Sept.20

World Class Education

Starts with World Class Outcomes

Today I spent time with principal colleagues developing 'look-for's of World Class outcomes when visiting classrooms. 

To ground you in understanding, Standard One of the CITE evaluation tool is outcomes.

1.1 Teacher selects World Class Outcomes.

1.2 Teacher selects World Class Outcomes that integrate content with other disciplines.

1.3 Teacher selects differentiated World Class Outcomes.

1.4 Teacher evaluates assessment data to select World Class Outcomes.

1.5 Teacher integrates 21st Century skills where appropriate.

Standard One of the CITE evaluation is backwards planning.

Stage One of backwards planning is:

Enduring Understanding + Essential Questions + Outcomes

Remember when Dr. Fagen helped us understand how to determine whether we had identified a World Class Outcome? If we could answer 'yes' to the following criteria, then we can be sure we have a World Class Outcome -

* Is it rigorous? (zone of proximal development)

* Is it relevant? (do kids know why this is important for them?)

* Is it modern? (1980 or 2012?)

* Is it integrated? (connected to other learning in other content areas?)

* Is it aligned? (think learning progression)

I really had to sort out how you evaluate planning when you are observing instruction when visiting a classroom. We watched several videos to unpack this and also to construct knowledge in conversation. I want to continue to refine this and to bring you along with me, since the CITE evaluation tool is what we'll be using.

(CITE stands for: Continuous Improvement of Teacher Effectiveness)

So, here's what I'll be looking for when I visit your classrooms over the weeks before and directly after Fall Break.

Are the outcomes being taught?
World Class?
Integrated?
Differentiated?
Include 21st Century Skills that are naturally integrative?
Reflect knowledge of the students - learned in part by formative and other assessment data?
Has enduring questions? Essential understandings?

Calendar

September 24 - 28:

Monday:

No student's - Professional Development: Restorative Practices

Tuesday:

RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

Bill's Crew Voyage to Educo

Kenny's Crew field work to Ice Core Lab a.m.

Wednesday:

New Parent Orientation 8:00 a.m.

All School Meeting

PD Focus: Math Discussions in Primary and Intermediate Teams/Planning

Friday:

Crew group pictures

Individual picture re-takes

October 1 - 5:

Monday:

Battle of the Books 4-5 p.m.

Tuesday:

RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

SAC 5:30 p.m

Wednesday:

All School Meeting

Leadership Team Meeting 11:00 a.m.

PD: Backwards Planning (on your own/or team)

Friday:

Bootcamp! (schedule for the day will look different and will be provided)

ALL kids need sack lunches!

Lost Coffee Mobile on site 8 - 10 a.m.

Important Communication to Parents

about October 5th:

Please help with the communication home that all students will need sack lunches on Friday, October 5th for Bootcamp.

Please help communicate that kids DO COME TO SCHOOL on Friday, October 5th

but that kids DO NOT come to school on Monday, October 22nd, following Fall Break.

This is confusing for some parents because if they are looking at district calendars, rather than our school calendar, they will not see this day shift.

We did this last year, so many parents are familiar with this shift, but new parents could be confused.

Please help by over communicating this information over the next two weeks.

Thanks!

Student-Led Conferences Coming Soon -

Student led conferences will be held during the last week in October. (Oct. 29 - Nov.2)

You will have Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 31st for conferences in place of our usual professional development. Yes - I know it is Halloween so you likely won't be going late.

This week was chosen because it is about mid-way through the semester and parents have the opportunity to see how things are going before a formal progress report. You also won't need to be preparing students for conferences AND preparing the Elementary Progress Report (EPR). 

***IF you have any concerns about the progress of a student, the student led conference is not the time to discuss those concerns. Please schedule a separate time during a different week, as that conversation should be private and would likely take longer than the time you have during student led conferences. Come visit with me about this if you have questions.

Spring student-led conferences will be the week of March 18-22nd (the week before Spring Break).

Featured Folks:

I have had more positive feedback about the Featured Folk component of Friday Flash than anything else. It's the 'human' part. The part we connect with and is pure entertainment.  

