It is hard to believe that the end of Quarter 1 is already here. This time of year traditionally can be the most stressful time of the year. With that in mind, the efforts that each of us put forth to build connections with our students are that much more important. When kids make mistakes, the best way for them to experience meaningful learning is a conversation with a respected adult with whom they have a connection. The message may not hit home right away, but wise words stay with them. I appreciate the time that each of you take for (especially our most challenging) students to build these relationships, even though sometimes it can seem like the message isn't getting through.
On to some updates...
WKCE Update
Hats off to Mrs. Morton, the 8th Grade Teachers, and everyone else involved in administering the WKCE. We executed a smooth administration of the WKCE in Social Studies and Science for our 8th Grade students. The Smarter Balanced Assessment will require more time and training for both staff and students.
Veteran's Day
We will continue our Veteran's Day tradition. The Middle School students and staff are invited to attend the Veteran's Day ceremony in the Don Kerr Gym at the High School. The ceremony will be on Tuesday, November 11th beginning at 9:00 am. Before the event, please discuss the reverence and respect that this ceremony demands with our students. The recent behavior of the MS/HS student body at these events has been something to brag to our community about. Thank you in advance for your efforts.
Finalizing SLO/PPG's
An update on the EEP's for the year. If you have not entered your SLO/PPG into Teachscape, please do so. After you are finished entering the information into Teachscape, please remember to hit "Submit". If it is just saved I cannot see it, or acknowledge the SLO/PPG. I would like to get a Mid-Year Review appointment on your calendars ahead of time to ensure we complete the Mid-Year Review at the appropriate time. If you see me, and remember this, let's set up those appointments.
Great Things Happening in Poynette
I just got an email yesterday from a Curriculum and Instruction Director from a nearby school district asking to share some of our Grading and Assessment practices. People are taking note of your ability to put sound educational theory into practice!
Next MS Staff Meeting
Wednesday
11/3/14
2:50 pm
Room 201
Data
Behavior Referrals through 9 weeks of school:
13-14 - 107 Events 56 Students
14-15 - 110 Events 41 Students
Attendance Rate:
13-14 - 96.40%
14-15 - 95.92%
Duty Schedule
Morning Duty - Deans, Fraser
Bus Duty - Greer
Friday, October 31, 2014
Friday, October 24, 2014
PMS News and Notes
One more week till the end of the quarter...on one hand it is hard to believe it has gone so fast...on the other it is hard to believe that we aren't past Christmas yet. All kidding aside, I am very proud to be the Principal of this school. The mindset of our staff is student centered, and each of us is very willing to do what it takes for the kids. That mindset makes this a fun place to be.
Monday's Professional Development Wrap-Up
Mr. Shappell's message on Monday morning is so true. The work that we are doing in this district is beginning to get noticed, and other schools want to be more like us. I think that is pretty cool and something to be proud of.
SLO/PPG
I have had a chance to meet with almost everyone up to this point about their SLO/PPG. If you have not already, go ahead and copy and paste the SLO/PPG into Teachscape. I will review them in Teachscape, and we will meet briefly before the final submission. Mr. Hausser shared a really good resource showing examples of items that teachers can use as artifacts to upload. You can view this resource HERE.
End of Quarter Grade Timeline
The end of the 1st Quarter is next Friday, October 31st. Grades will be due by the end of the day on Wednesday, November 5. We will send report cards home with students on Friday, November 7. Dr. Hoernke and I will be hosting another Grading for Learning Parent Presentation on Tuesday, November 11th at 6:00pm in the High School IMC.
Student Progress Communication
After getting feedback from parents and teachers, we will norm the way that we report student progress district wide. On each assessment that we enter into Infinite Campus, we should communicate the targeted level of the assessment. With the start of the 2nd Quarter, the expectation is that we record the highest level of opportunity that each assessment measures, in the comments section. We should communicate to students and parents that they can monitor progress by looking at their score in relation to the assessment level.
Each Classroom Minute
I just want to throw a reminder in the blog about the importance of each classroom minute. Each minute that we have to work with out students is the capital we have control over to raise student achievement, and meet our individual and building SLO goals.
District Van Use Guidelines
There have been some updates regarding our district van use procedures. If you use the district vans at any time, please click HERE to review the procedures.
Duty for Next Week
Morning - Anderson, Barnett
Bus - Harms
Monday's Professional Development Wrap-Up
Mr. Shappell's message on Monday morning is so true. The work that we are doing in this district is beginning to get noticed, and other schools want to be more like us. I think that is pretty cool and something to be proud of.
SLO/PPG
I have had a chance to meet with almost everyone up to this point about their SLO/PPG. If you have not already, go ahead and copy and paste the SLO/PPG into Teachscape. I will review them in Teachscape, and we will meet briefly before the final submission. Mr. Hausser shared a really good resource showing examples of items that teachers can use as artifacts to upload. You can view this resource HERE.
End of Quarter Grade Timeline
The end of the 1st Quarter is next Friday, October 31st. Grades will be due by the end of the day on Wednesday, November 5. We will send report cards home with students on Friday, November 7. Dr. Hoernke and I will be hosting another Grading for Learning Parent Presentation on Tuesday, November 11th at 6:00pm in the High School IMC.
Student Progress Communication
After getting feedback from parents and teachers, we will norm the way that we report student progress district wide. On each assessment that we enter into Infinite Campus, we should communicate the targeted level of the assessment. With the start of the 2nd Quarter, the expectation is that we record the highest level of opportunity that each assessment measures, in the comments section. We should communicate to students and parents that they can monitor progress by looking at their score in relation to the assessment level.
Each Classroom Minute
I just want to throw a reminder in the blog about the importance of each classroom minute. Each minute that we have to work with out students is the capital we have control over to raise student achievement, and meet our individual and building SLO goals.
District Van Use Guidelines
There have been some updates regarding our district van use procedures. If you use the district vans at any time, please click HERE to review the procedures.
Duty for Next Week
Morning - Anderson, Barnett
Bus - Harms
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Improving Instructional Practices, Vol. 6
Thanks to Mrs. Morrissey for this Ms. Niemeyer for these short, weekly tips for effective instruction.
10 Assessments that You can Use in 90 SecondsDanielson’s Framework: Domain 3d: Using Assessment in Instruction
Good assessment is frequent assessment. Any assessment is designed to provide a snapshot of student understanding—the more snapshots, the more complete the full picture of knowledge. The simpler the assessment—in terms of process and logistics—the more “purely” it can function as a tool to get at what a student actually understands, and help you identify how to help them. Then, due to their brevity, they’re simple to grade–in fact, you can grade them as exit slips–which makes taking the data and informing instruction (the whole point of assessment) a much simpler process as well. Here are 10 tricks to help you simply assess.
1. New Clothes
Take a given topic—thesis statements, push-pull factors, the scientific process, etc.—and describe how it can be used in some way other than how you’ve been taught.
Example of Student Response: We’ve learned the scientific process by looking at how actual scientists study new things, but the scientific process would also make an excellent tool for detectives to use while pursuing criminals. It would allow them to observe data, form theories, test theories while collecting more data, and draw conclusions that can then be judged in a court of law.
2. Dos & Don’ts
List 3 Dos and 3 Don’ts when using, applying, relating to the content (e.g., 3 Dos and Don’ts for solving an equation). Example of Student Response: When adding fractions, DO find a common denominator, DO add the numerators once you’ve found a common denominators, DON’T simply add the denominators
3. Three Most Common Misunderstandings
List what you think might be the three most common misunderstandings of a given topic based on an audience of your peers. Example of Student Response: In analyzing tone, most people probably confuse mood and tone, forget to look beyond the diction to the subtext as well, and to strongly consider the intended audience.
