September 30

Character Trait for October is Caring

Please remember we are ALL teaching a 10 minute lesson on Caring everyday.

Garden Fall Clean Up and Chili Cook Off will be Oct. 8th- free homework pass and extra recess for those students who participate in garden clean up.

AG resource:

http://www.learnaboutag.org/lessonplans/

Take a look at our Lesson Plan Matrix to see the different ways that you can incorporate agricultural lessons and themes into your day! Most of our resources are aligned to Common Core and California State Content Standards for easy inclusion in any classroom.

No Excuses University – Assessment Plan

Culture of Universal Achievement

Collaboration

Standards Alignment

Assessment Plan

Data Analysis

Interventions

“We spend time at our Institute distinguishing between formative and summative assessments and how grade level teams can take responsibility for gathering or creating formative assessments that make sense for them.  We emphasize the importance of this work as a support to teachers, because this allows teachers to track those students who are not making adequate academic progress towards proficiency, and then identify specific content areas that require intervention.”

There are some key topics to consider when implementing an assessment plan:

#1:  Assessment is NOT about the teacher, it’s about the student

#2:  Balance between of and for learning assessments

#3:  Scheduling, benchmarks, and continuous improvement are crucial

Assessment is NOT about the teacher, it’s about the student:  One of my favorite quotes from the summer institute was that data did not belong to the teachers.  It was on loan from the students.  In order to help students achieve proficiency, we must support the teacher in analyzing the data and making the necessary adjustments.

Balance between of and for learning assessments:  There needs to be a balance between formative and summative assessments.  Think about the teachers on your campus.  What percentage of the instructional time is dedicated to formative assessment?  What percentage of the instructional time is dedicated to summative assessment?  In a NEU school, both assessments are equally important.

Scheduling, benchmarks, and continuous improvement are crucial:  When you get your data…what do you do about it?  Is it used as a learning opportunity to better understand what your students know and don’t know? Everything we do should be about providing opportunities for continuous improvement.  Do we have systems in place that allow for such a process?

Observable Fish Moments at SV:

Be There: Thank you Amy, Jamie and Anthony for being team players to meet the needs of our 4th and 5th grade students.

Play: We definitely had fun at our AG conference. You should ask Brandon, Patty, Melissa, or Alee about their bus rides. HILARIOUS!!

Choose your attitude: Your attitude can decide how you will feel for the rest of the day!

Make Their Day:   THANK you Heather and Sarah for making my day!

Board Policy of the Week:

BP 4119.21 Code of Ethics BP 4212.3/4312.3 Oath or Affirmation BP 5141.4 Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting AR 5141.4 Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting BP 5145.3 Nondiscrimination/Harassment AR 5145.3 Nondiscrimination/Harassment

The Governing Board expects district employees to maintain the highest ethical standards, exhibit professional behavior, follow district policies and regulations, abide by state and federal laws, and exercise good judgment when interacting with students and other members of the school community.  BP 4119.21 - Code of Ethics - outlines these expectations. BP 4212.3 and 4312.3 reflects the Government Code requirement that public employees are disaster service workers. Pursuant to Education Code 44691, the California Department of Education (CDE) is required to disseminate information to all school districts regarding the detection and reporting of child abuse and to provide guidance on the responsibilities of mandated reporters.  The Governing Board is committed to supporting the safety and well-being of district students and desires to facilitate the prevention of and response to child abuse and neglect. Education Code 234.1 mandates that districts adopt policy prohibiting, at school or in any school activity related to school attendance or under the authority of the district, discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, and bullying, based on the foregoing characteristics. The Administrative Regulation identify the employee(s) designated to coordinate the district's efforts to comply with state and federal civil rights laws (e.g. Title IX and Section 504 coordinators), including the investigation and resolution of discrimination complaints under AR 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures.

September 23

September 23

This past weekend was a life changing experience. When we arrived in Tahoe around 9:00pm our friend’s 6 week baby was having difficulty breathing. Around 10:00pm while his mother drove to the ER I sat in the back holding this precious baby and caressing his back and encouraging him to hang in there. It took us an hour to get the hospital because of construction on the road.  When we arrived a team of medical staff members tried to help him. They felt that they did not have the equipment to help him, so they made the decision to care flight him to UC Davis. Both parents drove to UC Davis and by the time they arrived their beautiful baby boy was gone. Baby Jake was completely healthy, smiling and living a full life up until that night. We are all brokenhearted by their loss. He died of a lung infection. 

No Excuses University – Standards Alignment

Culture of Universal Achievement

Collaboration

Standards Alignment

Assessment Plan

Data Analysis

Interventions

When a school embraces a system of Standards Alignment, there are three attributes that need to be included.  As identified in the No Excuses University Schools Institute, the attributes are:

#1:  Aligning standards is not something that you’ve done, it’s something that you do.

#2:  Collaboration is key.

#3:  It must be practiced!  Skills – assessments – instructional methods – resources.

