You are the Author of the Book of Your Life!!!

• A student-center culture was evident in developing an intervention schedule that is best for students.
• Harrison staff working together to make the best of a lack of substitutes on Friday.
• A student in 1st grade stopped me in the hallway and asked me my name and shook my hand.
• Making an positive impact with staff and students.

Week of 9/10-9/14

This video, Matthew McConaughey’s Incredible Motivational Speech:  Growth Mindset, is POWERFUL!  I hope you find this video motivating to prioritize, be brave, keep your fire lit, and realize YOU ARE THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK OF YOUR LIFE!!  After viewing this video I feel astonished at my bravery, yet also feel a desire to further prioritize my goals in life!  I will never stop growing and learning!

Matthew McConaughey’s Incredible Motivational Speech: Growth Mindset

Whole Group Reading Instruction

During your whole group time, it is best practice to teach the five components of reading:  phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Here are a few questions to ponder about selectiving activities for reading instruction.

• Is this activity going to make students a better reader?
• Is this activity engaging students in text at least 50% of the time?

Lindamood Bell

There are 44 students in 9 Lindamood Bell groups this fall.  16 of the 19 students who were assessed this Fall with the Lindamood Bell battery fit into a LB group. In addition 9 students in LB last year continued in a LB group this year.  We also have 19 students in 4 unofficial LB groups.  We have 5 official LB groups:  2 first grade groups and 3 second/third grade groups.  In addition we have 4 unofficial LB groups:  2 first grade groups and 2 second grade groups.  Students may not fit in a group because they scored significantly higher than other students being considered for a LB group, their number of LB instructional hours varies drastically from other potential students, or there are more students who fit in a group than staff available to be instructors.  We wrote first day lesson plans for all these groups.  In addition 4 of those groups have already been paced to determine if their original lesson plan was accurate;  we modified each group’s lesson plan to further differentiate.

Delayed Start Data Dive

During our Delayed Start Data Dive on Wednesday, 9/12/18, it was evident the value teachers place on the data.  Throughout grade levels 3-8, we noticed Vocabulary is a strength and Written Expression is a weakness.  Primary teachers who joined a 3-8 grade discussion found value in having data conversations with intermediate and middle school teachers.  Many grade levels were identifying groups of students to target for potentially moving into Meets or maintaining their current level in Meets or Above.

SLT

The Student Literacy Team (SLT) met on Tuesday and reviewed Harrison’s BOY status of students well below benchmark and students at benchmark and above.

Students who are at benchmark and above in K-3:  50%.

Students who are well below benchmark in K-3: 34%

SLT set school-wide progress goals for both of these cohorts.  The SLT members will be setting grade level progress goals with their teams.

Literacy Coach Survey:  I appreciate sixteen teachers taking time to complete this survey.  Almost 1/3 of classroom teachers desire a different type of feedback than has been provided in the past.  I will strive to provide your preferable type of feedback this year.

Looking Ahead:  Week of 9/17-9/21

During PLCs this week we will pace Journeys lessons throughout the year, making sure we are on track with the district curriculum maps and completing Journeys Unit 30 by May 24th, 2019.

On Monday, 9/17/18, Kelli Jones and I will be doing whisper coaching session with a classroom teacher during small group instruction.  Another LB group will also get paced.  In addition I will facilitate two grade-level PLCs.

I will be out for personal leave from Tuesday, 9/18-Friday, 9/21.

Upcoming Dates

• Monday, September 17th:  1st Grade PLC, 2:20-2:40, Conference Rm.
• Monday, September 17th:  2nd Grade PLC, 3:25-3:55, Conference Rm.
• Tuesday, September 18th-Friday, September 21st, Jess out
• Thursday, September 20th:  5th Grade PLC, 8:30-9:00, Conference Rm.
• Thursday, September 21st:  4th Grade PLC, 10:05-10:35, Conference Rm.
• Thursday, September 21st:  Kindergarten PLC, 1:35-2:05, Conference Rm.
• Tuesday, September 25th:  Brenda’s Visit-Small Group
• Wednesday, September 26th:  Debbie Hunsaker Coaching Conference and ELG Conference–Jess out all day
• Thursday, September 27th-Friday, September 28th:  READ Conference–Jess out all day
• Tuesday, October 2nd:  K-5 PLC, 3:25-3:55, Library

What’s your hill?

