February 25, 2019
A Communication Tool for the Seven Hills Staff
February is For Filling Emotional Bank Accounts!
The February EBA Campaign is absolutely about more than wearing jeans. Please take time to engage in the Kindness Campaign this week!
Kindness Campaign:
- Be Kind to Yourself: Choose 7 new ways to sharpen your saw and commit to doing one each day this week.
- Be Kind to Others: Write 2 encouraging notes OR write 2 shout outs to a staff member this week...don't forget about the office team, paraprofessionals, the cafeteria staff, specials teachers, etc.
Fabulous February:
- Monday: Wear jeans with a shirt of your choice
- Tuesday: Professional Dress Day
- Wednesday: Warm and cozy Wednesday: wear warm-ups
- Thursday: Wear jeans and a shirt of your choice
- Friday: Wear jeans with a 7 Hills shirt
Spring Parent Communication:
This is a critical time to reach out to parents and make sure they are aware of their child's progress this year and ways they can help support their child in meeting their individual goals (and ultimately our campus goal!). If you haven't done so already, the DRA letters need to be sent to parents. It would also be a great idea to share benchmark assessment data, Imagine Math progress, and Lexia progress to date. If you have questions about the Imagine Math progress report or the Lexia parent report, please let Kim know. We will be happy to help you.
I have shared a letter with everyone in Google Drive "Spring Parent Letter." Teachers should use this as a base letter to communicate MOY assessment data and ways to support at home with parents. I think parents might also like to see their child's WIG for the 5th grading period. One idea might be to make a copy to send home with this letter.
Please work with your teams to determine a timeline for these updates to be sent. Once you have the timeline established, ILT members need to let me know.
NOTE: You will need to make a copy before editing the original letter. And, there is a blank copy of the campus letter for you to use as well. Please send the letter in an envelope marked, "To the Parents of ____" as it contains confidential student information.
Spring Parent Letter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l5EVeK4vDBqTWNygj5PQsGAPexHnxQrRDeVttQaMs3o/edit?usp=sharing
REPEAT FROM LAST WEEK...SOOOO MUCH INFORMATION TO SHARE AND REMEMBER!
Living By Design...Not Default!
Hope is not a strategy. Aren't you glad we have systems and structures in place and a plethora of tools and resources available to help us maintain a High Functioning Whirlwind in persuit of the Wildly Important? Let's consider this a hot second:
- Campus WIG and Theories of Action
- Team WIGs and Lead Measures
- Student WIGs, Lead Measures, and WIG Charts
- WIG Sessions and the PLC Learning Cycle
- Instructional Rounds
- Empowering Instruction Lesson Cycle: Ignite, Investigate, Invite connections
- Quality Tools
- The 7 Habits
- Instructional Coaches
- Intervention Team
- So much more...
While we should always have hope...we do not have to rely on hope...We rely on those things within our circle of control!
Man, doesn't it feel so good to see a return on our investment in the MOY literacy data, Imagine Math data, CBA data, etc.???? I hope everyone walked away feeling proud on Friday...I know I am one proud principal! I am proud to see that the data is reflecting a culture of high expectations and our effort to keep the main thing the main thing...and do that thing well! I am proud to see tangible evidence (not only in student achievement data) that we live by design rather than default!
We have 15 weeks left of school. 6 weeks until 5th grade STAAR and 4th Grade Writing STAAR. 11 weeks until 3-5 STAAR and EOY assessment windows. So much time to continue on the path to achieve student, team, and campus WIGS! Ample time to achieve GREATNESS!
It is my expectation that we focus our emotional and physical energy on the High Functioning Whirlwind and the Wildly Important. We simply cannot affort to sacrifice these to the urgent. To recap some of the ideas we discussed on Friday, you and your teams need to consider:
Team WIGs and the PLC Learning Cycle:
Has your team met your first WIG? Is it time to move the WIG into the High Functioning Whirlwind and write a new WIG? The planning tool for creating a new WIG and Lead Measures is linked here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1y_AFOk0Q1U0tIm7eyJLCFKw2pfyydowZs1UbWsjNsMg/edit?usp=sharing
The template for recording your new WIG is linked here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-bKXS49OukkI-b9PnxYRkuLhXwwYRKM7a_Aqgi7F_qY/edit?usp=sharing Remember, if you create a new WIG is must be printed and posted in the PLC Room!
Are the Lead Measures high leverage? Are they moving the scoreboard? Does the previsou WIG now need to be a Lead Measure? Is your team tracking progress on the Lead Measures?
