EAST PAULDING MIDDLE SCHOOL
November 4, 2016
Quote of the week
UPCOMING EVENTS THROUGH THANSGIVING
11/6/16 - Daylight Savings - Fall back 1 hour!
11/8/16 - Teacher Work Day - ELECTION DAY - GO VOTE!
11/10/16 - Leadership Team Meeting - 7:30 in 816
11/10/16 - Chorus Concert @ EPHS
11/11/16 - Math/Science PL on Reading Strategies
11/11/16 - Progress Reports Go Home
11/14/16 - SBIT @ 7:45am
11/15/16 - Faculty Meeting - 4:00pm
11/18/16 - Scoliosis Screening
11/18/16 - Faculty Breakfast - 6th Grade
11/20 - 11/24 - Thanksgiving Break
11/30 - New Science Standards Roll Out with Sarah Graham - Planning
12/1 - RTI Meetings During Planning
12/2 - RTI Meetings During Planning
1/31/17 - EPMS FOCUS WALK
11/8/16 - Teacher Work Day - ELECTION DAY - GO VOTE!
11/10/16 - Leadership Team Meeting - 7:30 in 816
11/10/16 - Chorus Concert @ EPHS
11/11/16 - Math/Science PL on Reading Strategies
11/11/16 - Progress Reports Go Home
11/14/16 - SBIT @ 7:45am
11/15/16 - Faculty Meeting - 4:00pm
11/18/16 - Scoliosis Screening
11/18/16 - Faculty Breakfast - 6th Grade
11/20 - 11/24 - Thanksgiving Break
11/30 - New Science Standards Roll Out with Sarah Graham - Planning
12/1 - RTI Meetings During Planning
12/2 - RTI Meetings During Planning
1/31/17 - EPMS FOCUS WALK
LET'S RECAP - Video Assessments
Here is a great and unique way to assess students knowledge. What a great way to pull student's personality out and give them a chance to use the skills they are most comfortable with.
Thank you Dr. Prince for sharing!
Thank you Dr. Prince for sharing!
OBSERVATIONS AND FEEDBACK
One of the most difficult pieces of all of our jobs is providing and accepting feedback. We receive feedback in many different ways and from many different people. We may agree with some or all of it; we may disagree with some or all of it. However, it is what we do with the feedback provided to us that matters most.
Many of you may not know that I had the pleasure of having Mr. Claude at SMMS for about 2 years prior to joining EPMS. I am happy to have him here, and I check in with him regularly to see how he is doing.
In a brief conversation with Mr. Claude, I simply asked him how much he enjoyed working with Mrs. Wanda (who is excellent in case you didn't know that). He replied, "I love working with Mrs. Wanda. She does me right!" He went on to say that she lets him know when he is doing good, and she lets him know when he needs to and can do better. "She keeps me straight and in line."
Mr. Claude said that her feedback was important to him because he wanted to do the best job possible. Sometimes, he needed to know that he didn't meet the expectation or needed to work harder.
What stuck out the most to me was the first thing he said being how much he loved working with her. It wasn't an afterthought or an added point. It was the first thing he said. Mr. Claude understands and realizes her responsibilities to our school and to him. He understands how her feedback can help him become more successful and that his success is reflected in the physical appearance of our school.
It is always important to reflect on the feedback we receive. Whether we like it or not, feel it is true or not, want it or not; it is all intended to help our school become as successful as possible. Ultimately, our school is a reflection of us - the teachers - who will be here long after our current students leave us.
When you are giving and receiving feedback, remember the end goal! We all want EPMS to be the best, and we can't get there without personal growth, and we can't grow without someone pushing us along the way and encouraging us to do better!
Many of you may not know that I had the pleasure of having Mr. Claude at SMMS for about 2 years prior to joining EPMS. I am happy to have him here, and I check in with him regularly to see how he is doing.
In a brief conversation with Mr. Claude, I simply asked him how much he enjoyed working with Mrs. Wanda (who is excellent in case you didn't know that). He replied, "I love working with Mrs. Wanda. She does me right!" He went on to say that she lets him know when he is doing good, and she lets him know when he needs to and can do better. "She keeps me straight and in line."
