Thursday Thriller
October 31, 2019

Yesterday's staff meeting focusing on the 'one thing' was great to watch!  Your interactions, debate and adult Socratic seminar was enjoyable to observe.  Thank you to Mike, Shannon and Charlie for organizing and running the show! :D  Carina will follow up with next steps.

Let the Socratic seminar begin! :)

 Little Halloween fun in Jami's first period.

JS was so thrilled that he set the controls on his robot to do the three steps while in Mike's class. He is anxiously waiting for Cami to finish to run his robot again. :D 

NUTS-n-BOLTS

1.  As Terri mentioned in her email, she is working with identified students who have 3+ Fs.  This is not to say we aren't taking students before and after school.  The plan is those that need after school help who are not on the list can work with Alex. Those that need help in the AM, who are not on the list,  can work with Karen in room 202.  Terri and Alex are communicating.  They will loop Karen into the mix so we aren't missing any students. 

**** Please note that your availability from 8:15-8:45 is also critical.  

2.  Next week during our First Wednesday of the Month collaboration, we are going to look at CFAs.  Each PLC needs to bring one or the other:
        a. CFA already given
        b. Upcoming CFA
       
3.   Please review the email Agnes sent regarding the assembly on Tuesday.  Going over where to sit and assembly behavior is important.  Since this will be a first period assembly, first period teachers please revisit expected behaviors.  Thank you

4.  Halloween wasn't so bad!  I was pleasantly surprised. :D  The hallways today weren't that bad either.  Again, visibility and gentle reminders.  I know that we will follow up with a group of you interested in discussing hallway behavior and what we can do to make them better.  Watch for an email from Carina.

5. Daylight Savings on Sunday.  We get an extra hour of sleep!  Whoop! Whoop!

Something to Ponder
As you remember from last week's post, pacing is not about how fast you go.  Proper pacing makes students feel the progress and never know what's next.  In this video, you see a middle school teacher shift formats not topic. A few gold nuggets in this 2:23 minute video from Ben Esser's middle school classroom.  "How Does Pacing Work?  Ask Ben Esser?"

A Funny
Since two students dressed up as Dwight Schrute from the Office, I found this kinda funny 😀

Thursday Thriller
October 24,2019

 Stacey's patience helping students is something to be desired! Go Stacey!😆

Jami was having Ben do the 'integer' dance.  It was great! I know it helped me :)

These two were my partners in crime in Jose's math class.  Ummm...we needed Mr. Beleche's notes in order to complete the task since I wasn't a lot of help.😜

Two 6th grade dual students reflecting on their assessment and making a plan to get better! Go Amy!

NUTS-n-BOLTS

1.  Met with ASB students today and came to the conclusion that students want to wear costumes.  Agnes and Stacey worked with students and they will announce on GNN the rules for wear.  I think it will be fine.  It's not a mountain I want to die on. :D

2. The end of the quarter is next week.  Students have been use to a celebration with an 'activity day.'  Through informal conversations with different staff members it was concluded that activity days were more of a hassle then a true 'reward.'  Carina and I are open to suggestions.  We want to honor and acknowledge students for hard work.  What is the criteria for students to attend activity day?  Could we look at iReady growth on the December diagnostic as one criteria?  Also, what ideas do we have for the different activities students could participate in?  Feedback, ideas and suggestions are needed.  We are currently looking at a semester activity day and would love your ideas.

3.  THANK YOU for making the calls and reaching out to parents BOTH for failing grades and classroom exclusions.  When you reach out to families, it goes a long way!  Truly does!  Terri begins before school and after school work with students beginning on Monday.  If you need help getting students to attend, reach out to Alex.

4.  Tomorrow at the home WA HI football game our 7th & 8th grade bands students will be playing alongside Pioneer and the high school!  Good luck, Roger!

5.  7th,8th Band, Choir and Orchestra have their first concert of the year on Tuesday, October 29th.  Roger sent this out in an email for practice prior to their performance:

Tuesday October 22 - period 1

Tuesday October 29 - period 4

Performance - Tuesday October 29, 7:00 PM - Garrison Large Gym!

