Murphey Memos
Weekly Updates
Loving to Learn, Learning to Lead, Leading the Future
Character Trait of the Month: Courage
Brown's Buzz
"Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets." It makes sense. We get what we get based on what we do and how we do it. So the question is... are we happy with the results. If not, we should design something different. We are in the perfect time to do that. Our data meetings were awesome. We will continue our reflections at staff meeting. Then, what's left to do? Act!
Star Staff Member of the Week - Ms. TBD
TBD
Congratulations
Thank you
Something to Think About
"Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets."
W. Edwards Deming
Our Goals
Reading composite from 40.1 to 45.1.
3rd Grade Reading From 28.9% to 30.7%.
4th Grade Reading from 37.9% to 42.9%.
5th Grade Reading from 51.0% to 56.0%.
3rd Grade Math from 44.7% to 49.7%.
4th Grade Math from 34.5% to 39.5%.
5th Grade Math from 37.3% to 42.3%.
By 2019, Murphey will decrease the achievement gap between all students and students with disabilities in reading from a 25.8% gap to a 20% gap as measured by the NC End of Grade tests.
By 2019, Murphey Traditional Academy will reduce the number of office discipline referrals from 58 to 50.
February 18th
- Math/Science PLCs 4
- ELA PLCs – 4, 1, 2
- Latin PLC
- Watlington out - training
- Fire Drill
February 19th
Math/Science PLCs – 5, K, 1, 2
- ELA PLCs – 4, 5
- 3:10 Staff Meeting
February 20th
- ELA PLCs – 5, K
- Math/Science PLCs – 5, 3
- 3:10 IST/Attendance team
February 21st
- ELA PLC – 3rd
- a.m. lock down drill
- 3:10 BT Coffee House
February 22nd
- Plans uploaded by EOD
February 23rd & 24th
Future Events
2/21
- BT Coffee House
- 3rd & 4th grade to symphony (this is an error - 3/22 is the actual date)
- Interim Reports go home
- Black History Door contest judging
- SW Meeting
Announcements
Guidance this week is 2nd and 3rd grades.
Cafeteria management continues to be a concern. On Monday, homeroom teachers are on duty to set your class up for success. Thursday - Friday, monitors are on duty. Both groups need to use this time wisely. Teachers, please sit with your students and make sure they follow expectations. Monitors, please move about the cafeteria to reinforce expectations. This is not a time to socialize with colleagues. We are a small staff. Monitors, when you are absent for any reason, please remind me that you need a replacement for duty. Let's work together to make sure we keep students on track during this time.
Thanks to everyone who had their parent teacher conferences this week. Remember, we are required to conference with 100% of our families. When you have completed 100%, please email Principal Brown. Also, this is the time to alert parents if you have concerns about promoting them to the next grade. Please make sure you have PEPs on all students with concerns.
In honor of Black History month, the ambassador's are hosting a door decorating contest. You and your students can decorate your door to represent an important person, event, or contribution made by African Americans. We are looking for accuracy, neatness, and creativity. We are also looking for something that shows your class contributed to the door and not just the teacher. The display could reach beyond door and include your display area in the hall. Judging will be February 25th. The winning class will get bragging rights and a popcorn/movie party on a day of your choice. Remember to be creative.
This week, walk throughs will focus on what students are doing. We will provide feedback on how to engage students in conversation and/or grade level work.
Silent lunch will not be monitored by the lunch duty monitors. If your class or a group of students from your class is on silent lunch, you are expected to stay with them.
Computer lab schedules will be posted on the door of the lab. Please sign up when you want to utilize the space. Actively monitor students to make sure they aren't mistreating the equipment.
If you need to tell your students what they will be having for lunch, here's the link to the lunch menus: Lunch menus
Make sure you read the February chapter of Growth Mindset Coach. You will need to activities for your class meetings. Also, post this month's mantra in your classroom.
Performance Goals Versus Learning Goals
People often set both performance and learning goals for themselves, but only learning goals lead to mastery. Dweck conducted a study with junior high students, who were learning new material in a science class. At the beginning of the study students created goals related to learning the new material. The researchers categorized the student-generated goals as either performance goals (a goal designed to make the student look smart and capable) or learning goals (a goal designed to help the student learn, regardless of performance). In the study the students who went the extra mile to engage in deep learning and challenging tasks were the students who had been identified as those who primarily set goals.
Based on pretests, researchers determined that both categories of students, those considered performance-oriented and those considered learning-oriented, were approaching the new material with roughly the same amount of mathematical and numerical reason skill, and both groups performed similarly in demonstrating the material they learned in the unit. But when the students were asked to apply their new knowledge to novel problems -- in which they must apply the material they've learned in new and different ways or think about the learning at the next level -- the students who set the learning goals fared much better. The learning -oriented goal setters scored higher on novel problems and generated more work in solving novel problems, which included 50 percent more writing in regard to deeper-thinking questions.
Does your class have more features of a performance-oriented classroom or a learning-oriented classroom? If teachers send the message that completeness and correctness are more valuable than learning, students will fall in line with that expectation. But, as Dweck showed with the junior high students, the students who set learning goals focused on true mastery-- a deep understanding from which students can draw conclusions, connect ideas, and build relationships to new skill and concepts -- experience rich learning than students who focus on showing what they know. The type of goal structures inherent to your classroom will influence the personal goal orientation of your students.
