Putting Data On The Why Axis

 Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Putting Data On The Why Axis —

Data Meetings are great, but I am seeing that we might not need them every week. As teams we need to look at Common Assessments and make sure everyone is on the same page with lessons. After Annette came and I debriefed with her she loved that she was able to meet with each teacher and talk about the good things they were doing in their classes. I proposed an idea to Kim about meeting with teachers on data day for 3 of the weeks a month and then have a monthly data day to discuss assessments, Team data, WIN time needs and changes, and work with Common Assessments.

The way it would work is I would meet with 2 teachers each week for about 15-20 minutes and discuss what is working and what challenges you might have. If you would like me to come in and take some data for you we will discuss what data I take and discuss next steps after takin gate data. I would meet with EYE teachers each week for the three weeks and veteran teachers once a month, unless you want to meet more.

During Thursday data time please use this time to meet with your team members and discuss lessons and assessments that are coming up. There will be one team member missing for 20 minutes, but you can use this time effectively to plan together and prepare for upcoming lessons and assessments. We will work out a schedule this coming week. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Quote I’m pondering —

“To be prepared against surprise is to be trained. To be prepared for surprise is to be educated.” ― James P. Carse

What’s Happening —

This Coming Week	In Two Weeks
Mon. Oct. 5 - Teacher Training Day Early Out 1:15 Mon. Oct. 5 - No Specials Tue. Oct 6 - PD during Specials Wed. Oct 7 - TAT 3rd Grade 8:00am Wed. Oct 7 - PTA Walk to School Day	Wed. Oct 14 - TAT 2nd Grade 8:00am Thu.-Fri. Oct. 15-16: Fall Break (No School)
October 30: Halloween Parade

What I’m Learning about Google Chrome This Week —

Master Chrome OS With These Chromebook Keyboard Shortcuts

I love shortcuts on my computer. I use them all the time. Here are a few that might help you as you work your way through using Chromebooks with your students. One that I don’t tell students about but use often is Ctrl+Shift+T. This will reopen the last tab that was closed on Google Chrome. Not sure if a student just closed a tab they should not have been looking at? Ctrl+Shift+T them! You can also Ctrl+Shift+T multiple times to see more that were closed!

Video I am Watching This Week—

Student For A Day

What would it be like to be a student in our class for a day? What would we learn? Would it be what we think it would be like? A couple high school teachers found out. What would this look like in elementary school?

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Have a wonderful weekend.

Annette Is Coming! Annette Is Coming!

 Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Annette Is Coming! Annette Is Coming! —

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be days with Annette Brinkman. Monday and Tuesday will be observations. Annette, Kim, ad I will be coming to your classroom and takin data for you to look at. It will be about your students ad not about you. From that data Annette will have  20 minute Debriefing sessions on Wednesday where she will coach you through the data. That is a great time to ask questions. Annette and you will work on a goal to work on over the next month or two. This is partly for Kim and I as she models coaching to help us as we work on coaching this year. So we will be looking at what we will be doing on the coaching end as we meet with her at the end of each day. We are all learning from her. 

Note: The District Foundation Golf Tournament was Friday. Start looking at what you would like to write a grant for from the foundation. It is usually a great for $500 or less. Everyone should write one. They usually fill most of those that ask.

2nd Note: My son did his DSU education observation with a student I had in 4th Grade. Can you say gut punch? Any have a wheelchair?

Quote I’m pondering —

“It is amateurs who have one big bright beautiful idea that they can never abandon. Professionals know that they have to produce theory after theory before they are likely to hit the jackpot.” ― Francis Crick

What’s Happening —

This Coming Week	In Two Weeks
Monday Sept.28 - Show PTA Reflections Video from email on 24th. Mon. Sept. 28-29 - Annette Brinkman observations Tues. Sept. 29 - K-1 Annette PD 1-3:30 Wed. Sept. 30 - Observation Debriefing	Mon. Oct. 5 - Teacher Training Day Early Out 1:15
October 15-16: Fall Break

What I’m Learning about Google Slides This Week —

Game Changer – Add a Feedback Slide

I did not know that using Google Slides would have so much more impact than just a Goole Doc. Imagine using video on an assignment page. Wow! And to assign a specific slide to s specific student? Wow! Wow!

What Math Strategies I’m Learning about This Week—

Splat!

An interactive number sense strategy that can be used on a computer or on paper. Students might like the computer one.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Have a wonderful weekend.

