October 23, 2017
A Communication Tool for the Seven Hills Staff
NISD Learning Cycle: Focus on Literacy
Some great conversations have been had surrounding the components of a balanced literacy program. And, we are noticing solid instructional approaches and strategies during classroom visits. Our visits will continue this week.
In response to some of the discussions we have had, we wanted to reshare what Sunni sent out last week about invitation to notice:
- There have been some questions about what to do in the skills block and how to use the Invitation to Notice resource. You can find an explanation and sample schedule at https://docs.google.com/a/nisdtx.org/document/d/1XkYob3VpASTUmtmWhPUyahrt_zVnpuCwQM7RTx9cS6I/edit?usp=sharing.
The skills block is an important part of a balanced approach to literacy, and the grammar component of instruction in this block is essential. In order to help you plan, I wanted to make sure you have the year at a glance and scope and sequence documents at your fingertips for planning purposes. You will find a folder linked below containing these documents. I encourage you to print a copy to have readily available for planning.
- Skills Block Year at a Glance: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2B12tKbY7poMF9WVFJlXzQxUVU
The Conventions to Secure rubric is pictured below. How are you using this for planning mini-lessons and student conferences during Writer's Workshop? Is this a part of student monitoring of progress as part of the whirlwind or WIG? Are you providing feedback to students in their writing (across content areas) about conventions?
Teachers, please reach out to Hayley or me with any questions you may have and support you may need with intentionally planning for grammar instruction.
Fall Family Leadership Night...Promote...Prepare...Present!
Habit Huddle and 7 Habits Focus for The Next 2 Weeks:
On the purple calendar, there is a week without a habit focus. The week of October 30. Because we are wrapping up the focus on habit 7 tomorrow, we will move the start of the next 7 week cycle back one week to start on October 30. So, the habit focus for the week of October 30 will be habit 1. The purple calendar will then be on track for November.
So then, what should the focus be for Habit Huddle next week? This is a great opportunity to review all habits connected to Red Ribbon Week activities. Each day has a habit focus for the theme. I am requesting that you also use this week to review the campus wide leader expectations with students. How are students leaders in the halls, in the cafeteria, in the bathrooms, at recess, etc. You might also start the week reviewing respect agreements for your class. Students could self-assess how well they have been holding up their end of the agreement. The expectations and respect agreements are not the standard practice yet, and we must take time to review and reinforce in order for them to become the standard of excellence. Thank you for your attention to this.
Please also make sure you are communicating Red Ribbon Week activities to your parents. The flier and the letter about the drug awareness program were sent in an email from Kim Blackburn. They are also pictured in the S'more.
I hope you will consider participating the Red Ribbon Week fun with your students! Prizes and incentives for teachers who participate!
Lead Time:
We have defined our campus and grade level Wildly Important Goals, and all students should have WIGs. We have 2 weeks to be working on lead measures before the end of the grading period. Remember that as a campus we agreed to provide time for students to work on lead measures during lead time 3-4 times per week. Each classroom should be monitoring progress on their classroom lead time scoreboard. I wanted to provide a gentle reminder about what we all agreed to with respect to lead time. You can find our document linked here: https://docs.google.com/a/nisdtx.org/document/d/1SaXs7qwXrHrFB8qkJwJtLcPa3ty4xBytQov-NfgkwGs/edit?usp=sharing
Sharpen the Saw Club Schedule:
Because of the Book Character Parade on Friday, we will have a shortened Sharpen the Saw Club. We will have the parade first, then go to clubs.
The schedule seems to be working. We will continue with this schedule for the remainder of this SSC cycle.
7:40-8:00 a.m. -Book Character Parade (prepare for the parade immediately when the tardy bell rings.)
8:05 - 8:35 Sharpen the Saw Clubs
8:40-9:30- 5th
9:30-10:20- 4th
10:20-11:10- 3rd
11:10-11:40- Lunch (Specials Team)
11:40-12:30- Conference (Specials Team)
12:30- 1:20- Kinder
1:20-2:10- 1st grade
2:10-3:00- 2nd grade
Wonder
Precepts for the Week:
- Monday: Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. - Ian Maclaren
- Tuesday: Every day, in every way, I'm getting better and better. - Emily Coue
- Wednesday: Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I am in, therein to be content. - Helen Keller
- Thursday: It is only with the hear that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. - Antione de Saint Exupery
- Friday: Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate. - Albert Schweitzer
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month:
If you have not completed Challenge #1 or #2 it is not too late! They are still posted in google classroom.
