Week of September 30th, 2013
Hello Awbrey Park Staff,
Now that we’re in our fourth week of school, the school year definitely feels like it’s in full swing. It’ll be nice to have a shorter week with students and work on professional development this week and next.
Several items of note for this week:
October 1st Staff Meeting- We have many things to cover in this meeting. First, we will begin our journey in understanding the Smarter Balanced Test our students will need to complete in less than two years. Please bring your laptop to the staff meeting to take this sample test. We will also cover some new systems we have in place.
Here is our agenda:
Connections: Morning Meeting Protocol-
1. Smarter Balanced Practice Test
2. PBIS New Referral and Harassment, +Stop Walk and Talk- Kristen
3. IPBS Overview- Tami, Jason, Joel, and Kristen
4. IIPM/ IPBS Dynamic- Joel and Andrew
5. Leadership Plan Discussion and Vote- Whole Staff, Joel shares grade level names.
Oct. 4th PD Day, 8:00-11:30, Room 13 – Below is the agenda for Friday’s professional development day. Sarah Grace and Lindsay Gietter will be leading our work in the Common Core this year. In addition, Kathy Luiten (SDS) and Peggy Marconi of the Oregon Writing Project will be working with us.
Classified staff are not required to attend this PD, so please connect with your primary cooperating teacher beforehand on how you can help this day.
| Time | |
| October 1 | Take smarter balanced practice test |
| 8:00 | Overview of the common core |
| 8:10 | ActivityRead and rank the 6 shifts in order of how hard to implement |
| 8:30 | Resources / Website Review- Give time to explore |
| 8:45 | Shift: Informational Text*What percentage of your unit is Informational and what percent is Narrative*How can we increase the informational text? What can we kick out/ add?? |
| Shift: Text Dependent Questions*Take a story- look at your questions. How can you improve your questions | |
| 9:45 | Break |
| 10- 11:30 | Informational Mentor text Lesson Link between informational text and argumentative writing |
Goals Meetings in October- Please make a time to meet with me this week. Send an email when you are available or stop by my office. I must meet with all licensed staff to complete goals including specialists. The district has set a deadline of October 31st. I would like to complete goals by Halloween as well. Please use the SMART Goal Setting Worksheet to build your SMART Goal Plan. All fields are suggestions, not required to complete but are there as a guide for you. You might want to refer to the Elementary PD Course Catalog provided by the Instruction Dept. in your goal worksheet.
Emergency Sub Plans – A reminder to teachers that two days worth of “Emergency Sub Plans” should be available in your teaching space. You do not need to have this submitted to the office but it should be ready to go. This folder should contain at a minimum:
• A daily schedule, current seating chart, recess/lunch/bus or other duty
• Procedures for arrival/dismissal, classroom rules/routines, school procedures
• Lesson plans and the location of materials needed for the lessons
• Bell schedule
• Map of school including the locations of helpful staff members
• Pertinent information regarding children that need medication, have special needs, or receive special services
• Names of responsible students who can be counted on for assistance
• Important characteristics of the class
Teachers may also include special assignments or projects that a substitute could use if a lesson does not go as planned. The inclusion of “canned” lessons is also suggested in the event of an unexpected illness or emergency on the part of the teacher.
Papa’s Pizza Student Incentive Award – Papa’s Pizza is offering achievement awards that can be given to students for good behavior or reaching other teacher set goals as an incentive. The students receiving the awards can redeem them at Papa’s Pizza for a free mini pizza. If you you’d like some of these for your class, please let me know by end of the week how many you’d like. Papa’s said they can provide them all school year long. I have several in my office already.
Willamette Resources and Educational Network in the West Eugene Wetlands – WREN offers classroom outreach programs and field trips for students of all ages. Programs are designed to engage students in hands-on, minds-on learning, meet Oregon State Content Standards, and provide an interpretive approach. For more information contact Susanna Hamilton at 541.338.7046 or susanna@wewetlands.org
This Week’s Links on Racism and Equity in Schools:
This first link is a video by a very sharp radio host who speaks on topics of interest to him. He has also done a 10 minute TED Talk on the same topic. What I enjoy about the video is the way he approaches interrupting racist comments. I have found this video is really helpful to remember when having those difficult conversations. The second link ties in nicely with our current study group that Christina is running with staff. It is from on one of my favorite new blogs called Brain Pickings. Angela Duckworth and Paul Tough have done some very interesting research on the topic of grit (self-discipline) with students. Find some time to read it this week. It is well worth it.
How To Tell Someone They Sound Racist, a video by Jay Smooth
Wisdom from a MacArthur Genius: Psychologist Angela Duckworth on Why Grit, Not IQ, Predicts Success
Schedule of Events for the Week
September 30 (M)
TalentEd Self Assessment Due
12:00-12:30, Student Support Meeting in the Conference Room (Joel, Kristen, and Family)
2:30-5:00, Joel and Melissa to Title I Principal and Coordinator Meeting (Ed Center)
October 1 (T)
3:00-4:00, Staff Meeting, Room 13
October 2 (W)
3:00-4:00, IT3 Meeting (4th and 5th), Room 11
3:00-4:00, Primary Data Meeting, Room 13
October 3 (H)
Jog a thon
3:00- Joel in Goals Meeting with Teacher
October 4 (F)
8:00-11:30, Awbrey Park Professional Development – No School
Have a nice four day week!
Joel