Diagnostic Grouping Tool

 Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Diagnostic Grouping Tool —

We will be getting a Spreadsheet that we can use to help group our students. It will take the information from the Diagnostic Assessment Spreadsheet and give us the two skills each student needs to work on.  Hopefully, it will be done this weekend and ready to use next week. I appreciate Steve and Michael Eves for all their hard work on this task. We will adjust it to fit your boards you have created. It will also have links to the lessons for each of the skills they will need taught. 

When we start WIN time we are trying to minimize the movement of students into other classrooms. It will be a challenge, but we will do our best as we make our groups. We will have some of the groups work in the Reading Room with the Aides. They will be cleaning desks sanitizing reading materials. I hope to have a better idea about what this will look like on Tuesday or Wednesday before our Data meeting on Thursday. 

Remember our Data meeting is only 40 minutes so the more you have done as a team before Thursday the easier it will be to assign groups and get the lessons ready to teach.

I really appreciate your patience with all the testing we do at the beginning of the year. Somehow we need to simplify this process.The information is great through and very helpful. We will start progress monitoring the 21st. We will have the grouping sheets ready so you know who to monitor and when. We will review Progress Monitoring the week before we start so everyone knows why and how.

Quote I’m pondering —

"Low self-confidence isn't a life sentence. Self-confidence can be learned, practiced, and mastered -- just like any other skill. Once you master it, everything in your life will change for the better." -- Barrie Davenport

What’s Happening —

This Coming Week	In Two Weeks
Mon. August 31 - Annette Brinkman Mon. August 31 - Acadience Testing Gr. K-1 Tue. Sept. 1 - Acadience Testing Gr. 2-3 Wed. Sept. 2 - Acadience Testing Gr. 4-5 Fri. Sept. 4 - Egg Drop Kick-Off Video Presentation	Mon. Sept. 7 - Labor Day (No School Tue. Sept. 8 - WIN Time Starts Wed. Sept. 9 - SEP Conferences 4-7pm Thu. Sept. 10 - SEP Conferences 4-7pm
Sept. 14 - Teacher Training Day (out at 1:15) Red Bird Training Sept. 8 - WIN Time Starts

What I’m Reading This Week —

Less Jargon, More Grace: Using Language That Parents Understand

Since we are sending emails home to parents to let them know of everything that is going on, this is an article that might help parents understand what we are saying better.

What I’m exploring On The Line This Week—

Week of Inspirational Math(s)

Youcubed is a math site built by Jo Boaler from Stanford. You can download specific videos, mindset resources and tasks or you can make a week-long play list of your favorite activities. These playlists can be shared so others can use your design. This is one part of the site.

Thank you for all you do for students. I really enjoy working with all of you. I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

Data Nerd

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Data Nerd —

The data is out and the interventions are going amazingly. The data is showing amazing growth in each grade level. If you have not seen the growth in the Conference Room, please stop in and look. When we test in December for PA and Phonics we should see the results we are looking for. We might have a few small groups that need the PA or Phonics and we will keep those groups win. We will have the aides run those small groups and the other aides will work with you in small groups reteaching or differentiating Tier 1 skills. Fluency will be where our focus will be. As fluency builds, so will comprehension skills. We can add in Socratic Seminars, Discussion groups, Jr. great Books, and Literacy circles. These will build fluency and comprehension. What a great day when we are teaching what we need to and not playing catch up.

Quote I’m pondering —

“ When you think someone is a foe, you don't just miss out on feeling their emotions, you also inhibit yourself from thinking their ideas, even if they are right.".-- David Rock

What’s Happening —

This Coming Week	In Two Weeks
Oct. 28 - Teacher Training Afternoon Oct. 28 - Nov. 1 - Red Ribbon Week Oct. 29 - 3rd Grade Orchestra Field Trip Oct. 30 - TAT 4th Grade Oct. 31 - Halloween Parade 2:30 pm	Nov. 3 - Daylight Savings Time Change Nov. 4 - Pie with the Principal 9:00 am Nov. 5 - Reflection projects are Due Nov. 5 - TAT 3rd grade
	SEP Conferences - Nov. 11 - 14 Reunification Drill - Nov. 26 Thanksgiving Break - Nov. 27-29

Favorite Article This Week —

The Power of the Positive Phone Call Home

A little phone call home once in a while to share something good about every student will build a relationship when something goes wrong. 

