Captain's Log 9a

Captain’s Log #9a

Welcome to a new OCE staff member! Janet Baxter joins us today in her role as intervention teacher.

School Improvement Plan – SIT will meet this Friday (3-2) at 8:00.  Everyone is invited to attend the meeting.  The team will have updates from the Literacy and Behavior/Climate committees.

Leap into Literacy Week!  WOW!!!!!!!!!  All of you are fantastic!  The energy and excitement around the building is contagious.  It is so exciting to walk around and listen to the students and teachers talk about the books, minutes and READING!  Thank you for making the minutes week such a success!  This week will be FANTASTIC!  Looking forward to PJ day and to Wednesday evening!

Half-Day Planning Writing Session –

Session #3 (track 2 is out)

February 29th - 4th grade (8:30-12:00) and 2nd grade (12:30-4:00)

March 1st - 3rd grade (8:30-12:00) and kindergarten (12:30-4:00)

March 2nd - 5th grade (8:30-12:00) and 1st grade (12:30-4:00)

http://www.empoweringwriters.com/staticpage/node/0/seasonal-lessons - Empowering Writer’s lessos and ideas.

Growth Data-- Thank you to those of you who completed the Plus/Delta for our Early Release.  A few staff members asked;  what we are doing, or, what more can we do to help our students grow?  This year we have in place a few systems and structures that were not in place across all grade levels in previous years. Two provide direct instruction for our students; Team Time and Response to Intervention (more focused on foundational skills and progress monitoring this year).  Both are key processes to enable us to utilize our time more effectively and target student needs.   Through strategic scheduling, PLTs are meeting weekly and focus on four questions (which includes looking at data, reviewing/creating assessments)  and daily common planning time for Mate Talk, if needed, and grade level conversations, e.g., field trips, purchases, etc.

PLT Survey—PLT survey results are in! Thank you to those of you who took time to answer the questions honestly about your teams.  This information will give us a direction for conversations this year, and possible direction for the SIP.  More to come later.

Response to Intervention –.  RtI is one way in which we are addressing the growth of our students.  If we can determine their need and monitor their growth/ or lack of growth, then we know next steps.  It provides us the information now…not at the end of the year.   Many of you have asked for more information on RtI.  Let me know what kind of information you would like, e.g., Goal line/Aimline/Target line, foundational skill, etc.  Remember, we are all learning together.   Your questions have been instrumental in helping to move the process forward this year.  It is through the RtI process we have the diagnostic instead of the autopsy data. ***I attended a meeting the other day and the state is now stating that RtI now means..Responding to Instruction. ***

Case 21-  We continue to get news as to when we will receive, and give the assessment.  The data will give us another opportunity to review and support all the learning and teaching that has taken place so far this year.  It will also provide us information for the gaps in learning.  If 80% or more of the class knows the information, then we can remediate the few and move on for the rest of the students.  If less than 80% know the material then we review as a whole group and enrich those who already have it. (Sound like Team Time?)  Case 21 is one more “tool” in our bag in helping to identify where to put our time (which is precious) and resources.  Each of you are skilled in creating, giving, and analyzing assessments, it will be nice that on this one, you don’t have to create it, or grade it, just give and analyze the data.

Boosterthon! – ***From our PTA***Did you notice, OCE is turning into a jungle?  There is a bit of mystery in the air...It is our next fundraiser, BOOSTERTHON!!  Our PTA is so excited to present a new fundraiser that will take place March 19th--30th.  This fundraiser is expected to do quite well for us and in fact will hopefully meet or exceed our goal to give back to the school for the year.   In order to do that we need everybody on board!!  Below are some initial dates that we have firmed up for our Boosterthon.  

Here is their website for you to take a look at what they do...how they incorporate character traits and learn how to be a team player.   Following along those lines, regardless of fundraising or not, EVERY child can participate in the fun run and EVERY child will receive a t-shirt.  What an amazing idea!!  http://boosterthon.com/blog-post?officially-announcing-the-2011-2012-boosterthon-fun-run-character-theme

We truly are so excited over this and really hope for the best.  A ton more information will come home, but we wanted you the teachers and administration to be aware of what is going on since the school has begun its transformation!

Teacher Resources of the week

http://storybird.com/ -  Want the students to create a story?  Go to Storybird and check it out.  Parents love getting to read the stories at home.  Great for Leap into Literacy week!

http://classroom.booksource.com/ - for us non “D’s” to support classroom library organization

http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/jG4Wjk - “largest teacher network of teachers in the world.

