It's Our Story To Tell

In January, of this year, many news sources were sharing a recent report looking at NC Charter Schools with the public.  This story shared that charter schools in NC were less diverse than traditional public schools.  Some news outlets even said that charter schools were evidence of segregation returning to our state.  The Lt. Governor, a member of the state's charter school advisory board, asked that the report be updated and include more positive information.  And they did, but that narrative of charter schools being exclusive and not diverse is still out there.

I have always been told "that it is up to you to tell your story".  If you allow someone to speak for you...they will.  But, as you know, the story will not be the whole truth and the people that hear the story will run with it and it will become their reality.

So, here's our story for the 291 students we have at TCEA:

TCEA: 35% White students

49.5% White students in NC traditional public schools

TCEA: 40% African American students
26.1% African American students in traditional public schools

TCEA: 14% Hispanic students
14% Hispanic students in NC traditional public schools

TCEA: 49% Free/Reduced students
53% Free/Reduced students in NC traditional public schools

NCDPI Date from: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/fbs/resources/data/

Our story is one where we are truly impacting ALL students by integrating arts into their lives to help them discover who they are and what their gift is to share with the world.  Now that you know our story, you must share it.

Here's are a few ideas on how to hook people and engage in telling our story.  If we don't...others will!!!

Have a great Sunday and I'll see you tomorrow!

Angela

Week of Monday, February 22-26, 2016

Monday, February 22

• PD Day in Data Room- K/1: 10-11;  4th, 5th, & 6th: 11-12; 2nd/3rd: 12:15-1:15
• 3:30- SIT
• 5:00- TCEA Board Mtg

Tuesday, February 23

• Progress Monitoring of Green and Blue Students
• Arts PLC at 1:45
• Chameleon Coin Pep Rally at 2:30
• Bring a Friend Night at 6 PM

Wednesday, February 24

Progress Monitoring of Green and Blue Students

PLC in Data Room- K/1: 10-11;  4th, 5th, & 6th: 11-12; 2nd/3rd: 12:15-1:15

Department Chair Mtg at 3:30

Thursday, February 25

• Grade level planning meetings- K/1: 10-11;  4th, 5th, & 6th: 11-12; 2nd/3rd: 12:15-1:15

Friday, February 26

• Penny War Pep Rally at 2:30

Reminders:

• Don't forget to complete the mid-year PDP and if you are responsible for doing a peer observation don't forget your deadline :)

Gradual Release

At the end of the Math PD held last week, the presenter and I talked about "next steps" for TCEA and on topic that came up was the GRADUAL RELEASE concept and how many teachers struggle with this concept.  Below is a video I am requesting all staff to watch so we'll be prepared for our PLCs this week.  If you have any questions or concerns on this topic, please have them ready for discussion in our PLC.

Gradual Release Model Video

Hope you have had a restful weekend and I will see you on Tuesday!

Angela

Week of February 15-19, 2016

New Schedule Begins*

Please make sure you check new lunch duty ;

Make sure you have shared new Art Schedule with parents as well

Monday, February 15

President's Day: No School

Tuesday, February 16 (Please post new schedule outside classrooms)

• Progress Monitoring of Red Students (K-3)
• Arts PLC at 1:45
•  Safety Committee on Tuesday, February 16th at 3:30

Wednesday, February 17 (Please have math reflection sheet with you in PLCs)

• K/1 PLC at 10
• 4th-6th PLC at 11
• 2nd/3rd PLC at 12:15
• Beginning Teacher Mtg at 3:30 (will give BT time to work over mid year PDP as well as cover Standard 5)
• Progress Monitoring of Red Students (K-3)

Thursday, February 18

• Regular Schedule

Friday, February 19

• SST Mtg at 3:30

Reminders:

• Mid Year PDPs need to be completed by the end of this week.
• Please use new office referral sheets (with new logo)/emailed week before last
• Make sure you are enforcing our dress code policy

Forward Together...Not One Step Back!

This is what I want for TCEA...

I want a group that rallies around one cause, educating our future, and that any of us can be the LeBron in this video and refocus the group around that cause.  It takes more than one person or one small group of people to create an environment that is focused and united.  Are you engaged? Do you view this journey as one the team must travel TOGETHER or do you view your journey as a trek you make on your own?

