With Appreciation

Teacher Appreciation 

While it is nice to have a week that is dedicated to teacher appreciation, I want you to know how much I appreciate your work each and every day.

I recognize the time that you put into your work, often at the expense of yourself, your friends, or your family.

I am grateful for your dedication to your students, and your willingness to do the extra things that meet the needs of your students.  I am proud to say that every single person on the Houlton staff makes a strong effort to contribute to the well-being of all of our students.  I recognize it, the parents appreciate it, and the students know it.

I am reminded each day of your positive spirit, and your commitment to doing the right thing.  The days can be long, the expectations high, and the work exhausting, but I am constantly amazed at your quick responses of "I can do that", or "I'll take care of that".  

Our Houlton students are blessed to have all of you in their lives.  You truly make a difference - not just this week, but every single day.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Sue

Calibration

This week's Day 6 focus:  Calibrating the F&P Assessment

I have had the opportunity to calibrate an assessment several times throughout my teaching career - and it always surprises me!  In our meeting last week, the SMART Team agreed that this would be a worthwhile activity to do as teams.  While we all "know how to administer the F&P", you might be surprised at how we may have morphed a little bit from the assessment tool's guidelines.  It is particularly important to be aligned with our F&P scoring practices, as the information we share with next year's teacher guides the next steps in instructional decisions.

The purpose of calibration is to ensure that a group of educators evaluates student work consistently and in alignment with the scoring criteria, which increases the reliability of the assessment data. When scoring is calibrated, student work receives the same score regardless of who scores it because all scorers interpret and apply the criteria in the same way.

Calibration is necessary because scoring guidelines alone do not ensure consistent scoring. Even if educators agree upon a set of expectations, they may apply them differently over time. Through the calibration process, educators confirm their understanding of how the scoring criteria is used to measure student work. Not only will our F&P calibration bring about greater accuracy and reliability in scoring, but it also will help to deepen our understanding of expectations for a student's reading as measured by the F&P.

Lori will be meeting with each team and they will score an F&P together (teachers will pull a student from specialists for a short time).  Following the assessment, the team will discuss and calibrate the results of the running record and the comprehension conversation.

Please let me know if you have any questions! And have a great week!
Sue

Thankful

My weekend was incredibly busy, but I feel blessed to have had every moment of it.   These next few days will be filled with the craziness of Google training and new emails, safety drills, Earth Week, and all the other things that are overflowing off your plate. My goal for you over these next few days is to remember to recognize the things around you that make you thankful.  Maybe it's student growth, a child's smile, laughter on the playground -  pause and notice it. Then be thankful, and be happy!

My weekend highlights, for which I am grateful!            


   

Prom!

Confirmation Retreat

Busy Days Ahead!

We have some busy days ahead!

1.  Reading Growth
I appreciate your thoughtful discussions on the recent Day 6 regarding your student growth, and plans to continue or adjust your instruction to best meet your student's needs.  Your discussions were very diagnostic AND solution seeking.  The perfect combination.

Principals have asked me what the secret is for Houlton's reading success.  I attribute it completely to your professional expertise and your collaborative problem solving team approach.  The end of the year is near, but we still have many learning days left.  Thank you for being purposeful in your continued instructional excellence.

2.  Google Training

Nancy Dressel made a 10 min screen-cast for the Let's Get Started that is now available on the HSD Technology Integration Coaching Site.  Staff members are invited to watch the screencast to learn how to forward their email from Outlook to Gmail, and begin using Gmail.  The hope is that most, if not all, teachers will have their email forwarded byThursday, April 14th.  

Following the all district breakfast on Thursday, April 14th, a training session will be held in our building as originally planned, facilitated by the tech team (Kelly, Tim, Patrick and Sue).  Adjustments to the original training have been made in order to accommodate the change in time.

Please let me know how I can support you in the final stretch!

Sue

Google Updates: Gmail and Google Calendar

Gmail and Google Calendar

Hudson School District is working to transfer all staff email and calendars to Google.  In the upcoming weeks, each school will have their email and calendar events migrated to Gmail and Google calendar. The April 14th Late Start has been designated as time to learn more about Gmail and Google calendar. 

All certified and support staff staff are invited and encouraged to attend the building-based April 14th Late Start. Time can be reflected on your timesheets. Follow up sessions will be occurring for SAC, Noon Duty Supervisors, Crossing Guards and Nutrition Service.

To ensure a smooth transition, it will be helpful to have the following completed prior to the April 14th Late Start.

1. Clean up your email (delete unneeded emails, empty trash and check spam/clutter)
2. Forward your email to Gmail prior to April 14th 
1. Directions
   
3. Have a digital photo to use on April 14th.
4. Houlton's PD Plan for April 14th will begin as a whole group overview, and then allow for work time and individual coaching.

Math Update

The district and building focus has been on reading this year, through the SMART goal, SLOs, book studies, and professional development.  But, that doesn't mean that math isn't right up there in importance!


This week's staff meeting will focus on Everyday Math updates, presented by our math committee members.  A follow-up to the information presented will be provided on our next Day 6 (Thursday, March 31st), where you will have additional time to dig into some of the new information.

Math Update Topics:

District Success

Guarantees

SMARTBoard Lessons

Differentiation Options within EDM

Tools

Forward Exam

An online assessment for Wisconsin students, developed with Wisconsin educators.  English language arts and mathematics in grades 3 through 8,
and in science and social studies in grades 4 and 8. 

Moving Forward

For those of you that know the game of hockey or soccer, you understand the difference between Defense and Forward. Hana has played Defense for the past 3 years, but was put in the position of Forward, with no warning or practice, this weekend.  She wanted to play her best, but was unprepared and inexperienced.  It was the coach's belief that she has played the game long enough, that it shouldn't matter.

It reminded me a little bit of our preparation for the Forward exam!  We are getting bits of information quite close to the testing window, but as educators we aren't sure what to expect.  As a district, we are doing our best to share the information we are getting - but also want teachers to know that we believe that what you do each day is preparing our students for whatever "the test" may hold.

We will meet Thursday for all teachers in grades 3-5 and anyone involved in the Spring Assessments.   Prior to our meeting, please review the link below to determine any questions you have so we can address them Thursday morning.  Fafani and Jamie are working on special ed accommodations.

Forward Exam: List of Things to Do for Classroom Teachers

Please be patient as we work through the details together!  And let me know if you have any preliminary questions!

Have a great week!
Sue