Morning Greeters
Kate McHenry and Quiana Wilson
Eyes on the Blacktop
Jules Milstead and Laura Inge
Special Education Information Night - Monday, 9/26 from 6 to 7 pm
AoA administration has invited parents of students with IEPs for a meeting to go over recent changes in the special education program including the addition of a Tier 2 math intervention class and a Tier 3 intensive literacy program (Language!)
AoA Volleyball Teams Play at Lincoln Middle School - Tuesday, 9/27 beginning at 4:00 pm
Tutorial - Wednesday, 9/27 at the beginning of 8th period
Remember to review the tutorial contest (Pizza party for the tutorial that has the highest percentage of PTA memberships) and to motivate students to talk to their families about joining our PTA.
Department Meetings - Wednesday from 2:15 to 3:30 pm
1st 15 to 20 minutes together and then you will work in department teams. One area of focus will be to review standards in your current unit (or next if you are just about finished) and review against the essential standards criteria - endurance, leverage and readingness for the next level. You can also find it in your PD binders under the aligning your curriculum handout. Remember, we are trying to reduce the number of standards we are teaching to focus on the most high leverage ones. Another handout that I will give you is one that examines the differences between stating a lesson's objective/s rather than activities within it - a critical difference. The book, Teach Like a Champion also has good information on the benefits of clearly stating a lesson's objective/s and how to check for understanding to make sure students met it.
Sports Day - Friday, 9/30 all day
Students will be permitted to wear athletic gear to school on Wednesday. Will have the specifics for you on Monday or Tuesday so you can go over with students during Wednesday's tutorial. Also, there will be a staff v student basketball game on Friday at lunch - come play or check it out.
Miscellaneous
Reaching out to special education teachers
I know that you have been doing this but I just wanted to remind you to reach out to your students' special education case managers to obtain critical information on how best to serve them. This is a particularly BUSY time for them as they are conducting 30 day placement, initials, addendums, and annuals as well as implementing new courses. I know it is a two-way relationship but I appreciate you for doing most of the footwork for now. We will give you ample time on October 7 to obtain information on your ELL and special education students.
Mean Spirited Notes
A number of 6th graders have received notes stuffed into their lockers that say things like, "Watch it, we're looking at you," and other similar things. Hoping it is just a prank but is has scared some of our 6th graders. Keep you eyes out for anyone putting notes into lockers - thanks.
