Tiger Champions Week In Review 3 - August 27th

Tiger Champions Week In Review 3 - August 27th 



UTE GOAL:  Top 15% of Elementary Schools in Kentucky in Reading and Math!!!

"A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds."

~~ Sir. Francis Bacon
Education News

Free Digital Common Core Implementation Tool from ASCD

http://www.ascd.org/news-media/Press-Room/News-Releases/ASCD-Launches-Educore.aspx

 

Tigers on a Roll!

Regina Jackson for filling in for me so I could take a personal day.

Cymilee Napier for using digital recording with an Iphone in one of her reading centers!

Sarah Bowling for scheduling the Army Band to visit us in October.

Leigh Williams for sharing a kinesthetic math strategy during the faculty meeting.

Sandra Brown and Christy Patton for being problems solvers and thinking on their feet.

Marta Scott for keeping things running smoothly with DEA and DIBELs!

 Monica Carper for being a trooper during the first week of preschool!

Instructional Strategies That Work!

Writers Notebooks - I was so excited when I stumbled upon this website!  It is full of many strategies!  It is well worth your time to check it out!

http://corbettharrison.com/writers_notebooks.html

 

Calendar Reminders

~~Turn all PLC agendas and minutes in outside my door weekly.   PLC Agenda and Minutes Template

~Lesson plans should be on your desk or emailed to me by  Monday morning each week using our plan format from last year unless using CIITS. (If you are already using CIITS for lesson planning, just let me know in an email.

~ Parent Curriculum Night has been postponed until we get the grade level Curriculum Maps to share.

~2nd-5th Don't forget to have your students complete the Fall Automaticity Assessment which should be sent to me in the electronic chart no later than September 10th.

~~Need 1 girl and 1 boy name from each classroom to announce at the assembly as Tiger Champions for the month.  They will recieve Tiger Champion Bracelets and we will take a picture of them and have it made into a poster to hang on the entry bulletin board.  Remember, these are students who show our champion core values of:  Effort, Responsibility, Respect, Attitude, and Behavior.

 

 

August:

28th - July/August Birthday Dinner @ Cracker Barrel  5:00
29th - P:icture Day
          Faculty Meeting (Sound Off Strategy, Evaluation, Epipen)

30th - PTO @ 3:30 (Teachers need to choose a couple meetings a semester to attend)

                - 4-H Parent Information Meeting for 4th and 5th grades @ 5:30 (Not mandatory for anyone.)

31st - 1:30 August Celebration Assembly

       

Worthwhile Websites

Smart exchange Word Wall

http://exchange.smarttech.com/search.htmlq=word+wall&subject=All+subjects&grade=All+grades&region=en_US

Our Mission:  To assist each student to reach a progressively higher level of academic achievement and social and emotional development through the cooperative endeavors of responsible students, caring parents, dedicated educational staff, and an involved community

Tiger Champions Week In Review 2 - August 19th

Tiger Champions Week In Review 2 - August 19th 



UTE GOAL:  Top 15% of Elementary Schools in Kentucky in Reading and Math!!!

“It is more important to know where you are going than to get there quickly.
Do not mistake activity for achievement.”

~Mabel Newcomer

Education News

Please take a minute to follow the link below. 

Kentucky Board of Education Adopts Restraint and Seclusion Policy

Kentucky Teacher -

Tigers on a Roll!

Ms. Dianna for keeping things running smoothly and being the positive "face" of UTE!

Christie Tackett for keeping her students actively engaged at all times.  Playing spoons with types of sentences, having students already making foldables in social studies and working with maps.

Nancy Withrow for getting all students entered into STAR and AR so quickly, even when she is busy dealing with a crisis at one of her other schools.

Jackie Hargett and Marta Scott  for taking care of all the details to get every classroom ready for DIBELS and DEA this week!

Peggy Young for already having her word wall started by posting 5 or 6 words as they have reviewed them from K learning.
Karen Tomolonis for making sure her students understand the value of a digit within a number and ALWAYS having engaging math lessons!

