Teaching & Learning Newsletter
January 8, 2016
C2E
When you look through a telescope, what you see represents the big picture- the greatness that the "Best" strive for. There are three main traits of the "Best of the Best."
- The Best know what they truly want. "Just find something you love and are passionate about and pray for guidance that God will show you why you are here and reveal what you truly want. If you ask you, will receive. But whatever you do, don't be a 50 per-center. Invest 100 percent and every ounce of your energy in knowing what you want and becoming great at it."
- The Best want it more. "The Best of the Best are willing to do what it takes to be great. The Best don't just think about their desire for greatness, they act on it. They have a high capacity for work. They do the things that others won't do, and they spend more time doing it. To deny being your best was to deny the gift you were meant to give others."
- The Best are always striving to get better. Perfection requires, "a willingness to be uncomfortable. If you are always striving to get better, then you are always growing. And if you are growing, then you are not comfortable. To be the best, you have to be willing to be uncomfortable and embrace it as a part of your growth process."
Jon Gordon, Training Camp
Affirmations
Coaching Tip
Complex, fulfilling relationships don’t suddenly appear in our lives fully formed. Rather they develop one encounter at a time.
Jim Knight
Core Content Area News
ALL ADMINISTRATORS
Junior Achievement Bowl-A-Thon
Now is the time to start organizing your school and staff teams for the Junior Achievement Bowl-A-Thon. More information will be shared soon. The theme this year is "Monster Bowl".
- Place: Grand Central Station
- Date: Saturday, February 27th
- Times: Sessions -- 9 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
Think Through Math Update
Think Through Math (TTM) has been offered a state-level contract to be the provider of Texas SUCCESS math resources for grades 3–5, grades 6–8, and Algebra I. Contract end dates will be August 31, 2017. All BISD students in grades 3-8 have had access to TTM since the beginning of the school year at a discounted rate . This service will not be disrupted. We are currently in the process of pulling data files so that all Algebra I students can be uploaded as soon as TTM becomes available for high school students. If you have any questions contact Lauren Wooldridge or visit the Think Through Math website Click here.
Benchmark Windows
High School
Feb 1-12
- Eng 1 Benchmark 5 hour shutdown
- Eng II Benchmark 5 hour shutdown
Feb 29 - March 11
- Alg I Benchmark 4 hour shutdown
March 21-23
- US History, 150 minutes in class
April 6-8
- Biology, 150 minutes in class
Middle School
February 2
- 7th Writing Benchmark
- 8th Math Benchmark
February 3
- 8th Reading Benchmark
March 29
- 6th Math Benchmark
- Algebra I Benchmark
March 30
- 6th & 7th Reading Benchmark,
March 31
- 7th Math Benchmark
April 4 & 5
- 8th Social Studies Benchmark in Class
April 6 & 7
- 8th Science & Biology Benchmark in Class
Elementary
Feb 1-12
- 5th Math & Reading Benchmark
- 4th Writing Benchmark
Feb 29 -March 4
- 3rd & 4th Math & Reading Benchmark
- 5th Science Benchmark
March 7-11
- TELPAS
There will be no DBA's during a benchmark tested six weeks. Writing scores on compositions for the portfolio will be entered in AWARE both six week
High Schools
Think Through Math
All students currently enrolled in Algebra 1 courses are in the process of being uploaded into Think Through Math. Teachers and students should have access by next week. Please encourage your Algebra 1 teachers to attend the Vertical Team Meeting on January 25th at Davila Middle School from 4:30-6:30 to receive a Quick Start Training from a TTM Professional.
Pre-AP Vertical Team Meeting
Our next Pre-AP Vertical Team Meeting will be January 25th from 4:30-6:30 at Davila Middle School. Please encourage all Advanced Academic teachers to attend.
Middle Schools
Pre-AP Vertical Team Meeting
Our next Pre-AP Vertical Team Meeting will be January 25th from 4:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Davila Middle School. Please encourage all Advanced Academic teachers to attend.
MSTAR Intervention Lessons
The following link will direct you to important MSTAR intervention resources provided by the Meadow Center's Mathematics Institute for Learning Disabilities and Difficulties. All middle school math teachers have been notified about this valuable resource and have access to this information via Team Connect or the website link.
As a reminder, the winter administration of MSTAR Universal Screeners will be open for BISD teachers from January 11 to February 5 and the Diagnostic Assessment window is from January 18 to February 12. All grade 6, 7, and 8 math students are required to take the Universal Screener. For more information, contact Lauren Wooldridge.
Spelling Bee
Thank you for participating in the Scripps Spelling Bee. Your campus winner should be submitted to the website by January 16.
The 2016 ZONE 9 Spelling Bee for Brazos, Washington, Grimes, Leon, Robertson, Madison Counties:
- When: Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 9:00
- Where: Cypress Grove Intermediate School Cafetorium, College Station I.S.D.
- Address: 900 Graham Road; College Station, TX 77845
- Arrival time for spellers: 8:45 a.m.
Elementary Schools
Math Planning Collaboratives
Math planning collaboratives are back! These learning events begin Tuesday, January 12th. Please see the invite for further information. We are asking that teachers RSVP to the person(s) located at the bottom of the invite. We look forward to having your math planners join in these learning events! Click here.
