Wednesday, October 31, 2012

10/31 Right, Edgar, Hixson

Started the day with a a meeting with Ms. Right the coordinator at Hixson.  We discussed:

  • Balancing coach and relationships with the feeling that we are in some way evaluating others
  • reviewing assessment items and writing assessments
  • How learning goals influence student opportunities and evidence of student learning
  • Including her in events that are coordinator related
Went back to my office to:
  • Answer e-mails
  • My sessions for METC were accepted, I will be presenting:
    • 1. Social Networking: The I.V. Bag of Professional Development
    • 2. Rethinking Classroom Procedures: Thinking about Flipping Your Classroom
  • I read the SECRET SAUCE of TEAMWORK
  • Investigated the BIG HISTORY project
At 1:30 I went over to Hixson to meet with Dr. Heisserer about the School Improvement Plan

STayed at Hixson to work on ordering supplies...

At 3:30 met with Dr. Miller and Ms. Bohlman to review 2nd/3rd teacher meetings:
  • discussed the evaluation of the frist session
  • discussed our goals
  • discussed our plans for the next seession

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

10/30 Edgar Road and Avery

Started the day at Edgar Road.  We discussed rating learning goals, determining the difference between learning goals and objectives and wrapping ti up with how a learning goal influences student experiences.

Went over to Avery afterwords:

  • Met with Ms. Davis Re: Social studies facilitators
  • Met with Mr. Barbe about the server and science resources
  • Saw Ms. Fitzgerald's class work on American Revolution Projects

  • Walked through other rooms just to see what's going on...
  • Wrapped up the day playing a numbered pair game with Ms. Londa and Haug.
Great day at Avery!  Fun to be an All-star!

Sorry, had to do it:


Monday, October 29, 2012

10/29 WGHS, Clark, Office Hours

Started the day at WGHS, Met with the science department chair to discuss:


After stopped by Clark to see the little ducklings and hear about life cycles:
  • Met with Mrs. Hennrich's class and Ms. Kimbles class


I also checked out the really cool habitats for insects displayed in the hallways:




Went back to Edgar Road to work on:

  • Went through the thermometers for Science and Social Studies to find low hanging fruit.  
  • Sent e-mail to kindergarten and 5th grade facilitators to gather information
  • Updated older Blog post with pictures from Bristols Science and Math Night
  • Met with Susan Bergman re: acceleration and Data 
  • Updated the Science Goals for K-8
  • Updated Social Studies goals K-8
  • Uploaded Model Curriculum Presentation
  • Watched a 2nd grade lesson on symbols of America specifically the Statue of Liberty
    • Shared cool resources found using:
    •  maps.google.com
    • Nps.gov
7th grade Social Studies
  • Curriculum MAP template
  • Chatted about the test question
  • Updated Goals and Objectives

Friday, October 26, 2012

10/26 Coordinator meeting, Social Studies Network

Started the morning at coordinator meeting:

  • Check in
  • Swipe cards
  • curric plan
  • Template
  • Resource adoption process
After the meeting I worked on Tuesday's Learning Goal Presentation....

At 12:00 I attended the Social Studies Network meeting at Missouri History Museum:


Model Curriculum Presentation
  • Model curriculum will...
    • Be a rigorous curriculum based on state standards, GLE< CLE and CCSS
    • Present a model to all districts
  • MSIP 5 requires
    • formative ans summative assessments 
    • use of HOTS
    • General description for content in an area
    • Specific measurable objectives
    • assessments that inform
    • instructional activities related to student progress toward goals
    • Written, taught, and assessed HAD to be the same
    • adequate instructional time for implementation
    • Aligned to SHOW ME standards
  • Components of Model Curriculum
    • Unit objectives
    • Essential Questions
    • Alignments to GLE/CLE and ELA
    • Timeline
    • activities
    • teaching strategies
  • Objectives
    • formed by GLE/CLE
    • are the "to do" statements that drive
    • describe what is taught
    • guide for instruction
  • Essential questions
    • BROAD, transferrable
  • Assessment thinking
    • Examine the objectives
    • knowledge and skills will they have to demonstrate
    • how will we know?
    • EX: Students will evaluate the impact of the Westward Movement on Native Americans in Missouri
  • Assessment types
    • Formative
    • Benchmark
    • Summative
  • Scoring guides and rubrics
    • copyright free materials or permissions granted
    • rubrics for performance events
  • Strategies and activities
  • Integrating CCSS - ELA
    • Literature - Teaching civic values, issues
    • Informational text - identifying relationships and reasons, similiatiies and differences
    • Writing - including opinion, narratives, and informative research
    • Speaking and listening - collaborative conversations, asking and answering questions
    • Language - Vocab acquisition and use, social studies has more words in its discipline than any other content area
  • Piloting curriculum
How ELA and SS merge: http://sheg.stanford.edu/

Framework for historical thinking:

Elementary History Resources: http://www.bringinghistoryhome.org/


Thursday, October 25, 2012

10/25 Office, Social Studies Facilitators

Started the morning helping the sub for the librarian set up all the items she needed so her day ran smooth.

Answered e-mails then started working...

Spent the day dragging files and folders setting up the server space for social studies teachers.  My screen has looked this this for the last two days...


At 3:30 led the social studies facilitator meeting: 

Here's the e-mail I sent out:

Thank you SS CORE team,

Tonight's conversation was centered around the theme of "dropping a pin on a map."  Knowing where we are, what we do will help us figure out how to move forward.

Tonight we shared the excitement of THE SERVER!  Log on today, add stuff, copy stuff, collaborate, e-mail each other about cool lessons you find.  This will revolutionize how we teach our units. Very exciting!

We looked at the board approved curriculum (2006), the Missouri (2008) GLE's and took a peek at the National Council for the Social Studies standards (2012).  

The bulk of our time was centered around writing learning goals for the units we teach.  Will will continue working on this over the next couple months.

All resources used during our meeting are located here, take a peek:  http://goo.gl/Up1Cn

Let's keep the momentum PRIOR to our next meeting do some of these:
1.  Add resources to the server :-)
2.  Share how to log to the server with your building mates
3.  As you are teaching, when you are thinking about learning goals, add them to our learning goal document we started: http://goo.gl/pBZYP
4.  email someone using your grade level e-mail distribution lists already set up in outlook about a lesson of file you found on the server!

See you Nov. 29th in the board room!


Wednesday, October 24, 2012

10/24 Copying, server work, Office hours, Science facilitators

Arrive at central office early this morning to make all the copies necessary for the facilitator meetings.

Drove over the Edgar road.

  • Organized and collected folders for meeting
  • Made sign-in for meeting via google form
  • Dropped in a couple classrooms here at Edgar road
    • Saw Number mapping in 5th grade
    • Communities "my family"in kindergarten
    • Reading stations in kindergarten
    • Book fair fun in first grade
  • Dragged resources gathered from flash drives and off of school center and organized them on the server (as best I could) this took forever....

Science facilitator meeting at WG Board room starting at 3:30.
Email to the facilitators:

Tonight's conversation was centered around the theme of "dropping a pin on a map."  Knowing where we are, what we do will help us figure out how to move forward.

Tonight we shared the excitement of THE SERVER!  Log on today, add stuff, copy stuff, collaborate, e-mail each other about cool lessons you find.  This will revolutionize how we teach our units. Very exciting!

We looked at the board approved curriculum (2006), the Missouri (2008) GLE's and took a peek at the Next Generation standards (2013ish).  

The bulk of our time was centered around writing learning goals for the units we teach.  Will will continue working on this over the next couple months.