4. Yes/No Chart
List what you do and don’t understand about a given topic—what you do on the left, what you don’t on the right, but you overly-vague responses don’t count. Specificity matters! Example of Student Response: In learning about paragraph structure (Do Understand): what a topic sentence is, how many sentences a paragraph should have, that a paragraph should be about one idea; (Don’t Understand) how a paragraph can have a conclusion, how to know when I’ve given enough supporting details in the paragraph, how to revise a paragraph
5. Three Questions
Ask three questions about the topic, then rank them in terms of their importance/value. Example of Student Response: Low Importance: Does the prefix “tri” mean 3? Medium Importance: Is the triangle the only 3-sided geometrical figure? High Importance: Why don’t triangles show up very often in nature (as so many other shapes do)?
6. Explain What Matters
Explain the most critical part of a given topic to a self-selected audience (must clarify) in two or fewer sentences. (Audience can be anyone!) Example of Student Response: The most important part of a thesis statement is clarity and conviction, so I’ll explain that one to Jay-Z: A thesis statement is kind of like the hook or title of one of your songs–it delivers the message that the song goes on to explain. Feel me?
7. Big Picture
Diagram the context–where does it fit in and how does it function in its natural “bigger picture.” This is good for abstract or right-brain thinkers. Example of Student Response: It is impossible to understand the rules we live by and how they’re formed without understanding the 3 branches of government.
8. Venn Diagram
Compare/Contrast a given topic to a tangent topic (e.g., the water cycle to distillation, symbolism to allusion, etc.)
9. Draw It
Draw what you do understand. Example of Student Response: A drawing of what an adjective thinks about a noun, or a how much smaller in size the thousandth’s place is compared to the ten’s place.
10. Self-Directed Response
Prove to me you understand in diagram, written, or related form in a way that a stranger would understand.Example of Student Response: I wrote this chorus of a song I’ve been thinking of that would explain this character’s motivation….
Read the full blog post here: http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/10-assessments-you-can-perform-in-90-seconds/
Friday, October 17, 2014
PMS News and Notes
It is weeks like this where the impending weekend never has looked so good. With two nights of Parent/Teacher conferences and five full teaching days, the effort and enthusiasm that our staff has maintained is quite impressive. So, take the time to enjoy the weekend, and we'll get a solid time for professional development work on Monday. Below are some note from the week.
Parent/Teacher Conference Wrap-Up
With our shift this year away from percentages and points, this round of Parent/Teacher Conferences saw us all fielding some tough questions from some passionate parents. After some informal conversations with teachers and parents, it appears that most of the conversations went pretty well, and that most parents understood our goals after we had the opportunity to explain. Kudos to each of our staff members on your efforts this week. This process allowed us to gain some valuable feedback from parents about how we can improve our communication in this system, and perhaps the format and structure of how we do Parent/Teacher Conferences. We will spend some time on Monday working towards consistent communication K-12.
Monday's Professional Development Day
On Monday we'll get started in the High School cafeteria at 8:00 am. We'll work to normalize the way we communicate student progress district wide, and work on putting the finishing touches on our SLO/PPG's and the whole Educator Effectiveness plan for the year. We'll have department time as well. To access the schedule, click HERE.
School Culture
The culture of the school is so vital to the learning that takes place for our students. There are a couple of areas in the school that are indicators of our culture...hallways and the cafeteria. Teacher presence in the hallway helps us to be proactive with behaviors and shapes our culture. Any chance that you get to be in the hallways, especially downstairs hallway by the lockers, helps in this area.
Fire Drill Wrap-Up
We had another successful fire drill. Thanks for your efforts to make this procedure go smoothly. We continue to review our safety plan to be prepared for any situation that could occur.
Data
Behavior Referrals after 7 weeks...
14-15 - 73 Events, 30 Students
13-14 - 50 Events, 43 Students
12-13 - 33 Events, 30 Students
Duty for Next Week
Morning - Rogness, Vian
Bus - Hazard
Parent/Teacher Conference Wrap-Up
With our shift this year away from percentages and points, this round of Parent/Teacher Conferences saw us all fielding some tough questions from some passionate parents. After some informal conversations with teachers and parents, it appears that most of the conversations went pretty well, and that most parents understood our goals after we had the opportunity to explain. Kudos to each of our staff members on your efforts this week. This process allowed us to gain some valuable feedback from parents about how we can improve our communication in this system, and perhaps the format and structure of how we do Parent/Teacher Conferences. We will spend some time on Monday working towards consistent communication K-12.
Monday's Professional Development Day
On Monday we'll get started in the High School cafeteria at 8:00 am. We'll work to normalize the way we communicate student progress district wide, and work on putting the finishing touches on our SLO/PPG's and the whole Educator Effectiveness plan for the year. We'll have department time as well. To access the schedule, click HERE.
School Culture
The culture of the school is so vital to the learning that takes place for our students. There are a couple of areas in the school that are indicators of our culture...hallways and the cafeteria. Teacher presence in the hallway helps us to be proactive with behaviors and shapes our culture. Any chance that you get to be in the hallways, especially downstairs hallway by the lockers, helps in this area.
Fire Drill Wrap-Up
We had another successful fire drill. Thanks for your efforts to make this procedure go smoothly. We continue to review our safety plan to be prepared for any situation that could occur.
Data
Behavior Referrals after 7 weeks...
14-15 - 73 Events, 30 Students
13-14 - 50 Events, 43 Students
12-13 - 33 Events, 30 Students
Duty for Next Week
Morning - Rogness, Vian
Bus - Hazard
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Addressing Grading for Learning Questions
At our last round of Parent-Teacher Conferences, we had an opportunity to receive some feedback from parents about our Grading for Learning system. Below is a list of some questions.
Proficiency Levels: AD (Advanced), PR (Proficient), DE (Developing), BE (Beginning), NE (No Evidence)
“The target is proficient, driven students cannot attain Advanced, and teachers say it’s nearly impossible to reach Advanced.”
We must provide multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate Advanced level work after the learning has been scaffolded. We also must be explicit about showing and discussing the qualities of an Advanced piece of work. We should encourage our students and give them feedback to strive to reach the Advanced level. It should be rigorous, but attainable.
“You can only reach Developing in the Beginning of the year”
The natural progression of a unit is to start with beginning level activities to build a base, then progress to the higher levels of the rubric as the base of knowledge is built. It is nearly impossible to walk into the classroom and be able to demonstrate Proficient or Advanced level work. The work that is done in the classroom guides our students to reach the level, but we will only report out on a standard if students have had opportunities to demonstrate Advanced on the rubric.
“For the school as a whole, what is the goal for students to be at? (BE, DE, PR, AD)”
Our target for each student is proficient, but we want as many students as possible to be able to demonstrate Advanced level work.
“How can some students show a developing and that be a C, but others have a DE and it can be an A? But because of the high school system, How do I know where my middle school student stands if a Developing can be an A, B, or C?”
At the High School, the letter grade is used as an “on target” measurement throughout the quarter. At the end of a reporting period, the Board Policy on grades will be followed…(i.e. A=mostly proficient, some advanced, etc) At all grade levels we will focus on the evidence of student work measured against the rubric to determine the student’s level of performance.
“I have concerns over students in middle school not having a GPA being unfamiliar with the system for when they get to high school and it really matters for college.”
