Mustang Minute
Vol III Issue 13, November 25, 2014
BC Charles Elementary
Good afternoon,
Kelly, Karla and myself had the opportunity to visit (almost) every
reading/math classroom this week with lead teachers. Learning Targets are visible and are being referenced by teachers - which is great! Remember, the purpose is to help students make the connections between the work you ask them to do and what they are learning.
A couple of takeaways from observations and data meetings with each grade-level.
High percentages of K-2 students met the PALS benchmark, but still have gaps on individual skills. The focus of small group and independent work must be laser-targeted on these gaps to close them.
Significant gaps K-2 between reading and performance and on math problem-solving assessments. Continue to use math journals to expose students to rigorous problems (however, NOT riddles). This week's math PD was timely. We'll make adjustments to problem solving tasks as grade-level teams, as needed.
Also, there's a disparity between online and paper pencil benchmarks (3-5). This highlights the need for contextual alignment experiences in class. Weekly common formative assessment will give us regular insight into the rigor of the newest SOL standards, and our progress. Online practice will provide even more accurate insight.
Finally, K-5, we must continue unpacking the framework to teach to the level of rigor the standards require. An example from this week - naming and finding non-fiction text features is not the same as "using text features to predict and categorize information." This is but one example, but as long as we stay focused on what the standard is, and how each lesson advances us towards that goal, our students will benefit from our work.
Thank you very much for your hard work this week. Two more days, and a well-deserved break!
Have a great weekend...
Around the School
Problem-Solving
American Education Week
Learning Targets
Birthdays
Beverly Shaw - November 22
Jamala Hairston - November 27
Katie Nesselrodt - November 29
Week-at-a-Glance
Monday 11/24
- (Intervention: Yellow)
Tuesday 11/25
- Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast
- PTA Treat Day
Wednesday 11/26
- Office Closed (1/2 Day)
- School Closed
Thursday 11/27
- Thanksgiving Day
- School Closed
Friday -11/21/28
- School Closed
Upcoming
- Thanksgiving Holiday Break, 11/26-11/28
- PTA Program (2/3rd), December 11