Monday Points: January 7, 2013

Monday Points

January 7, 2013

Well, Happy New Year. Didn’t that happen fast? We’ve had three days back in class now, and we proceed into regular schools weeks for the year. I hope your break was joyful, and restful, for 2013 has us now. Welcome back!

Celebration Points:

Thanks all who came to our Alternative Ed Holiday Party. That was quite a celebration. I hope to see the rest of you at our Almost Summer party in June. For this month though, I want to celebrate some quick turn arounds by staff to make End of Course testing happen for so many kids. It is rare that school resumes immediately after New Year’s Day, and more so for EOC Make Up Testing to happen the immediate next week (this week). This means being light on our toes and quick thinking to step up as a team for testing our students to meet graduation requirements. At New Start, CHOICE, HIPP, Gateway and Career Link, I know you have been moving fast to make this important assessment happen at your site. Lead coordination from counseling and support from our office staff have been crucial as we all are still shaking off the holiday cheer! Testing is this week, training today, and beginning tomorrow. Congratulations to all those who have shown leadership and jumped in to make EOC retakes happen!

Instructional Point:

In the critical attributes we find descriptive language of different levels of performance for each domain and component in Charlotte Danielson. For example in 2C we find the Component of Managing Classroom Procedures. Critical attributes at the Proficient level can be:

·         The students are productively engaged during small group work

·         Transitions between large and small group activities are smooth

·         Routines for distribution are and collections of materials and supplies work efficiently

·         Classroom Routines function smoothly

Distinguished attributes are all the above, but may also include:

·         Students taking time with their classmates to ensure that their time is used productively

·         Students, themselves, ensure that transitions and other routines are accomplished smoothly

·         Students take initiative in distributing and collecting materials efficiently.

My question for you this week is, when looking at the Critical Attributes of 2C, what is the “distinguishing factor” that raises teacher performance to the level of Distinguished? What are the words and behaviors that are nuanced to mark a teacher’s performance as “Distinguished” in these observable critical attributes?

Data Points:

Just before the break we received our SET score for PBIS at New Start. PBIS Team, and New Start received a resounding pass with 97%. Nearly four years of implementation of PBIS has put our Alternative Programs in the group of leading implementers of our district. Below is how we scored in vital indicators for PBIS Implementation compared to last year. Can you identify (from briefly looking at this data) where we still have room to improve?

Professional Growth Points:

Pedagogy of Confidence: I mentioned this in December, but want to remind that our next Book Study on Pedagogy of Confidence will be PCT March 8^th.  Please have read Chapters 4, 5 and 6. This is “the meat” of the book moving from understanding (The Belief) to what we do (The Practice) of our shift in approach to teaching in a strength based mode.

As we move into Mid-year meetings this month I will be inquiring about Teachscape and your work toward the instructional goals you have set out since the fall. You have each been observed in practice and received notes from me related to the Charlotte Danielson domains you have identified to work on in your practice. I am looking forward to our discussions this month. Also, I’d like to remind you that the next Charlotte Danielson PCT is February 1.

PCT Point: January 11, 2013: our first PCT of 2013, will be a self-directed “Team Time” collaboration or “District Job Alike” as you choose or may have available to you. You choose who you collaborate with. Have a good PCT with your data teams or district colleague Job Alikes!

Mike’s Schedule:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Jan 7	Jan 8	Jan 9	Jan 10	Jan 11
New Start EOC Proctor Training Student Meeting In Classrooms Professional Growth Planning Team Meeting	Supervise EOC Testing Mid Year Meetings District Science Meeting In Classrooms District ALE Meeting New Start Staff Meeting	HEA Update Supervise EOC Testing Approve COE Online Submissions New Start Fire Drill In Classrooms Student Enrichment Team Meeting Counselor Meeting School Board Meeting Marvista CHOICE Presentation	District Administrative Forum. (All day at ERAC)	Mid Year Meetings Weekly Office Admin Meeting CHOICE SLC Prep Meetings Mid Year Meetings and PCT Meetings

As we jump into our first full week, I want to wish all of us again a happy and productive new year serving our students in thier growth, development and learning. Our kids have a big full week back too! EOC testing, and COE Submissions are this week. New Start, we have a staff meeting Tuesday. We will be visited by the Oral Histories Project who will share information with us about our students they found in their work last year. I look forward to January, and 2013, as we charge ahead through this exciting school year. Have a good week!

Mike