Birdneck Briefing
Responsive Classroom Edition: Week of 2/27/17 to 3/03/17
2/28 Bear reading - library 9:00-10:00
2/28 After school tutoring resumes
3/1 SCA meeting 3:00pm
3/2 Read Across America Day
3/3 Forrester's Financial. Staff lounge
3/3 ILT meeting 8:30 Reading Room
This is your Captain Speaking!
Hello Staff,
Thank you to all of you who represented our school at Chic-Fil-A last night. It was a wonderful turn out and the students really enjoyed seeing our staff there.
I hope you all are beginning to put some of the Responsive Classroom practices in place that we discussed in our staff meeting/PLP on Wednesday. My challenge for you this week is to use these strategies in your classroom, keeping in mind that we need to explicitly teach our students what we expect and practice until the students master it. We need to reinforce, remind and redirect students. Interactive modeling ensures that students are taught our expectations through our modeling and the modeling of other students. As we saw in the presentation, we can model hallway behavior, listening or gaining students' attention, lining up, or many other expectations. We also learned that teacher language is one of the most powerful tools available to us. If you missed our meeting you will need to view the Prezi by clicking here or on the link in the email Mrs. Hadder sent on Wednesday afternoon. Don't forget to reflect on our the Responsive Classroom presentation on Google at the Responsive Classroom reflection link: https://goo.gl/forms/0xXSFB0cefAxQ9AK2 by March 24th. If you were unable to join us for the staff meeting you will need to follow up with an administrator or Mrs. Hadder regarding the information about RC that you missed. Below you will find some videos that reinforce what we learned in our staff meeting this week.
Captain Out,
RV Yoshida
Math Matters
The Department of Teaching and Learning is seeking candidates for the next Mathematics Specialist Cohort. The application is attached and will be posted to the Math Specialist SharePoint site, https://www.vbcps.com/depts/CI/ElemCurriculum/MathSpec/Pages/default.aspx tomorrow, Feb. 24, under announcements. The responsibilities of the mathematics specialist are listed on the front of the application, as well as the criteria for participation in the cohort.
Please consider this opportunity if you are interested. Completed applications should be submitted to Katie Miller, administrative office associate, by email at Katie.Miller@vbschools.com or faxed to 263-1424 by March 24. Questions may be directed to Johanna Ortiz, elementary mathematics coordinator, by email at Johanna.Ortiz@vbschools.com or by phone at 263-1475. Thank you in advance for your assistance with this process.
Schoolwide Non-verbal attention signal
27 Attention-Getters For Quieting A Noisy Classroom
There are a lot of kids and only one of you. When you need your students quiet, focused and ready to learn, you better have a plan to get there. And it doesn’t hurt to bring your sense of humor. We asked our Facebook community and Reddit to share their favorite attention grabbers. These are our 27 favorites. To see the article click here.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/weareteachers/27-attention-getters-for-quieting-a-noisy-classroo-h0xt
Transfer Meet and Greet update
• The “Transfer Meet and Greet” event is now scheduled for Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at Green Run HS from 4:30-6 p.m.
• Teachers who have been designated as priority transfers and those who are eligible for consideration for voluntary transfers may attend.
• Classified employees who have been designated as priority transfers and those who are eligible for consideration for voluntary transfers or promotions may also attend the Meet and Greet.
• During the week following the Meet and Greet and thereafter, please grant interviews to priority transfers who indicate interest in vacancies at your schools.
• Only teachers who will be on continuing contract during 2017-2018 (currently P3, PC, or C) and who are not on Performance Improvement Plans are eligible for voluntary teacher transfers.
Reading Rocks!
Below is a link to a video of brain exercises you can use with your students. Research has shown that these exercises help students to increase brain activity.
http://www.scholastic.com/teacher/videos/teacher-videos.htm#3190980573001/3603832108001
PLP Opportunities
One focus area for school staff for 2016-2017 is to make use of resources, including professional learning opportunities, developed to build awareness around personalized learning, a critical component of Goal 2 of the strategic framework, Compass to 2020.
Personalized learning resources include the following:
Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ Personalized Learning Website- http://vbplearn.weebly.com – This site is continuously updated with resources, videos, and artifacts aligned with the VBCPS definition of Personalized Learning.
Personalized Learning Overview and Introduction to Essential Components (Online) – This online course is running continuously through Apr. 30, 2017. Participants receive three Professional Learning Program (PLP) points for completion of the course.
Wading into the Waters of Personalized and Blended Learning - This site-based course can be provided by each school’s instructional technology specialist(s).
Join our PTA
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Join the PTA! Our goal is to have 100% Staff participation!!!!!!!!!
Support Birdneck Elementary students by joining the PTA. Don't miss out on the benefits from joining the PTA. Receive over $300 in savings... all for just $5 for a membership. Check out the PTA website at http://birdneckpta.weebly.com/
Licensure: Technology Standards for Instructional Personell (TSIP)
All teachers new to Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) are required to meet the Technology Standards for Instructional Personnel (TSIP) within the first year (12 months) of employment.
This is a licensure requirement for the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).
Your TSIP requirement must be completed no later than: May 31, 2017
Between now and June 30, 2017, please work with the Instructional Technology Specialist (ITS) to identify the dates and times to take and pass the TSIP tests in your school. Make every effort to complete this requirement prior to the end of this school year.
Additional TSIP testing sessions will be made by appointment through the Department of Human Resources during the month of July 2017.
For questions about licensure requirements and other options, please email your licensure analyst:
Last names beginning with A-Gn ............ Patti Perger, patti.perger@vbschools.com
Last names beginning with Go-N ........... Leslie Miller, leslie.miller@vbschools.com
Last names beginning with O-Z .............. Ila James, ila.james@vbschools.com
BIRDNECK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BIRDNECK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BIRDNECK MISSION
The mission of Birdneck Elementary is to dedicate ourselves to the success of all children, preparing them to meet today's expectations and tomorrow's challenges.
BIRDNECK VISION
Children are our future. We are dedicated to their success.
BIRDNECK BELIEFS
We believe in a collaborative community in which teachers, administrators, students, and parents work together for student success.
We believe in creating a safe, nurturing, and positive environment in which all students can strive for excellence and achieve their individual potential.
We believe we will prepare our students for success by providing 21st century learning and developing within our students critical thinking, effective communications and problem solving skills.
Website: http://www.birdneckes.vbschools.com/
Location: 957 South Birdneck Road, Virginia Beach, VA, United States
Phone: 757-648-2120