What we are doing in our classes right now everyday is building a base for success at the next level. The Middle and High School both use reporting standards and rubrics in the same way. The only difference is that in high school, they use a letter grade. Students will be familiar with the use of rubrics and be more prepared because we have showed them what it takes to demonstrate advanced levels of work in each class.
“I have concerns about not seeing any work come home so they weren’t able to see how their child is doing/how they can improve.”
In my experience as a middle school teacher, most student work that was handed back ended up in the floor or in the garbage. Keeping a portfolio of student work allows teachers/students/parents to see growth, and a sample of student work up against an example of work at each level. By focusing on the work, it is easier to see the improvements/adjustments that need to be made to reach the next level.
“My daughter’s work is a DE, and teacher says that is great and where she needs to be...we think proficient is where they need to be...I don’t want them to fall behind, and I want teachers to push my child and not be satisfied with DE.”
If the work is from the beginning of a unit and the assessment only assessed students at the DE level, then this is on target and where they need to be. If an assessment allows for students to demonstrate an AD level of understanding, and a student receives a DE, then we should focus on why the work was DE and what adjustments need to be made to reach PR.
“Consistency between the way we grade and the way the H.S. grades. Parents want the whole district to be on the same page so students aren’t confused later (as far as if “Developing” is a B? C?) or is “Proficient” an A? B?
I would argue that we are on the same page more now, than we ever have, with the use of reporting standards and rubrics to measure student work. Before, a student had to figure out each individual teacher’s grading system...this could be as much as 5-8 systems per term. Now everyone has laid out the skills and knowledge that we expect students to have and what each proficiency level looks like by the end of the course.
“Some parents are still trying to wrap their heads around AD, PR, DE, BE; they want to think of it as A, B, C, D”
Mrs. Greer gave a solid example of this to a parent. If a student got 10/10 on a vocabulary matching quiz before, it was an A, even though they were low level questions. Now that would demonstrate BE because it’s not a high level activity. Those base building activities are important, but it’s important to go beyond those skills for our students.
“If “Beginning” is passing, why is it that no one can fail?”
Students can still not a pass a class if they have not demonstrated a BE level of understanding. This is not a given.
“I’m worried about subjectivity (EX: 4 proficients and 4 developing meaning a “PR” for some and a “DE” for others)
We will focus on the evidence students provide to determine proficiency levels. The most recent evidence determines the proficiency level at each reporting period.
“As a parent it is more difficult to monitor progress than it was when we used numbers.”
This communication is something that we are working on everyday and taking feedback from parents to improve. We need to be consistent from the elementary school all the way to the high school.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Teacher following a student schedule for a day...
I came across this blog entry from Grant Wiggins this weekend, and thought it was an interesting read...if you get a minute, check it out...it's always a good thing to think from a different perspective from time to time...
http://grantwiggins.wordpress.com/2014/10/10/a-veteran-teacher-turned-coach-shadows-2-students-for-2-days-a-sobering-lesson-learned/
http://grantwiggins.wordpress.com/2014/10/10/a-veteran-teacher-turned-coach-shadows-2-students-for-2-days-a-sobering-lesson-learned/
Thursday, October 9, 2014
PMS News & Notes
We are nearing the end of Week 6 already...It's busy...but I sense a bit more of a calm throughout the building and in the classrooms as we establish routines, and students adjust to their schedule and expectations. No doubt, there will be more challenges ahead of us, but those will be less with structure, routine, and consistency in our everyday schedule. Here are some updates...
SLO/PPG
I have met with many of you about plans for your SLO/PPG so far, and I feel pretty good about those conversations. We will spend the morning of Monday, Oct. 20th viewing the Step 4 module as a group, and then we will have SLO/PPG work time to get these completed. The due date will be end of day Friday, Oct. 24th. It is recommended to work off of the planning guides that were shared by Katie and Anna, then copy and paste into Teachscape. If you have any questions as we get closer, don't hesitate to track me down. You can always check my calendar and set up a meeting by inviting me.
Classroom Walk-Throughs
You have probably noticed that I've been in your classroom recently. I am writing down evidence and related components into your shared google doc. If you have any questions about this process or any of the evidence collected, feel free to ask. The main purpose of looking at evidence gathered is to provide a natural way to have good conversations about teaching and learning.
First 5, Last 5
These are vital minutes to every class period. The first 5 for a smooth transition and to get students in the right frame of mind or to focus their thinking. The last 5 for a moment of reflection to make deeper connections with what they just learned. As we increase the rigor level for our students, it is so important to give students opportunities to make these connections every class period.
Next Fire Drill
We will be having our next fire drill on Thursday, October 16 at 8:45 am. Please remind students of the routines and procedures for fire drills. Some tips that we learned from last time...classroom doors shut and lights out, take a quick head count when your class gets to the desired location, and then look for all students that are under your supervision. Last time the building was empty in just over 2 minutes...let's shoot for under 2 minutes this time.
Student of the Month Breakfast
Our first Student of the Month Breakfast will be on Thursday, October 23 starting at 7:00 am in the 1-8 IMC. This is a great opportunity to get families into our building to promote all of the positive things and people that we have in this school! Thank you in advance for your participation.
WKCE Reminder
For the Middle School, we will be administering the WKCE to 8th graders in Science and Social Studies coming up soon. We will be testing Science on 10/28 and Social Studies on 10/29. Click HERE for detailed information.
STAR Results
An email will be coming soon about how we will share this information with parents.
Data
Click on the link below to see data from Mr. O'Connor's Math class charting percentage of students that have their homework completed on time for each assignment.
Homework Completion Data
If you have data that you'd like to share from your classroom, let me know, and you can have a spot in the data portion of the weekly blog
Twitter Followers
Number of Twitter followers that I have gained since our last staff meeting...3...including our very own Greg Kallungi and Todd Whitaker (author of 10 Things Great Teachers do Differently)
SLO/PPG
I have met with many of you about plans for your SLO/PPG so far, and I feel pretty good about those conversations. We will spend the morning of Monday, Oct. 20th viewing the Step 4 module as a group, and then we will have SLO/PPG work time to get these completed. The due date will be end of day Friday, Oct. 24th. It is recommended to work off of the planning guides that were shared by Katie and Anna, then copy and paste into Teachscape. If you have any questions as we get closer, don't hesitate to track me down. You can always check my calendar and set up a meeting by inviting me.
Classroom Walk-Throughs
You have probably noticed that I've been in your classroom recently. I am writing down evidence and related components into your shared google doc. If you have any questions about this process or any of the evidence collected, feel free to ask. The main purpose of looking at evidence gathered is to provide a natural way to have good conversations about teaching and learning.
First 5, Last 5
These are vital minutes to every class period. The first 5 for a smooth transition and to get students in the right frame of mind or to focus their thinking. The last 5 for a moment of reflection to make deeper connections with what they just learned. As we increase the rigor level for our students, it is so important to give students opportunities to make these connections every class period.
Next Fire Drill
We will be having our next fire drill on Thursday, October 16 at 8:45 am. Please remind students of the routines and procedures for fire drills. Some tips that we learned from last time...classroom doors shut and lights out, take a quick head count when your class gets to the desired location, and then look for all students that are under your supervision. Last time the building was empty in just over 2 minutes...let's shoot for under 2 minutes this time.
Student of the Month Breakfast
Our first Student of the Month Breakfast will be on Thursday, October 23 starting at 7:00 am in the 1-8 IMC. This is a great opportunity to get families into our building to promote all of the positive things and people that we have in this school! Thank you in advance for your participation.
