Ms. Welch, CST
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Week of 9.8.15

9/12/2015

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Writing & Twitter

From Kelly Webb FCS Humanities Specialist for the Central Learning Community:
We will be conducting our first Fulton County Writing Workshop Twitter Chat in October (dates to be determined) on the Units of Study.  We would like to conduct this in grade level bands:  K-1, 2-3, and 4-5 around the narrative writing genre/unit from Units of Study.  I want to personally invite each of you to take an active role in this chat and recruit some of your colleagues.  I will be sending more details soon.  Please see the slide below that explains a little more about the format of how chats work.  

Erin Streck, Heather Alterman and I participated in the #tcrwp (Teacher's College) chat this past Wednesday. It was a great forum to gather and share ideas. I hope to see you all next Wednesday night at 7:30 for the #tcrwp chat!
Be sure to tag Twitter posts/pictures of your writing workshop work with #writingworkshop.
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Classroom Management/Community

#teachsmall
What is teaching small? #teachsmall celebrates all the small things- high fives, messages, enouragement. It is taking time to make a connection with your students. It is involving students in the choice of how they want to learn and then show that learning. It is showing students you care about them as a person. How do you #teachsmall? 

Differentiation-Some Things to Ponder

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Get Techknow

Green (or blue) Screen
What is Green Screen? Watch this DoInk video to find out. How could your students use of this tool increase rigor and change student learning product outcomes?
Greenscreen Apps:
Do Ink - $2.99
Veescope - Free

Science Olympiad Applications are Here!

Science Olympiad applications are in your box. You can't miss them, they are bright goldenrod and legal sized. Students in grades 3-5 can apply for the S.O. team. The S.O. is a science competition. Students compete with other school teams to be the best in science eents such as Paper Rockets, Rock Hound, Save Our Earth, Simple Machines and many more. Team members will meet on Monday or Wednesdays from 2:30-3:30 to practice events that will be a part of the competition. Students will receive applications Monday 9/14/15 in his/her homeroom. You can also access the application at npepanthers.org. Applications are due back to the homeroom teacher, office or Ms. Welch by Monday, 9/28/15. Members will be announced 10/2/15. 
S.O. Coaches-
Heather Welch
Raechel Smith
Kati Searcy
Laura Lamaster
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Week of 8.27.15

8/27/2015

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units_of_study_curriculum_map.pdf
File Size: 392 kb
File Type: pdf
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units_of_study_grade_level_scope_and_sequence.pdf
File Size: 208 kb
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Writing Workshop & Assessments

Have you administered the "on-demand" preassessment? These assessments are found in the "Writing Pathways" book in your Lucy Calkins writing kit.  The rubrics to grade this on-demand can be found on the CD that came with the units. This assessment will help you get a data baseline for your students writing ability and help guide your instruction/personalized writing goals.
You should still be working on the "launching" of writer's workshop. See the files below for more information.

Here is a refresher about the structure of Writing Workshop:
Mini Lesson - no more than 10 minutes
-Meet as a group
-Teacher focused
-Components include:
Connection - "Connect the skill"
Teaching Point - "Today I want to Teach You"
Teach -  "Watch Me"
Active Engagement - "Now its your turn"
Link - "Today & Everyday remember..."

Mid Workshop - 30-40 minutes
-Conferencing
-Small groups
-independent writing
-point out great things (mid workshop teaching point)

Wrap Up/Closing - 5-10 minutes
-Share time
-Every kid shares every day (not necessarily individually but with partners or in groups)


How to Find Assessments in Fulton Connect

finding_tests_in_fulton_connect.pdf
File Size: 310 kb
File Type: pdf
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Management Idea:

Like so much of classroom management, the key to managing voice levels is to define for your students what you expect of them—and then hold them to it. Your students need to know during the school day whether it’s an allowable time to talk, who they’re free to talk with, and what volume level is appropriate.  The idea is to standardize a few simple volume levels for your classroom, teach them to your students, and then clarify for each activity which level is appropriate. For example, before releasing your students to work on an art project, you might say simply, “We are working at a level two.” It’s important—and only fair—to thoroughly teach, model, and role-play each level before putting the strategy into practice. Show your students in a detailed way how to interact and behave within each level and then let them try it out. I created the below posters for use in my classroom. Feel free to use.

