November 4, 2019
A Communication Tool for the Seven Hills Staff
Straight Talk With Blackburn...Lexia Core 5 Training Tomorrow:
We have had a Lexia Core 5 data dive on site training scheduled for November for a while. In my very busy brain, this was much later in November…turns out…it’s tomorrow…While we have had numerous Lexia on-site trainings, this one promises to deliver a fresh data look that we have not seen before. This should be beneficial for our intervention work, WIGs, and Lead Measures. In order to get all grade levels through the trainings, we will have some grade levels classes covered for 45 minutes. First…you have my sincere apologies for A) the late notice….B) PD during planning for a few grading periods. For those that this impacts, I will see what I can do to return the time to you before the Thanksgiving break.
So, in a very weak token of my appreciation for your flexibility on such short notice….everyone…that means all staff…can wear jeans with a shirt of your choice tomorrow while you sip on your coffee and enjoy your scones from PTA for the membership drive incentive! Thanks guys!
The schedule is posted below. You will notice that this impacts Rachel and Rupa’s morning schedule. They will determine when their Monday morning groups will be made up…likely on Friday. They will let you know. Thank Early childhood for your flexibility as well!
Location: PLC Room
Bring: Device and something to take notes with/on
8:00 – 8:45 am
- 2nd Grade
- 1st Grade (Rupa, Rachel, Molly, Early Childhood Assistant cover classes)
- Kim or Tanya attend
9:00 – 9:45 am
- 3rd Grade
- Kindergarten (Rupa, Rachel, Molly, Early Childhood Assistant cover classes)
- Kim or Tanya attend
10:00 – 10:45 am
- 4th Grade ELA
- 5th Grade ELA
- Molly & Rachel
- Kelly & Goosey (if beneficial)
Note: If I have left anyone off, and you would like to join the training, please feel free
"Everybody" Boards:
"What we value is reflected on our walls and in our halls."
TCRWP
While this quote comes from TCRWP, I believe it also aligns with LIM. Our ocean theme reflects our deeply rooted culture and positive learning environment. Our front display case, journey wall, and the Habit boards in the cafeteria are celebrations of greatness. Our scoreboards, language of leadership, 7 Habits, etc. reflect the context of empowering learners to be leaders. Our scoreboards also reflect a connection to high expectations for learning. What is missing is honoring the work students and teachers are pourning themselves into each day. This was the intended purpose of keeping the everybody boards...
As we begin the 12th week of school, it is beyond time for each grade level team to carefully consider what meaningful, relevant, and rigorous work will be displayed on these boards. As I look back at my notes from the Leadership Retreat where all of this was discussed, here are a few points to consider:
- If displaying student writing, consider displaying pre-assessment and post to show growth over the unit. Then, change each unit!
- If displaying writing it is important to remember that final draft does not mean perfect! the published piece often has taped on paper, different color pen, etc. This shows the thinking through the process.
- Do not show grades
- It is ok to display different content area work on the same board. If this is the choice the team makes, a description of the purpose of the board in this case should accompany the work.
- It is always a good idea to date the work.
- It is a good idea to provide a description of the work when posting, so the reader/viewer can see what he or she is looking at.
- Work should be updated regularly.
- Students should have some choice and voice in what work is displayed. Students should be able to speak to the work when asked. Can they describe the work that is posted?
- Work should be an authentic reflection of what is happening in the classroom - either leadership or core content
- The intent was that these boards and te work on them be a point of pride.
Please discuss this with your teams, if you have not already, and make a plan for having work displayed by Monday, November 11, 2019. If your team needs support in this, please talk with Kim Blackburn.
Data...Data...Data...
- Based on feedback from each grade level in Quarterly Data Reviews, there is a need for teachers to get to know more about what Edugence can do for you. We have scheduled Edugence training with Leslie Russell in PLCs on November 12th.
- For any CBA that you have not completed an Atlas Looking at Data protocol and See-Get-Do map for, please do so by the end of the week this week and post in the PLC room on your grade level board. 21 minutes. Set a timer for each step. This takes 21 minutes.
- ALL October text levels are due in the Google Doc by the end of the day on Monday, November 4.
From Tanya:
Habit 5 Seek First to Understand
Do you see me?
Do you care that I'm here?
Am I enough for you, or do you need me to be better in some way?
Can I tell that I'm special to you by the way you look at me?
These questions underline how critical our relationships are for cultivating a deep sense of connection. As an educator, I also immediately see how foundational these questions are to creating a sense of safety and connection in the classroom. The degree to which our students feel truly seen influences their well-being and academic engagement.
