November 29, 2012

'Tis the Season

With all the unseasonably warm weather it sure doesn't feel like a winter wonderland! The weather may not be changing, but I think we've all noticed that kids are starting to feel the impacts of the season. We don't have any control over the impacts the holiday season has on children, but we do have some control over the environment. This is a good time to take inventory of your procedures and routines. Since we are always responsive to the needs of our kids, it could be that we need to tighten things up a bit. Kids thrive when the expectations are clear and consistent. This time of year, being less flexible with routines is a gift we can give our students. Spend a few minutes pondering how things are going. Even if your procedures and routines are pristine, it could be that we need to add a few additional routines for this season or provide more teacher support to survive the holiday season with a sense of joy and sanity! What was working just fine, might not be enough for 'the most wonderful time of the year'. :)

Calendar

December 3 - 7:

Monday -
Fire Drill 3 p.m.

Tuesday -
No RTI meeting
SAC 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday -
All School Meeting
2nd grade Field Work to Art Museum
Professional Development: Vertical team work on BAS

Friday -
1st grade Field Work to Joyous Chinese School

December 10 - 14:
Tuesday -
RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

Wednesday -
Parent Orientation 8:00 a.m.
All School Meeting
Professional Development - Report Cards
MarySue's Crew Musical 6:30 p.m.


December 17 - 21:

Wednesday-
Parent Orientation 8:00 a.m.
All School Meeting
Professional Development: Vertical Teams

Friday-
School IN session
1st grade Field Work to Kings Land Restaurant
Staff Holiday Party at MarySue's after work

* Coming up and you'll need to include on your calendar "Choose Your Life" presentation on January 9th (Wednesday am). More information to come. This presentation was coordinated through our Anti-bullying team. It was decided not to include K-2 and the presentation is best suited for 3rd through 6th grade.

Leadership Team Topics Discussed

* Drafts of new report cards

* Details for how to store them, time line for distributing them, holding cards if there is an overdue lunch balance

* Plans for Wednesday professional development

* Current issues that teachers are juggling

Celebration 

It is my privilege and pleasure to announce that Heidi Baus and her wonderful team at Camelot BASE Program earned a zero violation supervisory report!

Life Is Art

Our second fund raiser, Life Is Art, has shifted it's date from April to March. Mark your calendar's for Saturday, March 16th. It's been communicated to me that it is a big deal to the community to see teachers at the fundraising events, so if you can attend, it is much appreciated.

Literature Discussion

Reading with a Kindle Fire

Lindsey supports a group of readers deepen their comprehension

Student's recording their thinking

Taking advantage of every minute to plan

Kenny leading his Crew through the planning stages
of creating stories to be presented as puppet shows

Linda in her Spanish Casa

Everyone wants to present!

First graders enjoying snacks outdoors - November in Colorado!

Writer's Workshop in Neil's Crew

Have a great weekend!

Deborah

I hope it snows soon...

November 15, 2012

Another piece to the puzzle

I've been sitting through multiple trainings and am in constant 'development' in regard to my understandings about the stages of Backwards Planning. 

What I know for sure:
In Stage One - make sure the Outcome is World Class. 
Have to admit that just saying 'World Class Outcome' sounds world class!

If you spend time analyzing your plan, spend the most time here. 

In real terms, ask yourself - what do I really want my kids to learn here? 
Say it out loud to yourself in your own language.
I know you find outcomes in the GVC's and the State Standards... 
(What's the difference between these two? DCSD plucked the GVC's from the State Standards as the most important outcomes from the standards.)
but I really encourage you to think about what you have learned from the kids you teach and make them real to you. Keep your eye on the outcomes constantly! Think about them, look at them, say them before you teach each day. Maybe jot them on a sticky note on your daily plans? Be intentional and focused!

Oh, but Deborah, I'm just never sure if the outcomes I have are the right ones?
Then, run them through the filter:
Can you say 'yes', that those outcomes are:
Rigorous, relevant, integrated, modern, aligned, and transferable?
(decide what these each mean to you in your own words - that will help!)

