The Middle Update 11/18/16

With a short week next week, the month of November is almost in the rear view mirror.  This time of year always seems to be here and gone before you know it.  The focus on our students and facilitating their achievement to levels they thought weren't possible remains at the forefront, with each day a new opportunity for growth.  Our students are fortunate to attend a school with a dedicated, student-centered staff.

2nd Quarter Grades
The posting window for our grades is open any time.  Teachers can post student progress grades in any standard anytime throughout the quarter.  Please have posted grades (mid-term) in Infinite Campus updated by the end of November.  Those grades should then be updated as they change throughout the quarter.

Staff Meeting on Tuesday, 12/6
We will meet as a staff on Tuesday (12/6) in Mrs. Anderson's room (3).  We will check in on the practice of facilitating solid student discussion in our classes.  Teachers will share effective strategies that are being utilized in our classrooms.  If you have had solid success in this area, and would like to share with the group, please let me know, and you'll have the opportunity to spread the good practice.

Puma Pride Committee
The next Puma Pride Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, 11/29.  We will review and continue to work on refining our school-wide Puma Pride interventions.

School Board Meeting
The November School Board Meeting is Monday at 7 pm.  Click HERE to view the board report from the Middle School.

IE Book Talks
We completed our first round of book talks on Thursday.  From my perspective, it appeared to go very well, with a number of students excited to read some of the titles that were presented.  I will be looking for feedback from all stakeholders to examine our next steps for helping to embed the love of reading into our school culture.  Thank you to all of you for your efforts in communication, preparation to pull off a solid event.

Early Release on Wednesday (11/23) is 1:15
See the schedule for this day.

Twitter Find of the Week

edutopia ‏@edutopia  2h2 hours ago

Breaking a vicious cycle that undermines student success: http://edut.to/2glgmnk .

0 replies20 retweets24 likes

Duty Next Week
Morning - Hendrickson, Johnson
Bus - Frehner

Data
Puma Pride Data (Percent of students will all ME's)

The Middle Update 11/12/16

Happy Veteran's Day!  A day to reflect, remember, and honor those who have sacrificed so much of their own life for us.  What a great example to share with our students, that lends itself to a natural conversation about empathy and care for others.

Book Talks Next Week
It's almost here...we'll be running our first round of books talks during each of the IE periods on Thursday.  Students have signed up, and we have assigned room locations for each of the book talks.  See the updated flyer for the room assignments.  6th grade IE will have different room assignments than the 7th/8th grade session.  See room assignments at the following links:      6th     7th/8th

During the 35 minute IE time, we'll be running two sessions.  Students will attend one for the 1st 15 minutes, then switch to attend another session.  Students have already signed up for a book that they would like to hear about.  I will share with the grade level teams how we will dismiss students and decide the communication that will take place to get students to the right rooms.

Report Cards
Report cards have been printed off, and we will be sending them out either late on Friday or early Monday.

Veteran's Day Assembly
Thanks all of you for your help getting our students prepared for the Veteran's Day Assembly on Friday morning.  Some of the veterans were really surprised afterwards that we had Middle School students in attendance, saying, "there were middle school students here?  Aren't they usually loud?"  Kudos to all of you and our students for a solid display of what being a Puma is all about.

Puma Pride Interventions
As we collect all of the data from the end of the first quarter, we are about the embark on the implementation of systematic interventions to help students whose Puma Pride scores indicate that they need some assistance in different areas.  The grade level teams continue to work on the "Completes and Returns Work in a Timely Manner" standard.  Mrs. Morton has already begun to provide an intervention for any student that needs help with "Treats other with Kindness" standard, and next week, I will work with our students struggling with "Following classroom expectations".

Targeted Assessment/SLO Work
We are one week from the last PD Day, where we all mapped out our targeted assessment plan in relation to achieving our SLO.  As we move towards our next PD Day on Monday, 11/28/16, teachers should be in the targeted assessment cycle, and either ready to implement or analyze the data.  We will use part of the next PD day spent on collaboration around the data.

Staff Meeting in December
We will have a staff meeting on Tuesday, December 6th from 2:50 to 3:30 in Mrs. Anderson's room.  Our focus will be on creating a culture of rich student discussion in our classrooms.  We have too many teachers utilizing great practices to not spread the wealth.  If you utilize or have utilized effective strategies to build rich, level 4 discussion in your class, please let me know, and I'll set you up to share during our time together on 12/6.

Early Release Schedule
On Wednesday, 11/23, all students will be dismissed at 1:15.  Please review the Early Release Schedule before, and let me know if you see any conflicts in the assignments for that day so we can resolve them ahead of time.

Wednesday Visitors
This past Wednesday, we welcomed about 30 teachers/administrators from 4 districts across the state (Elkhorn, Antigo, McFarland, Fall River) to share a little bit of how we do things in terms of assessment and instruction.  Other educators across the state are interested in hearing how you all do what you do in the classroom.

Twitter Find of the Week

edutopia ‏@edutopia  15h15 hours ago

This chemistry teacher knows a little something about intrinsic motivation: http://edut.to/2ePYyPA .

Duty Next Week
Morning- Hazard, Johnson
Bus- Filerman

The Middle Update 11/4/16

I thought Friday was a great day of work!  Thanks to all for your efficient and thorough work session in departments.  I am excited about the focus our SLO/Targeted Assessment process will bring to our goals of increased student achievement across the board.  See a couple of notes below...

Cool things that have happened at PMS so far this year...
"A student accelerated to 6th grade math during 1st quarter.  He is a students with some social/emotional needs, so it is exciting to see him succeeding."

"I don't have the data in front of me, but it seems that there are less kids that are needing direct intervention for math than in year's past."

"I had 3 students make awesome connections to a reading on hurricanes today"

"We survived writing a formal narrative paper in 6th grade using the MLA requirements/format for the first time!  We didn't use it until later last year"

"No students refused to participate in Mix It Up Day"

New Staff Welcome

Welcome to Amy Luebke and Jamie Keller, who will be joining our Middle School Teaching Staff for the next couple of months. Amy will be in for Mr. Williams, and Jamie for Mrs. Rogness.

Veteran’s Day Assembly

We will participate in the annual Veteran's Day Assembly on 11/11/16 at 9:00 am in the Kerr Gym ath the High School. We will adjust Nutrition Break time to accommodate.

Quarter 1 Grades Posting
Grades should be posted by end of day Wednesday (11/9). Report cards will be mailed home near the end of the week.

MS Book Talks 11/17
We will be running our first round of book talks on Thursday, 11/17 during IE. Posters advertising the book talks are posted. More information on the details of the book talks will follow soon.

Classroom Visits
Mr. Shappell will be accompanying me on some of my classroom visit rounds this coming week.

Student of the Month Breakfast 11/17/16
Our next SOM Breakfast is coming up. Please confer, and send your recommendations to the office as soon as you can. 7th grade team has their recommendations submitted already.

Grading for Learning Visit
On Wednesday, 11/9, we will have 4 schools (Antigo, Fall River, McFarland, Elkhorn) visiting our campus to learn more about how we do what we do. The session will take place in the HS IMC.

October Update
Check out this month's update video HERE. If you are dying to be featured in one of these videos, please let me know, and I'll be happy to accommodate!

Early Release on 11/23
There will be an Early Release on Wednesday, 11/23.  Students will be dismissed on this day at 1:15.  Please review the Early Release Schedule ahead of time, and let me know if you notice any conflicts in your schedule.

Twitter Find of the Week

edutopia ‏@edutopia  10h10 hours ago

Prepare students for writing by learning how to use graphic organizers correctly: http://edut.to/2f6nmkn . #writechat

0 replies61 retweets81 likes

 

 

 

Duty Next Week

Morning - Gavin, Johnson

Bus - Luebke

The Middle Update 10/30/16

November is here this week, and with it brings us to the end of the 1st quarter.  The next week or two gives us a couple of collaboration and communication opportunities to continue our work to boost student achievement.  Like we reviewed in our staff meeting, our data indicates that so many culture and achievement indicators are heading in the right direction...we have a lot to be proud of, and more ground to cover.  I really appreciate working with a group of educators who put students first, and constantly strive for the refinement of the good things that we already have built.

PD Day, Friday 11/4

Mr. Shappell shared the PD Day schedule last Friday afternoon.  I am really looking forward to the work that we'll put in during this collaboration opportunity, and the benefits that our students will reap stemming from our efforts.

SLO/PPG's

The SLO/PPG will be a central focus of our time on Friday, so you should come prepared with a working draft of your SLO and PPG, and an idea of what data you plan to focus on throughout the year.  If you are still not completely sure about the focus or data, please schedule a time with me prior to Friday.

