McMillen Minute
Week of November 5
Words of The Week
How do you close your class? Do students gather their things and line up at the door? We all have to admit we’ve allowed this to happen. Craig shares an acronym that helps us choose really effective ways to end our classes. Nobody would do all of these things to end one class, but consider them a handy list from which you can create your final activities for students.
Metacognition. These would be reflections on what students learned and how they learned it. This can be a whole-class or individual activity.
Assess. These short assessments would help drive future discussion and activities. This could be a quick question on an exit card to help you assess the learning that took place.
Summarize. When students can summarize their learning, it sticks longer.
Teaser. Provide a provocative preview of what’s ahead in the days to come. Make them feel like they have a reason to return.
Emphasize. Send your students off with a powerful statement or meaningful message they can use in their lives.
Reflect. Have students complete a self-reflection: How well did they pay attention? Did they revise their writing as well as they could have? Maybe they could set a short-term goal for the next class.
Master teachers know how to master every moment in their classes, even those final few.
Thanks to several of you for mentioning to me how much you appreciate these messages from Craig. And thanks to Mr. Lyons for including them in the McMillen Minute each week.
-Mike
District News
Diversity Leadership Award
The Diversity Advisory Committee proudly announces its 18th Annual Plano ISD Diversity Leadership Award. The individual and group winners are recognized at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration which will be held on January 24, 2019 at Williams High School at 7:00 pm.
Please nominate an individual or group whose program or initiative has proven to promote diversity through stronger relationships, improved communications, and enhanced understanding within Plano ISD or the broader community within the past year.
Key Components of the Diversity Leadership Award Include
§ Promoting Diversity in the district and/or community
§ Embracing Diversity in the district and/or community
§ Educating the district and or community about Diversity
Categories may include:
§ Student or Student Group*
§ PISD Individual or Group
§ Community Individual or Group
*Students may also nominate themselves.
Please complete the attached nomination form.
Deadline for entry: 5pm Friday, December 14, 2018
For additional information, please contact Dollie Thomas at 469-752-8139 or email dollie.thomas@pisd.edu.
Campus News
Faculty Meeting: Meeting Date Has Changed
Time: 8:15
Agenda
Campus Improvement Plan
District Strategic Plan
Random Metal Detector Searches
Mandatory Tutorials
Chromebook Deployment