Staff Weekly Update
For the Week of February 1st, 2016
Honoring Susan Jordan and the Amy Beverland Elementary Family
Her ultimate sacrifice was not done in vain. Please feel reassured that Dr. Robison in tandem with our transportation director has gone back to review bus safety protocols for ALL.
Chad Smith stated it best in his weekly Friday Focus to his staff and I'd like to echo his thoughts on this one . . . We are never 100% fool proof but we seemingly strive to be as close to this as we can each and every day. Thank you for EVERYTHING that you do for our students - how you love them, protect them, support them.
IT'S NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR WEEK! LET'S TAKE MOMENT TO HONOR LISA AND ALL THAT SHE DOES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF!
Lisa is our counselor, but she means so much more to us that just that! She is like royalty to us – and to prove it she has on the right “hat!”
But a hat you see, is simply not enough to showcase her royal flare. She likes to be head-to-toe in exotic wear!
But what is on the outside of Lisa is simply just for show, what really counts is the love she has for staff and students that always grows.
So let’s take this week to cheer on our brave counselor for all that she does for us. Stop by her office, give her a hug, and let her know she’s priceless!
Tuesday Take-Away
ALL ABOUT VOCABULARY INSTRUCTION!
Why is it important? What do we know?
- Beginning readers have to be able to use words orally in order to read and understand them in print. Additionally, there is a strong correlation between vocabulary size and reading comprehension, and this correlation grows stronger the longer children are in school. You may have heard of the 30 million word gap. This comes from a study by Hart and Risley in 2003 that found that by the age of 4, children from high-income families were exposed to 30 million more words than children who came from low-income families. Since vocabulary is a predictor of reading comprehension success, you can imagine how that gap will impact those students in the years to come.
Vocabulary Instruction
- Robert Marzano looked at many research studies to find out what is important to vocabulary instruction. One piece of information he found that is particularly useful to teachers is the 4-14-40 rule. Students who are the highest-achieving can learn and really know a new word after only 4 exposures to that word. Average students need 14 exposures to master that same word. Struggling learners, however, need 40 encounters with that word in order to truly know and own it. The key to students learning words, no matter what their academic level, is repeated exposures to new words and their meanings.
- 1. The teacher provides a description, explanation, or example of the new term. This might be done through a short story or anecdote that illustrates the meaning of the word or a description of the term or word.
- 2. Students use their own words to restate the description, explanation, or example using their own experiences. Students explanations should come from their own lives and not merely restate what the teacher said. Research showed this step had stronger results when the students used their own lives to come up with their example.
- 3. Students create a picture or symbolic representation of the word or term. This step is critical. When students do a good job of this, their ability to learn the new word is much higher. This can be drawn in a student’s vocabulary notebook.
- 4. Engage students in periodic activities that add to their knowledge of the words and terms in their vocabulary notebooks. They could compare meanings of a new word to another word already in their notebooks.
- 5. Periodically ask students to discuss the terms with each other. Students could again use their notebooks to compare explanations, etc.
- 6. Involve students in games that help them to reinforce their knowledge of the words and terms.
Marzano’s 6 step process works best when all 6 steps are taught. This process can be used at any grade level. And, don’t leave out step 3. That symbolic representation is key to having the word or term sick in a child’s mind.
7-DAY FORECAST: Looks like we might have one (or two) days of indoor recess by middle of the week!
ZCS 2015-2016 District Priorities
***SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS***
*UPDATE* - PE Portable Speaker & Microphone . . . originally it was supposed to have been in by the end of last week, but we were told by our business department to please order it this week (Monday 2/1). I apologize that it is still NOT YET IN. Let's keep our fingers crossed for an arrival by the end of THIS week (2/5/16)!
Speaking of PTO $$ & Silent Auction . . . have you considered donating a Silent Auction item? This has now become another VERY big fundraiser for our school! PLEASE considering making a donation, such as your TIME! This financially costs you nothing, but it helps in raising dollars for our school! Thanks for your consideration!
On a personal note . . . our move to the new home was a success this weekend! The joy of living out of boxes has started, but regardless of this challenge, I continue to be grateful for what we have and continue to tell myself that living out of boxes is a nice problem to have. Life is good. Again, I can't thank you all enough for being SO incredibly patient and supportive!
Here are our beautiful birthday friends for February 2016!
*If you are NEW and we do not have your birthdate, please email Alison so we can recognize you on your special day! Thank you!*
February
6 - Allison Spillman
13 - Connie Largent
17 - Emily Clare
18 - Diane Herbst
21 - Abby Andries
22 - Jessica Luchenbill
2015-2016 Lifelines
August - Cooperation
September - Respect
October - Flexibility
November - Gratitude
December - Generosity
January - Responsibility
February - Friendship
March - Perseverance
April - Self-Control
May - Integrity