The features aren't coming my way anymore so I think it's time to format it in a different way by shifting the prompt. Most folks shared a bit about themselves in a biography kind of way. How about you write about anything? You can share a story about a teaching experience, you can talk about a belief or an opinion you hold dear. You talk about a learning experience, a memoir, a poem, a book review, ...anything! We love it all! Dig out your writer's brainstorm list and choose something! We're all waiting....

Peek Into the Life of our School:

We saw pictures of Zina's garden -
and then Rebecca's Crew went to see it live.
Rebecca's Crew is linking their Service Learning Project
with our garden beds.

Zina's husband Joe led the garden tour.

The kids were so curious and never stopped asking questions.
Did I mention that Joe is incredibly patient!

We kept a healthy distance from the hives.

It's drum making time!
I passed the art room and took a double take -
I thought Pam was teaching an adult class.
Takes lots of helpers to get those drum heads made!

Bootcamp cheerleading - Wendy created a tally chart (totally connected to Everyday Math) to keep track
of food items in first grade.

Lindsey read aloud Fly Away Home while students jotted down
their thinking -
If we want students to think critically, we MUST provide great literature that allows for deep thinking.

Ha! Bet you thought this was a pan of dirt...Not!
These are carefully developed mines.
(I know...can you imagine the prep?!)

Engagement.
Bill could barely get the guidelines communicated
before kids dived in.

And even further in...

And of course, ownership of the learning.

A gems unit - ask 5th grade about it.

Have a great weekend!

See you Monday in the library where we'll gather together for the 

Restorative Practices course.

Deborah

Sept. 13, 2012

So how are we doing with balance? 

I never mean to leave the creation of Friday Flash until Thursday evening, but darn if Thursday doesn't sneak up quickly! Spread out around me are remnants of things left undone from the day that need my attention tonight. I just returned from an hour at the gym and the tasks before me now don't seem so big, nor so tiring. Taking some time to do something that makes me feel good, clears my head and energizes me. And yet, I am still working through the struggle to make this time a priority. It's a challenge for me to make the transition between work and home. I'm so guilty of staying in work mode, just changing locations! 

I remember the first 'things I want to do or learn' list I created in the fall that I was twelve. Fall always seemed like the logical time for beginnings - must have been because that is when school started, and continues to be a time when I reflect, make changes, review goals and make plans.  

When I was twelve I wanted to learn to play the guitar. I searched out a teacher. Developed a contract with her - lessons in trade for my house cleaning services - and I learned to play the guitar. It's been years since I played, and now I want to put it back on my list.  Time marches on, opportunities pass, and regrets form. So...what goes so I can make time for this? 

Are you doing things that give you joy outside of school? If not, why not? What do you wish you could be doing? What can we all do to make sure that we schedule time for ourselves? Why is it so complicated to simplify? What things can we just let go and be content if they aren't as perfect as we could make them if we gave them that extra time - that extra time that we need for ourselves - our family and friends? Are we achieving balance?

Calendar

September 17 -21:

Monday:

Rebecca's Crew to Educo

Tuesday:

RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

Wednesday:

Leadership Team meeting 11:00 a.m.

Professional Development: Vertical Teams/Technology

Friday:

Bill's Crew Gateway Mesa Hike

September 24 - 28:

Monday:

No student's - Professional Development: Restorative Practices

Tuesday:

RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

Bill's Crew Voyage to Educo

Kenny's Crew field work to Ice Core Lab a.m.

Wednesday:

New Parent Orientation 8:00 a.m.

All School Meeting

PD Focus: Math Discussions in Primary and Intermediate Teams/Planning

Friday:

Crew group pictures

Individual picture re-takes

Peek Into the Life of our School

Enduring Understanding:

A world class education is rigorous, relevant, modern, 

aligned and integrated.

Vampire Sneeze or Cough
Relevant?

Are we all reminding our students about
'Flick and Fold'?

See...she's still smiling!
Those are the 8 forms for field work Julie juggled this week in addition to four voyages!
Wonder Woman!

Intentional stomach time to build strong bodies and provide sensory integration for all students
in Hanni's room.
Integrated? Aligned?

Rigor?

Dana supports students, who need a little more, to be successful.