Mr. Claude said that her feedback was important to him because he wanted to do the best job possible. Sometimes, he needed to know that he didn't meet the expectation or needed to work harder.
What stuck out the most to me was the first thing he said being how much he loved working with her. It wasn't an afterthought or an added point. It was the first thing he said. Mr. Claude understands and realizes her responsibilities to our school and to him. He understands how her feedback can help him become more successful and that his success is reflected in the physical appearance of our school.
It is always important to reflect on the feedback we receive. Whether we like it or not, feel it is true or not, want it or not; it is all intended to help our school become as successful as possible. Ultimately, our school is a reflection of us - the teachers - who will be here long after our current students leave us.
When you are giving and receiving feedback, remember the end goal! We all want EPMS to be the best, and we can't get there without personal growth, and we can't grow without someone pushing us along the way and encouraging us to do better!
WHAT DO GREAT TEACHERS DO?
What are some of the things that great teachers do? This short video by Danny Brassell talks about several of these things. Take a moment to listen to what he has to say. It's nothing extra-motivational but it is simple and true.
You may have to watch this video outside of school.
You may have to watch this video outside of school.
https://youtu.be/5ielCdDoa3k
Our SIP and Great, Every Day Practices
1. We will increase the number of students at or above Lexile levels on the Universal Screener.
2. We will increase the number of students who score proficient or higher by 10% on the EMBRACER writing protocol.
3. We will decrease the amount of students in all grades who fail 2 or more classes for the EOY average.
While we have a plan to increase student learning in specific areas; effective collaboration, planning, instruction, and assessment should be a daily focus. How are you doing in these key areas?
1. There is a connection between the activities in class to our SIP goals (specifically reading and writing).
2. There is evidence of collaboration within grade level departments. Daily snapshots are explicit and provide a clear focus.
3. A 3 part lesson model is used (opening, work session, and student led closings). Some of you communicate this on your board in the form of an agenda.
4. Students are actively engaged in a student centered learning environment. Learning is accomplished through "doing", not "sitting and getting".
5. Students understand the purpose of the EQ, how it connects to what they are doing in class, and how what they are learning is applicable in the "real world".
2. We will increase the number of students who score proficient or higher by 10% on the EMBRACER writing protocol.
3. We will decrease the amount of students in all grades who fail 2 or more classes for the EOY average.
While we have a plan to increase student learning in specific areas; effective collaboration, planning, instruction, and assessment should be a daily focus. How are you doing in these key areas?
1. There is a connection between the activities in class to our SIP goals (specifically reading and writing).
2. There is evidence of collaboration within grade level departments. Daily snapshots are explicit and provide a clear focus.
3. A 3 part lesson model is used (opening, work session, and student led closings). Some of you communicate this on your board in the form of an agenda.
4. Students are actively engaged in a student centered learning environment. Learning is accomplished through "doing", not "sitting and getting".
5. Students understand the purpose of the EQ, how it connects to what they are doing in class, and how what they are learning is applicable in the "real world".
We are certainly THANKFUL for our November babies!
11/3 - Tori Norton
11/4 - Christine Conley
11/9 - Tracey McDaniel
11/17 - Mariann Moncus
11/19 - Bree Wood
11/19 - Tressa Mathes
10/25 - Julie Coleman
11/4 - Christine Conley
11/9 - Tracey McDaniel
11/17 - Mariann Moncus
11/19 - Bree Wood
11/19 - Tressa Mathes
10/25 - Julie Coleman
Photo of the week
Lesson that I learned: Never leave my phone lying around.
Lesson that they learned: I always win!
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Contact Information for Tom Alverson
Email: talverson@paulding.k12.ga.us
Website: http://www.paulding.k12.ga.us/Domain/29
Phone: 678-350-8027
Facebook: facebook.com/eastpauldingmiddleschool
Twitter: @epmsraiders