Weekly Staff Newsletter
Week of September 4th
What Great Teachers Do Differently...
Chapter 2: It's People, Not Programs
Teachers are a school's keystone of greatness. School Improvement is actually a very simple concept. There are 2 ways to significantly improve a school: get better teachers AND improve the current teachers.
~taken from What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker (p.7-8)
~taken from What Great Teachers Do Differently by Todd Whitaker (p.4)
Instructional Focus:
Do you know what the STUDENTS are doing at each part of the lesson? How do you plan for your students do demonstrate they are engaged in the learning process? This is something that you have to intentionally plan ahead for--it doesn't just happen. Plan for what the Teacher is doing AND what the Student is doing at each part of the lesson.
Last Week: When you are having students respond to a question -- verbally or in writing -- provide them with a sentence stem to get started!
Examples of Great Work in Lesson Plans...
Here is an example of a teacher planning engagement activities to try for each day of the week.
Clear Learning Intentions & Success Criteria written in student friendly language.
September 7: RtI, AIPs, MTSS
September 14: CTC Format & Protocols for 2023-24
September 21: CTC
September 28: CTC
This week in Morning Meetings...
We have been talking about Mindfulness the past two weeks. This upcoming week is about Mindful Actions. How can this 3G topic be linked to our HOWL Expectations? How can we link Mindful Actions to what we learned last week about caring for the things that matter to you?
Tip for Morning Meetings: Greeting + Share Time + Message
You say good morning to your students every morning. When you start Morning Meetings by having your students make eye contact and greet each other by name, it has a powerful impact on your classroom community. This take PRACTICE for our students! It's a simple practice that makes a huge difference!
Helpful Info....
Did you know...how students perform on the BOY screener has a lot to say about their learning in the first few weeks of school. It's important that your classroom testing environment is helpful for students and that students know the importance of what they are doing.
Did you know...students should be able to get 50% of the questions correct and not be able to answer 50% of the question. It's ok to give students permission to try their best and know they won't know how to answer about half of the questions they are asked.
Did you know...the more accurate the data from MAP, the better tool it is to guide your students' future learning.
Challenge: Look at your CLASS Report to see where students ended at EOY. Keep kids moving forward.
Students should see their data line continue to move up...even on the BOY screener. The assessment adjusts for the content that might be lost over the summer...you shouldn't see a dip from EOY to BOY. Students should end at the same place as EOY or Higher at BOY this year.
If a student's EOY last year was BLUE, their BOY should still be BLUE. If a student's EOY was in the ORANGE, we would expect them to still be in the ORANGE on BOY.
Message from JoAnn about Speech:
Hi Team,
I hope everyone had a lovely first week back with students. I've seen every one of you all working hard to get know each individual student at the start of the year.
Some students may have unique needs that you've observed in the classroom or parents have identified and reported to you. If a referral to special education is being considered for SPEECH, the referral process outlined in the MES HUB under SPED/504/GT titled "referrals".
Look for the Speech Language Referral Forms:
- this referral process is for students with ONLY COMMUNICATON based challenges: noted this is not just challenges with speech sounds, but includes challenges with expressing or understanding verbal language and encompasses overall COMMUNICATION (i.e. can the child tell you what they need / learned, can the child understand the instruction you are providing, can the child communicate that information clearly)
- this referral process only considers speech/language services
Speech_Language Referral Forms (2).pdf
We recognize how many steps are required in the process and appreciate your work. Helping a student get the academic support they need to progress is so valuable and makes a huge difference for every child that does require our services. Although we cannot change the process, I can give you a "why" to motivate you along the way! Here is a quote that keeps me going even on my toughest days:
"Every child deserves a CHAMPION: An adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists they become the best they can be." ~Rita Pierson
Thank you all for being CHAMPIONS everyday! If you have any questions, I am always available by email. Please email versus calling my office to ensure that we have a "paper trail" regarding all referral information.
