Update for Sept 22 - 26
This week was an amazing example of what happens when we allow ourselves to be creative in order to provide unique learning experiences for kids.
What we did as a learning community to celebrate International
Dot Day was an act of brave creativity. We trusted each other to coordinate
900+ students into one large dot in the middle of the field we share with Darby
Creek Elementary. I appreciate how we modeled for our students what it looks
like to collaborate and create something that is bigger than ourselves. What
started as an idea turned into reality because we were able to work together
and recognize this was going to be a special moment.
What I hope each of you take away from International Dot Day is
this --
- If you want to try something new, go for it.
- If your kids want to try something new, tell them to go for it.
- When you have an idea that puts kids at the center of something that will deepen their understanding of themselves and the world around them, go for it.
Give your kids and give yourself permission to take a risk and
to try something new.
You never know what might happen.
Reminders/Upcoming Dates
EdCamp Logistics –
·
If you haven’t sent home your copies of the “Kids
EdCamp Session Catalog”, please do so on Monday.
·
Be prepared to collect session choices from
students. It would be helpful to keep the choice forms in order as students
turn them in to you. You can send
the choice forms down to the office each morning.
·
We will be entering the choice form information
into a Google Form that will allow us to organize the information.
Data Team Dates –
We will be starting our half-day release times for Data Teams
on the following dates:
·
Oct 22 – 5th Grade, half-day AM; 4th
Grade half-day PM
·
Oct 23 – 3rd Grade, half-day AM; 2nd
Grade half-day PM
·
Oct 30 – 1st Grade, half-day AM; KG
half-day PM
More information will be coming to you in the near future. I
just wanted to get these dates out to you.
Interims – Oct 3
I would like for you to take this opportunity to communicate
with parents how their child is doing so far with the material you are focusing
on at this time in the year. Just like you, I believe that supporting the
growth and success of each of our kids is the most important aspect of the work
I do. Please turn your interims into my mailbox by Wednesday, Oct 1 so that I have a chance to review each of the
interims. I appreciate your
support. Please see me if you have any questions.
Why is he in here? --
I’ve had a couple of folks ask my why I am in classrooms nearly
every day. I appreciate that
others may be wondering too, so I wanted to share with you my response.
The work that teachers do is the most important work that is
being done within our learning community. Seeing the instructional best
practices and strategies that are being utilized by teachers is the best way
for me to support the work you do. It’s like checking the heartbeat of the
building.
When I walk into a class and stick around for a bit, I always
try to see things from the students’ perspective. I use a framework of four
questions that I ask from the perspective of the child that helps me form an
understanding of the learning experience:
- What is important for me to do in today's lesson? (Learning Target)
- What must I learn to be able to do it? (Lesson-sized chunk of content knowledge & skill)
- How will I be asked to show that I can do it? (Performance of understanding)
- How well will I have to do it? (Success criteria or "look for")
I look forward to being in your class this week and to the
professional conversations that follow!
Upcoming Dates –
Tue Sep 23, 2014
Scheduled Team Time w/
Herb – Let me know if your team would like to meet during your planning time!
Wed Sep 24, 2014
Biometric Screening – Preschool Conference Room
3:35-4:20 ADE/DCR Staff Meeting at ADE
Thu Sep 25, 2014
Picture Day! (Gifted Classroom) – It’s Picture Day -- a day of needed patience and organization. Please help the learning continue in the intermediate hallway by helping your students minimize the noise.
Wed Oct 1, 2014
Interims due in Herb’s mailbox
Thu Oct 2, 2014
Mumkin Delivery
5:30pm - 6:30pm Market Day
Fri Oct 3, 2014
K-5 Interims Due
Newsletter Home
8am - 9am Building Advisory Committee Meeting
Tue Oct 7, 2014
8am - 9am Building Improvement Team mtg
Fri Oct 10. 2014
9:30-11:00am Kids’ EdCamp
Mon Oct 13, 2014
3:35-4:20 ADE/DCR Staff Meeting at ADE
6:30pm - 7pm PTO Executive Mtg
7pm - 8pm PTO General Mtg
Thu Oct 16, 2014
Spirit Day
6pm - 8:30pm Tailgate Party
Fri Oct 17, 2014 Central Ohio In-Service Day - No School for Students
Articles Worth Reading -
"Before You Move Onto the Next Big Thing… | The Principal of Change" http://feedly.com/k/1r3iHjB
“You just listened, so then I could figure it out” http://shar.es/1aWAsP
Digital Learning Is Just Different http://www.teachthought.com/technology/why-digital-learning-is-just-different/ … via @teachthought
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