The "Oskaloosa Syllabus"
News You Can Use - January, 2013
DLT Update for December
Learning Target: I CAN discuss next steps in Standards-Based Grading at the 3-5 grade levels
Learning Target: I CAN determine the measures of success and evaluate the success of the Learning Supports Plan currently in place at the building level.
1. Presentation of the Differentiated Instruction Workshop – Mr. Bandy & Mr. Veiseth
2. Discussion Item on Standards-Based Grading
i. What if we only eliminated grades for grade 3 only?
Mary is going to look at a timeline and determine what this entails in regards to implementation for the 3rd grade only. No decision has been made, but further information and details are needed.
3. RTI – Building Learning Supports Plans
i. Discuss as building
Each building reviewed videos and had discussions about RTI within the building. Further discussions will take place.
4. Presentation to the Board of Education – December 11th at 7:00
Denise Morris & Maggie VanZee presented
5. Decisions Made
- Mary is going to look at a timeline and determine what this entails in regards to implementation for the 3rd grade only. No decision has been made, but further information and details are needed.
Want to read the book "Fair Isn't Always Equal"? Link to Amazon.com below
Learning Targets Must Be Displayed Starting in January!!
Students can take ownership of the Learning Targets!
Do students know what the Learning Target is EACH day?
Where do you put your Targets for the day?
Do you have a dedicated space for your Learning Target in your classroom so students know where to look EVERY day?
How close are students to meeting the Learning Target?
What data are you collecting for your GLB's and student attainment of the GLB?
AEA On-Line Services
RtI Information
Group Attends a RtI workshop by Wayne Callender - PLAN, PLAN, PLAN
- This is a SYSTEM approach - we must change a system rather than trying to treat one child at a time - we can't have a "one size fits all" approach to helping struggling students.
- When assessing students at a formative level it must be "every kid, every question, every time". We should not ask a single student a question - ask the question to the group, have them turn to a partner to answer. Each student should be answering every question!!!
- Experts can predict as early as Kindergarten who will be the high school students struggling as Freshman because they do not have the necessary reading skills.
- Kindergarten students develop between 2,000-3,000 words during the year which gives them access to the vocabulary to make them better readers. If they do not come in with the necessary skills, we MUST stop and provide the skills. Even if they are not ready, we MUST have a system-wide plan to move them along ANYWAY!!
- Poor language skills result in poor reading skills in Kindergarten
- 75% of academic achievement is related to the ability to read
- Be sure we are not providing Tier 1 instruction during Tier 2 and Tier 3 targeted intervention. What we do during targeted intervention is critical!!! It doesn't matter how small or large the group is if you are not targeted the right skill or providing the correct intervention.
- RtI cannot be the same way of doing business but just calling it a different name. We must get serious about finding new ways to help struggling students.
- We must build exceptional systems in our buildings - which means providing EXCEPTIONAL Tier 1 instruction.
- Progress Monitoring is critical if we are to know if what we are doing is working.
- What direction is OUR pyramid moving? Do we have an upside-down pyramid? If so, what is our plan for turning it right-side up?
- We need to set up our system for the students we HAVE, not for the students we WISH WE HAD.
- Do not fly by the seat of your pants... HAVE A PLAN!
- Students moving in tell us a lot about our system plan - whether we are proactive or reactive.
- What supports do we have in place to increase motivation?
- What is our systems answer to "lifers" - that 5% that nothing will work for?
- Improve CORE INSTRUCTION!!!!
- #1 Rule in Brain Research - REPETITION
- Increased vocabulary skills is corrected to reading
- Need 40 opportunities to work with vocabulary words to put them into long-term memory. Not just saying the word, but working with it in context.
PLC To Watch for January
MS 2nd Chance Reading PLC
At the start of the school year they held a meeting in the evening for parents of 2nd Chance Reading students. An incredible turnout allowed them to talk about what students do during class, expectations, what they will learn, and the new way of grading.
Don't know what 2nd Chance Reading is all about? Check out the link below - OR just ask Abby and Mollie. The same program is also at the High School.
Teacher Quality Funds Available for Attending Conferences or Workshops
Remember - if you have attended a conference or workshop you must complete the conference evaluation form and at the end of the year the Conference Planning form. Both are located on the Staff Resource page for your convenience.
PLC Dates for January
January 16th - Extended hour is PLC Collaboration
January 23rd - Extended hour is Building
January 30th - Extended hour is PLC Collaboration
SINA TEAM Update - Year 2 Work Continues at the Elementary
In other news, the work with Angela Maiers continues. Demonstration classrooms are up and running and working weekly with the Instructional Coach, Jen Groenenboom. Ms. Maiers was at the Elementary on December 19th working with 5th grade and 2nd grade teachers modeling and providing feedback. Her day ended with a building meeting to debrief and talk about her next visit when she will work with two additional grade level teams. In addition, the Small Group Instruction Guidebook will be a website where teachers can access information to implement the Reading and Writing Workshop in their classrooms. This will be ready to go in January.
We want to be sure we are implementing our Action Plan at the Elementary - the following outlines what each teacher at the Elementary and PLC's MUST be doing this year:
CLASSROOM TEACHER EXPECTATIONS FOR THE ELEMENTARY
- Use Common Summative Assessments in both LA and Math
- Use Small Group Instruction (SGI) in both Reading and Math
- Use and analyze data based on GLB's in PLC's - and analyze that information to make instructional decisions
- Extended Shares should be on your PLC agenda monthly and recorded in minutes
- Family Math Night will be in the Spring - tentatively April 11th
Characteristics of Effective Instruction
Rick Wormeli - Differentiated Instruction and Grading
LETRS Training at the Elementary?
Possible Literacy Training Opportunity
Part of the information shared included a quiz. Do you know the answers to the following early literacy questions?
- Which of the following words has a prefix?
- missile
- distance
- commit
- interest
- furnish
2. Which word has a schwa sound?
- eagerly
- prevent
- definition
- formulate
- story
LETRS training is divided into learning modules and the Elementary Special Education teachers would more than likely take 9 of the 12 modules. The decision to sign a contract with the Department of Education will be made in January. If the district chooses this path it would assist with instruction and assessment for students with IEP's.
Making this training stronger will be choosing the Universal Screener this spring and utilizing our PLC's to make the assessment of student progress stronger. Many of the system-wide structures are already in place to implement LETRS.
1) commit 2) definition
Want additional information? See the link below: