March 16 to March 20

Learning Targets Target Learning

You, Teacher, are the greatest predictor of learning in the classroom. Let's take the mystery out of learning and help the children know what they will learn by writing, talking about, and getting them to say what they will learn. The following format might be helpful:

• When? Who? will Do What?


• Today I will write and understand the meanings of 5 vocabulary words from the math topic.

Instead of trying to write powerful Learning Targets by yourself, work together as a team to write daily targets in Reading, Math, and Writing. Together your team will be able to craft Learning Targets that are meaningful to your students and improve learning.

Silent Reading
Message from Vince Pecchia, Director of Student Learning Literacy K-12

K - 6 Teachers:

I hope everyone is doing well during this busy time of year. We need to address the practice of sustained silent reading or SSR. As you are aware, sustained silent reading is not part of the 90-Minute Literacy Block; is not an intervention; and is not a proven method to increase fluency and comprehension. The following practices are highly recommended if you currently schedule SSR outside of our 90-Minute Literacy Block:

1. Please ensure that students are reading books at their level.


2. Use this time as an opportunity to conduct individual reading conferences with students and/or administer progress monitoring measures.

Your support with adhering to the 90-Minute Literacy Block guidelines is appreciated. Thank you!

2009-2010 Staffing - A Reprint From Last Week's Email
It's a funny thing in education - near the beginning of the end, we begin the beginning of the start. Said another way, just as we start to wrap up the 08-09 school year, we begin setting up for the 09-10 school year. Planning for next year comes with some challenging decisions faced by everyone - once the staffing info is available, please be decisive and sensitive at the same time.

Timeline-ish:
Week of March 16 - staffing rosters will be given to building principals
Week of March 23 - staffing confirmed with HR
Month of April - Involuntary Transfer (IVT) staff placed and notified
Month of May - RIF notices will be delivered
May to September - Voluntary Transfer (VT) staff placed

Process
I am anticipating a VERY short turn around time for getting our 09-10 Building Staff Roster completed. Here is the process we will follow:

Step 1
Email to all Hunt Cert indicating 'open' positions within the building
You will be asked to respond by email within a short time period your interest in moving to the open grade level

Step 2
Any voluntary moves will be carefully considered and then a decision will be made that is in the best interest of students (in this case 'voluntary' means, someone who wants to move to another grade level within our building)

Step 3
If your move to the new grade level/position opens your current position, Step 1 starts all over again with the newly available position
We will continue with the shuffle as many times as necessary to maximize the potential of each learning team and fulfill the staffing roster.

Consider This...
What you need to be doing right now is considering your options. No reply is needed - these are rhetorical questions. And besides that, you've already given me your "1st, 2nd, & Can't Live With" intentions:

Do you want to:

1. Stay with your current assignment - if it is still projected for the 09-10 school year, or
2. Move to a new teaching assignment - if it becomes available. If so, which will you consider?
3. Consider volunteering to move to Involuntary Transfer status (the more district & state seniority you have the better your chances are of being considered for another position within the district if you choose to be IVT)

Transfers to a new grade level will be considered carefully. As you well know, there is grade level culture that is powerfully strong - similar to a school culture. A bad fit can make for a LONG 09-10 school year for everyone. In addition, the unique characteristics of the upcoming group of students will be considered - even student groups have a culture.

Keeping Our Eye On The Prize
The goal in staffing for the 09-10 school year is to

1. maintain the employment of as many teachers as we can based on the funding and projected numbers given to us


2. maintain the high levels of learning in every classroom because of excellent instruction


3. continue expecting students to learn at high levels by capturing their hearts and making learning meaningful to them

The most important thing to keep in mind through this whole process is perspective. Please be mindful of each other - change can be stressful and unsettling for some.