PMS News and Notes Turkey Day Edition

A short week and some much needed time for rest, family, and good food...It's really important for all of us to take some time for all of those things and recharge your battery.  When we come back, we have 3 weeks till a solid winter break.  A shortened news and notes version below.  I hope each of you has a great, restful holiday.

Staff Meeting Reminder

This is a reminder that we'll have a Middle School Staff Meeting on Wednesday, December 3rd. We'll focus on communication of student progress.  Please be thinking about this topic and feel free to check out and add to this document that we'll be working on.

Drill
On Tuesday afternoon, we practiced a Hold.  As a reminder, we will call for a Hold in situations where the hallways need to be clear.  Examples include: medical emergency, drug dogs, locker checks, etc.  We will announce that we are in a Hold.

Teachers should:
1.)quickly survey and clear the hallways and bathrooms (if close by)
2.)open blinds; lock doors
3.)continue class activities as usual
4.)take attendance
5.)wait patiently for directions or the "All-Clear" announcement.

During a Hold, teachers should NOT
1.)release anyone
2.)call the office.

We will be practicing a drill each month.  I will try to make sure that we communicate prior to the drill.  Everyone did a great job during the drill on Tuesday afternoon.

Efficiency Update
Our district recently met with some ESG representatives to review our energy efficiency.  The following guidelines were discussed.  Heating and Cooling Malfunctions or Issues-  If you do have issues please do not call maintenance directly, contact me first.  Also the following items should not be in individual classrooms:  Space heaters, refrigerators, coffeemakers.  There are a number of common ones that can be used in the work room or multi-purpose room.  We will also be adding a refrigerator to the work room.  Also, there cannot be any scent candles that are burned throughout the course of the day or any plug-in scent tools either.

Winter Weather Update
If you are supervising students outside, we will follow the same guidelines as we have in the past. For students to be out in the snow, they need to have boots on.  If not, then they should remain on the blacktop.

Twitter as PD
I hope to share some links that are helpful that I find from Twitter.
http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/2014/09/8-ways-teachers-can-talk-less-get-kids-talking.html?crlt.pid=camp.JqhtKjmWesjP

Duty Next Week 
Morning - Jorgensen, Kallungi
Bus - Deans

              

PMS News and Notes

It appears that the cold weather is here to stay...I was hoping that we'd sneak a couple more 40 degree days, but I'm getting used to the fact that the warm, comfortable months are far in the distance...oh well, that means being inside at school is easier and there is a lot of basketball to view for entertainment!  Thanksgiving Break is less than a week away, and the fast pace of life continues to amaze me.  Thanks for all of your hard work and effort!

Student Motivation
This topic is so huge, especially in Middle School.  I put a short article by Rick Wormeli in your mail box.  If you get a minute, give it a read.  There are so many factors related to student motivation, but if we can continue to refine things that we do in our classrooms and the school to get our students hooked, our students will be benefit.  We'll continue to revisit this topic.

Communication of Student Progress
I popped in on a 6th Grade Team Meeting, and they were having a conversation about a blog post from last week...and my first thought was..."Someone actually reads my blog!" After my initial excitement, I joined the conversation about student and parent perceptions about student progress with a reporting system that focuses on standards. Providing better communication and feedback is a HUGE goal of ours, so we need to ensure that students understand how we score their work, and where they are in relation to the standard at all times. These are good discussion points for all of us. Our goal must be to get our students and parents as comfortable with understanding of "how I'm doing" in each class, as they were looking at A, B, C...etc. I started a document that I hope will start a brainstorming conversation about how we can move quickly to improve in this critical area. Click HERE to access this document and join the conversation.

Mid-Quarter Dates
The Mid-Quarter is almost upon us already. The Mid-Quarter date is Friday, 12/5. Please have Mid-Quarter grades posted by end of day Monday, 12/8.  I'll send a messenger notification to parents on the following Tuesday 12/9.  If you have any questions about this process, please let me know.  Also, remember that if we did not assess a standard in the Mid-Quarter, keep it blank.

Mackenzie Center Partnership
If you have been following the board minutes, you may have noticed that we have recently agreed on a partnership with the Mackenzie Center, and they are proud to have the title as "The Poynette School District's Outdoor Classroom".  They have a shuttle bus that has been utilized by some of our high school classes already.  If you have any questions and want to know more about the possibility of using the center as a resource to enhance a lesson or unit, let's have a conversation.