6.  Please take the EEC survey if you have not already.  Your feedback is important!! 

7. As we approach the beginning of November, your 'tired factor' is up maybe with students and maybe with admin :D.  Carina and I appreciate the conversations we are having with you.  The feedback we have received has told us there are expectations and systems that may not have been in place and we are putting into place which can cause nervousness/anxiety and  change.  This also tells us both what we need to be clear on. Know that we will keep talking with you, asking questions and revamping systems for the better.  This means that there will be bumps in the road and mess ups along the way. 

Something to Ponder

Pacing in a lesson or class period is critical for many reasons.  Making sure you get through your lesson, giving enough time for an assessment, small group rotations, introducing a new concept.  Whatever the instructional medium, the pace at which the lesson is taught can either make or break it.

  Pacing falls under 3c in Danielson.  Pacing is not about speed. Proper pacing makes students feel the progress and never know what's next.   This is a quick 3:17 video on Proper Pacing.  I bring up pacing as something to ponder because this topic affords us to reflect on our practice.  Are we doing all the talking, cognitive lifting and using the same activities?

Some may be thinking, "Kids these days need us to entertain them.  I'm not going to entertain them.  It's their job to listen and engage."  Maybe.  However, it's OUR job to deliver engaging lessons. Not dog and pony shows.  Engaging lessons that bring students into the lesson and make them a part of it.  What you have planned could be super engaging yet the pacing of the lesson derails all that you have worked hard on preparing.

The next few weeks the focus of this section will be on pacing.  Offering suggestions, videos, etc.  If you want to watch a colleague teach because you have heard they are knocking it out of the park, let us know.  We can cover your class while you go watch.  We have some AMAZING teachers at Garrison -you all have talent!  Let's open our doors and share with each other.

Teach Like a Champion Change the Pace
This technique offers a way to manage the illusion of speed in your classroom. One way to create the illusion of speed is by using a variety of activities to accomplish your objectives and moving from one to the other throughout the course of a lesson.

Kicks and Giggles
Even if you aren't a first year teacher, this might make you laugh.  We all have those days.  

Thursday Thriller

Thursday Thriller
October 17, 2019

Thank you, Fall Sport Coaches!  It is both amazing, fun and humbling to watch you work with students in a different setting.  Not only are you teaching them about the game and increasing skills, you are teaching them to be role models, work as a team or family and building character!

I did not get to volleyball or soccer but heard feedback from parents that was positive.  Here is a picture after last night's 8th grade win.  :D

Last night Mike Kay and crew BBQed for both Pioneer and Garrison 7th and 8th grade football teams and their families.  Coach Lupfer from WA HI had his players come over watch the game and they too ate.  It was neat to see former players high fiving the 7th and 8th graders.

Gladys catered the event and at 9:30PM she still had a smile on her face knowing she had to come in extra early this morning to get our breakfast going.  Thank  you!!!!

NUTS-n-BOLTS

1.    Tomorrow morning fall sport athletes and coaches(those that said they could make it.  This is not mandatory or required; only volunteers) and NJHS students can meet in the foyer.  Students can place backpacks in the conference room.  We will head out to the designated area and deliver the orange Care and Share bags.  Not doing this ever before, the goal is 30 mins. 

2.  Based on feedback from the exit ticket from Friday's PBIS training, we will look at focusing on 'one thing.'  We would like to do this on the 5th Wednesday of this month-October 30th.   Carina and I followed up with Flint and Jeff via email and asked for time next month that Jeff could come back, walk the school, see it action and offer feedback.  We will keep you posted.

3.  Your consistency in the hallways during passing times is appreciated especially when we have guest teachers in the building.

4.  The Friday "F" spread sheet (I gotta think of an appropriate name for this spread sheet :D) comes out tomorrow.  This is something we review weekly.  With Alex on board full time Monday, we will be able to implement morning and after school time for students to get caught up that need it.  With that being said, 8:15-8:45 is time that students MUST be able to access YOU.  Please make arrangements with students if they need assistance, to turn in an assignment or whatever it may be. I have seen a couple of teachers post their 'office hours' on their door so students know when to come and receive help. 

