Week 15 (Instructional Week 14)

 

Dear Team...I hope you all have a good weekend.  You definitely deserve it after the hustle of this past week.  

We are in to the "count down" days these two weeks.  I know that you are tired and ready for your well deserved break; however, I'm asking that you stay vigilant with behaviors and structured with instruction (scope/sequence and pacing) as the kids tend to make poor choices if you don't.  Just a reminder, for some students the upcoming break brings stress, uncertainty and disappointment.  Let's try to be cognizant of that.

C&I Math Visit Week

Farina will be here next week, 12/12 & 12/13, for her monthly visit.  Please see the agenda for her scheduled meeting times:

Tuesday

Time	Purpose	Attendees	Location
8:00-8:10	Meet for the day and discuss the purpose of the visit	Principal Bullard and Farina	TBD
8:10 - 8:40	Lesson Planning	7th Grade - Moneja Golden, Dean Rogers and Farina
8:45 - 9:10	Lesson Planning	4th Grade - Lavena Knott, Dean Rowden and Farina	Unit 3 M2 S2
9:10 - 9:50	Process 7th grade planning	Dean Rogers and Farina	TBD
10:30 - 11:00	Lesson Planning	3rd Grade Nia Hall and Farina
10:55 - 11:45	Lesson Planning	4th - Ms. Avant (during tech time)
11:45 - 12:15	Process Visit	Principal Bullard and Farina	TBD

Wednesday

Time	Purpose	Lesson to be Observed	Attendees	Location
8:35 - 8:45	Meet for the day and discuss the purpose of the visit.		Principal Bullard and Farina	TBD
9:00 - 9:20	Lesson Observation		7th Grade - Moneja Golden, Dean Rogers and Farina
9:20 - 9:25	Process 7th-grade Observation		Dean Rogers and Farina	TBD
9:30 - 11:00	Intervention	Focus: Lesson Prep	Dean Schofield
11:05 - 11:35		Process Visit	Principal Bullard and Farina	TBD
12:20-12:40	Lesson Observation	Math Story	4th Grade - Lavena Knott, Dean Rowden and Farina

CIRCULATE

As you know, or should know, the instructional strategy of Circulate is one of the most important strategies that a teacher can utilize...and it is one of the easiest to implement.  When you circulate throughout the classroom during your instruction, you can 1. quickly assess and monitor student engagement, 2. do quick formative assessments to check for student understanding, and 3. minimize and/or stop student misbehaviors simply by standing next to students.

I did a quick survey Friday morning, during my walk arounds, and want to "shout out" the following teachers who were up at the board instructing, or who were walking around and instructing:

• Ms. Ragin
• Ms. Avant
• Mr. Wright

GREAT IDEA

During a recent 03 with one of my teachers, she shared a great idea that I would like to pass along to you.  She prints all of her assessments/quizzes out on light yellow paper.  She told me that this is a visual representation to her students that they are taking a test.  Great idea...Ms. Coleman!

CHRISTMAS DOOR DECORATING CONTEST

Our annual Christmas Door Decorating contest is up and running.  If participating, doors must be completed by December 11th.  Judging will take place during the week of December 18th.

FULL LESSON OBSERVATION - ANNOUNCED

Next week I will be conducting our Full Lesson Observations.  Please complete the Pre-Observation form, which I provided to you, and return it to me one day prior to your observation.  Also, make sure you provide a detailed lesson plan for the lesson to are teaching during the observation.

HALLWAY DECOR

If you have fall and/or Thanksgiving decor posted on your hallway bulletin board, doors, etc., please take them down and replace them with more appropriate seasonal decor.

GLTs/03's

GLTs will take place as scheduled.  03's might be impacted by Observations, so if you need me please reach out.

HOLIDAY SPIRIT WEEK

This event takes place the week of December 18.  Students can participate by paying to dress down in the appropriate Holiday Spirit wear. The cost is $5.00 for the entire week or $2.00 per day if only participating on certain days.  The categories are as follows:

• Monday - Red or Green Day
• Tuesday - Grade Level Pick (Pick the Holiday Theme for the Day)
• Wednesday - Ugly Sweater Day
• Thursday - Pajama Day (Must be appropriate to wear in school)
• Friday - Free Dress

INTERIM #2 PREPARATION

Interim 2 is quickly approaching.  Interim 2 testing begins Monday, January 22nd.  That means we have instructional 4 weeks until the test occurs.  As such, we need to be working diligently to prepare our students with the necessary contect (see Interim 2 Blueprints) and test taking strategies so that our Proficient students remain proficient and our 2.5 and 2.0 students attain proficiency.

COMMON ASSESSMENTS

Wednesday Grade Level Jean Winners (based on below data pulled Monday Morning):

*Remember, the staff of the grade levels that are in blue with their ELA and Math Weekly Common Assessments, when the data is pulled on Monday mornings, will be able to wear jeans on Wednesday,

Language Arts

Math

IAT (CHILD STUDY) 

If you are planning to send a student through the process due to academic or behavior concerns, please contact Ms. Schofield and complete the appropriate paperwork.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Monday, December 4 - Moral Focus Assembly 8:15; Staff Meeting 3:35

Friday, December 8 - NJHS/BR Applications Due; Door Decorating Ends; Progress Report Day

Monday, December 11 - Committee Meeting 3:35;  

Tuesday & Wednesday, December 12 - 13 - C&I Math Visit

Wednesday, December 13 - Tornado/Shelter In Place Drill; Math Night 4:30-5:30

Friday, December 15 - Staff Party; Progress Report Day;  IAT Child Study Day

Monday, December 18- Thursday, December 21 - Holiday Spirit Week $ 5.00 or $ 2.00 per day (See December Calendar for Specific Spirit Days)

Monday, December 18 - Wing Meeting 3:35

Tuesday, December 19 - Principal Coffee 9-9:30

Friday, December 22 - Half Day-Dismissal at 11:00; Holiday Parties 10:00-10:45; FREE DRESS DAY; BR/NJHS Invitiation Day

Saturday, December 23-Sunday, January 7 - Christmas Break

Monday, January 8 - School Resumes; AIMSWeb MOY Benchmarking Begins