Week 6

 

Great Things We Noticed: 

• Judid's students setting reading goals and reaching them! 
• Meeting with some of you regarding your intervention needs!
• Kim's pet show and tell on Fun Friday! 
• Lisa Glasheen prepping for our next textbook distribution!  
• Danielle using Code.org with her class - Brilliant! 
• Stephanie's great classroom management with her Kinders!
• Morgan's "Read it, Spell it, Write it" process with her Kinders! 
• Ron's enthusiasm and mangagment strategies with his 1st Graders!
• Sara gathering ideas on a padlet for a classmates birthday! 

Nuts and Bolts: 

• Find ed tech tips and tricks and information on all the Google Updates on the ILE You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxaWXjiICDDlDQitAXHuPaA/videos
• Textbook distribution for this week can be found HERE
• Our book study for Shattering Inequities has been postponed until after first trimester.  We will still send out the books and feel free to read if you are interested. 
• PROGRESS REPORT UPDATE:  
• Virtual Teacher with students from other schools, send your progress reports to the site Principal by 9/23 (you can send to us and we will forward)
• Hawthorne student progress reports due to us by 9/25 (9/23 for review is ideal)
• We will print out and mail 
• Send for all students OR students at risk of retention
• Teacher comments can be found HERE
• Updating your personnel information (Cindy sent email) ASAP
• 9/21 Mega Choir Deadline 
• Eddie Bernal is our Campus Supervisor Support (from Arlington) and has been working on parent contact and student engagement.  You can email him at ebernal@riversideunified.org if you have student concerns, please CC Paulina and/or Admin on these emails. 
• Angelica is putting together a LUNCH BUNCH, find the flyer HERE - please share with your students. 
• Employee Wellness Calendar:  https://forms.gle/jYgpF5RNKEAN5k7p8
• RIMS AVID Weekly Newsletter (Updated each week) 
• September PGS Newsletter
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.
• Hispanic Heritage Classroom Resources:  Below are resources for teachers that can be used to facilitate lessons during the month in support of Hispanic
• Hispanic Heritage Month, Teacher Resources
• Hispanic Heritage Month, Resources for K-5, 6-8, 9-12 NEA
• Celebrate Hispanic Heritage, Ideas for Teachers - Scholastic
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Hispanic Heritage Month PBS
• English Learner Update Smore Newsletter
• Latino/Hispanic Heritage Resource Packet
• Elementary ELA/SLA Newletter
• Student of the Month names due to Cindy on WEDNESDAY, 9/23 - Find Form HERE

FOCUS: 

We will be working with Dr. Dave Horton and the teachers from Lake Matthews on tools that are designed to increase teacher efficacy in the distance learning environment.   We will be following many of the themes found at the heart of the Distance Learning Playbook, written by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey and John Hattie.  

These authors state the main themes at the heart of Visible Learning can be translated to Distance Learning.  

• Investment in learning means that there is a drive to foster each student's increasing ability to recognize when they are learning, when they are not, and how to go about fixing it. 
• Teacher clarity and feedback are crucial in fostering this ability in students. 
• Teachers must know the impact of their instruction in terms of progress and achievement and take steps to refine their approaches.  
• Methods for discovering what students already know so teachers can focus on needed learning experiences. 
• Knowing what works, what works when and what works for whom.
• The mind frames of teachers, dispositions and beliefs are in the drivers seat. 
• Collaboration with the focus on learning more than teaching and investing in relationships with children and adults in order to be an agent of change. 

Taking Care of Yourself: 

It is six weeks into the school year, and 5 months into distance learning, so you may have already established the two items below.  It is important to continually evaluate how these spaces and boundaries are working for you, and how you are feeling in the space you are using.  Establishing, and evaluating these two items are important to how you feel and function during your work day.  

• Keep a dedicated work space.
• This is a place you can easily teach and engage students.  For me, it is my spare bedroom because I love the light in that room and I can have privacy from my own kids and their distance learning.  Now would be a good time to evaluate how your work space is working for you.  How do you feel when you enter the space?  How have you made the space special or "yours"? 
• Set ground rules with the people in your space.
• What ground rules have you set with your people in regards to entering your work space while you are working?  I have asked my children to text me when they need something, instead of just barging into the room unannounced (Sometimes they remember).  It's understandable that family and pets will sometimes interrupt our work when we work from home.  Setting clear guidelines can help your stress level and help with your school day routines.   What guidelines have you established with your people?  Are they following these guidelines, or do you need to revisit the established boundaries with them? 

Upcoming Events: 

9/22 - Lunch Distribution + Textbook Distribution (All Grades) 11:15-12:45

9/22 - RUSD Employee Check-In 8:00 and 3:30

9/22 - Textbook Distribution Grades 4-6 3:00-6:00 (Please share with your families) 

9/22 - Superintendent Teaching Advisory - 3:45 

9/23 - Student of the Month Names due to Cindy

9/23 - DELAC 9-11(Carrie and Longi)

9/23 - RUSD Strengths Sessions 8:00 and 3:30

9/23 - Textbook Distribution Grades 1-3 3:00-6:00 (Please share with your families)

9/23 - Team Meeting with Lake Matthews 2:30-3:30 

9/24 -  Lunch Distribution + Textbook Distribution (All Grades) 11:15-12:45

9/24 - RUSD Wellness Workshop 8:00 and 3:30

9/24 - K-12 Principals Meeting 8:30-12:00 (Carrie)

9/24 - Textbook Distribution PS-K (Please share with your families)