Eagle Updates
Week 9, October 19 - 23, 2015
Is Your WHY Strong Enough?
On the first day of school, I asked you to think about your “why” (or purpose for being in education) and write it on a paper bag. Many of you had an opportunity to share your “why” and relate it back to a memorable experience that impacted your life in some way or another.
Last year- I had the opportunity to attend the TASA/TASB Convention (Texas Association of School Administrators/Texas Association of School Board) in Dallas and was inspired by the story of the keynote speaker, Dr. Bertice Berry, an Award Winning Entertainer, Lecturer, and Comedienne.
Ms. Berry shared her personal story growing up poor and angry in Delaware, where she was the sixth of seven children. She revealed that she was told by one of her high school teachers that she was not college material. In the same story- Ms. Berry informed us that there was another teacher who believed that she was destined for much more and the one teacher who saved her life! Ms. Berry not only graduated magna cum laude from Jacksonville where she was awarded the President's Cup for leadership, she also earned a Ph.D. in sociology from Kent State University at the early age of 26.
On this day, Ms. Berry reminded us that when you see your job as a purpose or a calling—it’s not about what you receive but what you give. She reminded us that when you’re walking in your calling it’s not easy, many times you’ll get hurt along the way, but through it all you should always look through the frame of gratitude.
Looking back and reflecting on her speech, I could actually feel a strong sense of purpose, a strong “why.” Her “why” inspired me to do more, be more.
I meet and talk to a lot of people who tell me about their aspirations to become a leader or assume a leadership position. They tell me that they want to become a curriculum specialist, administrator, or hold a district level position. When I probe a little further and ask for their “why”-- they usually say something like “…I’ve always wanted to help other teachers” or “I just want to do something different.” Are these “whys” strong enough to make something happen? In other words, is your “why” strong enough to trigger different actions in you?
If you want different outcomes - you will need to change your behavior. Coming to work and doing a good job does not lead to you assuming a new role or getting more out of your students or your teammates.
Those that earn the achievements they want -walk strongly in their “why” and they spend very little time on “when” something will happen. When you have a strong “why” you feel purposeful and alive! You are not bitter or blaming others for your circumstances, but instead you are grateful for the challenges as you see them as opportunities to become a better educator and overall human being.
I always tell people if you want to do something different – be different. If you want different results – you will need to make different decisions.
Today- reflect on your “why.” Does it influence your students to do more? But more importantly- does it inspire you to do more? Why or Why not?
This is your purposeful leader, with something to think about. Make it a great week or not. The choice is yours.
Ms. Spears
Red Ribbon Week, October 26th-30th
Red Ribbon Week is fast approaching – it is October 26-30th, and we have a few fun activities planned !! To help kick off our week, you are encouraged to participate in our door decorating contest!!! (If you need examples, let me know!)
Here are the details:
*Doors MUST be decorated and ready NO later than Monday, October 26th!
*Doors SHOULD incorporate students’ help.
*Doors should be kept up all week during Red Ribbon Week.
*Parents/Volunteers are welcome to help!
If you would like to participate, please PRINT the rubric, PUT your name on it and TURN it in to MY box, no later than 4:00pm MONDAY, October 26th!!
Judging will take place October 27-29th. Judging will be done by the No Place For Hate Coalition, which consists of teachers and students.
More information about Red Ribbon Week will go out Wednesday!!!
Have a great weekend!!
Jessica Rodriguez, M.Ed.
School Counselor
Quail Valley Elementary
IMPORTANT: Teachers Taking Attendance
This information replaces the content of the email Mr. Strutton sent out on Thursday, October 15th. During my principal meeting- the District is placing a huge focus on taking attendance in a timely manner and will be monitoring all campuses.
As classroom teachers, you are required by law to monitor student's daily attendance. The District will be monitoring our practices and we must have systems in place to ensure attendance is taken at 10:00 (not 10:15) daily. If you don't think you'll remember to take attendance- please set an alarm on your phone or assign a student helper to remind you.
