The Yuletide Villager
Week of April 23, 2018
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The vision of GCS is to inspire success and a lifetime of learning.
Shout Out to our DTRT Winner
Eva Hatley
PDP - End Of Year Reviews
We have reached the EOY and need to see you close to, far from or how much beyond your goals you have reached this year. Please review and add details so that we can meet for a two - ten-minute block and sign off on this plan. I'll gladly schedule longer blocks of time after school hours if needed.
I'm excited to read of your accomplishments and discoveries. See you soon!
Media Make-Over
URGENT
Staff We Need Your Assistance
Please help get numbers for your libraries...
Classroom Libraries
ONLY IF>>>Your books have not been counted.
- Sort your books from the school books.
- We only need your classroom libraries for inventory
- Please move any books that are not in circulation in your classroom for students to check out daily ( We do not need your mentor text, unit text, or seasonal books if they are not left out all/most of the year.)
- Sort Fiction from Non-Fiction
- If your books are already in leveled bins please leave them there and just separate with a cardboard or post-it or some device to make sure that it is easier to inventory.
Enter Your Numbers in the spreadsheet ASAP
Thanks for pitching in and giving your numbers.
Mark Your Calendars & Sign Up
Get Ready Summer is Coming....
August 13th - 16th ELA
NY Teachers College HomeGrown Institute
- ELA Focus Schools - ALL TEACHERS
August 21st ELA and Math
Mini Conference
- (All 30 Schools)
6 RELIABLY EASY WAYS TO DIFFERENTIATE ANY ASSIGNMENT
Differentiation Strategies
Differentiate is likely a word you have heard about a million and one times if you are a teacher. We hear we need to differentiate assignments for our students, but no one really takes the time to explain what that looks like in the classroom.
Ideally, student learning is unique to each student, but when you have a room with 25 plus kids in it, that’s a lot of differentiation. Even differentiating an assignment for just a few students can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be!
Differentiate by Using Cooperative Learning
I am a huge proponent of cooperative learning in every aspect, but it is a miracle worker when it comes to differentiation. It is a powerful tool for all learners, but it is especially great for our English Language Learners.
My favorite cooperative learning structure for completing a worksheet is Sage-N-Scribe because it allows students to help each other all while voicing exactly what they are doing.
To complete Sage-N-Scribe
1. Partner A has the pencil
2. Partner B thinks out loud while Partner A scribes for them giving them praise or corrections
3. Partner A and Partner B switch roles and repeat
This strategy is amazing for all students because voicing their thinking really makes them work on their metacognition and work on academic vocabulary. It also allows me, as the teacher, to hear how my students are doing.
Differentiate by Providing Challenge Questions
It is easy to forget when we talk about differentiation that it doesn’t go in just one direction. By providing students with challenge questions we are able to up the ante for our high achievers and quick finishers.
A challenge question can be as easy as asking a student to write their own question about a topic or be more in-depth to include research or possibly a STEM challenge.
Challenge questions can also be given to every level of learner in your class because each student will meet the challenge where they are.
Alternatively, you can have students create their own challenge questions.
Differentiate with a Highlighter
A highlighter is a magical little tool. It is super easy to stick one in your pocket or clip it to your lanyard so that you have it at a moment’s notice to whip out and be ready to differentiate like a boss. I use a highlighter to select items for a student to complete. I use this tool when there are specific items that I need to see student’s progress on. When using a highlighter it usually means I am the one selecting which items need to be completed, and it is usually more than half of the items.
Sometimes I will ask the student which item they are struggling with and work with them on that item, and then highlight items that will compliment their learning based on that item. A fringe benefit of using the highlighter is that students love the color that is added to their paper. My favorite highlighters are the Frixion erasable highlighters because a teacher reserves the right to change her mind.
Differentiate with Sticky Notes
Sticky notes as a differentiation tool are amazing for students that need a little bit of control because it offers choice. In this case, I generally have a highlighter and meet with a student. I tell them what the different sections are. Then I use my highlighter to split up the items based on the standard. Then I write in highlighter how many of each item I expect them to complete. Finally, I leave the student with sticky notes to choose which problems they will complete and which items they will cover with sticky notes to omit. It becomes their responsibility to choose items for each standard to complete.
By using sticky notes to cover the problems they will no longer be completing it also gives the student a little piece of mind, simply because there isn’t as much on the page to look at. A fringe benefit is it allows them more room to work as well.