Spelling Bee
Thank you for participating in the Scripps Spelling Bee. Your campus winner should be submitted to the website by January 16.
The 2016 ZONE 9 Spelling Bee for Brazos, Washington, Grimes, Leon, Robertson, Madison Counties:
- When: Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 9:00
- Where: Cypress Grove Intermediate School Cafetorium, College Station I.S.D.
- Address: 900 Graham Road; College Station, TX 77845
- Arrival time: for spellers 8:45 a.m.
Testing Window
Middle Of Year Pre-K Monitoring Assessment. Testing Window: Jan 20th - Feb 19th.
4th Writing Training
Fourth Grade Writing Teachers are asked to attend the 4th Grade Writing Training on Monday, January 11 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m at Bowen Elementary. Teachers will leave with specific strategies to implement into their classroom. Teachers should enroll for the training in Eduphoria. Click here.
K - 2 Horizontal Trainings
The K-2 Horizontal Trainings are to be held on campuses with the IC's providing the training. There are three sessions that are each approximately 20 minutes in length
---Math, Science and Language Arts. The window for this training is from January 11th to 22nd.
Hard Hats for Little Heads
Just a quick reminder to book your buses for Hard Hats for Little Heads.
When: February 25
Time for buses: 8-11
Where: Reed Arena
Who: 2nd graders
If you have any questions, please contact Janyce Kinley.
Junior Achievement
Need more Classrooms - We have the volunteers!!!! Junior Achievement will be offered on a voluntary basis for the 2015-16 school year. This is offered for all elementary schools at the 1st and 2nd grade level. We are hoping to serve 25 classrooms in the Spring.
Junior Achievement is a program that brings business volunteers from the community into the classroom to teach a prescribed curriculum. The curriculum aligns with the Social Studies TEKS.
This is also a great way to pick up businesses to sponsor your school!!! Many of the banks, sheriff's department, and other major businesses in town participate.
Call Janyce Kinley for more information.
Universal Screeners for Math
It's screener time again! Below are the dates for K-5 MOY screeners. The dates were purposefully selected to reduce interruptions in daily lessons and unit instruction.
K TEMI - Jan. 19-21
1st TEMI - Feb. 1-3
2nd TEMI - Jan. 11-13
3rd ESTAR - Jan. 19-20
4th ESTAR - Jan. 14-15
5th MSTAR - Jan. 12-13
Interventions
The following links will direct you to important intervention resources provided by the Meadow Center's Mathematics Institute for Learning Disabilities and Difficulties. Math coaches are aware of these and can help with this resource.
TEMI Intervention Lessons click here
ESTAR Intervention Lessons click here
MSTAR Intervention Lessons click here
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Writing in the Preschool Classroom Training
This week Pre-K teachers attended the Written Expression in the Preschool Classroom Training. During the training PreK teachers learned how and why it is important to tie writing into all content areas in the PreK classroom. Teachers learned ways to foster written expression development and ways to make writing purposeful. Teachers discussed research on written expression along with reviewing the PreK Guidelines and how it is aligned with the Kindergarten TEKS.
Early Childhood Conference
Harris County Department of Education is hosting the 30th Annual R.T. Garcia Early Childhood Winter Conference on Saturday, January 30. Keynote speaker is Dr. Jean Feldman: Award winning author, presenter and recording artist. Special featured presenter is Carl Anderson: one of the nations's leading experts on teaching writing and the author of several books on writing.
Preschool Collaborative with Region 6
Bryan ISD is now a member of the Preschool Collaborative with Region 6 ESC. All PreK and Kindergarten teachers are eligible to attend trainings provided by Region 6 at NO COST. When registering for a training, please be sure to select the PRESCHOOL COLLABORATIVE option regarding registration fees. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Schronda McKnight, Pre-K Coordinator at 979-209-1061.
Professional Development News
Learning Walks
Just a reminder that the District Learning Walk scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 12 has been canceled.
PRINCIPALS
TED Earners
Principals- Please remind your secretaries that your TED Earners Spreadsheet for the Feb. 15 TE Day is due Wed, Jan. 13. Thanks in advance for getting this in on time.
Special Education
Bilingual Education
Testing Window
DRA/EDL Testing Window extension: 2nd - 5th grade: 1/5 - 1/29
Tejas LEE Testing Window extension: 2nd grade: 1/19 - 2/5
Soluciones
Instructional Coaches receive training today, January 8, on the Soluciones kit you all received last month. This reading intervention is intended to be used with students reading below a third grade reading level in Spanish. Your coaches will be able to train any individuals responsible for delivering this intervention.
Bilingual Framework
The week of January 11th is B week for the bilingual framework.
Platicas
The next Platicas meeting for elementary bilingual and ESL teachers is February 1st.
SECONDARY PRINCIPALS
Conversations
The next ESL Conversations meeting for secondary is February 8th, please register.
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY PRINCIPALS
PLD Folders
PLD progress monitoring should be taking place for the 18th week reporting period at all elementary and secondary campuses. Click this link to let us know when you plan on meeting with your staff to review the PLD folders. A representative from our department will attend for support.
Curriculum & Instruction Department
Email: leslie.holtkamp@bryanisd.org
Website: www.bryanisd.org
Phone: 979-209-1049
Twitter: @bisdambassador