Telling Our Story

At the staff meeting we reviewed a lot of culture/achievement data.  What stands out to me is our achievement relative to many of our neighbors.  Explore the data HERE.  More of our students are achieving at high levels because our teachers design rigorous learning activities that students participate in and get feedback on daily!  The Poynette School District is starting to known as a district of innovation and high achievement.  Many people in our community and the area don't know about the success of our instructional programs and its effect on the achievement of our students.  It's up to us to tell our story, and in today's world, there are many avenues to share this story with our community.  I welcome ideas and thoughts about how we can add to the avenues that we already utilize to tell the story of the many great things about the students in our schools.

Fire Drill
We will be conducting a fire drill this week, most likely on Monday...as always, make sure the students are familiar with the emergency procedures from your classroom.

Assembly on Thursday (11/3)

We will be meeting as a Middle School group on Thursday afternoon for our annual End of Quarter 1 Assembly.  Please dismiss students at 2:15.  Also, don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone, and see Mr. Johnson and Mr. Filerman to get prepped for our special "Staff" performance (this is a great way to build or enhance your "street cred" in the eyes of the students).

Next Literacy Committee Meeting

We will be meeting on Thursday (11/3) at 2:50 to finalize planning for the upcoming book talks in November.  Anyone is welcome to join us!

Welcoming a couple of new staff members
Very soon we will be welcoming a couple of new staff members who will be serving as long-term subs for a couple of our teachers.  Ms. Amy Luebke will be taking over for Mr. Williams starting next Monday (11/7) and Ms. Jamie Keller will be taking over at some time soon for Mrs. Rogness.  They will both be in our buildings getting ready at different times, so if you see them, welcome them to our team.

PAD Parent Club Dance Update

Our students had a great time at their dance Friday night.  It was really nice to see them decked out in costumes and letting loose, having a fun time together as a community of students.  It was a great, positive atmosphere.  Thanks to the Parent's Club members for putting in so much time and effort for our kids!

Twitter Find of the Week

 

edutopiaVerified account‏@edutopia

What the heck is restorative justice? http://edut.to/2fnRET0 . #leadupchat

0 replies0 retweets0 likes

M Shappell ‏@mattshappell  Oct 28

Results of a great "mix it up" day in the middle school: students talked to someone they didn't know well and shared something new.

0 replies0 retweets0 likes

Duty This Week

Morning - Frehner, Johnson

Bus - Vian

The Middle Update 10/21/16

We have only 2 weeks remaining in the 1st Quarter!  As the cooler air moves in, and the days get a little shorter, it's a little easier being inside, and with the solid teaching and learning that takes place inside our building, it makes it all the better.  Check out below for some information about the weeks ahead.

Staff Meeting this Wednesday (10/26)
We will have a staff meeting this Wednesday in Mrs. Hendrickson's room beginning at 2:50.  We have a full agenda including a couple activities designed to ensure our assessment practices are normed, laying out our department work planning for this school year, and reviewing our progress using some of our 16-17 data.

Puma Pride Committee Meeting on Monday (10/24)
The next Puma Pride Committee Meeting is on Monday afternoon at 2:50 in Mr. Odden's room.  We will be discussing keeping our Puma Pride expectations consistent, our Puma Pride intervention plan, and planning for the End of Quarter 1 Assembly.  Anyone is welcome to contribute to the group.

Book Talks are Coming...(11/17)
A reminder that we are in the works of planning our first IE Book Talks.  See this FLYER (it's still a work in progress) for a sneak peak...

Halloween Dance (11/28)
The PAD Parent's Club will be sponsoring their annual Halloween Dance for our students.  The Elementary Dance will be from 6:00 to 7:30, and the Middle School Dance will run from 7:30 to 9:00.  The group asked if any teachers would be willing to attend and help chaperone, while joining in on the fun.  If you are interested, there will be free pizza and drink waiting for you.  Visit this SITE to sign up.

Twitter Post of the Week
Twitter can be a solid tool for educators.  Keep up with current trends in education, gets tips that work from others, and network with other teachers from around the world.  It's easy to set up and get started.  If you are interested in learning how it can be another tool for growth, I'd be happy to help get you started.

Erin Klein ‏@KleinErin  Feb 28

Six Ways To Motivate Students To Learn http://buff.ly/1TI9hZA  #learning #motivation

0 replies13 retweets12 likes

 

 

 

Jerry Pritzl ‏@jerrypritzl  Oct 20

Recognizing excellent work from our students!

