Bring it On!

 

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

Teddy Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States.  He championed pure food and drugs, conservation, and the common man.  He wanted there to be an even playing field.  John Meacham, a Pulitzer prize winning historian, names him as one of the better angels who replace fear with hope and reverses injustice and expands equality.  Roosevelt is an inspiration.

    I find this profile a fitting springboard as we begin to see the results of our labors.   This week we will be getting results from MAP in reading and math.  We can expect that it may not be as we wish.  It may seem like an insurmountable task.  However, we must believe in the worthy cause of hard work and strong mission. We can make it happen around data analysis and differentiated instruction. We will realize high achievement.  When we feel like it's not enough or results aren't as we hoped we get up, learn, analyze, collaborate and begin again.

We will do this together in three steps:

1.  Analyze student work as a team.  Our professional development plan for the rest of the month will be to discuss and conduct the screeners in reading and math.  We will analyze this data along with MAP results.  We will create plans to address gaps and move forward toward a path of high achievement.

2.  Collaborative PLCs begin this week:  We will share a schedule this week to follow.  We will have grade level teams who meet with Kim and Julie or Bri.  We will work together to find paths for teams to meet the goals and objectives of the grade level.  We will meet one time for math and once for literacy from 8-8:40.  The schedule for this  week only:  Wednesday K-1, Thursday 2-3, Friday 4-5.  Beginning the week of the 21st the schedule will start with PLCs of grade level teams only.  You will have the other PLC times to plan and learn together.  

3.  Feedback.  We will begin feedback loops this week.  Kim will come into your room for a mini observation and then meet with you individually to celebrate your work and reinforce what you've worked on with your PLC.  Feedback is our friend and will drive our success.

You do matter. Your voice matters.  Please remember to answer the two surveys sent to you last week.  You should have received one from Mark Schuldt about supports.  K-1 teachers should have received a second survey from him about returning to school with enhancements to the HYBRID plan  

Stand up. Be Proud.  Let your voice be heard.  

YOU ARE IN THE ARENA