Oct 19 to Oct 23

Learning Targets Target Learning

Janis Heigl, Math Bridges Field Study Consultant, came to Hunt last Thursday to work with teachers in grades 3-5. During one lesson she modeled, you wouldn't believe how many times she referenced the Learning Target! Here are some of her exact words:

1. "Today's Learning Target is ..."


2. "Remember, because today you will need to know how to..."


3. "OH! I would love to hear that idea, but we've got to stay focused on the Learning Target where you and your classmates must show that you will..."


4. "Well, let's see how that explanation fits with your Learning Target..."


5. "Your Learning Target today is...does what you just shared move us in the direction of learning? How?"
   
6. "Before you start talking with your partners about...let me remind you that your Learning Target is..."


7. "So, let's see where we are with mastering the Learning Target."

These quotes are recalled from less than 25 minutes in the lesson. If you do the math, on average, she referenced the LT about every 2.5 or 3 minutes! This type of interval is a constant reminder to students of what they are supposed to focus on during the lesson. How many times are you drawing attention to the Learning Targets in your lessons?

CSIP Meeting - Oct 20
Information about ELOs will be shared. The goal will be to decide how to spend the money allocated to us. If your team's rep is unable to attend the meeting, please arrange for a sub to attend the meeting.

Math Follow-Up
Andrew Schwebke's address to the Elementary Certificated staff last week was timely. Be sure to review the documents included in the folder you received. There are Measure of Student Progress indicators that will be helpful as you plan your lessons and mathematical focus lessons. In addition, there is important vocabulary to make sure students know. More to come on this important resource.

Dr. Fry's High Frequency Words
High Frequency Words are the words most commonly used in verbal and written communication. Did you know that the first 300 words make up about 65% of text in reading passages? What would happen if we explicitly taught our students the HFWs? On Wednesday of last week, Kindergarten through third grade teachers participated in a mini workshop on the use of High Frequency Words in the classroom. Fortunately, our primary students are exposed to many of the words because of the format of Read Well. Using the word lists at Kindergarten through grade 4 will provide another layer of learning for our students. Starting now, the expectation is that every student in Kindergarten through 4th grade will show mastery of a group of words by immediate recall of words.

• Kindergarten - Words 1-100


• 1st Grade - Words 100-200


• 2nd Grade - Words 200- 300


• 3rd Grade - Words 300-400


• 4th Grade - Words 400-600

On Hunt's x:Change folder on the server, a file has been created containing all the lists and powerpoint. Feel free to access the information - and while the expectation is for all K-4 teachers to begin this important teaching decision, grades 5 & 6 are encouraged to consider how these HFW could benefit their students as well.

Reminders...

1. Holidays - we must be respectful of the growing cultural diversity and religious sensitivity within our Hunt community. As a reminder, there are no Halloween celebrations during the school day - no exceptions. In addition, please check your October classroom and calendar displays...if you're displaying Halloweeny type decorations - please remove them.


2. Lunchtime TV/Video Time - Is showing a video or movie during lunch time really the best practice to engage in during lunch? While this can be an occasional reward for your students, please avoid making this an every day event - it shouldn't be a weekly event, either. And when you do reward your students with a video or movie - make sure you connect the purpose of the viewing to a Learning Target - and then be 'present' to facilitate the discussion and discourse around the Learning Target and viewing of the video.


3. Report Cards are right around the corner - they go home Dec 2. Planning ahead and gathering data to support a score on the report card will save a great deal of heartache later. Double dip where you can on assessment data, and refer to the appropriate guides/plans in Reading, Writing, and Math. In addition, report card comments are intended to be a historical account of each child's progress over the trimester. Your comments must include data which will likely compare beginning and end data points, noting where discrepancies may be. It's way too early to begin report cards - but it's never too early to plan ahead.

LIC Activities
Wed, Oct 21 - LIC - Independent (consider conferences)
Wed, Oct 28 - LIC - Independent (consider conferences)
Wed, Nov 4 - LIC - Parent/Teacher Conferencing
Wed, Nov 11 - No School - Veteran's Day
Wed, Nov 18 - LIC - Parent/Teacher Conferencing
Wed, Nov 25 - Cert Staff Dismissed at 1:01pm

Every Monday Matters

In finishing up with the final Fall Advisory Session on Friday - I again stand in awe of your daily efforts to develop meaningful relationships with your students. Outside of the data, despite the lack of resources or personnel, and without excuse of homelife situations - the relationships you foster with each of your students matters. And while we educators don't often see the fruits of our labor at the moment of occurrence, we can rest assured there will be fruit at the harvest. For our students, the harvest will come at different times - let's hope that in six to the twelve years, we'll celebrate the highest number of college graduates and community contributors in the history of Puyallup. But more importantly, right now we can stand on the fact that at Hunt every student knows or will know that someone at their school cared enough about them to provide excellent classroom instruction in a safe environment. Thanks for all you do!