Bobcat Bulletin
September 2, 2016
Dear FSS Staff,
Some of you are asking about the EAG Walk-Thru on Friday. EAG is a new company that split from Key Data Systems. They are the company who provided our DII training. EAG, Elevated Achievement Group, is working with principals on calibrating our own lens for walk-thrus. We are looking for patterns and trends on campuses and in the district. This will help guide the specific feedback we provide based on curriculum, culture of the classroom, instructional practices and the assessment given (formal and informal.) Next Friday, the five elementary Principals will be walking through a few classrooms. We will start at MEE in the AM and be at FSS in the PM. Candy or Eric, as well as, Kelly from EAG will be with us. At this time, I am learning how to best support your instruction, it is for my own personal growth. I will share more with you as I become more familiar with this exciting practice.
For those of you needing a bit more information, we are specifically looking that:
- Standards and objectives are accessible to students in multiple ways. ie visually, the materials used and verbally
- Do students know what standards/objectives they are working on and how they will know when they have mastered them.
- A variety of instructional strategies are used like graphic organizers, cooperative learning, reciprocal teaching, small groups (I have attached a link with a big list for you-first link.)
- The rigor of the lesson matches the rigor of the standard and how well the instructor understands the standard.
- The health of the climate and culture in the classroom along with the relationships are positive and encouraging.
- Are teachers needing support in understanding standards. Are teacher designing lessons based on the standard versus based on the use of a specific program.
- How are assessments and feedback being used during the lesson, like checking for understanding and making on the spot changed when students are not learning.
It is a lot to take in, but it is great learning for all of us and I will be better able to support you as we all improve. Kids deserve it!
Are we ready for a Rally on Wednesday? Wendy provided you with the agenda for the Staff Led Rally. I will host and keep us moving along. You just need to be ready for your 1 min skit or share out about your habit. It will be fun!
Hurray for three days!
Stephenie
Instructional Focus
Go back and review our DII engagement strategies. I also linked a nice Edutopia article that has great engagement ideas below.
School Climate Focus
Family meetings. I have done a few restorative circles this week. Ask Dria and Tiffany how they are leading their circles now. Circles build a tighter community in classrooms. When kids feel connected they are less likely to act out and harm others. I am hoping to have time next Wednesday to model a few for you.
Week Ahead
Afterschool Duty:
Front Parking lot: Estacion, Max
Lunch Paviliion: Shannon, Karl, Schewnke
Hallway/Front Gate: Jarvis, Poulos
MEE Parking Let and bus area: Herrell, Harwick, Noll
M-
:) Holiday!
T-
7:45-10:45 K-2 Math Pilot 11:30-2:45 3-6 Math Pilot-rm26
W-
Vintage Shirt Day
8:15 Staff Led Rally-Library
1:30 Lighthouse Meeting in lounge
2:00 Staff Development: Tech talk, Nurse and Restorative Justice
Th-
ELD begins K-6
2:00 Food Pantry
F-
College Shirt Day
EAG walk thru-Steph @ MEE in AM, 11-2 at FSS for Walk-Thrus
11:00 Grandparents Day with Lunch on the Lawn