Tiger Tribute
Week of: September 16-20
Thoughts on Walkthroughs
As we visit your classrooms and complete the walkthrough form, please keep a few things in mind:
- Walkthroughs are intended to document a single point in time. It is entirely possible that you just did something or will do something after we leave that may have changed the boxes checked. That is perfectly ok.
- The feedback you receive is not evaluative. When completing a walkthrough, our goal is to provide you with exactly what we saw-not necessarily to classify it as "good" or "bad."
- Walkthroughs, like most data, are only helpful when you review them for patterns and trends about your teaching. We will provide you with quarterly data about your walkthroughs so you can see if there is an area you appear to be hanging out in more than others, or if there is something that is not incorporated as often as you may have intended.
- The Rigor/Relevance Framework is not linear. Your Rigor/Relevance quadrant is important information, but being in quad A does not mean you are ineffective. (More on this below.)
Rigor/Relevance Framework
- A: Low Rigor/Low Relevance
- B: Low Rigor/High Relevance
- C: High Rigor/Low Relevance
- D: High Rigor/High Relevance
I want you to think about these in a different way. These labels are accurate, but maybe a bit simplistic. The graphic below is a better representation of each quadrant, so when you get feedback about which quadrant you are in, please match it to this and think about it in these terms:
- A: Acquisition: This is the point in the lesson/unit that students are being explicitly taught. This is necessary to student learning and is something we expect to see in your classrooms at times.
- B: Application: This is the stage after acquisition. Students have knowledge and they are using it to apply it in some way-perhaps with their existing knowledge, new knowledge you have provided them, think...Math word problems
- C: Assimilation: In this quadrant, students are using knowledge with higher level thinking processes. (Blooom's Taxonomy)
- D: Adaptation: At this point, students are using a significant amount of information and applying it to create new information, processes, etc.
All four quadrants are necessary, but good teaching requires the use of all quadrants strategically to insure high student learning.
The Quadrants are not linear: D is not better than C is not better than B is not better than A. They are different types of learning. Notice the continuums on the graphic. The quadrants at the top (C and D) indicate a higher level of thinking using Bloom's Taxonomy. The quadrants to the right (B and D) identify a higher level of application that is required.
We will continue to talk about these quadrants in PLCs and staff meetings and will use the to help you as you plan. I promise we will do all we can to give you the support you need to feel successful with this!
Weekly Events
Monday, September 16
- Chocolate Fundraiser Kick-Off
K-2 @1:00
3-5 @ 1:40 - Co-Teaching Professional Development: Gaymon, Agustin, Barr, Barnes, Spears, Choken
Tuesday, September 17
- The Blend-a percentage of purchases made at The Blend 3-8pm will be donated to FG PTO
- 4 Function Calculator Webinar, NCTEST, 3:30 (optional)
Wednesday, September 18
Thursday, September 19
- CPI Training, Wallburg
- School Readiness Group Meeting: Pop-Up Park, Booster Fields
- Leadership Team Meeting, 3:00
Friday, September 20
Looking Ahead
Progress Reports this Week
Monday, September 23
- Fall Pictures
Tuesday, September 24
- 30 Day KHA/Immunizations Deadline for K students and students new to a NC public school
- WIDA Screener Window Opens
- MTSS Meeting at Oak Grove, 8:00-11:00am, Young, Choken, Barr
- Elementary Process Manager Meeting, 3:00, Young
Wednesday, September 25
- KHA Immunization Exclusion Begins
Thursday, September 26
- Staff Meeting
- K-12 Scribbles Enrollment Training Webinar, 10:00am, Brown, Walser, Barr
Friday, September 27
- BOY PDPs Due
Saturday, September 28
- Robotics Coach Meeting, Burkhart
September Morning Car Duty
September 23-27: 1st Teachers and Marsh; Gaymon, Agustin