Teaching & Learning Newsletter
Greene County Schools October 31, 2023 Volume XIII Issue 01
EDUCATE * INSPIRE * CHALLENGE * SUPPORT
A Message From Mrs. Parten, Director of Teaching & Learning
Dear GCSS Faculty and Staff,
I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the incredible work you have done this semester, providing excellent and engaging instruction for all students in Greene County. Your willingness to adapt to new standards, curriculum, grade levels, and more with positive attitudes has been encouraging and can be felt by your students, building, and district leaders. I appreciate each of you being an active partner and participant in professional development this year as well. I have witnessed so much collaboration during professional learning sessions and love to see all of us working and learning together to create the best possible education for our students. Each of you makes a significant impact on our educational community – your dedication, your positive attitudes, and your willingness to take on new challenges is commendable and has truly made the first semester incredible!
To the Teaching and Learning Team and Collaborators –
Dr. Laurie Weaver, Kevin Strickland, Dr. Christa Deissler, Kathy Magee, Jimmie Gilbert, Wesley Glosson, Gena Grier, Jen Harper, and Shaqysha Johnson:
Your support for the teachers and administrators in Greene County is unmatched. From high-quality instructional coaching, personalized professional development, answering thousands of questions daily, planning incredible competitions and events for our students and staff, and just being awesome in general – you all do it all! Thanks for being the best team – hands down!
Crystal Parten
Director of Teaching and Learning
Instructional Technology Update 23'
Kevin Strickland, IT
What a great start to a school year! We hope that all of our new staff members have utilized our instructional apps and software and have “settled in” in the classroom. I would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we get everyone rostered with the correct permission in our multiple apps.
Afterhours IT update: I would like to thank the teachers who have utilized the Afterhours IT time in your buildings for our presentations and your questions about other topics. This is a great opportunity for you to show and tell any issues, concerns, and “how-to’s” for any of our software programs. Attendance has started to pick up, and we would like to continue to offer this to the buildings in the second semester. The times are from 3:15 – 4:15, and we will be at CMS on Mondays, GCHS on Tuesdays, and GCPS on Wednesdays.
Upcoming topics include:
Week of Oct. 23 – NewsELA (For all subject areas, not just ELA)
Week of Nov 6 – GPB.org
Week of Nov. 27 – AMA (Ask Me Anything): It is Always fun, and I learn from how ya’ll are using our apps
Week of Dec. 4 – “Flip”ping your Classroom
Student Technology Competition update: Teachers and students have been emailed the Student Technology Competition information, and we look forward to the amazing technology projects that our students will create. Teachers have already approached me with suggestions about video editing projects, animation projects, and photography projects. I am so happy to see the buy-in and promoting this competition in your classrooms. Remember to get the students to sign in on the Google Form link in the Presentation so we can plan our School-wide Competition in each building. The deadline to commit is November 17.
Presentation link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16pSN4VoxIekqNVlZDS02uFi7DbZZLyUfkUKnpd-ow1w/edit?usp=sharing
Student sign-up link: https://forms.gle/yHDcQ6HD4sZ58Um88
GaConnects
I would also like to share Shona Foster’s presentation about the GaConnects website. This site, presented by GaDOE, has many valuable resources for all grade levels and subjects. Everything from Lesson plans, curriculum maps, lessons, assignments, and assessments are included on the GaConnects site. Don’t miss out on this valuable resource: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1611xhkDbeq-JEhF_mfnqfK4WHdM7QdDqxBuhOYxwwW8/edit?usp=sharing
And now, your freebie that you will thank me for...no explanation, just try this out to save you some time - https://app.magicschool.ai/auth/signin (sign in with google). You are welcome!
Ms. Harris's 3rd Grade Science
Students in Ms. Harris’s third-grade science class investigated the impact of water on objects through a Skittles exploration. Students made predictions about how water would change the outer shell of different colored skittles, they drew illustrations of their observations, and they drew conclusions about how water would impact various objects in the environment. Parent volunteers came to class to help run the observation stations and facilitate discussion.
Mrs. Fuller's Second Grade Math
Students in Mrs. Fuller’s second-grade class have been working on solving real-world math word problems using different strategies. In this fun and engaging lesson, Mrs. Fuller worked through two-step word problems and allowed the students to use their reasoning skills to make sense of the problems. They also had time to solve the problems using their own strategies and share their ideas with their peers.
Teachers Teaching Teachers!!!
