Dec. 14, 2015

PTA is providing our scholars a unique opportunity at our school on January 22nd because "Dinosaur George: Museum in the Classroom" will be here!!

"Dinosaur George: Museum in the Classroom" gives students the unique opportunity to see exhibits of prehistoric life from around the world, with over 150 museum quality exhibit pieces from the earliest life on earth. From giant Texas reptiles, to dinosaurs and Ice Age mammals, students will see firsthand some of the creatures that once roamed Texas. Dinosaur George: Museum in the Classroom provides a fun learning environment in Spanish and English! During the exhibit, staff experts will be on hand to answer questions, and Museum in the Classroom is a self-guided tour so that teachers and students can learn at their own pace. Dinosaur George: Museum in the Classroom is one of the largest traveling school exhibits in the country."

Please plan to take time as a team to look at the lessons provided (in English and Spanish) to see how you can enrich this great learning opportunity. The lessons are in science, math and language arts. Be prepared to share your ideas in January at PLC.

Dinosaur George Website

TEKS Connections to Dinosaur George (scroll down to middle of page)

Free Dinosaur George Curriculum

Dec. 7 2015

I wanted to highlight some updates that have been added to our district curriculum Google site for easy access.  

• ONLINE TEXTBOOK ACCESS - it gives specific directions on how you and your students can access resources along with QR codes to use with students.  This is inclusive of Texas Treasures-reading, Pearson Easy Bridge-social studies, ThinkCentral-math, and STEMscopes-science
• RTI - actually links to the Personalized Learning Google Site which also includes
• all of the MATH progress monitoring, 
• RTI, 
• Five Phase information
• PLP (student goal setting)
• COMMON INSTRUCTIONAL EXPECTATIONS: these documents are also embedded within the curriculum

If you are interested in having an instructional coach come meet with you or your team about the new Pearson Easy Bridge resources or ThinkCentral please let me know so I can get that scheduled.  

Nov. 30, 2015

This week is my favorite of all holidays because it is not about gift giving.  The gift of time to enjoy family and friends and the ability to just slow down is essential to my mental and physical health.  As we go back to school, know in your heart that YOU make an impact in each student's life and be THANKFUL for that opportunity.  Here is my "thankful list" of the reality I live- not my "dream life of being a princess with unlimited funds"! (Actually, my list would be the same minus timelines because I would have more $ to provide myself help.)

Timelines that give me structure

Humor because I love to laugh

Autonomy that allows me to figure it out

Nice people who care

Knowledge that is always growing

Family & friends that keep me grounded

Unity and teamwork makes me better

Loyalty for a purpose bigger than myself

What does your THANKFUL acrostic look like?  Please send it to me and I will be posting them in my room!

Nov. 16, 2015

I heard this quote and it has really resonated with me.  Many days we do the same routine and follow our same habits because it is comfortable. Our students do not come to school for comfort, they show up to molded and prepared for the future.  

Good is simply not good enough anymore if we want to prepare today's students to be productive

citizens in our ever changing society.  I am heavy hearted about Paris and the responsibility that we as educators have to teach not only content but personal responsibility. It does not matter what a scholar's situation is outside of school, we have 7 hours a day to impact them. If you are still reading this- I hope you feel this same passion to move onto better & best because our scholars deserve it!

Nov. 9, 2015

The November 2015 issue of Science & Children focuses on writing in science.  There are two articles that we will look at in PLCs. One is called MAP IT-THEN WRITE IT which focuses on primary grades.  The 3rd-5th grade article called SCIENCE FOR TWO VOICES shows how to use poetry to reinforce students' understanding by comparing two related concepts.  These cross-curricular connections allow students the opportunity to strengthen their skills when we embed grade level writing expectations with our content.

Nov. 2, 2015

At U-CAN this past week, this great resource was given out to one of your team members.  We spent time going over the well formatted one-page reading strategy ideas.  One thing that I LOVE about this book is that it shows you an example.  Each strategy is cross referenced by levels, skills and genre.  That makes this a great resource for Social Studies and Science as well!  Take a look at the example for younger students but keep in mind there are over 300 strategies in this book. This is a perfect resource so go to when you are trying to differentiate for all levels.  Please take time to examine this resource in your next team meeting.  If you would like time to look through it together, please email me and let's set up a time.

Oct. 26, 2015

WE CAN…IF…

As our first round of Achievement Data meetings ends, I feel teachers battle with two things:

1. How do I help my students academically?

2. How do I address the factors I can’t change?

Let’s look at the first one. “The Why Behind RTI” states that: “Targeted Instruction + Time = Learning

Because learning styles and instructional needs vary from student to student, we must provide each student with targeted instruction—that is, teaching practices designed to meet his or her individual learning needs. We also know that students don't all learn at the same speed. Some will need more time to learn. That is the purpose of RTI—to systematically provide every student with the additional time and support needed to learn at high levels.”

Secondly, I know in my heart that you desire to meet the needs of your students. That becomes overwhelming when you literally think of the INDIVIDUAL needs of the scholars that you cannot change. Eric Jensen states that economically disadvantaged students’ deal with 4 issues:

· Emotional and social challenges.

· Acute and chronic stressors.

· Cognitive lags. (RTI & sound helps address this!)

· Health and safety issues.

Overwhelming not only because of the needs that you cannot address but also because of time constraints. “Kids raised in poverty are more likely to lack—and need—a caring, dependable adult in their lives, and often it's teachers to whom children look for that support.” Students need consistency and dependable relationships in which to succeed.

WE CAN be successful with any student IF we provide these 2 things to our scholars. Please discuss the needs of your students with your team so every scholar feels this dependable, consistent support.

References:

The Why Behind RTI http://goo.gl/YC23

Teaching with Poverty in Mind, by Eric Jensen http://goo.gl/nh0nOY