Ms. Emily Green and I had the opportunity to take part in part one of the "The Great Conversation" conferences last Friday. Apart from my inability to stay focused while being lectured to by some random person; it was a great opportunity to see and give input about the direction of OKCPS. Reflecting on the presentation I was favorably impressed and optimistic for the future of the school district. There seems to be a real sense of urgency and concern for every student in Oklahoma City.
During our day, we looked at the district wide data concerning grades 3-12. It is VERY eye-opening to see the drastic differences between the elementary and secondary test scores. On every level the secondary scores out shine the elementary scores. There was lots of discussion as to why and how to fix it. The other glaring concern that was raised was the high number of special education and low socio-economic/ minority students who are not being successful. Again, lots of discussion and thoughts on how to fix it. What is eye opening; the lowest scores at Hayes Elementary are our Special Education population and our minority/ low socio kiddos. The main thing I took away from the day was that we, I am talking Hayes Elementary because that's the only part of the puzzle we as a staff have control, are going to utilize what tools we have in order to better meet the needs of our under achieving students. That and I want to have Hayes be a reason that elementary schools change that trend of being behind the high schools.
The main thing OKCPS does not lack in, data. The main thing Hayes Elementary does not lack in, data. We track teacher and student attendance, benchmarks, fluency, discipline, professional development; the list goes on and on... WE HAVE DATA COMING OUT OF OUR EARS!
What good is taking in all that data if we aren't looking at it, digesting it, and using to reach our students? For example, each testing grade teacher has a data notebook that SHOULD BE used to drive instruction and small groups. We must realize that what we are teaching these young men and women, boys and girls, needs to be specific to their needs... use the data! If the majority of your students are missing a concept, it's more than likely not the students fault. We must reteach it to their understanding. IF YOU ARE GIVING YOUR STUDENTS A WORKSHEET THAT THEY CAN DO, THEY DON'T NEED IT! IF THEY CAN'T DO THE WORKSHEET, IT WON'T HELP THEM! Our classrooms need to be learner focused; our students need to be able to reflect and self-assess and we must develop our students into critical thinkers. You as the teachers makes the biggest difference in the lives of our kiddos. That's a powerful responsibility. You guys have been empowered to perform the task. I am here to support you and lift you up. As I always say "make it happen, capt'n!"
Time is our most precious commodity for the next month and change. We are coming closer to the time in which our students will either shine or will be relegated to another year of the "south-side" stigma. I say it all the time, we are not F educators, our school is not an F school, our students are not F students. I want to improve on our letter grade score... to do so will take a great deal of hard work for the coming weeks. If we all pull in the same direction we can accomplish this goal and leave a lasting legacy for Hayes Elementary.
2014 - 2015 Committees:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3lrYycQKGUiU29FazU0VEVJWjQ/edit?usp=sharing
Showcase Schedule for Monthly Rise and Shine:
In order for everyone to take a more active role in the Monthly Awards I am asking that each grade level participate in the showcase portion of the Rise and Shine. Everyone on campus will have a month to show the rest of the school what's great about your classes. You can have your students sing, dance, demonstrate, share... Have fun with it!
August: P.E./Music
September: Office Staff
October: Library/Media
November: First Grade
December: Pre-Kindergarten
January: Fourth Grade - February 6th
February: Kindergarten - March 6th
March: Third Grade - April 3rd
April: P.E./Music - May 1st
May: Second Grade - May 22nd
Oklahoma State Blueprints:
In order for everyone to take a more active role in the Monthly Awards I am asking that each grade level participate in the showcase portion of the Rise and Shine. Everyone on campus will have a month to show the rest of the school what's great about your classes. You can have your students sing, dance, demonstrate, share... Have fun with it!
January: Fourth Grade - February 6th
February: Kindergarten - March 6th
March: Third Grade - April 3rd
April: P.E./Music - May 1st
May: Second Grade - May 22nd
Oklahoma State Blueprints:
Available accommodations for the OCCT:
A quick guide to standards and assessments:
- English Language Arts: 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school year – PASS standards, PASS-aligned assessments.
- Mathematics: 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years – PASS standards, PASS-aligned assessments.
- Science: 2014-2015 school year – begin transition to science standards adopted into rule in June 2014; PASS-aligned assessments for grades 5, 8, and Biology 1 for high school for 2014-2105 and 2015-2016 school years.
- Social Studies: 2014-2015 school year – Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies as adopted in 2012; All four social studies assessments are OAS-aligned in Grades 5, 7, and 8, as well as high school U.S. History. All four assessments will be fully operational in 2014-2015.
- Fine Arts: 2014-2015 school year – transition to new standards adopted by law in June of 2014, The annual district arts assessment report will be due at the Oklahoma State Department of Education the end of May 2015.
- World Languages: 2014-15 school year – PASS standards, no state assessment. New standards will be written beginning fall 2014.
- Personal Financial Literacy: 2014-2015 school year – Oklahoma Academic Standards for Personal Financial Literacy as adopted in 2008, no state assessment.
- Health/Safety Education: 2014-2015 school year – PASS Standards, no state assessment.
- Kindergarten: 2014-2015 school year – PASS standards, no state assessments.
- PreKindergarten: 2014-2015 PASS standards; no state assessments.
Hayes Elementary Academic goals for 2014-2015:
- All students WILL achieve academically.
- Increase OCCT Reading scores for all subgroups by 25%
- Increase OCCT Mathematics scores for all subgroups by 25%
- Increase OCCT Writing scores for all subgroups by 25%
- Increase the number of students who qualify for promotion in RSA by 25%
- Decrease Suspensions by 25%
- School wide overall attendance to 96%
- Faculty attendance to 98%
Videos Worth Watching:
Linda Darling-Hammond - The Flat World and Education
Racing Extinction movie - Woah! It is so scary to think what we are doing to our home. I shutter to think the world I am handing off to my son will be one that may not one that can contain life as we know it.
A Letter to the Future From Kid President - via @iamkidpresident
Articles Worth Reading:
Claims that Sky is Falling Used to Justify Economic based Reforms in U.S. Public Education - via @lflwriter
Intentional Planning - via @PrincipalHowell
Want to be happy? Slow down - via @TEDTalks
Marzano style learning scale - via @TroyMooney
10 Important Skills for Active Listening - via @medkh9
Weekly Look Ahead: Formal Observation Window is Open
Monday January 25, 2015 - Normal school day. World's Finest Chocolate Pep Rally @ 2:00pm.
Tuesday January 26, 2015 - Normal school day. OKC Barons Hockey in P.E. (All day.) Faculty meeting after school to go over the Quarterly Review for Hayes Elementary. Everyone needs to be at the faculty meeting, Everyone! PAL with the 6th grade. 5, yes I said 5, IEP meetings.
Wednesday January 27, 2015 - Normal school day. Pre-K, Kindergarten Everyday Math training.
Thursday January 28, 2015 - Normal school day. A.R. Field Trip to Lloyd Noble in Norman.
Friday January 29, 2015 - Spirit Day! Mr. Ross at Mid-Winter conference. SLO/SOO assistance with Ms. Heckman during your planning times. They will be held in the office.
