Monday, April 25

Today's Content:

• Tier 1 Priorities:  Vocabulary Ladders

• Shifting Culture: Falcon Way Update

• Reminders:  Falcon Walks & "Believe" Challenge

• Newsworthy:  Mickie Siek in FW Star-Telegram

Falcon Focus: Vocabulary Ladders

All content areas are focusing on vocabulary; this is no surprise.  So when two of our teachers stumble on the same vocabulary strategy and are singing its praises, it needs to be shared with all.  

Both Lindsey Cato and Jonie Dodson are working their way through the TAGT On Demand training, and have learned a new vocab strategy  - vocabulary ladders.  Within this application strategy, there are multiple options for students to process their learning.

Lindsey's class explained the connect of each new word to the original.

Lindsey Cato had her students identify a key academic word on the highest rung.  Then, they selected one letter from the original word and came up with related words for the lower rungs.

Afterwards, her students used the right side of the ladder to explain the connections of the new words to the original word.


Jonie Dodson's students used the same graphic organizer but worked with the vocab a little differently.  Starting with the key word, students pulled a letter from each subsequent word to come up with the new related words.  At the end, she had them write a summary that connected all of the terms together.

Jonie's class used the vocab ladder to write a summary.

Falcon Focus: Falcon Way Update

This weekend I sent out the Padlet with the notes from last week's teacher meeting.  However, I wanted to share with you the feedback we've collected from students so far.

Click on the slide to see the guidelines for discussion.

Students were asked for their opinions on how to live the CORE values on campus and improve campus culture overall.  Their responses are listed below.

Falcon Focus: Falcon Walks & "Believe" Challenge

Just a quick reminder of a couple of campus initiatives for the end of the year:

First - the Falcon Learning Walks, our structure for informal peer observation.  As we discussed on Friday, April 1st, the purpose is to provide teachers with self-determined, collaborative professional development.  You identify the type of observation that will best help you and your students, and then make it happen.

Before visiting a class, review our Learning Walk Protocols:

• Intentionally plan your observations.
• Walk in with a growth mindset.
• Observe for a minimum of 15 minutes.
• Remember to be an observer and not a participant in the lesson.
• Complete the Falcon Reflection Form to let your Academic Coach know if you need any assistance.

You may review the Learning Walk handout for a more detailed refresher.  A few teachers have already completed their walks, and they were able to absorb great ideas to implement in their own classes.  Be sure to go for a walk now, while there are still a few weeks to try out something new.

Second - the "Believe" Challenge, your opportunity to reflect a student you really believe in.  The goal here is simply to let our students know just how much we do believe in them, their dreams, and their future.  If you would like to film the conversation, I am happy to assist.  Either way, please send me your names.  Let's share the love with our students! <3

Falcon Focus: Star-Telegram

As a result of their selection into the Mount Vernon trip, Mickie Siek and Watauga Middle's Elizabeth Cumbie were featured in the Star-Telegram last Friday.  The article highlights a lot of our 8th graders talking about the Constitution; there are some fantastic quotes!  Check out the article by clicking on the link below.

Click the image to go to the article in the FW Star-Telegram.

If have any questions or would like some help implementing these or other strategies, please let me know.  And remember...

It's a great day to be a Falcon!

Monday, April 18

Today's Content:

• Shifting Culture: Defining the Falcon Way 

• Tier 1 Priorities:  Using Data to Drive Instruction

• Digital Learning:  #CelebrateMonday

Falcon Focus: Defining 
The Falcon Way

As we near the end of the school year, we have only about 42 more weeks in this school.  With the new building right around the corner (ha, ha), we have a unique and significant opportunity to define and establish a united, positive campus culture rooted in learning for students, teachers, staff, admin -- and the community at large. This new culture is called The Falcon Way.

All faculty and staff are invited to help develop this new way that we are building for our students and our community.  If you missed last week's meeting, the presentation is listed below.  Basically, it covers the following topics:

• Mindset - How are we approaching this culture shift?  How can participants contribute to the process most successfully?
• The foundation of the project - culture change via bringing the CORE values to life = The Falcon Way
• Vehicles of change that have been identified, including weekly advisory period and BOY orientation for all students
• Opening the discussion to move forward 

To view the full presentation, simply click on the slides below.  Meeting discussion was recorded on Padlet (also, see below).

Click on the slides to see the PPT

Click on the image to see the Padlet

If you did not make it to the April 14th meeting, you are still welcome to attend any and all future meetings. We recognize that attending five Thursdays in a row is very difficult; just come when you can to be part of the conversation.  This Thursday, we will be discussing teacher support during our culture growth.  All upcoming meetings are listed below.

 Falcon Focus: Using Data to Drive Instruction

8th grade science is gearing up for the STAAR test, and they are using data to do it.  Last week, students took the 2015 released test.   Using "Par for the STAAR", students then analyzed their own results and identified areas of strength and weakness.

Robin Asaff and Lee Wagstaff are able to target specific TEKS in class that affect the majority of students, and kids are able to decide which reporting category-focused STAAR tutorials they should attend.  Furthermore,  Karen Sanchez is also pitching in, creating Reporting Category-specific workstations and assisting in 8th grade classes.  Thanks to this collaborative effort, students are able to guide their own STAAR instruction, and own their learning.  Our 8th graders will be well prepared this spring!

'Par for the STAAR'

Robin works with students in data analysis

Students work collaboratively to identify strengths and weaknesses

 Falcon Focus: #CelebrateMonday

Finally, each week is another opportunity to identify the greatness in our students, our classes, and our school.

Let's find those fabulous school moments and celebrate them.  Post pics and comments of the great things going on here at NRMS using #CelebrateMonday and #nrms2015 to share our awesomeness with the world!

If have any questions or would like some help implementing these or other strategies, please let me know.  And remember...

It's a great day to be a Falcon!

Monday, April 11

Today's Content:

• Professional Development: Falcon Learning Walks

• Tier 1 Priorities:  Workshop Model/Chunk & Chew

• Digital Learning:  Telling Your Story on Social Media - #LoveMySchoolDay

Falcon Focus: Falcon Learning Walks

In education, we are always striving to learn more, do more, be better teachers for our students.  But sometimes when we hear about an enlightened philosophy, a "breakthrough" strategy, or a new technology, we think, "That sure sounds good...but how would that work in my classroom?" Sometimes, we have to see something in action to really wrap our minds around it.

As a result, many teachers have asked for the opportunity to see how some of our priorities and focus areas work in the real world.  So enter the Falcon Learning Walks, our structure for informal peer observation.  As we discussed on Friday, April 1st, the purpose is to provide teachers with self-determined, collaborative professional development.  You identify the type of observation that will best help you and your students, and then make it happen.  We've outlined 4 simple steps:

• Determine your focus - Which instructional or management areas will help you and your students the most?  Who can help you gain new perspective on this?

• Request an observation - Check with the teacher before you visit.

• Document your observation - Take notes and mindful of the students; how does what they're doing impact their learning?

• Reflect - What does what you saw mean for you and your classroom?

Furthermore, we talked about our Learning Walk Protocols:

• Intentionally plan your observations.
• Walk in with a growth mindset.
• Observe for a minimum of 15 minutes.
• Remember to be an observer and not a participant in the lesson.
• Complete the Falcon Reflection Form to let your Academic Coach know if you need any assistance.

You can also review the Learning Walk handout.

Falcon Focus: Workshop Model/Chunk & Chew

For students to truly own their learning, they need time to process the information.  Kathleen Kryza calls this the "chunk" and "chew" of learning: "For every 10 minutes you teach something new, the brain needs 1 to 2 minutes to chew."  So, new information = chunk, process time = chew.  This fits right along with the workshop model, a major component of our tier 1 priorities.

In Samantha Taylor's math classes, chunk and chew time is built into every activity.  First, she chunks the concept to be learned into smaller, more manageable bits of information.  In a probability lesson last week, Samantha introduced the concept using the "Falcon Downs" - a horse race simulation using dice.

You can see in the video below how the students transition from chunk time as a whole class (learning about many possible outcomes of the horse race) to individual chew time (the opportunity for students to process and think about that new concept).

A way to build in collaborative "chew" time is with classroom discussions.   Samantha uses strategies like Turn and Talk and Stand Up-Hand Up-Pair Up to encourage the students to "chew" on their learning with their peers, and further refine their understanding.

Stand Up - Hand Up - Pair Up

"Chewing" through Collaborative Discussion

 Because this is part of the everyday process, students expect that they will be thinking about math, writing about math, and talking about math with their peers.


Falcon Focus: Tell Your Story

Want a chance to tell the story of your classroom?  This Monday is Love My School Day - the perfect opportunity to start using social media for that very purpose.

Use your Twitter account to showcase great things going on with your students.  Be sure to use the appropriate hashtags - and there are lots!

#LoveMySchoolDay
#CelebrateMonday
#nrms2015
#bisddlp
#BISDShines

You can also follow me @maryterry2015 !

If have any questions or would like some help implementing these or other strategies, please let me know.  And remember...

It's a great day to be a Falcon!

Friday, April 1

Today's Content:

• Building Community: NRMS "Believe" Challenge

• Tier 1 Priorities:  Workshop Model

• Digital Learning:  Quizizz

  
Falcon Focus: Building Community

Now that STAAR, Round 1 is behind us, it is a great time to think about the Believe Challenge.  Some teachers have already started, and I wanted to share one of the conversations.  It may help you get some ideas if you're unsure of how to start, or are thinking the conversation feels awkward.  It is a little awkward - but so worth it!

Filming the conversation is completely optional; a video simply serves as a record of our conversations, a reminder of our impact.  (The video is NOT going to be shared with students.)  Think about what type of conversation is best for you and your student(s).

That said, when I contacted this student's mom to ask permission to share this video, the first thing she wanted to do was to see was the video because she was so honored and proud of her son.  The pride and joy in her voice was incredible; so much so that I felt like I stole a moment away from Mrs. Maupin.  Going forward, I'm going to ask teachers to make the phone calls.

Falcon Focus: Tier 1 Priorities

Workshop Model is an instructional area of focus in almost all of the core content areas.  This week after rocking the STAAR test, 8th grade students in ELAR classes engaged in a workshop lesson over parts of speech.

The workshop model consists of 3 main components: the mini-lesson, student work time, and a debrief.

Mini-lesson - First the 8th Grade ELAR teachers used a Prezi to review basic parts of speech with students.  (Want to see the Prezi?  Click below.)

Student Work Time - After the mini-lesson, students then participated in different sentence analysis activities, manipulating sentence strips with various words and phrases.

Debrief - To close, students were asked a debrief question, which had also served as the essential question to get the activity started.

So why sentence structure immediately after STAAR?  The timing of the content was intentionally planned.  Next week, students will be starting research projects, and the first step is to develop a thoughtful, well-crafted, and structurally correct thesis statement.

Falcon Focus: Tech Formative Assessment

7th Grade Writing recently tried out a new formative assessment tool called Quizizz.  If you're ready for a break from that catchy Kahoot music, you may want to try this.  Quizizz features include randomized question order, the ability for students to self-pace, individualized & funny icons for each student, and downloadable results for the teacher.  Hooray for easy grading!

As the students take their quiz, they can see where they "rank" among their classmates; notice the "whoo-hoos" at the beginning of the video.

To get started on Quizizz, visit their website @ http://quizizz.com/
or click on the image to the right to get a tutorial.

If have any questions or would like some help implementing these or other strategies, please let me know.  And remember...

It's a great day to be a Falcon!