Week of November 12th, 2013
Hello Bulldogs,
I hope everyone had a good three day weekend. It’s hard to believe there is just one more week after this until Thanksgiving Break and then only three more weeks until Winter Break.
Several items of note for this week:
The Hour of Code is Coming Soon! – “Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer . . . because it teaches you how to think.” — Steve Jobs
This December, to celebrate Computer Science Education Week, Code.org is organizing a massive campaign to encourage 10 million students (and adults) to try an “Hour of Code.” The Hour of Code is a self-guided activity that every student, in every classroom, can do. A variety of hour-long tutorials will be available for students to try out the basics of computer science. More details can be found on their website and on this handout. There will be contests and prizes for teacher who participate, and as a thank you gift, every participating teacher will get 10GB of free DropBox storage. Code.org will even send a volunteer to help with the activity if you’d like!
Guest Teachers Hours – HR sent email containing two reminders for principals to pass along to staff. One, staff should remember to add into AESOP your “preferred” substitutes. And two, subs are dispatched for either 4 or 8 hours, so even if a teacher only needs a sub for 6 hours, the substitute is expected to work a full 8 hours. Some of the confusion on the later item comes from AESOP, in that the teacher enters their work hours, which is CORRECT. HR is looking into ways to have AESOP help us communicate a 4 or 8 hour assignment to subs. See the email for details.
Book on “Grit” by Paul Tough
Paul Tough describes concepts in his book, “How Children Succeed.” Click on the cover of his book below to watch a video on his description of resilience or “grit.” I know many teachers are studying this topic right now in our study group.
The Study Group Blog:
Have you had a chance to read some of the articles that the study group is reading? If you are interested but don’t have the time to meet, they are here. Check out Christina’s Blog on collaboration and this year’s current focus, understanding resilience.
Beyond Thanksgiving – Related to my Thanksgiving reminder last week, here’s a good article from Teaching Tolerance that just came out on the same subject. With the Thanksgiving season rife with inaccurate representations of Native American culture, we are in a position to change that: Teach Native culture year round.
What Teachers Say About the Common Core ELA Standards
In this Education Gadfly article, Chester Finn and Kathleen Porter-Magee report on a study of English language arts teachers in states implementing the Common Core standards. Researchers asked what students were being asked to read and what instructional techniques were being used in classrooms. Of particular interest were three instructional shifts called for by the Common Core:
– Building students’ knowledge through content-rich nonfiction and informational texts;
– Asking students to ground their reading and writing in evidence from the text, not just personal reflections;
– Encouraging regular practice with complex texts and academic vocabulary.
These shifts, say Finn and Porter-Magee, “correct the fact that, for too many years, students have had little access to the kinds of literary nonfiction and informational texts they need to prepare them for the rigor of advanced coursework in college and beyond.” The new standards also push teachers to expose students to more-demanding texts throughout the year, not just try to get students reading grade-level texts by June.
The study found some hopeful signs: most teachers surveyed believe in the standards, are cautiously optimistic that they’ll make a positive difference, are getting PD support, and are making some curriculum shifts in response to Common Core. But researchers saw three areas of challenge in the years ahead:
• Teachers reported that most of their lessons were still dominated by reading skill instruction, rather than the content of texts.
• Many teachers, especially at the elementary level, were still having students read texts at their instructional reading level rather than challenging them to wrestle with grade-level texts. “This means that many youngsters are not yet working with appropriately complex language in their schoolbooks,” say Finn and Porter-Magee.
• Many teachers (56 percent in the middle grades) hadn’t started teaching the kind of literary nonfiction – speeches and essays, for example – recommended in the Common Core.
“Common Core in the Schools: A First Look at Reading Assignments” by Chester Finn Jr. and Kathleen Porter-Magee in The Education Gadfly, Oct. 24, 2013 (Vol. 13, #41),
http://www.edexcellence.net/commentary/education-gadfly-weekly#56284
We have a new PTO Board!
Last Monday, the PTO had elections. They have elected several new members that are stepping up. I expect that this will greatly change the energy of the PTO in a positive direction for our school. If you see these parents, congratulate them and reach out.
- New: President – Alicia Helton
- New: Vice President – Michele Rodeen
- New: Secretary – Kathy Nice
- New: Fundraising Chair – Sarita Cameron
- Existing Treasurer- Carisa Henniger
Staff Meeting Agenda for November 12th- Writing Professional Development
3:00-3:45- Peggy Marconi will teach the “Argument Opinion Writing Protocol”
3:45-4:00- Peggy Marconi will share professional readings on argumentative writing in elementary.
Schedule of Events for the Week –
November 11 (M)
Veterans Day – No School
November 12 (T)
7:45-8:15, Joel in 504 Meeting in Office
10:00-11:00, Joel with Principal for a Day in Kinder
3:00-4:00, Staff Meeting (Room 13)
4:00-6:00, Joel at Equity Committee Meeting
November 13 (W)
9:30-1:30, Joel doing informal walk-throughs throughout the day.
3:00-4:00, Collaboration and Leadership Instructional Council (CLIC) meets in Room 13.
Topics include: Continued discussion of Writing at Awbrey Park and Feedback on Conferences.
4:00-6:00, Joel to Principal’s Meeting (Ed Center)
November 14 (H)
8:30-11:30, Joel to TAG Training
12:00-2:40, Joel does walk-throughs and also distributes Kingston Kiddos and Pride Awards
3:00-4:00, AP Study Group in Room 13
4:30-5:15, Joel Meets with Admin. Practicum Student, Niels Pasternak
November 15 (F)
8:30- 2:40, Joel meets with other “principal for a day” students.
Have a good every, everyone!
Joel