ELA Curriculum Updates
DIBELS/TRC Assessments: DIBELS/TRC are just about complete! There is a light at the end of the tunnel! Thank you for your hard work. We'll finish stragglers on Monday and Tuesday. In the mean time, dig down in your data. Comprehension is still extremely week for our students. Look at your DIBELS Next data as well and let the progress monitoring begin! Remember, progress monitoring is useless if you don't take corrective action in yoru instruction.
Data Collection Sheets: Remember to update your progress monitoring and any other on the data collection sheet located in the data collection files in the lesson planning folder.
Paideia Seminars will focus on courage in February. I'm continuing to add seminars to the folder as I find them. Remember you aren't limited to seminars in the file. I encourage you to write your own. Please share once you've done that.
Math Curriculum Updates
3-5 EOG:
Teachers, please be aware that the math EOG for this year is a brand new test. Scores will be delayed in getting back to us. Please use the released test for your instruction. The Math standards have been reweighted on the new test. Here's the link: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/accountability/testing/technotes/eogmthspc18.pdf
REMINDER: Eureka Student Books for Transferring Students
When a student transfers from one Guilford County School to another, please send all three books the student is currently working in to the new school. If a students comes to you without materials, please let me know and we'll contact their former school.
New NCDPI Released EOG Tests
NCDPI has finalized a released form for each end-of-grade (EOG) mathematics test. The forms are available in a paper/pencil version and online through NCTest. The paper/pencil released forms are available at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/testing/releasedformsScience Curriculum Updates
Environmental Programs at Kathleen Clay Library The Kathleen Clay Library offers a variety of environmental programs, including professional learning opportunities for K-12 educators in all subject areas. View this flyer for a calendar detailing January-May events for children, families, and educators. Contact Melanie Buckingham, Environmental Resources Librarian, at 336-373-2923 with questions. School Gardeners School Gardeners are invited to pick out free flower, herb, and vegetable seeds for their gardens. There will be two opportunities in Guilford County: · February 2, from 10:00am - 2:00pm at Guilford County Cooperative Extension, Greensboro · February 9, from 10:00am -1:00pm at the City of High Point Public Library, High Point Contact Quina Weber-Shirk, Extension Agent, with questions.
Title 1 Updates
- Please submit a copy of a report card--1 per teacher--to Mrs. Thomas for Title I documentation. In addition, she still needs copies of conference schedules from January 28th.
We are always in need of Title I documentation. Help us remain compliant by submitting any of the following items to Mrs. Thomas.
parent contact logs
Parent/Teacher conference logs and documentation
Parent communication including social media posts, newsletters, etc.
Sample data reports
- Signed copies of the Parent Involvement policies from each classroom teacher. If you need additional forms, please ask.
Professional Development
Content Academy PD for 3rd grade reading, 8th grade math, and NC Math 1 teachers
GCS will be offering specialized professional learning for teachers in select areas: 3rd grade reading, 8th grade math, and NC Math 1. There will be monthly 3-hour sessions in February, March, and April. If teachers choose to attend, they can attend weekdays from 1:00 – 4:00, or Saturday morning from 9:00 – 12:00. If teachers choose to attend the weekday 1:00 – 4:00 sessions, the district will pay for the cost of their substitute. If teachers choose to attend the Saturday morning sessions, they will receive a $75 stipend for each session. Seats are limited and will be filled on a first come basis.
Please share with appropriate staff in your building. Teachers should search for the following course codes in Performance Matters:
3rd grade reading #10643
8th grade math: #10619
NC Math 1: #10627
For additional information, please contact Jen Arberg (Math) and Joy Cantey (Literacy).
Mentor Training
Face-to-Face
Now is great time to get mentors trained in anticipation of known vacancies in the 2019-2020 school year. New teacher support will be offering another face-to-face mentor training for teachers that would like to become mentor trained. This training will take place Saturday, April 6th from 8:30-12:30 with a 1 hour take home product at Laughlin. Participants will receive certification as a GCS trained mentor by participating. We hope you will use this opportunity to recruit and prepare for the mentors you will need for the 2019-2020 school year. Teachers may register in Performance Matters with the course number #10387. We have also shared this information with lead mentors and CFs. For additional information, please contact Crystal Vandiver, 336-665-8000.
Restorative Practices registration is now available for March, April, and May 2019 (see below). The session is listed as “GCS-Equity: Restorative Practices for School-based Staff 2018-2019" in Performance Matters. This is a great opportunity for school-based staff members to attend the two-day session. The materials will be provided; however, schools must cover the cost per substitute teacher. Lunch is own your own. Participants must attend both days. Registration is first come, first served, so register today at https://gcsnc.truenorthlogic.com.
Date: March 7-8, 2019
Location: 120 Franklin Blvd. Boardroom
Timeframe: 8:00-4:00 PM
Participants: McLaurin, C. Walker, Hathaway, V. Lyles, and Wallace
Date: April 1-2, 2019
Location: 2500 Lee’s Chapel Rd. Gymnasium
Timeframe: 8:00-4:00 PM
Participants: Weaver, Patillo, Henry
Date: May 9-10, 2019
Location: 120 Franklin Blvd. Boardroom
Timeframe: 8:00-4:00 PM
Participants: Davis, V. Lyles, anyone I've missed - see me