This meeting was led by Ms. Farthing.
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We discussed whether we could do our CFA before the holidays; Ms. Pate stated that she was going to, and so is Ms. Muzzy, due to the schedule of the units they are teaching and concerns about keeping the assessments relevant and valid.
We planned treats for the week of 12/13. We are teaming with 2nd grade and custodial staff to bring food on 12/15. We are going to do breakfast stuff & Ms. Muzzy will coordinate.
Music program: Ms. Farthing needs our help. She is going to check with Ms. Morning to make arrangements - maybe K-1 assistants? Maybe all of us? can assist Ms. McKenzie suggested taking part of the students who are not participating to the computer lab to work in Smart Tutor.
The music program (12/15 @ 6 pm) will be about 30 minutes. There will also be an all-school sing-along on Fri., 12/17. Ms. Farthing doesn't have more info at this time.
The specialists are going to request that we get more information about assemblies: when they are going to be happening as well as whether we are expected to take kids, supervise, pick up, drop off etc. We also would like to suggest to PBIS (?) that there be a standard procedure as far as when to go to the assembly: general announcement? phone call to room? set time? because it's been a bit confusing.
We also are going to request more info about when teachers have planning and other meetings that require a sub/assistant to cover their class, because it upsets the routine and the kids need more time to settle into our classes, and we'd like to be prepared.
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If there are any corrections or additions to these minutes, please let Ms. McKenzie know by leaving a comment here or sending an email.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
PLC Meeting Minutes 11-9-10
Apologies for the delay in posting these.
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Know of any needy students? Send names to Ms. Travis, Ms. Morning, or Ms. Krafft to pass on to Santa's helpers. They are going to ask Piney Grove & Mt. Tabor Church to do an Angel Tree.
Ms. Morning reviewed our data analysis and found it to be comparable to what goes on in the rest of the school. She expressed that admininistration will start sharing Blue Diamond data with us to help us see weaknesses in reading that we can help with. She gave us specific suggestions for each of our areas; i.e., Mr. Burkehad finding videos about famous athletes, etc., Ms. McKenzie helping students explore digital resources (Ms. McKenzie - add ESPN for kids? history channel, etc. to student resources?).
We discussed plans for our next CFA, which will be completed by the end of the quarter.
Specialists expressed concerns about time management - i.e., teachers being timely in dropping off and picking up their classes. We were informed that for 3rd grade, we may need to walk the classes down to lunch.
Ms. Verde from Little People's University is retiring and wants to come and volunteer, so she will be working in the cafeteria.
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SIT-related items:
Ms. McKenzie reported items discussed at SIT meeting.
Ms. Muzzy will talk to Ms. Stickler about scheduling Caroline's promise for the 1st week of December.
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If there are any corrections or additions to these minutes, please let Ms. McKenzie know by leaving a comment here or sending an email.
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Know of any needy students? Send names to Ms. Travis, Ms. Morning, or Ms. Krafft to pass on to Santa's helpers. They are going to ask Piney Grove & Mt. Tabor Church to do an Angel Tree.
Ms. Morning reviewed our data analysis and found it to be comparable to what goes on in the rest of the school. She expressed that admininistration will start sharing Blue Diamond data with us to help us see weaknesses in reading that we can help with. She gave us specific suggestions for each of our areas; i.e., Mr. Burkehad finding videos about famous athletes, etc., Ms. McKenzie helping students explore digital resources (Ms. McKenzie - add ESPN for kids? history channel, etc. to student resources?).
We discussed plans for our next CFA, which will be completed by the end of the quarter.
Specialists expressed concerns about time management - i.e., teachers being timely in dropping off and picking up their classes. We were informed that for 3rd grade, we may need to walk the classes down to lunch.
Ms. Verde from Little People's University is retiring and wants to come and volunteer, so she will be working in the cafeteria.
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SIT-related items:
Ms. McKenzie reported items discussed at SIT meeting.
Ms. Muzzy will talk to Ms. Stickler about scheduling Caroline's promise for the 1st week of December.
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If there are any corrections or additions to these minutes, please let Ms. McKenzie know by leaving a comment here or sending an email.
PLC Meeting Minutes, 10-26-10
Apologies for the delay in posting these.
We finished up planning for the AR carnival at this meeting, as follows:
Mr. Burkhead is going to send spots to put on the floor for the cake walk, and will loan us the entertainment center. Alternatively, Ms. Muzzy will see about getting numbers from Ms. Carrington and getting them laminated per discussion at previous SIT meeting.
We will have 10 people in the cake walk at a time.
Piney Grove Baptist Church will be donating cakes - Ms. McKenzie will find out how many.
The specialists are also going to buy at least one cake; please bring $2 for Ms. McCabe.
Who will supervise our station?
6 - 6:30: Pate/McKenzie
6:30 - 7:00 Muzzy/Farthing
7:00 - 7:30: Burkehad/McKenzie?
Ms. Pate will take pics & alternate with me.
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Reminder: For upcoming CASL training, we need to create a rubric and read chapters 7 & 8.
On Mon, 11/1 at 10:15 there will be a percussion ensemble for 4th & 5th grade that will last 45 mins; we are to take 4th grade & supervise.
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If there are any corrections or additions to these minutes, please let Ms. McKenzie know by leaving a comment here or sending an email.
