Instructional Items:

Environmental Walkthroughs:

Administration will be doing walkthroughs during October and will be using the attached checklist (see link below) when we visit your classrooms.  Please keep in mind the following considerations that should be in place in your classroom environment by that time:

• Teachers should have a content and language objective written in "I can" statements. The teaching observed should match the posted objectives.

• All classroom bulletin boards must have a title, task, standard, rubric with feedback. Some classrooms have students writing their own feedback which is powerful and great to see in the upper grades where students are more independent. The language of the feedback should come from the standards based rubric. 

• All classrooms should be a clutter free environment. K-2 should have clearly labeled areas with defined spaces. 

• Process charts should be displayed to showcase student learning in the classroom. Also, there should be charts devoted to SEL and building classroom community. K-2 can include job charts, birthday months chart, that help students to connect to one another. Pictures of students can be evident to show centers management in the classrooms. 

Students learn best with visual aids and anchors.   Anchor charts are a pivotal part of any instructional environment: 

• Anchor charts build a culture of literacy in the classroom, as teachers and students make thinking visible by recording content, strategies, processes, cues, and guidelines during the learning process.

• Posting anchor charts keeps relevant and current learning accessible to students to remind them of prior learning and to enable them to make connections as new learning happens.

• Students refer to the charts and use them as tools as they answer questions, expand ideas, or contribute to discussions and problem-solving in class.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rl4ul82prhoWEIYV0DzidmRfXVKNki9H/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101783942242251768607&rtpof=true&sd=true

Teacher's Choice Program:

As in previous years, teachers, paraprofessionals, and other eligible staff members, have the opportunity to purchase instructional materials and supplies for use in their classrooms and professional assignments for the 2024–25 school year, through the Teacher's Choice program. You should inform your eligible staff members of this opportunity. 

This year, educators eligible for the Teacher’s Choice program, will receive the non-taxable Teacher’s Choice funds in their last paycheck of November. If an eligible staff member does not receive their funds on the scheduled date, you or your designee should email the staff member's name and file number to teacherschoice@schools.nyc.gov by December 4; funds will then be distributed in a subsequent paycheck.      

Staff members who receive the funds are required to spend them on qualifying education materials by January 10; staff must submit original receipts for program purchases to you or your designee by January 17. For information about the program and distribution of teacher choice funds, refer to Key Dates: 2024/2025 School Year, Participant Responsibilities, Program Guidelines, and the Teacher's Choice InfoHub  page.