eNotes

This quote reminded me of the alignment sweeps we have been conducting over the last few weeks. With so many resources readily available to teachers, selecting resources can become a matter of convenience. The most important responsibility for teachers and school leaders, beyond keeping kids safe, is to ensure we teach what students are required to learn. Developing systems to regularly check for alignment and to ensure all the TEKS are adequately covered is paramount. While you have systems in place to evaluate alignment with lesson plans and alignment between LOs and DOLs, I encourage you to get into the weeds to ensure that instruction is truly aligned. Helping your teachers plan and implement strongly aligned instruction is at the core of student success.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching your data meeting videos over the last two weeks. I have been so impressed with how far you and your teams have come with your WDM cycle. Most of you are getting to perhaps the most impactful portion of the meeting: planning and practicing the reteach. I really appreciate the open discussions and your willingness to implement suggested refinements. I am fortunate for having a team of learners and go-getters!

My challenge to each of you as we move forward is to have all members of your teams to consistently get to the practice. This work may be new to some of your teachers, so I understand your decision to chunk the new learning. Getting to the practice, though, is the only way to ensure the planned reteach is as effective as possible. If you’re struggling with the timing, remember these tips:

• Make sure you have adequately prepared for the meeting by reviewing the student work, identifying the gap, and selecting the samples of student work you will use in the meeting

• Include your leadership team in the pre-planning meeting, clearly identify the student gap, and plan the reteach in advance

• Follow the script to avoid overtalking (this has been an overall strength, for sure)

• Use a timer to keep an efficient pace (This is an example of what Andrea and several of you are using to maintain appropriate pacing)

• Have teachers draft the know/show for the SE prior to the meeting
  

• Once teachers understand the purpose of the exemplar, have them draft a teacher exemplar prior to the meeting

Bambrick utilizes Doug Lemov’s Teach Like a Champion in his work, and TEA has embraced it, too. This link takes you to a website that includes training modules for Lemov’s components: behavior and culture, planning for achievement, and engaging academics. Not only is it a great resource for you, but if you have teachers who need additional support in some areas, you might choose to utilize a strategy or two. Our GISD email accounts will give you and your teachers access.

Park Crest Elementary has taken tremendous strides in ensuring their school is a welcoming place for all families. GRS-TV and Andrea Kleckner created a wonderful video highlighting the impact of the Welcoming Walkthroughs. Although you have already seen this video at team GISD, I thought I would share it again here. Well done, Andrea!

Just a reminder that the 3 professional teaching organizations will be reaching out to campuses to set up a day/time to be on campus to visit with staff on a voluntary basis. They will likely want to be in the lounge during staff lunches so teachers can drop by to visit voluntarily.

We have had several incidents recently where parents have requested access to surveillance video. Please see the attached guidelines from Dr. Garrett and the security team on proper protocols to follow when requests are made.

Here are the PM links for the AP sessions this week:

ELAR and SS (10/8/2019 8-9:30 a.m.)

SCIENCE (10/8/2019 1-2:30 p.m.)

MATH (10/10/2019 8-9:30 a.m.)

October 5-First Year Teacher Academy (WAIP, 8/16)

Ocrober7-Parent-teacher conference window opens

October 7-FIre Prevention Week

October 7-Band Fest

October 7-Anti-Bullying Week

October 10-Making the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences Training at PDC

October 14-Fair Day

October 15-Deadline to register for Spelling Bee (WAIP, 9/20)

October 15-District Affairs Committee Meeting

October 16-UIL+ planning meeting (WAIP, 9/20)

October 21-Aspiring Administrator Academy Meeting

October 22-Board Meeting

October 23-Red Ribbon Week

October 23-24-Progress Reports Distributed

October 22-Principal PLC

October 25-Snapshot day

October 29-String Fest

November 1-Deadline to submit transcripts to HR (WAIP, 10/4)

November 1-Parent-teacher conferences closed

November 1-Meet Up, Buddy Up day

November 7-Team GISD

November 12-District Affairs Committee Meeting

November 19-Board Meeting

November 25-Thanksgiving Break

November 29-Deadline to watch required videos (WAIP, 7/25)

Monday -Campus walks & coaching, long-range facilities planning meetings

Tuesday -Campus walks & coaching TT data planning meeting

Wednesday -Campus walks & coaching, C&I meeting

Thursday -UT Austin

Friday -Campus pinning ceremonies, coaching visits

Click on this resources document to access related samples and resources.