We finished up planning for the AR carnival at this meeting, as follows:
Mr. Burkhead is going to send spots to put on the floor for the cake walk, and will loan us the entertainment center. Alternatively, Ms. Muzzy will see about getting numbers from Ms. Carrington and getting them laminated per discussion at previous SIT meeting.
We will have 10 people in the cake walk at a time.
Piney Grove Baptist Church will be donating cakes - Ms. McKenzie will find out how many.
The specialists are also going to buy at least one cake; please bring $2 for Ms. McCabe.
Who will supervise our station?
6 - 6:30: Pate/McKenzie
6:30 - 7:00 Muzzy/Farthing
7:00 - 7:30: Burkehad/McKenzie?
Ms. Pate will take pics & alternate with me.
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Reminder: For upcoming CASL training, we need to create a rubric and read chapters 7 & 8.
On Mon, 11/1 at 10:15 there will be a percussion ensemble for 4th & 5th grade that will last 45 mins; we are to take 4th grade & supervise.
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If there are any corrections or additions to these minutes, please let Ms. McKenzie know by leaving a comment here or sending an email.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
PLC Meeting Minutes 10-5-10
Attending: Crim, Burkhead, Farthing, Muzzy, Pate, McKenzie
SIT update:
At the last SIT meeting, we discussed AR assembly & carnival. Assembly is at 2 onThurs 10/7 this was changed to Fri. 10/8 and Carnival is 6 – 8 on Thurs. 10/28. We will be doing a “snack” cake walk. We have to provide the snack cakes. Mr. Burkhead will provided hula hoops or spots. We will try to have it in the gym. Each of us will buy one box of 12 cakes and that should give us enough for the night.
Ms. Crim is going to dress up for the Assembly on Thursday (each grade level will have a character). She’s not sure yet who she’s going to be. Ms. Pate has written a skit, and Ms. McKillop’s class is going to be performing a song.
Career Day has been cancelled because of having to stay on the Imagine It! Schedule. We will look at scheduling another Career Day NEXT fall.
We are not sure about Field Day – in the SIT meeting minutes it’s recorded as either May 5 or April 29; Ms. Morning is supposed to get some info from Mr. Burkhead’s other school and make a decision about it.
We need to link Harris Teeter VIC cards to our school. See Ms. Ehrens to get info. Also continue to bring in box tops & soup labels, and start collecting Sunny D labels.
Do not prop doors open due to safety concerns.
We will be doing McDonald’s Night. There is some consideration of asking particular grade levels to handle particular months, but this has not been set.
Assessments:
With regards to our increased assessment & data reporting requirement, we decided to do 1 assessment quarterly – it will probably be performance based. We need to find out how we are going to be reporting our data – on a spreadsheet? We will need guidance from the Instructional Coordination Team in how to develop the recording sheet and how they would like for us to report our data.
For the Good of the Order:
Mr. Burkhead has spoken to Ms. Henderson, and she is going to try to schedule SIOP training for us – we need reading credit!
SIT update:
At the last SIT meeting, we discussed AR assembly & carnival. Assembly is at 2 on
Ms. Crim is going to dress up for the Assembly on Thursday (each grade level will have a character). She’s not sure yet who she’s going to be. Ms. Pate has written a skit, and Ms. McKillop’s class is going to be performing a song.
Career Day has been cancelled because of having to stay on the Imagine It! Schedule. We will look at scheduling another Career Day NEXT fall.
We are not sure about Field Day – in the SIT meeting minutes it’s recorded as either May 5 or April 29; Ms. Morning is supposed to get some info from Mr. Burkhead’s other school and make a decision about it.
We need to link Harris Teeter VIC cards to our school. See Ms. Ehrens to get info. Also continue to bring in box tops & soup labels, and start collecting Sunny D labels.
Do not prop doors open due to safety concerns.
We will be doing McDonald’s Night. There is some consideration of asking particular grade levels to handle particular months, but this has not been set.
Assessments:
With regards to our increased assessment & data reporting requirement, we decided to do 1 assessment quarterly – it will probably be performance based. We need to find out how we are going to be reporting our data – on a spreadsheet? We will need guidance from the Instructional Coordination Team in how to develop the recording sheet and how they would like for us to report our data.
For the Good of the Order:
Mr. Burkhead has spoken to Ms. Henderson, and she is going to try to schedule SIOP training for us – we need reading credit!
Monday, October 4, 2010
PLC Meeting Minutes 10-4-10
**There was no meeting last week due to SIOP training. We met today instead of tomorrow because of additional SIOP training.
Present at today's meeting: Morning-Cain, Henderson, Krafft, Pate, Muzzy, McKenzie
We shared which grade level's data we will be reporting on for our data center. Mr. Burkhead and Ms. Farthing need to let Ms. Morning know which grades they will be reporting on ASAP.
If you have not turned in your first quarter essentials, you need to do so ASAP.
Ms. Morning recently attended a Title I Mtg & info was shared there that each specialist has to have some kind of growth measurement. We need to give some kind of CFA; we can do 2 CFA’s & 1 EOQ test or JUST a quarterly assessment. Our CFA data analysis would be due at the same time as the other PLC’s. We need to decide this as a PLC – whether to do quarterly or CFA mini-assessments / EOQ test. We will have an extra PLC meeting on Tues., Oct. 5 (just us teachers) at 11:30 to decide what type of CFA we will do and discuss data collection & presentation.