Sandra Brown for including movement in science by leading 3rd and 4th grades in the Scientific Method Rap!

Lynsey Varney for working with other teachers in the district on curriculum maps, which are coming soon!

Jeanie Clary and Michelle Underwood for being problem solvers, not complainers, when a problem arose with K breakfast in the classroom!  They came with a possible solution in mind, and it has worked!

Leigh Williams and Angela Kimbler for also being problem solvers and jumping into action when our original early duty plan did not work! 

I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW WONDERFUL IT IS TO KNOW WE ARE A TEAM AND CAN COUNT ON ONE ANOTHER WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH!  THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

CONTINUE BEING THE LIGHT THAT YOU ARE!

Instructional Strategies That Work!

Word Walls:

http://www.makereadingfirst.com/Vocabulary.html

Calendar Reminders

~All teacher and classroom schedules due Monday the 20th electronically.

~PLCs need to determine which two graphic organizers you will use and put it on your meeting minutes this week.

~Turn all PLC agendas and minutes in outside my door weekly.   PLC Agenda and Minutes Template

~Lesson plans should be on your desk or emailed to me by  Monday morning each week using our plan format from last year unless using CIITS. (If you are already using CIITS for lesson planning, just let me know in an email.

~Word Walls, classroom libraries, classroom rules and consequences, learning targets, engaging and rigorous student acitivities should be underway in each classroom daily at this point.

~Emergency folders should be in tray attached to wall in all classrooms.

 

 

August:
20th - Classroom Schedule Due to the office
         - Assessment window opens (DEA, DIBELS, STAR, AUTOMATICITY)

         - PLC Meeting (K, 1st, 3rd, and 4th)

22nd - Faculty Meeting (RTI, Emergency Plan and KEA)

         - PLC Meeting (2nd and 5th)
29th - P:icture Day
          Faculty Meeting (Sound Off Strategy, Evaluation)

30th - PTO @ 3:30 (Teachers need to choose a couple meetings a semester to attend)

        - Parent Curriculum Q & A with the Principal @ 4:30 (Teachers can attend, but not mandatory.)

        - 4-H Parent Information Meeting for 4th and 5th grades @ 5:30 (Not mandatory for anyone.)

       

Worthwhile Websites

Education Place Graphic Organizers

Reading A-Z Graphic Organizers      This is an entire webpage of graphic organizers.  You all have a password to this site.  Take some time to browse it!  If you don't know your login information, I can get it for you.
Smart Exchange - Graphic Organizers for the Smart Board

I am anxious to read your thoughtful responses to any of the items on this week's blog.  I'll be looking at them all by Wednesday!
Here's to teaching every child....every day!!!

Our Mission:  To assist each student to reach a progressively higher level of academic achievement and social and emotional development through the cooperative endeavors of responsible students, caring parents, dedicated educational staff, and an involved community.

Tiger Champions Week In Review 1



UTE GOAL:  Top 15% of Elementary Schools in Kentucky in Reading and Math!!!

Our first 2 days back to school were wonderful!  It couldn't have been done without all of the prep and planning that we have put into it!  It is a wonderful thing to see those smiling faces of our students and their parents when we have a successful week back to school.  Thank you so much for your time and effort!

Education News

Please take a minute to follow the link below.  Literacy Link contains a lot of very good information and ideas!

Kentucky Teacher -

Back to school Literacy Link posted

Posted on 09 August 2012. Tags: English/language arts standards, Literacy Link

The August 2012 issue of the Kentucky Literacy Link is now posted on the Kentucky Department of Education website.
One goal of Literacy Link is to reach across the curriculum and involve all content areas in the implementation of ELA standards, so please share with colleagues of all backgrounds.
This issue of the Literacy Link, and all previous issues, can be accessed here.
The submissions deadline is always the fourth Thursday of the month at noon, however, issues often fill up before the deadline. For more information, contact MK Hardaway at (502) 564-2106, ext. 4513

http://www.education.ky.gov/KDE/Instructional+Resources/High+School/English+Language+Arts/Writing/Literacy+Link+Newsletter.htm

Differentiated Instruction Leads to Reading Success

Tigers on a Roll!

