A Note from the Principal's Desk
Week of December 14, 2015
My Pride SOARS/#2185PRIDE
Ms. McCoy is November Teacher of the Month.
Mr. Beavers is Employee of the Month.
Ms. Richter #2185Pride of the Month .
Formative Evaluations
Week at A Glance
Monday, 12/14/15
1. Grade Level Meetings during planning
2) Attendance Talks
3) LLRs
4) Enrichment Planning
ELA/MA Department Meeting
Tuesday, 12/15/15
Final Exams 7th period
1) Data Teams Process - Science & Social Studies PLC (Use SLDS for resources.)
2) Identify students who score at mastery, near mastery, and remediation.
3) Lesson Planning- Modify/ Adjust Curriculum/Instructional Strategies, and Create Assessments for students needing enrichment, extension and remediation.
4) Discuss PBL course
*Home BB v Manchester
Wednesday, 12/16/15
Final Exam 1st and 4th
Social Studies Professional Learning Day
Thursday, 12/17/15
Final Exams 2nd and 6th
1) Data Teams Process - Math & ELA PLC (Use SLDS for resources.)
2) Identify students who score at mastery, near mastery, and remediation.
3) Lesson Planning- Modify/ Adjust Curriculum/Instructional Strategies, and Create Assessments for students needing enrichment, extension and remediation.
4) Discuss PBL course
BB @ Pike
Fine Arts Night 5:30- 7:30 p.m.
Friday, 12/18/15
Final Exams 3rd and 5th
PBIS Celebration 2-4 p.m. Modified Schedule will be provided.
Project Based Inquiry Learning online course at Georgia Tech (Math and Science Teachers)
https://helix.gtpe.gatech.edu/?pageid=1
As we enter our final week of the course, we want to congratulate you and honor your hard work. Jayma and I have read through your PBIL Organizers, and the enthusiasm and effort has by and large been terrific. It is not easy to craft one of these units, and even the most average performing PBIL requires iterative design. But, the iteration is what produces a quality product and experience, particularly after you have piloted it in a classroom. As we have reviewed the proposals, we have some general feedback across three themes:
1. Engagement: As suggested in the supporting materials for Assignment 11, providing students with an authentic (not necessarily real, but authentic) context to drive the inquiry and learning forward is important. We saw a considerable number of units that lack a context or situation through which student are engaged. The rationale for the unit seems to be, "We will be learning about this concept because it is important for you to learn about it." In a quality PBIL, students must have a motivation to engage that is above their desire to do well in school. The Six A's article provides some help in developing a context that will not only engage, but sustain thePBIL. Additionally, make sure there is a payoff for students at the end of the experience. What will be their culminating activity where they get to show, through application, what they have learned about your targeted concepts and skills? The culminating activity should tie back into the problem or challenge where experience started.
2. Scope: There have been a number of PBIL Organizers that are tackling some big learning goals. This is certainly admirable, but we do have concerns that some plans are biting off more than they can chew. For those of you who have designed a 5-10 experience, think through what is realistic to learn in that time frame. Recall the idea that for students to learn something, they must be exposed to the concept, allowed to practice with the concept, apply the concept and reflect on the concept. Either expand the time you might provide, or conversely, reduce the scale of learning outcomes. The same idea applies to units that span an entire semester. Is it possible to maintain momentum and engagement for a long period given your topic? Earlier in the class we saw students working on year-long projects, like the solar car teams or the field study of brackish waters in Hawaii. Big projects, but the contexts are supremely rich. If it is your first unit, take it slow and aim for a 1-2 week unit.
3. Assessment: In your final version, highlight where you will derive grades from assessment. How will you have varying types and levels of assessment that will demonstrate what students are learning over time. How will you mix in homework and quizzes with project and exam grades? Create a suite and chronology of assessment to have a clear map of assessment.
Secret Santa Breakfast
- BIG REVEAL/GIFT (amount of your choice) - Thursday, December 17th
- Holiday Breakfast - I ask that you keep yourself a secret until we "reveal" ourselves at the breakfast. Breakfast will start at 7:45. Please let Ms. Holly know if you can donate any food/drink items for our breakfast.
- Thanks Ms. Holly for organizing this!