Tiger Beat
Acton Weekly Update 1/31/2020
Things to Know
The Acton vs. South Creek staff basketball game will be on Friday, February 29th at the Franklin Central HS gym at 6:00. I really appreciate the enthusiasm and commitment many of you have made to participate either as a player, cheer squad coach or leading the half-time show. This is going to be a lot of fun. We will be purchasing a shirt for each staff member who volunteers for the event and I'll be coming around to confirm your roles and size of shirts, next week. I know we all won't be able to attend every practice, but I hope you can each make 1-2 practices. Our PTO is working collaboratively with the SC PTO to purchase noisemakers and concessions. There will be no admission charge but we do ask every attendee to bring a non-perishable item.
Practices will be immediately after school for 30 minutes:
February
5-Wednesday
11-Tuesday
19-Wednesday
27-Thursday
There will be a High Ability workshop in early June in Franklin, IN. Please let me know if you are interested in attending. The district will pay for your registration fees.
The Franklin Township Education Foundation is excited to share the 2020 Spring Grant application with you! We know that many creative and innovative ideas are ready for funding!
- Visit https://fteducation.org/request-a-grant/ to complete the application
- Remember to send your complete COVER FORM and signed GRANT AGREEMENT to the FTEF office at CTEC.
- PDF attached
- Please note the application deadline is March 20, 2020.
Coaches Corner
Upcoming Dates:
Q3C1 Post-test given by January 31st
Q3C1 Post-test data entered by February 4th - NEW DATE
Q3C1 Post-test data discussion on February 5th
Half day planning: Week of February 24th
Pre-test for Unit 6 in EDM grades 3-5: Jan. 29th - Feb. 4th
Unit 5 Post-test grades 3-5: Feb 3rd-7th
Deadline to enter results of Unit 5 Assessment into EDM: end of day Feb. 14th NEW DATE
Begin teaching Unit 6: Feb. 4th-8th
3-5 Only: After grading your unit 5 EDM post test, do not hand back to students! I will be meeting with you by grade levels during your prep next week to go over how to enter in your post test data into EDM.
I will be meeting with grade levels in February/March to go over how to use the comprehension modules in Jan's yellow book to teach mini lessons, GR lessons, and Independent practice. Each module contains all three components and many provide videos to watch that model how to implement each module. These modules are an extremely effective and efficient tool to use to help us weave a common thread from whole group to small group to independent practice. Using these modules will not only save you time in lesson planning, but will provide students with effective instruction based on the comprehension skills they need to master.
Many classrooms are still struggling to achieve classroom participation with the reading logs. Please look at the above spreadsheet to see how your class is faring compared to your colleagues. Encourage your class with various incentives. The more excited and passionate you are about this program, the more engaged and excited your students will be. Please let them know that this figures into their citizenship grade and that the school as a whole will not get to the million minute mark and win a school wide party unless we all work together.
Counselor Corner
This week I taught grades 3-5 in the library how to use their assertive voice. Below is the breakdown of what each grade did and learned. Next time a student approaches you with a solvable conflict you can ask, "did you try using an I-message?" Let's continue to empower students to solve conflicts peacefully on their own!
I will be making "I-Message" signs that you can post in your classroom so students can reference how to make an I-Message. Below is the basic format of an I-Message:
I feel___________________(insert how you feel).
When you_____________________________(say EXACTLY what the other person did, be specific)
Next time______________________________ (say how you would like to be treated)
ex. I feel sad when you make fun of my hair. Next time please keep your mean thoughts to yourself.
Important Notes we discussed:
- If you still feel VERY upset it may not be time to use an I-Message yet. Pause, take a deep breath, find a way to calm down (walk away, go to calming area etc.) and once you know you are ready to solve the problem then you should use an I-Message.
- Tone of voice and body language are just as important as the words. Your body language and tone of voice should be calm, normal (like you usually are), and confident.
- Responding to an i-message can be hard. Remember to respect their feelings and take it as an opportunity to learn and grow instead of getting defensive and upset. You may even respond with an i-message.
3rd Grade
Practice
4th Grade
Assertive, Passive, and Aggressive Communication
Station Practice
5th Grade
Taught I-Message
Practiced using the "I-Message" Game Show
I will teach K-2 next and we will be learning a more simplified version with the help of Shubert from Conscious Discipline. I will give those details in next week's weekly update.
I hope this helps you just as much as it helps our students! Please let me know if you have any questions or want some resources to practice with your class.
Coming Up
WIDA Testing Begins at AC
Monday 2/3/2020 COUNSELOR APPRECIATION DAY
Emergency Drills (ALL) 10:00 AM
Krug SOS Meetings 12:45 PM
Elliott- Tigers Den
MS East Band. Choir Orchestra Night
Tuesday 2/4/2020
Collaboration: GR/ CFA/ EDM Data Entry-on your own
Brooks SOS Meetings 12:45 AM
Froning Tigers Den
Wednesday 2/5/2020
AC Cheer Squad Practice in the Gym 7:55 AM
Collaboration: CFA Team discussions
HA Selection Meeting-Beechler
Midterm window opens
Brook at Ctec in the afternoon
Staff basketball practice in the gym 3:30-4:00
Robotics
Thursday 2/6/2020
AI/ Principals Meeting AM and Midday
Tigers Den Emerine
PTO Meeting 6:30
Friday 2/7/2020
FolkDance 7:30 AM
McMaster Tigers Den
February:
3 Drills (All)
3 Counselor Appreciation Day
5-10 Teacher window open
6 PTO Meeting
12 Mid term grades posted for parents
13 1st grade field trip
14 Friendship parties
14 Kids Heart Challenge
17 President’s Day (make up day if necessary)
20 4th grade field trip
21 All Pro Dads
21 Father Daughter event
24-28 Book Fair Week
27 KDG Field Trip-Clowes
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.