B & K Tiger Update
January 21, 2020
Starting with our why
Thanks for another great couple of weeks of learning at FES! Katy and I appreciate everything you do to make sure that amazing things are happening in your classroom each and every day. Keep up the great work!
After I wrapped up on Tuesday, I asked you to do 2 things:
- Begin the development of your own "why" - don't worry, I'm not asking you to build a slide deck, or anything like that. I suggest something as simple as a list that will help you articulate your why (although if you want to go big, that's your choice).
- Complete the 16 personalities test (https://www.16personalities.com/) to learn a little more about your personality. I think understanding a bit about our personality has a couple of benefits. First, it will help our teams grow stronger if we know the personality traits of one another, and second, it will help us to reflect on some of the strengths and weaknesses we might have as a result of our personality.
If you have not already completed these two tasks, please continue to work on them. At our next PLC on 1/27, I'm going to ask all of you to devote about 10 minutes of your time to sharing with each other your why and your personality type.
At our staff meeting on February 4th, I'm going to ask each grade level team to be prepared to share a bit about their collective "why" - filtering each of your individual beliefs into a phrase, sentence, or short statement that describes your team's why. Look for more information on this!
Enjoy the rest of your 3-day weekend (if you're reading this on the weekend), and make sure to take some time for rest, relaxation, and reflection on the reason behind this 3-day weekend.
BB
Upcoming Calendar
This week:
1/20/20- MLK Day- No School
1/21/20
- NWEA Window Opens
- PLC Leadership Team Meeting, 8:00
- Brian & Equity Coaches off-site in the afternoon for Dr. Paul Gorski (learn more about him here: http://edchange.org/publications.html)
1/22/20
- Brian and Katy in an admin meeting offsite, 7:30am to 9:00am
- Katy out in PM for family medical
1/23/20
- Katy in meeting with FYAP, 8:00
- Katy NWEA testing small group, 11:00
1/24/20
- Dr. Bourff visits FES - 10:00
- Best Buddies Movie Night
Looking Ahead:
1/25/20 to 1/29/20
- Brian to Teachers College January Coaching Institute on the Teaching of Reading
Quote we're contemplating this week:
~Hamish Brewer, Relentless: Changing Lives by Disrupting the Education Norm
Finding a way Out of the Maze!
Update: A copy of Out of the Maze was put into the mailbox of one member of your team after break. I'm challenging each team to read the book and reflect on how we might use the story to help us find a way out of our personal maze. See below for more info!
During the month of January, we will be doing a little reading challenge. I have purchased one copy of this book for each grade level team, the exceptional learners team, the related arts team, and the office team. I'll be placing a copy in one person's mailbox for the team.
Here's the ask - read the book (it's a super quick read, I finished it in one sitting of about an hour). Feel free to mark up the book - highlight, jot notes, etc. - then pass it off to someone else on your team. When your team finishes, come see me for a little prize!
If you feel that you don't have time for the book right now, hand it off to someone else on the team and wait until the book makes it back to you!
A New FES Collaboration Space!
Why Do We Have Word Problems?
Watch Robert Kaplinsky's free webinar "Why We Should Reconsider Word Problems (and What We Should Be Doing Instead)"
Over 100 years ago, word problems were the best and only option. Are we still using word problems because they are the best option for giving students context- or because that's the only way we've been teaching math? In an age of multimedia, there are so many more engaging and authentic ways to teach math understanding and practice skills. Robert Kaplinsky will walk you through how to make sense of mathematics in real life context for elementary learners (check out the Coke freestyle machine problem at 47:00!) Links to resources and Robert Kaplinsky's blog are included. Talk to Taylor Mooneyhan if you are interested in embedding Kaplinsky problems into your math teaching! Check out the links below for additional resources:
- robertkaplinsky.com/prbl-search-engine
- robertkaplinsky.com/lessons
- www.estimation180.com/lessons/html
- glfletchy.com/3-act-lessons
Shared Files are now on Sharepoint!
Time to input data into RTI documentation?
