Dos Rios Elementary
Weekly Rocket * September 18, 2017
Principal's PLC-Connection
WOW!!! What a great Professional Development Day
Pre-Observation Conferences & Formal (Scheduled) Observations
Outside of my office will be a weekly print out of my calendar. Those who are scheduled for their first or only formal observation with me, please sign up for a Pre-Observation Conference. Pre-Obs should only take 15-20 minutes, but feel free to sign up for 30-40 minutes if you want to dive deep into the conference or just want to have some time to talk.
Grade Level/Principal PLC's - We are mid-way through first quarter and you are all doing a great job at incorporating information from the district's weekly PLC meetings and now beginning to venture more into Close Reading. I have been eagerly awaiting for the right time to begin our Grade Level/Principal PLC's that will occur one to twice a month (grade level choice). In these PLC's, we will focus more on content instruction, the standards, Map pacing guides, student data, GEIT issues, and follow-ups to Professional Development. We will begin Wednesday, October 4th.
TBA: Staff Book Study (more will be revealed).
Principally yours,
Mrs. Annamarie Dowling-Garrott
(aka Mrs. A or Mrs. D-G)
Personal Close Reading
Weekly Launch Codes
Week-at-a-Glance
Castro's Corner
Weekly Discipline Data (Week of 9/11)
- Out of School Suspensions (OSS): 3
- In-School Suspensions (ISS): 0
- SEaL Sessions: 3
Weekly Discipline Tip
Reflection Sheets
Why should I do it:
- We learn from reflecting on experiences, good and bad. A Reflection Sheet is a very effective tool to use when a student is displaying unacceptable or acceptable behaviors and can be used in conjunction with the Class Rules. The sheets can be used to help correct undesired behaviors or, alternatively, to reinforce those students following the rules and exhibiting expected and desired behaviors.
When should I do it:
- When students are exhibiting unacceptable behaviors
- When students are not following school/class rules
- When students are on task, displaying appropriate behaviors, and following school/class rules
How do I do it:
- The student is told to go to the reflection center
- The teacher explains briefly to the student why they are being sent and what behaviors or rules they were breaking
- The student is withdrawn to reflect on his/her behavior and completes the Reflection Sheet, discussing it with the Teacher after it is completed
- A timer may be used
- Alternatives to writing may be drawing pictures, talking into a microphone and recording responses, or typing responses into computer
- A desk set apart from the other students may serve as a reflection center
- When sending a student who is exhibiting appropriate behaviors and is following the rules, the student may share with the class what behavior and expectation they were “caught” doing correctly. Additionally, these students may receive a small reward or a sticker toward a reward.
It works if you work it....
DR School-Wide STEPS
SEaL Sessions After School & Saturday
This Week's Top Pilot(s)
Kitty Robinson
Kelly DeRosier
Leticia Castro
Reading Rockets - Contributed by Ryann Miller
Great Resources for Close Reading
Find leveled text about a multitude of topics:
- https://www.tweentribune.com/
- https://newsela.com/
- https://www.nytimes.com/section/learning
- https://www.readworks.org/
Find lesson plans with text dependent questions:
Find more information about text dependent questions:
Making Math Matter - Contributed by Melanie Blaum
Tip 3: Make Math Fun & Engaging
Whether you have a specific math program you must follow or if you can design your own block, you have the opportunity to make things interesting for children. Put yourself in their shoes: would you want to complete worksheets and tests by yourself every day? Would you enjoy math? Would you retain anything? Ask yourself what you can do to build math fluency and make math fun and engaging for all students.
- Teach them different games and center activities to review and practice different skills taught in class.
- Have activities set up in the classroom that children enjoy and feel successful at.
- Include games with dice and cards that children can play on their own or with a friend.
- Have math centers prepared and ready for students to grab and try.
ASU Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Contest
Our stories tell us we are more alike than we think. Together, we can be a collective voice and move our world forward.
Now accepting entries for the 2018 Student Contest. Open to all grades K-12. Winning entries receive a prize, and will be invited to participate in the 33rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration.
Student entry forms available online: Contest information and prior year winners available at
https://www.asu.edu/mlk/#contest
The Importance of “School Teachers” by George Couros
My belief is that a “classroom teacher” is one that is focused solely on their position and subject matter, and the rest of the school is something that is just “happening” around them. A “school teacher” is one that is focused on the success of the school as a whole. The “school teacher” knows that every child within the school is the responsibility of all staff, not just the ones that teach them directly. What they do within their classroom one year, will directly affect what happens to that child later on in school, and in reality, can impact them for life. School teachers are the ones that see kids outside of their classroom and deal with them in good times and bad. They never see a student doing something wrong and simply march them down to the principal’s office. They see, even in mistakes, that an opportunity to talk with a child is an opportunity to build a relationship.
Peter Senge discusses what happens when people are focused solely on their own job as opposed to the work of the organization:
“When people in organizations focus only on their position, they have little sense of responsibility for the results produced when all positions interact. Moreover, when results are disappointing, it can be very difficult to know why. All you can do is assume that “someone screwed up.” Peter Senge, The Fifth Discipline
With all of the discussion about progress in education, and making a difference, it is when educators align within schools and systems to do great things together which will create real growth. It is when a school is full of “school teachers”, that we will truly see a huge impact and shift in the learning of our students. We have to move away from the “pockets of excellence” in individual classrooms, and work towards a shared vision in schools. Teachers absolutely need autonomy in their instruction, but autonomy can still align with the goals of a school. Programs like “Google Days” allow this same autonomy to the staff, yet always seem to tie to the shared vision of the organization.
It is sad to see that there are so many strong initiatives happening in schools that kids only get for a year and may never see again. In school, we have to work together, share best practices, align our vision, give opportunities to our teachers to do great things, and make great schools, not just great classrooms. The “pockets” are not enough.