AD Connect
9-4-17
Response to Intervention & BOY Testing
Dual Language Institute Training
Melissa Carriaga has emailed Cohort 1 and 2 principals with the names of each teacher that will be required to attend the training on Sept. 6-8. They will need to sign up for each day separately. Please be sure that these teachers are signed up and have secured subs. The ELL department is paying for the subs. If you have a teacher that is required to attend and they are ‘waitlisted,’ that teacher will need to go ahead and attend.
CIT Presentations
Presentations are scheduled for September 18-22. You should have received an appointment. If not, please contact Chelsea Burch. During the presentations, you will informally review your plan with the panel of department representatives and will receive feedback.
Customer Service Checks and Secret Shoppers
Think Through Math and iStation
Great news! The Intervention Department will purchase Think Through Math (TTM) and iStation this year. They are still working out details, but more information is coming soon.
Balanced Literacy and Gomez Dual Language
Second grade bilingual teachers will see a new addition to the SLA curriculum this year. The Schoolnet link Dual Language is for Dual Language Cohort 1 schools only, as they will begin the process of teaching reading and writing in both English and Spanish, per the Gomez Dual Language model. This will be a new challenge for teachers. The ELL department is working closely with the curriculum department to ensure appropriate supports are in place for your teachers, including PLC’s to assist with implementation. In addition, you may want to consider the following:
*Provide additional structured planning time for these teachers.
*Solicit support from Bilingual ISTs to ensure understanding of the recommended schedule for instruction, curriculum, and resources in this model.
*Solicit support from the ELL department to ensure the Dual Language model is fully understood and implemented with fidelity.
Cohort 2 schools and subsequent cohorts need to wait until it is their designated time to implement the 2nd grade ELA/SLA model and refer to the video I posted last week. Support for this implementation will only be available to Cohort 1.
Walkthrough Instruments
At next week’s level meeting, Organizational Learning will share the district instrument in True North Logic. Principals will have the capability to modify the instrument by adding additional campus look-fors. The district instrument will include: alignment, differentiation, and engagement. In preparation for this meeting, start thinking about what specific look-fors you would like to add based on campus needs identified during the CNA process and/or campus initiatives.
The BIG 3: Alignment, Rigor, and Engagement
As educators, we all know A-R-E is the cornerstone of quality instruction. These components are vital to all effective instruction and should be the starting point for conversations about instruction. Ensuring that your admin team and teachers have a clear understanding of the Big 3 will help move teaching and learning forward. If you haven’t already done so, start having conversations with your admin team about how you will provide feedback to teachers about A-R-E during walkthroughs and lesson plans. We will talk more about this as I visit campuses over the next few weeks.
Legal Matters
Gas Shortage and Employee Attendance
With the possible gas shortage, please be sure to check AESOP prior to the next school day until systems are back to normal to ensure classes are covered and that you have time to plan if you don’t have subs accept the vacancies you have. If you have vacancies, consider combining classes. If needed, contact me if you need added support. Districts staff can assist where needed.
Additionally, check in with staff so that they have an opportunity to ask questions and share issues they may have. Staff might consider carpooling to conserve gas if this continues beyond a day or two.
Upcoming Dates:
9/1-Testing coordinators due
9/4-Labor Day
9/5-PLCs Should begin
9/7-Team GISD and level meeting; Deadline for first fire drill
9/11-APMP meeting at 3:00 p.m.
9/12-Board Meeting; Tutoring should begin
9/14-Meet the Teacher Night
9/14-CIP due
Where's Big Boy?
Tuesday: Coaching visits all day
Wednesday: AM is CIA; PM is AD meeting
Thursday: Bambrick Training
Friday: Bambrick Training
TEAM GISD Meetings 2017-2018
7/27 kick off meeting
9/7
10/5
11/9
12/7
2/8
3/22
5/17
*all meetings are at 10am
* Elementary level meeting after lunch
New TAIS Guidebook for those who need it
All Things PLC
and create a login and view the resources available. As you launch PLC's next week you really want start off with the basics. Set the expectations, review agendas, set norms, review calendars and ensure that they have a clear understanding of the purpose of a PLC which is to address the Big 4 Questions. Let me know if you need any support launching.
ELL Request for Support
Here is the link to the form to request support from the ELL Department:
All In Learning
Please review the linked document if you have purchased All-In Learning.
Key update: bulk export for Schoolnet data loading – developed based on requests by principals. Contact Nelson in Organizational Learning if you have any questions.
https://drive.google.com/a/garlandisd.net/file/d/0B6zK2DFzvq6pZUZ4cFVSdGZsZzA/view?usp=sharing