Tiger Beat
Acton Weekly Update: 2/3/2017
Brook Wessel-Burke
PLC FEEDBACK FORM LINK
SOS FORM
Third Grade ISTEP Schedule
Fourt Grade ISTEP Schedule
Fifth Grade ISTEP Schedule
Nuts and Bolts
Field Trips: Folks, we will NOT be sending SPED personnel on field trips unless approved by me. Generally, students are on their best behavior on trips because the trip is engaging and exciting for them. If a staff member attends with a grade level, then we have 2-3 levels NOT receiving their services. Please do not schedule field trips on Wednesdays. If you've already scheduled a Wednesday trip, it is fine. However, from this point forward the transportation department will not be able to honor those requests. Mrs. Schuldt, our new director is also asking that we provide address of the place we are visiting (please include ALL places), the door we should pick students up and drop off, and please no eating on the bus.
PLEASE be sure you are somehow recording or physically tracking where students are going at the end of each day. We've had a few incidents lately where a teacher thougth a student went one place but they actually went somewhere else. It's all worked out in the end, however it looks poorly on the teacher if they aren't keeping accurate track of where students are.
THURSDAY Fourth Grade Music Program at 3:00 in the Gym. - no change in daily schedule
DIBELS parent reports will also go home on Friday, 2/3/17.
FLU SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER: Please teach your students and model sneezing and coughing into your elbow. Use hand sanitizer and review hand washing with warm water for 30 seconds.
Please have your class lined up and ready to walk out the door at 3:50 when the bell rings for buses. BUT do not leave your rooms until that time. It affects our traffic flow! We are working hard to get buses out of the lot as quickly as possible. The longer students have to sit on the bus waiting, the more chance of inappropriate interactions on the bus.
Curriculum and Instruction
Acuity C Window is February 6-24th. We will be assessing on February 8th and 9th. See schedule below. Please remember that this schedule takes precedent over other uses for the labs and Chromebooks.
February 8th
9:40-10:55 Math 3rd grade
12:45-2:15 ELA 5th Grade
February 9th
10:20-11:40 Math 5th
1:40-3:00 ELA 3rd
Jewell
Simmons
Benson
3-5 Classroom, SPED, ELL Teachers- Are you using the assessment vocabulary in your regular instruction? Are you reviewing regularly with students? If not yet- DO IT NOW! I've posted Assessment vocabulary posters for ELA and Math in the hallways for you to review with students when lined up or passing by. I sent an email with a quick daily review- use it- it's great!
ISTEP RELEASED ITEMS TO BE USED FOR ISTEP PREPARATION:
http://www.doe.in.gov/assessment/istep-grades-3-8
ISTEP TEI (Technology Enhanced Items) Practice Items- This is a must do before the multiple choice tests.
FTCSC DIBELS GOALS: Accuracy 85% and Fluency 80%
Ways to Respond to Independent Reading, Read with A Buddy, or Read Aloud Time~
1.) This book made me hope that…
2.) Describe Your Favorite Section/Part: Use at least three facts or details to support your opinion on which part/section of what you read today was your favorite.
Have your students practice reading aloud with expression, voice, and appropriate timing.
Reaching ALL Learners
Strategies to increase energy and focus lead to improved work habits and improved behavior.
High Ten, Low Ten: This activity builds attention, concentration and self-regulation. Have students form pairs and stand facing their partners, about two to three feet apart. Each pair performs a “high ten” by slapping their raised hands (fingertips pointing upward) then a “low ten” by slapping their lowered hands, with the fingertips facing the floor. Play fast music and let the students practice for speed. To add variety and complexity, have students add spins or handshakes. You could also combine pairs to create foursomes in a square formation.
Add computation problems to this to make it a fun way to practice math fluency.
From: Eric Jensen’s Engaging Students With Poverty In Mind
Athlete Mentors
Technology
March 7th K-2 Teachers will get their replacement ipads.
These will be full size and not the mini ipads.
The TWITTER challenge is ON! As of now we are in the lead, however that means we have a target on our back. The other schools are planning how to catch up with us. THIS MEANS WE NEED TO KICK IT UP A NOTCH!!! BE SURE TO TWEET YOUR HEART OUT THIS WEEK.
Don't forget to add the hashtag #flashforward
Twitter Challenge!!!! Let's do this!!!!
If you haven't set up your Twitter account yet please do so NOW. Helpful tips in the link below.
Our District Twitter Challenge has now started and you are eligible for PRIZES if you participate! Below is a video clip of me explaining how it works. You have from now til the end of February to participate.. and the building with the highest participation will receive a prize as well! Feel free to email Mark or myself if you have any questions!
Good Luck and Happy Tweeting!
New to Twitter?? Use this link to help you get ready!
What's Coming Up
Weekly Updates 2016-2017 : 2nd Semester
February
1 Midterm Ends
2 Grading window closes
2 Principals Meeting
3 Midterm grades posted
3 Jump Rope for Heart
3-4 3rd and 4th grade COGAT testing in evening at Middle Schools
6-10 CogAT Grades 2 & 5
6-24 Acuity Part C
7 PTO Meeting 6:30-8:00 PM
7 Drills
9 K-8 CIP Cirr Map
9 Fourth Grade Music Program 6:00 PM
10 Nadine here
10th Treats with Your Sweets PTO Event 6:30-8:00 PM
14 SpEd Leader Team Mtg
14 1st Gr FieldTrip Central Library
14 Friendship Celebrations 3:00-3:45 PM
17 All Pro Dads 7:45- 8:30 AM
17 4th gr Field Trip ISM/IMAX
20 President’s Day Holiday
21-23 Kindergarten Registration
21 K-5 Related Arts PD
22 K-5 Related Arts PLC
23 Leadership Team Meeting
23 Nadine here
23rd Sky Zone PTO Fundraiser 4-8 PM
27 School Board meeting
27-Mar 10 ISTEP Applied Skills (grades 3-5 only)
28 SpEd Elementary PD
28 SpEd Leader Team Mtg
Read Across America Details!
Dress up days:
Mixed up Monday- No school
Twin Tuesday- Dress like a friend
Wacky Wednesday- Wacky Seuss hair
Theodore Thursday- Dress as your favorite Dr. Seuss character
Fun with Reading Friday- Wear a shirt with a saying or words
Announcements:
Estimation jar with puff balls
Dr. Seuss quote each day
Read-a-thon Wednesday:
Read, Read, Read all day long
How many different places in the building can you read?
How many different ways can you read?
Pair with your I-step buddy and read
Invite parents and other adults to come read to your class
Contest
Dr. Seuss door contest! Which teacher has the best, most creative themed door?
Bulletin board
Interactive bulletin board outside the library. All students can vote for their favorite Dr. Seuss book
Related Arts
Music: sing Dr. Seuss songs
Art: create Dr. Seuss pictures or crafts
PE: play Dr. Seuss themed games
Library: read, compare, contrast Dr. Seuss stories
App- Dr. Seuss Camera- This is an app that does cost 99 cents. There are several versions of it. Check it out!