We are going to have training today in the staff meeting on Classroom Assessment. We do not have a previous assessment to bring yet, but when the trainer comes back in Nov. we need to have a CFA or quarter test ready to review. We will be provided with a copy of the book that we are going to be trained on: Classroom Assessment for Student Learning by Richard Stiggens. Some of us will be sharing a copy of the book.
Staff meetings will run til 4:45 – 5:00; be prepared.
We discussed the upcoming AR assembly and carnival. Specialists will be doing a snack cake walk.
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If there are any corrections or additions to these minutes, please let Ms. McKenzie know by leaving a comment here or sending an email.
Present at today's meeting: Morning-Cain, Henderson, Krafft, Pate, Muzzy, McKenzie
We shared which grade level's data we will be reporting on for our data center. Mr. Burkhead and Ms. Farthing need to let Ms. Morning know which grades they will be reporting on ASAP.
If you have not turned in your first quarter essentials, you need to do so ASAP.
Ms. Morning recently attended a Title I Mtg & info was shared there that each specialist has to have some kind of growth measurement. We need to give some kind of CFA; we can do 2 CFA’s & 1 EOQ test or JUST a quarterly assessment. Our CFA data analysis would be due at the same time as the other PLC’s. We need to decide this as a PLC – whether to do quarterly or CFA mini-assessments / EOQ test. We will have an extra PLC meeting on Tues., Oct. 5 (just us teachers) at 11:30 to decide what type of CFA we will do and discuss data collection & presentation.
We are going to have training today in the staff meeting on Classroom Assessment. We do not have a previous assessment to bring yet, but when the trainer comes back in Nov. we need to have a CFA or quarter test ready to review. We will be provided with a copy of the book that we are going to be trained on: Classroom Assessment for Student Learning by Richard Stiggens. Some of us will be sharing a copy of the book.
Staff meetings will run til 4:45 – 5:00; be prepared.
We discussed the upcoming AR assembly and carnival. Specialists will be doing a snack cake walk.
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If there are any corrections or additions to these minutes, please let Ms. McKenzie know by leaving a comment here or sending an email.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
PLC Meeting MInutes 9-13-10
(I'm sorry, I forgot to take attendance at this meeting. -MM)
Reminder: We need to pick a grade level and start to record data to develop our data centers.
If there are errors or omissions in these minutes, please leave a comment here or email Ms. McKenzie so that they can be corrected. Thanks!
We opened by discussing the Trust article in our PLC notebook. We feel that respect for each other is a strength for our team & for the faculty in general. We acknowledge that everyone is at different competency levels but we are all working to improve. We feel that personal regard is a particular strength for us as a staff. We feel that our staff does have integrity.
We each received a golden egg and we had to write a commitment to the 4 vital signs from the article, or select one. These eggs will be placed on a bulletin board having to do with our “Soaring to Success Takes Teamwork” theme.
SIOP training will be held on the 28th, but specialists will not have it at that time. Rosie will schedule a separate training for us. Specialists will not have PLC's on the 27th or the 28th.
Reminder: We need to pick a grade level and start to record data to develop our data centers.
Ms. Morning presented an overview of Classroom Walk-Throughs. Specials will be part of CWT's this year. Make sure you have an EQ posted (Ms. Muzzy's board is a good example of how to do this for our setting) and if possible, the SCOS objective number it relates to.
CWT's are “snapshots.” Teachers get a grade level report, but we will get a “department” report. In CWT's, information that is being sought are trends and areas for improvement. This also helps to determine what professional development is needed. CWT's are not teacher evaluation tools, but part of the cycle for continuous improvement. When administrators do a classroom walkthrough, they will look for learning objectives & EQ's; they will determine whether the lesson objective is evident to students & if we are followign the SCOS. The essential question should be in kid-friendly language.
We received a copy of the standard CWT checklist – this is not the version used by WSFCS, but it's similar enough to get the idea.
If there are errors or omissions in these minutes, please leave a comment here or email Ms. McKenzie so that they can be corrected. Thanks!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
PLC Meeting Minutes 8-31-2010
Attending: Morning-Cain, Henderson, Crim, Phillips, Burkhead, Muzzy, Farthing, McKenzie, Land (arrived late)
We discussed our schedule. 3rd grade specials were moved back to 10:50 – 11:30 because of conflicts with their lunch schedule. 1st grade specials will dismiss at 2:40. We need to have 4th grade lined up at 10:30 though teachers may arrive at 10:35 on PLC days.
For duty-free lunch: classroom teachers will drop the students off in the cafeteria; they may have to wait in the cafeteria for us to finish our 3rd grade classes.
We will keep the same mission statement and norms as last year.
We reviewed the purpose of PLC's: 1) collaboration and 2) data evaluation
Specialists will have to have a way to collect and show data that demonstrates learning this year. Like classroom teachers, we will have a data center, but we can make it our own; we don't have to call it a data center. We need to analyze our student work and display it. We need to start gathering evidence that our students are learning. We reviewed examples of data centers. We can start off by picking a particular grade level and then expand to collect data on more grades. Data centers can be maintained by specialists instead of the students and can be updated quarterly. Data can be taken by a checklist or by some other method we determine. We can use something like the CFA Data Analysis Form that's behind the purple tab in our PLC notebook, or we can determine our own. Ms. Crim does not need to worry about this. For the rest of us, data centers need to be up by the first week of October.
After the holiday break, we will elect a new PLC chair, a new reporter, and a new timekeeper.