If your team WIG changes...does that change your grade level scoreboards? Are students motivated by your scoreboard? Remember, we play differently when we keep score...we play to WIN! This step should not be missed!
What do you notice about your team’s progress with/through the PLC Learning Cycle so far?
What are you doing well with our PLC Learning Cycle? Is the cycle creating a cadence of accountability for both the team and the individuals on the team?
What has been the most challenging component to implement? Is there a common pitfall that you notice? Does this surprise you? Why? What might you do to get out of “the pit?”
Do you believe your work to date reflects the the campus wildly important and a high functioning whirlwind? Can you tell if your work is helping us win the game? What data might you need to consider? What theories of action have your team spent the most time on? In what areas have you not focused your attention?
Are you keeping your commitments? If not, what is preventing you? What are the barriers that you have influence over? What will you do to move remove the barriers? Remember, change starts with you!
Effective Planning:
What does effective planning look like? Sound like? Feel like? Are you using the Empowering Instruction template? Are you planning to IGNITE, INVESTIGATE, INVITE connection?
Are you using Quality Tools to help students make meaningful connections and make sense of information? I shared packets with all of the Quality Tools on Friday. These can also be found on the Leader in Me Online. The Leader in Me Weekly several months back had a great video on practical usage of the tools. To see the newsletter and video click here: https://limweekly.org/quality-tools-in-action/
How far out should you plan? What should your plans be built on? (TEKS, Curriculum etc.)
What do you bring to planning?
Who should participate in planning?
- Planning with Instructional Coaches: We have been gifted a level of math coach support that is not afforded to other campuses. Please make sure you are using this time effectively, in order to make the greatest impact on student achievement. Reflective questions as you engage in this planning..."Are you using the opportunity to plan with coaches to yield the greatest results? Are you only looking at one lesson each week, or are you planning problem solving block, how to spiral review hot spot standards, backward designing based on pre-tests and CBAs, etc.? Are you bringing plans from Origo with marked up questions, etc. to discuss and get more clarity?"
Next Steps for Your Team/Content Area: (First work, then celebrations!)
Complete a MOY/Benchmark data dive using the Atlas Looking at Data protocol steps provided in PD on Friday.
Choose a Quality Tool to represent your data in a way that has meaning for your team. This either needs to be turned in to us or posted in the PLC Room.
Use the Principles of Effectiveness Map (See-Do-Get) to organize your team's ideas and capture your next steps. This needs to be turned in or posted in the PLC Room.
A few thoughts to help guide your work after you review the data:
DRA (How are you using the focus for instruction to guide next steps?)
Lexia (How are you using this to set student WIGS?)
Imagine Math (Based on new learning, how can you use this as a progress monitoring and intervention tool?)
CBAs (Are you backward designing based on CBAs? Are you using CBA data to identify hot spot TEKS for spiral review through a short cycle assessment approach?)
Benchmarks (What is your plan to deconstruct the assessment? Have you identified bright spots? What instructional approach worked to make these bright spots? How can you apply that approach to turn hot spots into bright spots? What is your plan for spiral review of hot spot standards through short cycle assessments?)
How are you measuring growth toward the WIG or of the commitment made in PLCs for individual students, the grade level, the campus? Does your team have a scoreboard in the PLC room? Does this need to be updated/changed?
Are you designing meaningful and relevant tasks that engage students during the work period? Do you have appropriate scaffolds build in?
Are students writing every day? In all content areas?
In 3-5 are you shifting to a focus on proficiency vs text level? Are you appropriately and effectively providing meaningful opportunities for students to engage in STAAR format tasks to demonstrate mastery? Please, do not misinterpret this as approval to give students STAAR prep packets.
Make commitments. Plan. Implement. Review. Revise. Make commitments. Plan. Implement. Review. Revise.....and on...and on...and on...
Thank you for all of your time, effort, energy, creativity, synergy, innovation, passion, and perseverance!
Together we WILL accomplish GREATNESS!
Note: I would like to see the action items completed next week. You do not meet in PlCs this week. Some teams may choose to continue to work this week, and I appreciate and applaud that effort. The PLC agenda next week will focus on these items.
Friday PD: I have had a few teams ask to have the PD slides from Friday. They are linked here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1aLbACWsdWKn1r9ZUNwrg1qI37_GN5BjGdfTN9V1wlaM/edit?usp=sharing The questions for the Atlas Protocol have been updated...:)
Time to Update Student WIGs for the 5th Grading Period:
We spent ime reviewing student WIGs on Friday as well...They are a part of our High Functioning Whirlwind, and we must always take time to come back and review to make sure they are remaining at a high functioning level.
