The Superstar Weekly
Superstars Are Diving Into Learning! (Vol. 7)
Our Mission, Vision and Big Rocks
Mission: Every child will reach their potential through an exemplary education.
Vision: Smith Elementary will foster a safe and inclusive learning environment that encourages and empowers every student to BE THE ONE to make a difference.
Big Rocks:
- Climate - Providing a safe and positive school culture and climate (All Means All...)
- Growth - Utilizing measurable and rigorous year-long goals for student growth
- Collaboration - Fostering constant sharing of ideas and best practices
- Alignment - Meshing resources, instruction and assessments with the TEKS
Upcoming Events and Reminders
- September 26 - Chick-fil-A Spirit Night (4:00 PM-8:00 PM)
- September 27 - Special Team Collaborative Meeting (All Team Members/Library 3:45 PM)
- September 28 - AP Meeting for Mrs. Alvarez
- September 28 - Western Wear Day
- September 29 - Student and Staff Holiday (Fort Bend County Fair Day)
- October 2 - Dual Language Walks (3-5)
- October 2 - CogAT Testing Starts for Kindergarten (Ends October 5)
- October 4 - Character Count Dress Up Day (Wear Yellow)
- October 4 - Math Learning Walks (K-2)
- October 5 - Lamar CISD Instructional Leadership Team Meeting (ILT) for Mr. Marchena, Mrs. Alcorta, Mrs. Barrett and Dr. Bethley
- October 12 - Instructional Coaches' Meeting
- October 13 - Lamar High School Mariachi Band Performance (Gym 2:00 PM)
- October 18 - Lamar CISD Counselors' Meeting
- October 18 - Unity Day Activities
- October 23 - Red Ribbon Week (October 23-October 27)
- October 23 - Dual Language Walks (K-2)
- October 26 - Fall Festival and Title I Meeting (5:00 PM-7:00 PM)
Notes:
- Reminder to submit emergency sub plans
- Please see your invites for the 1/2 Day Planning Schedules (September)
- All students and staff must wear the LCISD badges at all times
- Submit your absences in SmartFind and Kronos
- For planned absences, a substitute folder with general information for substitutes is required to be left on the teacher’s desk. All teachers are required to have an emergency sub-folder filed with the front office. These are housed in the file cabinet near the clerk. Please make sure your emergency substitute folder is up to date.
- Refrain from using the released STAAR Spring 2022 and Spring 2023 assessments for all instructional purposes (The questions will be used for the fall and spring benchmarks)
- Reading Academy Cohort participants should submit their absences to request substitutes for all academy dates (Professional Leave Without Students)
- The updated 2023-2024 LCISD Instructional Handbook and the Classroom Expectations documents are available on LamarNET (Implement the documents during all instructional settings)
- Upload your individual lesson plans in Canvas by every Thursday at 11:59 PM for the upcoming instructional week
- Starting this year, students that are 15 or more minutes late to class without a signed note or need to leave class 15 or more minutes early without a signed note will no longer be counted as Absent. Instead, students that enter class late or leave class early without a signed note will be counted as Tardy. Only students not physically present in class or in another location on campus will be counted as Absent. This change is being made to align to TEA expectations for attendance accounting. Per the LCISD student handbook and code of conduct, tardies are considered as a minor offense disciplinary issue and are subject to disciplinary action accordingly.
Red Ribbon Week
Professional Learning Community (PLC) Meeting Template
Quick Checks
Quick checks will be required for grades 2-5 in Eduphoria weekly created by the teacher. These quick checks will cover the TEKS taught throughout the week. The minimum number of questions is 4 and the maximum is 15. If the quick check is taken for a grade the minimum number of questions is 10 and the maximum is 15. This should not take more than 45 minutes. If the quick check is not being used as a grade, it should take no more than 20 minutes to complete. Quick checks are required for Math, Reading and Science. They do not necessarily need to be given on a certain day or for a grade.
Elementary Grade Deadlines (2023-2024)
Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (LEAF)
(Free Jeans/Warm-ups Pass Opportunity)
The Lamar Educational Awards Foundation (LEAF) is accepting Classroom Innovation and Fall Travel Grant proposals for the 2023 – 2024 school year! Applicants can submit Innovation Grants through October 4, 2023. Fall Travel Grants requests will be accepted through September 29, 2023.
