Blended Learning

Staff,

This Tuesday at our staff meeting, I'll briefly review the student survey requirement for Year 2 probationary and continuing teachers. However, most of the meeting will be set aside for teachers to share and reflect on the blended learning opportunities implemented during Readers Workshop this year, and the impact they've had to engage and personalize learning for students.  I"m hoping this is a time we can learn from each other about what has worked well and what hasn't. I've meant to give you opportunities like this earlier in the year at staff meetings, but there just hadn't been time.

Some reminders about district staff development this week. There is all day ELA and Integrated Units of Inquiry for grades 5th (Tuesday), 3rd (Wednesday) and 4th (Thursday) at River Crest in room 201. On Friday North Hudson Elementary has an All School Meeting at 3:50pm. There still is time to turn in Celebration Reports for students to be honored on Friday. We're 15 away from our next benchmark:  120 students recognized.

As we move into December, I am again sharing an article from the Anti Defamation League with tips on navigating teaching in December: "The December Dilemma". You'll see under the school assemblies paragraph, steps we've taken with our All School Sing Along over the years to implement some of their recommendations.

Thankful

This morning I was reading the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and it had the "Big Thanks from Little People" edition in the Sunday Life section. There were a couple pieces of writing submitted by Hudson Prairie students. The image below especially got me thinking about the many things I'm thankful for like having healthy grandparents, parents, a wife and children.

I've also been fortunate enough to work with colleagues who each day put the needs of their students first while supporting one another. Wishing you all a Thanksgiving break with the ones you love, and time to reflect on the blessings in your life!

Planning Next Steps with Running Records or the Continuums

Classroom Teachers,

On Monday you'll have flexibility to use your Day 6 time to plan core instruction with your team, differentiate for students who need extension/reteaching or learn together as a grade level. When using the protocol, you can choose one of the three areas to work on. Feel free to use the math protocol instead, if you are ready to pre-plan for an upcoming math unit.

Our staff meeting on Tuesday will be for classroom teachers. K-2 teachers will meet in the media center with a focus on running records. Please bring your materials from the most recent ELA district staff development. We'll review how to infuse running records into your guided reading lessons, and give you time to decide which running record format you feel the most comfortable with. The remainder of the staff meeting time will be spent getting running records copied so you'll be ready to move forward with them. Kelli Hedlund will also be able to help those of you who want to use the running record app to assess your students.

Intermediate teachers will meet in the art classroom. Please be ready to plan using the F+P Continuum, MAP Continuum or the Decartes Reading Vocabulary by RIT. Think about what resource you included in your SLO action plan. You will also be able to use this time for making copies of materials needed either for future whole group or guided reading lessons. Amanda McCarthy or I'll will be available to assist your teams.

Under the PBIS tab, I have included a powerful article published in the Washington Post in regards to students with lagging social/emotional skills. It is a nice companion piece to the information I shared in an earlier blog.

SLO Reviews Begin on Friday

On Friday I will begin reviewing SLOs with individual classroom teachers during Day 6 collaboration time. These meetings will be around 15 minutes long, and Sue will send out a schedule later this week. If you haven't already, remember to submit your SLO to me through mylearningplan at least a day prior to our meeting. Specialists and special educators please set up a 15 minute meeting with me through Sue to review your SLO from November 10-21.

This week we have some items to remember. The Hudson High School Swing Choir will be performing for us at 2:15pm in the gym tomorrow. There will be no second recesses Monday because of this event. Three of our grade levels have professional development this week. On Wednesday Kindergarten has ELA PD in the am and First Grade has ELA PD in the pm at River Crest Elementary:  Room 201. On Thursday second grade has a full day PD regrading ELA and integrated units of study also at River Crest:  Room 201. Here is the link to our 2014-2015 PD Calendar. The building Tier I PBIS team is also meeting on Thursday at 8:05am in the conference room.

At our staff meeting this Tuesday we will have a little time to reflect on conference scheduling and conferences. For the benefit of year two teachers (probationary and continuing) I'll go over the student survey component of our evaluation system that is due mid December. At the end of the meeting, there will be time for a couple business items I need to cover.