Friday, March 1, 2013

Friday Focus - March 1, 2013

  • Data chats will begin next Friday and continue the following week.  Please bring your completed data forms.   Please also be prepared to speak about the standards that you have recently addressed.  We are attempting to help you recognize that you must have knowledge of the standards as we move forward.
  • A few items on safety: please be at your doors greeting students at 7:55 each morning; students should never be sent to the field/playground to recover lost items - items will be returned to the front office at the end of each day; and remember to have your doors locked at all times!
  • SAC and PTA meetings are next Thursday evening.
  • As we continue to practice collaborative grouping as a strategy, I feel that it is important to recognize teachers who have successfully attempted and/or utilized this strategy.  Dr. Lewis and I visited Mrs. Nocera's classroom this past week.  It was truly a pleasure to witness her students working in groups as they utilized text to determine problem and solution.  Mrs. Nocera is very comfortable moving about the classroom discussing each group's progress, providing support and clarifying information to the class.  We were also lucky enough to visit Mr. Burns' class where he was using collaborative grouping to have students complete a review packet.  Mr. Burns is extremely adept at incorporating all levels of students in his activities, completing respecting each one.
 Quote of the Week - "Negative attitudes are a sort of poison." - Fran Tarkenton.  Even consuming it in moderation can be hazardous to your health.

Article of the Week - The fifth grade PLC asked me what I thought was the difference between collaborative and cooperative grouping.  Here are two short articles where the authors attempt to define each and explain the differences - Collaborative vs. Cooperative and A Definition of Collaborative vs. Cooperative Learning  What do you think?

One last thought that I absolutely love -

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