I'm ready to go the distance...are you?

Week of February 8-12, 2016

Monday, February 8

• Clock Check at 7:50
• 1st Grade PLC at 11:30
• IS Planning at 3:30 PM in Cafe

Tuesday, February 9

• Counselor Mtg at 8:00
• Arts PLC at 10
• 5th/6th PLC at 12:30

Wednesday, February 10

• Math in Focus Training (2nd/3rd 8-11 and 4th, 5th and 6th 12-3)

Thursday, February 11

• Math in Focus Training (K 8-11 and 1st 12-3)
• 4th PLC at 11
• 2nd PLC at 12:15
• IS Lesson Plans Due
• FEO Candygrams Delivered

Friday, February 12: Teacher Workday 

• We will have a renewing of commitment vows at 10 in cafe.  Please arrive on time and email me if you will not be there.
• Homeroom Teachers: Guided Math Planning (you will receive a planning sheet the morning of 2/12 that you will need to complete during your planning meetings and return before 3 PM
• Arts Staff: PD on Standards Based Grading 10:30-11:30 and then work on implementing plan 11-3.

Can I Speak??

If you think back to many of your learning opportunities, they probably looked something like this...

Teacher talked and students listened and then did something with what they had heard to demonstrate mastery.  And that model worked when teachers had the information that students needed.  Now of days, students can learn what we are teaching them without the teacher through the Internet and other forms of media.  That model of "Sage on the Stage" will not produce 21st century students.

We have to move to a more student engaged model that expects students to "step up" and participate in their learning.  In an article written by Charles Morrison entitled From 'Sage on the Stage' to 'Guide on the Side': A Good Start, he shares the following:

" In what follows, it will become clear what I mean by learning ‘deeply’, but for now I will couple the teacher’s shift from ‘sage to guide’ with the corresponding student shift from ‘recipient to participant’. Although somewhat clumsy, the phrase ‘sage-and recipient-to-guide-and-participant’ is an important reminder that teaching and learning involve a dynamic interaction between two partners; it is a reminder that, as the title of this paper suggests, the sage-to-guide shift is only the start, only half of the equation as it were... There are many good examples of new opportunities and responsibilities students are afforded when they become active partners in the teaching-learning process and become more fully engaged as participants rather then merely information recipients. Most of the so-called ‘high-impact practices’ now gaining currency in post-secondary education – practices such as community service learning courses, undergraduate research, flipped classrooms, problem-based education, to name a few – are well documented and so I will not rehearse them in detail here."

I want to ask you to reflect this week on the amount of work/effort you are doing compared to what you are expecting your student to do to contribute to their learning. AND I DON'T MEAN MORE WORK, WORKSHEETS, ETC.  I mean how responsible are your students for the discourse happening in your Math and ELA classes?  Do you only hear student talk when they're confused?

Research shows that students have to hear information in multiple ways to truly understand.  I know I have to recite a phone number aloud before even writing it down to get it right! I encourage you to step aside and let your kids be full participants in their learning...you both deserve it!

Video: Talk Moves in Academic Discussions

Week of February 1-5, 2016

National School Counseling Week 2016

Monday, February 1

• Candygram Sales Begin
• Open Enrollment Begins
• 1st Grade PLC at 11:30
• Committee Mtg at 3:30 in Cafe

Tuesday, February 2

• Progress Monitoring of Red Students Begins
• Hill out 9:40-11:30 for Dr. Appt
• Arts PLC at 10
• 5th/6th PLC at 12:30
• SST Mtg at 3:30

Wednesday, February 3

• Progress Monitoring of Red Students Last day
• IS 4th Block (WCL/Drama) at 10
• 3rd PLC at 1:45

Thursday, February 4

• IS 4th Block (Visual Arts/Media) at 10
• 4th PLC at 11:00
• 2nd PLC at 12:15

Friday, February 5

• FEO Mtg at 8:00 in Theater
• Hill's Winterpalooza (9-12 in the parking lot; schedule to be sent on student rotation by mid week)
• IS 4th Block (Dance/ Music) at 10
• K PLC at 11

A Change Gonna Come...

