Kleckner's Korner

I attended a webinar last week about equity hosted by the American Reading Company where the photo above was shared. It's the first time I'd seen the image with REALITY included. The box to the right of it was purposefully left blank for us to draw what our school/classroom looks like for our students. What kind of picture would you draw for your classroom or our school?

Equity is: Giving students what they need to be successful

• Acknowledge and addressing differences in the needs of students.
• Respond to academic, social and psychological needs that arise from the pandemic and inequality in society.
• Commit to fairness in treatment - education leaders and teachers must be the guardians and advocates for equity.
• Speak out when injustice is evident and children are denied the opportunity to learn.

We want schools to be a place where...

• A child's race or SES background does not predict how well they will do in school.
• The culture and language of children are treated as assets and resources to be valued rather than negated through assimilation.
• Children are inspired, their curiosity is encourage, and their dreams are fed.
• Teachers feel appreciated and are able to teach with joy, passion and inspiration.

Educational Goals after the Pandemic

• Learning should be meaningful, active and relevant
• Relationships should be central
• Whole child focus should be maintained
• Learning for adults and kids should be collaborative
• Learning should develop higher order thinking skills
• Learning should encourage the development of mastery

All of these bullet points really resonate with me. When we look at the demographic data (picture below) you'll notice lots of different things. Although this data plays a big role in testing, budget, etc., ask yourself these questions:

1. Does it play a part in how you teach?
2. What consequences you give to certain students?
3. How high you hold your expectations for all or some of your students?
4. Are we teaching in hopes of getting kids to magnet/specialized middle schools instead of just their neighborhood school?

On Tuesday we will be joined by the Counseling Department for the first part of our Trauma Informed Care training. This training is mandated by the state for all who work in education.

The training will start at 3:30 and end at 4:30, please plan accordingly.

The only people I have down that have completed the training and are EXEMPT from taking the course on Tuesday are:

Andrea Kleckner

Jocelyn Charbonneau

Denise St. John

Sueli Scott

Jordan White

Evelyn Arias

Jennifer Olivares

Ann Atherton

If you have taken the course and are not on this list, please email me your certificate and you will be exempt.

We'll be looking at the DOLs you posted here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EF8U-oA3nIHj_su2GUP6y7-e90MA97qkSxaKTdV4y_Q/edit#gid=0

3-5 we will be looking at interim data (data should be in Eduphoria on 4/1).

PLCs on Wednesday will be a planning day where we continue to look at how to insert turn and talks and gradual release into upcoming lessons. We will meet in Jana's room.

Jocelyn and I have split up the PLCs in order for us to be in classrooms during the day on Wednesday. If you have questions about your PLC please reach out to the appropriate person going forward. Thanks!

1st - Andrea and Selena

2nd - Jocelyn, Selena

PreK - Jocelyn, Selena

Kinder - Andrea, Selena

3rd - Jocelyn, Selena and Jana

4th - Math - Andrea, Jana (meeting on B weeks during Law's library planning time (Fridays - 1:45-2:15) and meeting on B weeks during Davila's library planning time (Wednesdays - 9:20-10))

4th - Reading - Jocelyn and Jana - meeting during normal PLC time

5th - Math - Andrea and Jana - meeting during normal PLC time

5th - Reading - Jocelyn and Jana - (meeting during Barillas' library planning time (Thursdays 1:40-2:30)).

Don't forget to update accommodations if you noticed students needed more or less than what they had based on interim observations.