All resources used during our meeting are located here, take a peek:  http://goo.gl/Up1Cn

Let's keep the momentum PRIOR to our next meeting do some of these:
1.  Add resources to the server :-)
2.  Share how to log to the server with your building mates
3.  As you are teaching, when you are thinking about learning goals, add them to our learning goal document we started: http://goo.gl/R3ATr
4.  email someone using your grade level e-mail distribution lists already set up in outlook about a lesson of file you found on the server!

See you Nov. 28th in the board room!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

10/23 Office hours AC assessment, Prep for Facilitator meeting

Still not feeling 100% but good enough to ease my way back in.  Worked in my office.

  • Turned in and closed out receipt for food from 7th grade curriculum day
  • Finished cleaning up Ancient Civilizations Assessment
  • Finished cleaning up Ancient Civilizations Proficiency scales
  • Created powerpoint for learning goals and curriculum map
  • Started curriculum template for CNI office on Ancient civilizations
  • Scanned NCSS for early grades and theme documentation
  • Wrote facilitator document and e-mail for facilitator meetings on Wednesday and Thursday.
  • Due to short duration of the meeting the time MUST be focused or it will not be meaningful.
  • Had a 30 min conversation with Dr. Tarte about curriculum alignment
  • Completely messed up the link to the e-mail I sent out to a large group of people.  Humble pie was immediately consumed....

Organized paperwork for Sci/SS facilitator meetings
  • For science organized into two groups K12 and 345
  • Science folders will contain:
    • PD pay sheet
    • Agenda
    • Scope and sequence
    • Board approved Curriculum K12 and 345
    • Next Gen Standards K12 and 345
    • GLE for K12 and 345
    • Template worksheet
  • Social Studies folders will contain:
    • PD pay sheet
    • Agenda
    • Scope and Sequence
    • Board approved Curriculum K12 and 345
    • National Council Standards Early grades
    • GLE for K12 and 345
    • Template worksheet
Left work at 6:30 (long day)  Went to Bristol for the Science/Math night!








Monday, October 22, 2012

10/22 Sick day

Drove to Chicago over the weekend got the flu, drove back home.

Still under the weather.


Friday, October 19, 2012

10/19 7th grade SS

Spent an awesome day with the 7th grade Social Studies Department.

Started the day with announcements:

Next discussed the pacing guide for the year.
Went through the Missouri GLE's and highlighted key topics that were covered in out units for the year.

Discussed Ancient Civilization.  
  • Discussed SS themes
  • Key points within the unit
  • Key topics within the unit
  • Created learning goals for our unit
  • Created proficiency scales for our unit
  • Revised the Ancient civilization unit assessment
  • Determined we will use the new assessment as the study guide to get feedback and test it's length and connection to our instruction.

For the future:
  • Continue working on pacing guide
  • Continue sharing lessons surround various learning goals
  • Requesting another day in the spring to continue this curriculum conversation
  • Need to look at the objectives and determine what is the BIG IDEA for our unit.
  • Discuss shared experiences for the unit

Thursday, October 18, 2012

10/18 2nd/3rd year teacher, Office Hours

Started the day with the 2nd and 3rd year teachers, agenda included:

  • ROPES review
  • HR presentation
  • Goals for the year
Culturally responsive teaching PD: Why culture counts...
  • When I hear the phrase of "culturally responsive teaching" I think of...
  • Strategies: Fan and pick, Reflection Best/Worst teacher, Graphic Organizer 

Read Synopsis of CLR from Dr. Hollie used Focused reading:  check, exclamation point, and question mark while reading.
- Processed using Inner circle outer circle - to chat

Wrapped up the meeting, cleaned up the space.

Went to WGHS to meet with Bill K.

