Our Teaching Tip this week is from Rachel Schendel and connects with John Hattie’s component of Classroom Discussion:
I like to use partner talk before cold calling students. For example, when we are learning information about a new artist, genre, composer, etc, I will put questions on the board. We will read them out loud before the song, video, lesson etc. Then, I will ask students to get into “elbow partners” and discuss the questions on the board. When they have discussed all the questions, they put their hands on their heads. Then, I use my Random Picker to ask students to answer the question. (I do NOT call on volunteers because I am checking for full participation by all.) They can also ask their partner. If neither of them knows the answer, they say pass. They are very engaged during this process and lots of dialogue is happening using key vocabulary.
Pam and I were discussing how cool it is that class sets of color copies are not being printed via our printer in the Media Center ($.50 a copy!) and how people are being so thoughtful due to the cost of color copies in considering whether a non-color copy can be used instead. Our budget is always super tight and this helps us out! Thank you!
It is that time of year when substitutes are in high demand! Each year around this time we hit a stretch in our district when more personal days are being used while illness and other substitute needs remain constant. Recently there have been days in which over 30 substitute requested positions in the district were not able to be filled. We have learned that on Fridays and Mondays, substitute jobs that are requested day-of after 6:00 AM, will likely go unfilled. Thank you for doing all you can to make sure your position fills in the event you are not able to be here. A couple of tips from our sub-whisperer, Pam:
- If you have any questions about how to use Subfinder see her today (really, please don’t wait until you are not feeling well and need to try and navigate this system)
- Calling subs on your own is a great practice, but if you have not located someone by 8:00 on the eve of when you need to be gone, please enter the absence in Subfinder.
- Always let Pam know either by email or phone if you are not able to be at work .
Week at a Glance for March 18th-22nd
Monday:
- Drum Residence continues
Tuesday:
- PLC Meetings to discuss and plan for conferences. We will begin as full faculty in the Media Center at 8:05
- Drum Residence continues
- 1:30 School Tour
- 3:00 PAW Celebration for February
- Last day to submit Excellence In Education nominations
- March Madness Brackets Due! See Emily’s email for details
Wednesday:
- 8:05 ICCL Meeting
- 9:05 Drum Assembly (loading after announcements)
- SIW: State Testing Training for grades 3-5; Math planning doc collaborative time K-2
Thursday:
- 11:30 Fire Drill
Friday:
- Lion Pride Drawing at Lunches
- Newsletter