Behind the purple tab in our PLC notebook, on the last page, there is an article called “Trust” – we need to review it for next week and identify the 4 indicators (Respect, competence, personal regard, integrity) look like in our PLC & in the school as a whole.
When planning our lesson, we continue to be focused on these questions:
We are still focused on 4 questions when planning:
What do we want our students to know, understand & be able to do?
How will we know they have learned it?
How will we respond when they have not learned or when they have learned?
Teachers may include the utilization of specialists when doing action planning (for difficult areas of instruction/differentiating instruction. We will need to collaborate with classroom teachers to develop activities for such plans.
We will not have to schedule an additional meeting besides PLC's due to scheduling difficulties , but we will always meet on Tuesdays.
We need to identify 10 – 12 Essential Objectives/Topics (combined of all grade levels) for this semester & email this to Ms. Morning-Cain before the first week of October. List objective numbers & summary of each objective.
We need to each establish a classroom mission statement which will apply to grades K-5. The school's mission statement needs to be posted in our room. We need to have a feedback tool (plus delta's issue bin/parking lot).
We discussed Race to the Top. We (specialists) are going to have to get in the mindset that we will have accountability assessments for our classes. The state is going to develop the form of accountability.
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If there are errors or omissions in these minutes, please leave a comment or email Ms. McKenzie so she can correct them.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
PLC Meeting Minutes 4-14
Our PLC meeting last week was cancelled.
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Attending this week: Farthing, Muzzy, Maglio, Burkhead, McKenzie, Pate, Crim, Morning-Cain
Ms. Morning discussed the status of the Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 project. We are in crunch time. Classes should have read through chapter 12. Students will begin their culminating project within the next couple of weeks. They will research the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing and the four girls who were killed in the bombing, and present their research in a PowerPoint presentation.
Summative evaluations for teachers are coming up. Teachers who are evaluated using the new teacher evaluation tool need to begin to pull evidence for their standards. Ms. Morning gave examples of evidence including:
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Attending this week: Farthing, Muzzy, Maglio, Burkhead, McKenzie, Pate, Crim, Morning-Cain
Ms. Morning discussed the status of the Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 project. We are in crunch time. Classes should have read through chapter 12. Students will begin their culminating project within the next couple of weeks. They will research the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing and the four girls who were killed in the bombing, and present their research in a PowerPoint presentation.
Summative evaluations for teachers are coming up. Teachers who are evaluated using the new teacher evaluation tool need to begin to pull evidence for their standards. Ms. Morning gave examples of evidence including:
- PLC notebook/notes
- data analysis
- examples of quality lesson plans
- parent communication
- how we incorporate literacy
- global awareness activities
- technology use
Ms. Morning will also send out a questionnaire to teachers to help them gather evidence and prepare for their summative interview.
Ms. Pate & Ms. McKenzie are on a different evaluation tool and will not complete this process. New evaluation tools are being developed for Media & Tech coordinators.
Upcoming events & related information:
Friday, April 16: Career Day in the morning. Specialists have been assigned positions for helping. Ms. Crim will put a final schedule in our boxes tomorrow or Thursday.
Next week: Administrative Professionals week.
Friday, April 23: BUG/Terrific Kids ceremony. We will follow the same schedule as last time. We need to bring in treats and/or candy for the bags for the students. Ms. Muzzy will coordinate with Ms. Harvin to get the bags done. Ms. Pate and Ms. McKenzie will be at a workshop and will be unable to assist.
Week of May 17: EOG's
June 4: Field Day in the morning
Planning for the graduation ceremony is going on. 5th grade and possibly 4th grade will be taken off campus for the ceremony. If you plan to give awards at the ceremony, please let Ms. Bitting know ASAP so that she can make sure you get on the program. Our business partner, Piney Grove church, is providing strong support for this event and Minister McCloud is coming to meet with the 5th grade teachers on Thursday for more planning.
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If there are any corrections or additions to these minutes please leave a comment or email Ms. McKenzie to let her know.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Career Day Is Coming!
We're going to have our Career Day in the morning of April 16 this year. I will send a schedule for you to follow as soon as I have all the presenters lined up.
In Classroom Guidance I am talking to K-2 classes about the many different jobs that exist in our community and country. We are also talking about the universal character traits a person needs to develop to be successful in a job.
I will be sending an email asking 3-5 teachers to let me visit your classroom for about 20 minutes before April 16 to prepare your students for what will be happening that day. Please respond as soon as you can.
As usual I will be asking Specialists to help that day. I will be contacting you individually about that in the next few days.
I'm still trying to fill all the spaces we have for presenters, so If you know someone who relates well to children let me know.
We're going to have our Career Day in the morning of April 16 this year. I will send a schedule for you to follow as soon as I have all the presenters lined up.
In Classroom Guidance I am talking to K-2 classes about the many different jobs that exist in our community and country. We are also talking about the universal character traits a person needs to develop to be successful in a job.
I will be sending an email asking 3-5 teachers to let me visit your classroom for about 20 minutes before April 16 to prepare your students for what will be happening that day. Please respond as soon as you can.
As usual I will be asking Specialists to help that day. I will be contacting you individually about that in the next few days.
