Springhill Style
Springhill Elementary Staff Announcements
February 24, 2020
Vision
Standout: with Strong Hearts and Strong Minds
Mission Statement
StandOUT Team Challenge - Continued for the remainder of February
Send out an email to the staff to add some tools to their tool boxes about any of the Hattie strategies we have talked about or maybe even a new one you have tried:
- Worked Examples
- Reciprocal Teaching
- Success Criteria
- Student Goal Setting
- Self Reported Grades
- Teacher-Student Relationships
Teacher Collective Efficacy (1.57) - The New Number 1 from Hattie
We have been taking risks in our heart book and in our goal setting the past few weeks. This article has many great points about risk taking. "I would also argue that our desire to be perfect can be the enemy of taking risks or trying anything new." This quote stood out to me from the article and I love it! It made me so excited to think of you all taking risks in student conversations last Friday and saying, "Yes! I can move this student and Yes, I can take this action and I think it will help me reach more students!" I am excited for this stage of our heart book and I can't wait to the risk taking pay off for students!
Know Better and Do Better
By Jadi Miller
January 20, 2020
I plan to explore self-assessment with my blogs this year. One of my favorite things about writing for this blog is that it causes me to reflect and formalize my own thinking about assessment topics. Maybe it is all of the talk about resolutions, or the fact that my own resolutions have not quite taken hold (Sorry elliptical machine! I promise to visit you soon!), or this looming birthday of mine, but the pulls of both reflection and action are pretty strong right now. So at the risk of sounding like a poor motivational speaker, I would like to issue a challenge to all educators to use self-assessment themselves to think about their own assessment practices.
Three Profound Questions
The most profound questions that I have found in my own study and work in the area of assessment, beyond the PLC essential questions, have been these three questions:
- Where do I want to go?
- Where am I now?
- How do I close the gap between the two?
Every educator should ask themselves those questions about their own assessment practices. After determining the steps between where we are and where we want to be, identify a first step and take it. Self-efficacy is both believing that I can accomplish something and take the action steps to make it happen. We as educators have to make sure that we both believe and act. Author John Hattie found that the effect sizes of teacher collective efficacy (1.57), cognitive task analysis (1.29), and student self-regulation (0.52) are some of the strongest influences on student achievement.
Challenge is an opportunity
Closing the whole gap can feel overwhelming and scary. Jim Collins writes about how “good” can be “the enemy of the great.” I would also argue that our desire to be perfect can be the enemy of taking risks or trying anything new. Educators inherently feel the pressure of providing students with the best possible learning experiences that is far beyond any accountability system ever created. As a result, we can feel paralyzed by trying something new or different until we feel completely prepared to accomplish it perfectly. When I am confronted by something new or unfamiliar, I find comfort in books. There are plenty of books out there, including those listed below, that help make these concepts clear and achievable.
I would challenge every educator to spend some time in self-assessment about their own assessment practices, and to think about where they want to be, either individually or collectively. Then we must identify that first step toward that destination.
If you are not sure where to start, think about an upcoming instructional unit. Look at the standards and content in that unit and identify what is important, hard to teach and hard for students to learn. That helps to narrow the focus and shine a light on that path. Spend time thinking about how to assess that content, both summatively and formatively. Look at your existing assessments and create that balanced assessment plan that maximizes student learning. Find a way to collaborate with other teachers of that content using either people who work in your system or finding colleagues through social media. For as maligned as social media can be, it does provide an opportunity for everyone to find ways to collaborate, so use it.
Become the educator you need to be
Self-assessment is a powerful strategy and we should model it as the adult learners in our educational system. Use the practices of self-assessment to determine where you are on your journey toward using effective assessment practices. Take a step toward the assessment practices that you want to use and the type of educator that you want to be. Do not be afraid of not being perfect in every action you take. Make the commitment to learn from the practices and to use what you learn to do better next time. Find a colleague to share your successes and challenges.
Use this quote from Maya Angelou to guide your journey, “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”
We will all be trying to both know better and do better for this year and beyond.
