Individually OR with a team – work on the online Microsoft word course (this course and diagnostic classes that were assigned to you are expected to be done by Jan. 6th) The administrators have several courses to take also so you're not alone! I scored a 55% on the pretest and have 27 mini-lessons to complete prior to January 6th also. Please don’t let it overwhelm you – I am looking at it as an opportunity to learn something I obviously don’t know as well as I thought I did.
Once you complete the Microsoft Word 2007 Level I course, you may work on any of the added courses (see below) or your team may request a course (interactive white boards, etc.). Talk to me.
-- DB
From Bob Deter on Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The October 7 PD will take place in your own buildings.
1. Online Courses: You may work individually or with a small group on the Microsoft Office Word 2007 Level 1 Prescriptive course. All teachers are expected to complete this course and the post test by January 6, 2010.
2. If you have completed the Microsoft Office Word 2007 Level 1 course, you may choose to work on additional courses. Word Level 2, Excel Levels 1 & 2, PowerPoint Levels 1 & 2, and Working with Internet Explorer 8 have been added.
3. If you choose to complete the online course on your own time, you may:
-- Work on your website
-- Work with Read & Write Gold 9
-- Iowa AEA Online.
4. If interested, at 3:15, Michelle Linn, will host a “How-to Use DonorsChoose.org” at Washington Intermediate. She will provide assistance and time to allow teachers to set up their classroom on the DonorsChoose website. Using this site over the past year, Michelle’s classroom has brought in over $2000 worth of free instructional resources, including an interactive white board that was set up last Friday! Open to any preK-12 staff member – please email Stephanie Ehmke if you will attend so we can provide enough seats and handouts.
5. I will be available in the High School Media Center at 1:30 to assist any individuals still having problems logging or to answer any questions.
** If you are having problems accessing the online training, please contact me PRIOR to October 7.
• Access to the District Technology website and the online training has been changed to make it more convenient for you. You no longer have to go to the secure login to access the site. There is now a button on the right side of the District Technology page, “Teacher Online Professional Development” that will take you to the redoak.simple.com site.
• You can also access the Work Order Form from District Technology site, however, you will be asked to logon to the secure site using your email address and SOCS password (which, in most cases, is your first name unless you changed it)
• If you wish, you may add the http://redoak.simplek12.com site to you favorites.
Bob Deter
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
September 24, 2009
PTO Trashbags will be distributed October 9-10. This will be from 4-7 P.M. on Friday and 9-11 A.M. on Saturday at the white fair building. A sign up will be placed in the lounge next week. Please find a time. Also, encourage students to turn in any sheets to the office ASAP!
Blood borne pathogens on-line training is due to Kathy this past Monday, September 21. Please forward them to her office at IPS.
REMINDER Data Needed - Sometime next week, please provide me with a breakdown of reading achievement for your classroom or grade level (NSI, NAI, Grade Level and Above Grade Level). I will be compiling a building wide list the following week. As of today, I only have the list from 4-4.
Volunteer List is located in the lounge and has additional names added since my last post. Have you checked it out yet? If not, do it today and call one parent from the list to help you with something you with one thing you keep saying "I do not have time to do this." With all those volunteers listed, there is not an excuse. Let's invite parents into our/their school...especially those willing to do so. After you call a parent on the list, please initial behind their name so we know who has been called.
Conference - I will be at an Response to Intervention conference Wednesday late morning through Friday afternoon (Jessica Braymen & Norma Fast also attending). In my absense, Jeannie Bates is your go-to person and Barb Sims can be called if needed.
District PD – Having problems getting logged onto the online PD or have not tried it yet? Talk to me today to get you started. It is well worth the time and even if you do one 10 minute lesson a couple times a week, that is a good start! Direct link to the online technology PD is http://redoak.simplek12.com/. Also, please discuss with your team the 2nd session training and attempt to support each other with your webpage, Read/Write Gold and the AEA Online resources. A good ongoing lunch conversation!
Dates to Note....
Sept 23-25 – Braymen, Fast & Barry attending Response to Intervention Conference
Sept 25 – No School
Sept 28 – Parent Advisory Meeting (7pm - teachers welcome!)
Sept 28 – Homecoming Week Begins! See Gayle's email for dress up days.
Oct 2 – Homecoming Parade (Early out to attend parade)
Blood borne pathogens on-line training is due to Kathy this past Monday, September 21. Please forward them to her office at IPS.
