ENews 12.15.2014

Posted by Anonymous on

Tuesday - Surprise Treat
  • 9:30am-12:30pm - Jacobs to Principal Meeting
  • 3:15pm - Dietz to BAU Meeting
  • 7:00pm - 4th Grade Music Program
Wednesday - Kristen Weichel/Judy Caskey on Campus & 1st Grade Polar Express
  • All Day - PLCs (Planning for January)
  • 8:30am-10:30am - Guided Reading Library Opening
  • 8:30am - 4th Grade Music Program
  • 10:30am-12:30pm - Christmas Pot Luck
  • 3:30pm - STAT Meeting
Thursday - 3rd Grade Field Trip & Kinder Polar Express
  • 7:15am - All Pro Dads
  • 7:50am - ARD (Bright, Dietz, 4th Grade Teacher)
  • 3:15pm - Ornament Exchange
Friday - Christmas Parties 
  • 9:00am - Head Start, PreK, Kindergarten & 1st Grade
  • 10:00am - 2nd, 3rd & 4th Grade 
  • 12:30pm - Early Release (Teachers can leave when kids are picked up!!)
  • See you guys back Monday, January 5th... Enjoy your Christmas Break!!
Reading Instruction
Guided Reading books have been organized in the 4th Grade pod by reading level. Teachers will develop groups based on student's instructional reading level. Reading groups will meet daily. Lower level readers will meet every day while higher level readers will meet at least 2x per week.

Accelerated Reader (AR) Update - Students should be at 66% of their goal by this Friday. If you notice someone who really needs help, please let me know. We will continue to monitor and encourage students to make weekly targets and a comprehension score of at least 80%. Nita Green is meeting with our targeted 3rd and 4th grade student to ensure they have a book on their reading level each day.

Students should be asked to take home a book every night and read for 20 minutes. Be sure to communicate with parents about their child's AR point goal and their progress toward reaching that goal.

 Mathematics
1st & 2nd Grade - Lone Star Daily Rigor is being used with students each week.
3rd & 4th Grade - Math GPS is being used to help students weekly. Teachers should be on week 25-30 this week. We must maintain this pace in order to finished by testing time.

Think Through Math (TTM) for Grade 3-4 - Teachers please ensure that all students have been assessed for TTM. Letters have been sent home during the first report card to parents. Remember that there's an app for TTM and it can be used on the iPad.

Professional Development
Remember Valerie James is available for demonstration lessons so be sure to ask her to visit your classroom for additional support as needed. Each week, you're working with Valerie to determine words students must know to be successful. These words are colored by strand and should be posted on the word wall. Be sure to review them frequently with your students. Dr. Bright and I will be looking for these during our classroom observations and walkthroughs.

Kristen Weichel is working with ELAR teachers in 3rd & 4th Grades. She studies the unit IFDs and Assessments to bring materials and ideas for teachers to use during ELAR instructional time. She will also provide support for Guided Reading and is available to conduct demonstration lessons.

Gradebook Reminders
  • Record Grades Weekly - Grade should be recorded weekly in the grade to afford parents & students the opportunity to view through parent portal. 
  • Late Work – this is accepted within five (5) days of the original due date. Be sure to record grades in a timely manner to allow parents to become aware of missing grades during the five (5) day period. Late work penalties do not apply to make up word from absences. 
  • Minimum number of grades – the district required a minimum of nine (9) grades throughout the six weeks. This includes grades for Science & Studies. You have the option to count assignments twice in the grade book. The same assignment that can be counts for Reading can count in Social Studies too. 
  • Unit Assessments – these will be counted in the grade book. Remember to provide intervention or tutoring before administrating a retest for unit assessments. 
  • Zeros – students have five (5) days to complete an assignment before it becomes a permanent zero in the grade book. We want to support you in motivating students in getting their work turned in on time. We’re working on a Google Doc for you to report students to campus administration with two (2) OR more permanent zeroes in the grade book. Teachers are expected to communicate with parents about the progress of their child and give suggestions to improve their performance BEFORE permanent zeroes are given to students. 
  • Parent Communication – please enter your parent communication into Aware under the Journal tab. This will help us keep track of our efforts with parents. Let us know if you need help with this. 




#EdcampAwesome - February 21st
Edcampawesome is back so save the date for February 21 & go register NOW for the BEST professional development experience: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/edcampawesome-tickets-14691690241

I'm looking to give out jean passes to any teacher who registers & attends EdcampAwesome. You have the opportunity to get 5 days of jeans passes... One pass will be given for simply registering and additional Four more passes will be given to individual who actually attend the unconference (stop by the office - show your online registration to get your first jeans pass).

This professional development opportunity is one you don't want to miss! So seriously, go register!!

#SummerLS
Recently my friend Todd Nesloney shared a post to his website about the Summer Learning Series (#SummerLS). Many of you participated in this online professional development with a focus on technology. The #SummerLS is being considered as the Best Open PD/Web Conference/Webinar Series by The Edublog Awards. You can read more about this from Todd's website.

Student Voice (#StuVoice) 
How are you incorporating student voice in classroom instruction? Perhaps consider using KidBlog!



*** Special Announcement ***
Save the date for August 5-6! Revolutionizing Learning will once again be hosted at Royse City High School. We'll have a special guest speaker coming this year... perhaps you've hear me talk about this guy... Teach Like a Pirate's Dave Burgess!

I'm so very excited about this news and can't wait to hear Dave speak again. You don't want to miss out on this!!

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