My Bravo Zulu this week goes to Ms. Andrea Love, our esteemed Counselor for Alternative Programs. Though many helped, Andrea was the key coordinator for Math EOC last week. Her leadership and thoughtful planning allowed our team to give the make-up exam for state math proficiency, which leads to graduation for a number of our students. What makes Andrea’s work in testing so remarkable is her working in an environment of regularly changing state directives and quick district coordination turnarounds. To first identify which of our kids need the test, and to then lay out a plan for administration, and then promulgate a test that is aligned with state and district timelines is a lot of hard work! Andrea goes above and beyond her call of duty as a counselor to ensure all of our students get the chance to demonstrate proficiency for the state and ultimately for their graduation. For many years now, Ms. Love has represented, and continues to demonstrate our universal value of Dedication. I want to publically recognize Ms. Love for her work that frankly, is not recognized often enough. Thank you, Andrea. Bravo Zulu!
Instructional Note: Assessment and Teaching Point
Assessment is a major part of Communicating Teaching Point and the purpose of any lesson. If you are not regularly checking student learning as it progresses through the teaching period, you may be missing the teaching point altogether. Good planning involves multiple formative assessments throughout the lesson to make sure all of your students are “with you” as you carry out instruction.
When watching a class I will look for how you assess your kids and see how it is aligned to your teaching point. Maybe you will ask related, open ended questions that allow students to articulate their learning. Perhaps students will make mini-presentations to the class, or they can talk in small groups while you go around and listen to them.
Formative assessment in the lesson can be as explicit as using white board slates to have students write and display their learning to the teacher as the class moves along. When I taught, this was a favorite method of mine because you could check on all kids in an instant, leaving no one out. I am heartened to see the practice is still used at our CHOICE Academy and at New Start too!
Exit tickets are formative assessments as well, but may not deliver the data a teacher needs until it is too late. Assessing our students along the way, almost minute to minute, in multiple ways is the best way to identify if your teaching is effective for your students throughout the period. It is also the best way to determine if you have actually communicated the Teaching Point and Purpose that you have posted on the wall.
Mid-Year Meetings
Our Mid-year meetings begin this week. I have scheduled a 30-minute discussion with each of you this month. Last fall I strayed from my usual practice of laying out a protocol for these meetings, and it was not as helpful in observations as I had experienced in the past. Therefore, at this mid-year, I hope to re-coup some of our goal setting energy by going back to a printed agenda format for our discussions. So you are not surprised by my line of questioning in our discussion I will share with you the outlay of our chat.
Mid Year Meeting Agenda:
- Celebrations for your work this year
- Review your progress on goals set in the Fall
- Discuss problems to date and support needed
- Talk about the Big Idea(s) of your teaching
- Pre-Observation Discussion:
- Date/Time
- Lesson Plan:
- Teaching Point to look for:
- Assessment to look for:
- Student Talk to look for:
- Teacher Actions to look for:
- Review timeline for observation, observation meeting & evaluation
- Review my expectations for second semester
I look forward to our meeting this month and hope you come prepared to talk about your teaching and planning this year. These meetings are always inspiring to me, and reminding of the most important facet of our work, our teaching and student learning. Looking forward to seeing you soon!
The Week Ahead…
As stated above, our short week ahead kicks off Mid-Year Meetings. I will also share focus with a few of our colleagues to find and select a new “Registrar” to join our team. A true-blue Registrar for Alternative Programs is a long awaited, and much needed, addition to our programming. I am very excited to know our Registrar is soon coming.
I am also excited to announce our latest addition to the Alt Ed Family: Mrs. Ann Carlson. Ann has been around for the last several weeks, and even before the winter break. She has subbed in our Office Attendant position at New Start at Salmon Creek. Ann Carlson’s excellent enthusiasm, smart work, organization and commitment to building positive relations with staff, students, and the community has earned her selection for the position of Office Assistant at New Start. I am very happy to have her aboard. Please make sure and stop by the Alternative Programs Office at Salmon Creek to introduce yourself and welcome Ann to our team.
Friday, January 20, 2012. No PCT this week.
For Teaching Staff, Friday is a contractual “grading day” to be self-directed for the purposes of catching up on grading and planning lessons for next semester. Friday is a non-student day and can be done from home. Teachers are not paid for this day and not required to report to school. However, district and school offices will be open for normal working hours.
My Schedule:
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
MLK Holiday | NS / CH / NS | NS / CH / NS | CH/NS/PSESD/NS | Tukwila SD / NS |
Jan 16 | Jan 17 | Jan 18 | Jan 19 | Jan 20 |
Off | Office Weekly Student Discipline Meeting NS Mid-Year Meetings CH Mid-Year Meetings IEP/Sped Meeting Registrar Tech Screening Results | NS Mid-Year Meetings Re-Entry Meeting Mrs. Power’s Student Photo Exhibits CHOICE PBIS & SOC Meeting Registrar Interviews | CH Mid-Year Meetings NS Brag Day Assembly Regional Dropout Prevention Meeting (Renton) Weekly Meeting W/Ms. Love | Non-Student Day Meeting with Tukwila School District Re: Gateway to College Meeting with NAVOS for intake of new CD/DA Counselor at New Start |
While writing this I am witnessing yet another snowfall on this holiday weekend. If freezing and snow conditions persist through the night there is a good chance of district closure for Snow Days this week. Please keep your Emergency Phone Tree handy, printed at home and in your car. You may monitor district weather conditions and closures at www.schoolreport.org and www.highlineschools.org
Reminder – Snow Days must be made up at the end of the school year so don’t book your summer vacation too closely to the last day of school.
Have a wonderful, wintery week! - Mike
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