Dear all,
Thank yous
Thank yous
- All 53 of you who completed my new principal survey - muchly appreciated!
- Hilary, Priya and Jet for all the work with Bernajean’s successful visit last week
Karen and Rachael for the great Inquiry in the co-teaching classroom workshop - Carl for delivering a photography workshop with MS students
- Rachael for putting together a comprehensive faculty PD on F&P reading assessments
- Alex and Dylan from MCT, and all the TAs who assisted with escorting students
- All teachers who supported the 4pm performance - so great to see so many of you there!
- Everyone for their flexibility with MCT rehearsals this week!
- Jet for facilitating all the preparation for Mini-Nesa
NESA Math PD: Message from Calley
The session will be best suited to teachers who need Level 1 or 2 with Conceptual math, and it will focus largely on implicating the Practice Standards in lessons. Calley thinks it should be very hands-on.
Calley will be attending and will go through the eyes of the "beginners mind" to see what she can re-learn and emphasize with staff for our February session. If a cohort attends with her, perhaps we would be able to collaborate.
Interested faculty should let Keryn know via email.
Faculty Meeting next Wednesday
Mini NESA! Refer back to the email sent out by Jet.
Inquiry book club - from Rachael
As discussed in the November 2nd Inquiry session, we are excited to offer three book clubs to facilitate and spark discussion, learning, and integration of conceptual understanding in our classrooms. Please see the surveys below to indicate interest. Please know space is limited, as well as meeting day and time majority interest will be honored. Thank you, and I look forward to working with you on this exciting initiative!
From the faculty Service Learning Committee
Please complete this 2-minute survey to share your ideas and interests regarding faculty opportunities for service.
Please complete this 2-minute survey to share your ideas and interests regarding faculty opportunities for service.
We really appreciate your participation!
2016-17 Calendars
These have been placed in your mail cubbies; please collect.
Cafeteria Changes
After surveying student council members and hearing a strong desire for a quieter lunch time with more space and seating, we are going to pilot having the 5th graders eat lunch in the FAC cafeteria. This will begin next Monday and run until winter break, at which time it will be evaluated. Third and fourth graders will continue to eat in the ES cafeteria, as usual. Chandra will supervise the 5th graders; all teachers normally on cafeteria duty will remain in the ES cafeteria.
Fifth grade teachers, could you send your students to the ES cafeteria 5 minutes early on Monday? Lori and Keryn will transition them to the FAC, discuss routines and expectations, and supervise the first few lunches.
Fountis and Pinnell Reading Assessments
As was mentioned, use of the new F&P kits is completely voluntary this year. If you or your team would like continued practice or further professional learning, feel free to call on Rachael.
Here are some answers to questions that arose from Wednesday’s session.
Will additional kits be ordered for next year?
- Yes. We know that grade 2 needs a 3-8 kit, and that grades 3-5 need K-2 kits. For now, borrow nicely from your neighbors; Lori also has an extra K-2 kit in her office that you’re welcome to borrow.
What will you collect at the end of the year?
- The same as previous years: the independent reading level for each child and the paper copy of the most recent running record (be it TC or F&P).
If a child makes multiple errors on the same word, is that counted as an error each time he/she says it?
- “Each missed word in the book counts as one error each time it is misread. Therefore, if a child misreads the same word eight times, it counts as eight errors. The exception to this rule is proper nouns...Proper nouns are unique in pronunciation and are often difficult” (Assessment Guide, page 136).
When coding and scoring my reading records of English language learners, is it considered an error if they leave off -s endings, add -s, or misuse the possessive tense?
- “Errors are coded and scored the same for all readers. However, the analysis you do should guide appropriate placement decisions by looking beyond the numbers to consider the thinking that was done compared to the expectations along The Fountis and Pinnell Literacy Continuum, not just the errors made because of language development. You should make placement decisions for instruction based on your analysis and not on accuracy scores alone” (Assessment Guide, page 141).
What about mispronunciations? How do you score them? P 25, 27
- … many English language learners do not sound precisely the same as native speakers… Phonetic variations that do not interfere greatly with comprehension or fluency can be ignored. Make judgments based on your knowledge of the child. (Assessment Guide, page 25)
A note about comprehension with English language learners
- As you engage in this process with ELLs, remember this is a standardized assessment procedure that assesses reading comprehension, not language. Apply the same standards as you do to the assessment of native English speakers… At the same time, remember that ELLs almost always understand more than they can explain in English…. When you assign a placement level, consider any evidence you have of the child’s understanding. You might decide you can place the child at a higher level than the standardized assessment reveals… (Assessment guide, page 27).
* Since so many of you are asking - we will also get the new Reading Kits to you to ‘unpack’ and explore soon too!
Upcoming Dates For Your Calendar
Nov 19 Design Saturday
Nov 23 Early Dismissal (Mini-NESA)
Nov 24-25 Thanksgiving break
Nov 30 Wednesday Afternoon Meeting: Section Meeting
Dec 1 Emergency Drill
Dec 1-2 Sherriden Masters visits AISC (new DTI)
Dec 2 Grades 3-5 Celebration of Learning
Dec 2 RISE Event
Dec 3 Strategic Plans Futures Summit 9:00-12:30
Staff Holiday Party @7:00pm
Dec 5 Christmas Tree Lighting at the Hyatt Regency
Dec 5-9 Grades 3-5 Art Exhibition
Nov 19 Design Saturday
Nov 23 Early Dismissal (Mini-NESA)
Nov 24-25 Thanksgiving break
Nov 30 Wednesday Afternoon Meeting: Section Meeting
Dec 1 Emergency Drill
Dec 1-2 Sherriden Masters visits AISC (new DTI)
Dec 2 Grades 3-5 Celebration of Learning
Dec 2 RISE Event
Dec 3 Strategic Plans Futures Summit 9:00-12:30
Staff Holiday Party @7:00pm
Dec 5 Christmas Tree Lighting at the Hyatt Regency
Dec 5-9 Grades 3-5 Art Exhibition
Dec 16 Last day of School before the Winter Break (regular school hours)
Happy weekend everyone,
Keryn & Lori
No comments:
Post a Comment