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

I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday.
-Unknown Author

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

August 28, 2009

Please note the two following posts Fluency and Science Literacy posted this week. 

Media Support - After an administration discussion yesterday, it was decided Janelle Erickson will be supporting Washington and Ann Petersen will be supporting Inman Primary.  This will ease some confusion about who to contact regarding media and media technology support.  During a team meeting in the near future, I would like your team to invite Janelle and I to meet with you to share 4th and 5th grade essential media skills she has established.  FYI - You can still contact Inman or the high school to request resources for above or below grade level students.

Spelling City -  Stephanie has sent two emails with information about Spelling City.  If you have not shown your students this site, please talk to one of your teammates or see me to learn more.  This is a great site for students to practice and review at home as all of our spelling words have been added.  You can click here to see the list or go to the main site, http://www.spellingcity.com/ and...
1. Click on "Find a List"
2. Type in "Washington"
3. Our link is listed as under the teacher name "Red Oak Washington"

Pride and Respect - I am very proud of all your efforts these first two weeks of school.  We have been presented many academic, instructional and behavioral challenges and your collaborative effort in working through the issues and stresses have not gone unnoticed.  I respect your professionalism when working with each other and our students.  May you have a wonderful weekend!! 

Laughing - I read an article this week where a school played funny movies in their staff lounge all day and the school noticed an improved climate.  Although we may not do that, please find things that do make you laugh.  I know the office staff and Jan help me all the time.  I was sent this video about "How not to use power point" and it made me chuckle... 

Upcoming Dates to Note:

Monday

- 4th grade team meeting (3:15 pm in Haufle's rm);

Tuesday

- 5th grade team meeting (9:30 am)

- Boomerang (1:40-2:10)

Wednesday

- PLC (early out) Lippold to meet with teachers

- Teacher Quality/Iowa Core joint meeting (4pm)

Thursday

- School pictures!

Monday, Sept 7

- No School

Fluency Results

The results from this fall’s Fluency testing were emailed out on Wednesday, August 26. A hard copy is located in the lounge on the board. The data is from the students we tested this fall which only included those at the low of “At Grade Level” and below. On those sheets, it is sorted by Words Correctly Read and I have highlighted the following:

Needs Substantial Intervention (NSI) - RED - 4th: 17%; 5th: 9%
Needs Additional Intervention (NAI) - YELLOW - 4th: 21%; 5th:  29%
Grade Level (GL) - WHITE
Above Grade Level (AGL) - BLUE
Students not tested as they ended - GRAY
above grade level last year.

An expectation would be that classroom intervention time is set aside for the students falling into the first two levels with suggested time being:

NSI – twice a week

NAI – once a week

Many of you have your own resources for daily/weekly interventions so please share those!! Just a few additional resources can be found at:

A. http://www.interventioncentral.org/
B. AEA Reading Protocols handbook (located in my office) – Fluency portion packet is available.
C. Invite parents in to read/listen with students once a week is 1 of 5 examples from a Scholastic article.

Science Literacy Lab Ideas & Information

Now that both grade levels are involved in science literacy blocks, it may be a great time for teams to read the short (and easily read) article, Reading and Writing in the Science Classrooms.  I love the way this article begins, "Just like peanut butter and jelly, science and the communication skills of reading and writing are natural partners for today's elementary classroom."  Many of you will learn a lot this first quarter about what you're doing as teachers right along with the students learning what they're doing as learners.  Please use this article as a point of discussion for your team over lunch or during your regularly scheduled PLC team time.

A few of you have already tapped our AEA library as a resource for your Science Lit class.  In addition to the AEA, our own public library and district media centers (Inman, Middle School & High School) can be another great resource.  Work with Jane, Jan, Janelle and Ann (sounds like a teenage pop group) when you are ordering specific grade level books.  Emailing Janelle or Ann when you want additional resources - be sure to give them the specific content areas and/or types of resources you need.

Online resources such as United Streaming and Teachertube.com (see July 24th, 2009) are great places to find engaging video resources and online activities.  Michelle had sent out a link to science mini-lessons that looked worthwhile and has been added to Our Favorite Links on our website..  Basically...when you find a great resource...SHARE IT!! 

I think we'll all learn a lot together these next 9 weeks....I know the kids will. 

August 21, 2009

August 26th PLC - Our first PLC date is set for next Wednesday. Math probes should be completed by all students before Wednesday. A joint PLC meeting will allow both grade levels to meet together to sort 4th and 5th graders based upon the data. Please designate a meeting time and room prior to Wednesday.

Communication – Once again, thank you for being flexible and communicative about our schedules. I appreciate all you’ve done this week to keep each other in the loop and to make the adjustments needed. Please continue to look for opportunities to work and plan with your collaborative partner(s).

Individual Professional Growth Plan - Every teacher needs to meet with me prior to next Friday to discuss your individual professional growth plan. Plan on 10 minutes when you schedule it with me.

Literature Circles - Betty Brummett is coming Monday to speak to some of the 5th grade teachers about how to use literature circles during reading, science lit, or social studies. If any other staff member is interested in learning more about this, please let me know so I can have her meet with you.

Science Lit Grade Book - There was a glitch in the science literacy grade book I began to send out yesterday. If you received one, please delete it and I will get a working one sent out as soon as I can!

Fluency - Thanks to Christy for testing fluency with 4th and 5th graders who were at the lower end of "at grade level" or below grade level to end last year. If you have students in your room who did not get tested but you would like it completed, please see me.

Gates or Assessment Center? - I will be talking with Jim Lippold today (Friday) about the reading and math assessments offered through the Assessment Center. If it appears it will be useful data and easy to assess students, we will go that route over Gates. If not, we will use the Gates assessment next week. I'll try to post my notes for you to give some input before we decide.

New Professional Books - Please refer to Jan's email about new professional books for our media center. A few would very helpful for your teams' formative assessment process this year.

Longest Week - The first week of school may be the longest week of the year (well, maybe the last week...) and you deserve a restful weekend! Thank you for starting the week out by greeting students and parents with a wonderful open house and ending the week already deep into student learning, helping students increase achievement and focusing on ensuring students learn the needed social skills to be successful. The number of changes and challenges faced this fall has been many and you continue to amaze me by stepping up each and every time. May the year continue as well as it has started.

Useful Website - Looking for academic templates? Try Microsoft's "back to school" collection.

Upcoming Dates to Note:
Monday
- 4th grade team meeting (3:15 pm in Haufle's rm);
- Brummett to speak about Lit Circles (9:30 am in Linn's rm)
Wednesday
- PLC (early out) 4th & 5th grade meet;
- Linn's birthday
Thursday
- Building level Math Lab begins;
- 5th grade team mtg (9:30 am?)
Friday
- PTO Trash Bag kickoff assembly (TBA);
- FB @ Corning
Sept 2nd
- PLC (early out) Building meetings
Sept 3rd
- School pictures!
- VB @ Glenwood!

Great Writing Activity

Ran across this idea for "Supplementary Writing Activities for enhancing written language development" and thought it was a great activity worth sharing (specifically 2.1 - Exploring corrections - maybe a good alternative to DOL?).