5.  Proficiency Map work is coming along.  Great discussions with teams yesterday.  As Carina and I said in August, we believe in this work! This is not something to 'check the box.' I think of prof maps just like you would a Google Map or planning a trip.  There is a destination, there is a start and stop date, adjustments are made and it can be clunky.  It will always remain clunky UNLESS we dig in and understand the purpose behind it.  I guarantee you would want a teacher well planned, working with their colleagues, increasing instructional strategies for your own children, nieces, nephews, etc.  We owe this to our own students. Stepping off soap box now.

6.  Red Ribbon week kicks off on Monday.  Angie and Steve are planning things with Sources of Strength and Unity Day.  Please review your Unity Day binder.  I know we get pressed for time and time is the hottest commodity.  However, taking moments to pause and look at the 'whole' student from a social/emotional lens is critical.  We want our Troopers to transition from us ready for the academic load at high school AND be kind, helpful people that feel like they are important and people care about them. 

7.  TARDIES - Please remember if a student is a few seconds late to your class you are accepting them and marking them TARDY in Skyward.  We have improved our system to track and intervene with tardies.  Consequences begin when a student has acquired 4.

8.  Supervision duty we need more bodies in the cafeteria in the AM.  We are going to need to look at this schedule; just giving you a heads up.

Something to Ponder
What are your biases?  Do you know you have HIDDEN biases?  No one ever wants to think they have biases especially when it comes to race.  Unfortunately, we all do have them due to our experiences, beliefs and how we were raised.  Knowing you have them and knowing what they are can lead to improve practises.  This is a quick summary of the "The Anit-Racist Educator" by Tracey Benson and Sarah Fiarman

October 10, 2019

Thursday Thriller
October 10, 2019

Shout out to Kara for coordinating the FANTASTIC lunch!!  Also, to Armida for filling and delivering the VIP Room Service bags!  THANK YOU!!!

Great turn out for conferences!  WOW!  You all did AMAZING!!!!  Lots of positives from families!😊

Great pictures of Jen and Kim's classrooms.  Being out and about is one of several highlights of my day!

In case you were wondering just how to go through a soup buffet, Braddock nailed it!😆


NUTS-n-BOLTS

1.  Tomorrow I know we will be tired from a very busy day.  With that being said, I know the work we engage in with Jeff Kalles around PBIS will be well worth our time (8:30 start time in the library, 11:30 lunch on site, 3:30 end time).  The continuous work around consistency, expectations, understanding behaviors  will strengthen our tool kits. It is inevitable that throughout your day working with students TIME WILL BE SPENT ON BEHAVIOR.  That's not going away.    It's how you want to spend your time  and how much time you will get back by front loading with building relationships and understanding the 'why' behind behaviors.

2.  The hallways are slipping a little bit.  Slipping meaning students walking on both sides of hallways, loud yelling at times, pushing.  PLEASE be in the hallway during passing times.  This was a commitment we agreed to adhere to.  I will revisit this on GNN.

3.  Carina and I have Secondary Principals' PD on Monday from 1:00-4:00.  If anyone wants to help with supervision by the buses and the crosswalk after school I would LOVE to buy you your choice of drink...that is allowable in school, of course😁.  Send me an email and let me know if you are interested.

4.  Please let me know how many of your families showed up for conferences.  Any feedback from them on how conferences were scheduled, etc?  I think looking at how we do conferences will always be a work in progress to meet the most needs we can.

5.   This coming Wednesday the 7th and 8th grade football teams play Pioneer at Borleske.  In between those games, we are going to have a BBQ for both schools.  Mike Kay will be BBQing hot dogs, hamburgers we'll have chips and potato salad.  Just a fun way to include families and enjoy the end of season.  Carina, Chad and I will be circulating between football, volleyball and soccer.  Notification will be sent home to inform families.

6.  Friday, October 18th to be a part of the Care and Share Food Drive, fall sport athletes will be invited to walk an assigned area with coaches and admin to deliver the orange bags.  We will do this from 8:00-8:45.  If any of you are interested in walking and taking part, you are welcome to join us! Students will be able to wear their sports jersey one last time. :)  Let me know if you are interested.  We will meet in front of the school at 8:00.

7.  Many students have asked about the end-of-the-quarter activity day.  As of right now, there isn't one. 😨  In listening to feedback from previous admin and some teachers, it just didn't go well.  Carina and I are open to suggestions.  Our stance is we just don't want to give up academic time when time is precious!  If you have ideas, please share.

