Saturday, January 14, 2017

Who Doesn't Love a Three Day Weekend. . .




Week of:  January 16th-20th, 2017

Teacher Appreciation Week! Jeans All Week in Appreciation, Sweats 2 Days!

Monday- Holiday!

Tuesday - Wear Jeans/Sweats 
Training Watson App - Library - 3:15 (2 Flex Hours)

Wednesday - Jeans with Sports Team shirt or TCE shirt
Data Team Meets with Kinder, 1st, 2nd - During Conference Times - Kristan's Room

Thursday -  Jeans Day!
Angie, Brett Out - T-STEM Conference, Kelly Out (Training)

Friday -  Jeans/Sweats Day!
Texan Town
Angie, Brett, Kelly Out - T-STEM Conference


Important Reminders

Treats for After School Tuesday
Since we will have our training for the Watson app on Tuesday, I thought we might want to have a few treats.  I will make a couple of sweet treats, but if anyone wants to help bring a little something as well that would be great. . . food always makes training better! 

Book Study - Innovator's Mindset
 I'm going to give a little extension to reading the final part of our 1st book study.  Please remember to have the last part of the book read by the following:  Read pages 122-229 by our February 1st faculty meeting.

Curriculum Writers
If you are interested in writing curriculum, please email me to let me know as soon as possible, so I can contact the district with your name! - Angie

Curriculum and Instruction Directors are seeking elementary educators to serve on curriculum writing teams. So that you might better address the questions educators might have, the curriculum department thought they would share some information with you about the writing moving forward.
When will the writing take place? Some writing might occur during the remainder of the school year and would require substitutes, which will be covered by C&I. Our goal would be to do this on a limited basis as we understand the importance of educators being with our learners. 
When will summer writing take place and/or what would be the obligation of writers? Most content areas are anticipating writing to happen during the first two weeks of June. While there may be additional days needed later in the summer, we would work with educators and their availability.
Who can be writers? Any educator is eligible to be a writer. We are looking for educators that are well versed in current pedagogy as well as a strong work ethic. We do understand that some excellent educators are successful in the classroom but may not be able to explain their craft to others and because of this might not be appropriate for this position.
Will all educators be chosen? Not necessarily, most directors are looking for approximately 3 educators per grade level team in each content. i.e. 3 for Kinder Math, 3 for Kinder Science, etc... Directors will work together to make sure that campuses have representation in each subject area. In addition, we are also asking campus principals to consider educators that support specific student populations, that is, consider recommending a GTi specialist, an ESL facilitator, or SpEd educator. Likewise, consider educators that may not have a title like these, but have outstanding ideas and follow through in supporting learners in certain student populations.
Do you have some writers already in mind? Yes, some of the directors have sought input from educators regarding interest and they will share that information with individual principals following before we finalize the lists. Please provide them (or me) with feedback as to whether or not these individuals would be ideal candidates for the position.
What is our timeline? Directors would like to have input by January 27. Their goal is to have teams selected by the first week in February so that they can work with these teams to help prepare for our February 20th professional learning day. The current plan is to have these educators lead teams of teachers in completing the work that was begun on January 3 during the elementary learning time. The plan for this day is to utilize, for the most part, the educators that met with the content directors on January 3. Directors would like to continue the curriculum discussion with these educators and engage in collaboration and input to help continue the curriculum journey.
Will educators be paid? Yes, those that write in the summer will be compensated. The current rate is $25.00 an hour and as of now we are anticipating approximately around 40 hours or so of writing, Monday through Thursday across two weeks in the summer.
Will writing assessments occur at the same time? Some assessment writing may occur during the initial curriculum writing phase but we are also reserving time in late July to focus on the assessments. Educators adept at writing quality assessments are encouraged to participate in these days. We anticipate this taking 3 to 4 days.
From the Desk of BS….volume 17

#FinishThisFight

The time has come for the Dallas Cowboys to take what they have done this season and put it to the test in the playoffs.  This Sunday, the Green Bay Packers come to AT & T Stadium for the divisional round of the playoffs.  Their quarterback, Aaron Rogers, is playing some of the best football of his career and he has a Super Bowl ring as well. 

