January 6

January 6

Today my oldest turned 11. I was 11 when my mom died and I think OMG what would Maya do right now if I wasn’t around!! I am sure my mom thought the same thing leaving 4 girls behind ages ranging from 18 to 6. Maya has my mom’s name Balbir and has a lot of her traits. She has her hair, hands, artistic ability and sewing skills. As you can see in this picture she still loves sleeping in her brother's room. I love that they still enjoy being around each other.

A Focus on Academic Discourse Plus Math- (Thank you Jessica Reed for this reminder) 

Theory of Action

During our IPR, Suisun Valley committed to a Theory of Action that focuses on Math and Academic Discourse. Specifically we agreed and committed to EVERY student making growth in at least one area NO EXCUSES! Below is each stakeholder's commitment. Where are you at with your commitment to the below actions? Where are you at in requiring students to stick to the commitment to Academic discourse-“use academic language, participate, write, explain”?

Students will...

• Know their RIT score
• Know their goals and action plans
• Students will play math games every week
• Be comfortable with productive struggle through written or verbal work

Teachers will…

• Planned and executed academic discourse in math
• Implement math program to fidelity
• Create a growth mindset environment- have dialogue with class - reward students using growth mindset- caught you’s, good news referral, dragon awards, principal lunch

Resources to Try

Unsure of where to start with increasing academic discourse in math? Begin with trying one of the below conversation stems, attend upcoming PD’s on Academic Discourse, and/or collaborate with your grade level team about other ideas to try.

MAP Report: 

Are you making decisions on data or your gut? When you are collaborating with colleagues does your discussions begin with data? Do you look at the data and then decide what standard you are working on and how you will assess it?

Overall: What do kids know and not know and what are we (you) doing about it?

Now, the Student Profile Report contains all of the information you need. It’s data all in one place with a polished interface that is simple to use. The recent addition of the instructional module helps teachers:

• Immediately connect RIT scores to actionable data for instruction
• Personalize student learning plans relative to instruction
• Provide access to all staff to support student learning

By modeling strategies and techniques, we will show how the Student Profile Report and the instructional module can make a difference in your classrooms today

Please remember to teach a 10 minute Character Counts lesson on respect/citizenship every day :) Character trait for January is citizenship.

Here is a website to get ideas for your grade level - http://charactercounts.org/

http://www.greatkindnesschallenge.org/School/event.html the Great Kindness Challenge Jan. 23-27

** send me one student for lunch with the Principal

Time to Re-Visit Procedures/Expectations

The 1/2 way point after the break is a great time to re-establish norms/procedures for your classroom and throughout the school. I am going to ask everyone to re-affirm the school wide expectations in your classroom. This is a good time to review what we did the first ten days of school. (Located in important docs google folder).

BP 5145.12 Search and Seizure AR 4145.12 Search and Seizure

The Governing Board is fully committed to promoting a safe learning environment and, to the extent possible, eliminating the possession and use of weapons, illegal drugs, and other controlled substances by students on school premises and at school activities.  When conducting a search or seizure, employees shall act in accordance with law, Board policy, and administrative regulation. BP/AR 5145.12 outlines the processes and procedures that must be followed when conducting searches and/or seizing of property.

Observable Fish Moments at SV:

Be There:  When people need you, they need you.  Setting aside distractions and judgements to be fully present is a sign of respect.  It improves communication and strengthens relationships.

Play: You can be serious about your work without taking yourself too seriously. Play is a mindset more than a specific activity.  It allows you to throw yourself with enthusiasm, creativity and CURIOSITY, into whatever you are doing, in a way that is natural, not forced.  “Playing” with ideas helps you find solutions to everyday challenges.

Choose your attitude: To actually choose how you respond to life, not just react, you must be intentional.  Ask yourself throughout the day, “What is my attitude right now? Is it helping the people who depend on me? Is it helping me to be most effective?”

Make Their Day:   Simple gestures of thoughtfulness, thanks and recognition make people feel appreciated and valued.  When you make someone feel good, you feel good too.

THROUGH THE FISH PHILOSOPHY, WE BUILD STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PEOPLE WE WORK WITH, THE STUDENTS WE TEACH AND THE PEOPLE WE LOVE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EACH OF YOU - I APPRECIATE AND RESPECT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.