Educational Politics in Wisconsin
Before the next legislative session begins, the Wisconsin School Administrator's Alliance (SAA) released an evidence-based policy agenda.  The aim of the SAA is to educate our legislators about what works in schools and what policies can help schools be effective at reaching their goals.  If you are interested in the document, you can view it HERE.  If you are interested in reading an article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel regarding the release, you can view that HERE.

Early Release Next Wednesday
On Wednesday 11/26, Middle School students will be dismissed at 12:30.  Middle School staff may feel free to enjoy an early vacation starting at 12:45.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Next Week Duty
Morning Duty - Hazard, Hendrickson
Bus Duty - Fraser

Data
Attendance Rates through 11/21/14...
13-14 - 96.05%
14-15 - 95.71%

PMS News and Notes

The 2nd Quarter is clicking along and Thanksgiving is in our sights...hard to believe. We are all working very hard, and our students are the benefactors. In conversations throughout the building, we are seeing student growth in their work and behaviors...it's exciting. Now for some updates from the week that was and the week to come.

Veteran’s Day Ceremony

Proud. That is the one word that comes to mind when I think about the ceremony. Proud of both the class of the student presenters, chorus, and band, but also of the solemn attitude of our students to recognize the sacrifice that so many have given and how serious those implications are in our everyday lives. Thank you for your part in getting our students to that place.

Intervention Results

We held various department meetings this week, and it was exciting to analyze the student data. Congratulations to our math team and everyone that is incorporating math into your lessons. Data is showing that students in the intervention groups are experiencing solid growth according to the STAR assessment. It is exciting to narrow down who needs help, what they need, and then following through. English teachers will be progress monitoring this week. I'm confident that we'll see similar results.

Grading for Learning Parent Presentation
Dr. Hoernke and I hosted another parent presentation on Tuesday evening. We had 3 people attend. These are great opportunities for a dialogue with parents about their questions and provide an insight into student/parent perceptions of our goals with our Grading for Learning System. Some feedback that we received from parents for all of us to reflect on was: "Students are very confused about where they stand. They don't know if they are doing well." Reflect on that quote from your classroom's perspective. We should have dialogue with students about these concerns. Providing better communication and feedback is a huge goal of ours, so we need to ensure that students understand how we score their work, and where they are in relation to the standard. These are good discussion points for all of us. Please don't hesitate to ask any clarifying questions as they come up with our grading.

Grading for Learning Communication of Student Progress
This is just a reminder that each assignment/assessment that we enter into Infinite Campus should have the level that we are assessing posted in the comments section for each student. We must be consistent with our phrase and message to students about how this will work. Use this language for the level of assessments:  
Level: Advanced
Level: Proficient
Level: Developing
Level: Beginning
As always, see me or your colleagues if you have questions about how to do this.

Education Politics

It is interesting to follow the politics in the state in regards to education. I will attempt to give an unbiased look into some of the things that are on the agenda for legislators to consider for Wisconsin's educational future. With the recent election results, Governor Walker made it very clear that there will be changes to the educational landscape. Immediately following the election, Governor Walker said he will look to repeal the Common Core Standards and expand the voucher program. See article HERE for more information. To learn more about what vouchers are all about click HERE and check out each Key Fact. The 2nd article comes from the Wisconsin School Administrator's Alliance.

Next Week Duty

Morning Duty - Greer, Harms
Bus Duty - Frehner

Improving Instructional Practice Vol. 8

Thanks to Mrs. Morrissey for this Ms. Niemeyer for these short, weekly tips for effective instruction.

Danielson’s Domain Rubrics & Evidence Samples

Many teachers are beginning to think about artifacts and evidence for Danielson’s Domains. If you are wondering what artifacts or evidence to collect, or where they fit within the domains and components check out Charlotte Danielson's Flip Book .  This document is a great resources to help with getting started.  Simply click on the link above and download the flip book which contains the levels of performance for each domain, the components with a brief explanation of each, and a list of sources for artifacts/evidence that could be used.  You can print off a copy and create your flip book to keep handy and refer to throughout the school year.

 

Student Motivation

At our last staff meeting, we had the opportunity to read an article by Carol Ann Tomlinson about an issue that oftentimes is a source of frustration for educators...Student Motivation.  The article focused on what we, as educators, can do for our students when we are confronted with a student that seems not interested in learning what we have planned for them to learn.  Below are some thoughts and highlights from the article.  Feel free to share your thoughts, strategies that have worked for you, or any other thoughts from your experience in the Comments.

Here are some things I thought were good takeaways from the article.

