Carter Chronicle
The week of February 8-12
Carter Mantra
"Every Scholar, Every Day, NO EXCUSES!"
Carter Coalition Mission
Carter Coaliton Leverage Points
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Increase Student Academic Achievement Through the Use of Data Driven Instruction in all Feeder Schools
Key Action 1QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION
Improve the Quality of Instruction Through a Focus on Effective Feedback and Support Systems in all Feeder Schools
Key Action 2CAMPUS CULTURE
Provide Safe, Positive and Supportive Campus Climates in all Feeder Schools
Key Action 3TEI
Be sure to read the TEI NEWS emails that come from DISDNEWS each week.
February 15
Reminder to verify years of service in Oracle
February 23
TEI Expert Meeting @ 4:45 Henderson Auditorium
Schedule your DTR Observations
ED/Principals target is 4 DTR observations
- Assistant Principals target is 6 DTR observations
- Content Specialists target is 10 DTR observations
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE
Monday, February 8, 2016
- Mark Twain- Turnaround Plan Work
- Birdie Alexander Campus Visit-Spot observations
- Barbara Manns Campus Visit-Spot observations
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
- Cigarroa Campus Visit W/ Turner and Barbara Manns @ 7:40 (Ms. Torres)
- Adelle Turner Campus Visit-Spot observations
- Atwell Campus Visit-Spot observations
- McNair Campus Visit-Spot observations
- AASI-Culturally Responsive Training-Nolan Estes- Session #3
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
- Mark Twain Campus Visit- Spot observations
- Weiss Campus Visit- Spot observations
- AASI Mtg. w/School Leadership (Ms. Torres/Mr. Luna/Mrs. Rice) @1:00-2:00
- ED/AF Coaching Meeting 2nd floor Conference Room @ 2:00-3:00
- Office Time (Ms. Torres) 3:00-5:00
Thursday, February 11, 2016
- JURY DUTY ( Ms. Torres)
(Please contact Mrs. Rosas should you need assistance)
Friday, February 12, 2016
- REGION 10 MANDATORY TRAINING (Ms. Torres)
(Please contact Mrs. Rosas should you need assistance)
3-5 Cadre Training Topics for Cohort II (Elementary Principals ONLY)
Dates for Cohort II Training Sessions
- Wednesday, February 16 @ Nolan Estes
- Wednesday. March 9 @ Nolan Estes
- Wednesday, April 13 @ Nolan Estes
- Wednesday, May 18 @ Nolan Estes
- Wednesday, June 1 @ Nolan Estes
*All Training Sessions will be from 2:00-5:00PM- Send Literacy Coach and 2 strong teachers who can deliver the PD to your staff successfully*
AASI: CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING PD
AASI 'READ IN'
NO EXCUSES UNIVERSITY
Thank you to all the campuses that represented the Carter Coalition on Monday for the 'No Excuses University.' Damon Lopez spoke to us about the Six Exceptional Systems to make things happen on our campuses:
- Interventions
- Data Management
- Assessment
- Standards Alignment
- Collaboration
- Culture of Universal Achievement
Next Steps:
1. Please ensure to do a self assessment from the self assessment tool in one of the brochures you were given
2. Come up with one action step for each of the 6 Exceptional Systems to implement on your campuses
NEXT MEETING:
WHEN: February 22, 8:30-12:30
WHERE: Buckner Building
WHO: ALL campus principal and 2 staff advocates
DALLAS BAR ASSOCIATION-DALLAS ISD
In celebration of Law Day, the Dallas Bar Association encourages all Dallas ISD schools to participate in this fun, educational contest. Classrooms are encouraged to dive into the theme and discover our common heritage of freedom under the rule of law. Winners receive awards and prizes and first place winners will be invited to the Dallas Bar Law Day Luncheon on April 29 and will be recognized! The 2016 Law Day theme is Miranda - More than Words. The contest deadline is Friday, March 11. The contest categories are as follows:
Law Day Essay Contest (Grades 6th, 7th, 8th Social Studies classes)
Law Day Art Contest (Grades K-6 )
Law Day Photography Contest (Grades 6th-12th or ages 12-18)
Contest forms, rules, and additional information is available on our website at http://www.dallasbar.org/lawday
SOAR TO SUCCESS READING INTERVENTION FOR DALLAS
Soar to Success is a reading intervention program designed to accelerate reading growth for students in grades K-8 who are either at-risk of academic failure, or who are performing below their on-level peers in literacy. Soar to Success provides a gradual release model of instruction that delivers both foundational reading skills as well as the greater rigor called for on the STAAR Test.
