Thunderbird Times
November 27 - Dec 2
Instruction Matters
I hope you each took the 9 days and had a relaxing and replenishing week!! We all needed it!!
With the urgent need for students to be prepared for ACPs, at times we start to panic and go straight to Review and/or Drill and Kill. Please, please, do not move into this cycle. We are here for students; to teach and for them to learn. We have our Instructional Calendars, the TEKS that still need mastery, and 15 days of instruction. Our planning should be intentional, and urgent, but we are not in panic mode. Keep the lessons engaging, energetic, relevant, and planned ahead.
Stay consistent in the use of student agendas, keep in mind No Workbook Wednesdays, implement Small Groups and document them in the binders, keep student achievement first, and very importantly, stay connected with our kids, continue to build relationships, instill Social Emotional Learning, and show the students we care.
Closing thoughts ... we need to constantly grow the social-emotional well being of our students. How will you let your students know they were missed on Monday morning?
Some students will come back to campus after having a great Thanksgiving break. Some students will come back after having a negative 9 day experience at home ... Lets plan on meeting the emotional needs of all our students.
Onward!
PTA 4th Grade
Small Group Binders
Culturally & Linguistically
12th Week in Review
We have completed 12 weeks of school!! And what improvements we have seen across the campus!!
The last week of school before break we enjoyed a wonderful 4th Grade PTA Performance. Our families and students joined us for Chavez Spirit Night @ Tacos Y Mas.
Our SEL Champion received training and resources at a Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching session.
I was able to meet with every teacher for an ACP Goal Setting conference and was very happy to hear success and areas that each one of you are focusing on.
PLCs focused on Data Analysis the week before, and there were LOTS of great CONVERSATION during and after our Campus Learning Walks. Many of you came sent messages of enjoying this process so we will look to have another walk soon as well!!
And most importantly, students were served a quality learning experence from EVERY Grade Level on campus!! This is the culture of Chavez Learning Center.
Student's Excited to show Achievement - Education Galaxy
Buard- Small Group Instruction!
Brown - Small Group Documentation
Teacher Shout Outs!!
Thank you Ms. Brown for implementing the Small Group Instruction Binder and Education Galaxy in the classrooms!! Even with the technology, students were also implementing their math journals.
Than you Hanz for focusing on a specific problem solving model and providing student feedback when they use it.
Thank you Buard for showing differentiated instruction at the Teacher Table Small groups while other students were focusing on their tasks and assignments as well.
Thank you Ms. Runnells for taking at strong lead on our Winter Carnival preparation process!
15 Day Focus
No Workbook Wednesdays:
at minimum, we will have hands on experiences, authentic learning, and high powered questioning in classrooms on Wednesdays. No textbook driven questioning and instruction.
Small Group Instruction:
Teachers should have pre-planned groupings, learning activities, and TEKS for small group instruction. This will also be documented in the binder so when the Leadership Team enters a classroom after small groups have ended, we can still see evidence of implementation.
Lesson Planning:
On Monday, as a campus, we created 'look-fors' during and after instructional planning. Planning should not be geared towards 'page 37, questions 1 through 5'. Instructional planning is intentionally designing lessons and activities to move students forward towards mastery. Lesson implementation should show evidence, clarity, and engagement that were discussed during planning.
TEKS Understanding:
The most challenging TEKS for students should be diagrammed and studied by the teacher so that we lessons can be scaffolded to increase student achievement on those standards.
High Level Questioning:
In pairing up with releasing textbook type instruction, High Level questioning should accompany the instructional planning in preparing lessons. Questioning should be leveraged with Depth of Knowledge and high impact cognitive demand. Resources: Hattie's Barometer of Influence, Costa's Level of Questioning, etc.
Upcoming Events
November 27: Students return to campus
November 29: Spelling Bees Begin
December 5: MLK Semifinals
December 8: Winter Carnival, 4 - 7pm
December 15: Insight Global Gift donation and celebration
December 18: ACPs Begin
PLCs Nov 27 - Dec 1 will focus on:
No Workbook Instructional Planning
(please come prepared with 2-4 of the frequently tested/high leverage standards)
In coming to a close, we want to recognize those teachers with Perfect Attendance and On-Time Arrival to the campus each week. All the teachers who were present Monday through Friday with a 7:40am or earlier clock in time were put in to a drawing for Teacher of the Week.
Teacher of the Week - our winner is Mr. Metoyer!!
Thank you Mr. Metoyer for providing and serving your students everyday. As winner of Teacher of the Week, the parking spot closest to the building will be yours from Tuesday, November 28th to Monday December 4th .
We will continue to have weekly drawings for Teacher of the Week based on attendance and timeliness.
We are the on the path to be Premier Campus in Dallas ISD!!
- Chavez Learning Center will increase academic achievement by increasing the percentage of students earning 'Meeting Grade Level" in all subjects.
- Chavez Learning Center will increase the campus Culture and Climate by improving its relationships, morale, and positive interactions between staff, parents, and students.
- Chavez Learning Center will work continually to improve and deliver high quality instruction to all students.