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.

Assemblies

Teachers,

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

Assemblies —

I think assemblies are the bane of my existence. Not what we have them for, but the whole management of it. So in talking with the 5th grade they set me straight and here is the plan we will follow from here on out. We will face the direction of the playground. The persons doing the assembly will be in the center of the cafagymatorium and not to one side. If you have your class sit in two lines it is easier to get to students, if needed. Please monitor your students. If there are students you know will need some guidance during the assembly, please put them close to you. Jeff and Harvey will have chairs at the yellow lines for teachers to sit on. We want to keep an aisle in the middle for access for whatever is needed. 

Facing the front we will have the first grade on the right side of the cafagymatorium starting at the green line and going to the yellow line. Behind them will be the second grade. On the left side will be 3rd grade green line to the yellow line. Behind third will be fourth grade. Fifth grade will stretch across the back in their chairs from yellow line to yellow line in 2-3 rows starting on the green line in the back.

Assemblies will be far and few between and will be kept to Fridays, when possible. I really appreciate your patience as things come up and we are learning what is the expectation and norm at Arrowhead. It might be a good idea to practice going into the cafagymatorium and help the students know where they will go and what they will do in an assembly. Up to you. 

WE are in the middle of having a new sound system installed in the cafagymatorium and having a projector mounted also. This will make it easier for presentations and programs you will have in the cafagymatorium. As soon as it is completely installed we will have training for the team leaders. 

Quote I’m pondering —

When you renounce something, you're stuck to it forever. When you fight something, you're tied to it forever. As long as you're fighting it, you are giving it power. You give it as much power as you are using to fight it.”

— Anthony de Mello

What’s Happening —

This Coming Week	In Two Weeks
Tue. Sept. 17 - Picture Day Wed. Sept 18 - TAT Fourth Grade 8:00 am Wed-Thu Sept. 18-19 - Dixie State Students Thu. Sept 19 - Hogle Zoo Visit - 2nd Grade Fri. Sept. 20 - Jog-a-thon Fundraiser Start Fri. Sept. 20 - Meet the Masters 8:15 am	Sept. 23-27 - Just Say Hello Week Mon. Sept 23 - Community Council Meeting Tues. Sept 24 - Storytelling Starts Wed. Sept 25 - TAT Third Grade 8:00 am
PTA Jog-a-Thon Friday, Oct. 4

Favorite Article This Week —

Starting from Where the Learner Thrives

What we teach should be about the learner. What are their needs? What is best for them? 

A Big Thank You —

Thank you, Jeff and Harvey, for keeping this school running. It is true that the custodians and the secretaries actually keep the school running. We appreciate all that you do for Arrowhead. Keeping the school inside clean and sparkly for the students and helping keep students safe. We appreciate all you do to keep the outside safe and keeping our school looking amazing. We appreciate your hard work in the morning (Jeff) and in the evening (Harv). The school runs smoother with you here. Thank you for being amazing custodians. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

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.

Why Do You Do This?

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. Sorry it was late this week.

Why Do You Do This? —

We are close to being done. This 5-Point Friday has been something I have done for a while. I based it on a 5 Bullet Friday that Tim Ferris does every week. His is more about items and ideas he uses to help people be better, but I wanted to do something that forced me to learn something new every week. This email is more for me to write about my thoughts and share the articles, videos, and a few ideas and share them with you. I feel that I need to model the learning I want teachers and students to do. If I am a Learning Coach and I expect those around me to learn, I need to model that by learning and sharing my learning with those around me. It has forced me to read more, keep my eyes open for things that would help you as well as me, and hopefully somewhere in these emails there will be something you can use in your classroom or just cause you to reflect about teaching. Some Thursdays I have not wanted to write, but I felt I needed to whether anyone reads it or not. I learned that I needed to do this early on. 