These shared files have been moved from OneDrive "shared files" to Sharepoint. This way we all "own" the files and do not have to ask for access from the originator of the file. To get to Sharepoint:
-Log into your OneDrive account.
-Select the waffle
-Select Sharepoint
-Select "Fishers Elementary"
-On the left menu under Home select "FES Staff Share"
-Select the file "FES Staff Items and Documents 2019 2020"
https://hsek12inus.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/FES/EvcAJlUXkj9PgMichOyFNKABx8sokG0Df1TzC9JomBgNHQ?e=1BWUur
GRL Levels
Please input your students' data using the link below (also on Sharepoint):
https://hsek12inus.sharepoint.com/:f:/s/FES/EvcAJlUXkj9PgMichOyFNKABx8sokG0Df1TzC9JomBgNHQ?e=1BWUur
Shout out to you... Thank you FES crew!
- A big applause goes to Carrie Sturges and Cristie Ondrejack for coaching the FES Tigers Robotics team! They have now competed in three events! Drivers have improved their skills each competition!
- Kudos to Lauren, Casey, and Katy for their hard work on a challenging case conference last week!
Sub Plans - Important Reminders
- Student Roster - With phonemic spelling for each. Let our substitutes honor our students by saying their names appropriately.
- A clear and easy to understand schedule for the day.
Interested in finding new, innovative, and different ways to create sub plans? Talk to Brian B. about how you might use Flipgrid (or some other similar feature) to create digital sub plans that include your voice and can be replayed as many times as necessary!
CPI & Reminder Links
Below are the grade level links if you issue a Reminder to a student. The PBIS team reviews Reminder data throughout the year to analyze individual and group behavior that is managed at the classroom level. It also helps us determine if a student needs to move from Tier I to Tier II PBIS support. If you want your personal cumulative reminder information, please let Jenn know!
Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
School Safety Updates
Teachers should decide on designated zones to ensure that all recess areas are supervised at all times.
All teachers will come to the playground at the designated time to line up their class and account for all the students before re-entering the building.
Teachers will monitor and interact with students, while most importantly always scanning the playground areas.
One teacher from each recess group may stay in inside. This would be a supervised space for students that are unable to participate in outside recess.
Safety for students is our number one priority!
Please refer to the map below for FES playground zones.
PGP Form Below
NWEA Testing Window
Katy is your building Testing Coordinator. She is here to assist you in anything you may need for the NWEA process.
Winter Testing Window
January 21-February 7
- Math NWEA: Please complete the Math NWEA in time to discuss results at the 1/29 Math Data Day.
- Reading NWEA: Please complete Reading NWEA no later than Friday, January 31.
- The last week of the NWEA testing window will be reserved for make up testing only. Michelle will need to resume WIDA testing the week of February 3, so let's avoid any testing overlaps if possible.
There is no Spring NWEA this year:
- This will allow a focus towards ILEARN (as the new untimed/adaptive assessment which also provides us with growth targets from year to year).
- NWEA will continue to be used in the fall/winter to help determine growth plans for each student towards their overall school performance/growth.
Communication
Please let families know when you will be testing your class. A Skylert will be sent out by the district with the general testing window, but you will want to communicate your specific days to your families so that they avoid making doctor/dentist appointments during testing. Parents will also need to have the App downloaded on home-brought Ipads. Rented Ipads will already have the App on them. Software should be updated to iOS 13.2.2.
Structuring NWEA
We want you to encourage each of you to think about the structure we give NWEA. We have flexibility in how we administer the test and can also use these structures when we test for IREAD and ILEARN. This is a good time to try some creative test administration out to see what works well for your students. Also be thinking about how you can help your students incorporate goal setting into the NWEA process? How do we keep this process high-energy and positive for students?
Accessing NWEA Website
https://sso.mapnwea.org/auth/login?dest=https%3A%2F%2Fhsesd-admin.mapnwea.org%2Fadmin%2F
Please click Login and MAP Growth to begin.
*Click forgot password if you do not have login information.
