Oct 5 to Oct 9

Learning Targets Target Learning


The targets you have posted in your classrooms are fantastic! With classroom observations coming up for all staff - remember, posting your learning targets and discussing them with your students is one 'Best Practice' Susan and I will be looking for this year (and beyond). Be sure the targets include a Bloom's Verb and the target skills or knowledge. For example:

• Math: I will apply the order of operations to solve two digit multiplication.
  
• Reading: I will sort words with the sound 's'.
  
• Writing: I will use adjectives in my writing.

Advisory - Closing the Knowing and Doing Gap for Each Kid
Oct 1, 6, & 16
What a GREAT first Advisory of the year on Oct 1. Advisory meets again on Tuesday - and we can't wait! Your on-going awareness of students and their needs is remarkable! This is one of the most powerful practices we do to support kids. The goal is to make sure the kids who need support academically, socially, emotionally, or otherwise are on the right radars.

Classroom Observations
Both Susan and Rebecca will continue to schedule the first round of classroom observations. As a reminder, staff on long form evaluation schedules will be observed for a minimum of 30-minutes two times during the school year. Short form and Professional Growth Opportunity (PGO) require one 30-minute classroom observation.

Observation Focus: This year, observed lessons should be in the content areas of Reading or Math in whole group, small group, or interventions. However, if you have another lesson you want us to see...just let us know and we'll see how we can accommodate you.

Calendars: Susan's calendar is in her office, and Rebecca's is hanging on the office door. When scheduling your first observation set three dates and times:

• Pre-Conference - 30 mins a day or two BEFORE the observation


• Classroom Observation - 60 mins (BUT only 30 minutes are collecting data about instruction)


• Post-Conference - 30 mins a day or two AFTER the observation

Remember - at Hunt observations are intended to promote YOUR good work with kids. Both Susan and I will be looking for the ways you help kids learn during the lesson. We can't wait to brag about you - to YOU! :)

• Got those Learning Targets posted and do you talk about them?


• Do you wrap your instruction around the learning in and out of the content area?


• Do you help students take responsibility for their own learning?

Parent/Teacher Conferences
Have you looked at the calendar? Those November conferencing days are approaching quickly - and due to Veteran's Day falling on a Wednesday, you really only have two Wednesday Conferencing days (Nov 4 & 18). You might consider looking at the last two Wednesdays of October (Oct 21 and Oct 28) and get an early start for Parent/Teacher Conferences. As a reminder, at Hunt every family is conferenced with in the Fall - and especially those with SLPs. Here are a couple dates to mark on your calendar:

1. Family Conferencing Schedule - date to be determined (this will probably need to be done during a WAC time)
   
2. Evening Conferences - Wed, Nov 4 - let's consider compensation for a date in December


3. Nov 25 - all staff can leave after WAC time due to MOA

ProDev Days

• Wed, Oct 7 - LIC - Principal Directed
  SLP Traing for ALL (10 mins)
  Building Writing Scoring Guidelines and Calibration (10 min)
  Grade Level Teaming - Writing Scoring (70 min)
  
• Thur, Oct 8 - Supplemental Day
  Morning- Grade Level Teamwork
  SLP Writing for Grade 4-6 (at least 90 mins)
  Fall Writing Scoring 4-6
  Fall Writing Assessment Scoring - Grades K-3
  
  Afternoon - Math Training
  Computational Fluency and the New Math Standards
  Bethany Baptist Church
  2:00-3:30
  
• Fri, Oct 9 - State Inservice Day
  No school for students or staff


• Wed, Oct 14 - LIC - Collaboration & Teaming
  Grade K - 3: High Frequency Words - Current Practices & Monitoring Student Learning
  Grades 4-6: Continue Fall Writing Scoring
  

Every Monday Matters
Another 'funny' thing that happens in education is the constant go-go-go cycle. Just when we were about to be thankful for the end of the start - we're heading into conferences and report cards. Not to worry! One day at a time, leads to one week at time and one event at a time. You are just the person for the job you're doing this school year! Keep a positive attitude and a can-do disposition and all will go well - that's a promise!