Quote I’m pondering —

With realization of one's own potential and self-confidence in one's ability, one can build a better world.-- Dalai Lama

What’s Happening —

Mon. May 6 - TAT 4th-5th Grade 8:15 Mon. May 6 - Dibels 9-12 Mon. May 6 - Assembly 9:30 Mon. May 6 - Kinder Program Tues. May 7 - Dibels 9-12 Tues. May 7 - Bike Assembly 1:30 Tues. May 7 - Kinder Program Wed., May 8 - Bike to School 8-9 Wed., May 8 - Kinder Program Fri., May 10 - Last Day Take Home Library Fri. May 10 - Bus Ride Karaoke 1:30	Mon. May 13 - No Kinder Tues. May 14 - No Kinder Tues. May 14 - Strong Man Assembly 2:30 Wed., May 15 - No Kinder Thu., May 16 - No Kinder Thu., May 16 - Fifth Grade Program 1:30 Fri., May 17 - No Kinder May 23 - Last Day of School
May 6-10 - Lunch Workers: Din and 2 from Tuitavuki/Marchant	May 13-17- Lunch Workers: Cox and 2 from Bringhurst/Seegmiller

Favorite Article This Week —

2 Ways To Think This Not That

We are our own toughest critic. A few changes in the way we talk to ourselves will help us be less critical of ourselves. 

A Big Thank You —

Thank you, teachers. You are all amazing. Thank you for choosing this path in life. For caring about children enough to want to help them be successful. Thank you for endless hours of planning, preparation, helping students, and making sure each child is receiving gate best education possible. Even though what you have to do is difficult at times, you make it fun. You have the power to change lives and you take it seriously. Thank you for taking the time to shape the minds of students and your colleagues. Thank you for being teachers. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

Excitement in the Air

Teachers,

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

Excitement in the Air —

I don’t know about you but I am excited to see how well our students do next week on the DIBELS test. With the work that has been done in Power 50 and the lessons, Jennifer has been teaching us about learning intentions and making sure students understand what they are learning and why. With these new things we are doing, I hope to see improvement. There is a new part of the test for students to be tested on in the younger grades, but we should still see improvement in our students. I know many of you have expressed that you have seen improvement as you have been progress monitoring your students. I am excited to see what our next steps will be when we see where our students are now. Thank you for all you do.

Quote I’m pondering —

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

What’s Happening This Week —

Mon., Jan 14 - 8:15am HAL Testing for first grade

Mon., Jan 14 - DIBELS for K-3

Mon., Jan 14 - District Grade Level Training K-1 (optional)

Tues., Jan 15 - DIBELS for 4-5 in morning

Tues., Jan 15 - District Grade Level Training 2-3 (optional)

Wed., Jan 16 - District Grade Level Training 4-5 (optional)

Thur., Jan 17 - 1:00pm LRI Band for 5th grade

Thur., Jan 17 - 2:30pm Community Council Meeting

Mon., Jan 21 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (No School)

Favorite Article and Video This Week —

This Teacher's Innovative Way Of Teaching 'Vowels' and 'Consonants' is Winning the Internet

A reminder that there is always a different way to teach something if the way we have been teaching does not work for some students.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you second and third-grade teachers. You have really put your work in with the students and with teaching two grades. There have been some special times that have given you the opportunity to learn and grow with4 your students. Thank you for all the time you commit to helping your students. Thank you for finding alternatives to help those in need. We appreciate all your work and time you put in. You are important for those students in your classes. They need you and you show that you care. Thank you for all you do and thank you for all you have done. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

Surfing

Teachers,

Sorry, I thought this went out Thursday Night. Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday. 

Surfing—

We were sitting on the beach watching the birds and the waves roll in and out. Then I started watching the surfers. It was about 4:30 when they started making their way to the waves. It looked like some high school students, some college students, and a few that had their brothers or dads drive them. What I noticed is how they grouped up and worked with each other as they each took turns catching their waves. There was a respect and a way of sharing the waves as they worked on their craft. When two would go at the same time, one would bow out and wait for another wave. They took turns. The younger took almost twice as many as the older surfers. Was that on purpose or were they just taking every chance they could and the older surfers let them at it. As I sat there I thought about how learning would be if students used this same kind of idea. Helping each other. Cooperating with each other. Letting those that need a little extra help get the extra help or helping them out to bring them up to the level of everyone else. How can we teach students about how the group together can move further than one on their own. The ideas and support can bring everyone to the level they need to be and they will learn more about how the world should work than trying to do it on their own. We should not work alone. The ideas we can put together as a team or group will take us further than we could ever do by ourselves.