I'm still trying to fill all the spaces we have for presenters, so If you know someone who relates well to children let me know.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Weekly Wrap for March 22nd
Essential Pieces,
Last week I embedded a message regarding uniforms. The first five teachers that responded to the weekly wrap were able to dress out of uniform for two days this week. The winners were Mrs. Nazareth, Mrs. Ehrens, Mrs. Stickler, Mrs. Humphries. and Ms. Bradley. I will from time to time put little prizes with in the weekly wrap to verify the staff members that have read the weekly wrap. In case you did not know Lindsay Brown got married today. She is now Lindsay Bowser. I probably spelled the last name wrong:) Chris Runge sent us the DVD of first grade's PLC meeting. It is excellent! I will share a clip of it at the staff meeting on Monday. Thank you First Grade!! I can't believe that 3rd quarter is over. Please try to relax over the spring break.
Important dates to remember:
March 29th: All grade levels will have PLCs on Monday for SIOP training.
March 30: RC Day (No vacation Day) Retentions are due to Ms. Morning
March 31: RS day or Annual Leave
April 12 and 13: SWOT Analysis Due (Please bring to your PLC meeting)
April 12: School Improvment Team Meeting
April 12-16: CFA Testing
Last week I embedded a message regarding uniforms. The first five teachers that responded to the weekly wrap were able to dress out of uniform for two days this week. The winners were Mrs. Nazareth, Mrs. Ehrens, Mrs. Stickler, Mrs. Humphries. and Ms. Bradley. I will from time to time put little prizes with in the weekly wrap to verify the staff members that have read the weekly wrap. In case you did not know Lindsay Brown got married today. She is now Lindsay Bowser. I probably spelled the last name wrong:) Chris Runge sent us the DVD of first grade's PLC meeting. It is excellent! I will share a clip of it at the staff meeting on Monday. Thank you First Grade!! I can't believe that 3rd quarter is over. Please try to relax over the spring break.
Important dates to remember:
March 29th: All grade levels will have PLCs on Monday for SIOP training.
March 30: RC Day (No vacation Day) Retentions are due to Ms. Morning
March 31: RS day or Annual Leave
April 12 and 13: SWOT Analysis Due (Please bring to your PLC meeting)
April 12: School Improvment Team Meeting
April 12-16: CFA Testing
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Suggested Classroom Accomodations for Specific Behaviors
When you see this behavior:
Difficulty following through on instructions from others
Try this accomodation:
Gain the student's attention before giving the directions. Use alerting clues. Accompany oral directions with written directions. Give one direction at a time. Quietly repeat the directions to the student after they have been given to the rest of the class. Check for understanding by having the student repeat the directions.
Difficulty following through on instructions from others
Try this accomodation:
Gain the student's attention before giving the directions. Use alerting clues. Accompany oral directions with written directions. Give one direction at a time. Quietly repeat the directions to the student after they have been given to the rest of the class. Check for understanding by having the student repeat the directions.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
PLC Meeting Minutes 3/16/10
Attending: Pate, Burkhead, Muzzy, Farthing, McKenzie (arrived late), McCabe (arrived late), Morning-Cain (arrived late)
We had additional reading training by Juliet Brown. She shared some statistics and quotations from the Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease.
During this training, there was an emphasis on reading aloud within our classes so that kids can connect reading to more areas than just their core classroom. We can provide additional models of a reader; read-aloud is good for even older kids.
We reviewed some released items for reading EOG’s for grades 3 - 5 and noted the higher-level vocabulary and subject matter that would seem abstract and difficult for our particular population of students to connect to. We discussed the particular phrasing within passages and items, and focused on how we can use these types of phrasing and vocabulary with students to help them get used to the terms. We received a sample chart of character traits to use to expand students' vocabulary (i.e., humorous vs. funny). We also received small cards with sample questions to ask in the areas of analyzing, generating, knowing, integrating, organizing, applying, and evaluating. A major point of discussion was on increasing the level of vocabulary we use when we are speaking to children.
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If there are items missing or that need to be amended, please leave a comment or contact Ms. McKenzie.
We had additional reading training by Juliet Brown. She shared some statistics and quotations from the Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease.
During this training, there was an emphasis on reading aloud within our classes so that kids can connect reading to more areas than just their core classroom. We can provide additional models of a reader; read-aloud is good for even older kids.
We reviewed some released items for reading EOG’s for grades 3 - 5 and noted the higher-level vocabulary and subject matter that would seem abstract and difficult for our particular population of students to connect to. We discussed the particular phrasing within passages and items, and focused on how we can use these types of phrasing and vocabulary with students to help them get used to the terms. We received a sample chart of character traits to use to expand students' vocabulary (i.e., humorous vs. funny). We also received small cards with sample questions to ask in the areas of analyzing, generating, knowing, integrating, organizing, applying, and evaluating. A major point of discussion was on increasing the level of vocabulary we use when we are speaking to children.
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If there are items missing or that need to be amended, please leave a comment or contact Ms. McKenzie.
PLC Meeting Minutes 3/9/2010
Attending: Farthing, Muzzy, Burkhead, McKenzie, McCabe, Pate, Morning-Cain
We watched Essential Pieces video that Ms. McKenzie created that was to be presented at the board meeting this evening.
We had a Reading Training session presented by Juliet Brown on the Balanced Literacy model.
Balanced Literacy framework handouts are available on Learning Village. Search Learning Village for “balanced literacy” & it will bring up BL resources for each grade level. Click on one of the grade levels and look for X Grade Balanced Literacy Model.
How are you integrating literacy into your lessons? Leave a comment with what you are doing with each grade levels.