Setting Up Test Session
1. First decide which test is being taken which day and plan for a time for students to finish each.
2. Know which tests students are required to take.
- Growth: Math K-2 IN 2014
- Growth: Reading K-2 IN 2014
- Growth: Math 2-5 IN 2014
- Growth: Reading 2-5 IN 2014
3. Click Manage Test Sessions
4. Click Test My Class
5. Check all names that apply to test being assigned.
6. Click Assign Test
7. Choose appropriate test (no one is taking Language Arts).
8. Click Assign Now
9. Students who have TTS may be assigned this feature by selecting their name and selecting “Assign Accomodations”. See link for the TTS features to select when assigning accomodations: https://hsek12inus-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/kelee_hse_k12_in_us/EVMT91wiWH1JvlNpzVlvUIMBKyZJemUA23ixl2PNv24G8w?e=1fDDod
10. Click Save Session and Name Your Session something easy for students to type
11. Write down your session name to find later under Saved Test Sessions. Repeat for second subject or to apply Steps 5-8 to assign a secondary assessment for HA students within same session.
Q&A
Who should take these tests?
ALL students K-4 will take 2 tests (READING & MATH).
If students have qualified for HA and are in 1st grade they will take the 2-5 assessment.
You may have students taking different assessments under one session.
How many students should we test at one time?
· All children may test at their pace not exceeding 45 minutes for K-1 or 60 minutes for 2-4 without a break. Think about a testing structure that works best for your students (whole class, 1/2 class, small groups, etc.)
· All children may be offered breaks during test. *Think about a 2-5 minute brain break/physical movement before, during and after testing. If more than a 5-10 minute break is needed, the test should be "paused" and "resumed" later in the same day. Are there ways we can embed mindfulness or outside breaks before and during testing to help students?
· Children with an IEP/LEP/504 must follow specifics stated in plan for environment regarding small group, one on one, or breaks. *Extended time does not pertain to NWEA as the test is not timed.
Who is able to facilitate a test?
· Classroom teachers may facilitate testing for all children in their classroom and/or request support from ENL, Resource and Related Arts teachers if they are available at the end of the day. Please coordinate with them.
What can support look like?
Support may include:
1. Pull out children to test
2. Push in to test
3. Push in to monitor other children while classroom teacher facilitates testing.
How do I request support?
Please email the person directly to coordinate support.
What should I have prepared?
1. Please have your teacher ipad available in the event one freezes.
2. Headphones for K-1.
3. Scratch paper with pencils OR dry erase boards with markers.
5. Laptop (teacher).
6. Radio/Phone OFF unless NWEA assistance is being requested. (Please see Katy to learn how to turn classroom phones on DND.)
What should I do when a student's test "freezes"?
1. On your laptop, select the student's name.
2. On the dropdown action, select "suspend"
3. Select the student's name again.
4. Select "test again".
*While completing the steps above, the student will need to swipe out of the NWEA app and reenter. Once the steps are completed, they will need to sign in again.
Please be on the lookout for rapid-guessing. Your NWEA doc on your laptop will indicate students who are rapid-guessing, or you can navigate the classroom and cross reference completed items from the general average.
During testing if you need assistance please radio Katy (or Amy if it is a connectivity issue).
Indiana State Testing Windows- Complete Mandatory AIR Portal Training
IREAD: March 16 - April 3
ILEARN: April 20 - May 15IAM: April 6 - May 15
The Test Administrator Certification Course is now available! Indiana law requires that test administrators complete this 30-minute course each year to stay up to date with new AIR features and system updates. All staff administering IREAD, ILEARN, and IAM this year must complete this course. To access the certification course, click on the "AIR Portal" link below. Select the third button in the second row titled "Test Administrator Certification Course".
Katy will provide additional required ILEARN training for all test administrators in April.
IREAD-3 Testing Window - Grade 3
Katy will provide mandatory IREAD-3 training after school on Thursday, March 5 (4:00pm) and before school on Friday, March 6 (8:00am). If you are administering IREAD-3, please plan on attending one of these trainings.
Fishers Elementary School
Website: https://fes.hseschools.org/
Location: 11442 Lantern Road, Fishers, IN, USA
Phone: (317) 594-4160
Twitter: @FESTigersHSE