Please do not take attendance too early - as the district has found that some teachers are coming in the building and taking attendance before students arrive- this is against federal/state policy as your attendance report will also be looked at for accuracy.
Below are the steps we'll take when attendance is not taken on time:
1st Time - Verbal Reminder (email follow-up)
2nd Time- Email
3rd Time- Formal Documentation (will impact Domain VII Compliance with Policies, Operating Procedures and Requirements)
If you need other strategies for taking attendance on time- please see an administrator for help.
Learning Goal versus Learning Objective “Beginning with the end in mind”
An important part of planning engaging lessons is to give some attention to what the learner needs to know and do in order to acquire the necessary skills to be successful in their current grade and beyond. We always begin with the end in mind and develop learning objectives that serve as a map - providing students with direction and information about their learning destination.
Learning objectives are different from learning goals as the learning goal is broad and gives us a future state (a big picture) of where we want to be. The learning objectives on the other hand are mini tasks that will help us reach our learning goal.
For example, please consider the following 2nd Grade Example—
2nd Grade Learning Goal: Reading/Beginning Reading Skills/Print Awareness. Students understand how English is written and printed.
2nd Grade Learning Objective: I can label at least 3 sentences by correctly identifying capitalization, ending punctuation, commas, and quotation marks.
The learning objective is more specific as a student can actually visualize himself completing the task. Students can also monitor themselves during instruction to help him/her recognize areas of strengths and needs.
It is important that you write the objective in kid-friendly language as we are creating leaders who are responsible for their own progress. You should have a noticeable area in the classroom where students can easily locate and read these expectations on a daily basis. Be sure to refer the objective at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end as a way to help students self- monitor if they are successful or not. Checking at the end is a good informal assessment tool which will allow you to monitor student needs.
Bloom’s Taxonomy is a great resource as you are designing and planning instruction. Using the different levels of Bloom’s will ensure you are implementing a variety of verbs (actions) when writing your objectives and strategies. You can access Bloom’s Taxonomy Action Verb Chart at http://www.clemson.edu/assessment/assessmentpractices/referencematerials/documents/Blooms%20Taxonomy%20Action%20Verbs.pdf.
If you need help with writing learning objectives- please see an administrator or one of our curriculum specialist.
Let’s make it a great week or not. The choice is yours.
Ms. Spears
QVE Unity Day, Wednesday, October 21st
Unity Day is a time for the QVE community to come together by wearing ORANGE to send a message of support, hope, and unity demonstrating that we are against bullying and united for kindness, acceptance and inclusion.
So on Wednesday, October 21st, wear ORANGE (it can be an orange T-shirt, tie, hat, wristband, socks, or even shoelaces – anything orange!!)
We look forward to uniting against bullying!
Sincerely,
Ms. Rodriguez,
Counselor
Quail Valley Elementary
QVE Spelling Bee!
Teachers! It’ that time again! The QVE Spelling Bee is in December! We will be administering a Spelling Bee Qualifying Test to all 3-5 grade students next week on Monday during our homeroom class.
Please administer the following Spelling Bee Qualifying Word Test to your homeroom students on Monday, October 19, 2015. Each teacher will score the students papers and give them to your grade level team leader, so they can identify the top 10 spellers for your grade. Once the classes are compiled, it may be necessary to have a tie breaker test.
When your team has their 10 names, please email them to me on Thursday, October 22nd. I will give each student a permission slip to be returned by Monday, October 26th. All Spelling Bee participants will receive the word study list on Monday, October 26th at the same time.
The QVE Spelling Bee will be in December. I am working on confirming the caller/judging positions and confirming dates.
Dates to Remember:
10/19 ……………….Administer Qualifying Test to all 3-5 graders during your homeroom (Do NOT practice the words or shoe the words to students prior to test).
10/19-10/21………Homeroom teachers score tests and give to team leader
10/22…………….Team leaders will turn in the 10 spellers from each grade level
10/22………………..Ms. Portugal will send home permission slips
10/22-10/26………Encourage students to return permission slips – give to Ms. Portugal
10/26……………..Spelling Bee participants receive the Bee Study Lists at the same time
12/2015……………..QVE Spelling Bee (working on confirming the date)
I have placed the list to be used for the qualifying test in your box. **Do NOT practice these words with your students prior to the Bee test. This is NOT used for a grade, but simply to qualify for the Bee. J
Thank you,
Ruby Portugal
Reading Specialist
What's Up at QVE?
