JCISD LEARNING SERVICES UPDATE
Volume 2, Issue 4
BRIGHT SPOT: Change Through PBIS at East Jackson Elementary
Systems change, as in Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) can be very challenging. The best way to change the system is to use data to drive your teams' decisions. Data is a wonderful tool that can be used to help your team make decisions about where you need to improve but it is also important to celebrate that data. The ultimate goal with behavior systems is to get in front of the problem before it spirals into a larger problem and East Jackson Elementary is doing just that!
East Jackson began the behavior system change work this school year and has started using data to help their team drive the system. In just a short amount of time, they have already had some amazing celebrations. They have made a dramatic drop in their Tier 2 behaviors as compared to this point last school year. They are also looking at specific Tier 2 behaviors and are developing a system to teach proactive strategies around those common problems. EJ is also using their data to make sure they have great intervention plans in place for the students that need intensive Tier 3 support.
Keep up the great work East Jackson Elementary!
DATA THAT DRIVES
Select link below to register.
MiSchool Data
We wanted to share with you these talking points from MiSchoolData regional advisory in case you were interested. This is a new format of monthly communication with our education community that they have just started to develop. They are continually releasing new reports for early childhood and postsecondary. They also have some for workforce development that you might be interested in. Contact Jennifer Fox at jennifer.fox@jcisd.org if you have any questions.
Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy: Prekindergarten
Through a grant from the Michigan Department of Education, the Early Literacy Task Force, and its partners, as a response to improve children’s literacy, have developed documents that identify a small set of research-based literacy instructional practices. These include Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy K-3, Essential Instructional Practices in Literacy 4-5, School-Wide and Center-Level Essentials, and Essential Coaching Practices for Early Literacy. The use of these practices in every classroom, every day, can have a positive impact on literacy development. The Essential Instructional Practices can serve as Michigan’s minimum “standard of care” for literacy instruction in schools.
The Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy have been expanded to include prekindergarten classroom practices, which will help to build a solid foundation in literacy before children enter elementary school. All ten of the Pre-K Essentials are carefully aligned with developmentally appropriate practices, as defined by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The Essential Practices are meant to occur throughout the day and can be used with any literacy program or model of instruction.
Recently, Kelly Sheppard (Great Start, Early Child Consultant) and Melissa Bulgrien (Early Literacy Coach) from Jackson County ISD attended the Training of Trainers Institute in the Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy: Prekindergarten. These research-supported literacy instructional practices will be a focus of professional development throughout the state as a means to improve teachers’ literacy practices. Trainings will be brought to Jackson county educators in 2019. Additional information will be available once training dates, times, and locations are determined. If buildings are interested in holding a training onsite please contact either Kelly Sheppard (kelly.sheppard@jcisd.org) or Melissa Bulgrien (melissa.bulgrien@jcisd.org).
Included is a link to the Essential Instructional Practices in Early Literacy: Prekindergarten. Here you will find the document along with access to modules and sample videos. SCECS are available if you complete the module courses, however, the Michigan Department of Education is recommending that educators complete the onsite training along with the modules. Please note that the Pre-K Essentials are to be read in concert with the Essential Practices in Early Literacy K-3 due to the overlap of principles. Some children may benefit from a few of the kindergarten through grade three practices in the pre-kindergarten years.
Parents' Read At Home Guide
ADDITIONAL PD OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE/HILLSDALE COUNTY ISD
1/14/19 Scaffolding Instruction - Questions, Prompts and Cues w/Connie Hamilton 8:30 - 3:30 pm
We have all been in the position when a student is struggling to get to an answer. In an effort to support his/her thinking, we begin to offer help. While scaffolding is often a critical part of the learning process, we should use the least amount necessary to maintain a high level of cognitive demand. This session will focus on the question-prompt-cue sequence of scaffolding to prevent spoon-feeding information to students. Participants will learn concrete ways to support students through productive struggle and avoiding frustration. We will explore types of prompts that activate prior knowledge and four kinds of cues that trigger recent learning.
SCECH'S available for $5.
1/14/19 Equity Literacy For All - Beyond Celebrating Diversity w/ Kelli Bujaski 8:30 - 3:00 PM
Equity Literacy for ALL: Beyond Celebrating Diversity - Participants will explore core equity literacy principles that create and sustain equitable social and academic success for ALL students. This interactive session includes an activity, video, and an article that supports understanding of the needs of our diverse students and allows us to become better advocates for our students.
SCECH'S available for $5.
1/21/19 Differentiating Instruction w/ Dr. Ray Villa 8:00 - 2:30 pm 5 SCECH’S
Learn approaches to differentiating the content students learn, the process through which they learn it, and how they demonstrate what they have learned. Participants also will explore the whole class, group, and individualized instructional strategies designed to meet the needs of a diverse student body.
SCECH'S available for $5.
The Learning Services Team Serve the Community
This year the Learning Services Team adopted a family for Christmas along with served at and donated to the Priceless Gift Store. Four thousand eight hundred and thirty-five kids were served this year at the Priceless gift store. Every act of service makes a difference and what we do as a team or as individuals has a huge impact!
ADDITIONAL LINKS
LEARNING SERVICES TEAM CONTACT INFORMATION
Director of Instruction and Learning Services
- Tovah Sheldon, tovah.sheldon@jcisd.org, (517) 990-3612
- Dan Luciani, dan.luciani@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5238
Data and Assessment
- Jennifer Fox, Jennifer.fox@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5212
- Deb Spencer (Support), deb.spencer@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5175
Early Childhood (Birth to Grade 3) / Great Start Collaborative / GSRP Preschool
- Jean Allison, jean.allison@jcisd.org, (517) 990-6710
- Wendy Bell, wendy.bell@jcisd.org, (517) 990-8046
- Christina Blackwell, christina.blackwell@jcisd.org, (517) 990-8015
- Catherine Brubaker, catherine.brubaker@jcisd.org
- Kelly Friedland, kelly.friedland@jcisd.org, (517) 990-3625
- Kelly Sheppard, kelly.sheppard@jcisd.org (517) 768-5281
- Deb Spencer (Support), deb.spencer@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5175
Literacy
- Melissa Bulgrien, melissa.bulgrien@jcisd.org, (517) 990-8077
- Maeghan McCormick, maeghan.mccormick@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5191
- Sandy White, sandra.white@jcisd.org, (517) 990-6718
- Tammy Minder (Support), tammy.minder@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5158
Mathematics / Science
- Heather Holshoe, heather.holshoe@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5151
- William Montgomery, william.montgomery@jcisd.org, (517) 990-6717
- Ronda VanStempvoort (Support, SCECHs), ronda.vanstempvoort@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5251
School Improvement
- Jessica Bucklin, jessica.bucklin@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5759
- Jennifer Fox, jennifer.fox@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5212
- Dan Luciani, dan.luciani@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5238
- Deb Spencer (Support), deb.spencer@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5175
Whole Child / School Health / Project AWARE / Attendance and Homeless Programs
- Janelle Buchler, janelle.buchler@jcisd.org, (517) 787-5903
- Kara Klotz, kara.klotz@jcisd.org, (517) 990-3623
- Caitlin Williams, caitlin.williams@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5264
- Tammy Minder (Support), tammy.minder@jcisd.org, (517) 768-5158