To help our students answer these four questions, we must be fully present and available for them. As teachers, the greatest gift we can offer our students is our presence and our ability to see and accept them as they are. But how can we best provide our students with the gifts of our presence and vision? One of the most powerful ways teachers can cultivate important "habits of mind," such as awareness, attention, flexibility, and intentionality, is to develop a personal mindfulness practice (Roeser et al., 2012).Try to see yourself in your students, your colleagues, or the parents of your students. Put yourself in their shoes. This practice can help you gain perspective and increases compassion, altruism, and social behavior—essential qualities for a thriving school community. For example, if a student acts up, try to first remember what it was like for you when you were an adolescent.
When issues arise, make sure you are referring to our campus flowchart found in our google classroom for discipline issues and next steps.
Drills- Thank you to everyone for your flexibility with ALL the drills last week. YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB!!
From the CIT:
Please remind students that are trying out for spelling bee to practice the front side Scripps list. I highlighted the page that they need to study. The classroom spelling bee is just around the corner--a week from Tuesday--November 12th! I originally wrote November 11th, but that is on a Monday, and I think it will be better to have it on a Tuesday during Habit Huddle.
Assessments This Week:
5th Grade
November 7 - 11 5 Science.3.Force/Energy
Assessments Coming Up:
2nd Grade:
November 13-15 2Science.2.Matter
From the Librarian:
Book Fair set up will take place tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday are preview days with book fair opening on Thursday. Please choose a time and day that works for your class.
I will meet with the UBC members on Tuesday and Thursday during Habit Huddle. Please help them remember to come to the library after announcements.
Habit Huddle Connection:
"Habit 2 is based on imagination--the ability to envision in your mind what you cannot at present see with your eyes. It is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There is a mental (first) creation, and a physical (second) creation. The physical creation follows the mental, just as a building follows a blueprint. If you don't make a conscious effort to visualize who you are and what you want in life, then you empower other people and circumstances to shape you and your life by default. It's about connecting again with your own uniqueness and then defining the personal, moral, and ethical guidelines within which you can most happily express and fulfill yourself." - 7 Habits Book
When you practice Habit 2, you:
Define outcomes before you act
Create and live by a personal mission statement
Set long-term and short-term goals
One of the best ways to incorporate Habit 2 into your life is to develop a Personal Mission Statement.It focuses on what you want to be and do. It is your plan for success. It reaffirms who you are, puts your goals in focus, and moves your ideas into the real world. Your mission statement makes you the leader of your own life. You create your own destiny and secure the future you envision. Have you created your mission statement? Have you created your Mission Monogram and posted it outside your classroom door? If you are new to 7 Hills and have not received a Mission Monogram, see Kim Blackburn. :).
Save the Date:
Save the Date: Change in staff meeting date due to Dr. Warren wanting to visit each campus staff meeting. All staff will meet on Tuesday, November 12 at 3:20 with Dr. Warren. Action Teams will meet on Thursday, November 14. This will impact Student Lighthouse. Plan accordingly.
Save the Date: Elementary Campus Support Meetings are new this year. During these meetings, district leadership will visit the campus, review our Instructional Focus, progress made to date, discuss data, visit classrooms, walk halls, look at work displayed, etc. Teachers may be pulled to visit with the team, and classrooms will be visited both scheduled and randomly. Please put the following date and time on your campus calendar: Wednesday, November 20, 2019 from 9:30 - 11:30. More details will be coming.
Monday, November 4:
- Lexia Core 5 Data Planning (see schedule above)
- PTA Membership Scones and Coffee Treat
- PTA Board Meeting
- No scheduled PLCs this week, many teams are working with instructional coaches
Wednesday, November 6:
- Fire Drill
- Accountability Team Meeting, 3:15 - 3:45
- 3rd Grade Math Mega Lab all day
- 5th Grade Science Mega Lab at OLC (morning only)
Thursday, November 7:
- Kim off campus at DLT
- Vertical Teams/Professional Learning (Writing Buddies Begins, finish book bins, and UIL Sign Ups begin)
Friday, November 1:
- 5th Grade Veteran's Day Program, 8:00 am
Happy Birthday to You:
Melissa Simpson 11/8
Please Add This to Your Parent Communication:
Check Out the Latest Edition of the Campus Newsletter:
Star News Update 10.25.19:
https://www.smore.com/fbysu-seven-hills-elementary-news