** October is Math/Science team's time to plan for QVE Lounge Upkeep and Team Potluck
Monday, October 19th - Spelling Bee: Administer Qualifying Test to all 3-5 graders during your homeroom (Do NOT practice the words or shoe the words to students prior to test). **10/19-10/21………Homeroom teachers score tests and give to team leader
Tuesday, October 20th - PLC PreK- 2nd
Tuesday, October 20th Teacher Appreciation Day (10- min massages )
Wednesday, October 21st Committee Meetings after school
Thursday, October 22nd -- Learning.com training will be held during your planning time (please send at least 1-2 team members to attend)
Thursday, October 22nd Report Cards sent home
Saturday, October 24th Color Run 9:30-11:00
October 26th - 30 Red Ribbon Week
Wednesday, October 28th QVE 40th Anniversary Celebration at 4:30 pm in the cafeteria
Thursday, October 29th Team Leader Meeting at 3:30 in conference room
IMPORTANT: DRA Implementation
Please make sure you are administering the DRA with fidelity. These are district level assessments that provide us with important information about our students learning needs. If you are not doing it appropriately- you are doing our students a disservice.
Please see Ms. Portugal's notes below and if you still have questions, you need to schedule an appointment with our literacy team (Ms. Portugal, Ms. Eapen, Ms. Vasquez) so that you are clear on the expectations.
ELA Team,
Thank you for sharing your DRA Recording sheets with our Literacy Team. You did a fantastic job getting all of those completed and entered into Eduphoria with very little errors. Thank you!
Here are a few tips & reminders when assessing using the DRA:
*Follow the FBISD Procedures Up/Down Chart.
*Record date and teacher name on the recording sheets.
*Record all oral reading responses, just as you do a running record.
*Record all student responses to questions.
*Underline the student responses for the lower levels.
*Make sure the Continuum page is completed entirely.
*Staple all tests together. If you need to assess a student on more than one level, place the level you stopped at on top.
*Fill in the score totals on the top lines underneath name/date on the first page.
*Use the WPM calculation formula to fill in the WPM.
Again, it is a huge feat to get all of our students tested and entered in the allotted time frame. Although the test is time consuming, you as the teacher learn so much about your students’ reading patterns and what you need to work on with each of them. J Once you have gotten all the information you need from your tests, you can file them in STAR folders. I have extra if anyone needs some, email me.
Thank you for all you do.
Ruby Portugal
Learning.com Training available During Planning Time on Wednesday, October 21st
Mr. Jeffrey will be here on Wednesday, October 21st during your planning time- please send at least 1-2 members of your team to be trained on this excellent resource!!
Coming Soon: QV Gents
QV Gents is a new club for young boys in grades 3rd-5th sponsored by one of our wonderful teachers, Mr. Cleveland Mouton. Through the mission and vision of this program, we aim to address many of the social and emotional issues that impact students finding success in the classroom.
We are seeking community support and funding which will be used for uniforms (shirt/ties); field trips, and community service projects. And the best news of all is-- every male on our campus has signed up to be a part of this awesome program!
We expect the outcome of this program to prepare our students to become successful men in a working society.
Thanks Mr. Mouton for sharing your gifts and talents with the students and staff of QVE!
sponsored by one of our wonderful teachers, Mr. Cleveland Mouton. Fort Bend ISD and Quail Valley Elementary are implementing new ways to address teaching appropriate behavior/habits in our school and district. This program is being developed as a response to this need. QV Gents will be geared towards young boys grades 3rd-5th. Young boys will be exposed to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People as they learn to be proactive, set educational and personal goals, and work together. Funding will be used for uniforms (shirt/ties); field trips, and community service work. We expect the outcome of this program to prepare our students to become successful men in a working society.