"The Osky Syllabus"
September 2014 - News You Can Use!
Welcome New Teachers!
Row 1 L-R
Acacia Morris (Kinder), Taya Donovan (HS Sp. Ed.), Kahlie Green (5thGrade), Kelsey Mohapp (HS Science), Melissa Brown (El. Sp. Ed), and Shannon DePenning (4th Grade)
Row 2 L-R
Marlene Etter (4th Grade), Karen Castillo (HS Spanish), Brittany Redlich (Kindergarten),
Heather Hoven (MS Second Chance Reading), Jodi Steinlage (Instructional Strategist Elementary), and Hannah Laucamp (1st Grade)
Row 3 L-R
Tim Vermeer (HS Science), Joe Rohlfsen (4th Grade), Chase Weber (HS PE), Stephanie Cannon (3rd Grade), Bret Spurgin (HS Ag. Science), and Noel Hoover (HS Sp. Ed.)
Vision/Mission/Beliefs Posters
Vision/Mission Lanyard
PLC to Watch for September - All PLCs!!!
As we began the year and I walked around to most PLCs - what I observed was a level of collaboration and planning that was encouraging to see. Norms were being refined, data was being analyzed to determine SMART Goals and Action Plans were being formed.
PLC Facilitators met on August 25th to begin a new year of leadership training and collaboration. Our main focus/goals this year will be REFINING and CONTINUITY. We have PLCs in place as well as SMART Goals, what we need to do now is refine and improve our current implementation. The work they will do when they meet is improve on facilitation skills and learn how to take that next step with data. We should be focused on "Purpose" and "Product" for our PLC collaboration - this was the topic of our first meeting.
We do a great job of collecting data and looking at data... our next step is to answer the question "NOW WHAT?" What do we do differently in our classroom to impact student learning.
This is sure to be a fantastic year of collaboration and learning together!
Effective Data Means Continuous Improvement
Growth is not a bad way to look at data - do not get me wrong - but if it is used as a hammer and not as a flashlight, then we are not using that model correctly. How is your PLC looking at data and how are you involving students as partners?
PLC Schedule Change!
1st Wednesday - PLC/PLC
2nd Wednesday - Vertical Teams/PLC (PLC Shirt Day)
3rd Wednesday - PLC/PLC
4th Wednesday - PD (Elem)/BuildingChoice (MS/HS)/PLC
5th Wednesday - Building Choice (Elem)/Vertical (MS&HS)/PLC
Administrative Team Sets SMART Goal and Action Plan
Norms
- Live the district Mission
- Participate and speak your mind
- Honor one another
- Support the final decision, our staff, and our students
- Respect all Opinions
- Purpose - Focus - Model
- Trust that....
SMART Goal - 2014-2015
100% of teachers will score a 2 or higher on the Tool for Improvement and 80% of teachers will score a 3 or higher on the Tool for Improvement in all 5 categories by the end of the year.
Action Plan
- Complete a minimum of one walk through observation for each teacher each trimester
- Provide specific feedback for improvement on each walk through observation
- Analyze walk through observation data monthly
- Conduct team walk through observations and have discussions about what was observed
- Discuss the Tool for Improvement to ensure consistent application of tool on a monthly basis
Tool for Improvement
- Have High Levels of Student Engagement
- Have Learning Target Posted, Verbalized, and have Student Awareness
- Utilize Formative Assessment to Determine Learning Needs
- Scaffold the Level of Boom's Taxonomy in Instruction - Focusing on the Top Levels
- Use Proven Instructional Techniques to Help Students
You can locate a copy of the walk through observation template on the staff resource page.
Individual Technology Plan and Tech PD
Technology PD will take place during the school year on the following topics - check the PD plan for dates and times.
- Everything Google! :-)
- Infinite Campus - all aspects and tools to be more efficient
- Technology Integration for deeper learning
High School Increases Learning - PBL
During the in-service PD, the HS had a full day of learning around PBL.
- What is PBL?
- How do you develop a PBL?
- Why is assessment in PBL critical?
- How do you use critiques with students?
- How will you use critiques in your classroom to improve student learning?
Learning Resources
Challenge Question
Which of the Characteristics of Effective Instruction (CEI) does our "Tool for Improvement" category of Displaying Learning Targets best fit under and why?
Send me your answer and you could win a prize! :-)