One More Round Emails
Here is the schedule for the week of emails:
Monday- West
Tuesday- Sutterfield
Wednesday- Baker
Thursday- Crymes
Friday- Barnett
Announcements
Each day is an opportunity to reach a student ... to build a champion .. attack each day with the intention our students deserve ... ONE MORE ROUND .. every day
- 25 opportunities until K-2 Summative MAP (April 13-17)
- 30 opportunities until 3rd-4th Summative ACT (April 20 - 22)
- 35 opportunities until 5th Summative ACT (April 27-29)
Newer Reminders:
- I will be on the mountain Tuesday-Thursday this week at Master Principal. You can text or email me if you need anything.
- Interim III is next week. Please make sure you are talking to your students about time management and goal setting this week!
- We haven't forgotten about your candy bars for #loveteachingweek. We draw Monday for the rest of the candy bars!
- K-2 will update SIT and PM this week.
- Make sure all your data is updated in the data documents (MAP, DIBELS, Writing, Math)
This week:
Monday:
- Make sure ALL PROWL documents are updated. - Think about the focus students we talked about on Friday and ensure they are all engaged in meaningful learning during this time.
- Candy Bar drawings for #loveteachingweek
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
- Team Meetings- (Vertical 3-5)
Thursday:
Friday:
- Student Conversations
- Fun Friday Clubs
Old Reminders:
- August 5th and 6th were the winning votes for SES Building PD.
- PROWL must be updated each week with a new tab!
- PROWL instruction begins at 7:50!
- Keep hallways clear and do not leave desks or items outside your room. (this is a fire code issue) You can have a desk inside your nook.
- Please ensure that your lesson plans are printed and on your desk each week. This is the expectation for your small group plans as well.
- If you are going to be out sick or for a personal day please ensure that you have your duties covered. Also, if you are out you MUST see Ms. Sharon and give her your leave request form ... she does not do these for you. You can print them online or she can give you one to make a copy of. Here is the link. It is also linked on our SES website.
- Do not forget to text me if you are going to be out sick. Do not email.
- Shuttle Bus will leave at 3:10. Ms. Sharon will call for them at 3:08 ... make sure you are aware of which students will be leaving at this time! Set an alarm on your phone if you have trouble remembering to send them.
- Westside Kids Day Out Van will pick up at 3:20pm- Please send them at 3:18
- Kiddieville Van will pick up after busses at 3:35pm- Send them out with our bus riders
- Please make sure your I Can statements are posted and you are referring to them during your lesson and ensuring your students understand the success criteria.
- Don't forget to post lesson plans and newsletter to the shared google classroom
StandOUT Award
Mrs. Sutterfield passed the StandOUT Award to Mrs. Berley!
I am nominating Sara Berley for the Standout Award. Mrs. Berley is dedicated to her students and loves to plan fun and engaging lessons for them! It is exciting to watch her passion for teaching shine through her everyday! Way to go Mrs. Berley!
English Language Learners' News - From Mrs. Martin
Use this link to read 2 quarter updated news on English Language Learner strategies!
Mrs. West has the book, Classroom Instruction that Works with ELLs, and many of these strategies came from this text and you are welcome to borrow it from her.
Links You May Need:
Save the Dates
March 2-6 ACT ASPIRE INTERIM 3
March 6 - Spirit Day/ Seuss Celebration
March 10 - PTO Meeting
March 13 - Chess Tournament
March 19 - Awards Ceremony
March 16-20- Book Fair
March 20 - Grandparents' Day
March 23-27 - Spring Break
March 31 - 3rd TAG Trip
April 3rd - Testing Bash - April Spirit Day
April 6 - Report Cards Go Home
April 14 - PTO meeting
April 25 - A Very Special Talent Show will be hosted in Greenbrier on April 25th for students with special needs from central and North Central Arkansas. Sign up to help: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yNjYirCv1TTiX9YNUx41KlRosUkkQmvvKnKvgbBnf00/edit?ts=5d89f3dc#gid=0
May 8 -Spirit Day
May 12 - PTO Meeting
May 19 - Ninja Warrior K-2
May 20 - Ninja Warrior 3-5
May 21- RISE 3-5 Day 4
May 22 - Last Day