Ms. Brown presented a PowerPoint with highlights of the Balanced Literacy model.
Emphasis on using language that connects the words “infer,” “inference,” “draw conclusions,” “summarize” in daily interaction with our students.
Ms. Brown encourages us to each create a word wall for our particular area.
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If there are any corrections or additions to these minutes, please leave a comment or contact Ms. McKenzie.
We watched Essential Pieces video that Ms. McKenzie created that was to be presented at the board meeting this evening.
We had a Reading Training session presented by Juliet Brown on the Balanced Literacy model.
Balanced Literacy framework handouts are available on Learning Village. Search Learning Village for “balanced literacy” & it will bring up BL resources for each grade level. Click on one of the grade levels and look for X Grade Balanced Literacy Model.
How are you integrating literacy into your lessons? Leave a comment with what you are doing with each grade levels.
Ms. Brown presented a PowerPoint with highlights of the Balanced Literacy model.
Emphasis on using language that connects the words “infer,” “inference,” “draw conclusions,” “summarize” in daily interaction with our students.
Ms. Brown encourages us to each create a word wall for our particular area.
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If there are any corrections or additions to these minutes, please leave a comment or contact Ms. McKenzie.
Computer Skills 3-15 to 3-22
Kindergarten
Core Curriculum Connection: literacy: color words, proper capitalization
New Skills:
Core Curriculum Connection: literacy: color words, proper capitalization
New Skills:
- Vocabulary: Internet, web browser, online, link
- Using Internet Explorer Favorites at school
- Going from getting the computer logged in to Smart Tutor (Murrill)
Review Skills:
- Opening a program by double-clicking the icon
- Logging in independently
- Word processing: using shift, space bar, enter, backspace (all other K classes)
1st Grade
Core Curriculum Connection: literacy: rhyming words; math: subtracting
New Skills
- Opening a spreadsheet template
- Entering values into a cell
- Viewing charts/graphs in a spreadsheet template
- Examining how spreadsheets can be programmed to calculate answers to math problems
Review Skills
- Parts of a spreadsheet (cell, row, column, chart/graph)
2nd Grade
Core Curriculum Connection: Science: weather/water cycle; writing: editing/peer editing
New Skills
- Using mouse/arrow keys/backspace/delete to assist with editing a word processing document
- Using spell check to assist with editing
- Formatting: double spacing
Review Skills
- Word processing (using capitals, placing punctuation appropriately, using only one space between words)
- Opening and saving files
- Using graphic creation program (KidPix)
5th Grade
Core Curriculum Connections: Science: weather/climate; Social Studies: geography/map skills
New Skills
- Accessing and interpreting weather.com
- Recording data in a pre-prepared template in a word processing program
- Using Google Maps to locate a specific address
Review Skills
- Dealing with pop-ups and banner ads
- Opening a document from the shared space and saving to one's personal space on the file server
- Accessing the Watsons Go to Birmingham wiki (more information on this lesson can be found at the wiki)
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Computer Skills 3-5 to 3-12 rotation
Kindergarten:
Curriculum area: Literacy, color words
New Skills
Curriculum area: Literacy, color words
New Skills
- Using the number pad, including using number lock when the number pad is off
- Logging into the computer
Review Skills
- Typing letters and numbers
- Using special keys: space bar, shift, enter, backspace
- Maximizing/minimizing windows, closing windows
- Logging off the computer
First grade:
Curriculum area: Literacy, word families
New Skills
- Opening the spreadsheet program (MS Excel)
- Opening a file and saving a file
- Entering data into a spreadsheet and examining the resulting graph
Review Skills
- Logging on & logging off a computer independently
- Parts of a spreadsheet (rows, columns, cells)
- Naming cells
Second grade:
Curriculum area: science - weather/water cycle
Review Skills
- Word processing (using capitals, placing punctuation appropriately, using only one space between words)
- Opening and saving files
- Using graphic creation program (KidPix)
Third grade:
Curriculum area: art - primary colors
New Skills
- Spreadsheets: purpose and parts
- Opening MS Excel
- Opening a file from the file server (S: drive) and saving it to H drive
- Entering data into a spreadsheet and observing changes when a SUM formula is used
Fourth Grade
Curriculum area: writing/research - citing sources
New Skills
- Appropriately citing a book used for a research project (ALA format)
- Formatting text using bold, italic, and underline; changing text alignment (left, center, right)
Monday, March 8, 2010
Media
For the past 3 weeks our K-2 students have been reading 5 of the North Carolina Children's Book Award nominees. The students will choose which book they enjoyed the most and during the week of March 22nd they will be allowed to vote on their favorite. The books we have enjoyed so far are:
Sally Jean the Bicycle Queen by Cari Best
Traction Man meets Turbo Dog by Mini Grey
Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski
Katie Loves the Kittens by John Himmelman
A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker
Sally Jean the Bicycle Queen by Cari Best
Traction Man meets Turbo Dog by Mini Grey
Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski
Katie Loves the Kittens by John Himmelman
A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker
Friday, March 5, 2010
Classroom Guidance
In Classroom Guidance next week we are going to continue talking about perseverance. Children will work in groups to complete a challenging task. We will learn the "I can do it!" cheer.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Music K-1-2
For the last three weeks, these students have read three different books with the title of Stone Soup. We have compared and contrasted these books, and some of these can be seen on the wall outside of my room. We are preparing to do the musical with the same name on April 8, so please, teachers of K-2, review the words to the songs with you students. Thanks for your help.
