Bulletin-09-12-2016 - Columbia Heights Educational Campus
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ASSESSMENTS USING DIAGNOSTICS AND FREQUENT FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS TO TRACK PROGRESS
By now, all classes should have completed the initial diagnostics of their students, in order to establish the baseline, identify instructional needs, and develop a calendar of ongoing formative and interim assessments. Formative and interim assessments are critical to measuring ongoing progress of students, and adjusting instruction as needed to meet students’ needs.
Diagnostics must also be used to plan for differentiation through both blended learning, and ongoing grouping and station teaching in the class. The diagnostics form the basis for TAS, which is a part of the Impact Assessment process. If you need assistance with analyzing your diagnostics, please see your department chair. Please also be sure to send your diagnostic results to your Department Chair and the Administrator working with your Department.
IMPACT CALIBRATION
In September’s faculty meeting, we began the process of discussing the new Essential Practices, and discussing what an effective or exemplary level would look like in different disciplines. Our ultimate goal is to provide an environment where every teacher can be supported to achieve high levels on the EP rubric.
We have established a Calibration Chart, which was posted on the CHEC Portal, and which is still open for you to post strategies you believe lead to exemplary practice.
To further refine this process, we are establishing Calibration Walks, in which teachers can accompany administrators to conduct a non evaluative rating of a class. Or, teachers can open their classes up to receive a calibration visit and receive the non-evaluative feedback. It is important to note that all of this is voluntary, and designed to come to common understandings of what the Essential Practices should look like in action. This is the way it would work:
- A teacher and administrator sit and review and discuss their understanding of the Essential Practices Rubric.
- They visit the class of a teacher who has volunteered to be visited and receive feedback.
- The teacher and administrator visit, and debrief what they saw, and then share their evidence for each practice, attempting to come to agreement on what the rating would be.
- If agreement can’t be reached, each person will report the rating they would have given to the teacher visited.
- The observing teacher and administrator meet with the teacher visited and share the feedback and evidence for ratings.
- All three involved debrief the process in order to improve it and identify key points for clarification.
A separate email and calendar will be sent out to all, so that everyone will have the opportunity to volunteer to visit a class and give feedback informally, and/or be visited and receive feedback informally. Look for further information coming soon.
| September 12 - September 16, 2016 |
IN THIS ISSUE Focus on Instruction Leadership Team and Other Updates Shout Outs Opportunities and Updates Ambiente, creating a climate for learning Sports - Griffins Update! Thought for the Week Weekly Calendar Upcoming Events and Activities |
| SPORTS UPDATE - LAST WEEK'S RESULT |
Lincoln Volleyball (VB) 0-0 Bell Boys Soccer (BSOC(: 2-0-1 Girls Soccer (GSOC): 1-1 Football (FB): 1-1 Volleyball (VB): 0-0 |
| THIS WEEK'S SPORTS SCHEDULE |
Monday No Games Tuesday HS VB vs. HD Woodson at 6:00 @ HD Woodson Wednesday HS BSOC vs. Cardozo at 4:00 @ Cardozo HS GSOC vs. McKinley at 4:00 @ McKinley Thursday HS VB vs. Ballou at 5:00 @ Dunbar MS VB vs. Stuart Hobson at 5:30 @ Stuart Hobson Friday HS GSOC vs. Capital City PCS at 4:00 @ CHEC HS FB vs. Maret at 6:00 @ McKinley Saturday No Games |
| WEEKLY CALENDAR |
Monday Tuesday SLC Morning Meeting Wednesday SLC Morning Meeting 9:00 a.m. Morning Session - Back to School (Cafeteria) LEAP Departmental Planning Period Meeting 6:00 p.m. Evening Session - Back to School (Site by SLC) Thursday LEAP Departmental Planning Period Meeting Friday No Meetings |
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES |
FOCUS ON INSTRUCTION
The Instructional Calendar has been distributed to all through the CHEC Portal on Canvas. This week we will focus on routines and rituals, diagnostics, and GRASPS I. We are still focusing on our schoolwide levers for Instruction identified by researcher Mike Shmoker:
- A clear and viable curriculum (UbD)
- 120 minutes of reading and writing every day for every student (Use of CHEC 7 Strategies, and Complex Text)
- Cold calling (equity sticks), with higher order and essential questions, in all classes to increase student accountability and engagement.
