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
Education News
Free Digital Common Core Implementation Tool from ASCD
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!
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)
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
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
The writer's notebook site has wonderful ideas to use in the classroom. I now am trying to determine a means to incorporate it into kindergarten. Hopefully, later it will be a means to encourage them to write and me. The article includes the point that teachers need a writer's notebook and most importantly to share it. We expect our students to and so begins the modeling.
ReplyDeleteI really love the writing website and plan to use the bingo cards- there are so many good resources that I cant use them all! That brings me to something that's been pressing on my mind lately. I truly believe that too much of a good thing is simply that- too much- it's truly hard to try to do everything and we must remember that overwhelming quantity of "must dos" can mess with the quality of how we do it- pick a workable number of what works and do that effectively! Its impossible to do it all-so we must remember to keep student achievement as our priority and work on the quality of our teaching not the quantity of bandwagon things we try. We cant jump on every one- we will fall off trying!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I would characterize anything we have been doing last or this year as jumping on a band wagon. We definitely have made progress in the right direction to improve student achievement. You are a great example of a master teacher who stays informed on best practices and makes decisions based on what is best for students. But, you are correct that whatever we do, we must do well. Part of the art of teaching is being able to make wise choices that will benefit the students whom you are currently teaching. As I have seen you adjust your strategy depending on student needs, so must we as a school understand many best practices so when one does not work, we have a plan B. In 20 years, I cannot say I have taught one lesson that didn't require adjustment based on student understanding. Thanks for the food for thought!
Deleteyes, its all about what is working and not feeling overwhelmed- the research is out there and we are well informed of what is the best- I am encouraging teachers to not feel overwhelmed and to continue to do what we know is best for student achievement- its easy to get bogged down but we know what works and we should, like you said, adjust strategy when necessary but remember that quality instruction is more important than trying to do everything at once.
DeleteI too liked the writers Notebook website. I thought the Bingo cards would be great. My children have so enjoyed their writer’s notebook. When Mrs. Patton comes in they can’t wait to get them out. Even my most struggling students want to participate. I think the SWT is a great idea. This reminded me of when we used to do SSR all the time. I so enjoyed the few minutes every day of reading along with the children. If the children see that is important and worth your time to participate in the activity, they are more likely to be active participants.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mrs. Tackett for the reminder. Sometimes we do get a little if not a lot overwhelmed in numerous things and we may tend to neglect what really needs to be done and do it effectively.
I agree with the writing notebooks. Michelle and I have ordered new writing tablets for kindergarten with a picture section and writing lines under that to use, but right now we still have kids who can not make 1 letter correctly unless we hold their hand or give them something to trace. WE are working daily to get them capable of enjoying writing task but it is going to take a while. Right now drawing are a lot of our writing activities.
ReplyDeleteReading through the writers notebook website I ran across several titles that I feel would be very beneficial to add to our Library Wish List. Roni Schotter's Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street, The ABC's of Things You Might Write This Year inspired by Susan Allen and Jane Lindaman's , Written Anything Good Lately? Amelia's Notebook by (the fabulous!) Marissa Moss. I enjoyed reading through some of the My Random Daily Writing Prompt Generator ideas and feel most of the students would enjoy these prompts. Some of these brought memories to mind that I myself would like to write about, that is if I had time. Thinking on that thought I feel I need to make time to write some and have even dug up an old writing piece to finish.
ReplyDeleteI don't think preschool is up to writing notebooks yet, but we are going to attempt to use journals this year. Hopefully this will begin a foundation for writing in their future. I am also very excited that Terri and I have come up with enough empty DVD cases to make small dry-erase boards for our kiddos to use during circle time.(Thanks for the idea Tammy and Becky!) Now everyone will have a small board and we can practice making shapes, numbers, and letters as they are introduced. I never thought I would get so excited over empty DVD cases...although those of you who saw me picking up trash at the construction site know it doesn't take much to excite me!! This is going to be a great year!!
ReplyDeleteLoved the expository text rating scale for facts, 1 not so interesting thur 10 interesting facts. My kids would love it! Pictures are always a favorite in my book. I know how powerful writing can be, someone had mentioned getting out old journals, and I am reminded of the one under my bed. The one full of memories and pain that I journaled after the loss of my father. Yes, writing is important, it can bring a smile to your face or a tear to your eye. My students are so excited when they return from writing class and sharing with Christy. Keep up the great work partner!
ReplyDeleteThe link to the Smart Exchange came at the perfect time for me! I missed out on Smartboard training last year. I am functioning at a novice level currently. BUT! I will soon catch up! Also, I am novice in automaticity and will soon catch myself up on that.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Leigh. I missed out on Smartboard training last year and I do want to learn this.
ReplyDeleteI typed this last week and thought that it posted, thought I'd try again. The writer's notebook website was great and I only wish I had researched and found it sooner. My writing classes are going so well! My students are eager to begin each lesson. I don't think I have ever had students so excited to see me. Teaching writing through the use of Writer's Notebook Know How is effortless. My students have responded even better since I have began writing with them rather than just walking around watching them. I am by no means a writing expert but if anyone would like to talk writer's notebooks let me know. I would even challenge myself to a downstairs lesson or two if I can fit it in my schedule.
ReplyDelete