Everyone has been working so hard all year, and it’s nice to know that people near and far appreciate our efforts. It started early this week when the Chancellor-appointed Supervisor of Superintendents decided to visit us along with Superintendent Chan. As soon as we got out of my office and into classrooms, she went from optimistically skeptical to full-on 102 believer. Our teachers are that special.
No surprise then that when Ms. Chan and I conducted mini-observations the same day, it felt like a pre-victory lap. Impressed by the Wonderwalls in all the classrooms she visited, she nevertheless recognized and appreciated powerful teacher practice on our every floor. She referred to Ms. Arlequin as a “rockstar”–and she didn’t even get to see Amanda’s TG that got me hook, line, and sinker in responding to it instead of giving feedback like I was supposed to(see below for TG feedback for 11/30+12/1). She ended the tour on a great note when she visited Ms. Giampapa and Ms. Cohen’s 2nd grade ICT class. “They’re gooooood”, she commented. And again she didn’t even know–and I just found out then–that they are working with 4th and 1st grade to have student experts present book facts to younger students, 4th to 2nd and 2nd to 1st. No one asked them to collaborate, and no one should think less of them if they hadn’t. But exceptional people will always find a way to do exceptional things, whether or not someone is watching.
However, affirmation and gold stars from the boss and the boss’ boss is only a fraction of the significance when compared to the joy parents shared during the K-2 writers Open House. This Thursday and Friday a huge number of parents visited K-2 classrooms to enjoy their children showcase their writing. When students write we know we’re doing right, and seeing parents brimming with pride is a joyful sight.
MONDAY, 12/5 and 12/12: Believe it or not, everything we set out to do this year–and there were tons–are now up and running. To round up December and begin shifting our focus from getting things to work to getting things to work well, we will meet as curriculum teams on the 5th and as grade teams on the 12th. Please be ready to share what you thought worked well this year and also issues we need to address.
RECESS for grade 3-5 will begin again starting late this week on a rotational as well as conditional basis. More information to follow in a printed memo.
12/1 TG Feedback: It took awhile, but the next round of feedback is up and they are highlighted in blue. (Not highlight ones are from 11/30.) If you have questions or concerns or noticed that our feedback isn’ in line with you lesson’s instructional goals, please reach out and we can discuss. TG Walkthroughs are meant to be a springboard for professional discourse on pushing student thinking, and we took great pains in ensuring the process is viewed from and used as a learning tool, not an evaluative one.
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