Ed Camp Style Professional Development

The "unmeeting" we ran last Spring had pretty positive feedback, so we're interested in doing it again this year for part of our November 4th professional development day.  Right now, the schedule for 11/4 includes three hours in the afternoon that will be planned and delivered by the Office of Teaching and Learning, leaving three hours in the morning.  About ninety minutes of that time will be dedicated to continuing our instructional data team work, leaving ninety minutes for EdCamp/unmeeting style sessions.  These were the topics from last year:



If you find that you would like to continue your conversations from last year, you can choose to do so; please make sure you've entered your topic in the session selections.   You may have a NEW topic that you'd like to suggest, feel free to do so.

Please remember that those who enter the topics are not "presenting" rather they are inspiring a topic for learning and facilitating the conversation.   The topics must be educational in nature and focused on solving a problem (i.e., not be a complaint session).

Your data team may choose to continue their assessment/unit planning work, and that is fine as well. 

The Office of Teaching and Learning requires sign-in sheets, so you will need to attend a session and sign in.

I'm opening the topic sheet today if you'd like to add your title.  I'm looking forward to this time for staff!  Topic Sheet

Unit Assessment Reflection

You may recall that in our school improvement plan based on discussions within the school leadership team (SLT), we've concluded that an important element to knowing whether we're improving our ability to communicate to students our objectives for the unit would be to see if students could reflect on their attainment of the unit objectives.  Some of you have built this reflection component into your PPO's.  Here you'll find a draft document that you can use based on the discussions that were held in our SLT.  The SLT members did not want a cumbersome, wordy, reflection document but rather a simple check system with students providing basic evidence after they've taken the unit assessment. 

I can see this being used in a variety of ways.  We first discussed this handout as one given to students after they've taken the assessment. It may be useful for students to do an initial reflection prior to the assessment, prior to their ability to go back and perhaps study the areas for which they feel they're weak, and then revisit the reflection after the assessment has been taken.

If you are going to use this handout, please make a copy by clicking on "File" and then "Make a Copy."  I've shared the form with you but for easier reference, it can be located here:  Reflection Handout.   Right now, since this is a document that is in a draft state, please feel free to add your comments.

Suggestions for Curriculum Revisions

Many data teams are remarking that now that teams are focused on creating end of unit assessment based on the standards and objectives in their curriculum, they're finding that some elements of the curriculum may need some revision.  In order to categorize these suggestions and submit them on an on-going basis to the Office of Teaching and Learning, we've created a form for you to log the issues or questions you may have regarding the curriculum with which you are working.  You may want to save this link as you continue your work throughout the year.  Suggestions for Curriculum Revision

2014-2015 Dine and Discuss

I look forward to the opportunity to "dine and discuss" with teachers every year.  We've just received the application for these funds.  Since funds are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis, I'll need to submit our proposals by the end of the week.  I've made a few suggestions of titles but you can always add your own.   Once I receive all of the feedback, I'll post the details (book(s), day of the week, dates, etc.).  Please submit your feedback here:  Dine and Discuss form

Staff Bulletin for the Week of October 27tth

Happy Halloween!

Wednesday Meeting:  

This Wednesday will be a Common Core/SBAC professional development session.  Lisa Rocco and Sarah Maestre will be sending the agenda this week.

Please note that we have ADVISORY this Wednesday.   Please be sure to tell all of your students on Tuesday, especially those with late arrival.

BE Events this week.  Support Our Students!

 

Reminders and Due Dates:

Quarter One Grades:  The first marking period closes on October 31, 2014.    All grades will be due on November 6th, 2014at 2:30pm.
 

Bloomboard:  Please be sure to “submit for approval” on all Goals.

Student of the Month: Enter your nominations for students of the month here:  https://docs.google.com/a/bristolk12.org/forms/d/1-i7HpozrADx3bkvDKSwqJFWqgK3IbpFKIxU7sxcYM_0/viewform  

 Staff Meetings this week:

 

Parent Conference Bell Schedule

Here is the bell schedule for the next three days of parent conferences.  Be sure to rest up tonight!