Teacher Link of the week

http://www.showme.com/learn - “Our community has created thousands of amazing lessons”.  This website are video demonstrates and lessons on a variety of skills. 

Captains Log #9

Booster Thon! – Did you notice, OCE is turning into a jungle?  There is a bit of mystery in the air...It is our next fundraiser, BOOSTERTHON!!  Our PTA is so excited to present a new fundraiser that will take place March 19th--30th.  This fundraiser is expected to do quite well for us and in fact will hopefully meet or exceed our goal to give back to the school for the year.   In order to do that we need everybody on board!!  Below are some initial dates that we have firmed up for our Boosterthon.  

Here is their website for you to take a look at what they do...how they incorporate character traits and learn how to be a team player.   Following along those lines, regardless of fundraising or not, EVERY child can participate in the fun run and EVERY child will receive a t-shirt.  What an amazing idea!!  http://boosterthon.com/blog-post?officially-announcing-the-2011-2012-boosterthon-fun-run-character-theme

We truly are so excited over this and really hope for the best.  A ton more information will come home, but we wanted you the teachers and administration to be aware of what is going on since the school has begun its transformation!

School Improvement Plan - 

Behavior Team meeting on Monday February 27^th at 8:00 in the media center.  We will be drafting a climate goal based on the three surveys sent out (Responses – 55 staff members, 312 parents, and 285 students).   School Improvement Team meeting will be on Friday March 2^nd at 8:00. 

Case 21

See Nanette’s email about Case21 (http://case21inc.com/products-and-services/benchmark-testing).  This will be an assessment of the first three quarters in reading and math (2-5) and science (5^th grade).  We will be using the data to monitor students progress. 

Half-Day Planning Writing Session –

Session #3 (track 2 is out)

February 29th - 4th grade (8:30-12:00) and 2nd grade (12:30-4:00)

March 1st - 3rd grade (8:30-12:00) and kindergarten (12:30-4:00)

March 2nd - 5th grade (8:30-12:00) and 1st grade (12:30-4:00)

http://www.empoweringwriters.com/staticpage/node/0/seasonal-lessons - Empowering Writer’s lessons and ideas.

Teacher Resources of the week

http://classroom.booksource.com/ - for us non “D’s” to support classroom library organization

http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/jG4Wjk - “largest teacher network of teachers in the world.

Teacher Link of the week

http://www.showme.com/learn - “Our community has created thousands of amazing lessons”.  This website are video demonstrates and lessons on a variety of skills. 

http://daretodifferentiate.wikispaces.com/file/view/NoelleCombsInquiryLesson.pdf - “Noelle Combs – Site Coordinator    East Bakersfield High School  Region 8     Kern County “ – revised Bloom’s taxonomy -uses action verbs.  

Captain's Log #8

General Information

Thank You:  Each grade level, Curriculum Support, and Specialist have done a fantastic job getting ready for Leap into Literacy!  We are looking forward to a great week of reading and watching the minutes increase each day so we can wear our PJs!  Please refer to Kathy's email about for specifics and details about the week and night. 

FYI:  At our last PTA Board meeting, several parents stated they were not receiving the link for the Clipper.  Please make certain you include it in your newsletter the week you receive the link.  The PTA Board decided to begin printing the Clipper again since many families were not receiving their information due to the link not being sent home by the teachers. Now parents will receive it both ways.

Boosterthon:  Some of you may have heard the buzz from PTA Board members about Boosterthon.  More information will be coming on this event.  When we have all the dates, times, etc. I will make certain you have them quickly.  Watch for our school to become a jungle on March 1.  

CapriSun pouches:  Please remind our students to recycle their pouches.  Our PTA is keeping track of how many pouches are coming in and how much money this is generating for our school.  This is "easy" money for us since so many of our students drink "pouched" juice.  The money will go toward the technology budget! 

Blooms Taxonomy – What kind of questions are we asking our students on a daily basis?

http://marynabadenhorst.global2.vic.edu.au/files/2009/05/bloomsdigitaltaxonomymap1.gif - this is a great visual of question stems when asking students question or when you are creating learning activities for all students. 

http://cmapp.wcpss.net/resources/index/page/1/sort/Course/order/asc/searchValue/toolbox%20for%20rigorous/filterSubject//filterCourse//filterGrade/ - Toolbox for Planning Rigorous Instruction (112 page handout) you will need to be logged in to CMAPP to access this document.  