Music - Grades 3-4-5
This week the older three grades have been watching and listening to the video Three Mo' Tenors. We have heard at least four or five different musical styles while listening to the video. We have talked about opera, Motown, acapella music, gospel music, songs from musicals, and jazz music. Students have heard songs in the English, Italian, and French languages. It was an enjoyable week for me and one where the students used a lot of their prior knowledge. Most students seemed to get a lot from this study, and I feel it was really valuable for them.
Reading this week in AG
This week in AG we are working on figuring out how we would feel if we were in the situatuions the characters in the books we are reading are in.
PLC Meeting Minutes 3/2/10
Attending: Burkhead, Muzzy, Farthing, Crim, McKenzie, McCabe (arrived late), Morning-Cain, Maglio
Ms. Farthing thanks all who helped with the We Has Jazz musical performance last week.
Ms. Morning has asked the specialists to manage a school-wide newsletter next year to increase parent communication. Ms. Muzzy will head up this project.
Ms. McKenzie instructed those present in how to reset Google passwords (if necessary) and how to use a Google account to log into the blog and create blog posts and comments, and we practiced doing so. Ms. Morning encourages all of us to post to the blog as it may count as part of our technology development for our IGP's.
Specialists who did not attend this meeting need to get in touch with Ms. McKenzie so that she can add you as a contributor and show you how to post to the blog. We can post about our activities and ask for input from core teachers and other staff.
---
Note from Ms. McKenzie: I know these minutes are incomplete but cannot remember what I am missing. Please comment with any corrections or additions. Thanks!
Ms. Farthing thanks all who helped with the We Has Jazz musical performance last week.
Ms. Morning has asked the specialists to manage a school-wide newsletter next year to increase parent communication. Ms. Muzzy will head up this project.
Ms. McKenzie instructed those present in how to reset Google passwords (if necessary) and how to use a Google account to log into the blog and create blog posts and comments, and we practiced doing so. Ms. Morning encourages all of us to post to the blog as it may count as part of our technology development for our IGP's.
Specialists who did not attend this meeting need to get in touch with Ms. McKenzie so that she can add you as a contributor and show you how to post to the blog. We can post about our activities and ask for input from core teachers and other staff.
---
Note from Ms. McKenzie: I know these minutes are incomplete but cannot remember what I am missing. Please comment with any corrections or additions. Thanks!
Going with the moment
Today the kindergartners were outsideof my door having a lesson on Green Eggs and Ham. After my second graders got in the classroom, I decided to play the song from Seussical, "Green Eggs and Ham" for the second graders and the kindergartners. The kindergartners all came into my room and we listened to the song. I taught the words to the children, and they all sang it. It was a lot of fun for all of us.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
PLC Meeting Minutes 2/22
Attending: Muzzy, Farthing, Pate, McCabe (arrived late), Crim, Burkhead, McKenzie
---
We discussed staff development needs.
As specialists, our suggestions for professional development are as follows:
How to read and interpret data
How to incorporate reading into different specialist areas
Incorporating global awareness into lessons with and without technology
Work sessions for developing lessons using technology, global awareness, and Marzano’s strategies & Essential Questions
Time management - personal & professional
---
We discussed the Paws – are Hall Paws still in effect? Who is responsible for checking on homework completion each week? Are teachers supposed to let someone (Ms. Morning?) know if the class completes homework?
---
Ms. Crim discussed the career fair. It will take place in April. Ms. Crim is working with Ms. Morning and will present the plans for the career fair. So far it seems that K-2 will only go to one speaker. Some discussion was held about how many speakers grades 3 - 5 should get to see and how students should be assigned/choose their speakers.
Contact Ms. Crim if you have ideas for volunteers & ideas for the career fair.
---
Ms. Muzzy discussed the use of FitKids materials to increase engagement in the classroom. (Can someone provide a link to a description of these materials?)
---
Upcoming PLC topics:
3/2 - open (was supposed to be wiki/blog work session but McKenzie will be out - this session tentatively moved to 3/23)
3/9 - Reading training w/Juliet Brown
3/16 - Reading training w/Juliet Brown
3/23 - wiki/blog work session (tentative)
---
Ms. McKenzie will be out on 3/2; someone needs to volunteer to record minutes.
---
We discussed staff development needs.
As specialists, our suggestions for professional development are as follows:
How to read and interpret data
How to incorporate reading into different specialist areas
Incorporating global awareness into lessons with and without technology
Work sessions for developing lessons using technology, global awareness, and Marzano’s strategies & Essential Questions
Time management - personal & professional
---
We discussed the Paws – are Hall Paws still in effect? Who is responsible for checking on homework completion each week? Are teachers supposed to let someone (Ms. Morning?) know if the class completes homework?
---
Ms. Crim discussed the career fair. It will take place in April. Ms. Crim is working with Ms. Morning and will present the plans for the career fair. So far it seems that K-2 will only go to one speaker. Some discussion was held about how many speakers grades 3 - 5 should get to see and how students should be assigned/choose their speakers.
Contact Ms. Crim if you have ideas for volunteers & ideas for the career fair.
---
Ms. Muzzy discussed the use of FitKids materials to increase engagement in the classroom. (Can someone provide a link to a description of these materials?)