Now…before you move on, think about it.  Does our staff think of “Standards Alignment” as something that is “done” when the pacing guide is complete?  Or…does our staff think of “Standards Alignment” as an ongoing process and has strategies to measure how well every lesson is aligned to what the students need to learn?

Skills – assessment - instructional methods - resources:  Notice that the third attribute is not “Pacing Guide.”  The pacing guides document the skills, but it is just the first step in alignment.  You have to have systems in place to assess the student learning, a focus on the instructional methods that ensure rigor, and allocate the resources to support the students in achieving proficiency. 

Collaboration is key:  Do you plan for collaboration or does it just happen?  True collaboration includes bringing in data (not perceptions or hearsay) and making decisions based on the collected information.  Such a process has to be planned so that the proper data can be collected and is the foundation for good decisions.

If you don’t collaborate around your students’ academic achievement data, then how do you know if you have alignment?

Observable Fish Moments at SV:

Be There: Thank you Tammy for doing an amazing job with morning greeters

Play: Have fun with your students!!

Choose your attitude: Approach new tasks with a positive attitude

Make Their Day:   THANK you so much for your kind words and gestures to help me through this difficult time.

September 16

September 16

This weekend will be the first time that I am going to stay away from my phone and email in 6 years. I am actually going to LEAVE my phone and laptop at home!! We will be on our way after our staff social on today and head toTahoe. This reminds me of when I was pregnant with Maya and I was 11 days over my due date!! My husband and I went to the hospital and did not call anyone that we were on the way to the hospital. When we arrived at the hospital all of the rooms were full. While waiting in the hallway for a room to open up my water breaks. We waited around 30 minutes.  As we got in the room, I change and just as I got settled in bed the phone rings in the room. My husband looks at the phone and says he isn't going to answer it because it is probably for the person who was in the room before us. I told him I think it is one of my sisters. He said no way! They don't even know that we are here. I told him, I bet you it is. Now that he was curious, he answered the phone AND it was one of my sisters! It was hysterical!! I couldn't believe she tracked us down so fast and got a direct line into the room. We literally just got into the room!! So note to self- tell sisters I will be in Tahoe without my phone.  

No Excuses University – Collaboration

Culture of Universal Achievement

Collaboration

Standards Alignment

Assessment Plan

Data Analysis

Interventions

“This is the first and most important system that needs to be developed. Once a clearly understood and agreed-to system for collaboration is in place, a staff is equipped to develop the remaining essential systems and address any other learning challenges they encounter.”

When a school embraces a system of collaboration, there are four attributes that need to be included. As identified at the TurnAround Schools Institute, the attributes are:

#1: Based on action oriented commitments

#2: Scheduled well in advance

#3: Driven by professional attitudes

#4: Focused on results

Now…before you move on, re-read the four statements and think about if they represent the collaboration that takes place on our campus.

Based on action oriented commitments: When our teams come together to collaborate, do you leave with “we talked about…” statements or are there actions that are going to be immediately implemented to impact student learning?

Scheduled well in advance: Do we plan for collaboration or does it just happen? True collaboration includes bringing in data (not perceptions or hearsay) and making decisions based on the collected information. Such a process has to be planned so that the proper data can be collected and is the foundation for good decisions.

Driven by professional attitudes: When our team discusses issues, is it done in a professional way? Do you praise one another during times of success and be honest with one another as you respectfully confront concerns. Does our site benefit from strong professional relationships?

Focused on results: Is our collaborative time focused on student results? Do we come to the table and offer solutions? Are decisions based on student needs?

If you don’t collaborate around your students’ academic achievement data, then how do you know if you have alignment?

Observable Fish Moments at SV:

Be There: PLEASE become a member of Parent Club by paying membership dues. Our parents do a lot on our campus and by joining it lets them know that we appreciate everything they do for us.

 

Play: Many of you have taken the challenge and have created formatives in Illuminate and administering unit assessments online. NICE JOB!!

 

Choose your attitude: Thank you for keeping a positive attitude and persevering through some of  Illuminates glitches! 

 

Make Their Day:   THANK you so much for sending a student for lunch with the Principal! I had 100% attendance K-8. The kids loved it!!

September 9

September 9

WE HAVE MADE IT TO THE FINALIST LIST for the GOLDEN BELL!!! The CSBA Golden Bell Awards promotes excellence in education and school board governance by recognizing outstanding programs and governance practices of school boards in school districts and county offices of education throughout California. Golden Bell Awards reflect the depth and breadth of education programs and governance decisions supporting these programs that are necessary to address students’ changing needs. We are getting recognized for our Agri-Science program. We will have a site visit TBD. I am SO proud that our continued dedicated to our program for the past five years is being recognized. We have come this far because we have worked as a TEAM!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!! 

PTA Membership:

Please remember to join and support our amazing Parent Club

Three Way Pledge:  Please make sure you are keeping track that ALL parents sign and keep these forms in your room.

Please monitor student behavior when you have yard duty. We have many students who are not using the play structure safely.

No excuses start with us!!

