Welcome to Week One Duties!
The first week of school was amazing! I appreciate all of your hard work in creating climate and culture of your classrooms. Doing this daily will ensure a successful year of learning!!
All Special Education and special service providers will start pulling students this week. If they have not finalized a schedule with you yet, be prepared to offer them some times that they may pull kiddos for services. Amy Ford shared EOY data with you last Friday. Please take the time to review the data and talk with specialists regarding intervention groups. We will push intervention groups back to next week or even the following week, so we can go slow to go fast. If you are ready, please talk with your group of teachers and feel free to get started. Moving mountains together takes time and this should not be stressful, so it is OK to take the time you need. When grouping students please keep in mind that you will still see small groups for your ELA and Math groups. What is the difference between small groups and intervention?
•small group: providing guided support on grade level expectations of a specific skill (introduced in whole group) clarifying any misunderstandings. It is also used to provide differentiation for learners who demonstrate understanding for the skill, such as providing more critical thinking opportunities/challenges on the skill so advanced learners can work with partners and small groups to extend their learning.
•intervention: providing explicit instruction on developing skill deficits/prerequisite skills that are necessary for grade level, sometimes these skills are 1-2 grade levels below. It can also be used for students who need more support on skills introduced and previously practiced in small group. This is where your observations, anecdotal notes, and data help guide your planning for discovering the "gaps" of prerequisite skills an individual has. In some districts you might have an Interventionist that may assist you in helping those learners.
This week is busy with Curriculum night. We will start in the gym at 5:00. The entire school will hear the same message regarding attendance policy, Facts on MLO/Bond, How to hlep my child in Reading and math, Environmental Ed, Clubs, etc.. Parents will be dismissed by 5:45 and head to their first rotation. There will be two rotations for families with multiple children. Please make sure you create a presentation for your families regarding you classroom expectations and a year at a glance..
Have a wonderful week and let me know if you have any questions!
Jen
