Crown Point Junior Music Academy

Monday Morning Memo

1/8/18-1/12/18

Thank you for posting your schedules and referring to them.  If you are not sure of the specificity to support your students below are more samples.  Please ensure that you post every day with a brief focus for each content area.

When we think of high expectations for students (DOK 3, 4) I appreciate teachers pushing our students on a regular basis.  Below are some upper-grade students working on argument/opinion writing pieces.

Instructional Focus-  

As I observe and give feedback,  I will refer to your weekly general calendar, so please ensure that it is updated.  I will also be referring to the Critical Concepts and the proficiency scales and look for the attributes in the instruction and the tasks you set up during your lessons.

PBS/Character Counts-

• We will be focusing on playground and cafeteria for PBS expectations and lessons.
• For our Character Counts Program the focus will be kindness
• Here is the link to the schedule and some resources for the PBS/Character Counts Program.
• Here is the link to the Google Drive Shared Folder with the lessons for PBS.  Please ensure that you are teaching those lessons and having conversations/discussions with your students on a regular basis.

Clear Common Expectations-

As requested, more clear expectations have been created for the entire school.  I have personally hand delivered each teacher the Voice Levels and Speed Levels signs.  Please post them clearly on a wall in your classroom and have continuous reminders and discussions about what they mean.  I will have other voice and speed signs strategically posted around the school as well.

Summary of Learning-

As we move forward here is a look back on our PLC/PDs as we strive to become a Highly Reliable School.  Below are the areas of a Highly Reliable School that we are working to put in place.

• Safe and collaborative Culture within the school
• Effective teaching in every classroom
• Guaranteed and viable curriculum in every grade level

This is marked by the professional development from late August until December.  The PD support has been based on the priority survey you completed before school started. 

• Learning what a PLC is and setting up the structure
• Constantly reviewing data
• Creating Data goals with DRA and SBAC
• Learning what the Critical Concepts are
• Backwards mapping the Critical Concepts
• Unpacking the Critical Concepts

Based on your input looking forward, we will learn more about.....

• Common Formative Assessments
• Focus students and data walls
• Balanced LiteracyRunning Records
• Guided Reading

Important Upcoming Dates:

W 1/10- Attendance assemblies-K-2nd 8:00-8:30, 3rd-5th 8:45-9:15

W 1/10-PLC room 9 @ 1:00-3:00

W 1/11-Mobile Dairy Assembly K-2nd grade 8:00-8:45, 3rd-5th 8:45-9:30

Tu 1/16- ILT full day release-formative assessments

W 1/17- Certificated prep

Th 1/18- K/1 formative assessment 1/2 release

F 1/19-5th grade walking field trip to PBM

Tu 1/23-  2/3 and 4/5 grade formative assessment 1/2 day release

W 1/24- PLC room 9 @ 1:00-3:00

Recess Duty-

Group A

Crown Point Junior Music Academy

Monday Morning Memo

1/3/18-1/5/18

Short Week (3 days)

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I look forward to seeing all staff and students returning from break.  

Important Dates:

Wednesday, 1/3/17 (10:00ish until the end of the day)

• As discussed before the break, our first day back will be filled with arts and crafts from 10:00ish until the rest of the day as we celebrate our Happy New Year Celebration with our students.
• PTO will be dropping off some treats to all the classrooms from that time until the end of the day.
• Please utilize the time from 10:00- the end of the day for New Year/Winter arts and crafts.
• As a reminder, this is not a time to pop in a movie and have free time.  Please plan accordingly for extended arts and crafts.

Wednesday 1/3/18 (1:00-3:00) 

• Certificated Prep Time
• PTO Meeting room 9

Recess Schedule- Group D

Enjoy the short week!!!

Crown Point Junior Music Academy

Monday Morning Memo

12/11-12/15

Instructional Focus-

As we all staff have finished the beginnings of unpacking the standards I appreciate everybody working through your cognitive dissonance to better understand the Critical Concepts and the Proficiency Scales.  In order to give you the best feedback on instruction, I will refer to the Critical Concepts and the Proficiency Scales to during our discussions. Please be prepared to share your understanding of unpacking of the standards in our discussions as well.

I appreciate the active conferring with students as they independently read.  This practice is the perfect opportunity for students to apply what they have learned at their independent reading level. 

 There is a lot of great work in pushing students to write at the lower grade levels.  Keep pushing our students!!! They can do it.

 Teacher created formative assessments are a great way to align the expectations of the Critical Concepts and the Proficiency Scales that you have been unpacking.  We will dig deeper into creating formative assessments when we get back from break.

Equally important as formative assessments aligned with the Critical Concepts is the corrective feedback is given to your students as seen here in this picture.

Some teachers have asked for some samples of what your posted daily schedule can look like.  This is a sample that gives a brief statement of what will be taught on any given day.  

PBS Character Counts- December

• ·       Please remember to teach our lessons based on the monthly focus
• ·       Focus on Running Club and Auditorium/Bus and Field Trips
• ·       Character trait focus on Generosity
• ·       Link to PBS Public Shared Folder

Weekly Schedules-

• ·       Please refer to my email updating your weekly schedule.
• ·       I will be utilizing them when I get back from break for classroom observations.

Important Dates-

Tuesday, 12/12/17

• ·       Western BBQ-During your scheduled lunchtime
• ·       Area Superintendent visit after lunch

Wednesday, 12/13/17

• ·       PLC room 9 @ 1:00
• ·       Holiday Party at Heather Jesse’s house-please sign waiver before you leave to her house.  Cathy has it.

Thursday, 12/14/17

• ·       Violin/Choir/Recorder Winter Performance @ 9:00 in the auditorium
• ·       SSC Meeting @ 2:30 in room 9

Friday 12/15/17

• ·       Holiday Sing-along @ 8:00 in the auditorium

Recess Duty-

Group C

Crown Point Junior Music Academy

Monday Morning Memo

12/4-12/8

I'd like to say thank you to ILT for starting the process of unpacking the Critical Concepts.  This process is critical to truly understanding what students need to know and be able to do.  When all staff is released this week, you will continue this process with your colleagues.  

Instructional Focus-

As I observe instruction, I have had discussions with staff about differentiation of instruction.  This can only be done if we also implement common assessments and we truly know where our students are.  Please be prepared to have discussions about how formative assessments have influenced your differentiation of instruction.

PBS Character Counts- December

• Please remember to teach our lessons based on the monthly focus
• Focus on Running Club and Auditorium/Bus and Field Trips
• Character trait focus on Generosity
• Link to PBS Public Shared Folder

Important Dates-

Tuesday, 12/5- 

• Release for unpacking the standards
• 1/2 day release (am and pm) total of 4 subs

• AM
• Bennett (TK/K)
• Mai (K)
• Modiano (TK/K)
• Sanchez (K/1)
• PM
• Duncan (2nd)
• Tran (2nd)
• Sor (3rd)
• Nichols (3rd)

Wednesday, 12/6-

·       Character Counts/Academic Awards

o   K-2 @ 8:00 in auditorium

o   3-6 @ 9:15 in auditorium

·       Minimum Day-Certificated Prep 1:00-3:00 pm

Friday, 12/8-

• ·       PB Middle School Concert @ 10:30 in the auditorium

•  1/2 day release (am and pm) total of 4 subs
• AM
• Rhoades (4th)
• Jessee (4th)
• Macker (1st)
• Love (1st)
• PM
• Champion (5th)\
• Zittle (5th)
• Macker (1st)
• Love (1st)

Saturday, 12/9

·       PB Holiday Parade

Recess Duty-

Group B

Crown Point Junior Music Academy

Monday Morning Memo

11/27-12/1

Welcome back!  I hope everybody had a restful Thanksgiving Break.  I look forward to seeing our students working above and beyond our own expectations.  Remember we will never know what they actually can do unless we push our students within their zone of proximal development.  As I observe instruction, I have had discussions with staff about differentiation of instruction.  This can only be done if we also implement common assessments and we truly know where our students are.  Please be prepared to have discussions about how formative assessments have influenced your differentiation of instruction.

PBS Character Counts- November

• Please remember to teach our lessons based on the monthly focus
• Focus on Hallway and Office Expectations
• Character trait focus on gratitude
• Link to PBS folder containing expectations lessons and year-long calendar

Recess Duty-

Group A

Important Dates-

• Tuesday, 11/28 picture retakes
• Wednesday, 11/29 Schoolwide PLC in room 9 @ 1:00
• Friday, 12/1 PTO Movie Night @ 5:00 pm
• FYI- I am trying to set up an ILT release for the end of the week and release for teachers the following week to work more on common assessments aligned with the Critical Concepts

Crown Point Junior Music Academy

Monday Morning Memo

11/13/17-11/17/17

As we move forward in November, I am noticing more small group instruction to support students with a variety of needs.  I appreciate the use of data to inform your instruction with your students.  I also appreciate how you have implemented the strategies of annotating the text and note-taking.  

Instructional Focus-

This week I will continue to observe instruction with the lens of student engagement.  When you are teaching consider the opportunities for students to show overt evidence that they are engaged (talking, writing…..). Are students asked to collaborate with a strategic partner direct instruction?  Are students annotating or taking notes when they are reading?   Do you direct students to collaborate on a task you have given them?

PBS Character Counts-November

• Please remember to teach our lessons based on the monthly focus
• Focus on Hallway and Office Expectations
• Character trait focus on gratitude
• Link to PBS folder containing expectations lessons and year-long calendar

Recess Duty-

Group D

Upcoming Important Dates

11/13-11/17 Conferences and book fair all week

11/15 Certificated PREP

11/20-11/24

Thanksgiving Vacation

Crown Point Junior Music Academy

Monday Morning Memo

11/6-11/10

I appreciate staff utilizing data to support decisions in guided reading groups.  As you continue your Guided Reading Groups, it is critical to continue to utilize data to inform your instruction.

 ILT-Thank you for working so diligently during our release this week.  As you continue your planning based on the Critical Concepts, please continue to utilize the proficiency scales to calibrate your expectations, tasks, and formative assessments.

The Continuum of Literacy Learning-

When reviewing our stock in The Continuum for Learning Literacy, the Instructional Media Center shows that all staff received a copy 2-3 years ago.  Unless you are new to Crown Point this year, we will not be getting copies from the IMC.  I am asking that you take a deeper look in your professional library in your classroom or at home to see if you have a copy.  This book is critical for running your Guided Reading groups.  I appreciate your efforts, it is a very expensive book.  I will also have Jesse check our stock again.

Instructional Focus-

This week I will observe instruction with the lens of student engagement.  When you are teaching consider the opportunities for students to show overt evidence that they are engaged (talking, writing…..). Are students asked to collaborate with a strategic partner direct instruction?  Are students annotating or taking notes when they are reading?   Do you direct students to collaborate on a task you have given them? 

PE-

One final reminder.  Your schedule will need to reflect 200 minutes every two weeks or 100 minutes every week.  If you are having PLAY PE part of your minutes, you will need to be instructing with the PLAY PE staff (co-teaching).

Recess Duty-

Group C

Upcoming Important Dates

11/6-11/10-Tra-Viecia prints report cards this week

11/7 Classics for Kids Concert at Balboa Theatre (see master calendar), staff meeting 2:30-3:30 in room 9

11/8  PLC

11/9 Classics for Kids Concert at Balboa Theatre (see master calendar)

11/10 Veteran's Day- Holiday

11/13-11/17 Conferences all week

11/15 Certificated PREP

11/20-11/24

Thanksgiving Vacation