Hall Elementary Teacher Newsletter
September 22, 2014
Reminders
IP Retreat
September Birthday Celebration
Grades / Progress Reports
Lesson Plans
I have gotten feedback from teachers that some lessons are taking longer than expected and that they are not able to get to everything that they need to in a day....that they are spending long periods of time on one thing and skipping others. I want to remind you that you are in control of your plans. If you find yourself in this position, plan less and take longer. Strive for in-depth learning, not a checklist of daily to-do items. Collaborate and communicate with your grade level on these issues. Make sure that your instruction is focused, mindful, and meaningful. This is a problem that we can fix!
Rules and Procedures
Attendance
Accelerated Reader
I appreciate the efforts you made to place get AR in line. Please be mindful that 35/Z/90 is the goal that we are expected to maintain. However, please do not spend excess time reading and testing in an effort to boost your data. It serves no purpose to have an excessive Engaged Time and still have a Success Index below 90%. That just shows that a ton of classroom time was taken to test in AR that could/ should have been spent in other areas. Don't make your kids test test test.... find the balance of having kids reading and scoring high on books within their ZPD and 35/Z/90 should come naturally.
Mrs. Gray: Technology and Federal Programs Reminders
United Way Student Campaign will run 9/15-9/26.
Parents need to sign and return Parent Compacts. Turn in one complete set to Mrs. Gray and keep one complete set on file in your classroom.
From the Other Mrs. Mitchell: Library News
The AR information for the week is improving. Please continue to monitor student quizzing, adjust their ZPD when needed (increase or decrease), and take status of the class as often as needed. It is a great idea to customized your date for the current week on your diagnostic report, so that you can monitor if all of your students are quizzing and scoring 90% or better.
Textbook Issues: As students withdraw, please be sure to send their library books and both Math In Focus textbooks and workbooks to the library. Workbooks must be sent through the mailbag to their next school. Textbooks must be checked back into the library. In addition, please send their library books and cards to the library as well.
As you have new students transferring in, please be sure to send me their names so that I can make new cards and check if their library account is clear at their previous school.