Week of: November 10th, 2014
********NEWS*************************
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Shannon Billits and her husband Adam as they are expecting their first child in May! We are so excited for them both and their families!!! Congratulations!
A HUGE thank you to Rebecca Negrin for starting High Point's Girls on the Run Club which teaches our girls not only about being healthy but about teamwork, perseverance, and friendship.
Also, a big thank you to Sarah Griffin, Michelle Dickie, and Amanda Reich for taking their personal time to support our girls!!!
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Fountas and Pinnell
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Shannon Billits and her husband Adam as they are expecting their first child in May! We are so excited for them both and their families!!! Congratulations!
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Girls on the Run
We are so proud of our 4th and 5th grade girls and coaches for completing their run yesterday. The 5K run started and ended at Atlantic Station and there were hundreds of girls and their "running buddies" in attendance. A HUGE thank you to Rebecca Negrin for starting High Point's Girls on the Run Club which teaches our girls not only about being healthy but about teamwork, perseverance, and friendship.
Also, a big thank you to Sarah Griffin, Michelle Dickie, and Amanda Reich for taking their personal time to support our girls!!!
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Fountas and Pinnell
It
is time to start reassessing your students on Fountas and Pinnell. The
deadline for the 2nd administration is Friday, December 19th.
The next 4 weeks have a lot of activities such as Math Day, turkey day, the book
fair, sing-alongs, class parties, etc… so think about starting now. As a
suggestion, assess your highest students first, giving your lower students more
time to grow over the month. I know that the deadline is not for a month but
time always slips away from us.
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Learning Tuesday
This Learning Tuesday all teachers will be given time to work collaboratively towards creating a Rigorous and Relevant task for students during the Reading/LA block. Grade level chairs have been sent an email regarding this so please report to your grade level chair's classroom on this day at 2:50 pm. We hope you take full advantage of this extra time to learn and collaborate with each other.
All SPED, ESOL, and EIP teachers, please report to Ms. Robert's portable for our Learning PLC. Thanks!!
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Rigor and Relevance Observations
Donnella Cranford will be coming Wednesday, November 12th to conduct informal observations regarding rigor in the classrooms. She will begin her observations at 8:30 with each grade level chair. Hess will email the observation and debriefing times to each grade level chair.
There are a few open block times in which Donnella is free to discuss any tasks you might be implementing or ask any questions you might have in regards to Rigor and Relevance. If you are interested in meeting with Donnella, please email Hess by the end of today. Thank you!
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Can Drive Reminders
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Formative Assessments
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Learning Tuesday
This Learning Tuesday all teachers will be given time to work collaboratively towards creating a Rigorous and Relevant task for students during the Reading/LA block. Grade level chairs have been sent an email regarding this so please report to your grade level chair's classroom on this day at 2:50 pm. We hope you take full advantage of this extra time to learn and collaborate with each other.
All SPED, ESOL, and EIP teachers, please report to Ms. Robert's portable for our Learning PLC. Thanks!!
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Rigor and Relevance Observations
Donnella Cranford will be coming Wednesday, November 12th to conduct informal observations regarding rigor in the classrooms. She will begin her observations at 8:30 with each grade level chair. Hess will email the observation and debriefing times to each grade level chair.
There are a few open block times in which Donnella is free to discuss any tasks you might be implementing or ask any questions you might have in regards to Rigor and Relevance. If you are interested in meeting with Donnella, please email Hess by the end of today. Thank you!
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Can Drive Reminders
The
can drive starts today and runs through Friday, November 21st.
We
will be having our classroom competition again. The class that brings in the
most cans over the two weeks will win our golden can award!
Please have students bring cans to the front lobby in the
mornings before 7:40. The peer leaders will be there to help them check the cans in,
so we can keep a class count. If students bring cans down at other times, they
might not be checked in and therefore, not be counted towards your class.
Although
we are encouraging participation by making it a competition, please remind
students that it is not mandatory to bring cans and that it is okay if their
families are unable to donate.
Formative Assessments
When teachers
join forces with their students in the formative assessment process, their
partnership generates powerful learning outcomes. Teachers become more
effective, students become actively engaged, and they both become intentional
learners.
Advancing
Formative Assessment in Every Classroom
by Connie
M. Moss and Susan M. Brookhart
Click on the link to learn more about how formative
assessment meets the five criteria of effective data and how it moves learners
ahead.