Some of the highlights of the program are below:
Strong authorship team: Dr. J. David Cooper and Dr. David J. Chard
Research-based Soar to Success teaching plan included
Fast-paced lessons with scaffolded support to accelerate reading growth
Instruction includes:
All print solution provides consistent, routine-based daily lesson structure; all housed in a mobile cart (see attached flyer)
Explicit instruction lesson design; 28 weeks of instruction covering the five areas critical to reading success
Lessons can be taught completely in just 30-40 minutes
Progresses from below grade-level to on grade-level
Builds comprehension skills & strategies your students need to become fluent strategic readers
Focused on all five of the critical skills needed for reading success: Phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension
Please call 972.979.5188 for a quote Teri.Cantrell@hmhco.com (you have to have this to send to purchasing) so you can start using this soon.
HB 1842 Rollout- 2016 Timeline Update
Please take note of the following 2016 dates for the required development of a Turnaround Plan for Improvement Required 2,3,4,5 campuses:
February 11 and 12, 2016: Training for IR 2, 3, 4, and 5 campus Principals, EDs, and PSP at Region 10. One needs to attend either February 11 or 12. Live-stream turnaround plan training
February 22, 2016: Webinar, Tentative topics-board approval, plan content follow up & QA
March 28, 2016: Webinar, Tentative topics- Q&A
April 15, 2016: DISD Turnaround Plans submitted to Dr. Chernosky for May Board Agenda Item.
May 2, 2016: Submission deadline of Turnaround Plan to TEA.
June 1, 2016: Board Approval of Turnaround Plans no later than June 1.
June 15, 2016: Commissioner Approval of School Turnaround Plans.
PRINCIPAL ACTION ITEMS
FEBRUARY
Before the 12th- Title 1 Allocation/Socioeconomic Information Forms/ Economic Disadvantage Rate
https://drive.google.com/a/dallasisd.org/file/d/0B4AZ46iTHbeXWUxjdzFfVVZGWlk/view?usp=sharing
16-19- Ensure that your campus take the Feeder Benchmark Tests provided and created by AF's and CIC's approved by the Executive Director
MARCH
10-Master Schedule Roundtable Sessions- (Atwell and Carter)
11- Last day for student transfers to be completed online by parents to be considered as a Hard Ship Transfer on your campuses
28--Master Schedule Roundtable Sessions- (Patton and Barbara Manns)
Black History Month
Principals: The national theme for Black History Month 2016 is : Hallowed Grounds-Sites of African American Memories.
Communications wants to spotlight your school's Black History Month events and activities.
Please submit them via the News Request Form by Friday, Feb 12, 2016.
Thank you for all you do to make our school district a great place for students and families.
STAAR LIVE FORUM
NEWS YOU CAN USE.................
FEBRUARY:
9th- The Management Center training all day-Twain, McNair, Manns, and Carter
9th-Tacky Box presentation @Twain-9:00
10th- Both the PSP progress reports and the quarterly progress reports are due to TEA
12th-Tacky Box presentation @Birdie 1:00
15th- Student/Teacher Holiday-No School
15th-Career Management System (CMS)-window for goal submission will be February 15 to March 1, 2016 for central staff
16th-Tacky Box presentation @T.G. Terry- 1:00
17th-Tacky Box presentation @Weiss- 1:00
MARCH:
10th-Master Schedule Round Table presentations for Atwell and Carter
14th-18th- Spring Break
APRIL:
15TH- DISD Turnaround Plans submitted to Dr. Chernosky for May Board Agenda Item
22nd- Nominations for School Counselor of the Year
28th-Master Schedule Round Table presentations for Barbara Manns and Patton
CARTER COALTION! KUDOS!
