Brenda's Bits (New Position)

Dear Colleagues,

For six years I have the pleasure of working with four outstanding principals, near 100 talented teachers, and over 1000 hardworking students. I could not have asked for a better job! When Sara Casebeer suggested "coaching" to me I said something like, "What's that?" and "Ok, I'll try if for a year."  Well....

I can't begin to say how much I learned in the past six years. I've learned so much for all of you; knowledge, dedication, patience, and a sense of humor:) Each and everyday I have been humbled by the amazing work that you do!!!

Next year I will be returning to Salem Heights as a classroom teacher. At this point I do not know what grade level.  I'm excited to return to the classroom, it's been eight years since I've been a classroom teacher. Now I'll be able to apply all of the knowledge that I've gained from you!

Thank you for the honor and privilege of being your "coach". And thank you for your friendships:)

Love,
Bren

Brenda's Bits May 25th-May 30th

Dear Teachers,

Wow!  We made it through OAKS, writing assessments, ELPA, and now on to DRAs, EDL2s and entering data into SKORES.   We're on the homestretch!

As I look at testing data I am in awe of how hard all of you work to increase student achievement!

TABLE OF CONTENTS:  SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES

Systematic ELD registration is on the Academy!

The dates are: August 21st, 22nd and 23rd.
.

OREGON WRITING PROJECT PRESENTS:  "21Century Classes"

The sessions are as follows:

June 25:

Utilize and manage technology (Google Docs).

June 26

: Find and post digital content for students (Edmodo).

June 27:

Save time with technology (Class Dojo).

June 28:

Collaborate and differentiate instruction (Prezi).

June 29:

Increase student engagement through technology (Kerpoof).

June 25 – June 29, 2012

Attend as many, or as few, days as you choose.

8am - 11am

Each class session will highlight a free educational tech tool. Participants will collaborate and

receive guidance during hands-on practice of a web tool. Technology knowhow

Fee of $25 (per session)

1 credit option available (EDU 730) to those who attend all five sessions.

Contact Matt Hurst at

Space is limited for each session

STEM:  Information below

K-12 Educators* Conference July 25-27, 2012 Transforming Barriers to Pathways: Engaging Youth in STEM-based Service-Learning *soon to teach college students Caretakers of the Environment International – Oregon Chapter in partnership with Oregon State University Extension Service 4-H Youth Development www.ceioregon.org Register on line or email https://outlook.salkeiz.k12.or.us/owa/redir.aspx?C=a8863c08efe4450bbdbb7166352131de&URL=mailto%3adan.hoynacki%40oregonstate.edu $195 program fee Course ED715B Willamette University College of Education. 1 or 2 semester grad credits available to purchase @$125 per credit Sponsors include Juan Young Trust & 4-H Foundation

Barriers to Pathways will show you how to: ü Connect the dots between core state curriculum standards and service learning components ü Instill a fun, structured learning environment in an outdoor setting ü Effectively utilize  high school and college student volunteers to implement your service learning program ü Reach out and engage community partners for service worksite needs ü Build human resources and technical expertise beyond textbooks ü Navigate your school administrative requirements and collaborate with other educators at your school.

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children.  One of theset is roots; the other, wings.  ~ Hodding Carter

Enjoy your weekend:)
~Brendahurst.claggett@gmail.com for more information.http://bit.ly/wuedu730

 NELLIE EDGE:  Writing-to Read Accelerates Literacy

Writing-to-Read Accelerates Literacy: All Kindergartners Love to Write and Draw! June 19, 2012 in Salem, OR at the Red Lion Hotel Salem kindergarten teachers to register at $139 (a savings of $90). Enter code "cadre" when you register online. This includes preK-1 and Special Ed teachers. Literacy coaches (accompanying teachers from their school) may register for $39 (the cost of the handbook and CD) using the code "guest." Instructional assistants are invited to attend at no cost when accompanying their kindergarten teachers. (If they would like the seminar resource packet, they may register for the $39 fee using the code "guest.") After the kindergarten teacher is registered, she/he needs to email us (info@nellieedge.com) with the name, home phone number, and home email of the IA. They must be pre-registered this month. Because some Salem schools would rather not use the online registration system, we will accept a school check to cover fees (schools first fax or mail a "Check in Advance" order) as we are not able to process purchase orders. We will acknowledge receipt of the pre-registration. C:\Documents and Settings\Fletchall_Michele\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\JO2CYGKC\letter from Nellie.doc 　
Please send name, teaching position, home phone number, and home email of each person registering. — Fax: 503-399-0435.
— Email: info@nellieedge.com
— Address: Nellie Edge Seminars, P.O. Box 12399, Salem, OR 97309-0399 (Also found under Seminar Tab at http://www.nellieedge.com/.)

Brenda's Bits May 11th-16th

Teachers,

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!!! Thank you for all that you do for our students!!!


Leadership in Writing Institute:  I've send out information prior; however, if you want to participate in this event and want tuition reimbursement it needs to be completed by tomorrow, Friday, May 11th.