4Dx Leader in Me Weekly:
Don't Forget About the GREAT Reminders in the Leader in Me Weekly About The 4 Disciplines! You might even use some of these in your classrooms to review the importance with students as you reset WIGS!
- Discipline 1: https://limweekly.org/is-it-really-a-wig-succeeding-with-discipline-1/
- Discipline 1: https://limweekly.org/helping-students-choose-wigs-discipline-1/
- Discipline 2: https://limweekly.org/connecting-action-with-attainment-discipline-2/
- Discipline 2: https://limweekly.org/are-your-lead-measures-lagging-winning-with-discipline-2/
As we have conducted WIG walks, visited with students, and looked at student progress data, we are noticing that not all students are consistently able to answer the question, "Are you winning or losing the game?" One reason may be because their trackers and scoreboards are not consistently updated. As you work with students to set new WIGs for the 5th Grading Period, consider the following:
- Students need to have new WIGs set as quickly as possible. Yes. We do value student choice and voice, but as discussed on Friday, we are in persuit of GREATNESS...for students and the campus...this is within our circle of control, and we cannot risk releasing all control of the WIG at this point in the game.
- What is the most appropriate WIG for the student? Text level? Proficiency level based on CBA, DRA, Lexia, Imagine Math, Benchmark data? Rubric based? 3-5, the next 15 weeks would be highly appropriate to focus WIGs on TEKS/skills that are preventing students from being successful on CBAs and Benchmarks.
- For students with proficiency WIGS, these are best for focusing on specific skills, and can be highly effective for students meeting expectations, but lacking consistency.
- For students with WIGs focused on math problem solving or DRA Rubrics, the rubric should be used in the assessment, and I encourage you to give students a copy of the rubric so they know what they are working toward.
- It is paramount that you meet with students to help them understand what their WIG is and WHY it is WIlDLY IMPORTANT! If they are not connected to the WIG, they will not be motivated to achieve! There should be some sort of conversation about the WIG!
- Remember, students should have one lead measure they can personally influence. Is this the lead measure that will have the greatest potential to move them forward? Is it predictive? Is there a frequency of occurrence assigned? Lead measures need to be SPECIFIC...and students need to understand HOW they will help them read their goal. Resist the temptation to create blanket Lead Measures...while it might be easier...it will not be effective.
- Tier II and III students should have teacher influencable lead measures as well. These should be predictive and have a frequency of occurrence. This is likely where you are adding lead measures for guided reading groups, LLI groups, etc. In your plans for working with these students, make sure you are adding the strategy you are working on. For example, scooping words.
- Lexia can, and probably should, be a lead measure for all students. Please make sure you are including the target minutes and a goal for units gained in the lead measure. Remember, units can be completed in about 10 minutes. So, it would be reasonable for a student with a target goal of 60 minutes to gain 6 units in a week.
- Imagine Math can be a lead measure, if monitored in the same way Lexia is.
- Students need to know their progress toward the goal each week. They need to "step on the scale" so to speak. When they know their weekly text level or proficiency level, they can complete their scoreboard.
- We will continue WIG Walks with our walk through form. Teachers receive an email after we complete each walk. It is important that you review the data shared so that you can make any adjustments necessary for specific students.
3-5 Skills Block
More Direct Instruction and Modeling
Color Coded 30-30-30 Wall
30-30-30 and Vocabulary Instruction:
What new and fresh ideas have you had for 30-30-30 and vocabulary instruction lately? Please let me know so we can continue to share!
Habit Focus of the Week: Habit 1: Be Proactive
Habit Huddle Connection:
We have the opportunity to begin a new Habit cycle this week. What a gift! Are you using the paradigms of the Leader in Me and the 7 Habits in your professional and personal life? In a recent Leader in Me Weekly, there was a powerful video and letter from Sean Covey about using the Habits to reshape or refocus your life. I hope you will take a minute to read the letter and watch the video. Remember, in order to effectively teach the 7 Habits, we must apply them to our own lives!
- Leader in Me Weekly: https://limweekly.org/reinventing-your-life-with-the-7-habits/
Each week for the next 7 weeks, I will be sharing reminders about the principles and paradigms that shape each of the Habits. I encourage everyone to read these carefully. You just might find you have a few misconceptions or misunderstandings about the habits. This clarity will help you lead your students to deeper understanding of the habits!
Habit 1 Connection:
Being proactive is about taking responsibility for your life. You can't keep blaming everything on your parents or grandparents. Proactive people recognize that they are "response-able." They don't blame genetics, circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. They know they choose their behavior. Reactive people, on the other hand, are often affected by their physical environment. They find external sources to blame for their behavior. If the weather is good, they feel good. If it isn't, it affects their attitude and performance, and they blame the weather.