  • Discussed why I no longer was able to get on the network
  • Blocked sites
  • how to access CNI server from "my computer"
  • How to make a shortcut ont eh desktop
  • Discussed server and location
Went back to Office:
  • Answered emails
  • Set up date for vertical teaming at Hudson
  • Sought out clarification on Rock Cycle unit that moved from Hixson to Steger
  • Printed agenda
  • Printed Curriculum template
  • Printed NCSS for middle school
  • Printed Themes of SS
  • Polished up agenda for Facilitator meeting
  • Sent out reminder to K-5 facilitators


Got my certificate from Google Powersearching class:

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

10/17 Errands, Steger, ETA, Challenger Learning Center, iPad Training

Started the day at Edgar Road picking up materials and handouts for the 2nd/3rd year teacher meeting tomorrow.

Dropped off 3rd grade "Force and Motion" kit that was missing back to Clark and Mary Ann.

Arrived at Steger.

Went to Mr. Tullman's learning goal: Explore the effects on societies when two cultures (Europe-new world) collide
Direct instruction on spanish words, letters, and sounds.
Saw letters written to Foreign exchange student who presented on culture and details of Austria.

Next I stopped by Mr. Mack's room.  Learning goal: Students will draw a conclusion about what happens when cultures collide.

Students were working on a concept map.  Each group had a set of questions and activities for a section of the world with the ending being that they will present their map to other students.  Here's a sample in progress:

Next checked out Mrs. Williams,
Kids were "rocking and rolling" talking about motion doing some predicting and having some VERY fun conversations about how you know if something is in motion.

Then on to Mrs. Mangrich.  Students were making flip books wrapping up their thoughts on motion:
here's a sample flip book:

While I was there I also downloaded an app that makes flipbooks on my ipad and made a video of one of the kids, I emailed that to Mrs. Magrich. Here it is if you want to watch it: https://docs.google.com/a/wgcloud.org/file/d/0B2myX1fkAsIBLWpEOHBQNXpWcDA/edit

At 12:30 arrived at the Challenger Learning Center for the ETA of STL meeting.


Inside students can be broken up to three groups:

Group one went to mission control room


Group two: Blasted off into space:

Once at the space station, each group had a job to do.  Once they get started on their job, something goes wrong and they have to work with Mission control to solve it:


Group Three had a challenge to do.  They were presented a challenge to design a rocket to win a contract from a business.

Students were given a budget and had to buy supplies: 

After building their rocket they shot it off, brought it back in redesigned and revised.  Shot it off again.  Winners of the contract were not only based on how far the rocket traveled but other features of 21st century learning like communication and teamwork:



After the tour we had a conversation and St. Louis STEM TQ program from a Sigma Aldrich representative.  We also were shared the vision of the Challenger learning center and shared some STEM resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qaFSAsRyFNN1tmyKYRVKlT8vgToM6HcWChbCEaeOAGY/edit?pli=1

I had to leave before the end of the meeting to get to Bristol in time.

Wrapped up the day with an iPad training at Bristol.  We discussed:

Settings - about (version) turn on speech
notes/keyboard
safari
article
app store
*60in60 - 60 apps in 60 minutes


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

10/16 - Hixson, Report card, 8th grade

Started the day with a group of teachers wanting to start the journey of standards-based grading. We discussed

  • How we are doing?
  • What we are doing?
  • How parent teacher conferences went
  • What student work is looking like
Met with Ms. Evans to discuss plans with SS moving forward.  Discussion included conversations about Common Core, NCHE and NCSS.

I stuck around and walked around Hixson popping in and out of classrooms.

I met with Dr. Heisserer at 9:30 to discuss:
  • MAP data
  • 7th SS Friday Curriculum Day
  • "vision"

At 12:00pm I attended the New teacher report card training at Central Office.  Topics included:

  • CLICK APPLY!!!!
  • Show Term
  • Click content
  • Show rosters
  • Input BDS score (B2 or A,B,C)
  • Click kids
  • Input "x" for Behavior and Social Skills (Beginning/Meeting/Exceeding and why)
  • Drop down curriculum objectives
  • Type teacher comments - Reminder Typing a comment shows on the last page.  Using [RL] will print a comment at the bottom of the content page
  • Apply and verify
Or
  • Show Term
  • Click content
  • Show rosters
  • Input BDS score (B2 or A,B,C)
  • Click View/Maintain
  • Click student curriculum Marks
  • Input Drop down data (if needed use ACTION "Mark all student with selected cell")
  • Edit specific info for students that do not meet criteria
  • APPLY!


