Challenging our High Level Learners

This week you engaged in learning about how we can challenge the many students in our classrooms who need higher level tasks. Thank you so much for your attention to this. You left with some items that you can implement right away, but please remember that Karla and Annie and Lissy are here to support you in this as well.  You have always been about meeting students where they are and moving them forward. We have learned about interventions and progress monitoring, and this is just the other side of meeting student needs. Here is an article about the risks of not developing our higher level learners. 

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/35054/what-do-we-risk-losing-by-not-challenging-gifted-kids

I would love to get your comments on it. 😃

Ms. Buckley's class makes Valentines for the Troops

 Mrs. Driggers students practice making bamboo for their panda paintings

Third grade wows parents and staff with their Freaky Frog Knowledge!

                        

Students in gym learn about washing hands and other ways to avoid germs while playing "Germ Tag"

Updates and Reminders:

Monday February 3rd-        Super Bowl Recovery Day

Tuesday February 4th-        4th Math Check- Ins

Wednesday February 5th-   3rd Grade Math Check -Ins

Thursday February 6th-      Thursday Math Check- Ins

Friday February 7th-           K-5 Class Pictures; Report cards go home

4th and 5th grade - Please be sure to progress monitor your reds and yellows by the end of next week if you haven't already.

NC Check ins (Math)

***See Fran's email! Please test out your log in and highlight and read your guides BEFORE test day.

Alignment

We are all individuals, and teaching is an art. It is awesome to see how people who are different can bring their own fair to lessons. As we begin discussions about alignment, we need to also be sure that we are aligned with respect to what standards we are teaching across grade levels and disciplines. We can only give common assessments and analyze that work to determine next steps as a grade level if we are staying on the same standards. Thank you for all of the work you have done this year in your PLTs so far to unpack, plan, assess, and analyze student work. Thank you for meeting students where they are and helping them grow.

It is so wonderful to share the happy moments in our lives!

It is baby boy for Maria...

And a Proposal for Katherine Wilson!

Congratulations! 

GHHS Musicians entertain our fifth graders

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday : Kristin at training
                 Leadership Team Meeting- 8:00 Media Center

Wednesday:  Teacher Workday :Meeting: Classroom Teachers : 8:30-11:00 in the Media Center

Thursday : Science NC Check-ins (5th grade)

Friday: Falcon Friday

Ms. Dunk's class writes a big book

Happy MLK Day!

None of you need a reminder of the importance of what you do, but as difficult as it can be, sometimes it is nice to be reminded that it is also a privilege. As teachers you have the opportunity every day to create critical thinkers who can navigate an increasingly complex world. You have the opportunity to create caring, empathetic, stewards of social justice. Try not to let this get lost in all of the requirements that are put upon you. As you enjoy a day off, know that you are such a key part of what Dr. King envisioned.  You all do it very well and your students are so lucky to have you.

Upcoming Events:

Monday : Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (No school)

Tuesday: 

Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday 7:55 in the Media Center

Thursday:    Kristin at Principal Meeting during the day

                    10:00 am Tour for Incoming families

                     5:30 pm PTA Meeting/ Bingo Night

Friday:         Falcon Friday      

He may never forgive me for posting this, but I don't care.😁 Steve got this letter from a former student.  A couple of important notes: Donut Boy was in a fact a tall, lanky kid who did in fact just love donuts, and even though Donut Boy didn't think he "paid attention" in Steve's class, he seems to have gotten a lot out of it!

Just two examples of our fantastic IAs hard at work!

Happy New Year!

Thank you all for such a positive week back! You really hit the ground running! A lot of us and even our students are setting goals for ourselves for the new year.  It is great to set goals around your personal health and habits, but it can also be worthwhile to set professional goals for yourself. We set very specific goals on our yearly PDPs. However, we can also think in a broader sense. Maybe there is a strategy in the classroom you have always wanted to try, or maybe you want to take on more leadership opportunities. Whatever it is, it can be really rejuvenating to set those goals and feel the same success professionally that you feel when you reach those personal goals.

Upcoming Events:

Monday January 13th- Ident-A-Kid pics

Tuesday, January 14th- 8:00 Staff Meeting (Media Center- IAs welcome.)

Wednesday, January 15th- 7:55 "Wacky Wednesday PLTs"- Media Center 

Thursday, January 16th-

Friday, January 17th- Falcon Friday (wear your spirit wear)

                                   BT Meeting room 115 

Around the School:

Ms. Small's students learn about Martin Luther King through song!

Students make thoughtful New Year's resolutions!

Ms. Crabtree's students explore non-standard units of measure

 Ms. Carrelha mesmerizes students with a book and high school volunteers help administer the second graders a survey about their opinions!