Data Meetings

Data meetings finished up today. I hope that you were able to take something back and use in your classroom. I would love to hear about some of the strategies that you are using and have had success with. What would you like to see addressed at the next data meeting?

Homework

As a school, we are working on implementing a schoolwide home reading log as well as weekly fluency passages. We all agree that we need to encourage students to read daily and hold them accountable for reading assignments and written homework. I think it is important that homework be meaningful and reinforce what the teachers has covered during the school day. Since families are very busy during this day and age, we as educators need to evaluate the type and amount of homework assigned. It is crucial that parents know that homework and reading logs are evaluated by the teacher. We can't forget to regularly send ARMT type math practice problems home as well. This will allow parents to see the format of the state assessment. Please share your thoughts regarding homework: subject area, length and time requirements, and how you hold students accountable for doing homework.

21st Century Goals

What strategies do you plan to incorporate into your classroom to improve student outcomes in the area of "Learning and Innovation Skills"? As we reflect on our FAll ARMT Benchmark data, critical thinking and problem solving seem to be logical next steps for us as we make adjustments to move our students forward. If you have websites that you frequently use for critical thinking and problem solving, please share them with us.

School Environment

During data meetings everyone participated in a School Walkthrough to take a close look at our environment. What did you notice from our school walkthrough? What changes are you planning to make to your classroom or hall displays that will reflect our school goals? Students develop ownership and pride in their school when they see their work is the main focus of the school. When processes and standards are posted beside the school work, the hallways become a second teacher.