WKCE Reminder
For the Middle School, we will be administering the WKCE to 8th graders in Science and Social Studies coming up soon. We will be testing Science on 10/28 and Social Studies on 10/29. Click HERE for detailed information.
STAR Results
An email will be coming soon about how we will share this information with parents.
Data
Click on the link below to see data from Mr. O'Connor's Math class charting percentage of students that have their homework completed on time for each assignment.
Homework Completion Data
If you have data that you'd like to share from your classroom, let me know, and you can have a spot in the data portion of the weekly blog
Twitter Followers
Number of Twitter followers that I have gained since our last staff meeting...3...including our very own Greg Kallungi and Todd Whitaker (author of 10 Things Great Teachers do Differently)
Improving Instructional Practices, Vol. 5
Thanks to Mrs. Morrissey for this Ms. Niemeyer for these short, weekly tips for effective instruction.
Want to read the whole article? Click on the Edutopia article link Tips for Parents-Teacher Conferencing
Parent teacher conferences are upon us. These are great opportunities to create supportive and positive school/home connections. Below are some great tips to review to help make the time we get at each conference positive and productive.
- Approach Parents With Positive Assumptions
Remember that parents want to see their child succeed more than anything else. They are your partner in this, remember to welcome them at the conference as your strongest ally.
- Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
Before conferences think about each conference and what your goals are, what do you want to communicate to each parent, and what is the outcome you want from the meeting. Then prepare materials to support those goals. Choose selected pieces of evidence and jot notes on them to share.
- Be Solution Oriented
Be specific in concerns. Saying that Katie is distracted a lot is hard for a parent to work with. Instead say that you are concerned because Katie is often distracted during independent work time. Mention what you have been doing to help Katie in class, ask if they have seen this behavior at home, and share how they can help their child. Remember, if you have concerns be prepared to offer specific and actionable solutions.
- Take the Opportunity to Learn
Think about what you can learn from the parent(s). If this is the first time you are sitting down with them, take the time to find out their perspective, or any questions/ concerns they may have.
- Show That You Care
Most important of all, let parents know that you truly do know and care about their child. Conferences can be terrifying or wonderful for parents. Lead with the positive and be prepared to be specific or give examples. There is always something positive and praiseworthy about each of our students. It’s our job to find that and share it with parents.
Want to read the whole article? Click on the Edutopia article link Tips for Parents-Teacher Conferencing
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Friday, October 3, 2014
PMS News and Notes
Another solid week of learning is almost in the books...we are continuing to establish routines and make memorable learning a part of each lesson that we engage our students. There is nothing like watching kids fully engrossed in a learning activity that is challenging to them. Some news and notes from the week...
Parent/Teacher Conferences Coming Up...
I enjoyed the dialogue at our staff meeting this week. If you have any questions about the upcoming conferences, please let me know. Mr. Hoernke and I will be hosting MS Grading for Learning Parent Meetings on the Thursday (10/16) of conferences...the first one will begin at 4:00 pm followed by another one at 6:00. Location TBA.
MS Breakfast Update
It appears that we are settling in to a routine for our MS Breakfast. Please remind students that the blue containers is for clean recyclables and food should not go into those bins. I appreciate your extra efforts in helping get our students some healthy food in their systems in the morning.
Student of the Month Breakfast
We will continue the Poynette Middle School tradition of a recognition breakfast to honor students that are demonstrating excellence in their daily school life. The first breakfast will be on Thursday, 10/23 at 7:00 am. At this time, we will continue with the same routine. Each grade level team will nominate 2 students (1 male and 1 female) and we'll also have 2 representatives nominated by the Applied Academic teachers. Please let me know your nominations and which teacher representative that will join us at the breakfast by the end of next week (10/10).
First 5, Last 5
Perhaps the most important minutes of each class period are the first 5 and last 5 minutes. The most effective first 5 minutes of a class are a consistent, structured routine to get your students in the right frame of mind. The activity should draw upon prior knowledge or serve as a precursor for what is to come.
During the last 5 minutes and prior to dismissal, it is vital to bring the group together and reflect on the learning from that day's lesson. This is a key opportunity to get student data about where their learning level is in relation to the learning goal for the day or week. This data can be used to tweak the following day's lesson plan.
Effort...
I wanted to include a reminder of the importance of praising and teaching effort and the effects on the student mindset. There is a link to Dweck's video that we viewed at a beginning of the year staff meeting on this topic as a reminder if you'd like to view it again.
Data
Below is attendance data that shows the percentage of students in attendance over the course of the past 3 school years over the same number of weeks in the school year.
12-13 - 97.03%
13-14 - 96.44%
14-15 - 95.93%
Parent/Teacher Conferences Coming Up...
I enjoyed the dialogue at our staff meeting this week. If you have any questions about the upcoming conferences, please let me know. Mr. Hoernke and I will be hosting MS Grading for Learning Parent Meetings on the Thursday (10/16) of conferences...the first one will begin at 4:00 pm followed by another one at 6:00. Location TBA.
MS Breakfast Update
It appears that we are settling in to a routine for our MS Breakfast. Please remind students that the blue containers is for clean recyclables and food should not go into those bins. I appreciate your extra efforts in helping get our students some healthy food in their systems in the morning.
Student of the Month Breakfast
We will continue the Poynette Middle School tradition of a recognition breakfast to honor students that are demonstrating excellence in their daily school life. The first breakfast will be on Thursday, 10/23 at 7:00 am. At this time, we will continue with the same routine. Each grade level team will nominate 2 students (1 male and 1 female) and we'll also have 2 representatives nominated by the Applied Academic teachers. Please let me know your nominations and which teacher representative that will join us at the breakfast by the end of next week (10/10).
First 5, Last 5
Perhaps the most important minutes of each class period are the first 5 and last 5 minutes. The most effective first 5 minutes of a class are a consistent, structured routine to get your students in the right frame of mind. The activity should draw upon prior knowledge or serve as a precursor for what is to come.
During the last 5 minutes and prior to dismissal, it is vital to bring the group together and reflect on the learning from that day's lesson. This is a key opportunity to get student data about where their learning level is in relation to the learning goal for the day or week. This data can be used to tweak the following day's lesson plan.
Effort...
I wanted to include a reminder of the importance of praising and teaching effort and the effects on the student mindset. There is a link to Dweck's video that we viewed at a beginning of the year staff meeting on this topic as a reminder if you'd like to view it again.
Data
Below is attendance data that shows the percentage of students in attendance over the course of the past 3 school years over the same number of weeks in the school year.
12-13 - 97.03%
13-14 - 96.44%
14-15 - 95.93%
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PMS News and Notes
It is hard to believe that the end of Quarter 1 is already here. This time of year traditionally can be the most stressful time of the year. With that in mind, the efforts that each of us put forth to build connections with our students are that much more important. When kids make mistakes, the best way for them to experience meaningful learning is a conversation with a respected adult with whom they have a connection. The message may not hit home right away, but wise words stay with them. I appreciate the time that each of you take for (especially our most challenging) students to build these relationships, even though sometimes it can seem like the message isn't getting through.
On to some updates...
WKCE Update
Hats off to Mrs. Morton, the 8th Grade Teachers, and everyone else involved in administering the WKCE. We executed a smooth administration of the WKCE in Social Studies and Science for our 8th Grade students. The Smarter Balanced Assessment will require more time and training for both staff and students.
