Team Thomson News & Notes
September 25, 2017
Important Information for You!
5D+
The last two weeks have been filled with meetings with teachers and reviewing Growth Plans. Additionally and again, I appreciate the reflections and honesty that you have shared with me during these meetings as it has allowed me to reflect on how to ensure that the entire 5D+ process is beneficial in improving teaching and learning in our building. I hope that the time we spent connecting the 5D+ to our School Improvement plan was a helpful step in the connection of all of the 'parts' and initiatives we have. We will continue to make meaningful connections as we move forward.
This week I will begin formal observations for those that have met with me on your growth plan. Remember, for the most part, observations are unannounced. As you respond to noticings and wonderings you have an opportunity to share information I may not have seen during the actual observation time. In this way you have direct input into your observation. I value your input as vital to the process and remember observations, noticings, and wonderings are all a part of evidence collection and professional growth and reflections. As DeWitt stated in the video I shared on Early Release Day, "Don't prove yourself, improve yourself".
Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy-Read Alouds
To follow up on another topic we covered on Early Release Day, Megan shared easy tips on how to ensure that your Read Alouds are focused and meaningful. Read Alouds are number 2 on the list 10 Essential Instructional Practices that came out as part of the 3rd Grade Reading Law. Remember, Read Alouds that are intentional are planned and include the development/modeling/practice of: print concepts,word recognition, vocabulary development, knowledge of structures and text features, and comprehension strategies. Additionally, they model fluency and allow the students to interact with text that is beyond their readability level. Not to mention, read alouds help develop a love of reading in children. When you think about read alouds and their connection to best instructional practices, you can connect them to several areas of the 5D+ rubric but the three that come to my mind right away are: CP3 (Discipline Specific Teaching Approaches), SE1 (Quality of Questioning), and SE4 (Opportunity and Support for Participation and Meaning Making).
Data Days
Don't forget Data Days will be Monday and Wednesday of this week, in a previous email you received the date and time of your PLCs Data Day. Our focus will be on student data and the creation of IRIPs for our lowest students. Please be sure to bring all student data you have collected with you.
2017 M-STEP Results - “Holy smokes---that’s incredible!”
The above quote came from Asst. Supt. Kevin Brown at the General Administrative meeting a couple of weeks ago when talking about the Spring M-STEP results for the whole district! Not only did Davison significantly move up in the rankings in Genesee County, we also saw cohort growth (same group of kids from one grade level to the next) in every single subject, for all grade levels do the same! Kevin will be presenting to the Board of Ed at the October Meeting. It is important for us to remember that the work we do here at Thomson plays a very important role in the laying the ground work for future success for our students.
Quotes Worth Reading
"A good teacher can insprie hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning."
-Brad Henry
"Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, one teacher can change the world."
-Malala Yousafzai
Thomson Elementary
Home of the Thomson Teddies!
And..
Where Kids Come First and Futures Begin!
Email: nmiller@davisonschools.org
Website: www.davisonschools.org
Location: 617 East Clark Street, Davison, MI, United States
Phone: 810-591-0911
Celebrations & Announcements
Important Upcoming Dates:
- Week of September 24th-PLC Week
- Monday, September 25th-Data Day, PTO Fundraiser Begins
- Wednesday, September 27th-Data Day
- Thursday, September 28th-Elementary Principals Meeting
- Friday, September 29th-Intersession Registrations are Due
- Week of October 2nd-Homecoming Week-Spirit Week
- Monday, October 2nd-Tropical Day (wear you best (appropriate :)) tropical wear); Board of Education Meeting, 6:30 p.m. H.S. AMR
- Tuesday, October 3rd-PJ Day
- Wednesday, October 4th-Dress Your Best Day, Count Day, Picture Day
- Thursday, October 5th-College Begins in Kindergarten Day (wear your favorite MSU :) or college gear); Fire Drill
- Friday, October 6th-Homecoming! Maroon & Gold Day; Parade line-up begins at 4:00, anyone walking in the parade with our Thomson Teddies should be at the high school by 4:30p.m.
- Monday, October 9th-PTO Fundraisers are Due.