A Big Thank You —

Thank you fourth grade. I appreciate your work and help with each other. I appreciate you wanting to build your knowledge of using the LMS in your classrooms. I appreciate that you meet together each week to keep on the same page and help each other with testing and assignments. I appreciate your willingness to learn. Thank you Fourth Grade. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

Bring On The Tiers

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Bring On The Tiers —

I was reading Timothy Shanahan about his 9 Tiers of Support. There was a lot to it so I think we should stick to the 3 Tiers of Support. We need a little clarification on the 3 Tiers. They have been around for many years, but there might be a few misconceptions about the different Tiers. The 3 Tier Model of Support is to help efficiently match students to instruction needed. It also helps make decisions using ongoing data to support students in their learning. So let me break it down with a quick review of the 3 Tiers of Support. 

Tier 1 is for all students. They are taught the same skill as a whole group or in small groups. Small groups are a good way to differentiate the skill into who needs a little more but are part of the same rotation all students are a part of. Some groups might need more scaffolding on that skill or can have an extension, but everyone is taught the same skill. We use Research-based effective instruction and differentiate as needed for students. If they do not understand the skill or concept we differentiate in Tier 1 to teach and help students understand. This should cause the vast majority of students to perform at grade level. Usually, about 80% of the class will fall into this group. If it is not around 80% differentiating is needed with more scaffolding of concepts.

Tier 2 is designed as additional instruction for students who are at risk on a screener test (Acadience Reading, Phonemic Awareness Test, Core Phonics, R4R BenchmarkTest, etc.). The purpose of Tier 2 is to catch up with students who are at risk so they can reach the benchmark goal. Instruction is in a small group with a more narrow range of skills with more explicit instruction and frequent progress monitoring. Tier 2 is in addition to, not instead of, Tier 1 instruction. If we do small groups in our class, the lowest group is not an intervention group unless the teacher is having an additional small group with those students. Students should never come out of core reading or math instruction to get Tier 2 instruction. Our Intervention Groups are designed as Tier 2 groups because they are in addition to the work we do in our class. Students should not be in Tier 2 for a long time. Usually, about 15% of the class will fall in this group at different times and with different skills. Tier 2 is often delivered in groups of 4-6 for 30 minutes 3-5 times per week.

Tier 3 is intensive support, unique and individualized. Tier 3 is used to minimize the problem and correct it over time. It is in addition to Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruction. If the deficit is severe it is not required to go to Tier 2 first. Research-based intervention materials in small groups or with individuals. Finding what will enable learning. Is special education needed? After Tier 1 and Tier 2 data are being collected bring to TAT to find other options and strategies. Usually, about 5% of the class will fall into this group. Tier 3 is often delivered in groups of 4-6 for 30 minutes 3-5 times per week.

The 3 Tiers of Support help us identify needs among students. All decisions about the tiers of support are data-based. When we finish the interventions in a couple of weeks we should see our numbers decline in needs for Tier 2 interventions and get to the 15-20% of students in our school that need Tier 2.

Quote I’m pondering —

“If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” —T.S. Eliot

What’s Happening —

This Coming Week	In Two Weeks
Mon. Oct. 7 - Pie With The Principal 9:30 am Tue. Oct. 8 - Jog-a-Thon Money Due Tue. Oct 8 - School Board visiting Chinese Classrooms 12:30-1:15 Tue. Oct. 8 - PTA Meeting 12:00 pm Wed. Oct. 9 - TAT First Grade 8:00 am Wed. Oct 9 - DLI Meeting	Oct. 14-16 & 21-25 - No rotations  Oct. 17-18 - Fall Break
	Oct. 23 - Intervention Meetings Oct. 28 - Teacher Training Afternoon Oct. 28 - Nov. 1 - Red Ribbon Week

Favorite Article This Week —

Too Late To Apologize: A Declaration

Great Video about the American Revolution. Never knew the founding fathers could rock like this. Enjoy.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you, Coach Shane and the PE Aide Coaches. We appreciate your willingness to work with our students and help them through life when you are working in PE. We appreciate the work you put in to have activities for the students and helping them enjoy PE. We appreciate you building a love of physical education with the students in all the different ways you teach exercise. We also appreciate it when there are short days or holidays your flexibility to accommodate most of the classes. And it's a class need to miss that you will help make up the missed days. I also appreciate the help Coach Shane gives us on Fridays with the store and with other activities that happen on Fridays. Thank you, coaches, for all you do for our students. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and everything you do for the students.