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voice_level_0.pdf
File Size: 49 kb
File Type: pdf
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voice_level_3.pdf
File Size: 44 kb
File Type: pdf
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voice_level_1.pdf
File Size: 50 kb
File Type: pdf
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voice_level_4.pdf
File Size: 51 kb
File Type: pdf
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voice_level_2.pdf
File Size: 48 kb
File Type: pdf
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voice_level_5.pdf
File Size: 50 kb
File Type: pdf
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How do you get the attention of your class? Why not try these attention "getters"? My favorite and go to is "Hot Fudge.....Sundae" and "Banana....split".  Can you think of more?


RTI Intervention Help:

https://easycbm.com/
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Lucy Calkins Writing Videos

8/16/2015

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Teacher's College Videos
https://vimeo.com/tcrwp/videos

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Welcome!

8/15/2015

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Writing Resources:

As you prepare to begin your writing workshop, don’t forget that the “launching” book is located on the P (share) drive under Writing Workshop AND in this dropbox folder (if you are away from school):  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xbb1236sxaq1a4k/AABbOImKHpTnvUczcz96Vufia?dl=0
It is broken into 3 parts. This book can help you get your writer’s workshop going. If you are experienced with Lucy Calkin's workshop, you may want to go ahead into the first unit of study.

How to Read a Lucy Unit

Two Writing Teachers Blog:

Here is an amazing blog from Two Writing Teachers. This article supports the idea of using a pen during writing workshop and outlines the advantages to having an eraser free workshop zone. https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2015/08/12/no-erasing-crossing-out/

Substitute Folders & Emergency Plans

If you haven't started already, begin work on your substitute folder. This folder will include information and plans to help a substitute manage your classroom.  I have accordion folders in the office to hold information and materials if you'd like one.  If you'd rather use a folder of your own, that is ok.  Be sure to label your substitute folder in an obvious way so that it stands out.  Ensure your team and/or classroom neighbor knows the location of your substitute folder.  Below you will find the folder requirements. I will email other items that may help you create/edit your sub folder.  Sub folders are due to Heather Welch by August 21 @ 3:00pm. Email or see me with questions.
substitute_folder_requirements.docx
File Size: 14 kb
File Type: docx
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Blogs/Websites:

Check out the NPE website (npepanthers.org) to see the new blogs that have been posted.  If you haven't created yours yet and you need help, please let me know and I'll be glad to help!  If you have created a blog/site, send me the url link so I can publish it on the NPE webpage.  Blog post from June about blogging/website creation.

Textbooks and Resources are Coming!

I've been delivering texts and resources a little at a time.  If you have a pressing need, please email or stop by and see me and I'll get it to you!  All of the 3-5 BAS kits are out so check with the teachers on your hall to work out a share.  I have a few more K-2 kits available in the bookroom.  Thank you for your patience, I'm learning a new check out system and organizing from our book audit. Words Their Way workbooks recently arrived, so I will get those out as well.  I've included some WTW resources & weekly planning ideas for WTW below.
wordstheirwayintroduction.pptx
File Size: 299 kb
File Type: pptx
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words_their_way_schedule.docx
File Size: 13 kb
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wordstheirwaysortoptionswithrubric.doc
File Size: 39 kb
File Type: doc
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words_their_way_schedule_first_grade.pdf
File Size: 47 kb
File Type: pdf
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wordstheirwaydailyposters.pdf
File Size: 999 kb
File Type: pdf
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We Can Do It!

5/16/2015

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Shout Outs!

  • Thank you, teachers for great placement meetings! Your input is valuable and ensures that students get the best placement!
    Thank you to Nellie Thomas and Linda Miranda for stepping in to help with K placement!

