Grace and Achievement

Actionable Grace and Achievement

Every week I share a quote as part of our elementary school announcements. This week’s quote was Mistakes are proof that you are trying.

As I shared the quote, I reflected back on our first meetings where we all recognized the need to practice and accept grace as we began this incredible endeavor together. I think we’ve all had some significant bumps over the first several weeks of school. While we each had our reasons for teaching virtually, I appreciate that none of you avoided the challenge. Each of you has turned each mistake into a learning and growth opportunity.

Many people avoid challenging situations because they fear failure or negative exposure. Of course, this is true of adults and children. We  only overcome this challenge when the struggle becomes a positive experience. For many of our students, school has historically been a struggle. For some of our students we are helping them overcome their challenges. Together, by persistently focusing on our relationships with our students, we can ensure our students’ success. Desiring and achieving the best for each of our students begins with developing positive, trusting relationships.

In listening to our students and families, here are some of the ways that we are doing this:

  • We give each of our students a voice--something that they often feel has been lacking.
  • We find new ways to praise and provide positive feedback.
  • We meet individually with students.
  • We are accepting and seeking their ideas and their feedback.
  • By sharing our own struggles with virtual teaching and learning, we’ve increased our vulnerability and created trust.
  • We find ways to compliment students, especially those most in need of positive vibes.
  • We focus on the individual student and the gains he/she is making while holding them accountable for continued growth.

How are you developing stronger relationships with low-achieving students? How are you practicing grace?

Over the next week, focus on 2 or 3 students who are not achieving well in your class. Pay attention to your interactions and purposefully go the extra mile to positively engage them.

Tasks

  1. Please complete your timecards in Kronos. Over the next couple of weeks, you will be seeing information in Compass about us moving towards positive pay as part of the Payroll Clarity Project.
  2. Update you Employee Notification System settings https://compass.k12albemarle.org/?p=2339908 
  3. Open Enrollment begins November 1

Information: ALL

Panorama Survey

Students in grades 3-12 throughout the county will take the Panorama Survey.

Elementary school teachers, please plan on having your students take the survey this week.

Middle and secondary school teachers, we will take the survey Friday during 1st block. We will extend first block through the advisory/intervention period.

The survey closes on October 28. We will use next week to catch up with students who have not taken the survey.  

How will we use the results

  • We will compare our results with national results.
  • We will examine/compare/understand the results by different groups.
  • Find strategies to use to improve our practices.
  • The survey will be given again in the spring, so it will be used to measure how we’ve improved at meeting the needs of our students.

 

Prior to survey day

  1. Budget about 30-minutes for students to take the survey.
  2. Determine which students may need help.
  3. The survey is available in English and Spanish.
  4. The survey works with Snap-and-Read. This is a good opportunity to demonstrate Snap-n-Read to our students.
  5. Elementary teachers: it is fine to read each question to the students as a class or in a group.
  6. Elementary teachers: Here’s a vocabulary pre-lesson you may find helpful: . Panorama's Mini Vocabulary Lesson has terms and definitions in both English and Spanish. The linked deck will instruct you to make a copy, so that you can edit the slides and remove parts that will not be helpful to your students
  7. All: Have student numbers available so that you can share these with students who do not know theirs. For younger students you may want to share these in advance. These are confidential.
  8. All: Include survey link/directions are ready and accessible.
  9. Review:https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-mJY8hTMr1bfsck2rvbv-HpL6i7V048cx87Jn_jU57U/edit#slide=id.g1f33d602fc_0_0 

Sample Surveys

Grade 3-5 Sample Survey

Grade 6-12 Sample Survey   Survey for 6-12 Cultural Awareness

Teacher Directions for the day of the survey:  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1-mJY8hTMr1bfsck2rvbv-HpL6i7V048cx87Jn_jU57U/edit#slide=id.g1f33d602fc_0_0 

**Steps 4 and 5 are a little different for elementary and secondary students. Elementary students only have one part; secondary students have 2 parts.

For absent students, please send them the following:

We missed you in class today. This year Albemarle County students are taking a survey to measure how we are doing. This climate survey focuses on how we create a sense of belonging and safety, whether we have high expectations for our students, overall school climate, and other topics.  We will use this survey to improve our schools.

To take the survey, please go to http://surveys.panoramaed.com/albemarleva  Then Enter your access code, which is your Student ID number.

Secondary students, there are 2 parts to this survey so you will have to SUBMIT after each section.

When you have finished taking the survey, you will see this screen indicating you are all done! 

Peer Nomination Survey

The peer nomination survey will take place next week for students in grades 4-12. This is for students in grades 4-12. 4th and 5th graders will take this survey in their classes. Secondary students will take this survey in their English classes.

Information: Secondary

We will meet on Thursday @ 3:40-4:40.

Phone Calls

  1. Students on this list have at  least 2 poor grades. For us to partner with families to ensure student success, we will be proactive at ensuring each of the families hears from us.
  2. Each staff member should choose 6-7 families to call. Working as a team will enable us to meet more families, especially those who may be less engaged in their child’s learning.
  3. Here’s a script/template for how to make these—and all—phone calls.
  4. Please add notes to the list.

 

Student-Led Conferences (Middle School)

  • Please review the cover sheet and modify the highlighted sections to fit your students’ needs
  • Working with your schedules, students will need to have these completed and linked into their Slideshow by October 26. This will require class time in each middle school class.
  • Middle School Advisory Schedule
  • October 19 Students link goals and self reflection into slideshows; Overview of student led conferences  
  • October 21: Second Overview of student led conferences; Invitations to families
  • October 26: Student finalize presentations
  • October 28: Students practice presentation and Seek Feedback

Friday: Extended 1st period

Tuesday, October 26 (normal bell schedule)

  • PSAT for sophomores and juniors (no new material)
  • Ninth graders will take the CCRA with me

Elementary Information

We will meet Tuesday 3:25-4:25 Rough genda

Next week: Peer Nomination Survey

November 8: CoGAT 3rd Grade

November 9/10: CoGAT select 4th and 5th grade students

Elementary Announcements

Monday: http://youtu.be/Hu5WXccZbds?hd=1 

Tuesday: http://youtu.be/oH8_2hlXf7E?hd=1 

Wednesday: http://youtu.be/bdU5vHhGsNU?hd=1 

Thursday: http://youtu.be/EfHYkOq-i9w?hd=1

Friday: http://youtu.be/Ynnvzg7wUXE?hd=1

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