Backpack Artifacts and Engaging Instruction

Team,

Team,

Thank you for  a strong finish to MAP testing and your consistency with students.  As we move into May, it is crucial that we finish strong -- how we end is how we begin -- we are constantly setting expectations for a productive learning climate.  Engaging instruction is the perfect antecedent to student learning.

Backpack Artifacts:

• Every student in our building should have at least six (6) items in their digital backpacks by end of the day Thursday, May 2, 2019 (This message was sent out two weeks ago).  Thanks to teachers who have already communicated to me that students have this minimum.

• I strongly suggest asking Mr. Handley or 4th/5th grade teachers if they know of students that can help younger students upload artifacts if this continues to be a learning curve for you.

• Check with special area teachers to see if students have artifacts from their classes.

MAP Learning Results:

• Review results for your students to celebrate and discuss their progress and growth needs.  Students should update their goal setting sheets and the sheets should be scanned or photographed and uploaded as a backpack artifact for "prepared and resilient learner."

• Newly updated in the artifact section is a place for students to describe the artifact and provide a reflection so that it is attached to the artifact.  Take advantage of this and have students reflect as they upload.

Acceleration to Transition Plans:

• Update acceleration plans as a result of MAP growth.  The district directive from Dr. Pollio and Dr. Coleman is that students who are not 'transition ready' will have a transition readiness plan.  Essentially an acceleration plan that will move with them to the next grade level so the receiving teachers/schools have information to support their accelerated growth.  

• I would love feedback on ways to simplify and streamline this process based on implementation on the acceleration plans we have this year.

• Transition plans will be due by the end of the school year-- more to come on this.

PLCs and Moving Instruction Forward

Team,

This week, please continue to discuss norms for your PLCs and review the four questions that must drive every PLC:

1. What do we expect students to learn (goals and expectations)?
2. How will we know when they've learned it (assessment)?
3. How will we respond when they don't learn it (intervention)?
4. How will we respond if they already know it (advanced/gifted)?

Everything we do fits along a continuum of teaching and learning.  Think about this as you plan for instruction, measure student progress, and plan next steps with your PLC.

• Planning for instruction:  Preparation is key - we start with the end in mind -- (PLC questions 1 & 2).  Plan instruction to engage students geared towards the end goal -- how will they be assessed, meaning how will you know they have learned the information/skills/concepts.
• Preparation means minimal downtime -- students should be able to move from one activity to the next -- implement a timer to stay on track.
• Teacher Clarity:  How will you scaffold the steps for students?  This creates a check list for you and students as they move towards meeting or exceeding the learning standard.  This easily lends itself to goal setting and student self-assessment, which promotes engagement and motivation.
• Response and Intervention:  Daily formative assessment allows us to better respond to student needs.  These daily checks measure if students understood the learning target and can perform the skill or apply the concept immediately following the lesson.
• If students are not able to apply the skill or concept (question 3), you can make an adjustment for the next day's instruction for students who fit this criteria.
• If students are able to easily meet the expectation (question 4), how can you differentiate for students to push/elevate their learning and application.

This is all part of teaching -- the daily expectation for our profession of education.  We are not hoping students master material, we are purposefully planning and setting up the environment so that students are successful.

Thanks for your professionalism each day, have a great week!

We do have a KDE training for KPREP this Thursday from 4:15-7:15 for all who participate with KPREP.  

Celebrating Growth and Pushing Forward

Team,

As students are taking the MAP assessment, we are seeing some good growth and are able to celebrate the accomplishments of students as they meet and exceed their growth goals.  

• Please be sure to have students review their growth goals and goal sheets in their data folders.  Have them record their new score and reflect on their progress.  Encourage students to also see their growth in individual areas within the test as well as the overall growth.
• Be purposeful with having students create a new goal moving forward, this reflection is part of the prepared and resilient learning characteristic and should be uploaded into students' digital backpacks.
• As a class, how much did students grow?  What are celebrations across the class?  What are collective growth needs?  How many students met or surpassed their growth goals?

This week in PLC, you will meet as a team to review student progress and next steps following the learning check and moving forward with instruction.

• Team leaders, please be sure to provide me the PLC minutes for your meetings tomorrow by the end of the day.  Thanks.
• As PLCs are moving to teacher/team lead - please be mindful to set norms for the group.  Links below take you to resources to support your work.
• Take a look at what a PLC is and the aim of effective PLCs.
• Over the next two weeks, take time to set norms for your PLC

For faculty meeting this week:

• K-2 will meet with the backpack team leader for our area Kathleen Receveur in room 208 to discuss ideas and projects for primary grades.  Primary staff with ECE & ESL should attend.
• 3-5 will meet in the library to discuss assessment -- intermediate staff with ECE & ESL should remain in the library.

Two Months of Growth

Welcome back, I hope everyone had a relaxing break.  As we return, this is the time to review expectations for learning, behavior, and successful transitions.  Thank you for finishing the week strong prior to spring break -- we have two months of growth to go. 

We had a climate and culture visit on March 28th and you are welcome to review the feedback here.  This is the information shared with me at the conclusion of the visit and offers opportunities for growth as well as identifies powerful practices in place.  As you read through the feedback, please reflect on your individual and team contributions to our overall school climate (feel) and culture (what we believe and project).  My reflection of the feedback is that we still have items on this list as opportunities for growth that we have discussed all year.  It is time to check things off our list and move forward as a cohesive unit with high expectations for all.  The first step is to consistently be solutions focused.  Please feel free to share your ideas and feedback.

PLCs this week will focus on results of learning checks taken last week.  Team leaders, please be sure your PLC minutes and work samples from the learning check are to me by Thursday (4/11) this week.  Based on your feedback, I want to ensure you have ample time to meet as a team and dig into learning results and next steps.  Tuesday's faculty meeting will be additional time to meet in PLCs and review student learning results.  Rachel will briefly talk with staff about sub plans and the remainder of the time will be PLC.

Please remember to view the living calendar and daily updates.

See you tomorrow.