PBIS This Week
November PAWS Up focus: The
Cafeteria
*Have a student job, such as a
“cafeteria captain.” They will pass out the forks/spoons as the kids
enter the food line. They can be in charge of making sure everyone cleans up
their area after lunch before they line up.
*Have classroom incentives. Check
with custodians/table monitors after lunch to see if your class left the table
and floor “spotless.” If so, your class can earn a paw, class ticket, etc.
*Make sure to check in with
table monitors to see if your class earned their movie ticket. Discuss table
manners at lunch, at a restaurant, etc.
**REMEMBER to vote for your
school wide PAWS Up reward!
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Imagine that you can’t speak English!
Imagine that you can’t speak English!
As a reminder, every ESOL
student is expected to be on Imagine computer
program 80 minutes a week.
Imagine helps our
ESOL students with phonics, decoding, vocabulary, questioning, taking turns,
proper conversational skills, etc… Imagine provides
strategic first-language support in 15 languages to facilitate and enhance ELL learning. As
students become more proficient in English, this language support gradually
fades, preparing students for English-only environments. ESOL teachers are
willing to allow students to use their computers in the mornings so they
can be on it for their morning work. Please help us make sure students are
using this wonderful program!
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TECHNOLOGY TIPS OF THE WEEK
OPEN ENROLLMENT LINKS AND
HINTS - OPEN ENROLLMENT ENDS NOVEMBER 14th
Open
Enrollment has begun and is handled completely online. There are many associated webpages, here is an overview:
This is your place to link
to all other places and to get information, here is where you will find the
following links:
- The green button takes you to the Employee Benefits Center (EBC) that has links to all the OE sites and documents on the landing page, and detailed information on all the FCS plans in “Employee Benefits” drop down menu. (This is a great place to find answers to your questions)
- To make health plan changes, click the purple button which will take you to the SHBP election site, http://www.myshbpga.adp.com
- To make FCS plan
changes, click the blue button which will take you to the Employee Express log in page (there is
a separate link on Employee Express for FSA elections). If you also want to add
a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) you will have to complete 2 activities.
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Formative Observations have already began. A few friendly reminders:
- You will receive an email 2-4 days prior to your observation. We will not be giving specific times or days because our schedules change, however, you will know through the email that your observation will take place within a week's window.
- The observations will be during Reading or Math times only (unless you are a special area teacher).
- If you have changed your schedule, please make sure you update it on the G-drive as well as in your lesson plans. We look at those to know what we will be observing.
- The observation will be 30 to 45 minutes long.
- We will need artifacts to support some of the non-observable standards. You are more than welcome to place your artifacts in our box prior to the observation or have it out when we come into the room. Some examples of artifacts would be:
- Your conference log
- Examples of communication which enhances learning
- Examples of different types of assessments given (common assessments, rubrics, projects, quizzes, formative assessments, etc...)
- Evidence in your lesson plans that data is used to guide instructional planning (F&P levels, groupings of students, STAR scores, item analysis reports, etc...)
- Examples of how students take ownership of their learning (data reports, student work samples, student-conferences, independent activities, etc..)
- Evidence of professional growth opportunities to support student learning or that contributes to the profession
- If not seen during the observation, some examples of how you create a student-centered environment in which students are engaged and challenged at their own level
- If not seen during the observation, some examples of how you challenge and support students to meet their learning differences in reading or math.
- You will receive your formative assessment within 5 days of us receiving your artifacts.
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What I've Been Thinking About…
I realize that homework can be such a hot topic. Some teachers love it and some teachers hate it. The article below is about homework and some new findings that might be of interest to you. Think about the homework you give to students and take a moment to think if we are on the right track.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2012/11/26/homework-an-unnecessary-evil-surprising-findings-from-new-research/
****Our Math Corner******************
Each month the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics
publishes an online newsletter full of teaching resources, core aligned math
lessons, and easy to read research based articles.
The link to this month’s eTOC is
Embedded in this link you will find an article for parents
about why understanding and using strategies is the best route to math fact
fluency. It includes a newsletter that you can print and send home in
Thursday folders.