Quote I’m pondering —

Many a calm river begins as a turbulent waterfall, yet none hurtles and foams all the way to the sea. -- Mikhail Lermontov

What’s Happening This Week —

Mon., Sept. 23 - Short Day. Out at 12:15. Training Day.

Mon., Sept. 23 - Start with Hello Week

Wed., Oct. 3 - Picture Day

Wed., Oct. 3 - Storytelling Festival - Please promote this.

October - Fall Break, Dance Festival, Halloween

Favorite App This Week —

Bouncy Balls

This was something I was looking at to curb sound in the lunchroom. It is an app that listens to sound and the balls bounce. If you use something like this, use it sparingly. The sound sensitivity can be changed. It was just fun to play with.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you for all your preparations and work you put into literacy night. The karaoke was a big hit. The parents I talked with enjoyed the presentations by the teachers and felt what they were shown could be used at home to help their students. We appreciate the time you put in for our students. Nights like literacy night are so important for us to get to know and help our parents. I appreciate what you put together to help the ones that came. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

Busy, Busy

Teachers,

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

Busy, Busy—

This year is moving along. It has been very busy. You have put in long hours and stressed over how you will get everything expected into your shortened day, and we are starting the Power 50 which will throw another wrench in the fire. Don’t forget to stop and take a breath. Get everything done humanly possible and just do your best. My mom told me once that Angels could do no better. We appreciate all that you are doing in your classrooms. If the students are not doing what you need, stop the program and restart procedures. The program will be there tomorrow or the next day. This is not a license to not teach once a week because you want a break, but to let you know that sometimes you need to stop and breath. Check the structure of your class. How is everything set up? Are students clear on how you want them to get places, pick up supplies, and get in and out of the room? If they are not doing those things the way you need them to, stop and retrain. After each long weekend, there should be a little retraining. Retrain on real long weekends and after Christmas and Spring Break. We are busy, and there is a lot to teach, but we are in the business of teaching students, not teaching programs. Teach the students how to learn and what they need to do to be ready to learn and they will learn. You are amazing at what you do. I just want you to know that. 

Quote I’m pondering —

You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. -- A.A. Milne (in Winnie-the-Pooh) 

What’s Happening This Week —

Monday, Sept. 17 - Constitution Day. Every teacher needs to teach a short lesson about the constitution. Read a book. Talk about how it came about. 

Monday, Sept. 17 - Power 50 starts. Hopefully, you have touched base with the Aides so they have an idea what they will be doing.

Tuesday, Sept. 18 - iReady Training (refer to your email for times. Please be ready and back to your class for the next group. Thank you.

Thursday, Sept. 20 - Jennifer Throndson Observations

Thursday, Sept. 20 - Literacy Night from 6:00-7: 30 pm.

Friday, Sept. 21 - Jennifer Throndson Training Day. (refer to Emil for training times)

Favorite Article This Week —

Teacher Learns Valuable Lessons From Students When One Smashes Cup on a Desk

Sometimes stunners can teach us more than we know.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you, Jeremy, for picking up when Kirby left. He has some big shoes and Jeremy has done well with lunch and getting the main things Kirby did for us. Thank you very much, Jeremy, for cleaning up the things we don’t really want to also. Teachers, please make sure you tell him thank you and let him know if there anything you need. We also have some substitute veering custodians filling in and Jeremy has jumped in when something has not been done in the evening. Thank you again, Jeremy, for your help. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

How Do I Learn?

Teachers,

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

How Do I Learn?—

One of the most important things we can teach students is how to learn. They should know that what we are doing is beneficial to them and, the most important thing, that they can learn it. Some students come to us with a fixed mindset and tell us they can’t do something. Some come to us and act as if it is not important to them. Everything we do is important to students and we just need to show them or convince them that what we have will help them grow. How do we do this? Relationships is the first way. Students learn to trust what we are teaching them is important because they know we will not lead them astray. We show them they can do things that are hard and make it through. They also need to know they can fail and life will still be ok. Students also learn how to learn when they track their own learning. Giving them a goal to work towards and then have them track their learning on the journey to that goal. Students want to learn. Look at all the things they do outside of school. They are searching to learn something new. The lessons we teach will open their worlds and provide more opportunities for them to learn and grow. We just need to teach them how to learn.

