Week 2 Updates

[To read this information in blog format and to access the calendar of important events, click the link at the bottom of this message]

Last week you received an email from Emily reminding everyone of a fundamental element of a quality immersion program, i.e. privileging the minority language.  I fear that this is something that has gotten lost over the years, and especially with our restructuring for biliteracy, language boundaries (in terms of physical space and instructional times) have become less defined.  I know that I need to do more to model this in my interactions with staff and students.

Here are some ways in which we as a school can elevate the status of Spanish, the target language for our program:

• Teachers should adhere strictly to the language of instruction at any given point in the day (bridging and cross-language connection times are an exception)
• Take measures to ensure that students, parents, and other staff members know what is the language of instruction for each instructional block.  Some ideas to do this include: color-coded schedules posted prominently in the classroom, putting on a scarf (or other item of clothing) to indicate a particular language of instruction, have defined walls or spaces in the room devoted to each language.
• Encourage, motivate, and demand that students produce language in Spanish that you know they can produce.  
• Demand that students use strategies other than translation to convey a concept or word they don't know, e.g. circumlocution (describing the word they are trying to say).  Ex. Instead of "Pásame los scissors", encourage students to say something like, "Pásame la cosa que usamos para recortar papel."
• Demand precision in language structures, vocabulary, and accent (in a age and language acquisition developmentally appropriate way).  Don't except, "Yo tiene las tijeras."  Without a teachable moment correction.  Try to make the kids to do the thinking through the correction, don't always give them a recast (providing the correct language for them), rather respond with--"Yo tiene las tijeras?" indicating with your voice that something is incorrect and allow student to make the correction.

**Above all remember that students should never be made to feel embarrassed or inferior for producing a second language incorrectly (this is how we all learn language--making mistakes).

• Always put Spanish first in communications with families.
• Bilingual staff should communicate in Spanish in the hallways, cafeteria, etc. to the greatest degree possible.

Together, we can properly elevate the minority language, making our Latino students and families feel proud of their home language and culture, while improving the language skills of our Spanish Language Learners.

Kudos!:

• To Kiersten Audy  for being patient and proactive with challenging behaviors and collaborating with support staff
• To Lisa Newell for opening her classroom for our first assembly. Her flexibility is much appreciated!

Important Reminders

• We need to tighten up lunch and dismissal times.  Please see the Master Schedule for lunch times.  Dismissal time is 1:50 on Mondays and 3:22 on T-F.  The buses have gotten more punctual, we now have classes exiting the building several minutes after the last bus arrives.
• There will be a Book Room "Open House" on Monday, Oct. 6th, between 2:30-3:30.  Come learn how to properly use the book room resources to support your guided instruction.  This is a voluntary learning opportunity, but all are encouraged to stop by.  Snacks will be available!
• The NAMI (Nat'l Alliance for the Mentally Ill) walk to raise awareness and eliminate the stigma around mental illness is Sunday, Oct. 5th.  See Josh or Emily if you would like to join our group--The Super Pumas.
• Our school will take part in a school fundraiser on Saturday Oct. 11th, at the Doyle Admin Building parking lot.  We will take donations for Badger football fans to park.  Last year we made about $1,000 for about 4 hours of work.  If you show up, you get to decide how to spend the money!
• Get your daily schedule to Cecilia by Sep. 15th (Cecilia should be able to find your class during the day Monday-Friday by consulting this schedule)
• Complete the Tech Survey and Legal/Social Tech Guidelines webinar by Sep. 30 (Make sure to notify Josh when you are done)
• Open House is scheduled for Friday, Sep. 19, from 5:30-6:30.  Dinner, and the first Liderazgo: Parent/Teacher Organization begins thereafter from 6:30-8:00 in the cafeteria.  Please plan to attend Open House, and all are welcome to stay for the PTO meeting as well.
• All volunteers (even parents) who have direct contact with students should complete a background check form to be sent to Human Resources.  These forms can be found in the office.
• The Homework Policy work group will be meeting for the 3rd and final time on Tuesday, September 16th from 4-5 pm in the conference room.  All school staff are invited to attend.  

Important Information

• In addition to leveraging the power of teacher teams to help us meet our SIP goals, we as a school plan to harness the power of instructional coaching this year.  You will be receiving information from Emily, Stephanie, and Ana Salcido about how to sign up for a coaching cycle either as an individual or as a team.  While it does make sense to focus on teachers new to the building and teachers in their "summary year" for Ed. Effectiveness, everyone has room to grow as an educator.  Please respond as quickly as possible to Emily, Stephanie, and Ana's request.
• The school district is looking for teachers to join a group working to overhaul the current report card.  It is essential that Immersion teachers make their voice heard.  The time commitment is not yet clear, but if you are interested, please let me know.
• Teach Scape is now ready for Self-Assessments to be uploaded.  I will share the power point from last week, the directions are there.  These should be done as soon as possible.
• The District has had recent communication with MTI relative to the Teacher Self-Review due date of September 15th. We have agreed to extend the deadline for this process based on MTI's request.  The new deadline for teachers in their summary year will now be September 30th.  The revised deadline for teachers in their supporting year is October 15th.

Resources:

• Ideas for Open House from Teach Channel