Wildcat Update
December 4-8
Weekly Dates:
5 - 4th grade to Springfield Little Theater
6 - 3rd and 4th grade teachers meet with Dave Whitham at 8:30 a.m. in library
6 - Fire Drill @ 1:15 p.m.
7 - 1st grade program assembly @ 2:20
8 - GrayT Singer at LDS Nativity program at 6:00 p.m.
8 - Wilson's Creek Choir @ 1:15 p.m. --- ALL CLASSES COME TO LUNCH 15 minutes early to give Davy time to clean up APR
8 - ALL PRO DAD breakfast
Dismissal Schedule
Saleske, Youngblood, Hightower, Evans, Howser
Thank you for helping car line go quicker this year by keeping kids quiet with books and pulling cars forward! We are generally done around 3:50.
Stars and Wish:
- Classroom management is going well! Students are focused and overall the discipline counts are lower this year!
- Math Workshop is being implemented in most classrooms. It is good to see small group support or our students - a great way to meet the students where they are and re mediate or challenge them!
- Blended learning support has been great with Debbie Hammer! Thank you Cary, Debbie H., and Heather for also being great building support as mentors.
- Great job 4th grade teachers doing the Regions Fair to showcase students' work during the integrated units!
Wish:
- What new idea have you tried with blended learning? How are you doing with integrated units of study? These are both district expectations and will be measured mid year on Randa Tower with your reflection.
Upcoming Important Dates:
15 - Site Council @ 2:30
18 - GrayT Singers Tour Day
21- End of 2nd Quarter and Party Time @ 2:30
22 - No Students - WORK DAY
Child Focused Practices Noticed During You Visiting Classrooms
All students could be successful in their rotation groups. No explanation was needed for many rotations. They worked on their own. Skills area was instructed by teacher.Teacher expectations were clearly stated for their students.
Small groups differentiated instruction. 2 groups quietly on task and engaged.
Two kindergarten sped students were working on letter identification for the letters in their names. Post notes were posted throughout the room on various items. The post it notes contained random letters. The students had to find only post it notes with their letter in their name and then line them up correctly to spell their name.
Mrs. Brady is using a Growth Mindset approach to utilizing technology resources to enhance her instruction. During my observation, her 4th grade students were taking quizzes online via Canvas over their weekly text.
Individualized math work by modeling for a student in her small group.
I noticed this teacher uses proximity to keep certain students focused and on task to prevent them from disrupting others from learning.
The teacher allowed a student to "shine" by reading in front of the class. Teacher was meeting in small groups for reading which allows for focus needs.
Mr. Bell did a great job with the mini lesson on perimeter with background knowledge and examples before beginning the math stations.
Students were working in small groups practicing the four Cs on a variety of different tasks. The teachers were monitoring and assisting students throughout the time I observed. Students were on task and were supported by the caring teachers.
Small group writing instruction
I liked how she is meeting the needs of all students in her small group book clubs. I know she puts in a lot of time and effort to make sure her students are getting what they need. I love how sh has done a lot of things for them in Canvas.
Lots of different types of technology- Chromebooks, iPad games, Lexia, Osmos.
She gave kids a good amount of think time when coming up with writing ideas. In addition, she created a chart with the students ideas so that they can use it as a resource.
Lindsey is very patient with all students. She was very attentive to students who needed extra assistance with writing and who needed behavioral redirection.
Mrs. Hamm was teaching small groups to meet the needs of students.
I noticed a lot. When I arrived they were taking a dance/aerobics break with a video. Then they moved to reading stations: 1) Teacher met with team; 2) Lexia; and 3) Elements Study--Character and Setting. Teacher took a facilitator role--allowing the team conferences to be student driven, while being shepherded in the right direction. There remains the issue of students away from the teacher staying on task. Ms. Tappmeyer would subtly but firmly redirect. Having an aide/student teacher was very helpful in this regard. Excellent management and teaching skills, and students clearly knew where they were to be and what they were supposed to be doing.
During math, using students as concrete objects when talking about fact families. Using turn and talk to engage and have all students participate.
The students were asked to discuss with their families what a veteran was. They were able to make connections and identity some specific veterans. When they returned to school with their information they did a small writing assignment about veterans. Students were able to make their own connections and the writing was modified to meet their individual needs.
I love that the writing mini-lesson was engaging for ALL students! Students were attentively listening at their spots, and were excited to learn and answer questions. It was interesting to see how a mini-lesson with a "hook" really sets the tone for the whole lesson, and I will incorporate this into my own classroom.
Mr. Bell was working with individual students and helping them determine how their group work helped them write about their diary entry. ie How did the refusal of one of their group members to sign the Mayflower Compact impact their life on the ship.
Students were in various reading centers while Mrs. Bryant worked with reading group. She introduced vocab and compound words before they started the story. She put a divider between students when they started reading. She worked with each student as they read checking for comprehension and connecting text to self. Students at centers were engaged and working independently. So many levels of differentiation going on to meet needs of students!
Susan demonstrated differentiated instruction. Students were each working on their own individual work. She also had students' individual schedules posted as well as their IEP goals on color-coded cards. Her entire classroom was very child-focused.
Sherry worked with small groups to complete academic activities. She also worked to adapt materials/instructions for students.
Laura was working one on one with a student that I know has trouble focusing while her student teacher was doing a group lesson on the carpet.
The kids were participating in a fact v. opinion lesson. She had the kids verbally respond, respond with thumbs up and move to different areas of the room. She allowed the kids to talk when they got to the area and after they made their decision. SO many learning styles were accommodated within her lesson.
The class was working on a writing project. They were all engaged and working. Some were working in groups, some were working independently. The environment was very calm, comfortable and friendly. Both Mr. Sikes and Mr. Bell were working with students as needed. Students felt comfortable to ask questions and get help.
Had them do a few jumping jacks before sitting down to write. Gave then special markers to put the heading on their writing.
Quietly, but consistently, kept them on task.
She allowed choices with the students. Her students were allowed to make a shopping list of what they are having for Thanksgiving or make a dream dinner that they hope they have for Thanksgiving. Students then chose to use their Chromebook or the ads to find the prices of the foods they picked. Some students even added games they would buy to play on Thanksgiving.
Cathy's room is exceptionally organized, bright, and kid friendly. Her kids know exactly what is expected of them, and they know that they are loved. Juxtaposed against the precision and organization each child was allowed to work on math and other subjects at their own pace in their own way.
Mr. Sikes was using google forms for a math pretest. The students love using technology.
Mid Year Reflections
Completed by end of the day on December 22 please! I will use this reflection for a mid-year indicator check score in Randa Tower.