Our fourth-grade teachers, Mrs. Washington and Dr. Funderburke, engaged our GCPS math teachers in a hands-on learning experience for Ready Mathematics. Teachers were immersed in a Ready Mathematics lesson with Dr. Funderburke and shown how to implement small groups using the Ready Curriculum by Mrs. Washington. They also had a chance to dig into data reports and collaborate across grade levels.
READING
This month our EIP staff administered the Acadience Reading Benchmark Assessment to all students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade and selected students in 3rd and 4th grades. Acadience data is used to assess both foundational reading skills and language comprehension skills in an effort to evaluate instructional needs for tier 1 instruction and reading intervention. After the administration, the EIP staff went through rigorous training on how to read the data to plan high-quality reading interventions. Likewise, classroom teachers reviewed the data to discuss next steps in tier 1 instruction as well as give input on instructional needs for MTSS. Finally, the EIP staff met to learn how to use Acadience as a progress monitoring tool for interventions.
UFLI Phonics
Our K-3 teachers participated in ongoing training throughout the first quarter to learn how to effectively implement the UFLI Phonics Program. Early training focused on the implementation of the program and best practices in phonics instruction, explicit and systematic instruction that focuses on the correct articulation of sounds in decoding and encoding. Then, teachers engaged in training on how to assess students’ progress throughout each lesson and how to assess using a weekly progress monitoring check. Teachers also learned how to use the weekly progress monitoring to group students for tier 1 small group instruction.
Solar System Exploration at GCPS
Georgia's Pre-K Week
Georgia Pre-K Week was born out of the 2009-2010 recession after the program was nearly eliminated by the Georgia Legislature due to funding constraints. Since then, Voices for Georgia’s Children, along with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, has hosted an annual week-long celebration of Georgia’s Pre-K Program.
Georgia Pre-K Week is an opportunity for legislators and leaders around the state to visit with and/or read a children’s book to students in Pre-K classrooms within their local communities. This engagement allows state leaders a first-hand experience in the early education classroom.
Math & Science at CMS
Social Studies at CMS
Carson Middle School students learned about the United States Constitution and the Preamble on National Constitution Week, September 17-23. The lesson plan was over two days. On the first day, students learned about the Constitution through videos and rich discussion. Then, they began creating their own constitution by aging papers- soaking them in coffee and allowing them to dry overnight. The next day, they worked to understand the meaning of the antiquated language of the preamble before inscribing those all-important words on their life-like papers.
Exploring the Galaxy at CMS
STEM After School At CMS Starting Soon!
GCHS Students Experience a Living Classroom of Nature
Recently the World Language Department visited the Atlanta Botanical Garden in Gainesville to see sculptures of The Catrina. The Catrina is a sacred symbol in Mexican culture and how they see death. Students were able to tour the garden and see the many different sculptures adorned with the flowers and colorful dresses.
Ninth grade students gathered before school started to "bridge" their way into high school
More than 30 ninth-grade students attended the Summer Bridge day to get acclimated to the high school environment and meet their teachers prior to day one in the building. The 9th-grade teachers hosted a morning of activities and full of information to help students prepare. Students participated in a Scavenger Hunt around the school, sessions with guest speakers like the Athletic Director and CTAE Director, and stations to learn about the dress code, the Career Coaching program, and their 9th-grade classes. The day ended with a rising tenth grader sharing her story of success in 9th grade to inspire students to do their best!
GCHS Students Turned Up the Heat at the Chili Cook-Off
On August 30, students from Group 4 in Culinary 1: (shown above left to right), Aleyah Redd, Dominique Shelton, Areona Baugh, and Taylor Lamar won the Greene County High School Culinary Chili Cook-Off. Dominique Shelton's recipe for "Spicy Chili" stood out among 6 submissions to win the opportunity to represent the Greene County High School's FCCLA Chapter at the GA FCCLA/Georgia National Fair Chili Cook-Off on October 10th.
While attending and preparing for the Georgia FCCLA Fall Leadership Rally, students will have the opportunity to learn more about FCCLA programs, participate in competitive events related to Family and Consumer Sciences courses, hear a motivational message, and experience fun and networking. Activities at the rally will include competitive events, including the Chili Cook-off, and a motivational general session.
One Book One School
GCHS has completed week 4 of the One Book One School (OBOS) initiative. GCHS has chosen to read The Freedom Writers Diary, authored by The Freedom Writers with Erin Gruwell, or students can opt to read an alternate text, Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl.
