Coaching Corner Newsletter
WUSD Academic Year 2023-2024
Welcome back to school! We are excited to see you back here for another outstanding new year! Check back in for weekly updates to our Coaching Corner Newsletter.
For Parents/Guardians: Nov-May Challenge--Reading at Home with Your Students
Dec. 4 - MAP Language Test (2nd grade only) 9:00
Dec. 5 - MAP Reading Test 9:00
Dec. 6 - MAP Math Test 9:00 / Polar Express 5-7
Dec. 8 - LETTERS Training 1:00 at Bonnie Brennan
Dec. 11 - Winter Concert Rehearsal in Music room
Dec. 12: Winter Concert at PAC 9:00 Kinder, 10:00 1st Grade, 11:00 2nd Grade
Dec. 13 - Have all MAP makeup tests completed
Dec. 19 - CST packets due, 1:00 staff party at Bojo’s.
Jan. 3 - School resumes, grades due at 8:00
Parent Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XT8TGN6
11/30 Silent ball
12/7 and 12/14-no activities
December 4-6 MAP Testing (Reading, Math, Language)
December 7-Christmas Concert 3rd Grade 9:00 4th Grade 10:00 @PAC
December 8-All Purchase Orders DUE to BB Office
December 8-LETRS Training Unit 2
December 9-First Lego League Regional Robotics Tournament @Coconio HS
December 13-School Spelling Bee 9:00
December 14-Q2 Math Club Carnival at WHS 4th Grade from 8:30-10, 3rd Grade from 12:00-2:00
December 18-Attendance Incentive 97% or better PARTY 1:00-1:20
December 19-End of Q2 grading period//Grades Due//Staff Christmas Luncheon 1:00
Dec. MAP Testing
Dec. 8 - Math Carnival at WHS
Dec. 13 - Orchestra Concert (10:30 AM)
Dec. 19 - End of 2nd Quarter/Grades Due/Contact Logs Due
December 12th Orchestra Concert @ 7-PAC
December 14th- Band Concert @7 -PAC
December 19th-End of 2nd quarter/Semester 1
Nov. 28: Basketball Boys and Girls @ Window Rock- 12 p.m.
Nov. 30: Basketball Boys and Girls @ Alchesay- 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 2: Tamie Ramsey Classic
Dec. 5: Basketball Boys and Girls Home vs. Camp Verde
Dec. 6-7: Elementary rehearsal in the PAC
Dec. 11: Basketball Boys and Girls @ Page- 4:00 p.m.
Dec. 12: Toy drive ends
Dec. 19: Basketball Boys and Girls @ Snowflake- 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 28-30: Girls Basketball Tournament @ Chandler Prep
Dec: 20-Jan. 2: Winter recess
Nov. 30: Basketball Boys and Girls @ Alchesay- 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 2: Tamie Ramsey Classic
Dec. 5: Basketball Boys and Girls Home vs. Camp Verde
2023-2024 Achievement Assessment
October Teacher Spotlight --WHS, Michelle Jones
CRR--Grants for K-5 Teachers
A short summary can be found at: https://gn.ecivis.com/GO/gn_grantDetailExt/EMAILUUID/52CB71A5-FB72-4A74-BE91-9FB5EEFEB0E0
"The purpose of this program is to support classroom teachers as they seek a better way to help their students learn in grades K-5. The funding agency seeks to encourage teachers who hope to innovate, try a new idea, or explore a different approach. Awards will generally be directed to teachers in K-12 schools; however, educational nonprofit organizations and universities working with K-12 teachers are occasionally considered with prior approval.
All details can be found at: http://www.toshiba.com/taf/k5.jsp
Greeting Students at the Door (Build Rapport)
The Quality Classroom
Using Total Participation Techniques helps to engage students in the lesson. If you haven’t already, try using one of these this week.
Think-Pair-Share
1) Ask students to reflect on a question or prompt, provide at least 30 seconds to formulate response.
2) Ask students to find a partner or turn to assigned partner.
3) Ask them to share responses with each other.
Chalkboard Splash
1) Create a sentence starter, prompt, or question for which you would like students to see all of their peers’ responses.