REMINDER Data Needed - Sometime next week, please provide me with a breakdown of reading achievement for your classroom or grade level (NSI, NAI, Grade Level and Above Grade Level). I will be compiling a building wide list the following week. As of today, I only have the list from 4-4.
Volunteer List is located in the lounge and has additional names added since my last post. Have you checked it out yet? If not, do it today and call one parent from the list to help you with something you with one thing you keep saying "I do not have time to do this." With all those volunteers listed, there is not an excuse. Let's invite parents into our/their school...especially those willing to do so. After you call a parent on the list, please initial behind their name so we know who has been called.
Conference - I will be at an Response to Intervention conference Wednesday late morning through Friday afternoon (Jessica Braymen & Norma Fast also attending). In my absense, Jeannie Bates is your go-to person and Barb Sims can be called if needed.
District PD – Having problems getting logged onto the online PD or have not tried it yet? Talk to me today to get you started. It is well worth the time and even if you do one 10 minute lesson a couple times a week, that is a good start! Direct link to the online technology PD is http://redoak.simplek12.com/. Also, please discuss with your team the 2nd session training and attempt to support each other with your webpage, Read/Write Gold and the AEA Online resources. A good ongoing lunch conversation!
Dates to Note....
Sept 23-25 – Braymen, Fast & Barry attending Response to Intervention Conference
Sept 25 – No School
Sept 28 – Parent Advisory Meeting (7pm - teachers welcome!)
Sept 28 – Homecoming Week Begins! See Gayle's email for dress up days.
Oct 2 – Homecoming Parade (Early out to attend parade)
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
September 18, 2009
Online PD! – I am attempting to apply some of my learning from Wednesday's technology PD training by doing my FWR via Microsoft 2007's "Blog Post." Using Microsoft Word and linking it to my online blog was pretty easy. <--- IDEA TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO PUBLISH THEIR WORK!! I CAN HELP YOU SET IT UP!!! ---> This would actually be a great way to have students post their writing online without having them even log onto a website!! If this lesson didn't pop up in your learning yet, see me and I can set up your classroom computer to make it work.
(2 minutes later) …okay, I didn't think it would work, so I just checked it out and WOW…it is there (here). This was SOOO easy. Grab me today so I can show you how to do it.
Parent Teacher Conferences – are next week and information was sent out on Wednesday. See below. If you have not read the information, please do so now! One item missing from below is that grades will be printed Friday afternoon so you should be able to pick them up after school on Friday.
District PD – Thank you to all who participated in our district wide PD this past week. The direct link to the online technology PD is http://redoak.simplek12.com/. Also, please discuss with your team the 2nd session training and attempt to support each other with your webpage, Read/Write Gold and the AEA Online resources. A good ongoing lunch conversation!
Data needed - Sometime next week, please provide me with a breakdown of reading achievement for your classroom or grade level (NSI, NAI, Grade Level and Above Grade Level). I will be compiling a building wide list the following week.
Dates to Note:
Sept 21 & 24 – Parent/Student-Teacher Conferences
Sept 23-25 – Braymen, Fast & Barry attending Response to Intervention Conference
Sept 25 – No School
Sept 28 – Parent Advisory Meeting (7pm - teachers welcome!)
Sept 28 – Homecoming Week Begins! More information to come...
Oct 2 – Homecoming Parade (Early out to attend parade)
(2 minutes later) …okay, I didn't think it would work, so I just checked it out and WOW…it is there (here). This was SOOO easy. Grab me today so I can show you how to do it.
Parent Teacher Conferences – are next week and information was sent out on Wednesday. See below. If you have not read the information, please do so now! One item missing from below is that grades will be printed Friday afternoon so you should be able to pick them up after school on Friday.
District PD – Thank you to all who participated in our district wide PD this past week. The direct link to the online technology PD is http://redoak.simplek12.com/. Also, please discuss with your team the 2nd session training and attempt to support each other with your webpage, Read/Write Gold and the AEA Online resources. A good ongoing lunch conversation!
Data needed - Sometime next week, please provide me with a breakdown of reading achievement for your classroom or grade level (NSI, NAI, Grade Level and Above Grade Level). I will be compiling a building wide list the following week.
Dates to Note:
Sept 21 & 24 – Parent/Student-Teacher Conferences
Sept 23-25 – Braymen, Fast & Barry attending Response to Intervention Conference
Sept 25 – No School
Sept 28 – Parent Advisory Meeting (7pm - teachers welcome!)
Sept 28 – Homecoming Week Begins! More information to come...
Oct 2 – Homecoming Parade (Early out to attend parade)
Weblink of the Week
I think this is the coolest school science curriculum link I've found. The links are by grade level and concept, plus they include links to supporting resources and videos. The videos open right up for those of you using your projectors!
Champaign Schools Elementary Science Curriculum
September 16, 2009 (Conferences!)
I wanted to get this information to you prior to Friday's Weather Report as it deals with the annual questions about conferences and a few scheduling changes/items to note. I truly believe Parent/Student/Teacher conferences, when conducted correctly, can play an extremely important role in a student's progress and achievment. Please take the time to review this information carefully!
1. PE Schedule Changes - We had to swap Monday's scheduled PE classes with the early out date for October 2nd to ensure every classroom gets PE at least one time next week. Please note the changes. Click on the image below to enlarge.
2. Specials - As mentioned in a prior FWR, classroom teachers need to work with the special teachers if you are attempting to schedule or make-up a class next week. Monday and Thursday's only scheduled special is PE.
3. Time - I want to make sure we are all on the same page about times that week. Many of you set up conferences outside the times on the calendar to meet the needs of parents. I appreciate this and I'm sure the parents do too. Know that Friday is an 8-hour comp-day so you must be in conferences or be working within the building that week for 8 hours outside the 8am-4pm work day. Contacting Mr. Deter in advance to see if he's available to work with you on the webpage or beginning to use the online technology PD is a great use of time.
4. Schedules - I do need your conference schedule and "office hours" (see #3) before you leave this Friday. Emailing them to Stephanie and I would be fine. I have my own children's conferences from 3:00 pm - 4:45 pm on Monday (Sept 21). Also, as mentioned, I will not be in the building on Wednesday afternoon (Sept 23) and Thursday (Sept 24). Please let me know if you need me at a specific conference - otherwise, I will drop in at random.
5. Students' Involvement - You should begin to explain to students the importance of each child being present at conferences with their parents. The conversation is so much more meaningful when the child is explaining their own progress, triumphs and struggles. There are some AWESOME rubrics and forms located on the Huron Valley website (starting on page 13) to have your students fill out prior to conferences if you want to do student-led conferences. If you want assistance, please see me soon! I'd love to help you set it up for your conferences! It would be valuable classroom time spent prior to conference week as the goals of student-led conferences are:
♦ To encourage students to accept responsibility for their learning
♦ To teach students to evaluate their academic performance
♦ To engage the parent, the student, and the teacher in honest dialogue
♦ To increase parent participation at conference time
6. What data does the office need?? Information the office needs from teachers following conferences are:
__________ Number of students in your classroom
__________ Number of conferences held
__________ Number of students who attended conferences
__________ Number of conferences with both parents attending
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
September 11, 2009
Observations - Teachers on the evaluation cycle schedule your first formal classroom observations this month. I would like for you to have all four scheduled and completed by December. Please think about times now and communicate with me regarding dates and times. Thanks.
Skills Iowa/Assessment Center - I would be happy to help any teacher use the two resources Jim presented to us last week. We all know the sooner we use new knowledge, the better it sticks. :) Let me know how I can help.
Fall Data - Your team should be in the process of reviewing and analyzing beginning of the year assessment data. Each team should turn in a list of students who fall into the "needing additional" and "needing substantial" interventions for reading. Our fluency list is already posted on our lounge board. This data should be shared with parents during Parent-Teacher conference week.
Saxon Math - I appreciate both teams reporting to me as to how they are grading math this year. There is a difference between grading practices and I feel it is important we are closer on how grading is done. A student example may help show the difference (as I understand your grading):
Student scores: Daily work scores: 50%, 60% 80%, 80%; Power-Up Test 100%; Cum Test 90%
4th grade = 81.3% B-
5th grade = 90.0% A-
This example illustrates the difference between grading systems. Which one is the "right grade" is not the question...more the difference within two grade levels is my concern. I believe this is something we need to fine tune and that we need to settle upon a common (or more similar) grading system now instead of waiting until the end of the first quarter, semester or year. I would like to meet with at least one teacher from each grade level after school on Tuesday, September 15th from 3:30-4:00 pm. Please discuss with your team and let me know who can meet.
