Leaders Leading Learners
Curriculum & Instruction Newsletter November 14, 2014
Growth
“You’re not going to be able to grow your career or your business or feed the tribe by going after most people. Most people are really good at ignoring new trends or great employees or big ideas. You can worry about most people all day, but I promise you that they’re not worried about you. They can’t hear you, regardless of how hard you yell. Almost all the growth that’s available to you exists when you aren’t like most people and when you work hard to appeal to folks who aren’t most people.”
Excerpt From: Seth Godin. “Tribes.” iBooks. https://itun.es/us/h5OKv.l”
Action Items
Core Content Area News
ALL PRINCIPALS:
Instructional Coach PLC: November 14 Agenda & Powerpoint
Lesson Plan Review: During the lesson plan review process on Fridays, there are still some teachers that are not completing lesson plans in Forethought. Please ensure there are systems in place on your campus for administrators to check for lessons plans being done in Forethought.
Reminders/Revisions
Elementary Recommended Minutes of Instruction
ABYDOS STAAR Writing Training: To help support writing instruction, C&I is providing the ABYDOS STAAR writing trainings for all teachers and Instructional Coaches that would like to attend.
Narrative: December 6, 8:30 - 3:30 with an hour lunch break
Expository: Jan 24, 8:30 - 3:30 with an hour lunch break
Persuasive: February 7, 8:30 - 3:30 with an hour lunch break
More details on locations will be sent out. Please share this information with your staff.
DDRT Behavior Meeting Dates: Behavior DDRT meetings are scheduled for the 4th Monday of every month. Due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays, the next Behavior DDRT meeting will not occur until January. Therefore, Behavior DDRT meetings along with Speech DDRT meetings will occur on the 2nd Monday of the month during the months of November and December.
ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS:
GT Testing: We will be using new measures this year to identify gifted students. The new tests are targeted to reach low SES and ELL populations, the two populations that we struggle to identify.
- These tests will include CogAT 7, an abilities test that measures verbal, nonverbal, and quantitative skills,
- IOWA, an achievement test that measures math and reading skills, and
- Logramos, a Spanish achievement test that parallels IOWA. CogAT and IOWA will be given online, while Logramos will be given in paper/pencil format.
Students will be identified through screening measures, which will be sent to your campuses soon. Testing will begin in Jan. Specific directions will be sent to your campus GT Contact soon.
Scholastic Survey: All ELA/SLA teachers are completing the Scholastic Survey on classroom libraries by Friday, November 21. Thank you for supporting this evaluation.
Hard Hats for Little Heads: Please put your bus request in for the Hard Hats for Little Heads on February 19 at Reed Arena. Transportation is expecting your requests soon. This program is for all 2nd graders.
- Request buses for as early as you can get your students loaded in the morning. We are usually finished by 10:30. More specific information to follow.
A&M Basketball Game: Remember to complete the A&M Basketball Due Nov 14th spreadsheet by 5:00pm Friday. Fourth and fifth graders will attend the A&M Basketball December 3rd.
MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS:
GT Testing: We will be using new measures this year to identify gifted students. The new tests are targeted to reach low SES and ELL populations, the two populations that we struggle to identify.
- These tests will include CogAT 7, an abilities test that measures verbal, nonverbal, and quantitative skills,
- IOWA, an achievement test that measures math and reading skills, and
- Logramos, a Spanish achievement test that parallels IOWA. CogAT and IOWA will be given online, while Logramos will be given in paper/pencil format.
Professional Development
November 24 & 25 - Professional development for employees who have not met the TE requirements. The session will be held at Bryan High School Silver Campus room 1200 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Bilingual/ESL News
Elementary Principals
Principals: The week of November 17-21 is an "A" week.
Special Education News
Co-Teach Training
- In order to support our special education students in co-teach and inclusive settings, we will cover the cost for any administrator who would like to attend an administrator's training at Region IV on January 28, 2015 from 8:30-3:30. This training will help administrators support inclusion and co-teach and prepare for the following school year.
- For more information visit this website: https://www.escweb.net/tx_esc_04/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=1058468
- If you are interested please contact Joanne Lerma by December 5th so we can get you enrolled and help connect you with others to carpool.
Curriculum & Instruction Department
Email: kammi.green@bryanisd.org
Website: www.bryanisd.org
Phone: 979-209-1049