Quote I’m pondering —

Every day of our lives, we are on the verge of making those slight changes that would make all the difference.

— Mignon McLaughlin 

What’s Happening Next Week —

Tuesday, Sept. 11 - Grade Level training for all Kindergarten 8:30-11:30 (K)

Tuesday, Sept. 11 - Grade Level training for all First Grade 12:30-3:30 (1st)

Wednesday, Sept. 12 - Grade Level training for all Second and Third grade. 8:30-3:30

Wednesday, Sept. 12 - Worldwide Warrior Student Leadership Training Thursday, Sept. 13 - Grade Level training for all Fourth Grade 8:30-11:30 (4)

Thursday, Sept 13 - Grade Level training for all Fifth Grade 12:30-3:30 (1st)

Monday, Sept. 17 - Power Hour-10(Power 50) Starts

Thursday, Sept. 20-21 - Jennifer Throndsen Observations and Training

Thursday, Sept. 20 - Literacy Night 6:00 - 7:30pm

Favorite Podcast This Week —

Thoughts for Teachers: What is Your Label?

Three important ideas to remember as we start this year.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you kindergarten for all thou have done to prepare for your first couple weeks of school. Starting a new schedule and figuring out how OEK and English Classes will work has been a long process, but with the team working together it is working. Thank you for all you do for the students and making sure they come first. Thank you for all you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

What did I learn this week?

Teachers,

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

What did I learn this week?  —

This is a question everyone should ask. What did I learn this week? If we haven’t learned something, we need to start learning something each week, or each day. This week I learned that instead of just having a student apologize when they hurt someone, but to do a little extra for that person can make a big difference than I ever thought it would. I also learned that when a student starts to add compliments as their punishment, they realize they can make others happy, and they are a little happier. I have seen student smile more than I have all year when they tell me the compliments they give each day. I learned that giving students technology an not having a purpose and an accountability piece to the tech activity gives stuns a license to either do nothing or do something they would rather do on the computer. I learned that Phonemic Awareness and Phonics can determine if s student will read well in third grade. I also learned that reading comprehension is not base on answering questions, but how students use strategies like Monitoring their own comprehension, generating questions, using mental imagery, summarizing, using graphic organizers, and answering questions as they read. If students use these strategies and understand the words they are reading using PA, Phonics, background knowledge, and vocabulary, they will comprehend text. That was just a piece of what I learned, and I want to know more about each of these things. What I you learn this week?

Quote I’m pondering —

“It is better to know how to learn than to know.”  — Dr. Seuss

What I am Watching —

60-Second Strategy: 7-Minute Writes

I used to see 5-minute writing in some classrooms where the students wrote for 5 minutes and did not stop. It was not graded, it was just for students to write. This is better. 

Favorite Article(s) This Week —

The Gap Between The Science On Kids And Reading, And How It Is Taught

An interesting article about how important phonics and phonemic awareness is for reading. Interesting thoughts.

Reading Rockets - Reading resources for teaching reading. You may need to dig, but there is a lot here.

A Big Thank You —

Thank you, teachers, for all your hard work with the students. We were at this Literacy Academy and as we went over all our Dibels data and Core Phonics data, we found the improvement in the scores to be amazing. The work you are doing with the students is showing. I know that many of you have mentioned that you are seeing the difference in your classrooms. It is wonderful how you will take a learning strategy and implement it because you know it will help students. When Jennifer an Sara bring us strategies and show us how it will make our students successful, I love that we see them being used in your classrooms. It is also great to see in these meetings we go to that we are going things in our school that research is telling Gus we should be doing. That is all because of you. You are where the rubber hits the road. Your classrooms are where the learning and success happens. Thank you for all you do for students. Thank you for all you do. Thank you.

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