November 14, 2008

SmartBoard Training REPEAT - Since most of you have had an initial look at how to use the mobile Smart Board, please visit http://smarttech.com/trainingcenter & click on the “Notebook 10 Video” link located on the left side. This is a great way to orient yourself to using the software/board. If you would like further training, please check out the free online training and talk to Jessica or Sue about how useful the training was or can be for you. If you still need a quick lesson or want me to work with you individually, see me about time that works for you during prep or before/after school.

Senteo – I am excited to have both teams making plans to use the Senteo software and handhelds for their formative assessments and other classroom assessments! I truly believe this will cut a lot of the time spent grading, organizing and analyzing the data following an assessment. I look forward to working with the teams to get this set up and help create a smooth process! Take a two-minute tutorial online to get started!

Upcoming PLC Dates – November 19 is a building level PLC date. If either team wants to learn how to better use the Senteo assessment hardware/software to conduct your formative assessments, I’d be happy to work with you. Wednesday, November 26th is individual professional development time and I can work with you that day on any assessment, Senteo and/or Smart Board questions.

National Young Readers Day – A big thank you to Jan and Angie Spangenberg for organizing the day and recruiting our fine celebrities!! It was fun to listen and watch.

November Observations - REPEAT Scheduled your November observation yet? Time is running out.

Attendance – Our daily average attendance for students through the October was 97.2%. Our staff attendance (includes all full time WIS staff…including me) is 95.2% over the same time period.

Interesting Opportunity – Iowa has implemented an agreement with the Ministry of Education in Republic of China (Taiwan) that will offer experienced and newly licensed Iowa teachers the opportunity to teach in Taiwanese schools for one year. Any licensed Iowa teacher with a K-6 endorsement may apply to participate in this program. This includes new teachers with an initial license. Applications for the Teaching in Taiwan program must be postmarked by April 24, 2009. For more information & the FAQ list, visit: http://www.iowa.gov/educate/content/view/689/665

Coming up…
November
17 Mon Assembly; Team PLC time; School Board Mtg, 6:00 P.M.
18 Teacher Quality Committee Mtg, 4:00 P.M.
19 Two-Hour Early Dismissal/Building PLC Teams
20 SAT Mtg, 3:15 P.M.
26 Two-Hour Early Dismissal/Individual PD
27-28 Thanksgiving Break – ENJOY!!


Website of the Week
Arranged by grade level, videos, subject areas and Smart Board links, for the
busy educator (that is you!), this site has it all.
http://faculty.usiouxfalls.edu/arpeterson/smartboard.htm
I think the next best thing to solving a problem is finding some humor in it.
~Frank A. Clark
He who laughs, lasts - DB