TIP 4 - October 2, 2023
Dates of Interest
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 - Monthly Induction Seminar (Forrest Center at 4:30-7:00 PM) Human Resources Available beginning at 4:00 PM
Thursday, October 5, 2023 - Superintendent School Visit with Central Elementary Schools including CWFDES, EES, HES, LES, and PPES (at Evergreen ES at 4:30 PM)
Monday, October 9, 2023 - Virtual Instruction and Two-Hour Early Dismissal (Parent Conferences)
Monday, October 9, 2023 - Superintendent School Visit with Southern Elementary Schools including GWCES and CPCS (at George Washington Carver ES at 4:30 PM)
Tuesday, October 10, 2023 - Superintendent School Visit with Northern Elementary Schools including BBES, DES, MES, and LMDES (at B. Banneker ES at 4:30 PM)
Friday, October 27, 2023 - End of Marking Period 1
A Message from Heather: You are Succeeding!
With all of the moving pieces included at the start of the school year, many of you have had your heads laser-focused on putting the pieces in their places. Take a moment to look where you are standing now.
You are succeeding! I have visited many schools in the past week and I have found students engaged in active lessons, collaboration, and learning! I have seen teachers implementing established routines that are making the learning environment ideal for students to grow and explore. I have been so impressed with the interactions and lessons I have viewed, the positivity of teachers, and the support they are getting from and giving to those around them.
In the last weeks, I have viewed PE lessons that engaged the mind as well as the body, math classes where the learning was happening through collaborative games, elementary students showing off their skills on Fundations boards and Number Corner activities, and I have experienced lunch in the cafeteria during which multiple staff members offered support to the primary SAIL students to ensure that they were able to finish their lunch and remain safe at the same time. I have loved every minute I have spent in the classrooms and I look forward to the visits to come!
Remember . . . You've Got This!
Heather
I will visit schools throughout the school year and I enjoy joining classes, being a guest reader, working with small groups, or providing feedback with a brief walkthrough. Email me if you wish to invite me to your class.
Thank you to Ms. Myers, Ms. Dunn, Ms. Mitchell, and Ms. Campbell for letting me capture these moments.
Ms. Myers' (BBES) first-grade students were participating in a Pool Noodle Relay Race.
Ms. Dunn's (LHS) Algebra class played a game of spoons to collaboratively solve multi-step equations.
Ms. Mitchell's (CPCS) first-grade class showed off their skills by building words with digraphs.
And, Ms. Campbell's (CPCS) fourth-grade class demonstrated their knowledge of a heart's anatomy and then physically moved through the heart obstacle that represents blood flow in the heart.
What will I see when I visit you?
All Non-Tenured Teachers
Articles of Interest
Learning Environment: 3 Considerations for Using Classroom Charts Effectively by Meghan Hargrace, Edutopia
Highlights:
Using the charts for learning
Visibility
Timing
Student Ownership
Parent Communication: New Teachers: How to Talk to Parents by Terri Eicholz, Edutopia
Highlights:
Be Proactive
Objectivity
Asking Parents for advice
Choosing Battles
Admit When You Are Mistaken
Consider this article as you prepare for parent conference day.
Mentoring Topics in October
Elementary
Short Range Planning
How are daily and weekly lesson planning working?
Are you able to access and use the content sites to guide instruction and pacing?
Differentiated Learning
How have you been able to use differentiated groups in the classroom?
How have you been able to differentiate assignments?
How do you plan to implement learning centers? Are you able to do so? What are some ideas?
Parent Conferences
Be sure that you know where and when the conference occurs. Who schedules the conferences? Who needs to attend?
Consider why the conference is being held prior to the day. Who initiated it? What is the purpose - academic, behavioral concerns, etc.?
Tips:
Always start with a positive comment and avoid following it with "but . . ."
Make sure that you have updated data when the conference occurs
Have student work samples to illustrate concerns or show growth
Always end the conference by summarizing the next steps for you, the student, and the parent
Standards-Based Report Cards
Marking Period 1 ends on Friday, October 27th
Do you have the data necessary for completing the SBRCs for marking period 1?
Have you talked with your mentor or PLC about preparing the required narratives?
SLO/TPAS/Observation
Have you reviewed the TPAS evaluation rubric?
Have you accessed Perform to submit your SLO?
Have you reviewed your SLO with a peer?
Walkthroughs
Did you participate in a walkthrough this marking period?
Was there a pre and post-walkthrough conversation?
Did you determine a focus for the walkthrough?
Schoology
How are you using Schoology to communicate with parents and students?
Have you explored the Schoology calendar settings?
Do you have your email notifications set to your needs?
Secondary
Short Range Planning
How are daily and weekly lesson planning working?
Are you able to access and use the content sites to guide instruction and pacing?
Have you considered the student workload across courses?
Have you reviewed your Schoology grade book for Process, Product, and assignment weights and distribution?
Differentiated Learning
How have you been able to use differentiated groups in the classroom?
How have you been able to differentiate assignments?
Parent Conferences
Be sure that you know where and when the conference occurs. Who schedules the conferences? Who needs to attend?
Consider why the conference is being held prior to the day. Who initiated it? What is the purpose - academic, behavioral concerns, etc.?
Tips:
Always start with a positive comment and avoid following it with "but . . ."
Make sure that you have updated data when the conference occurs
Have student work samples to illustrate concerns or show growth
Always end the conference by summarizing the next steps for you, the student, and the parent
Marking Period 1 Report Cards
Marking Period 1 ends on Friday, October 27th
Are TAC and Schoology Passback aligned?
Have you talked with your mentor or PLC about how to submit grades?
SLO/TPAS/Observation
Have you reviewed the TPAS evaluation rubric?
Have you accessed Perform to submit your SLO?
Have you reviewed your SLO with a peer?
Walkthroughs
Did you participate in a walkthrough this marking period?
Was there a pre and post-walkthrough conversation?
Did you determine a focus for the walkthrough?
Schoology
How are you using Schoology to communicate with parents and students?
Have you explored the Schoology calendar settings?
Do you have your email notifications set to your needs?
First-Year with SMCPS Non-Tenured Teachers
Monthly Induction Seminars
As shared at Orientation, those of you in your first year with SMCPS will participate in monthly seminars on the first Wednesday of each month. The seminars begin with dinner at 4:30 PM followed by professional development sessions from 5:00-7:00 PM. All monthly seminars are held at the Dr. James A. Forrest Center. There are no virtual options for monthly seminars.
The next monthly Induction Seminar is on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.
Please confirm your attendance by clicking "Yes" on the invitation in your Google Calendar.
Recurring Items of Significance
TPAS Domain Rubrics
Each seminar will focus on various components within the Teacher Performance Assessment System (TPAS) rubrics. Classroom observations will generally focus on Domains 1-3 and your SLO will focus on Domain 5. Domain 4 is an evaluation of your all-around professional responsibilities. Links to each of the rubrics for each domain are located below.