This leadership in Writing Institute is going to be a great opportunity to hear from national speakers including the young author and speaker Adora Svitak.  She is coming to participate in the conference and will write her key note after spending the time to listen and talk with the teachers in the sessions.  She is an amazing person!  Here is a link to her presentation addressing educators and a link to her published book. 

http://www.amazon.com/Flying-Fingers-Learning-Through-Writing/dp/1888045191

Cost: $79

Includes Friday evening with

Frank Serafini and a full-day

conference Saturday for administrators,

coaches, and teachers.

(Discounts will be available)
If you want to attend please contact me ASAP and I will send the Registration Form and Licensed request for Reimbursement to you and you can do this online. 

LATEST SKORES INFORMATION:

If you are using the District Writing Assessment as your work sample for writing, you do not have to enter information into SKORES (including 4th grade). 

Kindergarten Teachers:  Those students that are below a Level 3 DRA and assessed using the WAT's you do need to enter WAT information into SKORES.

Please ask me or talk with Catherine Carlson or Becky Eastland if you have any questions about SKORES.  Here is the screencast link for more information.
http://screencast.com/t/J3qe8lAdphh

Happy Mother's Day to all of you great mothers!
God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers.

Until next week,
~Brenda

June 15-16

Willamette University

900 State Street

Salem, OR 97301

Brenda's Bits May 3rd~10th

Dear Teachers,

It's May!  Yesterday, I was told by a first grader that there are only 29 more school days, could that really be true?  I'm really not trying to scare anyone!

TABLE of CONTENTS:

SKORES:  Updated information and screencast

Writing Institute: June 15th-June 16th- Info below or contact me for registration form.  Tuition reimbursement applies (due May 11th)

DRA/EDL- Open until 6/13  Literacy Squared- Open until 6/1- See information on previous blog for Guidelines.  Please let me know if you want a refresher with administering DRA.

Help Needed for Writing Festival- May 10th

http://screencast.com/t/J3qe8lAdphh  Screencast for SKORES

Steps to SKORES

1. Launchpad- log in SK webpage under Staff or on your toolbar (only District sites)
2. Applications
3. Create Batch (unless you have already done so)
4. Test Type

           Subject

           No mode

           Test Name

           School (organized by school number)

Administering Teacher

Class (if you are a K teacher with am and pm sessions make you check what session this is)

6        Name test- remember to name is something you will rememberJ

7        Finished

8        Manage tab is for you to add or delete students

9        Click on name of batch

10    Add Results (some of the information is optional depending on the what you are entering)

11    Save

12    You will see the number of  students’ data you have saved and how many you have submitted

13    Submit  (you have two weeks to add data once you have started entering)

Things to Help or Reminders:

* Name your test and or work samples something that you will remember i.e. Spring 

    DRA

*  Print out your class list and write data down before entering on SKORES

*  If you print out what order to enter work sample information in, it will be much easier

    to record

*  Kindergarten teachers if you are am and pm you will have two classes

*  If you have a blend class you will need to create two separate batches i.e.  3^rd grade
    grade writing a 3 is a pass but not at 4^th grade

*  When entering work samples for writing you will need to create a batch for each genre

*  If you use the District Writing test for a work sample score for writing you will need to

   create a batch for both writing test and work sample

*  When entering DRA K-2 teachers need to enter all students’ Independent level

*  When entering DRA 3-5 teachers need to enter only students’ Independent levels

     who are below grade level

If you need help, please let me knowJ

 Writing Institute Information

 

June 15-16 Cost: $79Includes Friday evening and all day Sat.

Willamette University

900 State Street

Salem, OR 97301

Frank Serafini and a full-day

conference Saturday for administrators,

coaches, and teachers.

(Discounts will be available)

Plea for help with Writing Festival from Kathy Moran- contact Kathy Moran or Kathy Bowers if you can help.  Moran_Kathy @salkeiz.k12.or.us or   Bowers_Kathy@salkeiz.k12.or.us

 

Writing Festival Volunteers Needed

May 10, Thursday

Set up begins at 4PM,

Doors open at 6PM with viewing of writing,

Program begins 6:30 with students reading, author presentation, finshing with awards.

Needs:           some tasks to choose from

·       2 greeters at the door, someone to speak Spanish (30 min.)

·         Persons to lay out the writing pieces and keep them straightened while public views. (1hr.)

·        Line up children in order of program list for awards and readings. (1hr.)

·         Greet parents at auditorium doors beginning at 6:25. (30 min)

·        Replace the writing pieces in school bags, tear down display stands.(30min.)

There is no viewing of writing once the program begins, so  volunteers may leave when the bags are re-assembled.    

   

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou

That's all for now! 

Let the sun shine:)

Brenda

Addendum for April 19th-2th

Teachers,

This will be brief! This is information that is on a short timeline if you are interested. 

SMART MATH CLASS:

You may have seen this announcement in Inside 24J, but I want to be sure you each see it. There’s a flyer attached and what follows is the information from I24J. 

Want to know more?

Find all related information such as the application and a sample lesson at
http://bit.ly/AboutSMARTMath2012 (case sensitive).