First Week Assessments? Check!

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

First Week Assessments? Check! —

What a first week. I hope you were able to get your testing done, or at least get most of it done. We have a few aides will be able to help you. Please let me know if you need some help finishing up the testing. As you get this information put into the spreadsheet (change your size to 75% so you can see it better) it should give you a better picture of what needs your students have in literacy. This will help in all subject areas as we have students read and understand what they are doing. 

Quote I’m pondering —

“You can have anything you want if you are willing to give up the belief that you can't have it." -- Dr. Robert Anthony

What’s Happening —

This Coming Week	In Two Weeks
Mon. Aug. 19- First day of Kindergarten Mon. Aug. 19 - First day of PE Mon. Aug. 19 - Library and Computer Start Turs. Aug. 22 - PE	Tues. Aug. 27 - Acadience testing (All day) Wed. Aug. 28 - SEP Conf. 4-7pm Thu. Aug. 29 - SEP Conf. 4-7pm Fri. Aug. 30 - Evaluation Training 8am Fri. Aug. 30 - PTA Room Mom Meeting 1:00
Upcoming Dates - Mon. Sept. 2 - Labor Day. No School

Favorite Smartphone Apps This Week —

You have read a lot this week and so I thought I would give you a list of apps to check out. This is a list of Apps on either Apple or Android devices. They are helpful in a lot of places. 

GasBuddy- This shows gas prices everywhere you go. Good to have on vacation or just to look at what prices are wherever you are.

Duolingo- If you don’t have this app it is a great way to learn a little Chinese, or Spanish, or even Navajo. Stretch your language usage. 

Star Chart- What a great app when you are outside at night looking at the stars. Or even during the day and you are learning about stars and planets. 

Snapseed- This is a photo editing app. If you like editing photos this is a pretty good one. 

Flush- Yes this is an app for finding the nearest public bathroom. You may think it is funny, but when you need one, this is the app to have. It does not tell you the name of the place you are going to, but there is a bathroom there.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you, teachers, aides, staff, and everyone for working to get everything done this first week of school. I appreciate all the work you put into your jobs. Please know that I appreciate what you do. From the lunch aides to the custodians to the teachers and secretaries. There is so much you do to make students successful and make this school a safe place for students to come every day. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

Ignorance Project

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Ignorance Project —

I watched a video this week from TED Talks. It talked about data and how we look at it. There was some great information that I think needs to be shared and discussed. Hans Rosling is a Data guy from Sweden and he talks about misconceptions we have as a society. Hans talks about how we as a population look at data and think things are getting worse. The kids are getting worse, or are they? He shares a couple of graphs that show that the world is not getting worse, but it is getting better. It is all about how we look and think about our situations and the situations in our world. He discusses misconceptions society has and how we need to change how we look at things. In a nutshell, the video taught me that I need to look at things more positively. The data does not show that things are getting worse. I constantly look at my situation I was in when I was younger and I have to remember that life is different now. There is so much more happening and we are so much further than I thought we would ever be. Life is better. We have so much more at our fingertips. Attitudes are better around the world. We are closer to every part of the world. We know so much more. Life is good. The bonus is that we are in the trenches making it better. You are a huge part of the progress happening in our world. Check out the 20-minute video at TED: The Ignorance Project.

Quote I’m pondering —

Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up.” —Jesse Jackson 

What’s Happening —

*Mon., Apr. 15 - TAT with 2nd grade 8:00 *Monday Dress up day- Chick Day *Tuesday Dress up day- Bunny Day *Wed., Apr. 17 - Faculty Meeting w/Tami Curtis 8:00 am *Wednesday Dress up day- Egg Day *Wed., Apr. 17 - Fire Drill 2:15 pm *Thursday Dress up day- Pastel Day *Sat., Apr. 20-First day of National Park Week-Free Entrance *April 19-22 - Easter Break *April 15-18 - Lunch Workers: Cox

*Tues. April 23 - Character Ed/Steam - PLC Making Class Lists *Tues. April 24 - Character Ed/Steam - PLC Making Class Lists *Fri., Apr. 26 - No Fit Walk *Fri., Apr. 26 - Field Day 1st-2nd grades *Fri., Apr. 26 - Last School Store 10:00am *April 15-18 - Lunch Workers: Beraz and 2 from Sparks/Paxman