Supplemental aides (aka graphic organizers) must be documented for all students if you want students to be able to use them on STAAR (link to print outs each student should have a copy of from BOY). If your students are routinely and effectively using them please make sure it is indicated on the spreadsheet (inside the google form link below). If it is not indicated then they WILL NOT be able to use them on STAAR. On STAAR day we will pass out new copies to students who have the accommodation listed, you won't need to make them yourself.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK2b6qdNtkXHSSHgfN_sooZyUsre_kdTodd5YvFTohrvICcw/viewform

Mrs. Barillas attended the Tools and Strategies for Online STAAR Testing yesterday, here's information she gained from the training.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_Xnjf1TnDP9bhH3jNf0ndGfXz3FdnJpSRinj2WSMtJo/edit?usp=sharing

More information below:

ELA

• A recording of the training can be found here.
• This link to the slide deck will provide teachers with their own copy to use as part of their test preparation instruction. The link will force you to make a copy.
• This ELAR STAAR Online Tools poster can also be used with students to prepare them for the assessment. It MAY NOT be posted during testing. USE NOW!
• Additional information regarding online test taking is available on this one-pager.

MATH

• Traci Vickery created a video provides teachers with a 20 minute explanation of the tools available for students to use during the Online Math STAAR.
• This Math STAAR Online Tools poster can also be used with students to prepare them for the assessment. It MAY NOT be posted during testing. USE NOW!
• Links to these resources can also be found on the Math Landing Pages in the Curriculum for 3rd - 5th grade.
• Additional information regarding Math online test taking is available on this one-pager.

The University of Texas at Arlington Online

A NOTHING BUNDT CAKE ON US!

When: Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Time: Nothing Bundt Cakes (Bundtlets) will be dropped off by noon (or sooner) at the Front Office
To be included for the dessert - please complete the form below by Friday, April 9, 2021

CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR DESSERT

You will be able to request information and place your dessert order

We hope you will enjoy a delivered dessert-treat from Nothing Bundt Cakes, learn about our offerings and
consider joining a program at The University of Texas Arlington.

Remember teachers who teach at Title 1 schools can qualify for $4,000 towards a UTA Education Graduate Program.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS ARLINGTON 100% ONLINE PROGRAMS:

M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with an Emphasis in Literacy Studies*

M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with an Emphasis in Mathematics *

M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with an Emphasis in Science *

M.Ed. in Leadership and Policy Studies (Administration) 12-month completion

Principal Certification

(Teach Grant eligible)

Affordable Tuition - $8200

Accelerated / 7-week courses

No GRE

Teach Grant Eligible – up to $3,752

Thank you Ines, Mercedes, Dani, Jennifer, Corina and Brenda for already signing up to help us move kids forward!!! Closing those gaps is our goal!

June Intersession will primarily focus on math and literacy intervention. Teachers will work with students from the grade level that is coming to you. (Ex: 2nd grade will work with 1st graders moving to 2nd.) 5th grade we'll talk about your kiddos but please go ahead and enter names. Once we get student lists ready we'll start meeting during learning meetings to get with the teacher below you to talk about students and their needs based on MAP and DRA.

Each teacher needs to enter recommendations based on:

· Predicted EOY failure

· Tier status (include all Tier 2 and 3)

Names are due by April 20th.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QUzfReC2U7-XMc87CwNK_vLuNCvRTTUwiKuUtRwTQFU/edit#gid=743352623

Paras if you are interested in working please use the form too. All teachers need to fill out the form whether you are working or not. Thanks!

TELPAS:

Thank you for your determination in getting all aspects of TELPAS complete. K-1 is 100% finished!

2-5: Today, April 1, is the deadline to turn in your rating rosters for writing. Each student's collection should be marked with the rating, have the 2nd page initialed for verification, signed and dated. The rating roster is also required, fill in only the holistic rating for writing.

Please make a copy of the rating roster before using. Remember that the rating rosters and samples with a rating are considered secure materials and should be kept in a secure location.

4th grade Writing STAAR

Our first STAAR administration is 4th grade writing. All students will take this test online April 13. 5th grade students will learn Asynchronously from home that day. This will allow our 5th grade teachers to assist with STAAR administration.

Training for STAAR Writing: Wednesday, April 7. All 4th and 5th grade teachers, Ms. Lawrence, Ms. Ramsey, Ms. Rivera, Ms. Campell, Ms. McGill, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Scott and anyone else interested in the training. Google Meet Code: PCPLC Paras, stay clocked in to earn comp time.

