Updates 2/28

Thanks for enduring another Deep Dive visit from the Deputy Assistant Superintendent.  I know it can be nerve-racking to have observers in the classroom.  I do feel that these visits have been very beneficial to our school.  My hope is that we can continue this tradition through "internal rounds" in years to come, so that we continue to learn from each other.

Feedback was again very positive from this round of observations.  One major take-away was there was inconsistency from classroom to classroom in regards to what the students were doing who were not at the kidney table with the teacher.  This refers to the type and rigor of independent or collaborative work, the systems of procedural and behavior management in place, and the consistency with which students communicated in the target language.

My hope is that we can work together through grade level team meetings to maximize student learning during independent and/or collaborative learning time.  There were interesting ideas and gems of wisdom in every classroom.  Time to share and collaborate.

Thanks,
Josh

And the Survey Says...
After the initial share out of walk through information regarding the proper use of the PBS Focus Boards, many of you updated your boards to reflect the February Cool Tool.  As of late last week some had not updated the board.  I'll be coming around to see what is preventing you from keeping your focus board up to date, so we can find a solution together.  Remember, a system is only made strong through commitment and consistency.

My next round of walk throughs will be focused on English time K-2.  I want to get a better idea of the consistency and cohesiveness of our ELD time in the primary grades.

Kudos to...

• Chris Powers for putting together a fantastic concert with the 4th and 5th grade students.
• Lizette Altamirano for her bravery and patience in dealing with concerned parents.

Updates

• Bucky Badger visit for March 4 canceled. :-(
• From Gabi Bell in OMGE: 

Recently, a time-limited group was formed to review the MMSD assessment system. Out of this review came a strong recommendation to identify and define assessments to measure bilingual students progress with language and content learning 4K-12.  Thus, we are seeking practitioner input. 

• Please share with us names of individuals in your building you believe contribute to the following work: a) Language Development 4K-12, b) Student academic progress (Spanish) K-12, and c) Secondary student reading levels (Spanish) 6th-12th.  We will then send and invitation for participation in the work.  
  We will meet three times for an hour and a half each.  Extended employment will be available.  Due to the important nature of this work, we will schedule meetings in the months of March and April, 2014. 
• Please let me know if you are interested in contributing to this district-wide effort to support our ELLs.
• Take the Tech Plan survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GLYL6VM

Important Dates

• 3/3 Josh out until 12:00 (Stephanie Principal Designee)
• 3/3 Staff Meeting 2:05-3:35 in Art Room
• 3/5 PLC Grant Day Away (Stephanie Principal Designee)
• 3/7 Irish Dancers perform directly after breakfast
• 3/7 Movie Night:  6-8pm
• 3/11 Leadership Team meeting: 3:30-5:00 in Rigo's room
• 3/12 Josh out all day at Principal meeting (Stephanie Principal Designee)
• 3/14 Leadership Team Retreat: All Day

Updates 2/17/14

And the Survey Says...

Last week I went around and took a survey of how PBS Boards are being used.  Below are the 4 options of what I saw and the percentage of classrooms fitting that description of what was on the PBS board.

1. Nothing: 20%
2. The "What, Why, and How": 15%
3. Just the "What": 20%
4. Other: 35%

Early in the school year, all classes (including specials) were asked to post the What, Why, and How of the Cool Tool of the month as provided by Stephanie.  This month's is Leadership, please update your board as needed.

Kudos to...

• Erin Davenport for making sure Nuestro Mundo was represented in Math Fest
• Kristen Scott for advocating for all of her students and initiating collaboration with the TAG department
• Susan Janik for promoting excitement around literature school-wide
• The Olympic Committee for making Nuestro Mundo a special place (John, Rigo, Anne, Susan,) Apologies if I'm forgetting someone, please let me know.