MARTIN WEISS STUDENTS MAKING IT REAL WITH SCIENCE EMBEDDED EXPERIMENTS!
T.G. Terry Elementary School’s K - 2 students enjoy Story Time with Actress Irma P. Hall for African-American History Month.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR ACADEMIC FACILITATORS
Ready, Set, Download….
Our February Benchmarks are Ready for download. Please see below for next steps, including some important dates, and useful links.
To download assessments or files:
- Download the Reading, Writing, Math, Science and Social Studies assessments here
- Download the data report (due no later than Feb. 26) here
- Download the Writing Score calculator here
Dates to know:
Feb. 16-19 – testing window
Feb. 22 – make up testing day
Feb. 20 – Writing Scoring Party for scoring help
Feb. 26 – Data reports due to Ms. Torres and AFs
Feb. 26 – data walls updated
Questions or help?
For Math or Science assistance – Marelenise Phillips-Roberts
For Reading, Writing, or Social Studies assistance – Michael Gragert
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.........
Carter Coalition,
I was given this poem this week and really wanted to share this for this weeks message as I truly believe this in each and every one of you.
Winners Are People Like You …
Winners take chances.
Like everyone else,
they fear failing,
but they refuse
to let fear control them.
Winners don't give up.
When life gets rough, they hang in
until the going gets better.
Winners are flexible.
They realize there is more than one way
and are willing to try others.
Winners know they are not perfect.
They respect their weaknesses
while making the most of their strengths.
Winners fall, but they don't stay down.
They stubbornly refuse to let a fall
keep them from climbing.
Winners don't blame
fate for their failures
nor luck for their successes.
Winners accept responsibility
for their lives.
Winners are positive thinkers
who see good in all things.
From the ordinary, they make
the extraordinary.
Winners believe in the path they
have chosen
even when it's hard,
even when others can't see
where they are going.
Winners are patient.
They know a goal is only as worthy
as the effort that's required
to achieve it.
Winners are people like you.
They make this world
a better place to be.
Have an awesome week of teaching and learning!
Ms. Torres
FEEDER PATTERN BENCHMARK
Testing Window: Feb. 16-19
February 22 is Make up testing
Who: 3-11 STAAR-assessed courses
What: AF provides assessments (2015 Released STAAR resources, 4-5 hours each)
Data Deadline: Feb. 26 Close of Business
Have you created your assessment plan (logistics, testing schedule, etc.) for that week?
TESTING AT A GLANCE
MARCH
2--SAT (Grade 11)
7-April 6--TELPAS (K-12)
29--STAAR EOC English I (9-12)
29--STAAR Writing Day 1 (Grades 4 & 7) (This date will be clarified)
29--STAAR Math (Grades 5 & 8)
30--STAAR Writing Day 2 (Grades 4 & 7) (This date will be clarified)
30--STAAR Reading (Grades 5 & 8)
31-STAAR EOC English II
APRIL
4-15--STAAR ALT 2 Assessment Window (3-8 & EOC)
4-8--ES & HS Art Performance ACP (Grades 5, 9-12)
12-15--Student Survey Window (Grades 3-12)
12-22--ITBS/LOGRAMOS Window (K-2)
18-19--ES Gym ACP (Grade 4)
18-29--Secondary Band Performance ACP (Grades 6-12)
20-21-ES Music Performance ACP (Grade 3)
MAY
9-24--Middle School Gym Performance ACP (Grades 6-8)
16-19--Middle School Art Performance ACP (Grade 7)
2-6--STAAR EOC Algebra I, Biology, US History (9-12)
9--STAAR Math (Grades 3,4,6,7)
9--STAAR Math Re-test (Grades 5 & 8)
10--STAAR Reading (Grades 3,4,6,7)
10--STAAR Reading Re-test (Grades 5 & 8)
11--STAAR Science (Grades 5 & 8)
12--STAAR Social Studies (Grade 8)
2-27--Istation's ISIP Assessment EOY (K-2)
18-26--ACP (Grades 3-5)
27-June 2--ACP (Grades 6-12)
**This chart will be updated as necessary
'EFFECTIVE USE OF EXIT TICKETS'
From Marshall Memo #622
In this Edutopia article, educators at Hampton High School in Pennsylvania describe
how they use exit tickets to assess student understanding at the end of lessons and follow up with differentiated help. “A good exit ticket can tell whether students have a superficial or in-depth understanding of the material,” they write. “Teachers can then use this data for adapting instruction to meet students’ needs the very next day… Exit tickets allow teachers to see where the gaps in knowledge are, what they need to fix, what students have mastered, and what can be enriched in the classroom… Perhaps one group will get more direct instruction around the basic concept, while another group will work independently. Perhaps only one or two students need some additional help, and you’ll plan accordingly. The key to differentiation is that you have high expectations for all students and a clear objective. If you know what you want students to master, differentiation allows you to use different strategies to help all students get there.”