    Thank you, RuVae for loading student names and printing placement cards!
    Thank you, Mary for 1/2 day release time to create our classes for next year!
    Thank you all for gathering books and materials for our textbook audit! It's a big job and your help has been very much appreciated!
    Thank you, Sarah Newton for putting up with stacks of textbooks in your gym  for our textbook audit!

Evergreen School 2015-16

Are you interested in raising students' environmental awareness? Do you want to help  our school become "green"?  I will be applying for NPE to receive Evergreen School status (we will work with the city of Alpharetta) but I need your help!  An environmental committee will be created to help plan and make decisions.  Let me know if this sounds like something you'd like to help me with! Some initiatives we plan to work toward are:
-creation of a schoolyard habitat (already in the initial stages)
-creation and implementation of an outdoor classroom/garden with lesson plans you can use
-creation and launch of an Environmental Club
-expansion of our recycling program to include other items like plastics
-service projects such as adopt a road, adopt a stream, waste free lunch days, etc.
-environmental lessons/field trips
Read more here.

Science Olympiad 2015-16

Do you love STEM and science?  We need your help with Science Olympiad! Applications will go out to students  in August. The club will hold practices to prepare for the county competition in March. Mary offered a stipend to those working with this club during the 2014-15 year. If you're interested, let me know!  Read more here.

Say Thanks!

Say thanks to a teacher and Target will give $25 to their school!  They have a goal of giving 1 billion to education.  https://thanksabillion.target.com/?ref=sr_shorturl_thanksabillion

Links and Resources:

• Mystery Science - Great Science Lessons for Elementary School Students
• 
10 Sites/Apps to inspire creative writing
• 
Project Based Learning (problem solving) at its best! This boy uses design thinking to solve a real world problem! Hopefully, this clip will inspire you to try this type of thinking in your classroom!

Clarifications and Reminders:

May 18 - 4th grade STAR AM reading and math
May 18 - Turn in Progress Skills Checklists by 3:00 to Heather for verification.
May 19 - 5th grade STAR AM reading and math
May 20-22 - Reprint PSCs that needed corrections
May 22 - Send home PSCs and report cards with students
You should have at least 3 BAS test scores for your students this year (beginning, middle, end).If you experience problems with the BAS spreadsheet on the p drive, save the file to your computer and email it with your scores filled in to me. Thank you!
Summer Reading Info will come out this next week to students. Access the information on our school website.
 
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Worksheet Free, Writing, RigorĀ & Cuteness

3/6/2015

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Hello! I hope you had a great week! I've seen a lot of great teaching and learning this week during my walkthroughs! 
Thank you for everything you do!

Worksheet free Day:
Have you considered implementing a worksheet free day?  Consider alternatives to worksheets (download the file below). Check them out!

Speaking of Worksheet free...
Use Google Forms (part of Google Drive)  to create, store, and share collaborative lesson plans, surveys, parent information, data collection and assessments. All the information put into the forms (like the surveys) are automatically put into a spreadsheet for you! Easy!
Google Forms for the classroom - ideas 
Cheat sheet for creating a google form! 
Google form ideas from Pinterest
Form Example -  survey
Form Example - parent communication documentation
Form examples - look on the left for student content surveys


Rigor/Project Based Learning:  Raising Rigor with Project Based Learning: 
http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-introduction-video
http://www.edutopia.org/video/five-keys-rigorous-project-based-learninghttp://www.edutopia.org/blog/webbs-depth-knowledge-increase-rigor-gerald-aungst

Writing Workshop:
Writing conferencing documentation ideas (Bookmark this site, it's great!)  The Lucy Calkins writing unit kits are here and in Mary's office.
Lucy Calkins talking about mini-lessons:
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Do you need some Cuteness in your life?  Download the file below to get some cute binder cover inserts.  Add a text box and the text of your choice! You're welcome!

Have a great weekend,
Heather
cute_binder_covers.pptx
File Size: 5279 kb
File Type: pptx
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alternatives_to_worksheets.docx
File Size: 104 kb
File Type: docx
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