Tips for Group Work

 

Hope you have a great first week of March and can really enjoy your students and build meaningful relationships!

Trevor Muir has another great article this week about how to keep students on track during group work.  We know that having students work together and learn from each other is a powerful tool, as long as they are all doing their part and collaborating!  Below is a great blog post with tools to help you manage students!!  These tools are also in his book, "The Collaborative Classroom".  I have a copy in my office if you would like to read more!

                                       Tips to Eliminate Off-Task Behavior During Group Work

Important Information: 

COLLABORATE

WIN - Thank you to everyone that gave me feedback on the changes to WIN on Friday at our faculty meeting.  Because of the feedback, we are going to wait a week (This will not start until March 6) to implement and use this week to help get everyone on board. 

    WIN Information: 

      * Students will be assigned to teachers instead of assistants.  (Some rooms will be crowded - I will do my best to spread out students.  I will be using all possible teachers!)

      * We will still meet for PLCs and schedule assistants to cover for your WIN times during the day of your regular PLC meeting.  

      * Other assistants will still be available during that time to help you either cover your class on a time you need to work with a group of students OR you can ask them to work with a small group of students.  We can also use assistants to take small groups of students outside or to the gym when appropriate.  

     * Teachers can also partner with each other to help with coverage or meet the needs of the group. 

     * Teachers will still be asked to pull students if they need help (maybe a smaller group).

     * Tests can be given in the classroom during WIN, you can send the test to Learning Lunch Room so students can take it in a quiet location, or ask an assistant to monitor students taking a test. 

     * Expectations of students during WIN (if they are not coded out) are to be quiet and mannerly.  We have been letting students check their phones during this time or play a game on their computers.  This will be the same.  

      * We will add a gradebook to teachers for attendance purposes.  

                  WIN Information (Please take the survey)

                  WIN Groups    (This is a work in progress.)   

PLC Trainining -  Phil and I wll be attending the following PLCs during the following dates to share an important TED Talk about race.  It is important that everyone attend these meetings.  If you cannot attend during your normal PLC meeting, please jump into another time!  

          February 27th - Math & Island Teams   11:54 - 12:24  Jason Barnett's Room

          March 2nd - English & Special Education Teams   11:54 - 12:24   Alyssa Howe's Room

          March 3rd - Science & Social Studies Teams   11:54 - 12:24   Vanessa Johnson's Room 

Scheduling Meetings - As we move closer to creating the master schedule, I would like to meet with all teachers to talk about your likes/dislikes and goals for next school year.  This is very helpful as we create schedules!    I think the easiest way is for me to send emails to you and try to schedule a time with each of you individually.  Be on the look out for an email and be thinking about what you would like to share!   

Grades:  The end of the grading period is FRIDAY! Please make sure your grades are entered and students get the information they need for learning.  March 3rd is the last day of the quater and report cards will come out on March 10.  

Testing:  March 1st will be SAT testing for all juniors.  This is the state test that students will take.  It will take the entire morning.  Dana is working hard to train teachers on how to take the assessment and we will be asking some of you to help cover classes or proctor.  Please talk to your juniors about the importance of this day and their attendance.  They do have to take it to graduate.  

      Reminder that all juniors will be taking a practice test on Monday (tomorrow) first period.  Please see Dana's email for details.  

CELEBRATE: 

Pep Session - We will have a Pep Session to cheer on the Commodores for sectional play on Friday.  Below you will find a copy of the bell schedule.  

Pep Session Schedule
12:28-1:08 5th Period
1:12-1:52 6th Period
1:56-2:29 7th Period
2:30-3:00 Pep Session

Lunch Winners:  Carrie Guillaume & Seth Gehlhausen won a free lunch from our faculty meeting on Friday.  Carrie and Seth, please get with Janet to schedule your lunch one day this week!