Hoover Happenings
January 16, 2023
Watch Them Grow
Fast assessments - despite coming around 3 times every year, and despite being a snapshot score of a student's knowledge and skill development - can still bring upon nervousness and anxiety for students and teachers. While we dig in to student data, and analyze what the data tells us, it becomes practice to highlight proficiency.
I encourage you, and even challenge you, as you begin to monitor student scores on their respective assessments, to pay attention to student growth from Fall to Winter. We have implemented some great instructional resources this year in the form of UFLI and Bridges and our students are responding. And while their responses may not be at the level that we'd like them to be yet, they are making gains and continuing to grow. Let's celebrate all of their progress. And yours. And ours.
Fast Assessments
Fast testing will run from January 17th-27th. Here is the information that was sent out, just in case you'd like to review it again. Remember, there will be no intervention groups while we work through Fast assessments, but students do still need to be progress monitored weekly.
K-1 classroom teachers, along with Academic Interventionists, will assess students 1:1 outside of the general education classroom
- K-1 classroom teachers will have coverage for their testing time
2-5 classroom teachers will administer assessments whole class, with AI support
A classes - Jaci
B classes - Melissa
C classes - Linda
Heather will support 4th grade, and assist as needed in other locations
Grouping/Data meetings have been scheduled for each grade level and new intervention groups will begin February 6th.
Lexia Usage
As of January 1st, we have 105 Hoover students with a Lexia license and 95 of those students are using the program. Of those 95 students, 69% of them are meeting their usage minutes. This is up 6% from last month! In addition to that, 31% of our students are working within grade-level content, which is an increase of 5% from last month.
Please continue to monitor your student minutes and units gained so we are maximizing our use of this resource.
Recess
If you notice a student does not have appropriate attire, please let Lindsey know so we can work on obtaining items for them. Remember, some students are bringing the only items they have and pointing out that their coat/jacket isn't warm can be more harmful than helpful.
This Week
Tuesday, January 17th
- Special Education Team Meeting - 7:45am small conference room
- Fast Testing Begins
- Student Observations - 9:00am
- Kory 1:1 meeting 11:00am
- Kory/AEA meeting 1:00pm
- Kory Classroom coverage 3:00pm
- Elementary Literacy Committee Meeting - 3:50pm Admin
- Mobile Food Pantry 5:45-7:00pm - NEW LOCATION Grant Wood Elementary
Wednesday, January 18th
- Parent Meeting - DN - 10:00am small conference room
- Early Dismissal 2:00pm
- Kory at classroom team meeting 2:00-2:30pm
- Building PLCs - 3:00-4:00pm
Thursday, January 19th
- Taylor's Birthday!
- 5th Grade Field Trip - Quad City Storm Hockey Game
- Core Team Meeting 9:00am small conference room
- Student Success Team - Behavior 2:00pm small conference room
- Parent Meeting J.C. - 3:30pm
Friday, January 20th
- Parent Meeting C.W. - 3:30pm
General Obligation (GO) Bond - Petition
Infrastructure Updates & Learning Environment Improvements
General Obligation (GO) Bond - Petition
website | info sheet | petition
The Bettendorf Community School District is seeking signatures to allow a General Obligation Bond to come to the public for a vote. The bond proposition proposes allowing the district to increase the property tax rate, up to $2.70, to fund a significant portion of needed improvements at Bettendorf Middle School and Bettendorf High School.
We invite parents, staff and community members to help obtain signatures for the Bett GO Bond Petition. Please submit signatures by Jan 16 to your school office or the district administration center. More information is available on the district website or bit.ly/BettGOBond.
Dyslexia Education Night
This is a free community event. If interested, here is the informational flyer.
Morning Announcements
Counselor's Corner
This week’s future ready language theme is “We don't have to be friends, but we do have to be respectful”
Books:
Cliques just don't make cents By Julia Cook
Try a Little Kindness By Henry Cole
Be Kind By Pat Zietlow Miller
One Smile By Cindy McKinley
Words: Understand their power By Linda Ragsdale
Mr. Peabody's Apples By Madonna
The Berenstain bears and the trouble with friends By Stan and Jan Berenstain
Tease Monster: By Julia Cook
Videos:
Weekly tip from our Behavior Coach
Interact With Your Students
Teachers often forget the importance of developing a rapport with students. This is possibly because teachers feel as though they shouldn’t mix business with pleasure. The reality is it’s an essential part of classroom management. Students need to know we are more than just robots who stand at the front of the room.
To manage behavior successfully, you need the respect and trust of your students. If students don’t want to listen to what you have to say, then your attempts at classroom discipline will be useless. To put it another way, you can’t correct, until you connect.
Parent Newsletter
KA is featured as the Classroom Spotlight. Let me know if you'd like to be featured next week!
Contact Information
Email: kesbaum@bettendorf.k12.ia.us
Website: hh.bettendorf.k12.ia.us
Location: 3223 South Hampton Drive, Bettendorf, IA, USA
Phone: (563)340-3579