Sarah Bowling and Sarah Hicks for getting us set up for "Move Your Body, America"!  You jumped into action at the last minute when our plans had to be moved from the gym to the library and cafeteria! 
Ms. Shirley and Mr. Paul for making our building look like a new one!  They are awesome in more ways than I can ever say!  Don't forget to thank them for all they do!
Cymilee Napier for getting us moving with "Move Your Body, America"!
Debbie Gee and Sarah Hicks for jumping in to help Nancy Withrow with her library duties this week while she was dealing with a systems crash at another school!
Angela Kimbler for taking time to compliment colleagues that had assisted her at Prichard Elementary on Wednesday.
Leigh Williams and Christy Patton for assisting me with prepping for an appointment the first day of school.
David and Debbie Gee for doing all the behind the scenes work to get our Picnic on the Playground going!  They bought drinks, grilled, and contacted all the other agencies who shared our evening and helped make it a huge success!

MANY OF YOU WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND THIS WEEK!  WE ARE BLESSED!  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO A COLLEAGUE, COME BY MY OFFICE AND PICK UP A "TIGER ON A ROLL" AWARD TO SHARE WITH THEM; AND MAKE SURE TO LET ME KNOW SO THAT I CAN INCLUDE IT IN OUR WEEKLY BLOG!

Instructional Strategies That Work!

Brain Breaks:  Don't forget to give your students brain breaks.  After sitting in days of professional development ourselves this week, we were reminded how difficult it is to remain engaged for long periods of time, no matter how important the content may be.  So, be a teacher of children and not just a teacher of curriculum.  Utilize brain breaks whenever you can!  Please choose at least one to incorporate this week in your classroom.  The link below may give you some ideas, if you need them!  I can't wait to participate in brain breaks going on throughout the building!

Brain Breaks from The Michigan Dept. of Education

Calendar Reminders

August:
13th - New Early Duty Plan Begins
          Move Your Body daily after announcements begins.
15th - Leadership Team Meeting 2:30 - 3:30
          Faculty Meeting 3:30 - 4:30 (RTI)
20th - Grade Level PLC Schedule and Classroom Schedule Due to the office
22nd - Faculty Meeting (Emergency Plan and KEA)
29th - P:icture Day
          Faculty Meeting (Sound Off Strategy, Evaluation)

Worthwhile Websites

ASCD - Differentiated Instruction
Literacy Daily 5 Website


I am anxious to read your thoughtful responses to any of the items on this week's blog.  I'll be looking at them all by Wednesday!
Here's to teaching every child....every day!!!

Our Mission:  To assist each student to reach a progressively higher level of academic achievement and social and emotional development through the cooperative endeavors of responsible students, caring parents, dedicated educational staff, and an involved community.

Relaxed and Renewed Part II - Fired Up and Ready to Go!

UTE GOAL:  Top 15% of Elementary Schools in Kentucky in Reading and Math!!!

Good Sunday Evening Folks!  In trying to determine what would be the best way to organize the information I plan to share with you each week from this blog, I have determined that I will use the following subheadings to help you organize this information for yourselves. If you have suggestions or would like to see some other things as well, just let me know.  The subheadings I have chosen are as follows:

Education News, Tigers on a Roll, Recommended Instructional Strategies, UTE Calendar, and Worthwhile Websites.

As you know, I feel that it is very important to keep up to date on current issues and research in education.  I realize after my 17 years in the classroom that there are not enough hours in the day for you to do this on your own.  So, I will share with you each week items of interest and importance from the field of education.  I do encourage you to share things with your colleagues as well, when you come across something notable.

Education News

Friday all state administrators recieved an email from Dr. Holiday about the anticipated drop in proficiency rates when KPREP scores are reported in October.  I have included the link below to this information.  Please look it over, it is very important that we all understand the impact the new standards as well as the 21st Century Learner assessment structure will have on our students and school.  In a nutshell, elementary proficiency rates are predicted to have the largest drop of almost 40 points when scores are reported.