2) As students generate responses, ask them to copy their responses onto random or designated places on the chalkboards, whiteboards, or chart papers. Give them a word limit (like 15 words)
3) Debrief by asking students to walk around, analyze, and jot down similarities, differences, and surprises, perhaps using a form (short chart – similarities, differences, surprises)
4) Ask students to get into small groups and share what they noticed in terms of similarities, differences, and surprises, before asking for volunteers to share.
Lecture T-Chart
1) During presentation students take notes in left-hand column.
2) Periodically stop (at pause points) to allow students to read over their notes and summarize in the right-hand column.
3) Allow time for pair-share summaries and for recording questions on index cards or Chalkboard Splash.
4) Allow time to answer any questions students have.
Quick Writes
1) Select prompt you would like students to address
2) Give students a specified amount of time to collect their thoughts and jot down a response (about 3-5 minutes)
3) Follow up with pair-share, networking session, chalkboard splash, or other TPT
The Biggest ‘Aha’ Quick-Write
1.) At end of lesson ask students to think about and record their biggest “AHA” on a quick-write half sheet, index card or scrap paper.
2) Ask students to meet with someone they haven’t spoken to in over a day and share their “aha.”
3) Ask volunteers to share with whole group
4) Collect cards and review them, or a select few. Be sure to return reflections even if you didn’t get a chance to read them all. Let students know that you randomly selected a few.
The Quality Classroom --Effective Instruction
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Model and explain
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Guided practice
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Independent practice
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Formative Feedback
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Improved Performance
Effective Instruction means the teacher is well prepared with high-quality Learning Targets and Success Criteria. Clear instructional delivery using the above cycle. Effective questioning and meaningful feedback allow students to think more deeply and improve their performance. Appropriately scaffolding learning and gauging student progress helps those students who might otherwise struggle to understand. Finally, differentiating instruction for those children who did not understand the concept the first time around allows access to all.
It is important to regularly reflect on your teaching practice. As John Hattie tells us, “…those teachers who are students of their own impact are the teachers who are the most influential in raising students’ achievement.”
Self-Care for Teachers
AASA Writing Resources
Navajo Tribal Utility Authority 2023--SCHOLARSHIPS
AZ Assessment Committee --Click link if interested in signing up!
Act on FACTS Suicide Prevention Training
ACT on FACTS is an updated version of the school-based suicide awareness program “Making Educators Partners in Suicide Prevention.” Like its predecessor, ACT on FACTS is a two-hour online interactive training program, designed in a series of modules. It addresses the critical but limited responsibilities of educators in the process of identification and referral of potentially suicidal youth. It focuses on the practical realities and challenges inherent in the school setting through a variety of training formats that include lectures, questions and answers with content experts, interactive exercises, and role-plays. In addition to its other content, the program highlights four categories of youth who may be at elevated risk for suicide: youth involved in bullying, LGBTQ youth, gifted youth, and students being reintegrated back into school after a suicide attempt. The training includes optional content that addresses suicide in elementary and middle schools. There is also an additional module that includes the stories of individual survivors of suicide loss as well as a high school that experienced an episode of contagion. The focus in telling these stories is to highlight the importance of emphasizing resilience and protective factors after a loss event.
Structure: Two hours online in a series of modules.
Professional Development for Educators
Arizona Reading Fundamentals OnDemand Academy
As you continue planning for the new school year, consider making the Arizona Reading Fundamentals OnDemand Academy a part of your comprehensive professional learning plan.
These courses are best facilitated by a school or organization-level literacy leader. Participation is best completed in a collaborative and job-embedded manner.
Before you register, please watch our OnDemand Academy Introduction Video to learn more. Each knowledge block recommends a companion text. Please browse the Professional Development webpage for all details prior to registering.
More PD Opportunities
The Growth Mindset
Neuroplasticity
- The idea that our brain (neuro) can be molded (like plastic)
- What we focus on and how we discipline our thoughts and attitudes encourages brain growth in those areas
- New neural pathways are made
Fixed v. Growth Mindset
Fixed Mindset
~Intelligence is fixed
~Angered or discouraged by criticism
~Valuing the end result
~A desire for approval
~Failure
~Challenges
Growth Mindset
~Intelligence can change
~Active and responsive to criticism
~Valuing the process
~Satisfaction from the growth along the journey
~An opportunity to learn from your mistakes
~Opportunities
Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe
Check out this video!
~Simon Sinek on Creating a Circle of Safety
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOnXcrmgAw8.
Brene Brown on Empathy