All best,
JoAnn Hervey MS CCC SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
MONDAYS: Team T-Shirt
TUESDAY: Professional Dress (Blouses, Collared Shirts, etc)
WEDNESDAY: Professional Dress (Blouses, Collared Shirts, etc)
THURSDAY: Professional Dress (Blouses, Collared Shirts, etc)
FRIDAY: MES Wolf Spirit Wear (any MES tshirt, any Feeder Pattern tshirt, maroon, grey, etc)
Jeans can be worn every day. Overall presentation should be professional. Jeans should not have holes, rips or tears.
Tip for the Week: Work Hard...Play Hard!
Take time on this 3 day weekend to rest, relax and do something that makes you happy. Work is not your life. It's important to do a great job at work, but it's equally important for you to claim your time away from work for yourself...and to not feel bad about it. YOU, as a person, are important and deserve the best in your work life AND personal life.
BACK to SCHOOL NIGHT
"Family Engagement is NOT about doing MORE, but doing what we already do...and doing it differently!" ~Dr. Steve Constantino
We need parents' INFLUENCE in our corner! This year we will host a Back to School Night to help our parents be better equipped to meet the needs of their children as learners. This will be a time for teachers to share learning, overall classroom and homework expectations and WHY parent partnerships are so important. Think back to what you heard from Dr. Constantino...if we can share information with parents ahead of time, they have a better chance of being a partner! Here is some more information for your team to use as you plan.
- There will be 2 sessions that will each last 20 minutes. This is to help parents with multiple students at MES make it to their children's sessions.
- The overall evening will be from 5-6:30 and begin with PTA and Title 1 Meeting in the Cafeteria. Sessions will be held in the classrooms. Session 1 will be at 5:40 an Session 2 will be at 6:10.
- Information shared with families should be consistent from classroom to classroom. 4th and 5th grades can meet together since you share all of the same students.
- Start the planning process with the slide show you shared at Meet the Teacher and add more academic information. Add tips for parents to use when they read or listen to their child read, etc. Think about what you learned from our Family Engagement PD with Dr. Constantino. (I've texted your chart paper with notes to you Team Leader.)
- Talk about the importance of regular attendance.
- Go over what will be learned during the year -- big ideas/topics and milestones for students. Parents need to know that their child will be challenged in their learning.
- Make sure you complete your Compliance Training Videos ASAP! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QkK513VgKhuarIMFgYk37qpmlX36aINkk_RMNQr93tM/edit?usp=sharing
- Join PTA ASAP -- online or put cash in an envelope and place it in the PTA box in the front office. https://txpta.my.salesforce-sites.com/JoinPTA
- The School Store Cart is up and ready to be checked out! It's in the Wolf Den waiting for your Grade Level!
8/8 Sara Williams
8/12 Deena Springer
8/27 Natalie Nolff
8/28 Mary Alice Johnston
9/10 Cynthia Elias
9/10 Julia Thola
9/11 Michelle Kiers
9/13 Chelle Vandertulip
9/15 Ashley Crisp
9/24 Liana Martinez
9/25 Logan McMahan
Monday, September 4:
Labor Day - Student & Staff Holiday
Tuesday, September 5:
Faculty Meeting 3:45-4:45 (District Required LPAC Training)DAY1:
Please Register @ https://pulse.kickup.co/events/browse/K7FKb8FGsdBVRTCh7zrZDC
Wednesday, September 6:
Thursday, September 7:
CTC (conference time)
Back to School Night from 5-6:30
Friday, September 8:
Granparent/Grandfriend Lunch on the Stage
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Monday, September 11:
Patriots Day
Girls on the Run Practice 3:30-5:00
Tuesday, September 12:
Faculty Meeting 3:45-4:45 (District Required LPAC Training)
Please Register @ https://pulse.kickup.co/events/browse/JGgWg6U7PVdxMSUQQX2yWf
Wednesday, September 13:
Girls on the Run Practice 3:30-5:00
Thursday, September 14:
CTC (conference time)
Friday, September 15:
Granparent/Grandfriend Lunch on the Stage
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Monday, September 18:
Girls on the Run Practice 3:30-5:00
Tuesday, September 19:
Committee Mtg @ 3:45-4:30
Wednesday, September 20:
Girls on the Run Practice 3:30-5:00
Thursday, September 21:
CTC (conference time)
Friday, September 22:
Wear GOLD for Childhood Cancer Awareness
Granparent/Grandfriend Lunch on the Stage