Changes In Proficiency

Tigers on a Roll

Mrs. Flannery and Napier had a very professional looking brochure printed and sent to all their students.  They had a lot of positive comments and feedback from parents and students!  Way to get excitement generated about the new school year!
Mrs. Brown, Patton, Tomolonis, and Tackett all went out of their way to create their back to school themes to match our Champion/Olympics schoolwide theme!  I appreciate your efforts!
Mrs. Young, Zeigler, Varney, Hargett, Napier, and Flannery have spent a lot of time, money, and effort on making sure they are ready this year to cover their grade level standards.  Check out some things they have purchased from Teachers Pay Teachers!
Mrs. Patton has spent much of her time this summer studying how to implement writers' notebooks and writing workshop.
Mrs. Underwood, Young, Varney, Williams, Jackson, Napier, Scott, Tomolonis, English, Kimbler, Hargett, Zeigler, and Carper have all given up some of their free time this summer to be on committees or attend extra PD sessions for the benefit of our students and school! 
If I left anyone out, please bring it to my attention! I want to be sure to celebrate ALL of your accomplishments and efforts at making us the best!

Recommended Instructional Strategies

I decided to include the remainder of the information from my sessions at the Differentiated Instruction Conference.

"Ben Franklin aptly wrote, 'Tim was so learned, that he could name a horse in nine languages; so ignorant, that he bought a cow to ride on'. (Poor Richard's Almanac 1750)  Mastery is more than knowing information, it can even go beyond manipulating and applying that information." ~Rick Wormelli, Fair Isn't Always Equal

How do we at UTE define mastery? Was Tim a master at languages, horses, or cows?  What is our common understanding of mastery?  We will spend much time this year on this topic.  It goes hand in hand with our newly designed progress reports and learning targets. 

Mr. Wormelli begs the question, "What do we do when our students don't get it?"  Who's fault is it - mine? your's? the parents? the students? the central office? facebook?  The truth is if our students aren't learning then the fault lies with us as a school.  We must differentiate so that students are learning the content based on their needs.  It is our job as professionals to give them multiple opportunities, exposures, and ways of learning and then demonstrating it.  The following are some very puzzling "truths" Rick Wormelli challenges we have had in the past in education.

"What were we thinking? 

Everyone in the same subject in this grade level is on the same page on the same day of the week!

Plan accordingly because the paper runs out in January!

The master schedule cannot be changed to accommodate a compelling guest speaker!

Students cannot redo exams!

Our new students are three grade levels below grade level proficiencies, so they aren't going to do well on the state assessment anyway!"

I'm sure you can think of a few of these ridiculous "truths" that have been voiced over the years.  We need to challenge these and rise above the negative thinking surrounding those kinds of attitudes.  It is a breath of fresh air to work at UTE with professionals who know better and are actively working to make student lives better.  I applaud your forward thinking and positive attitudes.

UTE Calendar

August
6th - 2nd-5th grade teachers @ WCMS for planning day. 8:00 - 3:30
7th - Opening Day @ UTE 8:00 - 3:30 for those who did not attend our staff retreat, 12:00 - 3:30 for those who did.
7th - Picnic on the Playground 4:30 - 6:30
8th - All teachers @ PES for PD 8:00 - 3:30; All Aides who did not attend Dr Jean @ ECMS 8:00 - 3:30
9th - First Day for Students - All teachers on duty at 7:20 a.m.

Worthwhile Websites - Differentiation

Layered Curriculum

Wrapping It All Up

I hope you have gotten some encouragement for this week's blog.  I look forward to your thoughts and suggestions you can share with your fellow UTE faculty.  Have a great first week of school!



Our Mission:  To assist each student to reach a progressively higher level of academic achievement and social and emotional development through the cooperative endeavors of responsible students, caring parents, dedicated educational staff, and an involved community.