THIS WEEK’S EVENTS

Monday, January 18 — Tech Training 7:45 a.m. & 3:45 p.m.

Smencils on sale all week

DRA Testing Kindergarten

Metzger to Lindemann in AM

Honor Choir at Arno 3:45-4:45 p.m.

Tuesday, January 19 —  Metzger to RESA in AM

Metzger, Simonds, Klein to School Improvement Chair meeting

CPI Training for specified staff

Lockdown Drill today

Tech Club 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, January 20 — DRA Testing 1st Grade

Hearing Retesting Date

Metzger out of district in AM

Sports & Fitness Club 3:30-4:15 p.m.

5th Grade Band Rehearsal 3:45-5:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 21 — APHS Drama Class Performance 1:30 p.m. (4th & 5th Grade; optional for 3rd Grade)

Jazz Band Rehearsal at Arno 3:45-5:00 p.m.

PTA Family Fun Night 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Friday, January 22 — Lunch with Principal for top fundraisers in the Texas Roadhouse Rolls

LOOKING AHEAD

1/25 — Tech Training 7:45 a.m. & 3:45 p.m.

Honor Choir at Arno 3:45-4:45 p.m.

MTSS Meeting 4:00-5:00 p.m.

1/26 — Metzger to Riley in AM

Tech Club 3:30-4:30 p.m.

MS Orientation for 5th grade parents 6:30-7:30 p.m.

1/27 — Hot Cocoa & snack for top readers in Winter Break Reading Challenge

Sports & Fitness Club 3:30-4:15 p.m.

5th Grade Band Rehearsal 3:45-5:00 p.m.

1/28 — CPI Training 12:30-3:30 for specified staff

Jazz Band Rehearsal at Arno 3:45-5:00 p.m.

Math Pilot Committee Meeting 4:00-5:00 p.m.

1/29 — End of Q2 and 1st Semester

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Thank you to all of our staff for your great work at Friday’s Professional Development day.  We know that the work is challenging and can often feel like it is leading us in circles.  A few concerns have been raised related to why we could not have waited to begin the creation of common assessments until we decided on a math series.  The simple answer to that is because we can not afford another year without data on how our students are progressing towards the standards we have determined to be most important.  Now, this comes with strings attached, of course, as we are doing our best to create assessments that we have now realized need constant revision.  In addition, we have determined that the math series that is ultimately selected may impact the pacing of the power standards (slightly or majorly, depending on the final outcome).

Although this is certainly frustrating for all of us, I hope you are able to step outside of the moment and think back a year.  There is no question in my mind that our students are receiving better instruction from more well-informed teachers who are much more familiar with the Common Core Standards in each grade level.  The fact that you are able to discuss the need for an amendment in the pacing and/or assessment means that you are constantly reflecting on your practice, and adjusting based on information you have.  That is not to say that the process is easy.  It is clearly not.  For this reason, I am attempting to provide additional support for data collection within the resources we have available at this time.  See the note below.  Thank you again for showing professionalism and committing to growing throughout this process.

TECH TRAINING

This week’s tech training will be dedicated to options for assisting with your grade levels 2nd quarter common assessment.  If you plan to attend the training, no need to RSVP.  However, please bring a copy of your common assessment with you.  We will resume training on Google products in general next week!

CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DR. KING

Our district has chosen to be in session on Martin Luther King Day.  This gives us the opportunity to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King with our students.  Please plan to take some time on Monday, and throughout this week, to explore his impact on our lives.  Please let me know if you need any resources that I can provide for you.

Much can be learned from leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The leadership lessons he gave the world are as important today as they were during Dr. King’s life. Click here now to download this poster in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

 

HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA PERFORMANCE

Once again, our students have been invited to view the drama classes’ final exam performances.  After coordinating scheduled, the ideal audience seems to be the 4th & 5th graders.  3rd graders are invited to join, if your schedule permits.  The performance will take place on Thursday, January 21 from 1:30-2:30 p.m.  Please plan to be settled in the auditorium by 1:30.

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT TIPS

It’s a new year, which means it’s the perfect time to start planning for a productive and engaging second semester. Because formative assessment is most likely an essential practice in your classroom, WriteSteps has some tips to help you improve collecting formative assessments for the rest of the school year.

1. Create a cooperative, not a competitive, atmosphere. Help your students understand that you are all working together as a team. Many formative assessments are cooperative activities.

2. Focus on quality rather than quantity. Quality work and skill practice do not have to take long, and they can usually be done in the context of the lesson as opposed to an added-on work sheet. Remind your students that learning is a process. Help them set goals for improvement, and feel confident that they can meet them.

3. Don’t emphasize grading over learning. Your goal should be to see where you can adjust your instruction and help students master the content, not to collect a grade.

4. Keep a list of skills and a record of how your students are doing with our formative assessment data collection handout. Save time by re-teaching the most prevalent skills to your entire class, and see what the focus should be for individual student’s conferencing sessions.

The Formative Assessment Data Collection handout helps you keep track of each student’s level of mastery of a particular skill. This record sheet will help you know if additional practice or conferencing is needed for individual students or for the majority of the class. Get your copy of the handout here!

BABY NEWS

Here’s the scoop from Kris Bowdell!  She, Martin, and big sister, Patty, are doing great!

Martin Lazarus Bowdell.  5 pounds 13 ounces.  Martin has a cleft lip, but is my little incredible hulk.  He is doing great!

Mary Magdalene Bowdell.  5 pounds 7 ounces.  Mary is less than one minute older. She is very sweet and content.

MISTAR INFO