Next PLC - is on Wednesday, September 16. We will be meeting at ROHS for a technology focus beginning at 1:45 P.M.in the HS auditorium. A schedule from Bob Deter will be forwarded to you sometime before next Wednesday. The breakout sessions will involve the following staff members (if your name is not included, let me know or check with your supervising principal)
Webpage – Mark Haufle, Angie Montgomery, Susan Noonan, Karen Subbert, Sonia Kunze & Jeannie Bates
Read Write Gold – Sandra Guinn, Sue Chelsvig, Sue Timmerman, Jessica Braymen, Melissa Schafer, Rhoda Sorensen & Connie Sampers
AEA Online Resources – Sandra Guinn, Michelle Linn
Schedule Tip of the Week - I know you love my schedules....so here's your tip of the week: When we run a "Monday Schedule" on a full day Wednesday, the Monday lunch schedule and times should be followed too (i.e. order and time!).
Elementary Book Fair - is the week of September 21 during parent-teacher conferences. An early "thank you" to Jan, Dee and Jane for organizing the book fair.
PTO Meeting - Thank you to Sandra, Mark and Sue for attending this past week's PTO meeting. Once again, the PTO will be providing dinner for our staff during the Monday or PT conferences! There was also discussion about other possible fundraisers, but the focus will still be on the fall trashbags and Spring Carnival.
DonorsChoose.Org - Two items of good news came within the last week: Michelle's interactive board arrived on Friday and Jessica's students will be receiving a free year's subscription to TIME for Kids from DonorsChoose.org! Since Michelle started submitting proposals last year, we have received nearly $2500 in classroom resources. WOW!! I did mention this site and GoodSearch.com to the PTO on Tuesday.
Stellar Coaching Debut! Congrats to Angie, her coaching staff and team for a nice opening week of volleyball. Your hard work this past spring and summer are paying off and we all wish you continued success as the season progresses.
Upcoming PLC Dates to Note...
Sept 16th – Technology
Oct 7th – Building
Oct 14th – Building
Oct 21st – Curriculum/Departmental Meetings
Upcoming Dates to Note....
Monday, Sept 14
- Teacher planning meeting at IPS MC at 3:40 PM
- Board Meeting (6 pm)
Tuesday, Sept 15
- Saxon Grading discussion (3:30-4:00 pm)
Wednesday, Sept 16
- District Technology PD (2-4 pm @ HS Aud)
- Midterm grades due by 4pm
Sept 21 & 24 – Parent/Student-Teacher Conferences
Sept 23-25 – Braymen, Fast & Barry attending Response to Intervention Conference
Sept 25 – No School
I see each of you working harder and smarter each year, month, week and day. You made the choice to dedicate your lives to our district, our building, each other, our student body, and that first child who walks into your room (or our building) this morning and the last child who leaves your room (or the building) after school today. Never underestimate the power of dedication, high expectations and team work...I see us becoming more successful with those things each and every day. Thanks for all you do to make WIS and ROCSD the place to learn, work and laugh.
He who laughs, lasts. DB
People begin to become successful the minute they decide to be.
-Harvey Mackay
-Harvey Mackay
I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday.
-Unknown Author
-Unknown Author
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
September 4, 2009
Saxon - An ongoing conversation about using Saxon (questions, concerns, ideas) is located on an Etherpad. I am working with David on a return date. Also, I think there needs to be conversation between teams about grading...Saxon is not setup to use daily work as a large portion of a student's grade. Think about this: is the child's math grade a "math" grade or a "responsibility" grade? Please let me know what your team has decided about this before midterms!
Skills Iowa - Thank you for your attendance and work with Jim during Wednesday's training. Jim has a short survey (last link on list) he would like you to take - it took me 3 minutes! Time is a key factor in you using this or not using this resource. Let me know how I can help you take advantage of this resource - I'll help you anyway I can (i.e. assisting in setting up a 'lab' rotation in your literacy block, etc.). Skills Tutor has the resources to help individual teachers and teams answer three of our four critical questions:
2. How will we know if each student has learned it? (Skills Tutor pretest & Assessment center formative assessments)
3. How will we respond when some students do not learn it? (Specific Skills Tutor assignments such as the reading example Jim gave us of LL, A, B)
4. How can we extend and enrich the learning for students who have demonstrated proficiency? (Ability to assign middle and high school level assessments & assignments)
PTO Meeting - the first Parent-Teacher Organization meeting will take place at IPS on Tuesday, Sept 8, 5:30 pm. Show your support and appreciation for our PTO by being present Tuesday if you can.
