Thursday, February 23, 2012

I need help - PTA is hosting an Are You My Mother? event.  The 'craft' idea was for them to write rhyme or poetry together.  I need a simple framework or template to share with the PTA.  Do any of you have one that you could share? 




Skyward Update is HERE!  You should have received an email message from Tamie Fried asking you to be out of the program tomorrow by 3:15p so they can run the update.  You may log in over the weekend to look at it if you don't like Monday morning surprises.  :)

Are we taking Love and Logic too far?????????? 

"3rd grade boys were playing crack the whip. My duty folder did not address this game or red rover. I decided to use Love and Logic and waited for someone to get hurt."

I believe this teacher is kidding, but just in case will you help student discuss ways in which to play some of these games safely.  For example, Red Rover shouldn't hurt.  Maybe statue tag, or cereal tag instead of crack the whip.  It is hard to tell them what not to do without giving them some replacement ideas.  Toni teaches them lots of games in PE like Ghost busters. 

Idaho Theater for Youth will be here next Friday at 1pm.  As always, these assemblies are teachers choice as to whether you attend.  While the productions are usually of high quality, they can be a bit long for kindergarten and first grade.  I know first grade has Idaho Art Museum, Nose to Nose and an upcoming field trip interrupting their intervention.  Some classrooms are feeling other pressures.  If this is not a good fit, make the choice that is right for your students.  IF you are coming, please plan to bring your students to the gym BY 1:00 for a 1:00 start.   I will ask about postponing the character assembly by a week.  Please vote early on this poll and we will declare by Monday if we will do both on Friday or one each week.  I do not think it is a good fit to add them together this time.

I have had a few volunteer for the College of Idaho students.  Their schedule will be as in the past, first thing Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  I knows this automatically rules out many of you from participation but leaves the opportunity open wider for others.

From the SDE:
New Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Toolkits are now available on the State Department of Education website. These toolkits will assist teachers with understanding the foundational rationale for and structure and content of the CCSS. Among the resources are video vignettes from writers of the standards, sample instructional plans, professional development resources, and information on the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium, of which Idaho is a governing state, which will develop new assessments aligned with the CCSS. This site, also available on Schoolnet, will be continually updated as new resources become available. For specific toolkit information for Mathematics, visit
http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/common/mathCore/.
For specific toolkit information for English Language Arts/Reading, visit http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/common/ELAcore/.
 
Register for i-STEM Summer Institute – Registration for the 2012 Summer i-STEM Institutes in June. The theme is: “2012 i-STEM Speedway; Where Integration meets Innovation!” Registration will open March 1, 2012. As part of this professional development opportunity, educators, administrators, and counselors from across Idaho will have a unique opportunity to receive training, information, and hands-on activities to teach students about various science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related topics. To register for the Summer Institute near you, visit http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/istem/teachers/events.htm on March 1. The i-STEM summer institutes are supported by an Idaho State Department of Education Math Science Partnership grant and a variety of i-STEM business and industry partners. All participants will receive free tuition for continuing education credits.


SMARTER Balanced launches new website – The SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium, of which Idaho is a governing state, has launched a new website at SmarterBalanced.org to serve as the information hub of the Consortium. Key features include an interactive project timeline and customized information and resources for teachers and other education stakeholders. Check it out if you get a chance!