Each player has a story and the Cowboys have been releasing #finishthisfight videos to highlight team members leading up to the game.  These videos tell a story, a story of adversity, trials, and perseverance. This theme, #finishthisfight, has been a mindset for them all year long.  No matter the difficulty, they are going to fight every practice, every game.  This is a mindset that has spread throughout the entire organization, and on Sunday, the fight continues through hopefully a historic Super Bowl run. 

Click on the video links below to see some of my favorite #finishthisfight videos from the series:



With the return from the winter break we get all the “feels” of seeing our students back and enjoying the wonderful tales from their two week adventures.  It’s so great to see the smiling faces again and hear them get excited about being back at school.  It also has us returning and realizing that it’s time to finish.  We have a goal in mind for our learners to be the best, and we have to FIGHT each and every day to make sure we are giving all we have to impact their learning.  So as we progress through the spring, keep in mind that we are here to #finishthisfight, and do what’s best for our learners each and every day. 

Thanks again for all you do, fighting each day for the success of your learners,

BS

Shout Outs!
TCE Staff,
Thank you so much for sharing your writing samples/thoughts with writing across the campus and helping us as we strengthen our strategies to help our kiddos be even more successful!  Your open mindedness, growth mindsets and ways in which you reflect on your practice as educators make you all exceptional in what you do with lesson design and learning! - Angie

TCE Data Team (Brett, Kelly, Kristan, Lisa, and Candace), Thank you so much for truly digging into the data we have so far for our 3rd-5th grade learners this year!  I appreciate the hours of pulling everything together, reviewing each learner and their specific needs as we make plans as a campus to ensure all our learners are showing growth academically and socially! - Angie

3rd, 4th and 5th grade educators,
Thank you for taking the time to meet with our data team and reflect on what all you are doing each day to help your kiddos!  I am constantly amazed at how you are incorporating so many creative and innovative ideas into your lessons and appreciate you analyzing and reflecting on what strategies work best for each learner! - Angie

Kylen, I have loved seeing the way you interact with the kiddos! You are always smiling and have jumped right in working so hard!

Rachel, You are SUCH a superstar! Your incredible attitude and work ethic is awesome! You impress me everyday with your thorough data gathering and attention to detail! SO glad you are at TCE! Love, Mary

Beth Reynolds,  Thank you for all you are doing for our kids and for going above and beyond to continue helping with lessons incorporating our TCE garden!

Meredith, Thank you for always being SO flexible with scheduling. When you said, "Mary, do what you have to do with your schedule, I can work around it..." I was blown away! Your flexibility allowed me to keep having a lunch as I add kids to my schedule! I appreciate you! Love, Mary

Kylen, You are incredible! You've jumped in with both feet and are already making such a difference in the lives of our learners and staff. TCE is so blessed to have you!! We love you! Love, Mary

Thank you to my amazing 4th grade team for helping out Monica Panda and my kiddos while I was gone last week! I appreciate everything y'all did to help make it a great week for them and I can't wait to see y'all and make it up to you! Love, Renee

Julie, thank you for keeping me on track and for always having great lesson design ideas! I will forever be thankful that you are back at TCE!!! Lori

Thank you, Kristan, for letting some of my learners make up their practice tests with you in you're room. I appreciate your help. –Katie

Tina, Thank you for organizing the snowman challenge! Can't wait to see the creative ideas our Texans bring in!   BS

4th Grade,  Thank you for bringing the joy with you to our duty in the mornings! You definitely make the days of our learners with your positivity! And it's great not being the only one out there and having someone to talk to!   BS

Beth Dilley,  Thank you for being a great thought partner with me this week! I can't wait to see the outcome and let me know if you need any help!   BS

Kylen,  Thank you so much for working so hard with our 5th graders! You go above and beyond to make sure they are successful in the classroom. They are very lucky to have you as a teacher! Kate

Lauren, Lori and Kim, Thank you for helping to be our TCE mechanics and going so far as to jump start cars as needed in the loop!  - Angie





January Birthdays
Lisa Hansen - 18th
Lisa Laughlin - 21st
Kim Becker - 23rd

Capturing Learning with Pictures
 Here are a few images from classrooms and learning around the school.  






















Final Quotes for the Week
As we are reflecting on our practices as educators and having learners look at their specific growth. . .I thought these were a few good quotes looking at accountability and life.





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