Favorite Article This Week —

Perfect Can Paralyze You

Progress, not perfection. That is what we are looking for, or should be, in ourselves and others. I love the last paragraph.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you Lunch PD group this last week. What a great discussion we had about vocabulary and what great things are happening in the classrooms and for discussing new ideas to use in the classroom. What an amazing opportunity Susan and Lesa have out together to have wonderful discussions. And discuss we did. I appreciate the thought that went into the articles and for coming prepared with what you learned and questions you had. The one constant that we have in education is that there is not enough time to get everything in. I sure appreciate all the time and effort you put into your students. Thank you for a wonderful discussion. Thank you for all you do for the students. Thank you for all you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

Assessing the Learning

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Assessing the Learning  —

I was reading a blog and I read a thought about assessments. If we give an assessment and we don’t do anything with it to help the learning, whey did we give the assessment? Assessments should be used to guide what we teach and how we teach it. Small assessments can be used to see if students are understanding what is being taught in the moment. Larger Assessments can be used to guide the instruction for the unit. My question is this. Do we only give the larger tests at the end of the unit when we are finished with the unit, or do we give it in the middle to see what they know and what we still need to teach? All tests should be formative. Dibels is formative. We can use SAGE as a formative test as we use last years data to guide our instruction the following year. Assessments do not need to be 25+ questions. There just needs to be enough questions to help us understand if they understand it. How are you assessing students, and what are you using those assessments for?

Quote I’m pondering —

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” — Philo

Favorite Infographic This Week —

27 fascinating maps that show how Americans speak English differently across the US

America speaks so differently. It is interesting what people call a role poly around the US.

Favorite Article This Week —

From “Data Driven” to “Evidence Informed”

A thought about assessments and how to look at the data we gather from them. What do we do with the data we gather? 

A Big Thank You —

Thank you Kathy for taking on the Lego League and giving a hand full of students a way to explore and grow. They are excited and have taken coding to a new level at Dixie Sun. Thank you for the extra hours. Thank you for the help and kindness you have given the students. Do well on Saturday. I am excited for the future of this program and what our students at Dixie Sun will do. Thank you for all you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Have a wonderful weekend.

Instructional Focus

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Instructional Focus  —

One of the questions we asked at the training was about what our Instructional focus was at Dixie Sun. At our training this last week we learned from Patti Montgomery that this is an important part of our school is to have an Instructional Focus and to remind teachers of it often. What is the focus of our improvement in our school this year that has to do with Instruction. 

As Kim, Alma, and I looked at our needs in the school, and after having discussions with Jennifer, Sara, Patti, and Annette, we came up with three that we think need tightening up on. They are Engagement, Lesson Planning, and Explicit Instruction. At the training on Monday only ½ knew these. That is our fault. We should have been discussing this more with you. These are the three we will be talking about asking about as we come to PLC’s. We will be asking how your planning is and are you making sure you have the Explicit Instruction spelled out in your plans. As we come into your classrooms and see the great things happening, we will be looking at students to see their engagement levels in the activities they are doing. We should be able to ask your students what they are learning and they should know the objective and why they are working on this activity. We understand that there will be 10-20% of your class that might not know because they are learning to learn, but as engagement, and explicit instruction increases, most students should know why they are working on each activity and where they are headed.

I think one of the teachers put it well in a PLC this week, they said that “we are doing most parts of explicit instruction, lesson planning, and we are getting better at engagement, we just needed to be reminded which parts we were missing so we can improve.” I agree. We just need to be reminded of the parts and make sure we have them all included in our classrooms. You are amazing teachers. One of our goals for the rest of the year is to remind you of our objectives (Instructional Focus) to make sure you know what we are concentrating on. It is not subject based, it is Instructional based. We appreciate all you do.

Quote I’m pondering —

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

What I’m Watching —

Teach Teachers How To Create Magic

Don’t get stuck on the music part of the video and listen to the overall message he is saying. Create magic in your classroom. 

Favorite Article This Week —

Why Student Data Should Be Students’ Data

What should we do with all this data we are collecting on students?

A Big Thank You —

Thank you Julie, Jaime, Elena, Diana, and Teryn for helping in our training on Monday. As we talked with the teams throughout the school the one comment was made throughout was that they got to see teachers that used these strategies and skills in their classrooms. They also mentioned there needed to be more time. I appreciate that you were willing to take the time, from short notice, and share one amazing thing you do in your classroom. We have so many strategies and skills that are being used in our building that we can learn from. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for being the amazing teachers you are. Thank you for all you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Have a wonderful weekend.