"Integrity" Bear in Ms. Mary Beth's Crew.
"Integrity" travels home with each student over the year.
Each child writes in the journal about their experience.
Writing with a purpose?
Relevant? Integrated? Meaningful? Builds belonging?

Fourth grade reading buddies in Jill's Crew, supporting readers and building community.
Integrated? Aligned? Relevant?

Writing buddies -
An authentic audience
Second graders from Ms. Hanni's Crew and
kindergartner's from Ms. Jody's Crew
How would you feel as the author?

Modern? Rigorous? Relevant?
Ask Bill about his results.

Critical Thinking routines didn't disappear with new initiatives -
Critical thinking is part of 21st Century Skills.
How are you planning for deep thinking?
Bill can tell you how to use these.

Some things are timeless.
Remember Chinese Jump Rope?
(notice the rope is knee height here...)
Kids will spend the next three weeks on jump rope skills. Doug has given the recess teachers some jump ropes to use.
Maybe you can integrate jump roping rhymes in reading or as a Morning Message?

Posted in Ms. Linda's Spanish classroom.
I continue to ask kids these questions every day!
What are they telling you?

Self-portrait by a first grader in Art.
Integrated?

Expert Speaker presents to 6th graders
 on glaciers and Bristlecone Pine Trees.
Relevant?

Have a great weekend!

Deborah

Sept. 6, 2012

World Class Education

Then and Now

(I found these photos on a chair in my office. "How did these photos fall out of my bag?" - "Wait, that's not me...I think it's Lori Brossart! Thanks Lori!

Students using digital tools for math
(5th grade)

Create a video that either supports this theory
 or disagrees with it.
(Neal's Crew)

Big Money and How We'll Spend It!

(Got your attention now?)

Skill blocks have been replaced with Personal Growth Stipends.

For 15 hours, a teacher may get $300.00  They may do this twice.

Here is the great news....

*8 of the 15 hours may be Site Based Professional Development.

*Resource courses such as Backward Plan, World Class Education, and Restorative Practices may be done on PLC days!  (each are 8 hours)

So, on Monday, September 24 (teacher PD day) we are bringing the Restorative Practices course listed above to Renaissance.  We will spend all of Monday making links between Love and Logic and Restorative Practices.  You will earn 8 hours on Monday.

During the same week, on Wednesday and Thursday (Sept. 26 & 27) you may elect to take Restorative Circles which we have worked out to be offered next door at the Early Childhood Center at 4:30 to earn the other 8 hours. If you elect to take this second portion, you'll qualify for your first personal growth stipend of $300!

For those of you writing a personal goal around Backwards Planning, I encourage you to register to tae one of those courses through staff development to earn the second $300. personal growth stipend. You would also have 16 hours towards re-licensure!

Even More Money...

The Douglas County BoE has chosen to take a portion of their carryover from last year and re-distribute that back out to schools to reimburse teachers for some of the dollars they spend out of pocket for school supplies.  

For the purposes of the dollar amounts allocated to schools, the following staff members were excluded; nurses, librarians and non- school licensed staff.  It was strictly based on certified classroom FTE.  This doesn't mean that the above people  will be excluded from being reimbursed for whatever supply expense any licensed teacher expends on behalf of their classroom or position. Always let me know when you have made a personal purchase so we can ensure that we get you reimbursed!  

What??? There's more money?!

What we once called 'The Planning Grant' is now called 'Innovation Dollars'. With the approval of the Leadership Team, here is the way we will allocate these dollars.

Every certified full-time teacher will have 7 days for additional planning. Each teacher needs to keep track of their use. You may use these days for a sub to plan during the school day (backwards planning) and if you choose, you can keep track of the hours you spend preparing lesson plans to be out of the classroom until they total a day. You also have the flexibility to use your days over a break and be compensated financially for them ($110 approx.). Again, you need to track those days and also share the work you've done with Noreene.

We also allocated 8 days to either comp time or pay-out those teachers who did not receive a day of rest at the conclusion of their voyage.

Teachers who work less than full-time will have some planning days, and I'll visit with you about that.