Updates 

• Spanish Spelling Bee will be held on May 7th.  School must provide winners by April 25th. For more information click here.  (Erin, Rigo, and Michele, please work together to plan our bee.)
• CogAT testing will be happening in 2nd and 5th grades in late Feb. or early March.  More information to come.
• Family Literacy Night will be cancelled for this week and combined with Family Math night on March 21st.
• Bucky Badger will be joining us for breakfast on March 4th, let's decorate the gym in red to welcome Bucky.  Please contribute something as a class for that day.

Important Dates

• 2/17 PBS Team meeting 2:15-3:15 in Conference Room
• 2/18 DLI informational session for potential Kindergarten parents 6-7 in Art Room.
• 2/21 No School (1/2 day PD, 1/2 day individual planning time)
• 2/23 BOE Votes to ratify new charter contract
• 2/25 Leadership Team Meeting in Rigo's Room 3:30-5:00
• 2/25 4th and 5th Grade Concert
• 2/26 Deep Dive Visit
• 3/4 Bucky for Breakfast
• 3/7 Irish Dancers perform directly after breakfast

General Updates 2-7-14

Happy Friday!

{I'm going to send a couple of separate blog entries today to cut down on the overall length of any one of these, just FYI}

I hope everyone learned a lot from the "Mondo" Site Visit with Debra.  Although Debra comes from a primarily monolingual literacy perspective, I learned a lot about empowering kids with positive reading behaviors and habits.  A one-liner that stuck with me was related to questioning and discussing the text, "If they [the students] give me thinking, I ask for text.  If they give me text, I ask for thinking."

Looks like I'm going sledding.  Thanks to everyone for your continued effort to encourage and demand that students meet our behavioral expectations.  Please take a moment to review and reinforce expectations in the common areas (i.e. halls, cafeteria, bathrooms).

BTW, it's not just a show for the kids, I'm slightly terrified. :-)

Josh

Kudos Go To...

• Wendy for encouraging her class to collect 1589 box tops!  This is over a thousand more box tops than the second place classroom.  Her class will enjoy an ice cream party.
• Chris for enduring hours of beginning recorder (flauta) classes. Maybe a bottle of Advil would be better?
• Hans for making recent breakthroughs with some tough kids, and increasing their stamina for school work!
• Emily and Kiersten for working masterfully with Kindergarten teachers on curriculum alignment.

*Remember to pick up your Kudos bar from your mailbox today!  And anyone can recognize colleagues for the Kudos.  Just send me an email.

Updates

• Bucky Badger is coming for breakfast!  On March 4th, we will be hosting Bucky as a part of a dairy in the schools campaign.  Please wear and encourage your students to where Badgers gear or something red on that day.  Nuestro Mundo is one of just a few schools chosen for this special honor.  Should be fun!
• February is Black History Month.  Although we do not have any school-wide events planned, think of ways you can honor black history in your classrooms.
• Becky says "Hi!" and that she misses everyone.  She loves her new job however, and hopes to visit soon.
• The next Box Top race is on.  This time the top class will win a party at Pump it Up, and the teacher will win a summer membership to the Princeton Club!
• From Marissa: In January, we had 8 SOH volunteers put in 38 hours--not bad considering the inclement weather! We also have at least 3 more tutors starting this month!!

Important Dates

• 2/7 Winter Glow Dance 6:30-8:30pm
• 2/10 PBS/SELS PD in the Art Room 2:05-3:35
• 2/12 Josh, Kristi, Erin, Emily out for Leadership Summit (Stephanie principal designee)
• 2/13 Fire Drill 2:35pm
• 2/18 DLI informational session for potential Kindergarten parents 6-7 in Art Room.
• 2/20 Deep Dive Visit
• 2/21 No School (1/2 day PD, 1/2 day individual planning time)
• 2/23 BOE Votes to ratify new charter contract
• 2/25 4th and 5th Grade Concert
• 3/4 Bucky for Breakfast
• 3/7 Irish Dancers perform directly after breakfast

Video of the Week

Ever had a lesson go awry?  Kids just not getting your teaching point?  Here's an idea I came across on Teaching Channel.