Challenge #3 Dyslexia Survey is now posted in our google classroom. Please complete by Friday, October 27. Ms. Goosey and Mrs. Bryan have created a Dyslexia Awareness Challenge for all staff members to participate in, if you choose! Anyone who completes all 4 challenges by the end of October will receive 2 jeans passes! Log into google classroom and enter the classroom code to join our challenge! Teachers will complete one challenge each week, a total of 4 challenges by the end of the month.
Join our class in google classroom the code is: 1rk08q
Staff to Facilities Respect Agreement...Science Closet and Stage:
- If it's not yours don't take it.
- Leave the environment in a better way than you found it.
- See a need meet the need.
- Clean up after yourself.
The condition of these two locations indicates we are not meeting the respect agreement.
A HUGE thank you goes to Barbara Reyes and her family! They gave their Saturday morning to clean up the science closet. There are before and after pictures posted below. While it is not 100% complete, it is in significantly improved condition than it was. We will be purging the stage this week.
All staff need to uphold their end of the respect agreement with regard to facilities. It is unacceptable to leave our building in disarray and expect others to clean up our messes. This includes, but is not limited to, the science and math closet, the leveled library, the stage, the teacher's lounge, the teacher's workroom, the halls (including decorations), and teacher classrooms.
Thank you again to the Reyes family for cleaning and organizing!
Campus and District Announcements and Updates:
Reading Teachers need to update student text levels in the Student Accountability sheet in Google before Friday.
All CBA data needs to be updated in the Student Accountability Sheet.
Required ELPS/TELPAS Training DUE MONDAY!: Here is the link for the 2017-18 ELPS/TELPAS Connection training. It is required that all teachers complete this training. Please register by clicking the link https://eduphoria.nisdtx.org/wshop/default.aspx?cid=13507
You can access the training in the notes and attachments section of the course. Please complete the Google form on the last slide of the PowerPoint to receive credit.
Teachers should also complete the registration and Google form for credit.
Please complete by or before October 16th, print and turn in your certificate of completion into Kelly Bryan’s box once you have submitted your answers and received credit for completing this training. If you need help with this please let Kelly and Goosey know. They are willing to help you.
Seven Hills October - Health and Fitness Calendar. Coach Grounds passed out Health and Fitness Calendar’s last week. Join us in modeling a healthy lifestyle. Complete any 25 days on the calendar and turn it in October 31st to receive a prize!
- NEF Grants: If you're interested in applying for a teaching grant, click here. The application process lasts through Oct. 27. Dream BIG! Seven Hills has not applied for an NEF grant in the last 2 years. If you have ideas that you would like to more fully develop, please let Kim, Leslie, or Hayley know. Q is also really good at grant writing. We would love to help you.
Thanksgiving Lunch Invitations Will Go Home This Week:
Save the Date:
Habit Focus: This week should be used as a review of all habits connected to Red Ribbon Week. There is also an expectation to review the campus leader expectations with students this week. This would also be a good time to review classroom respect agreements.
- Wear Red Day
- ILT Meeting, 3:15
- Lexia Training (am 2/3, pm 4/5)
- NISD Board of Trustees member, Steve Sprowls visits 7 Hills at 9:00 am
- Grade Level PLCs
- Dress Like Your Future Self Day
- Family Leadership Night, 6:00 - 7:30 pm (staff wear "future self" costume or navy World changer t-shirt and jeans to Family Leadership Night.)
October 25:
- Fall Picture Day (schedule coming soon)
- Silly Sock Day
- 3rd and 4th Grade Field Trip
October 26:
- Leadership Teams Meeting, 3:30 - 4:30
October 27:
- Book Character Parade (7:40 - 8:00 - be prepared to start parade promptly at 7:40 after the tardy bell.)
- Sharpen the Saw Clubs
- SST D
- Fundraiser Delivery
- T-TESS Goals Due in Edugence
Happy Birthday to You:
Mari Heffington 10/25
Mariah Zeigler 10/27
Marisa Tindel 10/28