Hope you enjoyed a warm and restful Thanksgiving! I’ve always found the period between Thanksgiving and Holidays to be a a productive stretch of the year, and it’s important we need to maximize our efforts with decisive, clear, and intentional practices. Here’s a note on making accountability work:
Accountability is all the rage in education these days, and rightly so. Student-centered learning–the other thing we’re all raging about–is simply not possible unless the teacher already has highly effective accountability systems in place for students. When done right, accountability systems do not enrage but serve as a scaffold as it breaks down an overarching goal into a series bite-sized, actionable, and track-able tasks. However, accountability will surely confound and enrage should it miss any of the following 4 things:
1) It’s underlying purpose is clear: (“Why do we need to do this well?)
2) Thoughtful expectations are communicated early and clearly: (“Do we know exactly what’s expected, when it’s expected, and that it’s all possible?)
3) Monitoring systems are sound; (“Would a job done well be represented accurately?”)
4) Application is uniform and transparent (“Are we all held accountable? And do we know how we’re doing as we go?”)
Think about all the things you ask students to do each day, whether it’s thinking critically, using Lexia, group discussions, homework, or behavior. Which one of the four do you find missing? Need improving?
(FYI I’m solid on 1 and 3…ok on 4……2 I’m getting there…)
Discuss with your AP should you need support it’s a thoughtful topic that schools don’t engage in nearly enough.
WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
Sheerin: Class 4-336 worked through a lesson on multiplying 2-digit numbers using area models and partial products. By giving them the freedom to choose numbers that are easier to multiply, she made the rigorous task accessible to all.
Weinstein: Teaching her 6th grade Spanish class how to translate autobiographical paragraphs, Ms. Kelly first asked them to translate a sample from Spanish to English and then create their own autobiography using the sample. Ms. Kelly used this as a way to assess how well her students are learning to spell and write Spanish.
Borelli: Mrs. McLain and Ms. Rafferty held a pre-Thanksgiving feast with their Pre-K students and families. The simple act of coming together to begin building lasting relationships within the school community put smiles on everyone’s faces.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Monday Inquiry. Please work with your team as planned. I will come by to discuss purchases.
102+ is 102 Noooooon-Stop. We are currently planning our next cycle of 102+. There will be 12 sessions in this cycle and the focus will be on Reading & Writing. All sessions will be held on Wednesdays and Thursdays either before or after school for 1 hour. Dates are as follows:
- January 10 & 11
- January 17 & 18
- January 24 & 25
- January 31 & February 1
- February 7 & 8
- February 14 & 15
The posting will be up this Friday, December 1 in the main office. Please email Sally Mills and your AP if interested.
(Thanks for organizing, Ms. Sheerin!)
OPERATION THANK YOU website is live Last year all 68 of our classes thanked someone in the school for the amazing services they provide. Here are the videos teachers uploaded to Vimeo.com as requested. If your video isn’t up here (and the odds are it isn’t if you’re K-5) and would like to share, please use our school account at VIMEO.COM
username: wko2@schools.nyc.gov; password: emerson102
Once you upload shoot me an email and I’ll connect it to the site.
(And yes, there really is a Batman quote…right next to one by Dumbledore. Thanks, Ms. Arlequin!)
It’s time to create a school email list for parents. (Not that this is a response of some kind…) Ask your parents to sign up should they welcome communcation a bit more timely than backpacked letters. ps102q.org/signup
(Thanks Ms. Weinstein for going in late Saturday to record a voicemail for families last week!)
White Apple Laptops. They’re old. Should you still be using one, shoot Mr. Borelli and me an email to trade it in.
(Thanks for getting our new tech inventory in line, Mr. Borelli!)
Lateness Emails: We don’t want to run into the problem of logging staff as late when you’re not, so I’ve asked Ms. Mills and Mr. Borelli to email everyone who we inputted as late. Please shoot back an email immediately if you believe we’ve made an error.
(Thanks, Ms. Mills, for being efficient and being a great tea-tutor!)
TG WALKTHROUGH NOVEMBER 30th. Same deal as usual. Feel free to review this guide, ask for a thinking partner, or simply send me what you’re thinking and we can discuss over email. Just please refrain from “How can” TGs…
mrkobot.com 