the RAH
April 16-20, 2018
from Bret-
Feedback about the Elementary Learning meeting goes here.
Delta team meets next Thursday so please get agenda items to your feeder pattern representative ASAP.
Updated FRL/Discipline counts as of 4/13 are here. Again, I challenge you to use this data, along with Power BI, to find student performance data (achievement, discipline, attendance) that creates a “sense of urgency” for your school.
Curriculum Updates-
Upcoming Learning Support Events
April 11 & 13 & 18 - Canvas for PE (8-3)
May 3 - Dreambox Webinar (Cultivating Young Mathematicians in Your Classroom)
Inventory Update
You will receive your building’s inventory spreadsheet at the end of April. If you are adding a classroom and need curricular materials for that classroom (some may not need to order materials if you had a split and now will have a single grade classroom), you will indicate so on the inventory. For questions regarding inventory, contact Collette Siever at 33350.
Guided Math Connection:
Priority Standards
As we discussed in Job-Alike, a committee of K-5 teachers has been working diligently for the past few months on prioritizing standards for mathematics. Their work was shared out to each building for review by teachers and the final review by the committee is Tuesday, April 10th.
The priority standards will be available on Canvas shortly. Please feel free to share the presentation from our meeting with your site so that teachers understand the criteria and process used.
Activate SPS and Summer Academy
This year at Activate SPS, the following math sessions will be offered:
Math Workshop (101 or Advanced)
Problem Based Learning/3 Act Math
Number Talks
Dreambox (Intro and Deep Dive)
Fractions
Master Learner Numeracy
Master Learner Numeracy will be changing from a K-5 overall focus to a grade-level focus in numeracy next year. There will be three separate ½ day meetings for each grade-level. Teachers who were involved in Master Learner Numeracy this year may participate again next year as our meetings will be focused specifically on grade-level standards and collaboration. We will be requesting your attendees prior to next school year, so please begin thinking about who you might be sending at each grade level.
Audience: K-5 teachers, SPED teachers, Learning Coaches
Topics:
Numeracy
Differentiation
Mathematical Discourse and Collaboration
Literacy Connection:
Soon teachers will be registering for Activate SPS. There are many professional learning options for teachers during this event. I wanted to make you aware of some required ELA sessions and resources that will support instruction.
K-12 Certified Teachers
Session Title: Dyslexia 101 (40 minutes)
Why?
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requires all teachers to be involved in in-service regarding dyslexia and related disorders.
Participants will be introduced to dyslexia and participate in a dyslexia simulation. We will learn about key areas of literacy and reading intervention. In addition, teachers will understand screening and progress monitoring, data-based decision making, fidelity, and classroom supports.
Beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, every Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade, and Third Grade student will be screeened for dyslexia.
K-1st Grade Classroom and SPED Teachers
Session Title: ELA: Phonics, Spelling, and Word Study (80 minutes)
Why?
K-1st Grade teachers will be recieving Fountas and Pinnell Phonics, Spelling, and Word Study curriculum to be implemented in the 2018-2019 school year. There will also be one set per grade level per building provided for SPED and Title 1 to share.
This implentation will ensure that students are receiving explicit phonics, spelling, and word study instruction that correlates to the instruction during reading mini-lessons, shared reading, and guided reading lessons.
Second grade will recieve this resource pending School Board approval. It will not be available until after the school year has started. Training will take place during the 2018-2019 school year.
Tip of the Week!
SPLS must be focused on student needs, site goals, and best practices. As you prepare for a day of planning with your team, think about how your school is doing in terms of academics, climate & culture, and innovation. And as you think about the learning at your school, compare what you’ve observed to the 5 criteria listed in this article.
from J-
"Students are more likely to succeed in a place where they feel known and cared about."
I believe most are unable to deny the relationship between feeling and thinking, between a child’s comfort level and his or her capacity to learn. There are loads of supporting data around this topic. As one group of researchers put it, “In order to promote students’ academic performance in the classroom, educators should also promote their social and emotional adjustment.” Broadly, we aren't there yet, as teachers and schools are generally evaluated almost exclusively on academic achievement measures (which, to make matters worse, mostly consist of standardized test scores). As we enter the testing window, let's go in with confidence (vs anxiety), and a belief in our students that they will show what they know.
I'm pleased that we have embraced need for kids to feel known and cared about, and that our discussions about the distinguishing features of a “good school” sound very different - that our students are both academically empowered and have soft/people skills that are critical to success. . Likewise, our view of discipline and classroom management are being turned inside-out. This is the right play as we begin looking at the right data to guide our future work.
Make it a great week!