Schedule this week:
| PLC Schedule:
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| SJE MAP Testing Dates: 1st: 2nd: 12/8 & 12/9 3rd:
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10 Instructional Days Before Winter Benchmark Windows Open (Mark) -
Unbelievably, the winter benchmark window is fast approaching. Never before has a winter benchmark been more important. Thank you for your diligent support of students during the first semester as you have worked tirelessly to meet both the challenges of COVID and ensure intentional and strategic instruction for all students. Thank you in advance for the many strategies you will implement in the coming weeks to ensure effective instruction and incentivize students to do their very best. Winter benchmark data will be invaluable in assessing our progress since the pandemic, determining current strengths/weaknesses, identifying learning gaps for individual students, and informing both instruction and an action plan in preparation for the winter-to-spring benchmark window.
Unbelievably, the winter benchmark window is fast approaching. Never before has a winter benchmark been more important. Thank you for your diligent support of students during the first semester as you have worked tirelessly to meet both the challenges of COVID and ensure intentional and strategic instruction for all students. Thank you in advance for the many strategies you will implement in the coming weeks to ensure effective instruction and incentivize students to do their very best. Winter benchmark data will be invaluable in assessing our progress since the pandemic, determining current strengths/weaknesses, identifying learning gaps for individual students, and informing both instruction and an action plan in preparation for the winter-to-spring benchmark window.
Learning Specialists:
ELA John Antonetti - GT planning
SS (Kelley Wiltrout)
Veteran’s Day is November 11th.
“. . . all elementary, middle , and high schools in this State, if they are open, shall devote at least one hour of the school day in either classroom instruction or at a student body assembly program to study the United States Constitution and the declaration of Independence.” SECTION 59-29-120 (B)
Please share THIS Veteran’s Day & Patriotism Week Suggestion Chart.
Thanksgiving is November 25.
When teaching about Native Americans, you can conduct many fun and educational hands-on activities in your classroom. Please be mindful that there are a few dos and don’ts when teaching about Native peoples.
The National Museum of the American Indian Teacher has some requests:
● We kindly ask that you not have students make masks or headdresses. These are worn by Native people who have particular abilities, have achieved specific cultural goals, or possess cultural knowledge. The right to wear these often comes with specific, associated conventions. Masks and headdresses are not for “dress up” occasions.
● Please do not have students dress up as Indians or use the term “costume” when describing Native American clothing.
● Please do not give students “Indian” names or assign them to “tribes.” Just as students should not impersonate members of other ethnicities, they should not learn about Native identity by assuming a made-up Native name or becoming part of a fictitious Native group. Find below a couple of fun, interactive activities you can use in your classroom!
Games, Lessons, and more at National Geographic Kids! Visit: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/history/first-thanksgiving/
National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian)
Social Studies - Kelley Wiltrout
Have you seen “working” social studies inquiry charts in your primary social studies classrooms? Have you observed opportunities for social studies inquiry in grades K-2? If so, please let me know and please send me some pictures! If not, please remind teachers that inquiry is an important component of our standards and encourage them to plan for it. They should have an inquiry chart displayed during each social studies unit. Also, please remind them to post, use, and reference social studies vocabulary regularly. Vocabulary cards and an inquiry chart can be found at the top of the Teacher Tips & Additional Resources column on the first page of each unit curriculum guide. Please let me know if you have any questions.
4th Grade Digital Portfolio Support
We’ve had a great week of sessions! Both new and veteran teachers are encouraged to register as the sessions are geared toward the needs of the participants. Although the sessions are short and sweet, there is plenty of time to have questions answered and to receive individual help.
ELA John Antonetti - GT planning
- GT planning days will take place next week. Our focus will be on reflecting on the recent literacy task and digging deep into the upcoming ones.
- 3rd Grade - Monday
- 4th Grade - Tuesday
- Upcoming District Wide TDA: Fall TDAs should be given during the week of November 15th. Your school has the flexibility to decide the set up and rollout of this TDA. Also, there is a folder for a replacement 4th grade GT prompt in case your GT teachers have used the gen. Ed. prompt during their instructional time. All TDA materials can be found HERE.
- Planning Tip! When planning reading lessons ask yourself, “What is the one question or task I want students to think through that will force them to make a decision about (the standard),” AND “How am I going to make sure ALL students are accountable for answering?” One example of this could be: “Do you think the author’s overall purpose for writing this text was to show the effects one change can have on a habitat, or to convince the reader not to interfere with nature. Write your answer on your white board. Now, point to 2 places on this page, or in this text, that proves your thinking.” This quick activity ensures that every student is responsible for the thinking, but doesn’t require any extra preparation on the teacher’s part.
- ALEKS: Here are some links with directions on how to get into ALEKS and set up classes along with moving a student. Don’t forget, teachers can set up their own classes and move their students within their classes. If a teacher needs a student moved to another teacher’s classroom, give it 48 hours and the student should show up in the new teacher’s class.
- Dreambox - Sessions are open for Dreambox training for Lead Teachers.
- NWEA MAP Accelerator - Sessions are open for NWEA MAP Accelerator training for Lead Teachers.
SS (Kelley Wiltrout)
Veteran’s Day is November 11th.
“. . . all elementary, middle , and high schools in this State, if they are open, shall devote at least one hour of the school day in either classroom instruction or at a student body assembly program to study the United States Constitution and the declaration of Independence.” SECTION 59-29-120 (B)
Please share THIS Veteran’s Day & Patriotism Week Suggestion Chart.
Thanksgiving is November 25.
When teaching about Native Americans, you can conduct many fun and educational hands-on activities in your classroom. Please be mindful that there are a few dos and don’ts when teaching about Native peoples.
The National Museum of the American Indian Teacher has some requests:
● We kindly ask that you not have students make masks or headdresses. These are worn by Native people who have particular abilities, have achieved specific cultural goals, or possess cultural knowledge. The right to wear these often comes with specific, associated conventions. Masks and headdresses are not for “dress up” occasions.
● Please do not have students dress up as Indians or use the term “costume” when describing Native American clothing.
● Please do not give students “Indian” names or assign them to “tribes.” Just as students should not impersonate members of other ethnicities, they should not learn about Native identity by assuming a made-up Native name or becoming part of a fictitious Native group. Find below a couple of fun, interactive activities you can use in your classroom!
Games, Lessons, and more at National Geographic Kids! Visit: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/history/first-thanksgiving/
National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian)
Social Studies - Kelley Wiltrout
Have you seen “working” social studies inquiry charts in your primary social studies classrooms? Have you observed opportunities for social studies inquiry in grades K-2? If so, please let me know and please send me some pictures! If not, please remind teachers that inquiry is an important component of our standards and encourage them to plan for it. They should have an inquiry chart displayed during each social studies unit. Also, please remind them to post, use, and reference social studies vocabulary regularly. Vocabulary cards and an inquiry chart can be found at the top of the Teacher Tips & Additional Resources column on the first page of each unit curriculum guide. Please let me know if you have any questions.
4th Grade Digital Portfolio Support
We’ve had a great week of sessions! Both new and veteran teachers are encouraged to register as the sessions are geared toward the needs of the participants. Although the sessions are short and sweet, there is plenty of time to have questions answered and to receive individual help.
- Digital Portfolios: Growing with Google Sites (Course # 31093)
- Digital Portfolios: Measuring Progress with Rubrics (Course # 31094)
- Digital Portfolios: There’s Never Enough Time! (Course # 31095)