Thank you so much to everyone for making our Math & Literacy Night successful! The students loved it!

• They thought seeing Nurse Linsey reading was exciting
• Specials was a super popular spot the whole night 🙂.
• Third grade rocked it out with 20 students in attendance
• 4th grade was close by with 12
• 2nd and 1st had 8 each.

Again, thank you for all of your efforts in making this first virtual Math & Literacy night a wonderful one!

Also, check out the semantic gradient in the hall outside the cafeteria. This is a great way to discuss vocabulary and using specific adjectives to describe and build detailed pictures in a reader's mind. Teachers or students can grab the words from the wall and place them in order from greatest to least. If they think of additional words, let me know, and I will add them with the students' name listed on the card!

*1069's are due APRIL 5th *

* For your 1069's that are due April 5th, please create new documents for your students. I have created a BOY folder for all the previous 1069, we will not be adding any more information to those forms. Please put all your new 1069's in your MOY folder.

Please view the MOY PSM Track sheet and contact parents about missing PSMs. They were due on March 26th and I need them back ASAP. I am updating the Track sheet daily as I receive signed PSM.

Thank you for all your hard work!

Here's the link to this week's information. The pdf information is housed in the Park Crest Shared Drive in the Weekly Administrative information Packet Folder. We're all accountable for knowing the information.

From 3.26 WAIP

1. CIRCLE Data Teacher Incentive Allotment TIA - Diaz and Sharafat

2. DRA EDL End of Year Requirement - All Teachers

3. Instructional Resources Center IRC - information

4. STEAMposium Math E-Sports Challenge - 3-5 Teachers information

From 4.1 WAIP

1. 20-21 MAP Growth Assessment EOY - All teachers

2. 21-22 Staff Development Days - All STAFF

3. 21-22 GISD Employee Prekindergarten Inclusion Class - information

4. Digital Learning Team Webinars - information

5. National Financial Literacy Month - information

6. Professional Development Updates from TEA - All professional staff

7. Tools and Strategies for Online STAAR Testing - All teachers

April

4 - National Librarian's Day

6 - Trauma Informed Care Training Part 1 (3:45-4:30) all staff plan must attend. If you have already completed the training please email me your certificate.

5-9 - National Assistant Principal Week

****7 - STAAR Writing Training - . All 4th and 5th grade teachers, Ms. Lawrence, Ms. Ramsey, Ms. Rivera, Ms. Campell, Ms. McGill, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Scott and anyone else interested in the training. Google Meet Code: PCPLC Paras, stay clocked in to earn comp time.

13 - 4th grade STAAR Writing - Online Test (5th grade will be asynchronous, students will stay home and work on activities allowing teachers to help proctor)

13 - Administrative Assistant's Day

21 - Early Release - afternoon District PD - Registration opens in April

27 - Trauma Informed Care Training Part 1 (3:45-4:30) all staff plan must attend. If you have already completed the training please email me your certificate.

27 - School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

28 - 5th Grade Joe Garcia Awards

May

1 - National School Principal Day

3-7 Teacher Appreciation Week

7 - School Lunch Hero Day

13 - 5th - STAAR Science - Online and Paper (4th grade asynchronous, students will stay home and work on activities allowing teachers to help proctor)

12 - National School Nurse's Day

14 - 3rd and 4th - STAAR Reading Online - (K, 1, 2, 5 - asynchronous)

18 - 5th - STAAR Math Online (3rd grade asynchronous)

19 - 5th - STAAR Reading Online (3rd and 4th asynchronous)

21 - 3rd and 4th - STAAR Math Online (K, 1, 2, 5 asynchronous)

28 - Student/Staff Holiday

31 - Memorial Day - no school

June

8 - Early Release - afternoon campus PD

9 - Full Day District Staff Development - registration opens in May

If you need assistance with individual concerns or counseling services, please reach out to Mrs. Medrano-Johnson at gmedranojohnson@garlandisd.net,

or fill out the following Park Crest Request for Counseling Services form.