American Education Week:
A huge thank you to each of you for what you do for our students! As you know, each of you are "educators" - you play a role in educating our students. Our staff is the best - passionate, dedicated, and truly cares about our students, families, and each other. I am honored to work at McKinley and work beside each of you. Thank you for the energy, heart, and hours you put into this career. I appreciate you!
If you haven't had your picture taken & would like it taken, see Steph today. Thank you!
Problem Solving:
Our Problem Solving Team is scheduling out into late December at this point. If you have students to bring forward, please complete the referral form as soon as possible.
Also, just a reminder - you do not need to wait if you have concerns with students. We don't expect you to have completed a period of interventions, or anything like that. This team is here to support you - and the students. If you need to, please take the two minutes and complete the referral today!
Communication Home:
Just a friendly reminder to be keeping in contact with families, regularly. If you have a situation occur - or a concern - please, please, please make contact with the family. I am dealing with more situations were families say, "this is the first time I've heard of this." When I talk to staff, I'm hearing "well I told them next time I'd be calling home". If you have concerns about a student - behavioral, academic, social-emotional, a call home is needed. I often think of this analogy with calls home - During a physical, a doctor is concerned. She finds a lump. Would I prefer she connected with me regarding next steps or just waited until it happened again? I know I'd appreciate the communication - ASAP.
On the other hand, we have done a lot of work around making positive commnication occur - High 5 letters, Call of the Day, Positive Office Referrals, McKinleyStrong slips. These are all in the "Hub" and are great ways to connect with families in a positive way!
The Power of Formative Assessments!
As we know, the day-to-day checks for understanding have such power. It creates responsive teaching - students are showing what they know and teachers are being responsive by providing next steps of instruction. Sometimes formative assessments are often think of as "exit tickets". However, there are so many other ways to do this check for understanding. Below is a document, from Teaching and Learning, on some unique ways to do those formative checks.
Formative Assessment Ideas
Building Weekly Newsletter:
Click here to access the building weekly newsletter (November 25 - 29
Click here to access the building weekly newsletter (Dec 2 - 6)
There will be no blog next week - so Happy Thanksgiving, also!
Enjoy your time with those you love!
-Justin
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