0 replies0 retweets3 likes

 

 

 

 

A Word from our Instructional Coaches

The Power of Yet:  14 Picture Books to Help Teach About Perseverance and Determination

Looking for a way to continue to infuse the growth mindset into your classroom?  Here is a list of 14 books that can be used within your classroom, this resource was posted on The Teachers College Reading and Writing Project site, they are a great resource to follow on social media!

	The Most Magnificent Thing Having a can-do attitude like the protagonist is a must for any person wanting to make make her mark in the world of science and technology. With the help of her assistant dog, a “regular girl” decides she is going to invent a most MAGNIFICENT thing. She has a lot of false starts. Nothing seems to be turning out the way she wants and it’s so frustrating for her! However, she takes a walk, comes back and looks at her inventions afresh, and finally figures things out.
	Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah. Emmanuel was born in Ghana with only one leg. Most children with disabilities didn’t go to school, but Emanuel was determined and hopped two miles each way to attend school. After his mother died, he decided to honor her last words by proving “that being disabled does not mean being unable.” He completed the astounding feat of bicycling 400 miles in 10 days.
	Flight School  A young penguin may not have exactly the right body for flight, but he has the “soul of an eagle.” Eager to enroll in flight school and learn what it takes to soar, he is not discouraged. Fortunately, the other birds are so taken with his determination they do what it takes to make his dreams come true.
	A Chair for My Mother is a gorgeous book about familial love and how much of our determination to accomplish a goal is motivated by family. The narrator, a young girl, describes how her family lost everything in a fire. They found a new home and their neighbors donated furniture but what they lacked was a comfortable chair for her mother to rest in after her days of work as a waitress. The family saves their change in a jar and when the coins finally reach the top, they set off to buy the perfect chair. The story is quietly appealing and shares a valuable lesson not just about perseverance and love, but about recognizing that for many families, having a good chair is a luxury.
	Rosie Revere, Engineer Rosie loves to tinker, build and invent. She gets discouraged when her inventions flop on the first try. Her wonderfully eccentric great-great-great aunt, however, explains to her that a flop is a successes because it paves the way for the next step in the inventive process
	Brave Irene. Irene’s mother is a dressmaker and is unable to deliver an important gown to the duchess. In typical Steig style, Irene braves the winter storm, facing her foes, the whipping wind and swirling snow to get the gown to the grateful lady in time.
	Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type. If you want to raise kids who won’t let their future employers walk all over them, read them this modern classic about a group of determined barnyard animals who persevere to get what they want, despite a grumpy farmer .
	You Can Do It, Bert! by Ole Könnecke made us laugh out loud with its surprising twist. I will absolutely not give it away, so don’t even ask. This is a lighthearted and gently humorous tale about a bird who is about to have a first time experience. Will he go for it? How will his friends react?
	One Word from Sophia. Sophia’s one true desire is to get a giraffe for her birthday. She prepares elaborate, individualized presentations to argue her case before each family member:  a judge, businessperson, lawyer and disciplinarian (grandma!). Can she win her case, and will she find just the right word to win her case and convince the jury?
	Amazing Grace. An interesting fact is that Laura Bush named this title one of her 5 favorite books of all time. Grace’s favorite thing to do is act out her favorite stories (and aren’t all children natural actors during pretend play?). She wants to play the role of Peter Pan in the school production, but her friends tell her she can’t because Peter is a boy, and not black. Her grandmother, however, shows Grace that she can be anything she wants, if she puts her mind to it. It so happens that Grace makes a delightful Peter Pan.
	Henry’s Freedom Box. This is the true story of Henry Brown, a slave who, when separated from his family was determined to reach freedom. Using his limited resources in an environment of great adversity and danger, and with the help of an abolitionist, he packs himself inside a crate and mails himself to freedom.
	Thank You, Mr. Falker. Tricia wants to learn to read so much, but the lines of text just don’t seem like anything but wiggly scribbles. Finally, in fifth grade she meets a compassionate teacher who helps her fulfill her wish.
	The Boy and the Airplane and The Girl and the Bicycle. Wordless books are uniquely suited for encouraging extended conversations. In each story the child wants something so much he or she is willing to put in a lot of effort and patience to achieve the goal.

Duty This Week
Morning - Filerman, Johnson
Bus - Schoen