Updates 3-10-14

Wonderings...

I have been reading a lot lately about newer developments and ideas in the realm of biliteracy and the bilingual child.  Research and observation, in recent years, of children learning in bilingual and immersion programs have led scholars and practitioners to challenge theories and practices around language learning.

Some significant shifts that have caught my attention have to do with the separation of languages and the capacity of the bilingual mind to learn literacy skills in more than one language from very early on in their educational experience.

When we consider the vast disparity in achievement test results in English between our Spanish dominant and English dominant students, I wonder if there is more we can do in terms of our programming and instructional practices to narrow this gap.  I wonder how more intentional instruction to promote cross-linguistic transfer and literacy-based English Language Development K-2 would benefit both groups of students.  I have brought these questions to the School Based Leadership Team for consideration to begin thinking about how we might rethink some of our practices and instructional design to better meet the needs of all our students.

Updates

• Behavior incidents are on the rise recently.  Please be extra vigilant and keep your students engaged intellectually in the classroom through this long stretch to Spring Break.  It is a late Spring Break again, and I think we're seeing that spring fever in the kids.
• Starting Monday, March 17, please begin entering attendance in IC on your own again. Attendance issues persist, and I think it will be better if teachers enter their own attendance to cut down on the errors we are experiencing.  
• There have been a lot of special events and things that eat into instructional time lately.  While it is important to keep school fun and engaging, I am concerned about lost instructional time.  My goal is to reduce interruptions over the next few weeks.
• Please remember that every time you call for behavioral support, you are required to fill out an Office Referral Form.  These forms are located in the staff file cabinet in the work room.
• We are low on chart paper, which is quite expensive.  If you have extra pads of chart paper, please bring them to the office to be redistributed.
• From Marissa:  In February, 12 Schools of Hope Volunteers put in 81 hours!

Kudos to...

• Stephanie for all that she does to promote positive behavior and positive relationships with families.

Important Dates

• 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
• 3/21 Josh out all morning (Stephanie Principal Designee)
• 3/21 Early Release (kids leave at 11:30) Staff Development Day
• 3/21 Family Math and Literacy night in the evening