Staff Memo
March 14, 2014
Lucy Calkins
More from Allington
Element three states: Every child reads something he or she understands. When I think about our kiddos who struggle, I am struck again by the importance of making sure what is read is understood. This might mean using library time to support good choices of easy to just right text. This might mean sending a child back to the library (thank Kristin for her new open library schedule) to return a hard book and choose something easier.
Reading interventions, as suggested by research, should be two-thirds reading and rereading rather than isolated skill practice.
Not all of my children are readers. Four seriously struggle with reading. I've spent years working on helping them choose books they can understand. Because they struggle, they have lots of difficulty believing they should read books they can understand as most of what is given to them at school is not text they can understand. When we hit upon something they can understand and enjoy, I am quick to purchase it so it can go on their bookshelves and have the chance to go back and reread it.
This is not easy work, this finding text for each child so she or he understands it and reads it each day. We've got to fight the good fight and make this a priority so our strugglers can practice getting better at reading by reading text they can read.
Fire Safety
Do you know where all of the fire pull stations are? Do you feel comfortable pulling one in the event of smoke or flame? Would you do that first before the old habit of "calling the office" set in? I hope so.
Fire and storm drills are scheduled for next week on Friday, March 21 around 9:00. Denise S made us a lovely fire box that is big and obvious. It is covered in bright yellow, red, and orange flames. If you see the fire box and realize you can't get your kids around it, you reroute and get out of the building another way. We need to continue to practice quick responses to safety issues.
Who will pull the alarm? Good question. It will be a surprise. Be ready to respond if you are asked to pull the alarm. Rick and I will work together to make sure the alarm is silenced once everyone is out of the building.
More School Safety
Looking Ahead
Monday, March 17 Day 2
- Pledge - Carrell/Knutson
- 8:00 Out of My Mind book group - teachers' lunchroom
- 3:10 Collab - Team 2
- 4:00-4:30 Math Workshop Study Group Chap 6
Tuesday, March 18 Day 3
- 7:30 Learning Leadership Team
- IREAD3 testing in lab all day
- 3:10 Collab - Team 3
Wednesday, March 19 Day 4
- IREAD3 testing in the lab all day
- 3:10 Collab - Team 4
Thursday, March 20 Day 1
- 8:00 Office meeting
- IREAD3 testing in the lab all day
- 3:10 Data Collab - Team K
Friday, March 21 Day 2
- 8:00 Discussion
- 9:00 Fire/Storm Drills
- 3:10 Data Collab - Team 1
- 5:00-9:00 PTO Flower Pick-up
- 6:00-8:30 PTO Dads' Club Movie Night
Monday, March 24 Day 3
- Pledge - Snyder
- 3:10 Data collab - Team 2
Tuesday, March 25 Day 4
- 8:00 Interest Group PD - HSE21
- 12:15-3:45 CRE Diversity team meets
- 3:10 Data Collab - Team 3
Wednesday, March 26 Day 1
- 2:00 Third Grade Spring Musical
- 3:10 Data Collab - Team 4
- 6:30 Third Grade Spring Musical
Thursday, March 27 Day 2
- 8:00 Office meeting
- 3:50 Head out for Spring Break
Friday, March 28
- Spring Break