Response to Intervention 

What about our students who are struggling with English?  What do we do?  How do we progress monitor them?  These are all legitimate questions.  WCPSS developed then revised The Manual for Educational Enhancement of the Cultural and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) Students and their Families.  Being a part of the first writing of the manual and working on the revision, until I left my position as SST Program Coordinator, gave me an awareness of the needs of our students who LEP or have had limited verbal interactions in their homes.  Yes, I do believe the entire manual is a great resource. (When you help research and write something you usually think it is worthwhile.) That said, reviewing the charts or page 29 will be helpful when thinking about some of our students.  Providing a language rich environment is important for all students.  Tips and Techniques, Pg. 35-52, provide best practices that many of you use but are essential to our LEP students or struggling students. 

 

Again, just another resource as we continue our professional development journey in understanding RtI and meeting the needs of our students.

 

http://www2.wcpss.net/departments/speced/supportive_learning/downloads/cld.pdf

Professional Learning Network

How do you continue to grow as a professional educator?  What is your passion (personal)? 

www.twitter.com – it is a great way to follow people that can share great information and collaborate with other educators like you.  Some people to follow  @plugusin  (Bill Ferrieter - Salem Middle School teacher that tweets about technology integration, @coolcatteacher (Vicki Davis - Teacher in Georgia tweets about Flat Project - global awareness, diversity and her passion of teaching, @dreambition - Brad Wilson - 4th grade teacher in Southern Michigan, .  There are MANY other people to follow to get information and collaborate - such as @OliveChapelElem.  You can also search "hashtags" on topics to get more information - #blooms, #commoncore, etc.  

School Improvement Plan

Please be sure to have students complete the SIP survey https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEJtMkxxamRsXzE3SkgxcmFfWlk4OUE6MQ

Behavior Support Team / Climate Goal will be discussing staff, students, and parent survey to create a goal with action steps.  Next team meeting will be Monday February 27th, this is due to March 2^nd being a SIP meeting and February 24^th is the academic team meeting.

Teacher Resources of the week

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb12/vol69/num05/Writing-to-Learn.aspx - “Writing to learn focuses on deepening understanding and improving retention of content.”.

http://teacherbootcamp.edublogs.org/2012/02/08/engaging-learners-through-digital-storytelling-40-resources-tips/ -digital storytelling

Teacher Link of the week

http://www.jimwrightonline.com/pdfdocs/cbaManual.pdf - Curriculum-Based Measurement: A  Manual for  Teachers

Captain's Log #7

Captains Log #7—Feb. 13-17, 2012

Staff Meeting:

Digging into Science:  Thursday, February 16 from 4-5  Blue Jeans are perfectly acceptable for the after school activity.

Level 4 opportunities for all students.. Revised Blooms Taxonomy – What kind of questions are we asking our students on a daily basis?