The above song is one of my favorites.  It's all about change and although the change he sings about is not the same as the change we are taking on at TCEA, there is this chord of hope that I hear in the song, and I feel that same level of hope about the change in which we are embarking at school.  I will be sending an email with the findings from our math conversations last week but to sum it up in a few words: IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE IN INSTRUCTION.

I will share one thing about me as a leader, that is a weakness and a strength.  I totally believe that the teacher should be the expert and leader in his/her room.  So because of this fact, I sometimes err on the side of the teacher when I view instruction and growth of students.  This year I set out to observe and make changes as needed, and just get out of the way and allow teachers to teach.  This is a strength when things are going well, but can be a weakness when things are not improving as needed.

I know now, that I needed to change.  I need to give you, the teachers, the time and support needed to "beef up" math instruction so you feel confident in your knowledge and instruction of students.  I will change the way I lead now so that I can transition to my "natural" way of leading later.

I am asking you to embrace the changes taking place with a growth mindset and the idea of these changes being needed to create positive results for our students.  I will be sharing more of the changes in store via email this week, and I look forward to the amazing results we'll see across our building.

Angela

Week of January 25-29, 2016

Monday, January 25

• Mid Term Grades Due
• 1st Grade PLCs*
• Staff Mtg (Baby Shower)

Tuesday, January 26

• Vision Mass Screening
• Arts PLC
• 5th/6th PLC
• SST Mtg at 3:30

Wednesday, January 27

• 2nd & 4th Data Day
• 3rd PLC

Thursday, January 28

• 4th & 5th/6th Data Day
• 4th PLC
• 2nd PLC

Friday, January 29

• 3rd & K Data Day
• K PLC
• Progress Reports Go Home
• FEO Sports Day

* potential retention list will be distributed in PLCs this week with due date to Hill 2/1/16.

It's Easy As 1...2...3

Let's have a laugh first! Ever felt like this?  

My Math Class

As most of you have heard, we are not seeing the progress we'd want to see in Math.  Now we can all point to the reasons why this might be and we can definitely talk about those reasons in PLC but I think the most important question is What are we going to do to change this trajectory?  I sent classroom teachers links to Singapore Math help sites as well as NCDPI Math websites that can be used to augment teaching. I will be having one-on-one or small group chats with all homeroom teachers to discuss what's currently going on in your math lessons.  I will email your time and location of meeting today.  Please bring a sample lesson plan with you.  While planning for your upcoming math lessons please keep the eight math standards in mind when planning.  Those are listed below:

More information can be found on math practices and strategies to implement in your classroom at the following sites:

Math Common Core

NCDPI Math Wiki

Singapore Math Live Binder

I know that by reviewing our current practices and intentionally planning for success our students will be learning at a deeper level in math.  If you have any questions or concerns, please see me.

Angela


Week of January 18-22, 2016
Staff can wear jeans all week!

Monday, January 18

No School MLK Day

Tuesday, January 19

• Students can wear anything (within reason) day!
• Arts PLC
• 5th and 6th PLC
• SST Mtg @ 3:30

Wednesday, January 20

• 3rd PLC
• One-on-One or Small Group Math Meeting (see upcoming email for time/location)
• Beginning Teacher Meeting at 3:30

Thursday, January 21

• 2nd PLC
• 4th PLC

Friday, January 22

• K PLC

What Motivates You?

This week I ran across an article on helping students motivate themselves.  We all need motivation but as we get older we learn ways to motivate ourselves...the right song...the right outfit...the right quote, etc.  We need to empower our students to motivate themselves because in the world they are growing up in there's a lot of pressure to be mediocre and settle for average.  Lets push our kids to be as great as they can be. Please read the article found below and try some the ideas out and let me know how successful they are!  Your reward for reading the article is the video below the article link.  This song could motivate any educator!!

Motivation Article

Hope you had a great weekend and I will see you tomorrow!

Angela

Week of January 11-15, 2016

* 2nd round observations continue

Monday, January 11

• 1st Grade PLC
• PBIS Pep Rally at 2:30 (students come packed to go home)
• SIT at 3:30
• TCEA Board Mtg at 5:00

Tuesday, January 12

• Arts PLC
• 5th/6th PLC
• SST Mtg

Wednesday, January 13

• 3rd PLC

Thursday, January 14

• 4th PLC
• 2nd PLC
• FEO Mtg at 3:30

Friday, January 15

• K PLC