LCISD Instructional Handbook and the Classroom Expectations
Elementary Content Professional Learning Plans
ELAR Instructional Handbook
Instructional Zone (Lead4ward Instructional Strategies)
Focused Listing
Purpose – Learning from Mistakes: Students collaborate to develop a comprehensive list of words, visuals, etc. associated with the major visuals, subclusters, or texts in a unit.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Post chart paper around the room with the major visuals, subclusters, or texts from a unit
- Organize students evenly among the posters and provide each group member with a marker of their group’s assigned color
- Each student adds at least 1 idea to each poster
- Groups collaborate to list as many related words, visuals, events, characters/people, examples, main ideas, etc
- Original groups analyze the other groups’ comments on their poster then complete a 1-minute verbal summary of the main ideas
- Students write what they learned about each topic in a graphic organizer or in their journals
- Teacher sees and hears students’ thinking and clarifies/verifies additions, confirms strikethroughs, and answers questions as appropriate
Materials: Chart paper with different questions, words, visuals, etc.; markers (different color for each group)
Coaches' Corner
MATH:
- The first round of Math Coaching Walks is almost over. Mr. Marchena will continue checking on Number Talks/Fluency and 3 Reads Routines on a regular basis. Please refer to your Glows and Grows to refine your professional practice.
- The second round of Math Coaching Walks will start in October. The focus of this round will be the Mini-Lesson. If you need some assistance on how to plan and/or facilitate Math Mini-Lessons, let Mr. Marchena know before October 1st so he can assist you.
- The goal of the Math Coaching Walks is to have a self-running Math Workshop by the end of November. If you need some assistance or clarification, do not hesitate to contact Mr. Marchena.
SCIENCE:
- The Science Department has created day-by-day lessons. They are included in the Roadmaps. The are a very useful guide do plan your weekly lessons.
- Please consider the recommended Laboratory and Field Experiences percentages:
- In grades K-1, teachers are encouraged to facilitate classroom and outdoor investigations for at least 80% of instructional time.
- In grades 2-3, teachers are encouraged to facilitate classroom and outdoor investigations for at least 60% of instructional time.
- In grades 4-5, teachers are encouraged to facilitate classroom and outdoor investigations for at least 50% of instructional time.
If you need assistance creating or facilitating Science Lessons, please contact Mr. Marchena
BOY Linguistic Accommodation LPAC Information:
- It’s that time of year again for our BOY Linguistic Accommodations LPAC. It’s scheduled for Wednesday, October 11th during your conference time.
- I will pass out your binder on Monday to let you know who your EB students are in your class. In your binder, you will find each student’s linguistic accommodations forms in the binder to fill out. Please complete and turn in the BOY Linguistic Accommodations forms by Thursday, October 5th.
- If you have EBs who are receiving Special Education Services, please ask the Special Education Teachers to collaborate with you when completing those forms.
- It is imperative that you add the following information on each form:
- GRA/EDL levels
- Who is receiving Dyslexia, RTI, 504, and/or Special Education Services
- Who is attending tutorials (Reading, Writing, Math, Science)
- Strengths and Weaknesses
- Recommendations
- If you need help filling out those forms, feel free to reach out to me!
Dual Language Teachers:
- Thank you so much for all the work you have done so far! I have seen great things in your classroom these past four weeks.
- The K-2 Dual Language Training on Tuesday was a success! The students did a wonderful job during their Pie a la Mode lesson. The teacher did a great job collaborating and learning as well!
- Please review the DL checklist and make sure your classroom has these things in place. If you have any questions or need help with anything on the checklist, please let me know! I will use the checklist for the next few weeks during my coaching walks to provide feedback.
- Dual Language Learning Walks with Cynthia Principe will start in October. Look below for the dates.
- October 2nd : we are going to visit 3rd – 5th grade to look at your CLC lesson.
- October 23rd : we are going to visit K-2nd grade to look at your ELLD lesson.
ELAR:
- Reminder about weekly quick checks in Eduphoria
- There should be evidence of Guided Reading in binders that will be checked
- ELAR look for will be guided reading small groups so please send Barrett the time that it takes
Grading Policy:
G3-G5: CFAs must be entered in Eduphoria, and they should include at least 25% of questions with Interactive Responses (New Item Types)
G2-G5: Midterms and Finals were created by the district and can be found in Eduphoria.
ELAR and Math: 7 Minors and 2 Majors
Science and Social Studies: 5 Minors and 2 Majors
There is only one gradebook for ELAR (Reading and Writing grades are now together
- place by Monday at 4:00 PM
Please let us know if you have any questions or need some assistance to meet these expectations.
Thank you!
Alcorta, Barrett and Marchena
Guided Math Schedule Progression
ELAR Framework
Naming Facilities Information
Nominations will open for Elementary #35, #36, #37, and #38 and will remain open through 9/22. Before submitting your nomination, please review Board Policy CW (LOCAL) which outlines the requirements for naming a facility. The School Board is tentatively scheduled to approve the school names on 11/14.