Tiger Beat
Acton Weekly Update 3/15/19
FTCSC Hedgehog Focus
The Hedgehog Concept is based on an ancient Greek parable that states, "The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing." ... Hedgehogs, however, simplify the world and focus on a single, overarching vision, which they then achieve.
Marlene leading the picture walk of her book.
Marlene's organization of teaching items at her table area.
Marlene posts Rotation groups on the screen for students.
Coach's Corner
Great job with starting your GR tables! The tables I was able to visit looked great! If you ever need me to come model a section of the lesson plan that you have a question on, just let me know. Don't forget to make notations about the observations you are making on your students during your GR table on the back of the lesson template. This will help you as you choose next steps with each of your kiddos.
Below I have linked some helpful tips with guided writing.
Mandy has students read into whisper phones as she listens and tracks them on the back of her lesson plan page.
Mandy's sample of the tracking.
GR. Lesson Plans! Thank you teachers for having copies of these available.
Curricular Updates:
On April 3rd, please join Nadine in the LGI room with your team!
9:15 Kindergarten
10:00 First Grade
10:45 Second Grade
11:30 4th Grade
1:30 3rd Grade
2:30 5th Grade
Dr. Stevenson will be back at Acton on April 10th to walk around with me to see the grade levels we couldn't get to this week. We were so impressed with K, 1 and Shari Leal! I can't wait to see how everyone's victory table is going! I'll double check times with you when we get back from break. Check out the pictures in this newsletter of the great things happening during victory table.
Victory Table is a DAILY expectation with our lowest group.
Retention and Assignments:
If you are considering assigning or retaining a student you should have started an SOS plan, put strategies in place, monitored the strategies and have involved parents. The SOS should include an academic goal and data. This should not be a surprise to parents. An assignment/retention form has been shared by Kevin to any teachers who has talked to us about retentions. Please return it as soon as possible so we can proceed with next steps.
Here is an excerpt from Page 13 of our Student Handbook:
Franklin Township Community School Corporation operates on the annual promotion basis. Promotions are given to students who have mastered all the minimum curriculum requirements for a specific grade level. Assignments are given to students who have not mastered all the minimum requirements for a specific grade level but the school personnel doesn’t feel a retention would be in the student’s best interest. Retentions are given when students haven’t been previously retained and the school personnel does not feel they’ve mastered enough to function successfully at the next grade level. These students are retained for another year in the same grade to afford them additional time to learn the necessary skills at that grade level. Promotions, retentions and assignments are decisions made by the classroom teacher, counselor and principal. They are always made with the best interest of the child in mind. Parents will be fully informed during the course of the school year concerning their child’s academic progress through mid-term reports, grade cards, and conferences (both personal and phone). Teachers will state on the midterms and/or report cards if retention or assignment is being considered. As a staff, promotion of our students is always our goal for every student.
Conscious Discipline Timeline
Conscious Discipline Implementation Timeline
2018-2020
2018-2019
Counselors model Brain Start Smart
Teachers begin to implement Brain Start Smart in the classroom
Teachers integrate Greetings to start the day.
Principals CAN begin to build School Family culture
May 2019
Teachers receive The NEW Conscious Discipline book, Conscious Discipline Brain State Poster Set, and Seven Skills Poster Sets.
Counselors will receive Managing Emotional Mayhem book.
June 22-28, 2019
Elementary Counselors attend Conscious Discipline Intensive training (CD1)
CD team adds details to 2019-2020 timeline
August 2019
Counselors begin teaching Rituals, Routines, Wish Well, and builds upon School Family with principals
On-site CD virtual training begins with teachers (details coming)
** We are moving slowly with the implementation of Conscious Discipline. I’ve created a folder on Google Drive with CD resources. I will be sharing this with you very soon! As you begin to look through those resources, try to think of some things you could try in your classroom.
Counselor's Corner
Look below and you will notice many of the ways that you are helping our students regulate using conscious discipline, brain smart, deep breathing, movement breaks, brain breaks, choice, mentoring, etc.
Cheryl leading students in a level A book.
Students reading to someone
Part of Cheryl's D5 organization
Staff Shout Outs!
Tammy working with two of her level A students
Headbandz game Irish style with sight words
Read to Someone
Read to Self- Woodsong
Shari leads a guided reading table with the Fiction Cards.
Read to Self
Ohana Calendar
DIBELS Progress Monitoring-RED Students
Kindergarten Registration
Monday 4/1/19-
- Acton Wellness Screenings 7:30-11:00 AM
- 9:30 Emergency Drills
AM Collaboration- Team Focus
- AM Collaboration
- Nadine Model Lessons with each grade level (see schedule)
Thursday 4/4/19
- School Culture Team
Friday 4/5/19
- Four Star Celebration (cake)
Coming Soon:
April
1 School resume
2 PTO Meeting
4 4th grade field trip
5 Family Game Night
9 5th grade visit to East
10 Jack’s Donuts spirit day
17 Children’s Museum Outreach night
18 4th and 5th grade music programs
18 May field trips due
19 All Pro Dads
22 Skating Party
23 Chow with the Cow
25 Kdg field trip
26 Mid term grades posted