This Week @ TeamLJH

Good News-  Our preliminary school grade for the 2013 school year is a B.  We are on the upward clime over the last several years.  It is the work and commitment that each of you have done over the last year that has accounted for our recent climb.  I appreciate all that you do for Team LJH.  Now, as we move to become the best we can be, we know that there are numerous students that move in the wrong direction as they get older and move through Lincoln to the high school.  This is not just a trend here at Lincoln but also a state and national trend.  Our school wide goals have targeted our DNP population but for us to become the best we can be we must continue to master our tier one core instruction.  It is through our work in triads that we attempt to challenge and stretch each other to continue to grow.  Our best shot instruction must truly be our best shot.  Learn Together Lead Together.  I believe we have the capacity to become GREAT.

Cohort Data

Parent Teacher Conference-  They are here.  This is an opportunity to share with parents the good things that their students are doing, address some concerns we have, and build positive relationships with parents.  I had asked that each teacher call the parents of 10 students to personally invite to our conferences.  It is not too late to get your phone calls made if you have not already done so.  Conferences will be from 3:30 to 5:00 and 5:30 to 8:00.  Make sure you have a sign-in sheets and seats outside your door.  Food will be available after school and during the short break.  

Goal Meeting-On Wednesday 10/23 we will meet to look at our School Improvement Goals and identify several strategies that we can use throughout all classes to target the goals.  The SIP goals represent the goals for both the Language Arts and Math departments.  All of teachers must develop goals related to the SIP goals and all goal sheets are to be uploaded to SFS by Nov. 1st.

Update on the Computer Refresh- A team of PCSC teachers and administrators will begin our visits to other schools to look at 3 devices.  The devices are Chromebooks, iPads, and Macbooks.  The teachers from Lincoln that are part of this team are Riley Heeren and Paula Neidlinger.  If you have strong feelings about a device make sure that you have conversations with our representatives.  The decision for the refresh will be made by December and it is a decision that administration is looking for input.  Thus far, data was collected both here and at the high school to look at what kind of technology is being used by students during class.  The data indicated that google docs an other web based tools were the most used.  This data has helped direct our look fors as we visit other schools.  The team is going to visit Garrett and Lowell High Schools to look at Macbooks, Warren Central to look at Chromebooks, and Center Grove to look at iPads.  Stay Tuned.

Making Thinking Visible  "... we as teachers frame our core activity not as delivering the curriculum to a passive group of students but as engaging students actively with ideas and then uncovering and guiding their thinking about those ideas..."

"To develop understanding of a subject area, one has to engage in authentic intellectual activity.  That means solving problems, making decisions, and developing new understanding using the methods and tools of the discipline."

"What kind of intellectual life are we presenting to our student in our individual classrooms and in our school as a whole?  What are my students learning about learning?  What messages am I sending through the opportunities I create for my students about what learning is and how learning happens?"

"Consequently, the students in our charge need to see an image of us as thinkers and learners that they can imitate and learn from.  They need to see and hear others' perspectives, insights, and questions as they advance in their own understanding. Student need to see how others plan, monitor, and challenge their own thinking in ways that move them forwards.  Students need to see that all learners make mistakes and that learning often occurs from reflecting on those mistakes"  

Snack Day- Wednesday October 30th.  
Grades due by 10:00 a.m. on Monday October 21st.  

Have a Great Weekend!