Veteran's Day
We will continue our Veteran's Day tradition. The Middle School students and staff are invited to attend the Veteran's Day ceremony in the Don Kerr Gym at the High School. The ceremony will be on Tuesday, November 11th beginning at 9:00 am. Before the event, please discuss the reverence and respect that this ceremony demands with our students. The recent behavior of the MS/HS student body at these events has been something to brag to our community about. Thank you in advance for your efforts.
Finalizing SLO/PPG's
An update on the EEP's for the year. If you have not entered your SLO/PPG into Teachscape, please do so. After you are finished entering the information into Teachscape, please remember to hit "Submit". If it is just saved I cannot see it, or acknowledge the SLO/PPG. I would like to get a Mid-Year Review appointment on your calendars ahead of time to ensure we complete the Mid-Year Review at the appropriate time. If you see me, and remember this, let's set up those appointments.
Great Things Happening in Poynette
I just got an email yesterday from a Curriculum and Instruction Director from a nearby school district asking to share some of our Grading and Assessment practices. People are taking note of your ability to put sound educational theory into practice!
Next MS Staff Meeting
Wednesday
11/3/14
2:50 pm
Room 201
Data
Behavior Referrals through 9 weeks of school:
13-14 - 107 Events 56 Students
14-15 - 110 Events 41 Students
Attendance Rate:
13-14 - 96.40%
14-15 - 95.92%
Duty Schedule
Morning Duty - Deans, Fraser
Bus Duty - Greer
On to some updates...
WKCE Update
Hats off to Mrs. Morton, the 8th Grade Teachers, and everyone else involved in administering the WKCE. We executed a smooth administration of the WKCE in Social Studies and Science for our 8th Grade students. The Smarter Balanced Assessment will require more time and training for both staff and students.
Veteran's Day
We will continue our Veteran's Day tradition. The Middle School students and staff are invited to attend the Veteran's Day ceremony in the Don Kerr Gym at the High School. The ceremony will be on Tuesday, November 11th beginning at 9:00 am. Before the event, please discuss the reverence and respect that this ceremony demands with our students. The recent behavior of the MS/HS student body at these events has been something to brag to our community about. Thank you in advance for your efforts.
Finalizing SLO/PPG's
An update on the EEP's for the year. If you have not entered your SLO/PPG into Teachscape, please do so. After you are finished entering the information into Teachscape, please remember to hit "Submit". If it is just saved I cannot see it, or acknowledge the SLO/PPG. I would like to get a Mid-Year Review appointment on your calendars ahead of time to ensure we complete the Mid-Year Review at the appropriate time. If you see me, and remember this, let's set up those appointments.
Great Things Happening in Poynette
I just got an email yesterday from a Curriculum and Instruction Director from a nearby school district asking to share some of our Grading and Assessment practices. People are taking note of your ability to put sound educational theory into practice!
Next MS Staff Meeting
Wednesday
11/3/14
2:50 pm
Room 201
Data
Behavior Referrals through 9 weeks of school:
13-14 - 107 Events 56 Students
14-15 - 110 Events 41 Students
Attendance Rate:
13-14 - 96.40%
14-15 - 95.92%
Duty Schedule
Morning Duty - Deans, Fraser
Bus Duty - Greer
PMS News and Notes
One more week till the end of the quarter...on one hand it is hard to believe it has gone so fast...on the other it is hard to believe that we aren't past Christmas yet. All kidding aside, I am very proud to be the Principal of this school. The mindset of our staff is student centered, and each of us is very willing to do what it takes for the kids. That mindset makes this a fun place to be.
Monday's Professional Development Wrap-Up
Mr. Shappell's message on Monday morning is so true. The work that we are doing in this district is beginning to get noticed, and other schools want to be more like us. I think that is pretty cool and something to be proud of.
SLO/PPG
I have had a chance to meet with almost everyone up to this point about their SLO/PPG. If you have not already, go ahead and copy and paste the SLO/PPG into Teachscape. I will review them in Teachscape, and we will meet briefly before the final submission. Mr. Hausser shared a really good resource showing examples of items that teachers can use as artifacts to upload. You can view this resource HERE.
End of Quarter Grade Timeline
The end of the 1st Quarter is next Friday, October 31st. Grades will be due by the end of the day on Wednesday, November 5. We will send report cards home with students on Friday, November 7. Dr. Hoernke and I will be hosting another Grading for Learning Parent Presentation on Tuesday, November 11th at 6:00pm in the High School IMC.
Student Progress Communication
After getting feedback from parents and teachers, we will norm the way that we report student progress district wide. On each assessment that we enter into Infinite Campus, we should communicate the targeted level of the assessment. With the start of the 2nd Quarter, the expectation is that we record the highest level of opportunity that each assessment measures, in the comments section. We should communicate to students and parents that they can monitor progress by looking at their score in relation to the assessment level.
Each Classroom Minute
I just want to throw a reminder in the blog about the importance of each classroom minute. Each minute that we have to work with out students is the capital we have control over to raise student achievement, and meet our individual and building SLO goals.
District Van Use Guidelines
There have been some updates regarding our district van use procedures. If you use the district vans at any time, please click HERE to review the procedures.
Duty for Next Week
Morning - Anderson, Barnett
Bus - Harms
Monday's Professional Development Wrap-Up
Mr. Shappell's message on Monday morning is so true. The work that we are doing in this district is beginning to get noticed, and other schools want to be more like us. I think that is pretty cool and something to be proud of.
SLO/PPG
I have had a chance to meet with almost everyone up to this point about their SLO/PPG. If you have not already, go ahead and copy and paste the SLO/PPG into Teachscape. I will review them in Teachscape, and we will meet briefly before the final submission. Mr. Hausser shared a really good resource showing examples of items that teachers can use as artifacts to upload. You can view this resource HERE.
End of Quarter Grade Timeline
The end of the 1st Quarter is next Friday, October 31st. Grades will be due by the end of the day on Wednesday, November 5. We will send report cards home with students on Friday, November 7. Dr. Hoernke and I will be hosting another Grading for Learning Parent Presentation on Tuesday, November 11th at 6:00pm in the High School IMC.
Student Progress Communication
After getting feedback from parents and teachers, we will norm the way that we report student progress district wide. On each assessment that we enter into Infinite Campus, we should communicate the targeted level of the assessment. With the start of the 2nd Quarter, the expectation is that we record the highest level of opportunity that each assessment measures, in the comments section. We should communicate to students and parents that they can monitor progress by looking at their score in relation to the assessment level.
Each Classroom Minute
I just want to throw a reminder in the blog about the importance of each classroom minute. Each minute that we have to work with out students is the capital we have control over to raise student achievement, and meet our individual and building SLO goals.
District Van Use Guidelines
There have been some updates regarding our district van use procedures. If you use the district vans at any time, please click HERE to review the procedures.
Duty for Next Week
Morning - Anderson, Barnett
Bus - Harms
Improving Instructional Practices, Vol. 6
Thanks to Mrs. Morrissey for this Ms. Niemeyer for these short, weekly tips for effective instruction.
10 Assessments that You can Use in 90 SecondsDanielson’s Framework: Domain 3d: Using Assessment in Instruction
Good assessment is frequent assessment. Any assessment is designed to provide a snapshot of student understanding—the more snapshots, the more complete the full picture of knowledge. The simpler the assessment—in terms of process and logistics—the more “purely” it can function as a tool to get at what a student actually understands, and help you identify how to help them. Then, due to their brevity, they’re simple to grade–in fact, you can grade them as exit slips–which makes taking the data and informing instruction (the whole point of assessment) a much simpler process as well. Here are 10 tricks to help you simply assess.