Helpful Resources:





After School met with 8th grade science, shared:

  • Shared how to log in to server
  • Shared 8th grade summary, excel sheet and 5th grade MAP data

10/15 - Office, Hixson, Bristol

Started the day in the office:




  • Reserved Board room for Vertical Team dates in December and March
  • Had conflict with Parent Teacher conference and worked to find a new date
  • Enrolled in classes from PBLU.org to become certified

At 10:30 met with Mr. Fick at Hixson to discuss full day on Friday, Agenda below:

  • Set agenda
  • Ready to go!
  • Polish up agenda and sent out to Mr. Fick

Drove over to Bristol to Meet with Mr. brown about iPad training for Wednesday.

We set our agendas as follows:

Mr. Brown's iPad training


  • Notes
  • Educational apps
  • SAMR model
  • Organizing Apps
  • iBooks
    • Demo Book: Life on Earth
    • tour interface
    • browse bookstore
    • find a book
    • highlight
    • search for books
    • text size
    • read to you
    • notes, share
    • www.gutenberg.org
  • iTunesU
    • tour interface
    • browse catalogue
    • tour K-12
    • Download a "course"
    • find something to supplement content
    • How to delete
  • iTunes
    • Browse interface
    • Browse store
    • how to delete
  • Podcast app
    • Browse interface
    • Find education, leadership
    • THINK: capacity building
    • How to subscribe or download
    • How to delete
  • reminders
  • calendar (set up with Outlook)
  • Camera/Photobooth
  • photos (albums)
  • 60in60

*US traveler activity


Me with the 101 crew

Settings - about (version) turn on speech
notes/keyboard
safari
article
app store
SAMR Model



Went over to Hixson for 7th grade Social Studies Meeting, discussed:



Went home and



Friday, October 12, 2012

10/12 Coordinator meeting, Website work, Science Kit viewing

Started the day with a coordinator meeting at Central office, agenda included:

  • What's up with everyone (I shared the work from World studies)
  • PBTE process updates
  • Server update
  • Update on eMints and TILs

Went to Ambrose afterwords and worked on Science/Social Studies websites with other coordinators:
Met up with Mary Ann and we toured the district looking at the first Science kit pick up day...

Started our afternoon at Bristol.  Well organized and neatly stacked.  Awesome!


Next went to computer school.  We were missing one kit and weren't sure about the kit locations, they were just sitting in the hall.
We then went to Hudson.  All kits were present and were well organized.  Nice Job!


After Hudson was Avery.  Avery had a TON of kits.  They were well organized all put together nicely and had everything.  WAY TO GO!

Wrapped up the trip at Edgar Road.  Kits were neatly stacked but not well put back together.  One Butterfly net was wet when it was put into the kit, this is probably going to cause the kit to grow mold.  Not a great find.  


Also we noticed there were a set of materials not put back into the kit.  Please make sure everything gets put back into the same bin it came from.  This will ensure the next person to get the kit will have a positive experience.



 Wrapped up the day answering e-mails and scheduling drop-ins next week.



