David G. Burnet Elementary
Shining Stars Gazette - April 4th, 2016
Excellence Will Lead to Success!
David G. Burnet Elementary
Mission:
Providing excellence in the physical, emotional, social and academic growth of every child to ensure all student achieve their maximum potential.
Vision:
Teachers will create strong classroom cultures, build relationships with students, and implement instructional practices that engage all students.
Notes from the Principal!
As we enter the last two weeks of the 5th Six Weeks and into testing, please remember that good first instruction makes the most difference in student's academic achievement. It is really what happens in the classroom that will change the odds for our students. We had a great week of testing were students were very focused on the test, this is a reflection on all that you have instilled in them. Thank you for believing that ALL of our students can graduate from a 4 year college.
Please read the article below that will assist on 2.6. Our coaches have also been preparing materials to present on 2.6.
Sincerely,
Ms. Loskot, Proud Principal of All Stars!
From Marshall Memo 630
Question-Asking As a Key 21st-Century Skill
In this article in Mind/Shift, Katrina Schwartz says getting the answers to straight-forward information questions is just a mouse-click away on the Internet. “But while computers are great at spitting out answers,” she says, “they aren’t very good at asking questions. But luckily, that’s where humans excel. Curiosity is baked into the human experience.”
Questioning comes naturally to young children, but it “drops off a cliff” when they turn 5 or 6, says author Warren Berger. In school, he observes, “Time really conspires against questioning.” Classroom dynamics and curriculum coverage work against exploring thought-provoking queries. “Many kids don’t see asking questions as ‘cool,’” says Schwartz. “And the perception that question-askers are suck-ups or dorks probably also comes from fear. Many people feel vulnerable admitting they don’t know something. They are afraid to offer a window into their inner world by wondering out loud.”
But questioning is a highly valued skill for the 21st century – in companies, in day-to-day interactions, and as citizens asking questions about the world, policies, and the actions of our government. Schwartz suggests five ways to help students become better question-askers:
• Make it safe. “Fear kills curiosity,” says Berger. “The two things do not exist very well together.” That’s why teachers need to be explicit in encouraging big-picture questions, letting students know that they’ll be on a learning curve as they get better at formulating good questions, and making it easier for shy students to get their questions out there by forming small groups or encouraging students to submit questions on cards.
• Make it cool. “The people who are really breaking new ground are the people asking questions,” says Berger. “Questioners are the explorers, the mavericks. If you are a questioner, you are going against the grain. That could appeal to young people.”
• Make it fun. Teachers can turn question-asking into a game by framing the process as a detective solving mysteries, puzzles, or riddles. Students can take closed questions and turn them into open questions and vice-versa and experiment with different lead-off words:
Why… ?
What if… ?
How might we… ?
How could we… ?
How should we… ?
• Make it rewarding. Some teachers respond to a thoughtful student question by saying, “That’s a great question” and moving on. Genuine interest and enthusiasm about a question may be all the reward some students need. Teachers could keep track of good questions and have students vote on the best question of the week, or add this question at the end of a test: What question should have been on this test, but wasn’t?
• Make it stick. To become a lifelong habit, asking good questions has to be a regular part of the school day. The comedian George Carlin had a routine on “Vuja de” that celebrated his ability to look at familiar situations in a fresh way (see the video in the link below). Teachers might ask students to look at an object in the classroom or their everyday lives in an entirely new way. “If you can instill this habit of mind in kids,” says Berger, “this is the key to success for innovators.”
“Kids need to learn during their time at school that they have the right to know,” concludes Schwartz, “to challenge assumptions and to dig deeper. Fostering this mentality in students can be challenging for teachers who are often complicit in systems of control over students. But often when teachers open the space for these questions, value them and explore them with students, a deep trust is built.”
“How to Bring ‘More Beautiful’ Questions Back to School” by Katrina Schwartz in Mind/Shift, February 9, 2016, http://bit.ly/1RCg2uv
Mr. Hale - We are Proud of You!
Please help me in congratulating Mr. Hale as I am thrilled to inform you that he has been selected as a finalist for the 2016 Fishman Prize for Superlative Classroom Practice! In the fifth year of the Prize, approximately 800 applications from inspiring teachers nationwide were received. Mr. Hale is one of only ten finalists. This has been a very rigorous process in which, apart from being selected as the only teacher in Texas after applying, he was observed in the classroom and is now a finalist.
We are proud of him on this achievement and his selection is a testament to his accomplishments with students, his passion for teaching, and most of all, his extraordinary work in the classroom.
His name will be publicly announced among the finalists on the TNTP blog and on social media Tuesday, April 12.
In the final stage of the Fishman Prize selection process, the judges will meet him in person. He will undergo a 45-minute interview with them at TNTP’s offices in Brooklyn, NY, the weekend of April 15-17.
I am confident that Mr. Hale will represent himself, Burnet and all of DISD well.
Key Action 1: Promote a positive climate and culture that ensures student achievement by establishing a common vision. (Philosophy)
5th Grade Classroom Entry!
5th Grade Classroom Entry!
Pep Rally!
Key Action 2: Strengthen the instructional program and data system by providing differentiated professional development. (Process)
Ms. Alvarez's 1st Grade Math Class - I do (Modeling)
Ms. Alvarez brings her students to the carpet for the first part of the lesson cycle, I do (Teacher models). All students are engaged by using white boards as teacher makes good use of her technology to show them time.
Ms. Odorizzi's 4th Grade Writing - We do (Guided Practice)
Ms. Leighton's 1st Grade - We do (Guided Practice)
Key Action 3: Promote student achievement by implementing and monitoring a system of data and feedback on instruction. (Implementation)
Using Data for Small Group Instruction!
Using Data for Guided Reading!
Using Data for Small Group and Daily 5 Groups
We are the Champions in Basketball - 1st Place!
Real School Garden Design Voting!
One School, One Vision, Together We Are On A Mission
Week At-A-Glance
Monday, March 21st, 2016
- Classroom Entry & Ten With a Pen (Day 134)
- Pre-K Roundup
STAAR Alt Assessment Window 4-22
Faculty Meeting in the cafeteria 3:15-4:30
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016
- Classroom Entry & Ten With a Pen (Day 135)
- Pre-K Roundup
- TJ Bus Tour at Burnet 9:55 a.m. - 10:55 a.m.
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2016
- Classroom Entry & Ten With a Pen (Day 136)
- Pre-K Roundup
- BOC Meeting @ 3:15
- Behavior Committee Meeting @ 3:15 in Ms. Seaton’s Office
- Attendance Committee Meeting @ 3:30 in 106
- Real School Garden Design and Dine @ 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 24th, 2016
- Classroom Entry & Ten With a Pen (Day 137)
- Pre-K Roundup
- PLC Meeting/Lesson Alignment in 106 – Tera Nova and TELPAS training for K-2
- 5th ACP Art Performance
- Thursday Folder goes home
Friday, March 25th, 2016
- Classroom Entry & Ten With a Pen (Day 138)
- Pre-K Roundup
- Please send kudos to Ms. Loskot by 2:00
Quote of the Week
Think BIG
Keep Calm and Shine On!
Action Items
David G. Burnet Elementary
Email: sloskot@dallasisd.org
Website: http://www.dallasisd.org/Page/2236
Location: 3200 Kinkaid Drive, Dallas, TX, United States
Phone: 972-794-3000