Thursday, March 8, 2012

Don't forget to spring forward or you will be behind!

I must have your consumable orders no later than Monday.  I have the needs from kindergarten but have not heard from the other grade levels.  If third, fourth or fifth is short textbooks we can also order those at this time in preparation for next year. 

You will need to turn in parent conference attendance numbers again next week.  Please consider how you will keep track.  Especially for those adventuresome teachers doing student led conferences. 

During conferences, if you have a family that appears to have a child ready to enter kindergarten next year, will you please encourage them to sign up for the spring kindergarten screening in April.  Lisa will put a few fliers in each of your mailboxes.  These are so you have them on hand to pass out if the opportunity presents itself.  Or you might just ask your students if they have any siblings ready for kindergarten next year.  You could give them the fliers to take home and have them off of your desk.  :)

There has been a change in the schedule for the Cof I students.  It appears that our spring breaks do not match.  In order for them to get in enough observation time they will be here NEXT week on Tuesday and Thursday.  They know it is a full and difficult week for you.  Use them or leave them to watch, whichever is in the best interest of your students on that day.  While we love to have the extra people and the partnerships created, the education of the children in your classes is of first order.

Leadership team discussed the need to conduct another round of 'teach tos' regarding quiet hallways.  While this is important to maintaining the right to learn throughout the building, our biggest concern right now is when leaving the lunchroom.  First, second and fourth grade students head out to recess and are excessively noisy outside the kindergarten classrooms where class is in session.  Even with the doors closed it is a huge distraction. 

The final MTI unit study meeting for this year was designed as optional, but is set aside for teachers in the region to finish units and share them as grade levels. You can choose from three dates and Middleton will be the host site for two of the three. May 17th, May 18th & May 24th.

Here is a link to Larry Ferlazzo's blog with his top picks for test prepartion.  :)  If you find something you can use, share with all of us.