- Use of CHAMPS for classroom management and focus
Please remember our Standards Based Approach to teaching. We are teaching to the portfolio product, which is the GRASPS, and every class is focused on some component of that GRASPS. At this point, all classes should be fully into the first GRASPS, and at the stage of production and revision. The steps that should be in place this week are:
9. The GRASP has been broken down into component parts to teach. Teacher identifies standard for first component part and teaches the standard, models first part of the GRASPS.
10. Students complete a draft in class of first part of GRASPS during workshop period, including revising and editing. Students peer edit, teacher moves around the class and assesses at the elbow. Students revise to standard.
11. This process is repeated for each component part of the GRASPS.
SHOUT OUTS
- Shout out to Mila Elmore for Coordinating the ODNI Visit!
- Shout out to Victor Molina, Luz Lemus, and all Faculty for a great Back to School Day and Night!
- Kudos to Suzannah Weiss, Angela Martinez, Victor Molina, Colleen Baker, Jessica Gonzalez, Jessika Alvarado, Brian Villalobos, Raquis Petree, Heber Diaz, Christopher Broad, Resheeda HInkson, and Angela Falkenberg for chaperoning a wonderful Camp Horizons Trip for our SGA candidates!
- Shout Out to Ms. Crivelli and the Green Team for serving fresh vegetables at Back to School Night!
CHEC ARTS UPDATE
Submitted by Dr. Amylia Barnett
Other important dates for CHEC Arts:
6 pm, Thursday, September 15 - CHEC Arts Launch
We will be hosting a party to celebrate the launch of the newly branded CHEC Arts and provide information on all the opportunities CHEC provides within the arts to staff, teachers, students, and the community.
THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION
Submitted by Suzannah Weiss
Move in to Conflict - Don't Back Up!
Have you ever noticed how often we back up when we find ourselves in a conflict? Or how much we try to pull away when someone is angry or in emotional pain? Can you imagine seeing someone bleeding on the street, and then walking right past him? We can be so attuned and ready to help someone in physical pain, and yet we often recoil from a person who is in emotional pain.
I suggest that we begin to retrain ourselves to "move in" when someone is in emotional pain, rather than pulling back. Here's an example of how this might look. Your student might say to you, "You always pick on me. You always assume I'm doing the wrong thing. Always!" If you were to argue with him, or list all the times that you gave the benefit of the doubt, or explained that you read his actions as disrespectful, you would be backing away. To move in sometimes takes courage and often takes a clear desire for connection. In this instance, you could move in by saying, "Are you annoyed because you'd like me to trust that you are doing your best and showing respect?"
It's a simple process, really, but the rewards can be increased intimacy, joy, understanding, connection and deeper relationships. When we back away, the results are often anger, resentment, hurt, and disconnection. These feelings are similar to how you would feel if you were injured and someone walked on by, and similar to the feelings you would have walking past a physically injured person.
How about setting a goal of moving in to someone's emotional pain—maybe even your own!
For today, empathize with at least one person in emotional pain rather than backing up.
LIBRARY UPDATE
Submitted by Angela Martinez
Other Library Events
We have been given the unique opportunity of hosting two award winning authors on Friday, September 23. Both authors, Alma Flor Ada and Ashley Hope Perez, are recipients of the 2016 Americas Award. The Americas Award is a yearly book award that goes to books that tell the story of Latinos in the United States in an accurate and engaging way. There is one award for middle grades (Alma Flor Ada) and one for high school (Ashley Hope Perez).
The author's presentations will be a great addition to our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, as the authors plan on speaking to the experience of young children immigrating to the United States and making their own way in the face of adversity. The authors will present bilingually, as both of them are fluent in both Spanish and English.
We plan on having the author visits in the Model UN with the middle school presentation at 9:30 and the HS one at 10:30. For the middle school, Ms. Falkenberg will be working with SLA teachers to incorporate some of Ada's short stories into lessons over the next couple weeks. Currently we are planning to have all of the MS students attend the presentation. At the high school, we will be working specifically with 9th grade and ELL teachers.