YES Mentoring Tailgate Dinner - Please join Brenda, myself and our Youth Experiencing Success Mentoring Program Advisory Board at our tailgate fundraiser on Friday, September 11th (5:30-7:00 pm).
(Sent Tuesday, Sept 1)
New Faces
Sara White will begin tomorrow in Amy Mathisen’s preschool room as a 1-on-1 para for a child in the morning. Please welcome her to Washington. Fran Pleak will be subbing in Title I through Friday.
Safety Patrol
Notes will be out this week for 5th graders to take home. Brenda and Stephanie will be teaming this duty this year and will let you know what their plan is as soon as Stephanie is back.
Specials Update for September
I will try to update you each month as to the upcoming schedule for specials. When there is a week with a full day Wednesay, we will run the schedule of the day during the week that was affected. It will make more sense as we do it. “Extra” PE on early-out days for the month of September are as follows. Please drop off and pick up your class as scheduled:
4th Grade is 8:30 to 9:08
5th Grade is 9:12 to 9:50
- Sept 2nd: 4-2 & 5-2
- Sept 16th: 4-3 & 5-4
- Sept 21st: 4-4 & 5-
- Sept 24th: 4-5 & 5-1
- Oct 2nd: 4-2 & 5-2 (repeat cycle)
Full day Wednesdays:
- Sept 9th (Monday schedule)
- Sept 23rd (Friday schedule)
- Sept 30th (Friday schedule)
During any early out, PE is the only scheduled special UNLESS arranged by the specials-teacher (make up, extra practice before program) and mutually agreed upon by the classroom teacher. Communication would be key.
Skills Iowa - Thank you for your attendance and work with Jim during Wednesday's training. Jim has a short survey (last link on list) he would like you to take - it took me 3 minutes! Time is a key factor in you using this or not using this resource. Let me know how I can help you take advantage of this resource - I'll help you anyway I can (i.e. assisting in setting up a 'lab' rotation in your literacy block, etc.). Skills Tutor has the resources to help individual teachers and teams answer three of our four critical questions:
2. How will we know if each student has learned it? (Skills Tutor pretest & Assessment center formative assessments)
3. How will we respond when some students do not learn it? (Specific Skills Tutor assignments such as the reading example Jim gave us of LL, A, B)
4. How can we extend and enrich the learning for students who have demonstrated proficiency? (Ability to assign middle and high school level assessments & assignments)
PTO Meeting - the first Parent-Teacher Organization meeting will take place at IPS on Tuesday, Sept 8, 5:30 pm. Show your support and appreciation for our PTO by being present Tuesday if you can.
YES Mentoring Tailgate Dinner - Please join Brenda, myself and our Youth Experiencing Success Mentoring Program Advisory Board at our tailgate fundraiser on Friday, September 11th (5:30-7:00 pm).
(Sent Tuesday, Sept 1)
New Faces
Sara White will begin tomorrow in Amy Mathisen’s preschool room as a 1-on-1 para for a child in the morning. Please welcome her to Washington. Fran Pleak will be subbing in Title I through Friday.
Safety Patrol
Notes will be out this week for 5th graders to take home. Brenda and Stephanie will be teaming this duty this year and will let you know what their plan is as soon as Stephanie is back.
Specials Update for September
I will try to update you each month as to the upcoming schedule for specials. When there is a week with a full day Wednesay, we will run the schedule of the day during the week that was affected. It will make more sense as we do it. “Extra” PE on early-out days for the month of September are as follows. Please drop off and pick up your class as scheduled:
4th Grade is 8:30 to 9:08
5th Grade is 9:12 to 9:50
- Sept 2nd: 4-2 & 5-2
- Sept 16th: 4-3 & 5-4
- Sept 21st: 4-4 & 5-
- Sept 24th: 4-5 & 5-1
- Oct 2nd: 4-2 & 5-2 (repeat cycle)
Full day Wednesdays:
- Sept 9th (Monday schedule)
- Sept 23rd (Friday schedule)
- Sept 30th (Friday schedule)
During any early out, PE is the only scheduled special UNLESS arranged by the specials-teacher (make up, extra practice before program) and mutually agreed upon by the classroom teacher. Communication would be key.
Great site for science related pictures! Thanks Michelle.
Go Tigers!
Have a great three-day weekend!
He who laughs, lasts
DB
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