1. New Clothes
Take a given topic—thesis statements, push-pull factors, the scientific process, etc.—and describe how it can be used in some way other than how you’ve been taught.
Example of Student Response: We’ve learned the scientific process by looking at how actual scientists study new things, but the scientific process would also make an excellent tool for detectives to use while pursuing criminals. It would allow them to observe data, form theories, test theories while collecting more data, and draw conclusions that can then be judged in a court of law.
2. Dos & Don’ts
List 3 Dos and 3 Don’ts when using, applying, relating to the content (e.g., 3 Dos and Don’ts for solving an equation). Example of Student Response: When adding fractions, DO find a common denominator, DO add the numerators once you’ve found a common denominators, DON’T simply add the denominators
3. Three Most Common Misunderstandings
List what you think might be the three most common misunderstandings of a given topic based on an audience of your peers. Example of Student Response: In analyzing tone, most people probably confuse mood and tone, forget to look beyond the diction to the subtext as well, and to strongly consider the intended audience.
4. Yes/No Chart
List what you do and don’t understand about a given topic—what you do on the left, what you don’t on the right, but you overly-vague responses don’t count. Specificity matters! Example of Student Response: In learning about paragraph structure (Do Understand): what a topic sentence is, how many sentences a paragraph should have, that a paragraph should be about one idea; (Don’t Understand) how a paragraph can have a conclusion, how to know when I’ve given enough supporting details in the paragraph, how to revise a paragraph
5. Three Questions
Ask three questions about the topic, then rank them in terms of their importance/value. Example of Student Response: Low Importance: Does the prefix “tri” mean 3? Medium Importance: Is the triangle the only 3-sided geometrical figure? High Importance: Why don’t triangles show up very often in nature (as so many other shapes do)?
6. Explain What Matters
Explain the most critical part of a given topic to a self-selected audience (must clarify) in two or fewer sentences. (Audience can be anyone!) Example of Student Response: The most important part of a thesis statement is clarity and conviction, so I’ll explain that one to Jay-Z: A thesis statement is kind of like the hook or title of one of your songs–it delivers the message that the song goes on to explain. Feel me?
7. Big Picture
Diagram the context–where does it fit in and how does it function in its natural “bigger picture.” This is good for abstract or right-brain thinkers. Example of Student Response: It is impossible to understand the rules we live by and how they’re formed without understanding the 3 branches of government.
8. Venn Diagram
Compare/Contrast a given topic to a tangent topic (e.g., the water cycle to distillation, symbolism to allusion, etc.)
9. Draw It
Draw what you do understand. Example of Student Response: A drawing of what an adjective thinks about a noun, or a how much smaller in size the thousandth’s place is compared to the ten’s place.
10. Self-Directed Response
Prove to me you understand in diagram, written, or related form in a way that a stranger would understand.Example of Student Response: I wrote this chorus of a song I’ve been thinking of that would explain this character’s motivation….
Read the full blog post here: http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/10-assessments-you-can-perform-in-90-seconds/
PMS News and Notes
It is weeks like this where the impending weekend never has looked so good. With two nights of Parent/Teacher conferences and five full teaching days, the effort and enthusiasm that our staff has maintained is quite impressive. So, take the time to enjoy the weekend, and we'll get a solid time for professional development work on Monday. Below are some note from the week.
Parent/Teacher Conference Wrap-Up
With our shift this year away from percentages and points, this round of Parent/Teacher Conferences saw us all fielding some tough questions from some passionate parents. After some informal conversations with teachers and parents, it appears that most of the conversations went pretty well, and that most parents understood our goals after we had the opportunity to explain. Kudos to each of our staff members on your efforts this week. This process allowed us to gain some valuable feedback from parents about how we can improve our communication in this system, and perhaps the format and structure of how we do Parent/Teacher Conferences. We will spend some time on Monday working towards consistent communication K-12.
Monday's Professional Development Day
On Monday we'll get started in the High School cafeteria at 8:00 am. We'll work to normalize the way we communicate student progress district wide, and work on putting the finishing touches on our SLO/PPG's and the whole Educator Effectiveness plan for the year. We'll have department time as well. To access the schedule, click HERE.
School Culture
The culture of the school is so vital to the learning that takes place for our students. There are a couple of areas in the school that are indicators of our culture...hallways and the cafeteria. Teacher presence in the hallway helps us to be proactive with behaviors and shapes our culture. Any chance that you get to be in the hallways, especially downstairs hallway by the lockers, helps in this area.
Fire Drill Wrap-Up
We had another successful fire drill. Thanks for your efforts to make this procedure go smoothly. We continue to review our safety plan to be prepared for any situation that could occur.
Data
Behavior Referrals after 7 weeks...
14-15 - 73 Events, 30 Students
13-14 - 50 Events, 43 Students
12-13 - 33 Events, 30 Students
Duty for Next Week
Morning - Rogness, Vian
Bus - Hazard
Parent/Teacher Conference Wrap-Up
With our shift this year away from percentages and points, this round of Parent/Teacher Conferences saw us all fielding some tough questions from some passionate parents. After some informal conversations with teachers and parents, it appears that most of the conversations went pretty well, and that most parents understood our goals after we had the opportunity to explain. Kudos to each of our staff members on your efforts this week. This process allowed us to gain some valuable feedback from parents about how we can improve our communication in this system, and perhaps the format and structure of how we do Parent/Teacher Conferences. We will spend some time on Monday working towards consistent communication K-12.
Monday's Professional Development Day
On Monday we'll get started in the High School cafeteria at 8:00 am. We'll work to normalize the way we communicate student progress district wide, and work on putting the finishing touches on our SLO/PPG's and the whole Educator Effectiveness plan for the year. We'll have department time as well. To access the schedule, click HERE.
School Culture
The culture of the school is so vital to the learning that takes place for our students. There are a couple of areas in the school that are indicators of our culture...hallways and the cafeteria. Teacher presence in the hallway helps us to be proactive with behaviors and shapes our culture. Any chance that you get to be in the hallways, especially downstairs hallway by the lockers, helps in this area.
Fire Drill Wrap-Up
We had another successful fire drill. Thanks for your efforts to make this procedure go smoothly. We continue to review our safety plan to be prepared for any situation that could occur.
Data
Behavior Referrals after 7 weeks...
14-15 - 73 Events, 30 Students
13-14 - 50 Events, 43 Students
12-13 - 33 Events, 30 Students
Duty for Next Week
Morning - Rogness, Vian
Bus - Hazard
Addressing Grading for Learning Questions
At our last round of Parent-Teacher Conferences, we had an opportunity to receive some feedback from parents about our Grading for Learning system. Below is a list of some questions.
Proficiency Levels: AD (Advanced), PR (Proficient), DE (Developing), BE (Beginning), NE (No Evidence)
“The target is proficient, driven students cannot attain Advanced, and teachers say it’s nearly impossible to reach Advanced.”
We must provide multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate Advanced level work after the learning has been scaffolded. We also must be explicit about showing and discussing the qualities of an Advanced piece of work. We should encourage our students and give them feedback to strive to reach the Advanced level. It should be rigorous, but attainable.
“You can only reach Developing in the Beginning of the year”
The natural progression of a unit is to start with beginning level activities to build a base, then progress to the higher levels of the rubric as the base of knowledge is built. It is nearly impossible to walk into the classroom and be able to demonstrate Proficient or Advanced level work. The work that is done in the classroom guides our students to reach the level, but we will only report out on a standard if students have had opportunities to demonstrate Advanced on the rubric.
