Thursday, January 31, 2013

If you missed the post from Monday - please make sure you read all the way down the page for full information.

We have a new 1:1 EA, Kimberly Drake, for a new second grade student beginning Monday.  Please welcome and help her adjust to our culture - introducing yourself, guiding her in processes and answering any questions she may have.

This week I worked on a School Accreditation External Review team at a special purpose school in Marsing.  I always learn so much from seeing other schools.  This school does some amazing things with some VERY tough kids, all of which have major challenges due to failed adoptions.  Teacher salaries were funded by donations so were lower than State funded teachers, but they have a special heart and purpose for their work.  From an academic perspective, one thing I documented during five classroom observations was instructional practices that provided 100% student 'engagement' participation 100% of the time.  Good reminder to use those learning tasks that make the kids work harder than the teacher.

Wednesday, February 6 is Idaho Digital Learning Day.  Check out this website for learning ideas.

We do not have the credit approved yet, but the iPad collaboration is organized.  The credit will require more time than collaboration, but non credit takers can participate at their own preferred level.  If you use collaboration it must follow the guidelines, with a focus on student learning and achievement.  Stephanie (and Jayna) represent our school on the Technology Integration Advisory Team and is willing to take the leadership of the sessions.  If you are interested in joining let one of us know.

SWPBIS committee set the winning events for Hawks Tickets for the remainder of the year based on the suggestions from classrooms and faculty who submitted ideas.  I listed them on Wednesdays on the calendar.  Feel free to check through and announce to your students.  We also set three school challenges - if we make the challenge all students participate in a special event.  These are listed on the first Fridays of each month.
For February with 18 days and 15% of 500 population (75 tickets a day) equates to a goal of 1350 tickets for the month.  Since we did this in one week last month, we will up the goal to 20%, or 1800 tickets. 

Quick Calendar:
Monday, 12:00 MChat, 3:00pm Leadership Team
Tuesday, 3:00 Staff meeting
Wednesday, Title I School Wide Team meeting, Hawks Ticket Lego event, 3:00pm investing conversation in library.
Thursday, RTI (teams missed this week)/ Special Education meetings.
Friday, Blue Jean Friday, 8:15 Character Assembly