The Echo Memo: May 2, 2016
A weekly memo to the Smith staff from your leadership team.
Bright Spots from the Week....
VIEW PHOTOS - of last week's Bright Spots! PLEASE add more from what you see! :)
Making memories as beautiful as April Showers and Flowers!
- All Star Teachers Celebrated: Wanda Smith, Barbara Griggs and Lavina Padgett
- Learning math in the Smith Garden!
- Arbor Day - Plant a Tree!
- Learning sessions with the new white board PENS!
- Welcome to our new office support: Ms. Munoz and Ms. Garrity!
- GoNoodle.com - learning session for teachers!
Download the app: Cluster and use this link to join the Smith Group: https://cluster.co/i/R2PFA4
Arbor Day 2016
20 years ago...
What is the 2nd best time to plant a tree?
TODAY!
The PEN!! Writing Success Stories One Student at a Time
Morning Announcements
Morning Announcements Schedule:
This week students are 2nd graders
Select students for the week by MONDAY and have ready to roll.
Post their names in your room as a reminder.
Students will need to be in the office at 8:00am, ready to lead.
This Week's Highlights - View Calendar for full detail
SMITH CALENDAR - Click to view the calendar
OR - the HOME page of the Intranet CHECK IN at the Calendar for updates.
ALSO - Be sure to check: SMITH IMPORTANT dates for the year at a glance page.
LEARNING WALKS - This week: Schedule (direct link)
Intranet > Academics > Learning Walks
REMINDER: Teachers will now scan unit tests in the Green Room
This Week Highlights ---- CHECK OUT THE ONLINE STAFF CALENDAR
- Educator Appreciation This week!
- Prep for STAAR testing next week.
A Big Thank You to our Educators
In honor of our educators and ALL support staff of Smith Elem, expect some surprises during the week of May 2nd! Be on the look out for some extra special treats planned each day: Smith Supporters will be providing Breakfast on Monday, 5/2 and Lunch on Friday, 5/6. Your office support team is organizing lunch on Thursday, 5/4. Let's celebrate!!
Nurse Appreciation Week
Smith Elem Celebrates Nurse Appreciation Week
National Nurses Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness of the important role nurses play in society. So we take time this week to thank our Smith Elementary Nurse, *Patty Holcomb *and Nurse Aide*, Vivian Johnson. * They educate, innovate, encourage and support.... more »
Dville ISD Ed Foundation Grant for a Maker Space Just Announced for Smith Elementary
Through the generosity of the Duncanville ISD Education Foundation's Innovative Grant and the Smith Supporters School-Wide grants, Clint Q. Smith Elementary will began their MakerSpace Journey for the 2016-2017 school year.
Click on the Link to Read More...
Summer Learning - Professional Development Options and Trade Out System
Summer is a time to rest and relax, but we also have some great opportunities to learn and grow. more »
Student Service Club’s Book Drive for Children
We all love to read for fun, but the sad fact exists that not every child has an opportunity to read for enjoyment. So the Smith Elementary Student Service Club is hosting a book drive for children to enjoy reading books at home, including some children who live on the continent of Africa! Starting Monday, April 25th everyone is invited to bring old and new books to school and place them in our book boxes - which are designated by grade level.
Reading and Writing Workshop this June
Get ready for summer professional Learning for Reading and Writing Workshop this June. - Sessions for Level 1 (those who have not attended in the last two summers) and - Advanced for those who have attended and want to refine their Reading and Writing Workshop instruction. All sessions can be registered for in Eduphoria Workshop. For more information contact: Alicia Phillips K-6 ELAR/Social Studies Coordinator Duncanville ISD 972-708-2081
Classroom Instruction that Works Pedagogy Training
One of our major initiatives for 2016-2017 and beyond will be to study and use research from the book: *Classroom Instruction that Works*. During the summer of 2016, all teachers and administrators must attend Classroom Instruction that Works, Day 1 Training, for which they will receive 7.5 hours of trade-out time. The dates for Classroom Instruction that Works, Day 1 Training are as listed: · June 6, 7, 15, 16, 20, 21, 29, or 30 · July 11, 12, 13, 14, 20, or 21 These trainings are already available in Workshop to enable registration for you and your teachers. P... more »
New Procedure: Teachers will now scan unit tests in the Green Room
*Teachers will now scan all unit tests into AWARE.* By 4:00 PM, Friday, April 8th, teachers need to open a case in Eduphoria Help desk asking them to add the AWARE scanner program and the desktop icon to your laptop. more »
Cool Down for Classrooms: Social and Emotional Learning
Mindful Practices empowers teachers and students through yoga and wellness to create a more effective educational environment. more »
Test Anxiety - What it Looks Like and Ways to Minimize It
*By Suzanne Gardner District Coordinator of Assessment and Counseling, Duncanville ISD* The spring semester brings increased opportunities for testing. For many students the anticipation of tests, especially high-stakes tests, can create test anxiety. What are signs that suggest your students may be experiencing harmful levels of test anxiety? more »
*A PEDAGOGY OF QUESTIONING* How can I improve questioning in the classroom? How can I help my students ask better questions and ensure the learning sticks?" At a minimum, teachers need to learn the following idea in order to become more proficient at questioning...more
Subscribe for Instant Notification
This is the weekly Echo Memo through email. It is a way to share highlights of information posted in the Echo Memo Blog.
If you are having trouble accessing the calendar, be sure to contact our Media Specialist, Lavina Padgett. If you have items to add or see something that needs revising - please contact her!
Smith Elementary
Email: vechols@duncanvilleisd.org
Website: http://www.duncanvilleisd.org/Domain/16
Location: 1010 Big Stone Gap Road, Duncanville, TX, United States
Phone: 972-708-3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Smith-Elementary-School-372050902994012/timeline/
Twitter: @DuncanvilleISD