In Stage Two - are the assessments you identify or created really measuring what you wanted them to learn?
(More on this later...)

Then those darn 4 C's - 
If you aren't implicitly teaching them, then you can't measure or assess them. Do your lesson plans say you are teaching them?
If you are teaching them, and measuring them ---- then they should be in the outcomes!
The 4 C's - (maybe not even all of them) should be stated in the outcomes!
Can I say that I don't think that many district trainers really understand this?

If this is too much to think about right now - then let it glide right over you because I'll be back!
Perhaps you'd like to join me at the kidney table in back for a guided group?
 If this is timely, makes sense and can move you forward with your understandings...then, this was perfect timing for you!
Go forth and do some independent practice :)

Mini-lesson is now concluded.

I've been wrestling with fitting the pieces together. I've been listening to multiple people present, looking at plans, trying my hand at plans and questioning the 'experts'.  I've identified pieces that aren't fitting together. I'm okay with the disequilibrium and have enjoyed the struggle - it's got me thinking! 

Calendar

November 19 - 23:

Short week full of gratitude!

Tuesday:

RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

Wednesday - Friday:

Thanksgiving Holiday :)

November 26 - 30:
A pretty 'clean' week - take advantage!

Tuesday:
RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

Wednesday:
Leadership Team Meeting 11:00 - 1:00
Professional Development: Creation of BAS (Balanced Assessment System) All staff - 1:30 library

Global Citizens

I attended the elementary administrators meeting on Tuesday. They asked us to identify and discuss what we do at our building to impact the world. How are we providing opportunities for our students to be global citizens? 

A good reminder to think about where we are carving out the time in our demanding schedule to ensure we are intentional and on track for providing Service Learning projects and opportunities. If you haven't started, give some thought to where that will fit as you glance over the calendar. 

Here's a GREAT resource if you haven't seen it before - 

Generation On: We are the Service Generation

http://www.generationon.org/teachers

Another idea that was shared was 'party with a purpose'. I think this was something like we did with Bootcamp - the merging of an event with a service component. Something to think about when you plan Crew parties.

Wells Fargo has created some Financial Literacy resources and curriculum lesson plans. This is new to me and I think it is targeted for 4th, 5th and 6th graders. If you want to know more about this and where to find it, email or come visit with me. It would be a great resource for Camelot too.

Thursday Folders

Need your help in forwarding the link to Thursday folders along to parents each Thursday. We've heard from families that they need us to send them that email each week to support them with keeping up with communication from the school level. So - please be sure to do this each week. Greatly appreciated!

Peek Into the Life of our School

Field Work

Ms. MarySue's Crew used Skype
to host an expert scientist from Florida

Expert Speaker shares with
second graders about the Star in Castle Rock.

 Monday Morning Drum Circles

Monday morning Drum Circles
are an important part of our culture.
What things are you doing as a facilitator
to support the growth of belonging/generosity/independence/mastery?

Lunch!

The joys of lunch -
A chance to be with friends.

Book Fair is always a hit!

Writing with an authentic purpose!
Creating wish lists!

We do not inhibit the self-expression of our students!

Expert groups struggle through some complex text
with a guiding hand.

Using the enhanced sound system here... 

and here.
If you aren't creating the habit of wearing and using yours everyday, please do.

Conferring with writers.
Looks different!

Third graders working as scientists

Fourth graders wrestling with the big ideas

Student with his performance assessment -
he provided me with a detailed explanation.

Thanksgiving Lunch 

Building belonging as a community

Thanks Zena for a wonderful feast!

Happy Weekend!

Deborah

It's been noted that the males in our building
are using facial hair to accessorize  -
Here is another suggestion. 

November 8, 2012

24

I don't know how Jack Bauer does it.  He lives in a state of urgency and never eats, sleeps, changes clothes or needs to use the bathroom!  I'm exhausted just watching the show. I do not want to be Jack Bauer. I do not want to live in a state of panic. Yet, I find that the demands on us make me feel as though I'm living that life that the clock is counting down every minute. I try to step back to determine the priorities, but they are all priorities. Something has to give - after all, there are only 24 hours to our day.