To prepare for this initiative, teachers participated in professional learning that provided an overview of One Book One School. Additionally, a school-wide kickoff was held to promote reading and engagement. During the kickoff, a select group of students reads short yet powerful diary entries while members of the GCHS drumline accompanied with dramatic beats that set the tone for reading this New York Times Best Seller.
OBOS began on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Wednesdays during TAP are now designated as “GCHS OBOS Reading Time.” Students, along with their teachers, read at least 10 pages, have discussions, and write one or two journal entries. It is the GCHS Literacy team’s hope that the OBOS initiative will not only encourage students to read but will also help improve their writing skills.
Upcoming STEM Event
Science for Everyone (STEM Day)
-CMS Nov. 2nd AM
-GCPS Nov. 3rd AM
Science For Everyone teaches and inspires students toward all areas of academics, not just SCIENCE. It's an interactive STEM program rooted in Next Generation Science Standards and best practices to increase student interest, aptitude, and literacy.
STEM Expos 2024
CMS-March 12th
GCPS-March 19th
GCHS-March 26th
National STEM DAY
Get ready to ignite your students' curiosity and passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math on November 8, 2023 – National STEM Day! Engage your classes with hands-on experiments, interactive projects, and real-world applications of STEM concepts to make learning fun, meaningful, and unforgettable. Remember, STEM does not have to be a separate entity and can fit right into all content areas. Use the
https://www.weareteachers.com/stem-activities/
https://leftbraincraftbrain.com/5-fun-ways-to-celebrate-national-stem-day-steam-day/
Teaching & Learning Updates
Dr. Laurie Weaver, GCSS Competitions
Gearing Up for another year of COMPETITIONS
This year's competitions include:
Governer's Honor Program
Student application submissions Oct. 9th
Student Interviews-Oct. 25 & 26th
Student submissions to the State-Nov. 14th
State Applications to students-Nov. 17th
Spelling Bee (School Leads)
School Level Bees
CMS-Nov. 8th
LOA-Nov. 14th & 16th
GCPS-Nov. 30th
District Level Bee- Jan. 17th
Regional Regional Bee-Feb. 24th
YGA (K-12)
ELA Teacher Meeting-Oct. 9th
Schools collect writing-Nov-Jan. 29th, and will select 3 winners per grade level
Dr. Weaver will collect all school submissions-Feb. 2nd
Technology Fair
Submission Deadline-Nov. 17th
Science & Engineering Fair
GCHS Dec.11th AM
CMS Dec. 11th PM
Regional S&E Fair-Feb. 3rd
TOME Con
March 12, 2024
9am-5pm
The Classic Center
Athens, GA
DPA/4H
Cloverleaf 4-H’ers (4th-6th)- Competition is February 17th at Rock Eagle
Juniors and Seniors (7th-12th) – Competition is March 1st-3rd at Rock Eagle
GaDOE Teaching & Learning Resources
Writing: NEW-Grade 5 Informational Writing Framework
GaDOE-Mathematics-Standards-Transition-Support: https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Documents/Mathematics/Georgia-K12-Mathematics-Standards/Georgia-K-12-Mathematics-Transition-Resources/GaDOE-Mathematics-Standards-Transition-Support-Document.pdf
GaDOE-Secondary-Mathematics-Pathways-Guidance_2023: https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Documents/Mathematics/Georgia-K12-Mathematics-Standards/Secondary-Mathematics-Requirements/GaDOE-Secondary-Mathematics-Pathways-Guidance.pdf
Math Standards: Georgia’s K-12 Mathematics Standards Explanation of Changes and Improvements
Tara Thompson, EL Programs
English Learner Programs
We have finished the first nine weeks of school, and our faculty and staff have done a wonderful job of support our EL’s needs. All enrolled potential ELs have been screened thus far. This is a major undertaking for ESOL teachers and the school testing coordinators. We are thankful to them for their hard work in this area.
This year several teachers have reached out asking questions about supporting newcomer ELs. Thank you for asking questions to support these students! Please keep asking. Please remember that, while instruction and assignments should be delivered to all students on grade level, scaffolding is necessary for ELs students. We have discussed many of these over the years in PL. Please feel free to reach out to your ESOL teacher or Tara Thompson for resources and ideas on how to do this. Additionally, the Ellevation platform shows which ELs need what types of scaffolds. Tara Thompson would be happy to review these lists with you to support you in modifying assignments with appropriate scaffolds that meet students’ language needs while maintaining content.
Special Education Dept. News
Please access through the link below!