“For the school as a whole, what is the goal for students to be at? (BE, DE, PR, AD)”
Our target for each student is proficient, but we want as many students as possible to be able to demonstrate Advanced level work.
“How can some students show a developing and that be a C, but others have a DE and it can be an A? But because of the high school system, How do I know where my middle school student stands if a Developing can be an A, B, or C?”
At the High School, the letter grade is used as an “on target” measurement throughout the quarter. At the end of a reporting period, the Board Policy on grades will be followed…(i.e. A=mostly proficient, some advanced, etc) At all grade levels we will focus on the evidence of student work measured against the rubric to determine the student’s level of performance.
“I have concerns over students in middle school not having a GPA being unfamiliar with the system for when they get to high school and it really matters for college.”
What we are doing in our classes right now everyday is building a base for success at the next level. The Middle and High School both use reporting standards and rubrics in the same way. The only difference is that in high school, they use a letter grade. Students will be familiar with the use of rubrics and be more prepared because we have showed them what it takes to demonstrate advanced levels of work in each class.
“I have concerns about not seeing any work come home so they weren’t able to see how their child is doing/how they can improve.”
In my experience as a middle school teacher, most student work that was handed back ended up in the floor or in the garbage. Keeping a portfolio of student work allows teachers/students/parents to see growth, and a sample of student work up against an example of work at each level. By focusing on the work, it is easier to see the improvements/adjustments that need to be made to reach the next level.
“My daughter’s work is a DE, and teacher says that is great and where she needs to be...we think proficient is where they need to be...I don’t want them to fall behind, and I want teachers to push my child and not be satisfied with DE.”
If the work is from the beginning of a unit and the assessment only assessed students at the DE level, then this is on target and where they need to be. If an assessment allows for students to demonstrate an AD level of understanding, and a student receives a DE, then we should focus on why the work was DE and what adjustments need to be made to reach PR.
“Consistency between the way we grade and the way the H.S. grades. Parents want the whole district to be on the same page so students aren’t confused later (as far as if “Developing” is a B? C?) or is “Proficient” an A? B?
I would argue that we are on the same page more now, than we ever have, with the use of reporting standards and rubrics to measure student work. Before, a student had to figure out each individual teacher’s grading system...this could be as much as 5-8 systems per term. Now everyone has laid out the skills and knowledge that we expect students to have and what each proficiency level looks like by the end of the course.
“Some parents are still trying to wrap their heads around AD, PR, DE, BE; they want to think of it as A, B, C, D”
Mrs. Greer gave a solid example of this to a parent. If a student got 10/10 on a vocabulary matching quiz before, it was an A, even though they were low level questions. Now that would demonstrate BE because it’s not a high level activity. Those base building activities are important, but it’s important to go beyond those skills for our students.
“If “Beginning” is passing, why is it that no one can fail?”
Students can still not a pass a class if they have not demonstrated a BE level of understanding. This is not a given.
“I’m worried about subjectivity (EX: 4 proficients and 4 developing meaning a “PR” for some and a “DE” for others)
We will focus on the evidence students provide to determine proficiency levels. The most recent evidence determines the proficiency level at each reporting period.
“As a parent it is more difficult to monitor progress than it was when we used numbers.”
This communication is something that we are working on everyday and taking feedback from parents to improve. We need to be consistent from the elementary school all the way to the high school.
Teacher following a student schedule for a day...
I came across this blog entry from Grant Wiggins this weekend, and thought it was an interesting read...if you get a minute, check it out...it's always a good thing to think from a different perspective from time to time...
http://grantwiggins.wordpress.com/2014/10/10/a-veteran-teacher-turned-coach-shadows-2-students-for-2-days-a-sobering-lesson-learned/
http://grantwiggins.wordpress.com/2014/10/10/a-veteran-teacher-turned-coach-shadows-2-students-for-2-days-a-sobering-lesson-learned/
PMS News & Notes
We are nearing the end of Week 6 already...It's busy...but I sense a bit more of a calm throughout the building and in the classrooms as we establish routines, and students adjust to their schedule and expectations. No doubt, there will be more challenges ahead of us, but those will be less with structure, routine, and consistency in our everyday schedule. Here are some updates...
SLO/PPG
I have met with many of you about plans for your SLO/PPG so far, and I feel pretty good about those conversations. We will spend the morning of Monday, Oct. 20th viewing the Step 4 module as a group, and then we will have SLO/PPG work time to get these completed. The due date will be end of day Friday, Oct. 24th. It is recommended to work off of the planning guides that were shared by Katie and Anna, then copy and paste into Teachscape. If you have any questions as we get closer, don't hesitate to track me down. You can always check my calendar and set up a meeting by inviting me.
Classroom Walk-Throughs
You have probably noticed that I've been in your classroom recently. I am writing down evidence and related components into your shared google doc. If you have any questions about this process or any of the evidence collected, feel free to ask. The main purpose of looking at evidence gathered is to provide a natural way to have good conversations about teaching and learning.
First 5, Last 5
These are vital minutes to every class period. The first 5 for a smooth transition and to get students in the right frame of mind or to focus their thinking. The last 5 for a moment of reflection to make deeper connections with what they just learned. As we increase the rigor level for our students, it is so important to give students opportunities to make these connections every class period.
Next Fire Drill
We will be having our next fire drill on Thursday, October 16 at 8:45 am. Please remind students of the routines and procedures for fire drills. Some tips that we learned from last time...classroom doors shut and lights out, take a quick head count when your class gets to the desired location, and then look for all students that are under your supervision. Last time the building was empty in just over 2 minutes...let's shoot for under 2 minutes this time.
Student of the Month Breakfast
Our first Student of the Month Breakfast will be on Thursday, October 23 starting at 7:00 am in the 1-8 IMC. This is a great opportunity to get families into our building to promote all of the positive things and people that we have in this school! Thank you in advance for your participation.
WKCE Reminder
For the Middle School, we will be administering the WKCE to 8th graders in Science and Social Studies coming up soon. We will be testing Science on 10/28 and Social Studies on 10/29. Click HERE for detailed information.
STAR Results
An email will be coming soon about how we will share this information with parents.
Data
Click on the link below to see data from Mr. O'Connor's Math class charting percentage of students that have their homework completed on time for each assignment.
Homework Completion Data
If you have data that you'd like to share from your classroom, let me know, and you can have a spot in the data portion of the weekly blog
Twitter Followers
Number of Twitter followers that I have gained since our last staff meeting...3...including our very own Greg Kallungi and Todd Whitaker (author of 10 Things Great Teachers do Differently)
SLO/PPG
I have met with many of you about plans for your SLO/PPG so far, and I feel pretty good about those conversations. We will spend the morning of Monday, Oct. 20th viewing the Step 4 module as a group, and then we will have SLO/PPG work time to get these completed. The due date will be end of day Friday, Oct. 24th. It is recommended to work off of the planning guides that were shared by Katie and Anna, then copy and paste into Teachscape. If you have any questions as we get closer, don't hesitate to track me down. You can always check my calendar and set up a meeting by inviting me.
Classroom Walk-Throughs
You have probably noticed that I've been in your classroom recently. I am writing down evidence and related components into your shared google doc. If you have any questions about this process or any of the evidence collected, feel free to ask. The main purpose of looking at evidence gathered is to provide a natural way to have good conversations about teaching and learning.
