News from the Nest
Week of January 2, 2018
Vision
"Wendell Phillips 63 will establish a positive, engaging, and rigorous learning environment that allows each child to “SOAR to Excellence” as a member of the Cardinal Family."
Places to be!!!
Jan 2- Lesson Plans Due in Google Drive (9:00 am)
Jan 4- Instructional Rounds w/ IPS Principals
Jan 5- Jeans Day
Jan 5- Student Report Cards Home
General Need to Knows
Enjoy the break!!!! Please take the time to breathe and relax over this break!!! When we return, we will continue to MOVE FORWARD for our students. Our mission will continue and we will demonstrate this in all we do- academically and socially/emotionally.
Instructional Rounds will be taking place on Thursday. All K-8 Principals will be here and it will be an opportunity for us to get feedback on our practices- STRENGTHS and areas of opportunity. Expect 3-4 principals to be in your classroom for approximately 10-15 mins. Look fors will include:
- Updated Data on Walls (VIMME, TRC/SRI)
- Daily Schedules/Agendas Posted
- I CAN Statements posted
- Student Engagement
- Checks for Understanding
You will be gifted prep time to prepare for Instructional Rounds. I expect we will be well prepared and showcase your talents as educators. I cannot say enough how proud I am of the effort you give each day to your students.
Report Cards will go home with students the Friday we return. Please have all grades into ESchool by midnight Friday.
Vision Aligned Thought Provokers
Positive classrooms: When we return, reteach and practice rules, procedures, and routines. Reflect on what is working and what needs to change. Fresh Dojo Dollars will be ready for distribution. Also, rosters will be changing as well, so make sure to dust off those relationship and community building activities.
Engaging instruction: When reflecting on student engagement, we start with instructional planning. How are we planning instruction to ensure that our students want to learn? This means we need to think of the following as we plan and execute the lesson:
- Have I clearly defined the purpose of the lesson?
- Am I modeling the content explicitly during the "I DO"?
- Am I checking for understanding throughout to ensure students are "getting it?" and not have them get lost and off task?
- Who is doing the majority of the talking during the lesson?
- Am I reinforcing the purpose of the lesson when I close it out?
RIGOROUS Instruction: Let's bring it back to instructional planning. RIGOR is based on data and goals of our students. As we know, our kiddos have varied needs. So, in designing RIGORous instruction, we must use this data to scaffold and differentiate. This is particularly important at teacher tables and stations in guided reading and math workshop. Reflect on your current practices...and how are you meeting each of your students needs at these times?