---
Upcoming PLC topics:
3/2 - open (was supposed to be wiki/blog work session but McKenzie will be out - this session tentatively moved to 3/23)
3/9 - Reading training w/Juliet Brown
3/16 - Reading training w/Juliet Brown
3/23 - wiki/blog work session (tentative)
---
Ms. McKenzie will be out on 3/2; someone needs to volunteer to record minutes.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Meeting Minutes 2/16
Attending: Farthing, Burkhead, Muzzy, McKenzie, Pate, McCabe (arrived late), Morning (arrived late), Maglio (arrived late)
The lesson plans for the Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 unit will be collected. They are due to Ms. Morning on 2/26.
Ms. McKenzie introduced the specialists to the Watsons wiki. Later one of the PLC meetings will focus on specialists creating their own page for the wiki & uploading or copying & pasting their lesson plans onto their wiki page.
Ms. Farthing asked Ms. Muzzy to make a backdrop for the upcoming We Has Jazz production. Ms. McKenzie & Ms. Farthing will work together to create a flier for the program.
Reminder: bring Ms. Muzzy $1 for BUG/Terrific Kids treats.
A comprehensive needs book is supposed to be developed by March 7 (can someone elaborate on this in a comment please? I cannot remember what this was about. - MM)
Also, there was some discussion professional development needs for schools, for us in particular – stuff that will help us for tutoring; write this down in narrative form during next PLC; idea: more training for teachers on SmartTutor. Include how much time we might need for PD (ongoing, blocks of time). Think about teacher evals.
We discussed needs for reading credit (CEU's) & Juliet Brown is going to set up some trainings during PLC’s in March. Ms. Morning is going to work with Ms. Henderson to set up the SIOP trainings in the staff development registration website.
----
Tentative schedule for upcoming meetings:
2/22: Discuss & write up ideas for staff development
3/2: Wiki & blog work session
3/9: Juliet Brown will come for training*
3/16: Juliet Brown will return for training*
*We will look at the balanced literacy framework and talk about questioning strategies when reading to or with students.
The lesson plans for the Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 unit will be collected. They are due to Ms. Morning on 2/26.
Ms. McKenzie introduced the specialists to the Watsons wiki. Later one of the PLC meetings will focus on specialists creating their own page for the wiki & uploading or copying & pasting their lesson plans onto their wiki page.
Ms. Farthing asked Ms. Muzzy to make a backdrop for the upcoming We Has Jazz production. Ms. McKenzie & Ms. Farthing will work together to create a flier for the program.
Reminder: bring Ms. Muzzy $1 for BUG/Terrific Kids treats.
A comprehensive needs book is supposed to be developed by March 7 (can someone elaborate on this in a comment please? I cannot remember what this was about. - MM)
Also, there was some discussion professional development needs for schools, for us in particular – stuff that will help us for tutoring; write this down in narrative form during next PLC; idea: more training for teachers on SmartTutor. Include how much time we might need for PD (ongoing, blocks of time). Think about teacher evals.
We discussed needs for reading credit (CEU's) & Juliet Brown is going to set up some trainings during PLC’s in March. Ms. Morning is going to work with Ms. Henderson to set up the SIOP trainings in the staff development registration website.
----
Tentative schedule for upcoming meetings:
2/22: Discuss & write up ideas for staff development
3/2: Wiki & blog work session
3/9: Juliet Brown will come for training*
3/16: Juliet Brown will return for training*
*We will look at the balanced literacy framework and talk about questioning strategies when reading to or with students.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
PLC Minutes for 2-9
Specialists need to send their lessons for the Watsons Go to Birmingham to Ms. Morning so that they can be included in our collaborative lesson book & for the board meeting (March 9).
We will probably be alternating the 5th grade novel study each year between Maniac McGee and Watsons.
We will get reading credit for particpating in this collaborative unit.
We will also get reading credit for SIOP.
Help with We Haz Jazz – Specialists are asked to help in music on days 4, 5, 6 through Feb. 26 to help supervise/manage behavior during rehearsal (2/11, 2/12, 2/16). 5th grade speakers will be missing specials day 4, 5, 6 this rotation and Ms. Farthing would like ALL 5th graders to report to music from 2/22 to 2/24 and all of them except the ones in PE on 2/25.
Ms. Farthing & Ms. McCabe will be reading/editing the essays for the Mary Starling Short Story essay contest. All 5th graders will have the opportunity to write a short story.
We discussed a behavior plan for a particular student.
Piney Grove Baptist Church is collecting water to send to Haiti, and all specialists are especially encouraged to donate. Water can be dropped off in the kitchenette area off the main office.
Ms. Muzzy volunteered to pick up pencil-topper erasers & candy for the BUG treat bags (edit: please bring $1 for Ms. Muzzy).
Ms. Crim requested cover for her 1st grade coverage on Friday 2/12, and Ms. Muzzy agreed to cover.
Friday, February 12, 2010
When you see this behavior:
Difficulty completing assignments
Try this accomodation:
* List and/or post(and say) all steps necessary to complete each assignment.
*Reduce the assignment into manageable sections with specific due dates.
*Make frequent checks for work/assignment completion.
*Arrange for the student to have a "study buddy" with phone number in each area.
Difficulty completing assignments
Try this accomodation:
* List and/or post(and say) all steps necessary to complete each assignment.
*Reduce the assignment into manageable sections with specific due dates.
*Make frequent checks for work/assignment completion.
*Arrange for the student to have a "study buddy" with phone number in each area.
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