Revised Blooms	The Verbs	Questions for….
Create Pohl, Learning to Think, Thinking to Learn, p. 14	Use the SCAMPER strategy to invent a new type of sports shoe Invent a machine to do a specific task. Design a robot to do your homework. Create a new product. Give it a name and plan a marketing campaign. Write about your feelings in relation to... Write a TV show play, puppet show, role play, song or pantomime about.. Design a new monetary system Develop a menu for a new restaurant using a variety of healthy foods Design a record, book or magazine cover for... Sell an idea Devise a way to... Make up a new language and use it in an example Write a jingle to advertise a new product.	Can you design a...to...? Can you see a possible solution to...? If you had access to all resources, how would you deal with...? Why don't you devise your own way to...? What would happen if ...? How many ways can you...? Can you create new and unusual uses for...? Can you develop a proposal which would...?
Evaluating Pohl, Learning to Think, Thinking to Learn, p. 14	Write a letter to the editor Prepare and conduct a debate Prepare a list of criteria to judge… Write a persuasive speech arguing for/against… Make a booklet about five rules you see as important. Convince others. Form a panel to discuss viewpoints on…. Write a letter to. ..advising on changes needed. Write a half-yearly report. Prepare a case to present your view about... Complete a PMI on… Evaluate the character’s actions in the story	Is there a better solution to...? Judge the value of... What do you think about...? Can you defend your position about...? Do you think...is a good or bad thing? How would you have handled...? What changes to.. would you recommend? Do you believe...? How would you feel if. ..? How effective are. ..? What are the consequences..? What influence will....have on our lives? What are the pros and cons of....? Why is ....of value? What are the alternatives? Who will gain & who will loose?
Analyzing Pohl, Learning to Think, Thinking to Learn, p. 13	Use a Venn Diagram to show how two topics are the same and different Design a questionnaire to gather information. Survey classmates to find out what they think about a particular topic. Analyse the results. Make a flow chart to show the critical stages. Classify the actions of the characters in the book Create a sociogram from the narrative Construct a graph to illustrate selected information. Make a family tree showing relationships. Devise a role play about the study area. Write a biography of a person studied. Prepare a report about the area of study. Conduct an investigation to produce information to support a view. Review a work of art in terms of form, color and texture. Draw a graph Complete a Decision Making Matrix to help you decide which breakfast cereal to purchase	Which events could not have happened? If. ..happened, what might the ending have been? How is...similar to...? What do you see as other possible outcomes? Why did...changes occur? Can you explain what must have happened when...? What are some or the problems of...? Can you distinguish between...? What were some of the motives behind..? What was the turning point? What was the problem with...?
Applying Pohl, Learning to Think, Thinking to Learn, p. 13	Construct a model to demonstrate how it looks or works Practise a play and perform it for the class Make a diorama to illustrate an event Write a diary entry Make a scrapbook about the area of study. Prepare invitations for a character’s birthday party Make a topographic map Take and display a collection of photographs on a particular topic. Make up a puzzle or a game about the topic. Write an explanation about this topic for others. Dress a doll in national costume. Make a clay model… Paint a mural using the same materials. Continue the story… =	Do you know of another instance where…? Can you group by characteristics such as…? Which factors would you change if…? What questions would you ask of…? From the information given, can you develop a set of instructions about…?
Understanding Pohl, Learning to Think, Thinking to Learn, p. 12	Write in your own words… Cut out, or draw pictures to illustrate a particular event in the story. Report to the class… Illustrate what you think the main idea may have been. Make a cartoon strip showing the sequence of events in the story. Write and perform a play based on the story. Write a brief outline to explain this story to someone else Explain why the character solved the problem in this particular way Write a summary report of the event. Prepare a flow chart to illustrate the sequence of events. Make a colouring book. Paraphrase this chapter in the book. Retell in your own words. Outline the main points.	Can you explain why…? Can you write in your own words? How would you explain…? Can you write a brief outline...? What do you think could have happened next...? Who do you think...? What was the main idea...? Can you clarify…? Can you illustrate…? Does everyone act in the way that …….. does?
Remembering Pohl, Learning to Think, Thinking to Learn, p. 12	Make a story map showing the main events of the story. Make a time line of your typical day. Make a concept map of the topic. Write a list of keywords you know about…. What characters were in the story? Make a chart showing… Make an acrostic poem about… Recite a poem you have learned.	What happened after...? How many...? What is...? Who was it that...? Name the  ...? Find the definition of… Describe what happened after… Who spoke to...? Which is true or false...?

Response to Intervention (RtI)

We will continue to have conversations about RtI.  We are taking little steps in our understanding of the process and making certain we are using data to make instructional decisions for our students.  After Admin Friday and Track 3 Admin meeting I mentioned a video that was created at on the data collection part of RtI.  (organization, Digging Deeper Assessments, etc.)  The video was create by Jennifer Jones, IRT at Lake Myra is on You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NsyvFN8kX8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

School Improvement Plan

Look for the survey for students, parents and staff soon.  The Behavior Clipper Team (Climate) have finalized the questions and will get the suvery out very soon.  This baseline data will assist in developing Key Progresses and Action Steps for the Behavior Clipper Team.

Common Core Standards

Here is another resource for Common Core Standards.  The National PTA has partnered with experts to create a site for parents on Common Core.  The site provides a great deal of information in for parents to help them understand the transition to Common Core.  Kathy will have an article in the Clipper this month about Common Core and mention the site to our parents.  http://www.pta.org/common_core_state_standards.asp

Teacher Resources of the week

http://teaching.uncc.edu/articles-books/best-practice-articles/goals-objectives/writing-objectives-using-blooms-taxonomy   Writing Objectives Using Bloom’s Taxonomy Writing; From UNCC: Center for Learning & Teaching  Division of Academic Affairs

http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Bloom%27s+Digital+Taxonomy   Bloom's Digital Taxonomy

Teacher Link of the week

http://www.scoop.it/t/everything-ipads/p/643940577/ipad-book-apps   Scoop.it  Everything iPads