News from the Nest
Week of September 11, 2017 Related Arts "C" Week
Vision
"Wendell Phillips 63 will establish a positive, engaging, and rigorous learning environment that allows each child to “SOAR to Excellence” as a member of the Cardinal Family."
Places to be!!!
Sept 11- Lesson Plans Due in Google Drive (9:00 am)
Sept. 12- 5,6,7 Math, Science/Social Studies PLC's
Sept 13- K-3 Math PLC's
Sept 14- K-7 ELA PLC's- Smekens PD (Conference Room)
Sept 14- ELA Unit 7 Assessments (PIVOT)
Sept 15- VIMME Math Common Assessments
Sept 15- Heritage Fundraiser Day (see below)
General Need to Knows
Check In/Check Out will start this week for our first wave of students. They will be pulled first thing in the morning to meet with their CICO person. During this time, they will also be completing a Forced Choice Reinforcement Survey. An email will be going out to all involved in the process to meet on Monday morning @ 8:45 in the media center. Students will report to the media center after they receive their breakfast.
Monday is the 16th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Our students may be hearing about this directly through television or other media outlets. A link to the 9/11 Memorial page can be found here It contains lesson plans and topics for discussion if you would like to infuse this into your instruction that day.
On Thursday, Courtney Gordon will be back out for a follow up Smekens PD on Thursday. All K-7 ELA/Writing teachers will meet during your prep in the conference room. This PD will take the place of your ELA PLC's originally scheduled on Tuesday.
Grade 3-7 Teachers- we are awaiting word on the assessment schedule for the next three weeks. We will be taking the ELA Benchmark the week of September 18th. A schedule will be forthcoming. As for math- we are waiting to find out if we will be taking either the VIMME assessment, the Math Benchmark assessment, or both. The Math Benchmark will also be given the week of September 18th, if it is assigned. Next week we will run our normal PIVOT/VIMME schedule.
Hispanic Heritage month is coming up. We will be having our Hispanic Heritage Family Activity on the 21st. In order to get our students and staff in the spirit of unity, we will be having a heritage spirit day on Friday the 15th. For $1 you can participate on this day by wearing a traditional piece that represents another country. Funds will go to cover food and other related expenses.
We have three weeks until Fall Break...three weeks to make an impact before we don't see students for 17 consecutive days. This is a time where we also begin to see some increases in behavior, even from our more mild-mannered student. Breaks from school can led to students questioning where they will be staying, what they will be eating, etc. Historically, this is also a time for student transition- some leave, some enroll. Please be extra mindful of this moving forward....
Long observations will wrap this week. We are seeing some positive practices in play as we go into classrooms. We are now at the place to refine our practices....small changes that will lead to great gains! The power is taking the feedback and putting it into action immediately. Let's continue to push!!! All post conferences, goal setting, and goal documentation will be completed by Friday, Sept. 15th.
Vision Aligned Thought Provokers
Positive classrooms: I hope the conversation we had this past Tuesday morning led to reflection. We have many students that have so much need....social/emotionally, academically, and many other ways. Now is the time to go deeper than we know...and begin to take action. Eric Jensen states in Ch. 1:
- Change the school culture from pity to empathy. When staff members work with children raised in poverty, a common observation is "Bless their hearts, they come from such terrible circumstances.” The problem with that sentiment is that it leads to lowered expectations. Encourage teachers to feel empathy rather than pity; kids will appreciate your ability to know what it's like to be in their shoes. Establish a school culture of caring, not of giving up.
We won't lower the expectations for our students, but make adjustments to how we interact and develop relationships with them. We ALL have a story to tell and expect empathy from our situations. My challenge to you- do you know your toughest student's story? How does this impact your interaction with them?
Engaging instruction: Our school goal is that by 17-18 EOY 90% of teachers will be rated as effective or highly effective in Domain 3c of the Charlotte Danielson Rubric. This is assessed through formal observations and walkthroughs. There is a difference between ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT vs. engagement...and we want our students to be ACTIVELY ENGAGED! Take a look at the article below about what this should look like during specific times during your instructional day. Pay close attention to the TPR strategies...might help with our students that need to move!
RIGOROUS Instruction: Per our definition, RIGOROUS instruction has to be RELEVANT! Particularly, culturally relevant to our students in the classroom. Students need to feel a part of the instruction in order to buy in to the content. Take a look at the article below for some additional information about culturally responsive teaching.