No Excuses University – Culture of Universal Achievement

I want to take some time over the next few weeks to provide additional information about each core area, as they are the foundation of successful schools.

Culture of Universal Achievement

Collaboration

Standards Alignment

Assessment Plan

Data Analysis

Interventions

“Every member of the staff believes that each child is capable of meeting academic standards in reading, writing, and math, AND that the school has the power to make that opportunity a reality.”

When a school embraces a Culture of Universal Achievement, there are six belief statements that go hand-and-hand with the culture. As identified at the TurnAround Schools Institute, the belief statements are:

Belief #1: Every student will be proficient or advanced in reading, writing, and mathematics.

Belief #2: The academic accomplishment of every student is an obsession.

Belief #3: The school can neutralize many challenges students bring to the classroom.

Belief #4: Student achievement is the number one topic of conversation.

Belief #5: A maverick spirit is leading the way.

Belief #6: There are no excuses for poor effort.

Every student will be proficient or advanced in reading, writing, and mathematics: Do you believe you have the ability to provide the necessary support and interventions so that every student at your site will be proficient or advanced? And if you do…are you putting those plans in motion so that you support every student in meeting this goal?

The academic accomplishment of every student is an obsession: Is the academic accomplishment of every student the domination of your thoughts/feelings? Do the decisions you make reflect an unwavering focus on academic achievement?

The school can neutralize many challenges students bring to the classroom: Do our actions and our staff reflect a belief that we have the ability to neutralize the challenges students bring to the classroom? Are conversations about solutions and strategies to support the students to ensure academic success?

Student achievement is the number one topic of conversation: When we discuss the school and the students, is the focus on student achievement?

A maverick spirit is leading the way: WE must be willing to fight status quo. There must be high expectations for everyone who has an impact on student achievement.

There are no excuses for poor effort: No Excuses does not mean no compassion AND No Excuses begins with adults. Are we doing everything to ensure academic success for every student!

Now…before you read any further, re-read the six belief statements and think about if they represent you as an educator. 

Observable Fish Moments at SV:

Be There: Thank you Alee and Melissa for going on your first field trip to the National Heirloom Festival. Yeah!!

Play: Make learning in your classroom engaging.

Choose your attitude: Good teaching is about hard work not a halo.”  --Doug Lemov

Make Their Day:   Send a student from your class to have lunch with me on Monday.

September 2

September 2

7 Things to Remember About Feedback

1.       Feedback is not advice, praise, or evaluation. Feedback is information about how we are doing in our efforts to a goal.

2.       If students know the classroom is a safe place to make mistakes, they are more likely to use feedback for learning.

3.       The feedback students give teachers can be more powerful than the feedback teachers give students.

4.       When we give a grade as a part of our feedback, students routinely read only as far as the grade.

5.       Effective feedback occurs during the learning, while there is still time to act on it.

6.       Most of the feedback that students receive about their classroom work is from other students – and much of that feedback is wrong.

7.       Students need to know their learning target—the specific skill they’re supposed to learn—or else “feedback” is just someone telling them what to do.

“Data doesn’t belong to the teacher.  The data belongs to the student and is on loan to you.”  --Damen Lopez

Developing a Commitment to Common Assessment Practices

(Damen Lopez)

The The most successful teams display a clear purpose on the way that they take a joint effort to utilize valuable assessment practices.  These teams exhibit the following characteristics:

1.    Speak the same language, the language of data.  Successful teams continue to go back to the numbers.  While emotion is often an important quality that helps us to nurture and teach from the heart, getting results is the ultimate goal.  If a team is kind and nurturing, but their students are failing then they have not done their job.  Take the emotion out of the situation and look at the numbers.

2.    Share data openly with one another.    One of the most difficult things for us to do as teacher is to share our data.  We hide it out of embarrassment or fear of being judged.  Successful teams make commitments to looking openly at their data with the purpose to not cast blame, but to help one another.

3.    Take responsibility for all students.  The easiest way for teams to get over their fear of sharing data is to decide that they are responsible as a whole for every student.  Being a team means working interdependently.  This starts with the way you collaborate about students.

4.    Tie assessment to strategies and interventions that work.  It is often said we are “data rich and information poor.”  No one would argue the fact that assessments are crucial to ensuring academic success for students.  However, assessments that are given without plans to turn data into strategies that create success for students are useless.  Simply put:  Once you know where students stand, it is your responsibility to make use of that information and generate academic success as you teach them. The data you collected during your grade level meeting is your starting point.

Great website for Science lessons. 
https://mysteryscience.com/start?district_id=923

Observable Fish Moments at SV:

Be There: Eat lunch with a student that you may have a difficult time with. BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM!

Play: I have observed many students AND teachers having FUN during our morning walk. Thank you Mr. M for organizing it. 

 Choose your attitude: BE POSITIVE!!!

Make Their Day:  Thank you Heather H., Kami, Julie, Jennifer, Carole, and Patty for being a team leader and helping out our new teachers.