2.11.19 Finding a students Sweet Spot

     

Administration's Message:
How do we find the sweet spot where students are engaged and passionate about learning?
There’s a sweet spot in every student. 
It takes a little experimentation to find but when you find a students sweet spot you will know that you got it right!
There's a  variety of ways for finding the sweet spot for an optimal learning experience. When tapping into a students sweet spot you provide students with enough support to help them succeed, enough challenges to help them grow and their learning style has been identified.
In chapter 3 of our school - wide collegial read "Best Practices at Tier 1, Daily Differentiation for Effective Instruction, the authors discuss finding a child's sweet spot and ways on how to personalize learning for each student. 

How do you personalize learning for your students in your classroom?

Take sometime to reflect upon this guided question and review the links provided below.
Have a great week,
JWS Administration

https://youtu.be/yTtenP8AOU8
https://youtu.be/68-MBrKMzSQ
https://www.thirstforthinking.org/thirst-for-thinking-blog/finding-the-sweet-spot 

Principal Updates:

Good news!

Grades 3-6 students will NOT take Paper based testing for the NYS Math Assessments for the 2018-2019 school year. 

Our school is doing a great job with timely, completion of student attendance daily!  Keep up the great job! Please look forward to information about attendance incentives coming soon.  J

 Reminder to All Teachers,

Please don’t forget to update and post learning targets as well as display lesson plans in a visible location.  Don’t forget to remember to give shout outs to continue to boost morale and school culture. Grade level minutes must be posted in grade level google drive folders.  Ms. Garrow has sent information out about how to access this folder. 

Data Sheets need to be updated regularly with student progress as well. It’s difficult for Ms. Garrow and I to pull data if it is not there. 

Zearn is a school wide expectation  not a choice (grades1 -5) and all students should complete 120 minutes on Zearn each week. We are struggling school wide to meet our weekly goal.  

AimswebPlus progress monitoring is a school wide expectation as well. Don’t forget to progress monitor each student at least 1x a month in ELA.  We encourage you to monitor your students in Math as well. Administration is also monitoring your reports to ensure this is getting done.

JWS BLOG Don’t forget to review the Blog weekly and seek additional information and resources. Ms. Garrow and I plan for explicit information to be shared and communicated about school happenings. Thanks a bunch, Ms. Garrow for doing such a fabulous job!

Walk-Throughs

Thank you to all of you who continue to engage your students and ensure that the learning targets are relevant and understood by the students. Generally you would receive an email with feedback about what was noticed during the visit.   Also, When Chief Wilson visits, she uses the tool I shared with you previously.  I will share our noticing from her next visit(s) on 2/5/19. I will forward a weekly update from our visits this week. I’m looking forward to seeing our students actively engaged and learning throughout the week.

Arrival/Dismissal/Transitions- these are most of our busiest times of the day, please make sure you have direct supervision and eyes on your students.  Many incidents have been occurring and students have been wandering off or incidents have heighten during these times.  It is extremely important that we all continue to follow the procedures and adhere to the times allotted for these transitions.  All hands on deck is greatly appreciated! 

Classroom Management/Referrals

We are noticing a larger number of referrals.  Please review  your classroom management plan.  Check to see if it’s still effective, or if it is time to make changes that will minimize incidents and maximize instruction.  Take some time to reflect on individual students’ needs.  For example, behavior journals, check and connects with support staff, lunch bunch groups, and any other positive reinforcements may make a difference for some students. Please feel free to reach out to Mr. Rosenhack, Ms. Garrow, anyone from the support team or I for additional support.

Receivership Updates:

Thank you to those of you who came to the Pubic Hearing. Your support was much appreciated.

Community Engagement Team Meeting is 2/11/19 (If you are interested in joining the team, please let me ASAP).

Team Shout Out:
Thank you to the JWS Black History Month Committee for all of the work, dedication and wonderful opportunities you planned for our students.

Walkthrough Focus:
1/28 - 2/15  - Lesson Plans, Zearn and Intervention

Upcoming Learning Walk

A school - wide Learning Walk is scheduled for March 6th. The Leadership Team as well as other staff members will participate in the Learning Walk.  The team will share the LW focus and tool prior to visiting your classroom. For information is about our upcoming LW is forthcoming.

JWS Classroom Environment & Instructional Expectations:
Classroom Environment Expectations:

Standards Based Bulletin Boards

Leveled Library in each classroom

Daily Schedule posted

Word Wall(s) in each classroom

Data Wall in each classroom

Work areas (small, large, individual work areas)

School Creed and Effort Rubric posted (School Creed Posters are being ordered)

Instructional Artifacts posted

Instructional Expectations:

Data Notebooks for each classroom

GRAIR

Morning Meeting

DEAR

Progress Monitoring

Student Data Portfolios

Daily Lesson Plans

Parent Communication Log

Emergency Sub Plans and supporting materials

Looking at Student Work (LASW) Protocol 

February's Character Education Attribute of the Month:
Friendship
Review these NEW links below for ways to teach this attribute in your classroom to your students.

https://www.peelregion.ca/health/commhlth/bodyimg/changes-in-me/lessons/pdf/LessonSeven.pdf

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/good-relationships/qualities-of-a-good-friend


100th Day of School:
The 100th Day of school is on February 15th, 2019. We encourage you to celebrate your students attendance and 100 days of success. Below are some links that can be reviewed for ideas and activities. Enjoy!

https://blog.schoolspecialty.com/teachers-share-their-100th-day-school-ideas/

https://proudtobeprimary.com/100-days-of-school-activities/


Annual Snow Ball:
On February 15th JWS will celebrate our SOAR students by giving them a Snow Ball Dance.

The Annual Snow Ball will be held on Feb. 15^th.

Please see the information below for details. 

Students will need 15 Eagle Bucks to receive an entrance ticket. 

Hallway Bulletin Boards:
Be sure to update your bulletin boards with student work that is current.  Including the assignment description, the standard and a scoring rubric is essential. Many of our bulletin boards are outdated throughout our school.

Deadlines to meet:
Upcoming CFA 's - 
Grade 3 Math CFA 2 Feb. 15th
Grade 5 Math CFA 3 March 8th
Grade 4 Math CFA 3 March 12th
Grade 6 Math CFA 4 March15th

Zearn Expectations:
Administration continues to review your Zearn usage amounts and lesson completion.  We also look to see what teachers have logged into their Zearn account and how often.  Be mindful that Zearn is a school - wide expectation.
Hats off to those of you who meet the Zearn expectations every week.  We are proud of you and your students.
We will continue to have conversations with classroom teachers who are not meeting their Zearn goal.  If you need support with ensuring you are meeting this expectation, please see your administrator immediately.
Reminder:

• Grades 1 - 5 120 minutes per week
• average of 4 lessons a week
• 50/50 Model must be used in your classroom (30 minutes Zearn, 30 minutes small group instruction)

Important Dates:

100th Day of School - February 15th
JWS Annual Snow Ball Dance - February 15th (K -3, 12:15 to 1:40 & 4 - 6 1:45 to 3:00)
February Recess - February 18th - 22nd
Character Education Assembly - February 25th
JWS Black History Month Celebration - February 28th 10 AM & 5:30 PM