Magnolia Hosts Literacy Day

Parents were invited to join their children during their reading block today at Magnolia Elementary.  The goal was for parents to learn more about reading instruction and opportunities for sharing reading experiences with their children.  

After reading with their child, parents were asked to give their child a postive note regarding their reading.  

Kindergarten Science Planning

Kindergarten teachers from Paine met today to plan upcoming science units.  The teachers went through the StemScopes modules that they will be teaching the third trimester, and investigated the materials and equipment.  

New TCS Math Coach

Monica Bramlett, fifth grade teacher at Cahaba Elementary, will become Trussville's newest math coach for the 18-19 school year.  Mrs. Bramlett completed her student teaching at Paine, learning alongside legendary teacher, Joan Bynum, and math coach, Gloria Stuckey.  Mrs. Bramlett began her eight year teaching career in Trussville, teaching fourth and fifth grades at Paine and fifth grade this past year at Cahaba.  She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2008, and her Master of Science Degree in Instructional Leadership from Samford University in 2013.  

We are thrilled to add another math coach to our elementary schools.  Please join me in welcoming Mrs. Bramlett to her new role. 

TCS Administrative Mentor Program

Trussville City Schools is proud to announce a new leadership development program designed to provide experience and mentoring for aspiring principals and assistant principals.

TCS has a well established teacher mentoring program that provides support to first year teachers in our district.  It is a natural "next step" for the district to provide an administrator mentoring program. Experts consistently emphasize the value of mentorships in administrator induction programs.  The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) describes high-quality mentors as “the key” to improving training for aspiring principals in an effective manner.

Magnolia Principal, Dr. Autumm Jeter, will serve as the Central Office Liaison for the administrative mentorship program.  The goal of the program is to develop administrators within Trussville City Schools for the role of Principal and/or Assistant Principal. Participants will shadow and work alongside an experienced principal within Trussville City Schools to gain first-hand knowledge and experience to carry out the duties of a school-level principal or assistant principal.  Mentorship Program Goals include instructional, management, finance, discipline, and culture.

Elementary Science Teachers Collaborate at ALC

First and fourth grade teachers from Cahaba, Magnolia, and Paine collaborated today on science lessons for the third trimester.  The teachers created PowerPoints to guide daily lessons and selected literature, videos, and other resources to enhance their StemScopes lessons.  Fourth grade teachers analyzed their science data from Scantron. 

TCS Elementary EdCamp Hosted by Magnolia

Trussville City Schools held its second of three elementary EdCamps for 17-18 on Monday, February 12, at Magnolia Elementary. 

Built on principles of connected and participatory learning, Edcamp strives to bring teachers together to talk about the things that matter most to them: their interests, passions, and questions. Teachers who attend Edcamp can choose to lead sessions on those things that matter, with an expectation that the people in the room will work together to build understanding by sharing their own knowledge and questions.

The May 2014 Educational Leadership Journal states:

We have to trust that teachers are professionals who use their classrooms as innovative laboratories and who are motivated to engage in authentic learning. Edcamp events are only one component of a balanced professional learning diet. Teachers should also engage in rigorous reading, action research, and collaborative curriculum writing, among other things. However, when included as part of a balanced learning plan, Edcamps can empower and motivate teachers to learn and share powerful practices.

Sessions facilitated by our teachers included:

How to Use Twitter

Kindergarten Number Talks

Integrating Reading Workshop/Conferring in Reading Workshop (Gr 3-5)

Conferring in Reading Workshop for Gr 2

Management Strategies for Teaching Math Curriculum Guides (Gr K-2 and 3-5)

Epic

Ways to Enhance Student Presentations with Technology

Strategies that Take Advantage of How the Brain Learns Best

Elementary Counselor Collaboration

STEM Labs

World Travelers (Google Expeditions)

Improve Behavior and Increase Learning

Dreambox

Inclusion Strategies

Student Led Conferences/IEP Meetings

How to Use Ticket to Read and Readworks Effectively in the Classroom

Reading Workshop Model/Preparing for Strategy Groups (Grades K-1)

We are thankful for the facilitators and participants who came together to learn and share powerful practices.  We appreciate Magnolia PTO for providing delicious refreshments.  A follow-up survey was sent to obtain feedback about the February 12 EdCamp and interest about sessions for the upcoming May 7 EdCamp at Paine.  Please complete the survey if you have not done so already. 

https://goo.gl/forms/ER5egfm8dMN9mKQu2 

TCS Admins Collaborate to Learn

Principals, assistant principals, central office administrators, academic coaches, and teacher leaders met February 7 for the TCS Administrator Collaborative.  Objectives of the Collaborative Meetings are to:

• Read, discuss, and share strategies from Learning That Lasts by Ron Berger
• Develop a clear understanding of the TCS Educator Effectiveness Plan
• Share ways we are facilitating professional growth and building expertise of the TCS Nine Indicators for Effective Educators
• Participate in classroom walkthroughs with debriefing discussions to improve practice
• Share walkthrough updates and data from each school
• Determine Professional Development Needs and develop the TCS Professional Development Plan

The purpose of this professional study is:

• To improve student learning
• To improve teacher practice
• To implement an evaluation model that aligns with instructional focuses and guides stakeholders in shared understanding of a research based, K-12, Educator Effectiveness model

The Learning Targets for February 7 were:

I can establish a math growth mindset culture in my school/district.

I can internalize my role in leading the shift in mathematics instruction in my school/ district.

I can recognize effective instructional practices in the learning of mathematics.  

I can reflect and update the district’s continuous improvement plan and professional development plan.

Congratulations!

Today, the Alabama State Department of Education released a report card assigning a letter grade of A through F to every public school in the state.  Students, employees, and parents in Trussville were affirmed when our district received an A!  This grade was achieved because of hard work, commitment, and passionate dedication of all the stakeholders in our school system.  

TCS administrators, teachers, and support personnel have a common goal to help our students grow and learn and to become independent, productive, ethical citizens.  These people do hundreds of little things to support students that others may never see or know.  They plan lessons, read late into the night in order to be better teachers, pray, cry, sanitize sticky desks, call parents, and buy food and books and clothes and birthday presents for their students.  They sacrifice so much and so often because they care.  ALL of these acts contribute to the success of our students.  

Our students are learning and achieving at higher levels because our teachers are professionals who are continuously growing, learning, and improving their craft. Throughout the district, teachers are becoming experts in various content areas, including best practices, brain research, supporting struggling students, supporting gifted students, counseling students, and in many other areas. 

This "A" is so exciting and affirming.  We should celebrate and congratulate one another.  But in a couple of days, this "A" will be a distant memory, and our staff will do what we always do.  We'll teach and learn and support and care.  Many, many thanks to you all for teaching and learning and supporting and caring.  And, congratulations on your "A"!

Fourth Grade Teachers Spend a Day Planning and Learning Together

Emily Hall Shares Electronic Data Notebooks with HTHS Staff

Paine Teachers Share New Learning with Colleagues

Mr. Salem Discusses ACTAspire Scores with Staff

ALWAYS Time to Provide Intervention

Teaching Foundational Reading Skills 

Learning Together

The Art and Science of Teaching