Resource of the Week
I think the article this week hits the nail on the head...
"Too Much Focus on 'Learning Loss' Will be a Historic Mistake" - Stephen Merrill
Simple gestures like greeting kids at the door, meanwhile, improve academic engagement by 20 percentage points, and the mere presence of images of women in science textbooks moves the needle on inclusion. Ensuring that all kids have at least one adult who cares about them is an effective buffer against adverse experiences like poverty, violence, and neglect. Last year a group of renowned researchers and influential educators including Pamela Cantor, MD, Linda Darling-Hammond, and Karen Pittman published a paper on the science of learning and development that didn’t mince words: “The presence and quality of our relationships may have more impact on learning and development than any other factor.”
Forward Exam ELA is Monday
Monday is the day for our kids to shine in ELA...Tuesday it's Math time. Our mission is to set up the conditions for all students to put in their absolute best effort on the Forward Exam....if that happens, I'm confident the results will be fun to review when they come in this summer.
Each grade level has their schedule set, and all of our small groups and their locations are also set. The app will show up on student computers right away on Monday morning, and all families will get a text on Sunday night reminding them to have their student bring in headphones and get a good night sleep.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Transition back to more "normal"
Our 8th grade was able to learn directly from their core teachers this past week. The 8th graders I spoke with (which was a lot of them) really enjoyed learning in the face to face format, felt the day went faster, and reported it was easier to learn. There certainly was a lot of adjustments and planning to make this happen, but judging from the response from students and their teachers, it was well worth it. Our 7th grade took steps on Thursday, and our 6th grade will be making the transition to face to face instruction in the core classes this coming Thursday.
This year has been challenging in so many ways, and we have continued to adapt and adjust our plan to improve what we do...this can feel exhausting at times, but when we really take a solid look at our "WHY"...why we do what we do, those efforts are worth it. Thank you to all for rolling with the punches, being willing to adapt, be flexible, and adjust our comfort zone for the kids. Those efforts are what a great collective efficacy looks like in action.
We'll continue to look for ways to be better all the way until our kids are dismissed on the last day of school.
Forward Exam Item Review Committee
If you are interested in being a part of a group that meets over the summer to analyze the test questions, provide feedback and give input for the Forward items, there is an opportunity. See the message below:
Good day:
DPI’s Office of Educational Accountability is looking to recruit a diverse group of educators from all over Wisconsin (including EL and special education teachers) to participate in the Summer “New Item Review” for the Forward Exam. This is a great opportunity to be a part of assessment development, provide valuable feedback, have detailed input about the items on the Forward Exam, and take knowledge back to the district about the process.
Attached is a flyer with more information about the meetings including dates, logistics, and application information. Please make this flyer available to all educators 3-8 and 10 in your school. Their input is invaluable during this stage of item development.
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