Thank you for reading!  I am curious….what’s your hill?  (You’ll find more information about your hill in the video.)  Please leave your response in the comments section below.

 

Ride out the Storm!

• We were excited to visit classrooms and see teachers modeling the use of graphic organizers during whole group instruction and providing visual support for the students.

3rd Grade Interactive Graphic Organizer

• It is compelling to work together with teachers who are passionate about doing what is best for students.  In order to meet the reading and writing needs of Tier III students in 4th and 5th grade, two teachers decided to work together to accomplish those needs, while still adhering to an approved Tier III reading intervention.  It will be exciting to see this intervention in action.
• It is impressive that eighteen students were assessed with the Lindamood Bell battery in about 6 days!  Each student takes about 60-90 minutes.  WAY TO GO!!  Next it will be determined if these students in addition to students who were in Lindamood Bell groups last year will fit in a Lindamood Bell group this year.
• I bought some fresh peaches at Colon Orchards this week and they are mouth-watering!  I look forward eating fresh peaches every year around this time!  I usually end up buying a whole box.

Week of 9/4-9/7

Did you ride out the storm this week?  To manage to not to be destroyed, harmed, or permanently affected by difficult situations you experience.  I DID!  In the midst of riding out the storm I found magical moments along the way (see above).

On Tuesday I worked with some students being assessed for Lindamood Bell groups.  We also had our K-5 PLC on DIBELS DORF calibration with Kelli Jones.

On Wednesday, during Brenda’s visit, we visited classrooms during whole group instruction.  It was exciting to be in your classrooms for the first time this year!  We saw engagement strategies such as:  choral reading, cloze reading and response strategies such as:  partner share and graphic organizers.  Here are a few questions to ponder about utilizing graphic organizers.

4th Grade Graphic Organizer

• Was the graphic organizer utilized throughout whole group instruction?
• Was it modeled how to complete part/all of the graphic organizer with your students?

Below is a link to a google presentation from a K-5 PLC on how to utilize gradual release when completing a graphic organizer with your class.

Whole Group Reading Engagement with Graphic Organizer

On Thursday each grade level attended data day, utilized a data protocol to determine which students needed a Tier II intervention, and determined which Tier II intervention would best meet the needs of those students.  Fourth and fifth grade also determined which Tier III interventions to implement with their students.

On Friday we scored some LB assessments, entered the assessment scores into the Lindamood Bell informational system (INFORMS), and printed out the results.  In addition I met with a few teachers about their lesson plans for small group.  I also had three district level meetings.

Looking Ahead:  Week of 9/10-9/14

On Monday small group flood-in support for Tier II interventions and some Tier III interventions will start.  This week we will create LB groups and write lesson plans for those groups with an anticipated start date of Thursday, September 13th.  Every LB group will be paced in the first two days of instruction to determine if the original lesson plan is accurate or if it needs to be adjusted.

SLT (School Literacy Team) will meet for the first time this year on Tuesday, September 11th.  We will review the purpose of SLT and the role of the SLT members:  Laura Copper, Wendy Humburg, Laura Schilf, Stephanie Cutter, Jennifer Bowers, Mitch Ary, and Cassie Norden.  In addition we will also review EOY celebrations from our Literacy Evaluation Tool (LET).   We will set a school growth goal based on BOY DIBELS scores.  We will also seek input on upcoming PLCs.

This week I will send out a survey to determine your desirable method for provide feedback to you.  Last spring many of you completed the literacy coach survey.  In that survey there was a desire for more customized and differentiated feedback.  In order to provide customized and differentiated feedback, I am seeking to understand which approach you desire.

Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, September 10th: Flood-In Tier II support starts
• Tuesday, September 11th:  SLT, 3:20-4:20, Conference Rm.
• Thursday, September 13th:  Anticipated start date for LB groups
• Friday, September 14th:  Jess at district meetings, 9:30-1:00,
• Monday, September 17th:  1st Grade PLC, 2:20-2:40, Conference Rm.
• Monday, September 17th:  2nd Grade PLC, 3:25-3:55, Conference Rm.
• Tuesday, September 18th-Friday, September 21st, Jess out
• Thursday, September 20th:  5th Grade PLC, 8:30-9:00, Conference Rm.
• Thursday, September 21st:  4th Grade PLC, 10:05-10:35, Conference Rm.
• Thursday, September 21st:  Kindergarten PLC, 1:35-2:05, Conference Rm.
• Tuesday, September 25th:  Brenda’s Visit–Small Group
• Wednesday, September 26th:  Debbie Hunsaker Coaching Conference and ELG Conference–Jess out all day
• Thursday, September 27th-Friday, September 28th:  READ Conference–Jess out all day
• Tuesday, October 2nd:  K-5 PLC, 3:25-3:55, Library

A Magical 1st Week!!!

• I was grateful for the opportunity to model and coach in a classroom during small group and workstations.

Workstation with Progressions

• I was astonished at the Lindamood Bell strategies being utilized in a classroom during small group and workstations.  In addition the students in this classroom were engaged in workstation activities with progressions.  One example:  Sight Word Game
• I was confident in writing a new Lindamood Bell lesson plan for a group of 1st and 2nd graders, whose LB intervention time reduced to 45 minutes since their MOY DIBELS scores showed exceptional growth.  The students were able to fluently read CCVCC words and Reading in Context Level A.  The students will now be learning about multi-syllabic words, continuing work on sight words, and increasing their Reading in Context to Level B.
• I was able to leave my car parked at Harrison all day on Tuesday and I used a spoon to eat my lunch!  In the past my lunch consisted of finger foods such as mini carrots, blueberries, and grape tomatoes so I could eat on the go while driving.

Week of 1/8-1/12

This week I visited several classrooms during small group instruction!  It was a pleasure to learn from your instruction!  I saw students independently completing workstation activities, teachers using engagement strategies:  choral reading, CLOZE reading, and partner reading, and teachers using targeted focus boards during small group instruction.

Cassie and I updated the 3rd grade Lindamood Bell schedule.  In addition I worked on revising the ART schedule for all 1st-3rd Lindamood Bell groups.

Friday I will be out of the building from 7:30-9:00 and 11:00-2:00 for a LB Data meeting at Washington and my weekly LT90X and Lindamood Bell meetings.

Looking Ahead:  Week of 1/15-1/22

Next week I will continue to visit more classrooms during small group instruction.  In addition I will write new lesson plans (pace) several Lindamood Bell groups.

During grade level PLCs in January we will review the DIBELS growth goals we set at the beginning of the year to determine if we are making adequate progress.  We will identify the minimum number of students in each grade level that need to improve to make adequate progress by the end of the year.

During the LB PLC on Wednesday we will refine our instruction and error-handling for Reading in Context.  Reading in Context is introduced when students are ready to apply their decoding skills in a reading passage.  This task is typically introduced after students have stabilized CCVCC words and developed a sight word base.  Yet it can be introduced earlier using decodable CVC stories.

Next Thursday Brenda Nardo will be visiting Harrison.  We will only be visiting a few classrooms for a longer period of time.  This will support myself and the administrators in understanding reading instruction (whole group and small group) at various grade levels.  It is an ideal opportunity for me to learn coaching techniques from Brenda.

Next Friday I will be investing time in myself!  I will be attending the Empower Your Oils:  Sacred Rebel Retreat for three days!   It will be a time to reflect and set intentions to up-level my life!  One year ago I participated in a similar retreat and it was life-changing!  I am EXCITED for this opportunity!

Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, January 15th, 5th Grade PLC, 7:00-7:30, Conference Rm.
• Tuesday, January 16th, 1st Grade PLC, 10:15-10:45, Conference Rm.
• Wednesday, January 17th, LB PLC, 2:00-2:45, Title One Rm.
• Thursday, January 18th, Brenda Nardo Visit
• Thursday, January 18th, SLT Meeting, 3:10-4:10, Conference Rm.
• Friday, January 19th, Jess out all day
• Monday, January 22nd, Kindergarten PLC, 7:00-7:30
• Wednesday, January 24th, 3rd Grade PLC, 3:15-3:45, Conference Rm.
• Monday-Friday, January 22-26, Chris Mayberry (Lindamood Bell) Visit to Canon City
• Monday, January 29th, 2nd Grade PLC, 7:00-7:30, Conference Rm.
• Tuesday, January 30th, 4th Grade PLC, 7:00-7:30, Conference Rm.
• Wednesday, January 31st, K-5 PLC, 3:15-3:45, Library

Harrison is my Home!

Welcome Back!  I hope you had a wonderful Christmas Break and a Happy New Year!  Did you turn off the alarm for 12 days?  Did you do something creative?  Did you make some yummy holiday treats?  Did you laugh?  Did you get to visit with your family?  Did you cry?  Did you tell stories?  Did you do something you’ve never done before?  Those are some of the things I did over break!  It was wonderful!

1/4/18:  Spending quality time

Flexibility!  I have been in education for 19 years and I thought I was quite flexible.  Yet in the last year and a half in my role as Literacy Coach, I have learned to be more flexible than in any other position I have had in the past.  With my role shift starting today, being Harrison’s Literacy Coach for both Journeys and Lindamood Bell, I pictured myself working most of Christmas Break to get organized and fully prepared for this shift.  Although I did work some over break, it wasn’t as much as I pictured I would.  I took advantage of sleeping in, binge watching Netflix, baking holiday goodies, spending quality time with friends and family, taking naps, and having some new adventures!  It was AMAZING!!   I will always think I need to be more organized and prepared for my job, yet it is OK to invest in time for myself.

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Week of 1/8/18

Monday afternoon’s PD was extremely productive!  K-5th teachers talked about Tier I Literacy instruction.  They identified target activities to address the focus of each group. Teachers then collaboratively planned for small group and workstations for the next unit.  3rd-5th teachers also met with SPED and Title teachers to determine Tier II and Tier III interventions.

I am excited to learn about Journeys from you and your students!  I will be visiting classrooms this week and next week to watch your small group lessons and workstations.  In addition, I will be pacing some new and continuing LB groups.

Friday I will be out of the building from 11:00-2:00 for my weekly LT90X and Lindamood Bell meetings.

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Change is in the Challenge

In June of 2016 I was hired as a Literacy Coach for Canon City Schools.  That same month I hired a Life Coach.  I thought the best way to learn to be a coach is to be coached!  In the last year and a half, with the support of my Life Coach, I have challenged myself to change!  I feel like I have lived half my life in the last 18 months.  I have gone outside my comfort zone many times.  For example I challenged myself to become comfortable with heights and have since walked across the Royal Gorge Bridge, rode over Skyline Drive, and walked up Bishop’s Castle.  Although I didn’t think I could accomplish any of those, with the support of my life coach and some really good friends, I did it!  It was extremely empowering when I completed each challenge.  I will attempt a bigger challenge next time…..maybe the Manitou Incline.  I LOVE LIFE!  I challenge you to change…..from drinking more water each day to redecorating your bedroom.

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Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, January 15th, 5th Grade PLC, 7:00-7:30, Conference Rm.
• Tuesday, January 16th, 1st Grade PLC, 10:15-10:45, Conference Rm.
• Thursday, January 18th, Brenda Nardo Visit
• Thursday, January 18th, SLT Meeting, 3:10-4:10, Conference Rm.
• Friday, January 19th, Jess out all day
• Monday, January 22nd, Kindergarten PLC, 7:00-7:30
• Wednesday, January 24th, 3rd Grade PLC, 3:15-3:45, Conference Rm.
• Monday-Friday, January 22-26, Chris Mayberry (Lindamood Bell) Visit to Canon City
• Monday, January 29th, 2nd Grade PLC, 7:00-7:30, Conference Rm.
• Tuesday, January 30th, 4th Grade PLC, 7:00-7:30, Conference Rm.
• Wednesday, January 31st, K-5 PLC, 3:15-3:45, Library