First 5, Last 5
These are vital minutes to every class period. The first 5 for a smooth transition and to get students in the right frame of mind or to focus their thinking. The last 5 for a moment of reflection to make deeper connections with what they just learned. As we increase the rigor level for our students, it is so important to give students opportunities to make these connections every class period.
Next Fire Drill
We will be having our next fire drill on Thursday, October 16 at 8:45 am. Please remind students of the routines and procedures for fire drills. Some tips that we learned from last time...classroom doors shut and lights out, take a quick head count when your class gets to the desired location, and then look for all students that are under your supervision. Last time the building was empty in just over 2 minutes...let's shoot for under 2 minutes this time.
Student of the Month Breakfast
Our first Student of the Month Breakfast will be on Thursday, October 23 starting at 7:00 am in the 1-8 IMC. This is a great opportunity to get families into our building to promote all of the positive things and people that we have in this school! Thank you in advance for your participation.
WKCE Reminder
For the Middle School, we will be administering the WKCE to 8th graders in Science and Social Studies coming up soon. We will be testing Science on 10/28 and Social Studies on 10/29. Click HERE for detailed information.
STAR Results
An email will be coming soon about how we will share this information with parents.
Data
Click on the link below to see data from Mr. O'Connor's Math class charting percentage of students that have their homework completed on time for each assignment.
Homework Completion Data
If you have data that you'd like to share from your classroom, let me know, and you can have a spot in the data portion of the weekly blog
Twitter Followers
Number of Twitter followers that I have gained since our last staff meeting...3...including our very own Greg Kallungi and Todd Whitaker (author of 10 Things Great Teachers do Differently)
Improving Instructional Practices, Vol. 5
Thanks to Mrs. Morrissey for this Ms. Niemeyer for these short, weekly tips for effective instruction.
Want to read the whole article? Click on the Edutopia article link Tips for Parents-Teacher Conferencing
Parent teacher conferences are upon us. These are great opportunities to create supportive and positive school/home connections. Below are some great tips to review to help make the time we get at each conference positive and productive.
- Approach Parents With Positive Assumptions
Remember that parents want to see their child succeed more than anything else. They are your partner in this, remember to welcome them at the conference as your strongest ally.
- Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
Before conferences think about each conference and what your goals are, what do you want to communicate to each parent, and what is the outcome you want from the meeting. Then prepare materials to support those goals. Choose selected pieces of evidence and jot notes on them to share.
- Be Solution Oriented
Be specific in concerns. Saying that Katie is distracted a lot is hard for a parent to work with. Instead say that you are concerned because Katie is often distracted during independent work time. Mention what you have been doing to help Katie in class, ask if they have seen this behavior at home, and share how they can help their child. Remember, if you have concerns be prepared to offer specific and actionable solutions.
- Take the Opportunity to Learn
Think about what you can learn from the parent(s). If this is the first time you are sitting down with them, take the time to find out their perspective, or any questions/ concerns they may have.
- Show That You Care
Most important of all, let parents know that you truly do know and care about their child. Conferences can be terrifying or wonderful for parents. Lead with the positive and be prepared to be specific or give examples. There is always something positive and praiseworthy about each of our students. It’s our job to find that and share it with parents.
Want to read the whole article? Click on the Edutopia article link Tips for Parents-Teacher Conferencing
PMS News and Notes
Another solid week of learning is almost in the books...we are continuing to establish routines and make memorable learning a part of each lesson that we engage our students. There is nothing like watching kids fully engrossed in a learning activity that is challenging to them. Some news and notes from the week...
Parent/Teacher Conferences Coming Up...
I enjoyed the dialogue at our staff meeting this week. If you have any questions about the upcoming conferences, please let me know. Mr. Hoernke and I will be hosting MS Grading for Learning Parent Meetings on the Thursday (10/16) of conferences...the first one will begin at 4:00 pm followed by another one at 6:00. Location TBA.
MS Breakfast Update
It appears that we are settling in to a routine for our MS Breakfast. Please remind students that the blue containers is for clean recyclables and food should not go into those bins. I appreciate your extra efforts in helping get our students some healthy food in their systems in the morning.
Student of the Month Breakfast
We will continue the Poynette Middle School tradition of a recognition breakfast to honor students that are demonstrating excellence in their daily school life. The first breakfast will be on Thursday, 10/23 at 7:00 am. At this time, we will continue with the same routine. Each grade level team will nominate 2 students (1 male and 1 female) and we'll also have 2 representatives nominated by the Applied Academic teachers. Please let me know your nominations and which teacher representative that will join us at the breakfast by the end of next week (10/10).
First 5, Last 5
Perhaps the most important minutes of each class period are the first 5 and last 5 minutes. The most effective first 5 minutes of a class are a consistent, structured routine to get your students in the right frame of mind. The activity should draw upon prior knowledge or serve as a precursor for what is to come.
During the last 5 minutes and prior to dismissal, it is vital to bring the group together and reflect on the learning from that day's lesson. This is a key opportunity to get student data about where their learning level is in relation to the learning goal for the day or week. This data can be used to tweak the following day's lesson plan.
Effort...
I wanted to include a reminder of the importance of praising and teaching effort and the effects on the student mindset. There is a link to Dweck's video that we viewed at a beginning of the year staff meeting on this topic as a reminder if you'd like to view it again.
Data
Below is attendance data that shows the percentage of students in attendance over the course of the past 3 school years over the same number of weeks in the school year.
12-13 - 97.03%
13-14 - 96.44%
14-15 - 95.93%
Parent/Teacher Conferences Coming Up...
I enjoyed the dialogue at our staff meeting this week. If you have any questions about the upcoming conferences, please let me know. Mr. Hoernke and I will be hosting MS Grading for Learning Parent Meetings on the Thursday (10/16) of conferences...the first one will begin at 4:00 pm followed by another one at 6:00. Location TBA.
MS Breakfast Update
It appears that we are settling in to a routine for our MS Breakfast. Please remind students that the blue containers is for clean recyclables and food should not go into those bins. I appreciate your extra efforts in helping get our students some healthy food in their systems in the morning.
Student of the Month Breakfast
We will continue the Poynette Middle School tradition of a recognition breakfast to honor students that are demonstrating excellence in their daily school life. The first breakfast will be on Thursday, 10/23 at 7:00 am. At this time, we will continue with the same routine. Each grade level team will nominate 2 students (1 male and 1 female) and we'll also have 2 representatives nominated by the Applied Academic teachers. Please let me know your nominations and which teacher representative that will join us at the breakfast by the end of next week (10/10).
First 5, Last 5
Perhaps the most important minutes of each class period are the first 5 and last 5 minutes. The most effective first 5 minutes of a class are a consistent, structured routine to get your students in the right frame of mind. The activity should draw upon prior knowledge or serve as a precursor for what is to come.
During the last 5 minutes and prior to dismissal, it is vital to bring the group together and reflect on the learning from that day's lesson. This is a key opportunity to get student data about where their learning level is in relation to the learning goal for the day or week. This data can be used to tweak the following day's lesson plan.
Effort...
I wanted to include a reminder of the importance of praising and teaching effort and the effects on the student mindset. There is a link to Dweck's video that we viewed at a beginning of the year staff meeting on this topic as a reminder if you'd like to view it again.
Data
Below is attendance data that shows the percentage of students in attendance over the course of the past 3 school years over the same number of weeks in the school year.
12-13 - 97.03%
13-14 - 96.44%
14-15 - 95.93%
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