Wildcat Roar
News and Info for Wildcat Staff 8.13
Affirmation of the Week
Remember the 11:1 ratio? Watch the video above. Are there opportunities you may have overlooked that give students the opportunity to feel valued, appreciated, and challenged? Are there ideas from the video that you can use to help you counteract the 11:1 ratio? The first 5 people to send Ms. Kemp one missed opportunity you will take this year will win a prize.
The first few weeks of the school year have seen a great improvement from last year. Our commitment to SEL and building a strong culture are paying off. Remember that change happens quickly, but transformation takes time. If we stay committed we will continue to see progress and growth in our students and ourselves.
This week should be the last of modified schedules. This week we will complete MAP testing and begin to dive into academic instruction. Remember:
- All classes should be actively using Liveschool points to reinforce positive behaviors. Students should know both the consequences and rewards associated with their choices. These procedures should be posted in each classroom. As a school we need to greatly ramp up Liveschool usage, especially for students at risk of moving forward in the SST process.
- Our learning environment continues to grow each day! This week there should be significant development in the look and feel of the learning environment. More details are provided below.
- Please remind students to wear the required colored shirts for Friday
- Select five of your top “artists” from each home room to enter the banner competition
- Remind students that the Concession stand will be open for business during Field Day
- Use Mini-Field Day as an incentive for behavior during the week
- If you would like to enter the Staff vs. Student Dodge Ball Game respond to Ms. Cassagnol's email, and dress accordingly on Friday.
The effort we put into our learning environment communicates what we value, expect, and celebrate. As we move more deeply into this school year, the learning environment will continue to evolve. Please see below for guidance on learning environment expectations.
WHAT SHOULD BE IN A CLASSROOM?
- Student work (can be SEL based)
- Classroom culture tools (charter, procedures, rules, rewards, consequences}
- Differentiation tools (group roles, group assignments, shared group rewards}
- Content vocabulary
- Anchor charts (even if they're only SEL based right now)
- Collaborative student seating (avoid rows and whole group arrangements)
- Alternative seating
- Cool down corner
- Organized instructional tools (like classroom supplies, dry erase boards and markers, pencils, clipboards, paper, etc.)
- Class library (can even be small). We have plenty of books that can be used for the library.
- Student celebration displays or information
- Evidence of stations/small group instruction (that could be team supplies, work in progress, caddies or baskets for each group or something similar, etc.)
- Clean environment
WHAT SHOULD GO ON BULLETIN BOARDS?
Bulletin boards are an opportunity to craft a positive narrative about our students and learning community. Boards can display quality student work or be used as an interactive learning tool.
Bulletin boards must include:
¨ A title or caption
¨ Standard
¨ Current, quality student-created work with rubric-based commentary
o Examples:
o Performance-based products
o Work samples that address the higher levels of Bloom’s taxonomy
o Pictures of student work throughout the PBL process
o QR codes that link to digital samples of student work or class activities
o Writing tasks
o AVOID: worksheets, low-level assignments, etc.
¨ Sample rubric
¨ Visually appealing and celebratory of student success
Need ideas? Click HERE.
Based on the expectations outlined above, a contest will take place 8/6 - 8/13. The TEAM that exemplifies the expectations above most completely and creatively will win a prize for their entire team. What's the prize? The winning team will win a pass to leave early (7th or 8th) or arrive late (6th). The Head of School, Coordinators and the Dean of Academics will be the judges and will determine the winning team Wednesday, August 15! (Thank 7th grade for requesting an extension :-) ) Instructional coaches can give advice only. Remember, this is a team effort, so teams should collaborate to ensure your win. Good luck!
Hope to see you there!
Picture Day - Coming August 22
Motherland Mondays: Wear African attire
Tightened Up Tuesdays: Dress Up
Wildcat Wednesdays: Wear red, black, and white
Thankful Thursdays: Leave notes of gratitude for colleagues and students
Family Fun Fridays: Wear Price gear with jeans
Participation is completely voluntary; join in whenever you like!
Coming Soon!
Data, Grades, and Assessment - All teachers including labs
Tuesday, Aug 14, 2018, 12:00 AM
2nd Floor PD Room
PBL Planning - All Teachers (excluding labs)
Wednesday, Aug 8, 2018, 12:00 AM
PD Room - 2nd Floor
ARC Training from Chris 180
Thursday, Aug 16, 2018, 12:00 AM
2nd Floor PD Room
To Do List
- Make sure you are utilizing Liveschool points throughout classes.
- Make sure you have posted the Classroom Charter and student work.
- Make sure that student work is posted inside the classroom.
This Week
Important Links and Numbers
Lesson Plans
6th Grade Lesson Plans
ELA: https://tinyurl.com/ydbuqp64
MATH: https://tinyurl.com/y8exd7pg
SCIENCE: https://tinyurl.com/y762yygz
SS: https://tinyurl.com/ybr7cdwd
7TH Grade Lesson Plans
ELA: https://tinyurl.com/y96pwlyl
MATH: https://tinyurl.com/y9mo2lfm
SCIENCE: https://tinyurl.com/ybrmdeuu
SS: https://tinyurl.com/yaelcbjs
8th Grade Lesson Plans
ELA: https://tinyurl.com/y8dswbcb
MATH: https://tinyurl.com/ycb49s2h
SCIENCE: https://tinyurl.com/y7n44tgw
SS: https://tinyurl.com/y8acjjzt
Connections Lesson Plans
- Supply Request: https://tinyurl.com/ybtnbpwg
- Absence Request: https://tinyurl.com/yas5tbze
- Field Trip Request: https://tinyurl.com/ydx6kr4d
- Media Center Requests: https://goo.gl/forms/DT5rVm8OdUtIzzWh1
- Tech Requests: https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/Page/28827
- Digital Instructional Resources: www.portaportal.com Guest Access: dkemp
- Milestones Blueprints: http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/Georgia-Milestones-Test-Blueprints.aspx