While we are moving in the right direction, are we going fast enough? Are we closing the gaps at the rate for which we want them? The answer is no.
I'm the first to chime in... "it's our mobility, the kids have large gaps..etc.." However, when compared to our 40 comparison schools, they also have the same mobility, econ-dis, and on and on and on. We are sitting at the bottom quartile. What can we do to "catalyze" our kids learning?
So what is it? It boils down to getting to know our kids and acting on the right prescription of instruction for them. Good first instruction is key. We can't let that up to chance. We have to be thoughtful in how we present our material and which instructional techniques are going to give us the highest effect.
Math being our weaker subject according to data...I pulled out my trusty edition of Visible Learning for Mathematics by John Hattie, Douglas Fisher, and Nancy Frey. Let's review how to go from surface learning to deep learning and finally transfer learning (pg. 34). Watch the video: Visible Learning 1.2 Video.
- Surface learning: builds initial understanding of concepts, skills, and vocabulary on a new topic.
- Deep learning: deepen understanding by making conceptual connections between and among concepts and applying and practicing procedural skills.
- Apply conceptual understanding and skills- with little teacher assistance- to new and parallel contexts and scenarios and future units of study.
As a teacher, you have many choices for instruction. Consider how you design your lessons and employ instructional moves that will honor your students' needs to develop their surface understanding of a topic , help them extend the depth of their learning, and help them transfer learning to new tasks and projects.
This week- Identify one important math topic that you teach. Think about your goals for this topic. Do your learning intentions and success criteria lean more toward surface or deep? How will you go from your starting point to transfer?
(By the way... this learning can be applied to any subject or content...not just math.)
Have a great learning week friends!
With love, respect, and admiration,
Rachel Martinez
Calendar
Monday, September 16th
3rd Grade Extended Planning, Group 1
Announcments: Shankar
- Book Fair
- 7:30-9:30 3rd Grade with TCRWP Jonathan Aldanese C202
- 9:40-11:30 5th Grade with TCRWP Jonathan Aldanese C202
- 12:35-2:40 4th Grade with TCRWP Jonathan Aldanese C202
Tuesday, September 17th
5th Grade Extended Planning, Group 2
Announcments: Shankar
- Book Fair
- SPIRAL Day
- 2nd Grade Math Common Assessment (Place Value) Test is in All in Learning.
- 7:30-11:30 Cindy Off Campus
- 7:30-9:30 3rd Grade with TCRWP Jonathan Aldanese C202
- 9:40-11:30 5th Grade with TCRWP Jonathan Aldanese C202
- 12:35-2:40 4th Grade with TCRWP Jonathan Aldanese C202
Wednesday, September 18th
Group 3
Announcments: Shankar
- Book Fair
- 6:00 am First Run Progress Report 1
- 8:00-12:00 Cindy, Katie and Elizabeth Off Campus
- 3rd Grade Common Assessment Unit 1 Addition & Subtraction (Test in All in Learning)
- 12:30 Early Dismissal
- 1:15 PD in Library (bring a pencil and notebook).
- 2:45 Vivian Salazar Baby Shower
Thursday, September 19th
PLC, Group 4
Announcments: Shankar
- Book Fair
- 4th Grade Field Trip to Museum of Fine Arts
- 12:00 Print Progress Report 1
- 4:00-6:00 Open House: Parent Log, Parent Compact, and Free & Reduced Lunch Survey collected: Schedule
Friday, September 20th
4th Grade Extended Planning, Group 5
Announcments: Shankar
- Book Fair
- Cindy Off Campus 9:00-11:00
- Progress Report 1 goes home
- Rachel, Jakerian, & Adriana Garza off Campus 1:00-3:00 Title 1 Mtg.
Shout Outs
Friday the 13th Learning!
Language and Literacy across Contents!
Spring Shadows Elementary
Email: rachel.martinez@springbranchisd.com
Website: https://cms.springbranchisd.com/sse2/
Location: 9725 Kempwood Drive, Houston, TX, United States
Phone: (713) 251-7100
Twitter: @twitter_rachelmartinez4