AD Connect
April 23rd 2018
Praising Effort Isn't Enough
Mary Murphy, an associate psychology professor and mindset researcher at Indiana University...notes that students of all ages can lose trust in adults who praise them for effort without specifying what was "effective" about their effort. Murphy suggested educators can give adolescents a better foundation for a growth mindset by, among other things:
*Providing opportunities for students to reflect on their own learning. For example, instead of using assessments primarily for the teacher, let students assess themselves regularly and report back on how they have developed.
*HIghlight mistakes in the everyday practice of learning. "Tell students, 'I don't want to know what you found easy, I want to know what you got wrong because that's where the learning will be,'" Murphy said in an email. "This naturally gets students to think about how much they are learning and developing, and will get them to think about what other strategies they could try."
*Use group work where peers discuss what they each struggled with and explore individual strengths of different students.
Final Round of STAAR-Rockin Review
With more STAAR assessments right around the corner, you should have your Rockin’ Review schedules ready to go, including strategic placement of students in settings and with personnel where they will be most successful. Our curriculum coordinators have included Rockin’ Review materials in Schoolnet, and you definitely will want to provide your teachers with adequate time to review, plan and prepare their lessons.
Reading resources are found under Unit 6: STAAR Review and Research. Math resources are found under Unit 9: Data Analysis and STAAR Review.
SSI Part Deaux
Fifth grade reading and math results will be arriving soon.
A binder of English & Spanish SSI intervention lesson plans, supplemental materials, and formative assessments were delivered to your iTeams last week. The binder is separated by subject and reporting categories. These documents along with the suggested implementation plan and training power point is located in Google Drive. Please share this link with your fifth grade teams.ACE Updates
So many of you genuinely have been trying to find a good fit for your campus among the displaced teacher list. Thank you! We know this is a challenging process for everyone involved. I also want to let you know we are moving as quickly as possible to make selections for the Handley team in an effort to expedite your hiring.
This week we will hold the ACE parent meeting at Lyles, with the Handley parent meeting taking place the following week. Students who live in the Handley and Lyles attendance zone but did not select Handley or Lyles for the 18-19 school year may change their choice up through May 4. Similarly, students may opt out during the same window.
We also are hoping to have a Lyles principal named by the end of the week.
EOY Checklist Sample
Budget Info
Class Rosters
It's time to begin considering class lists for next year. Many of you use a variety of strategies to do this, but teacher input is essential. Be sure your teachers complete an informational form on each student and then meet with you, and possibly a team, to determine best placement. I have also included a sample class roster you can use to help balance classes. Please include special education teachers, dyslexia teachers, and any other specialists in order to ensure best placement. If you would like to problem solve any situations, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. Here are a few resources I thought I’d share:
Master Class Roster Spreadsheet
Upcoming Dates
April 23-District Retirement Celebration
April 24-Contracts due to HR
April 27-Deadline to submit Summer Reading Program launch dates(4/13 WAIP)
April 28-Steamposium
April 30-Teacher of the Year Luncheon
April 30-May 4-Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4-PTA Spring Luncheon
May 9-National School Nurse Day
June 21-Title I capital outlay and personnel requests due (4/13 WAIP)
The Fastest Man Alive
Tuesday: Campus Visits: Focus Schools Meeting; Board meeting with TOY announcements
Wednesday: CIA Meetings; AD Meeting
Thursday: LAD meeting: Campus Visits
Friday: HR Meeting; Campus Visits