Update From THIS I.F.
Welcome January!!
TES Focus
- Get students talking to one another about content! Student to student interaction increases language for students and helps them process information. Remember if they cannot talk about it--they CANNOT read or write about it!
- Speaking in complete sentences!
- Vocabulary Instruction (Do not forget Context Clues as well)
- 120 minute ELA Block and 90 minute Math Block (Intervention time must be in addition to core instruction!)
Have students summarize learning throughout the lesson! Stop and Think Pair Share or partner and talk about a word, topic, or definition! Stop learning and have students write their thoughts, draw a picture or share learning with a partner! Summarizing throughout a lesson is one of the best strategies to yield high growth. See my Blog if you haven't read about summarizing!!
Think about the 7 minute challenge--I explained it below. When you look a the chart below--how can we NOT find this time?
I know I push you all hard but remember it is because I want you and your students to be the best possible! If you do not understand something--are frustrated or need help--please reach out and I will do EVERYTHING I can to help you!
Love you TES!
Retentions
If you want to discuss these students with me prior to the meeting with Ms. Lingle--let me know!
Dates to Know:
Other things to know:
Wednesday, 1/11/17, SST beginning at 2:00
Monday, 1/16/17, No School Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Friday, 1/20/17, Early Release
DoJo Reward Movie
Tuesday, 1/24/17, Benchmark Window Closes
Week of February 6th-10th
County Math Benchmarks for K-2
County Math and Reading Benchmarks 3-5
MOY Benchmark
All grades please complete the SRI test as soon as possible but no later than the end of the Benchmark window.
K-2
You will complete Reading 3D Dibels and TRC. Easy CBM CCSS Math
3rd
You will complete Reading 3D Dibels and TRC. Easy CBM CCSS Math. You are also responsible for DAZE (online).
4-5
You will complete Easy CBM Fluency, Vocabulary, MCRC Reading and CCSS Reading. In addition, you will complete the CCSS Math.
TRC Benchmark Schedule for Coverage
County Benchmarks for 3-5 Reading and Math will be the first week of February. These will be a bit longer than our first Benchmark and will begin working on endurance. Continue to use your visual timers to help students learn how to pace themselves during EOG practice.
K-2 County Math Benchmarks will take place at this time as well. Do not forget you may want use released versions of this assessment to prepare students for the format. See the left of the screen to find your grade level
Programs
We also have Moby Max--if you do not have a working account and need one--let me know ASAP.
3-5 you have access to Newsela--be sure to utilize this resource especially for our on and above level students.
Curriculum "WOWs" in the Building
- New Year Resolutions created by kids! Love that so many of you helped students think about goals. Modeling and guiding goal setting for our students because most of them are not exposed to this type of thinking for the future and learning how to put "plans in to action!" LOVE!
- Routines re-established! I saw so many of you reviewing rules and procedures--repetitively! So important and worth the time!
- 2nd Grade started TRC testing! Great Start Ladies!
- 6 classes have already completed CCSS Math CBM!
- 5 classes completed SRI this week! So thankful you all are getting testing done quickly so we can get back to a routine! When you complete testing--please send me an email just so I can start compiling your data for you!
- Continuing with quality instruction during the "no heat" day!
I did not get in classes like I should have this week--so sorry! I am looking forward to making time next week to see each of you in action! If you have needs--please let me know! I will be doing R3D testing for Geiger and Cooper so I may be unavailable right when you need me BUT please email me, leave me a note or call me on the walkie and I will get to you as soon as I can!
7 Minute Challenge Starts THIS WEEK!!!!
The challenge is to add 7 minutes of reading to the instructional day. As a TES goal, I would like you find 7 minutes in each instructional day for students to read. Notice that 7 minutes a day increases exposure for students to about the 60th percentile. This of course is a minimum but is a great start especially since research shows that more than 20% of students in grades 2-5 do not read outside of school AT ALL! This increases with factors such as poverty, family apathy towards education, lack of structured environment etc.
Document in your lesson plans where you are increasing reading by 7 minutes each day and your name will be put in for a weekly drawing. You will just put the 7 minutes in your lesson plans in bold print or highlight in yellow so they can be seen easily. Email Ms. Lingle and Kelly This that you have included the time. The email will be your "ticket" for the drawing so please make sure you do this. The first week drawing will be a jean day for three teachers drawn. Each week will be a different drawing for items such as no duty lunch, leave early, jean day, etc. Let me or Janel know if you have suggestions.
To maximize time--you will have to plan for this time and it not be spur of the moment. Having a book basket or a book on the side of the desk for this purpose (not having to search for a book) is recommended. Students having appropriate books at their level at hand will encourage reading during "down times." Our reluctant readers will spend all their time at the book shelf choosing a book!
Use a Weekly Reader--partner reading, choral reading, readers theater....
Just get students reading MORE!
If you have not read the Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller--it is an easy read and VERY inspiring!
https://www.pinterest.com/explore/book-whisperer/
Weekly Blog
Reading Motivation?? How do we do it?? I have shared a few ideas but WANT YOU TO SHARE YOURS! This is an issue for our students so we really need to address it as a school!!
Kelly This
Email: kthis@alexander.k12.nc.us
Website: http://www.alexander.k12.nc.us/domain/1123
Location: Taylorsville, NC, United States
Phone: 8282922293
Twitter: @This1This