The Friday File
September 19, 2014
Nashua Mission
Upcoming Events
September Events
Sept. 23
5:00-8:00 p.m. Wendy's Night
All Data Entered into Data Director and Aimsweb
Sept. 24
K, 1st, 2nd PST PLT
11:00-on HS out for Administrator Meetings
Sept. 25
Double Starbucks
5-8:30 p.m. 4th/5th grade Track Meet at Staley
Sept. 26
Fire Drill TBA
Pay Day Treats
LS out AM-Matt Glover
KG out PM-Matt Glover
TM out in AM-Reading Meeting
HS out PM
Sept. 29
HS out all day
Oct. 1
7:45 a.m. BLT meets in Learning Lab
TBA Shelter in Place
Oct. 3
Spirit Day
PBS video
Instructional Calendars due to HS
PLT Updates
Week of Sept. 22: PST
Week of Sept. 29: Number Talks Module
Week of Oct. 6: Project Units to Include CFAs
Week of Oct. 13: Continue Projection
Week of Oct. 20: Off for P/T conferences
Stukey's Quote of the Week
1. Boldly fail
2. Set goals
3. It's not always about luck
4. Carefully track your progress
5. Don't wait to act
6. Connect the dots
7. Harness your confidence
8. Commit
9. Be alert
10. Persevere
11. Communicate like a pro
12. Display humility
September Birthdays
5th Jerilee
7th Deb
16th Robert
17th Taylor
24th Lis
26th Vanessa
27th Julie
Focus Lesson
- Connection - Teacher explicitly states learning target. Yesterday I taught you (standard/skill/strategy) today I will teach you (standard/skill/strategy) by....Teacher does the talking.. Teacher explains relevance of the teaching point
- Teach- Teacher thinks aloud, models, or demonstrates. Teacher shows the students how and the teacher does the talking
- Active Involvement- Students briefly try using language from the "teach" component. Teacher listens while students practice
- Link- Teacher clearly states expectation for independent work time. May state expectation for share time or conferences
Reminders - Be aware of the question/answer trap. Remember that this is a time to model and demonstrate thinking about reading. Your teaching point should be directly tied to your Learning Target and linked to what students will independently practice. In math, the components may vary slightly in order but should still be present.
Number Talks
Number Talks should focus solely on mental math strategies. There are a few instances on the sample Number Talks from the summer (linked to the IAG) where we suggest tools or manipulatives for students. We will likely not “correct” the posted documents so please communicate this to teachers and we will keep this in mind moving forward.
Remember to focus on the standards within the unit rather than a specific End-of-Unit assessment item when they are developing a pre-assessment and planning for instruction.
Area of Focus Reminder
5 Steps for Data Teams
Analyze Strengths and Obstacles
Establish goals: set, review, revise
Select Instructional Strategies
Determine Results Indicators
PLTs
Effective vs. Ineffective Instructional Practices
Often allow students to work together to solve problems.
Express belief in each student.
Allow for lots of structured student discussion during the learning process.
Deal with student misbehavior in a private manner.
View and use textbooks as resources and teaching tools.
Refuse to give up on any student.
Accept and welcome change as a necessary part of growth.
Plan detailed lessons designed to maximize critical thinking, learning, and engagement.
Enjoy a positive, friendly rapport with students.
Focus on student strengths.
Use lots of hands-on learning activities
Test what is taught in the same way that it has been taught.
Constantly seek to learn new and better ways to teach.
Do whatever it takes to help a student succeed.
Collaborate with co-workers in order to improve effectiveness.
Appear calm and professional at all times.
Ineffective
Act as though teaching is a chore.
Begin lesson by saying, "Open your book to page ______"
Often speak of students with disapproval.
Include "surprise" items on test-items students did not know would be on the test.
Embarrass students in front of peers.
Use lots of worksheets
Engage in power struggle with students.
Technology Updates from Andi
I just want to remind you that the staff website for NKCSchools is not www.nkcschools.org. It’s
http://www.nkcschools.org/page.cfm?p=2524
If you haven’t done so already, BOOKMARK this link to find access to tools you may need throughout this year.
SMARTER Balanced Assessment
3rd ELA 44 items tested
3rd MA 31 items tested
4th ELA 44 items tested
4th MA 31 items tested
5th ELA 44 items tested with a writing performance event
5th MA 31 items tested with a performance event
5th SC 60 items tested