FYI
Sharing iReady data with you.  This is an assessment that can be used and dis aggregated several ways.  This is a view of our school in both reading and math.  As you look at it, please use the lens of your content.  I may not 'teach' reading or math.  However, students do read and may do mathematical computation within my content area.  Where are we strong?  Where are our stretches?  This is WE data look.

Reading

Math

This was our SBA data from last spring:

This is a portion of the 2019-2020 data sheet that is reported to the School Board and are part my goals.

In working with ELA and Math teams as well as a the GC team, what do you think our goals for each quarter should be in both iReady and pass rates?

This is 18-19 Data Dashboard look:

"Look Fors"

This next week in classrooms, Carina and I will look for 2b "Establishing a Culture of Learning"

What do these components look like  in your classroom? 

• Importance of the content
• Expectations for learning and achievement
• Student pride in work

"A culture for learning" refers to the atmosphere in the classroom that reflects the importance of the work undertaken by both students and teacher.  It describes the norms that govern the interactions among individuals about the activities and assignment, the look of the classroom and the general 'tone' of the class.

Thursday Thriller
October 3, 2019

Just wanted to thank Agnes, Brian, Jose and Stacey for sharing and role playing in yesterday's meeting.  It is not always easy to get up in front of colleagues!  We appreciated you!!

During Coffee with the Principal these past two days, parents have expressed how much they appreciate the staff at Garrison!  What you do each day matters and has great impact on students.  THANK YOU!!!!

NUTS-n-BOLTS

1.  During the Coffee with the Principal, a few questions came up around the following.  I'm letting you know in case you are asked at conferences regarding any of the topics below.
             a. Student Planners - I explained what student planners were, how we were using them and how parents could check them.  Planners are provided by the school or a student could have brought one from home.
            b. Promise Standards -some parents had clicked the link that Mark Higgins had sent out. I explained the work around the Math and ELA Promise Standards that took place this past summer as well as the work teachers were doing in their PLCs on Wednesdays
             c. Cookie Dough -Parents asked if they could donate and I assured them they could. They could make checks payable to GMS ASB and turn in to Lynette
***Next party is 10/8 7th period again.
           
2.  During conferences, we will have tables in the foyer for the following.  If there is something missing you think we need, please let me know.
                            *SBA scores accompanied with a letter explaining student's scores
                             *CEE paper/pencil survey and/or  Chromebooks to take the survey
                             *Assistance for parents if they want to learn how to check grades online

3.  Appreciate the efforts at reaching out to families regarding students who have an 'F' in one of your classes.  Please keep a log.  It could be as easy as noting it on your Google calendar. If you need help with setting up your automated email, reach out and ask.  The expectation is we are all doing some form of communication regarding students who are failing.

4.  As I mentioned on GNN, our goal is to collect 1300 pounds of non-perishable foods for the annual food drive.  If we reach this goal, we can have donuts for everyone (I can work with Food Service.  They make the BEST maple bars!)  Or if you have other ideas please share.

5. In looking ahead, Thursday, October 17th is when our District office staff makes and serves us breakfast. It's pretty stink'n good!  It's also a staff meeting time.  It will be 8:00-8:30.

6.  Students are eating a lot of sunflower seeds as noted by the custodians.  Keep your eyes out.  Students shouldn't be eating in class unless you have permitted them to have a snack.

Something to Ponder
In reading Teach Like a Champion as well as watching several videos, I am firm believer in process, procedures, expectations and accountability.  I guess that's why the strategies in Doug Lemov's book and video clips resonate with me.
Some teachers I have worked with over the years think the strategies and methods are 'too strict' or that these are charter schools with 'different expectations.'  I challenge both those beliefs.   High expectations with follow through shows students we care about them.  We have a lot to teach and don't have time to waste.  Teaching students to say, "Good morning" with a handshake is a life long skill that we have the opportunity to teach.

STRONG VOICE, REGISTER SHIFTS AND WARM/STRICT: MS. CENAC GREETS HER STUDENTS

Something Funny

This is one of my favorite blogs for teachers.  Just something to giggle at.  Curious as to what your top 26 things would be if you ran the school. :D