Thursday, October 11, 2012

10/11 CCSS, Office minute, Bristol MAP data

Started the day with a 7:30 meeting with the ELA coordinator.  Agenda included:

  • a review of assessment work
  • discussion of activities and projects currently happening in 6-8
  • discussion on CCSS and ELA's role in Science and SS
  • Reviewed 6-8 bands of CCSS

  • Developed a plan to integrate reading and writing into the Science and Social Studies curriculum
  • Also discussed the role of A.E. and Discovery time at two schools and where reading and writing can find logical places
  • wrapped up discussion on grading.  What things would teachers feel a need to teach, give feedback on, assessment and grade.  Also giving credit to things that are essential, should be taught but maybe wouldn't have to be assessed.
Went to the office for a few hours to:
  • Respond to e-mails
  • update and finish Who teaches what and when
  • Stopped by a teacher's classroom to discuss flipteaching and what he needs to get started
  • I discovered an awesome resource for writing prompts: http://writingprompts.tumblr.com/
  • Organized Bristol MAP data
  • ate lunch for the first time this week....
  • Wrote Blog post for "overcoming apathy"
Met with 5th grade at Bristol to go over stengths/challenges for Science MAP data.  Agenda included:
  • Content data 
  • Proces data
  • Math data first
  • ELA
  • SCIENCE! :-)

Went home and finsished watching Leadership 2.0.  Joined this great online community for leaders and learners: http://www.edweb.net/


Wednesday, October 10, 2012

10/10 Revenue, Office Hours

Started the day at Central office for a 7am Revenue Committee meeting, agenda included:

  • Presentation of video from 1999 (last operating budget prop)
  • discussion of budgetary items
  • broke into subcommittees
  • Communication team discussed plan and timeline
  • need to communicate "points of pride"
  • discussion to build a "slow boil" about facets of success and needs moving forward
  • next meeting slotted for December

After the meeting, went back to the office
  • Watched this video

The Global One-Room Schoolhouse: John Seely Brown (Highlights from his "Entrepreneurial Learner" Keynote at DML2012) from DML Research Hub on Vimeo.


  • Answered e-mails
  • Cleaned up and posted to Cni server:
    • Australia and Oceania Summative Assessment
    • Australia and Oceania Proficiency scales
    • Australia and Oceania Essential and specific learning goals, see below:





  • Finalized East Asia Topic Discussion

  • Cleaned up and posted to CnI Server
    • Organized South Africa Resources
    • Finalized South Africa Assessment
    • Finalized South Africa Proficiency scales
    • Created Learning goal posters for South Africa and Australia and Oceania
Opened a myraid of e-mails to figure out who teaches Science or Social studies and when....

emailed about rock cycles for 6th grade and how to have the CNI server "show up" under my computer

Wrapped up the day with a great conversation with peter about Flipping a portion of his 4th grade classroom.  Exciting!



Tuesday, October 9, 2012

10/9 Steger Meetings

Spent the day with World Studies team at Steger, Agenda:


Discussed the South Africa Unit
  • Reviewed Essential/Specific Learning goals
  • Took Advice from GLE/NCSS/NCHE
  • Created Proficiency Scales for each specific learning goal
  • Developed Summative Assessment
  • Discussed themes of Social Studies
Australia/Oceania
  • Reviewed Essential/Specific Learning goals
  • Took advice from GLE/NCSS/NCHE
  • Developed Proficiency Scales for each specific learning goal
  • Developed Summative Assessment
East Asia
  • Began discussion of East Asia
  • Lamented a project
  • Reviewed the pacing guide
  • Discussed the major themes throughout the unit, Seen below

  • Discussed plan for next time
    • Create Broad and specific learning goals for East Asia
    • Complete summative assessment for East Asia
    • Complete pacing guide for A/O and South Africa
Science Department 6th grade after school
Agenda included:


Discussion of inquiry lessons, activities, and assessment
Realization that Inquiry is discussed at all levels and a need for a vertical team will help us clarify expectations at each level K-12.

Coordinator updates:

Force and Motion Work
  • Reviewed Summative Assessment
  • Reviewed Proficiency Scales
Began "grading" discussion - What does an "A" mean?

Next meeting
  • Add more resources in CNI server
  • Continue working on pacing guide
  • Finalize Force and Motion assessment
  • Continue "grading" discussion