Goodbye Amplify
January 4-8, 2016
Join the Canvas Revolution
Hello 2016 and goodbye Amplify. The end of 2015 brought us the news that GCS will explore the use of new devices for the 2016-17 school year. Click here to find out more. How does this impact you? It means that many of you will need to learn alternative ways to share resources with students as Playlist Builder will soon be a thing of the past. The answer is Canvas. If you've yet to discover then it's time to reserve 1:1 time with your PLEF to familiarize yourself and students with this wonderful tool. There are several units already created for your content. If not, this is part of what I'm happy to help with. In fact, give me the resources and I'll build your first course for you. This week will find me in the PACE office all day so we can get started. No need to reserve time, just drop by and we can chat.
The second semester will bring Canvas Creation courses with teachers in our priority areas: Coach Math 6, ELA 7, Math I and Science 8. Begin prepping your course materials for an upcoming unit as we will meet soon. GCS is on a mission to provide these teachers with every available resource that will enable our students to grow academically and Canvas is at the top of the heap.
As always, view the PLEF Instructional Coaching Menu to pick from a variety of resources to help you and your students grow. Have a great week.
Bring your charged tablet to every meeting
Monday: Teacher Workday
Tuesday: Guilford
Wednesday: Allen
Thursday: Guilford
Star Wars Friday: WSA
Goal Setting
See the linked documents below for some great ways to creatively set goals with your students and be sure to revisit these at the close of each quarter or whenever appropriate! Have a wonderfully prosperous 2016!
- Reflections and Goals -- This tool asks students to reflect on the previous year and set some goals, for the new year.
- Goals "Craftivity" (foldable template) -- The hands-on activity has students create a flip book with up to 5 goals outlining the steps to achieve that goal
- 2016 Goals -- This tool asks students to list personal goals in a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 format.
Just for Fun: Formative Assessment Emojis
Formative assessment gives such valuable information about immediate student needs and informs instruction for the next day/week. Therefore, why make it a chore? Here is a fun way to make formative assessment something students look forward to! I'll be adding a digitized format of this exit ticket to Canvas soon. Be sure to check next week's newsletter for the information on how to find the link in the Canvas Commons.
- Emoji Exit Ticket (pictured below) Click here for the .doc version.
Are you using Canvas?
- Feel free to see me or one of your school's awesome Canvas coaches/power users*...
- Allen: Jordan, Broderick*, Price*
- Guilford: Holmes, Shanks, Lail*
- Allen: Jordan, Broderick*, Price*
Did I miss your name as a Canvas Power User? Shoot me an email and I'll add you to my list of experts (No need to feel as if you know all there is to know....just a little more than the average Joe ;)
Tamika M. Davis, MLS MS
Email: davist@gcsnc.com
Website: http://ple.gcsnc.com
Twitter: @zenPLEF