Also take a look at the article “More Math Lies We Tell
Students.” It’s about common misunderstandings of the core, so don’t be
put off by the title. It’s a short, interesting read. Look for an
ah-ha for your teaching.
Last, but not least, you should have gotten a link to our
High Point Math Symbaloo for teachers. If you missed it in your email,
follow this link.
It contains resources for understanding, teaching, and
assessing common core math, along with information you can share with
parents. There are also links that show you how CCSSM aligns to IB PYP
math.
****VISUALS OF BEST PRACTICES****
In Ms. Lassiter’s 5th grade class, students answer the
essential question for that day on sticky notes and then post them on the
actual EQ posted in the front of the classroom. Please note that the EQ is
large enough for the students to read, even in the back of the room AND it is
obviously referred to throughout the lesson. The sticky notes on the EQ is a
great way to see what your students learned and truly understand.
In Ms. Bradshaw's 2nd grade class, she uses Touch Math
with her students. The "touch points" that are on each coin are a visual
representation so students can easily associate coins and their values by using
skip counting by 5s. They help in
teaching coin values, equivalencies, making change, and computations. The
process is totally unique and effective in its ability to teach students how
money and math interrelate.
In
Ms. Nobles’ 5th grade class, students let the teacher know how they
are doing and
their level of understanding putting up 1 finger, or 2, 3, or 4 fingers. The
chart is posted in the front of the classroom for a visual reminder for the
students. Clear visuals multiply the students' level of understanding of the
material presented, and they should be used to reinforce your message, clarify
points, and create excitement.
In Ms. Lassiter’s 5th grade class, students answer the
essential question for that day on sticky notes and then post them on the
actual EQ posted in the front of the classroom. Please note that the EQ is
large enough for the students to read, even in the back of the room AND it is
obviously referred to throughout the lesson. The sticky notes on the EQ is a
great way to see what your students learned and truly understand.
In Ms. Bradshaw's 2nd grade class, she uses Touch Math
with her students. The "touch points" that are on each coin are a visual
representation so students can easily associate coins and their values by using
skip counting by 5s. They help in
teaching coin values, equivalencies, making change, and computations. The
process is totally unique and effective in its ability to teach students how
money and math interrelate.
In
Ms. Nobles’ 5th grade class, students let the teacher know how they
are doing and
their level of understanding putting up 1 finger, or 2, 3, or 4 fingers. The
chart is posted in the front of the classroom for a visual reminder for the
students. Clear visuals multiply the students' level of understanding of the
material presented, and they should be used to reinforce your message, clarify
points, and create excitement.
*****WRITERS' GALLERY**********
The writers' gallery/pledge is hosted by Ms. Gersten's class this week.
The writers' gallery/pledge is hosted by Ms. Owen's class next week.
******CALENDAR OF EVENTS*******
Monday, November 10th
Writing Workshop with Hess
Muffin Monday
Tuesday, November 11th
Veteran's Day
Kindergarten Field Trip
2:50 - Learning Tuesday (teachers only)
Alexander to Assistant Principals' Meeting
Hess to Professional Learning Facilitator's Meeting
Long to Assessment Cohort Training
Pitchford wishes she was at a training too (JK)
Wednesday, November 12th
Rigor and Relevance Observations and Debriefings
Make-Up Pictures
Kindergarten Field Trip
2:50 - Learning Tuesday (teachers only)
Alexander to Assistant Principals' Meeting
Hess to Professional Learning Facilitator's Meeting
Long to Assessment Cohort Training
Pitchford wishes she was at a training too (JK)
Wednesday, November 12th
Rigor and Relevance Observations and Debriefings
Make-Up Pictures
Thursday, November 13th
Qdoba for Lunch - Order by Wednesday
2:50 - PLCs
Power Up 30 Training - Itinerant Room
2:50 - PLCs
Power Up 30 Training - Itinerant Room
Pitchford to New Principals' Meeting
Friday, November 14th
7:30 - SGC Meeting in Media Center
Legacy of Excellence Luncheon
Send your tickets down and change your Student of the Week!
7:30 - SGC Meeting in Media Center
Legacy of Excellence Luncheon
Send your tickets down and change your Student of the Week!
******BIRTHDAYS! ****************
Happy birthday to Judy Berger on the 15th and Kim Lunsford on the 16th!! We hope you have a very wonderful birthday!!!
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