Differentiate by Changing the Medium
Pencil and paper just don’t work for some students. I get it. Personally, I HATE writing in pencil. Like, with a passion. When I do have to use a pencil it automatically puts me in a bad mood. I prefer pen, or marker, or just about anything else.
Instead of fighting a student on their writing utensil, let them work in another medium. Is it an assignment which can be completed on the computer? Can they use a whiteboard instead?
These easy for you things can make all the difference!
Differentiate with Student Created Assignments
Giving students the option to create their own assignments opens up a whole new branch of critical thinking.
Giving a student a standard and having them write their own question, do research, or create a project shows a much deeper level of understanding than simply answering a multiple choice question. It is an undeniable use of higher order thinking skills.
This differentiation strategy works to scaffold learning down to our lowest level learners as well as build up more challenge for students ready for it.
Wrapping Up
Differentiation isn’t just a buzzword. It is, what is best for our students. This doesn’t mean it is easy, but when we step back to the basics we can make it happen.
Volunteer Needed
Is there anyone willing to take over watering the flowers in the containers that were placed out by the Women's club this weekend. If you didn't know, the Woman's club planted new flowers in the containers and underneath the sign at the school this week as well as cleaning up and putting down new pine needles.
It looks beautiful all around the school and I'd like to have a small group volunteer for the upkeep of the plants. In other words, every two or three days when it's not raining out if an adult would take a kid or two or three out with water containers and water their assigned plants it would be fantastic.
Do we have any volunteers? Please email me back
Thanks to everyone for keeping us on top academically and looking fab!
Rice
PBIS
Bus and Schoolwide PBIS coming soon...
EL Promotion/Retention Guidelines
Pierce Group Benefits
The annual enrollment period for our Flexible Benefits Plan will be April 2, 2018
through June 12, 2018. Our school date will be announced as soon as we are contacted.
Benefits
Good Morning,
The Open Enrollment period for our Optional Benefits is quickly approaching. Please take a few moments and review the attached document. The enrollment period runs from April 2, 2018 - June 12, 2018. Benefit Counselors from Pierce Group will be providing individual enrollment sessions at each location and employees will have the option to enroll or make changes to their current plan.
Employees 50% employed or more are eligible to participate in Colonial, FSA, Dental, Vision, Voluntary Group Term Life and Basic Term Life.
Please note: The Basic and Group Term Life Insurance will need to be re-enrolled during this year's open enrollment period. If you do not take action, your current contribution will stop effective September 30, 2018.
Please note: In order to participate in Medical or Dependent care FSA both new and existing participants must enroll. If you do not take action, your current contribution will stop effective September 30, 2018.
Joey Clinton
The Pierce Group Meeting for ALL STAFF 5-21-18 @ 3PM
DUTY WEEK B
School Events Agenda
- Observations for the final round are underway! Please make sure you available to follow up within two days of your visit.
- Monday-
- Specials teachers here today
- ------
- Tuesday - Picture Day
- Specials teachers here today - Morning PE in classes until after pictures are done
- PLCs today
- Talent Show Practice after school for staff
- -----
- Wednesday - Inview Testing
- -----
- Thursday - Wildcat of the Month
- SIT Meeting after school.
- -----
- Friday - Have a great weekend!
Looking Ahead:
- EVAAS roster verification Details in Next weeks PLCs
- Digital Content Instruction Teacher Meeting 5/2 - Date Change
- National Teacher Appreciation Week - May 7-11, 2018
- National Teacher Day - May 8, 2018
If you haven't heard... there is a new local podcast
ARE YOU RENEWING THIS YEAR 2018?
See me if you have questions...
PLEASE, by all means, do not let your teaching license expire!
CHROMEBOOK UPDATES
- Each user should shut down Chromebook after each use.
- click on the tray on right.
- click shut down button.
- Closing the lid does not shut down Chromebook.
- Teachers, please open any and all Chromebooks to update weekly.
- Chromebooks need to be shut down daily. This will ensure at least one restart a day to install updates.
- Chromebooks can be used after re-start as needed.
New SCOOP from DPI
Make Referrals Here:
MES Social Worker - Whitney Hill
Please use this referral form for student Social Work Request.
MES School Counselor - Eric Otis
Please use this referral form for student School Counselor Request