In terms of length, 3-5 short questions make a good exit ticket, say the authors. They recommend multiple-choice or short-answer questions linked to the lesson objective and focused on key skills or concepts that students should have grasped. Students should be able to complete the exit ticket in a few minutes at the end of a class period. Exit tickets can be pencil-and-paper, but technology makes collection and analysis quicker and easier – Poll Everywhere, Google Forms, clickers, and other apps.
The authors advise against questions that are too general (Do you understand?) and questions that can be answered Yes or No. They provide these examples of effective questions:
Name one important thing you learned in class today.
What did you think was accomplished by the small-group activity we did today?
Write one question about today’s content – something that has left you puzzled.
Today’s lesson had three objectives. Which of the three do you think was most successfully reached? Explain. Which was not attained? Why do you think it wasn’t?
Read this problem and tell me what your first step would be in solving it.
One of the goals of this class is to have all participants contribute to the seminar. How well do you think this was achieved today?
Do you have any suggestions for how today’s class could have been improved?
I used the blackboard extensively today. Was its organization and content helpful to you in learning? Why or why not?
Which of the readings you did for class today was most helpful in preparing you for the lesson? Why?
We did a concept map activity in class today. Was this a useful learning activity for you? Why or why not?
“Exit Tickets: Checking for Understanding” by teachers at Hampton High School, Allison Park, Pennsylvania in Edutopia, June 23, 2015, http://edut.to/23FtBj3
CARTER COALITION SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
- David W. Carter High School: Principal, Fred Davis III
- John L. Patton Academic Center: Principal, Leslie Swann
- STEAM Hulcy Middle School: Principal, Jonica Crowder-Lockwood
- William H. Atwell Law Academy: Principal, Selena Deboskie
- Barbara Manns Education Center: Principal, LeTrice Portley
- Ronald McNair Elementary: Principal, Ariss Rider
- T. G. Terry Elementary: Principal, Alicia Bradley
- Birdie Alexander Elementary: Principal, Valarie Kendrick
- Mark Twain Vanguard: Principal, Derrick Ross
- Adelle Turner Elementary: Principal, Michael Nickson
- Martin Weiss Elementary: Principal, Shundra Brown
David W. Carter High School
John L. Patton Academic Center
Hulcy STEAM Middle School
W. H Atwell Law Academy MS
Barbara Manns Education Center
Ronald McNair Elementary School
T.G. Terry Elementary School
Birdie Alexander Elementary School
Mark Twain Elementary Vanguard
Adelle Turner Elementary School
Martin Weiss Elementary School
DISD CORE BELIEFS:
Our main purpose is to improve student academic achievement.
Effective instruction makes the most difference in student academic achievement.
There is no excuse for poor quality instruction.
At risk students will achieve at the same rate as non-at-risk students.
Staff members must have a commitment to children and a commitment to the pursuit of excellence.