Please let us know if you have any questions about the visits.
OPPORTUNITIES AND UPDATES
The Leadership Team will continue to meet every other Friday this year, and the Academic Leadership Team (ALT) will meet every other Wednesday. Our first meeting was Friday, September 2, and the next meeting will be this Friday, September 16. At this meeting we will finalize the comprehensive school plan and finalize interim assessments. The notes and minutes from all meetings are available on the CHEC Portal. The Leadership Team is a group of teachers, counselors, and administrators who meet every other week to discuss school needs, and plan for improvements. The Leadership Team designs the school’s comprehensive school plan, and helps in its implementation. Please consider joining the Leadership Team this year. It is open to all faculty and staff. We need the involvement and voices of all. Remember, Leadership team meetings are open to all who are interested in schoolwide decision-making and leadership. You can come once, or as many times as you like, but please make your voice heard!
CLIMATE
The beginning of the year is the most powerful moment in establishing climate, norms, and routines. Remember our goal of consistency so that students experience consistent expectations and support. Please also remember our shift to Restorative Justice. Use CHAMPS and PBIS to support your classroom climate!
The Deans will be chairing the School Climate and Culture Team. Please join to make your voice heard on the School Climate and Culture.
Student Government Campaigns are underway! Students have picked up their petitions, and will begin campaigning this week. All potential nominees will attend a Leadership Retreat at Camp Horizons on September 9. Please see Mr. Molina if you would like to get involved.
NOMINATE A STUDENT OF THE WEEK!!!
This IS A REMINDER ABOUT THE Student of the Week Program. Any staff member can nominate a student, for academic or mission related accomplishments.
Please send your nominations by email to M. Tukeva.
PLEASE NOMINATE STUDENTS OF THE WEEK!
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FACULTY
1. National Archives Educator Open House - Thursday, September 22; 5:30PM
"Enjoy a special after-hours viewing of the exhibits at the National Archives. Learn about resources and workshops for National History Day, options for video conferencing programs into your classroom, DocsTeach online resources and lesson plans, the Constitution-in-Action Learning Lab, and much more! "
2. National Book Festival - Saturday, September 24, 2016; 9AM-10PM
"Mark your calendars for the 16th Anniversary National Book Festival, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at the Washington Convention Center. Follow the excitement via our hashtag, #NatBookFest. "
3. Newseum Educator Open House - Saturday, October 1, 2016; 9AM-4PM
"Join the Education team for our 7th annual fall Newseum Teacher Open House. Learn about our offerings in history, media literacy and civics during a day filled with sample classes, gallery talks, a studio tour and more! Discover resources you can use in your classroom or during a school visit to the Newseum."
4. Spy Museum Educator Night Out - Thursday, September 29, 2016; 5-8PM
"Enjoy an evening at the Spy Museum where the red carpet will be rolled out just for teachers! Gain exclusive access to the Museum; bring your A-game to compete in a Museum-wide scavenger hunt, collect useful curriculum materials and resources to spice up…or shake up your students; relax with a signature martini – the Teachertini, and some quick bites to eat and who knows…you might just meet a real spy!"
FULBRIGHT DISTINGUISHED AWARDS IN TEACHING PROGRAM
Announcing the launch of the 2017-2018 Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching (DA) Program Online Application for K-12 teachers! Are you a U.S.:
- Primary and/or secondary classroom teacher?
- Guidance counselor?
- Curriculum specialist?
- Curriculum head?
- Talented and Gifted coordinator?
- Special Education coordinator?
- Media specialist/librarian?
You may be eligible to participate in a unique international professional development opportunity for 3-6 months through the Fulbright Program!
By conducting educational research abroad, U.S. teachers gain new skills, learn new instructional methods and assessment methodologies and share best practices with international colleagues and students. Teachers also have the opportunity to expand their understanding of other cultures and international education systems that will enrich their U.S. schools and local communities with global perspectives.
Teachers may travel to:
Botswana, Finland, India, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Palestinian Territories, Singapore, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam
*Countries are still pending and may change. Please visit the program website for updates.
Application deadline: December 1, 2016
Eligibility Requirements: www.fulbrightteacherexchange.org
This program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by the Institute of International Education.