All of these external forces act as stimuli that we respond to. Between the stimulus and the response is your greatest power--you have the freedom to choose your response. One of the most important things you choose is what you say. Your language is a good indicator of how you see yourself. A proactive person uses proactive language--I can, I will, I prefer, etc. A reactive person uses reactive language--I can't, I have to, if only. Reactive people believe they are not responsible for what they say and do--they have no choice.
Proactive people focus their efforts on their Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about: health, children, or problems at work.
Reactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern--things over which they have little or no control: the national debt, terrorism, or the weather. Gaining an awareness of the areas in which we expend our energies is a giant step in becoming proactive.
Change Your Language...Change Your Mindset!
Campus and District Announcements and Updates:
- Stop Leaving "Free" Items in the Lounge: If you have things that are free for the taking, please send out an email to staff and invite them to YOUR classroom to come and "shop." The lounge is not a place for leaving items you no longer want or need. 95% of the time noone takes them, and the person who leaves them doesn't come back to clean up the mess. Thank you.
- Building Safety Reminders: Leaders, building safety is highly important. This week, I noticed an exterior door propped open before 7:40am. We understand that not all entrances have a badge entry, however, those doors should not be propped open at any time during any day. This leaves the building vulnerable to anybody or anything that may be walking around outside. It is best practice to only enter the building through badge entries. If you are wanting to open a non-badge entry for a teammate before 7:40am, please walk to the door to open it up. This is also a good time to remind your students and spouses that exterior doors, expect recess doors, should not be opened for anyone. All campus visitors, including district staff, should be entering the building through the front office. There are signs on each door with this reminder. Thank you for helping to keep everyone safe.
- Technology Usage: The district devices were purchased to support high quality instruction and student learning. Through walk-throughs and in looking at Go-Guardian, we are becoming increasingly aware of usage that does not support instructional purposes. Students have been using devices to watch wide range of YouTube videos, play a variety of non-instructional games, and listen to music (some of which has been reported as highly inappropriate). Additionally, students are frequently accessing personal devices during the school day for non-instructional purposes. Because we have district devices available, there should not be a need for students to access their personal devices during the school day. It is my expectation that you take time to reflect on student technology usage in your classroom. How much screen time is afforded students? Is this screen time limited to instructional use such as Imagine Math, Lexia, research? Do you allow for device usage during "free" time? If so, do you pre-determine what students are allowed to access? What are your practices to ensure student appropriate usage of devices? How do you monitor usage? Do you need to have a conversation with students about appropriate usage? Do you need an administrator to support this conversation? Technology is not a babysitter. Students should be engaged in an instructional task when on any device during the school day. Thank you for your careful attention to this expectation.
Bell Schedule: The bell schedule is 2 minutes (at least off). Please keep this in mind for arrival and dismissal.
Sharpen the Saw Clubs: Clubs begin at 7:45. Please do not send students before 7:45. Also, please do not dismiss before 8:30. Thank you.
- Please remember to check ride changes every day in the google folder. We add changes until 2:45 when the bell rings.
From the Assistant Principal:
- 3rd and 4th grade Math benchmark- March 5th
- 3rd and 4th grade Reading benchmark- March 7th
- Please make sure you have checked and turned in the accommodations sheet to Tanya on Monday, Feb. 25th.
- RTI tier 2 follow up meetings scheduled for March 4th. Teachers will get a scheduled time to meet and update students in RTI. Be sure your progress monitoring is uploaded with at least 3 data points in Estar. See Google classroom for more details.
From the CIT:
Teacher Mentors: Please meet with your mentee ASAP to fill out your goal that you are working on for the six weeks or for the year. I have delivered your goal sheets, so I will need them turned into me ASAP since I need to scan them and send them into HR. Place them in the yellow folder on the table in my office. Thank you to those who have already turned them in.
From the Librarian:
This is the info and links you need for the Digital Citizenship lessons, please make sure you complete all of them before next Friday, March 8. If you have any questions let Jeremy or I know. We will be glad to assist you in any way we can.
Save the Date:
Notes:
- JA in a Day is March 29
Monday, February 25:
- LHT, 3:30
- ILT, 3:30
- Grade Level PLCs
Wednesday, February 27:
- Math planning with Meredith: Meredith will not be on campus this week
Thursday, February 28:
- Kim out of the office
- Staff Meeting, 3:30
Friday, March 1:
- Sharpen the Saw Clubs - FINAL SESSION FOR THIS ROUND
- Friday Night Lights
Happy Birthday to You: