A child is like a butterfly in the wind. Some can fly higher than others. But each one flies the best it can. Each one is different. Each one is special. Each one is BEAUTIFUL!
Academic Discourse
Continue to engage your students with structure academic conversation. Read
5 Ways to Make Class Discussions More Exciting There are many strategies in the article that design discussion/academic conversation in a dynamic and exciting way!!!
Goal Setting 101
A goal without a plan is just a wish! Read this
article on how to set short and long term goals with students!
Teach Like A Pirate
Part II
Crafting Engaging Lessons
The Third Circle
Pages 75-82
"A good teacher, like a good entertainer, first must hold his audience's attention. Then he can teach his lesson."
-Hendrik John Clarke
The power of a lesson cannot be maximized without incorporating a masterful presentation. It's like riding a bike with flat tires. You may be doing everything right, but you're working harder than necessary and getting sub-par results. When you have crafted an engaging lesson for your material it is like coasting downhill on a perfectly tuned bicycle with two fully inflated tires. Everything seems easier because the students are drawn into your material as if by some magical or magnetic force.
The Third Circle = Presentation!!!
Teach Like a Pirate Teams
Teach Like A Pirate Teams Flipgrid
https://flipgrid.com/968ad6
Please complete this flipgrid before our February Staff Meeting
No Excuses University
Assessment
Assessment is not about you as a teacher, it is about your students. All of it! Our reason for assessing students has to be grounded in a commitment to use the information in a way that helps us to generate greater success for them. Clearly, this is not an easy job. But the challenging nature of this task should never give educators license to hand out tests, set the timer, collect the tests, grade the tests, post the scores, and do it all over again, and again, and again. Unfortunately, far too many of our colleagues are doing just that. It’s time that we recalibrate our priorities by creating an exceptional system in the area of assessment.
Check out this VIDEO on assessment
Thank you to all of the teachers who are using MAP Skills in their classrooms! The reports are showing great growth already! Keep up the good work!
When you start using Skills, the locator should be administered whole group. Since each student's level will be different and number of questions will fluctuate, you should hold off on goal setting with students until they begin working on Missions (Resources) in order to avoid interruptions! Keep checking the Assignments Page for Assigning more Locators, Missions, and Mastery Checks.
If you need help implementing MAP Skills in your classroom, please schedule a time with AP Guernsey or Shelley Ghannam, ShelleyG@fsusd.org. We can come in to help set up missions for students, assign locators, monitor classes during goal setting conferences and help implement Skills in the classroom!
Symbolism on Campus
Toys for Tots
ASB is hosting Toys for Tots. Students will turn in their toys to their first period class. The classroom that donates the most toys will win a class prize! All toys are DUE by December 20th
Professional Development Compensation
For the 2017-2018 school year, ALL teachers are contractually allowed to earn up to two days (13 hours) of per diem for attending approved professional development. In addition, teachers are able to participate in approved professional development for salary credit.
Upcoming Professional Development
- January 20 - Springboard Writing PD - Argument Writing by Dalal Mansour
- January 27 - Jeff Zwiers Academic Conversations for CMS/GMS
- February 3 - Springboard Writing PD - Informational/Explanatory Writing by Dalal Mansour
- February 20 - Springboard Writing PD - Research-Based Narrative Writing by Dalal Mansour
#FSUSDEdChat
Join us at our next #FSUSDEdChat with Moderator Julie Davis, Induction Consulting Teacher. The topic will be on connecting with challenging students. We highly encourage you to join and learn from one another.
Random Acts of Kindness
Thank you for spreading the love around our campus!
Shout Out
Continue to spread the love with your #kind WORDS!!!
Leave a message for a fellow staff member about the great things you are seeing on campus! Spread the LOVE!!!
KNBR Step up to the Plate Grant recipient!
Check out the photo from last week's Grant reception at AT&T Park with Brandon Crawford and Wells Fargo Bank!
Data Wall Challenge
We encourage you to create a Data Wall for your MAP scores! Data Wall Challenge- submit a photo to Admin by December 20th for a chance to win a prize!
Jennifer Doherty
Music Teacher
Go and #observe the wonderful work she is doing with our music program!!!
Kayla Mikkola
English Teacher
Nickname: Kay
High school: St. Helena High School
Career if not a Educator: Theatre Costume and makeup design
Would like to be on this game show: Deal or no Deal or The Voice
Passion: To empower young people by fostering their ability to use the English language to their benefit and increase independence.
Fun Facts: She is also a commissioned and hobby artist as well as a graphic designer, image stylist and prop stylist.
Micheal Balthazor
Nickname: Mickey
High school: Vanden High School
Career if not a Educator: fishing guide or college baseball or football coach
Would like to be on this game show: no
Passion: fantasy football, fishing, camping
Fun Facts: He had the chance to meet Michael Jordan and shake his hand. He named his youngest two children Jordan and Michael.
- Thanks to all the staff for attending and participating in the December Staff Meeting!
- Thank you Alison, David, Tara, Terry, Donna, Stella, Alice, Michelle, Katelyn, and Adrienne for donating items for the Adopt-a-Family 2017.
- Sue, you have transitioned seamlessly into our office staff! Thank you for all you do!
- Thank you Stella for collecting toys for Toys For Tots!
- Thank you Angel, Alice and Maggie for collecting money for gifts for Greg and visiting him! We appreciate all you do!
- Thank you Marielle for working until late in the evening to complete reports and SSTs! We appreciate all of your efforts and long hours!
- Wahoo!!! Sunshine committee is awesome! Thank you for organizing and coordinating everything we do around here!
- Way to go, Basketball coaches on your first game of the season!
- That Winter Performance was AMAZING!!! Thank you, Jennifer Doherty for making music come to life for our students!
- December 1 - 20 - Toys for Tots
- December 12 - Department Chair Meeting
- December 14 - Basketball @ Grange
- December 19 - Department Meeting
- December 21 - Teacher Work Day
- December 22 - January 5 - Winter Break
- Sorensen 1
- Abbott-Grotrian 6
- Mikkola 6
- Morales 19
- Mulvihill 29
- Lewis 30
- Balthazor 31
Fun with APs