A big 'shout out' to MarySue for creating the form (see link) you can use to track your time. You'll need to save it on your desk top. You also received the link in an email. (Wondering what that was, weren't you!)

http://tinyurl.com/9smvhdy

Sixth Grade field work to the Botanic Gardens

Fieldwork at the Denver Botanic Gardens served two purposes. The first purpose was to tour the gardens to observe, think and respond to the work of three different artists each using the Japanese aesthetic wabi sabi to guide their work. Another commonality was the natural material used to realize their unique ideas, bamboo. The second purpose was to practice scientific inquiry through close observation of a natural object, repeated testing of the observation, precise illustration of the object and brief explanatory notes, like Leonardo da Vinci. 

Photos complements of Pam

Calendar

September 10-14:

Tuesday:

3rd Grade Crews to Camp Elim

4th Grade Discovery Crew to Educo

RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

* Administration of CogAt to 1,2,4,5,6th graders 9 - 11 a.m.

Wednesday:

* All School Meeting

* Leadership Team Meeting

* Professional Development: Planning

Friday:

Rebecca's Crew - Service Learning Field Work

September 17 -21:

Monday:

Rebecca's Crew to Educo

Tuesday:

RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

Wednesday:

Leadership Team meeting 11:00 a.m.

Professional Development: Vertical Teams/Technology

Friday:

Bill's Crew Gateway Mesa Hike

Featured Folk:

Authored by Noreene

Why I Am Not Leaving Until They Carry Me Out

The reasons I went into education is a bedtime story from the last century…why I stayed in education for so long might make better telling. I think I can put it in less than a 140 character tweet…be ready, you might miss it…freedom…I know I am supposed to say I’m in it for the kids…and I am. I dearly love kids. They are funny. They are truthful and perceptive. I can talk to them. I love the stuff of kids…books and toys. And I maybe kidding myself, but I think I understand them for the most part. And I am also in it for myself.

I have been incredibly lucky in my career. I have had spend very little time marching to someone else’s beat. I have had the extreme pleasure of participating in a cycle of inventing and reinventing my career. I have had almost only opportunities for extreme educational creativity…some by choice some by situation. From inventing curriculum where non existed, to building my dream science room complete with everything a teacher might need for hands-on-minds-on science, wiring a computer network in my school and working in a truly 1:1 computer to child environment. I’ve taken advantage of every training/reinventing opportunity I could find. I’ve had the pleasure of teaching every grade k-8 + art/music and PE the latter of which consisted of cross country skiing and swimming lessons…FUN! I’ve done a stint as principal and superintendent of schools (we are talking a really small district here.) This is truly ALL because I’ve worked for and with people and communities that valued autonomy, shared trust, and cared about taking risks. Point is I’ve reinvented myself right into The Renaissance School. It has not necessarily been a soft landing, but then soft landings don’t make for developing risk takers. So take a risk, do something different, or at least don’t do the same thing and expect different results. Avoid being complacent, be grateful for where you work and with whom, or find a place and a role where you can be grateful, get inspired, be inspiring…it is all about staying in YOUR ZPD baby.

Peek Into Classrooms:

And so it begins...
front teeth are falling out!

Look closely and you'll see the tooth in her hand

Clever way to display student work (an important component of the Comprehensive Literacy Model) without messing with the window glass!
(Mary Beth's classroom)

(a close up from one of the writing pieces displayed-
made me chuckle)
"I persevered on the hike
it was hard
I was sweaten'"

 Model writing demonstration

Supporting a student to choose a book -
Diana has a gift for being able to match any student with a book they will love

Primary vertical team made a decision to do some peer visits!
Caught the kindergarten teachers in the first grade classrooms.
A wonderful opportunity to learn from one another about instruction that works.
Collaboration in action!

Performance assessment

Learning from one another-
A bonus of performance assessment!

Lindsey writes the learning target after she's immersed the kids
and they have told her what they are working on.

Elisha provides a coaching model for a guided group.

Immediately after the group, Elisha and Tyler debrief the lesson and make a plan for the next lesson, while students are busy during Reader's Workshop.

Mary Beth solved the problem of never having sticky notes and other teaching tools nearby with her tool apron!
Ask her about her apron, it has a touching story.
(Mary Beth, is your hair a little flat? LOL)

I saved the best for last...

Tyler does a little light reading during his lunch break -
The Design Principles of Expeditionary Learning!

Have a great weekend!

Deborah