This and That:
12/11 SIW Plans: QPR is a training that Bend-La Pine has been working to get to all staff. QPR stands for Question Persuade Refer and teaches the three steps everyone can learn to help prevent suicide. It’s a tough topic so please think about what self care you might need before and/or after the training. Whitney, our trainer, was only available for a 1:30 training, so plan on 1:30-3:00 this week.
Adopted Curriculum Usage- Another quote from Gary’s newsletter to principals, this time on guaranteed and viable curriculum in Bend-La Pine:
Last week I shared our standards of practice and focused on the recommended minutes for reading, writing and math. In addition to minutes, our standards of practice also address curriculum. As you know, we use Wonders for reading, Units of Study for writing, and Bridges for math. In addition to PLC’s, a guaranteed viable curriculum is an essential instructional component of a strong school. We use the above curricula as our guaranteed and viable curriculum in reading, writing and math. We teach the standards, but Wonders, Units of Study, and Bridges are the vehicle we use to teach the standards. Teachers can and should supplement as necessary to reteach and revise, especially through the work of their PLC’s, but our adopted materials should be what we predominantly use. It’s our job to ensure we are using our adopted materials and that they are not supplanted by well intentioned teachers trying to supplement. I believe we do this very well and thank you for your efforts.
Article on Arts-Integrated Pedagogy: Whole article here. Introductory quote:
“Fifth-grade students who created some type of art—such as a drawing, writing a rap song, singing a science lesson, or choreographing a dance—that reflected specific classroom lessons, retained science-based knowledge longer than students who didn’t make art in the same class, according to a new study from Johns Hopkins University. These interdisciplinary findings support the benefits of broader arts integration into conventional classrooms.”
To Do:
Holiday Party: Let’s celebrate the holiday season with our Elk Meadow family. I hope to see you at Jess’ house this Friday! (See email from Kari for more details)
SIW Start Time Check-In: Please take a minute (or less) to provide some feedback about our SIW start time this year. Link here.
Snow Berms: Frank will have an email out to all of you to read to your students on Monday. In short, we are asking students to stay off of the snow berms for safety sake.
Lexia Contracts: Lexia “contracts” will be coming your way this week for those students who currently have one of our 40 seats. Please return each of the contracts either signed that you will ensure the 60 minutes per week of use during school hours OR return it letting us know you are relinquishing that seat for another student.
Reminders For This Week:
- Monday: Red
- Tuesday: Yellow, Fire Drill PM, Advisory Team Meeting
- Wednesday: Red, Art workshops, ICCL meeting
- Thursday: Yellow, EBISS Gr. 1
- Friday: Red, no RE groups, STAFF PARTY!!!
SIW Schedule:
- 12/11 QPR Training
- 12/18 Individual Time
- 12/25 Winter Break
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