During the Leadership Team meeting we talked about what things can be moved off the priority list so that we can all feel a sense of accomplishment and peace. Some of those things are different depending on the role and responsibilities we each have. Providing we are moving forward, we're accomplishing the goal.

Here are some of the things I'm thinking right now:

* We are expected to create a backwards plan. Everyone has done that. Check that one off.

* Sharing your Backwards Plan with me. I'm not going to evaluate it. I'm going to talk with you about the progress you feel you've made in understanding the process and using it. I want to know what is still confusing. Check off feeling like you will be critiqued - We aren't ready to be at the top of Blooms with this planning process yet.

* We are expected to work towards an effective rating on some of the World Class Outcomes -

Backwards Planning, Restorative Practices and Student Advocacy. We've worked on two of them - so check that off the list.

* We are working on building a Balanced Assessment System and have plans to eat away at that goal one bite at a time - together. So, check that one off the list.

* Observations - we are beginning to schedule those. We are expected to use the CITE Evaluation tool to assess our growth. Growth - we don't need to have it all figured out. I think if the District was to evaluate themselves with this tool it would have to be partially effective, so I'm good with being that too. I'm learning what it is, how to use it, and what it would look like to be effective. I'm learning with you. So, it's on the list, but not something that can really be checked off, so let it fall off the list for something to be stressed over.

* Creating learning experiences tied to World Class Outcomes - this is a biggie - this is where the majority of our focus should be. Will we always get it right? Would we be learning if we did?

* EPortfolio's - I think everyone's created one. Do we have to make it work for us yet? No - check it off the list.

* Halogen - ignore it. My problem.

* District Interim Assessments - sheesh- didn't turn out the way it was advertised. Do what you can with it and then give Bill your feedback so he can take your experience to the Assessment office so they  will know how the 'idea to action' turned out. Perhaps we take it off the list? Thank you for coming to me to ask for help when you didn't have the time you needed. That's what you do - you put it on my list! Ha!

* Safety protocols - do what you can to provide the optimum safety procedures.

* Webinars, moodles.... I say leave them off the list.

* Learning Expeditions - yes - and I'll bet everyone can check the first one off the list.

* PLC's - yes - but you have support and where you are is where you are. There is no race.

* What else is making you feel like Jack Bauer? 

Make a list and decide that some things won't get done. Share with a Leadership Team member what isn't working and what needs to be addressed and corrected at the school level.

 Share your tips for how you manage the demands with all of us. What are your tricks for prioritizing? What are you tips for being at peace and really letting some things go?

Calendar

November 12 -16:

Book Fair all week

Fall Climbing

Tuesday:

RTI meeting 7:15 a.m

Thanksgiving Lunch - see different schedule

(If I don't have jury duty I have to be at an admin meeting - that means I won't be in my turkey costume...bummer!)

Wednesday:

New Parent Orientation 8:00 a.m.

Professional Development: 

Beginning to create our Balanced Assessment System - whole group in the library at 1:30 p.m.

Thursday:

Girls On the Run Celebration 4 - 5 p.m.

November 19 - 23:

Tuesday:

RTI meeting 7:15 a.m.

Wednesday - Friday:

Thanksgiving Holiday :)

Leadership Team Topics Discussed

* Balanced Assessment System plan for our building

* Professional Development opportunities outside of our building and an equitable plan for all.

* Wednesday PD plans revised

* Apple Awards

* Interim Assessments

* Implications of UIP

* Report Cards

* Managing all the demands

Peek Into Classrooms

Students get more support from older students.

Don't you just want those gloves too?

We even have Grandma's belaying!

Cody joined us this week!

Climbing blind. Increasing the challenge.

Bill's group wrestled with vocabulary.

Have a great weekend - 

Deborah