     "The teacher is key to student motivation.  We have immense power to unleash - or diminish - a young person's desire to learn.  There's so much we can do in either direction."  As adults in the building we help shape "The Personal Sphere".  Do I believe in this student's ability to do well?  Am I communicating this in words and body language?  What am I doing to know this child better today than I did yesterday?  These are helpful reflection questions as we think about students that are oftentimes unmotivated to learn.  Sometimes students frustrate us, and it is difficult to take a step back and reflect in the moment.  Thinking of these questions ahead of time and planning our reaction can be helpful.
     In terms of "The Academic Sphere", a question to consider, "Do I tap the power of this content to inspire learning?"  Some ways to bring the material to life for the student: "beginning with questions rather than answers and showing students the links between what I teach and their lives."
     By working in a school, with students, every day, we have the opportunity to have a huge impact on the life of a kid.  Sometimes, it just takes one teacher to show an interest in a student.  When we refuse to give up on a kid, we can send a life-changing message.  Or when we approach a reluctant learner as if he/she is a dreamer who just needs a little help shaping that dream.  The tough part in this whole scenario, is that we may not know our impact until years later, if at all...

PMS News and Notes

The first week of the 2nd Quarter is already in the books.  Thanks to everyone for a great week.  Here are some notes from the week and for the week ahead.

IE Advisory Wednesdays
On Wednesdays during IE, while you are meeting with students and looking at their grades, please take time to review their Puma Pride scores, and if need be, set goals for next quarter with them.  This can be a good daily reminder for our students.

Report Card Format
Over the course of the past week, we have been able to tweak the report cards to be clear and meaningful.  There will be this PAGE1 with Grades, this PAGE2 with Rubric explanations, and an Attendance Report page.  We will continue to search for ways to improve how we communicate student progress.

Instructional Minutes as our Currency
Each minute of every class period is sacred, and should be used to move our kids forward in our learning standards.  As we face daily decisions, we should all collectively keep this as a core value.

Veteran's Day Assembly
This is a reminder that Grades 6-8 will be attending the Veteran's Day Assembly in the Don Kerr Gym on Tuesday, 11/11/14 starting at 9:00 am.  We should plan to head over to the HS at 8:55 and enter through the North Gym doors.  The assembly agenda will be similar to years past and probably will take around 30-45 minutes.  As always, your conversation with students prior to going over and sitting among the student body are always appreciated.

Sub Calling Hours
A reminder that if you wake up and feel like you cannot make it in to work, please call Gary Laib no earlier than 5:30 am and before 6:00 am.  Also, if you know you can't make it the night before, please call him before 10:00 pm.

Duty Schedule for Next Week
Morning Duty - Frehner, Graeve
Bus Duty - Graeve

Improving Instructional Practices Vol. 7

Thanks to Mrs. Morrissey for this Ms. Niemeyer for these short, weekly tips for effective instruction.

30 Techniques to Quiet a Noisy Class:

Danielson’s Domain 2d: Managing Student Behaviors

Experienced and novice teachers alike all battle from time to time with getting a class to quiet down.  Many teachers have a handful of favorite techniques that they teach and use with their students to get them listening.   Here are a few great ideas at every grade level to try:

Late Elementary & Middle School:

1.Silent 20:

Students have 20 seconds to get in their seats and quiet- you can add a point to the class total each time they are able to do it in less than 20 and the class can work towards a reward and/ or compete against your other classes.

2.Catch them at the door:

Greet students at the door, make some positive connections,  and get them entering the classroom quietly.   Check out this video clip link to learn more

3.100% attention 100% of the time:  

Check out this video clip link to learn about and see this technique in action.

Upper Middle & High School:

1.Call and response:  

Use these catchy phrases to get students listening:  

Teacher says:	Student says:
1,2,3 eyes on me	1,2 eyes on you
Holy	Macaroni
I’m incredible	Like the hulk...grrrr
The only easy day	Was yesterday (A Navy Seals slogan)

2.Play classical music:

Play classical music (like Bach)  on a low volume when students enter, it sets a calming and professional tone to start the class.

 Regardless of the technique used there is one thing that determines the success of any technique, practice, practice, practice!  Don’t accept anything less than 100% compliance. Do you have a particularly rough class that is intimidating you?   Remember we’ve all been there, remind yourself that your students will listen to you!   Finally, take comfort in knowing that out of all the educators in the US,  several also struggled to silence a chatty class today too.   

Want to read the whole article?  Click on the link:  30 Techniques to Quiet a Noisy Class