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.

Great site for science related pictures!  Thanks Michelle.

http://life.nbii.gov/dml/home.do

Go Tigers!

Have a great three-day weekend!

He who laughs, lasts

DB