Elementary Assistant Principals and Coaches Attend Training

Assistant principals and academic coaches attended Powerful Conversations Network today.  Participants are reading Leaders of their Own Learning to guide their studies this year.  Attendees include Melanie Glover, Kristi Stacks, Donna Brumlow, Kelly McGough, Edra Perry, and Lisa Lothspeich.

Classroom Management by Michael Linsin

Check out this interesting and timely article that Kristi Stacks shared with the staff of PI.  This classroom management blog is written by a veteran teacher named Michael Linsin.  This is from a post he titled, “How to Drench Your Students in Learning.”

http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/2016/01/30/how-to-drench-your-students-in-learning/

Kindergarten Super Bowl of Math

Paine Primary students celebrated their annual Super Bowl of Math this week.  Teachers prepared celebratory games and food, and many parents visited to assist with the activities.

Quotable Quote

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” —Mark Twain (1835-1910) [Samuel Clemens] Humorist, Essayist, Novelist

Values.com

Paine February Reading Challenge

 Paine fourth grade students are being challenged to read 40 books this month.  A separate goal is to read various genres throughout the month.    

The above display is a replica of a bookshelf filled with books and a card for each student.  The cards list the various genres.  Each time a student reads a book, he/she puts a dot beside each genre.  The dots and genres are color coded.  (See code below)  Believe it or not, right now the favorite genre is poetry!  

CCRS Science Training

Representatives from all TCS schools assembled at the Lincoln Center to continue training on the new Alabama State Science Standards.  The training is provided by the Alabama State Department of Education.  The afternoon was spent back at the Trussville Board office, reflecting on new learning and on science resources for the upcoming years.  

Admins and Counselors Meet for District Data Meeting

The TCS District Data Team met February 1, 2016.  The district data team consists of administrators, academic coaches, counselors, and central office staff.

The District Data Team Purpose:
Create a data plan based on AdvancEd improvement priority: Implement a systematic and systemic set of  processes and procedures K-12  that ensure all staff continuously collect and analyze data to evaluate student needs and drive instruction.  (5.2, 5.3)
Lead the district in collecting and analyzing data and adjusting instruction based on data.
Build capacity in collecting and analyzing data and adjusting instruction based on data.
Use a variety of data

Today’s Learning Targets:
I can determine the data analysis priorities for TCS
I can create a data analysis plan for the district that will positively impact teaching and learning.
I can begin the process of establishing a data analysis team at my school.

Dr. Cardwell shared a video and led the group in practicing a strategy for looking at a school's data, Data Carousel.  Each school developed a timeline for looking at their data and brainstormed candidates for the school data team.  Then each team determined priorities and next steps to begin implementation.

Next Meeting: April 6, 2016 Afternoon of Administrative Collaborative