If you have further questions, please call or email Melissa Garner at

503-399-3031 or garner_melissa@salkeiz.k12.or.us

Enjoy the rest of your week,
Brenda

Salem-Keizer is accepting applications to participate in the SMART Math project. The goal of this project is to create SMART Notebook files aligned to Common Core math standards in grades K-7. Teams of three teachers at each grade level will work together to create content starting with the first unit in the fall and continuing through the year. These Notebook files will focus on the Launch and Summarize parts of a lesson and provide tools for a teacher to use to design during the Explore part of the lesson. They will not be prescriptive lessons but provide several resources for teachers to use as they customize lessons to fit the needs of their students.

Teachers will be paid at curriculum rate for all PD hours.

When and Where

Dates:

May 12, June 19-22

Time:

8:30 to 3:30 daily

Location:

Stephens MS

Applications Due:

5/1/12

Teams Announced:

5/4/12

Brenda's Bits for April 19th~26th

Hi All,

Where did the week go? I'll count this week's blog as part of next week:)

Table of Contents:

DRA Information
OWP Writing Project
Camp Science

DRA INFORMATION: The testing window for non- Literacy Squared is open:
April 16th-June 13th. 
Literacy Squared Classrooms: April 30th-June1st. 
Below is the link to the District Testing Calendar.

http://167.135.98.251:8030/docs/tcEle.pdf

Please refer to the DRA2/EDL2 Testing Guidelines as they have changed this year.  The information that I have pasted below is on the "U" Drive:  24J, DRA2, K-52011-2012 DRA2-EDL2 Guidelines.  If you have any questions about Guidelines, please don't hesitate to ask.

DRA2-EDL2

Salem-Keizer Administration Guidelines & Timelines

Screening Quickly examining previous data, or administering a brief assessment,  to get a running start on classroom planning and student levels of proficiency	First of school year	·          Kindergarten teachers screen students with the required Word Analysis Tasks: 1, 3, 5, 6 and 9.  Literacy Squared classrooms screen students with the district-created Spanish WATs:  2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 , 9 and 10.  This data will be entered onto SKORES each fall beginning in the fall of 2012.  ·          Word Analysis Tasks data are recorded on the DRA2 Word Analysis Tasks Student Cumulative Student Record Form which will be forwarded to grade 1 teachers at years’ end.   ·          Grades 1-5 teachers screen by looking at previous years’ DRA2 or EDL2 data, either in the teacher data warehouse or in school-based student portfolios.
Diagnostics Individualized comprehensive assessment to pinpoint specific areas of strength and need	Anytime as needed Up to 3x annually	The full DRA2-EDL2 (and suggested WATs) may be administered to find the students’ instructional or independent level.  This is highly recommended for any student of concern (grades K-5) early in the year.  ·          Literacy2 1-5 classrooms are to ensure they fully assess using standard administration protocols for both DRA2 and EDL2 (only EDL2 if DRA2 was proctored in spring) for any new to L2 or new to our district students. ·          New to Salem-Keizer students in grades K-5 is recommended to be assessed with the DRA2 soon after arrival.  ·          New to Dual Language Programs students are assessed (with either the DRA2 or EDL2 as appropriate) soon after arrival.
Progress Monitoring Brief, less comprehensive checks on progress over time	Ongoing	·          Word Analysis Tasks (WATs) may be repeatedly administered to ascertain a students’ growing progress on targeted word level skills.  ·          The DRA2-EDL2 Progress Monitoring Assessments may be frequently administered to gauge student growth over the year but do not replace a full diagnostic evaluation.  The associated DRA2-EDL2 Growth Trajectories and Biliteracy Zones are used for analysis over time.
Summative Note:  K-4 teachers  send portfolios to the next years’ teachers including a variety of testing data, including most recent and relevant DRA2-EDL2 data such as: Word Analysis Tasks Student Cumulative Records DRA2-EDL2 Growth Trajectories Most current DRA2-EDL2 information including the completed Continuum & Focus for Instruction pages	Spring	In all grades, except Kindergarten, DRA2 and EDL2 INDEPENDENT scores are entered onto SKORES each spring.  Standard administration protocols (all parts of the DRA2 assessment are administered and the directions/scoring are the same from school to school).  Further clarification by grade is provided below: Non Literacy Squared:  ·          Kindergarten students are assessed with the DRA2.  The DRA2 level and level of proficiency (emerging, developing, and independent) are entered onto SKORES.  For kindergarten students reading below a level 3 independently, the Word Analysis Tasks (1, 3, 5, 6 and 9) are re-administered and entered onto SKORES.  If the student has previously shown control on any of the required WATs, the teacher may indicate “control” without re-administering that task.  Copies of the WATs, DRA2, EDL2 assessments and record-keeping forms are sent on to the first grade teacher.  ·          Grades1-2 students are fully assessed with the DRA2. The level at which the student reads independently is entered onto SKORES.  ·          Grades 3-5 students reading below grade level are fully DRA2 assessed (not progress monitored) in the spring using standard administration protocols and the level at which the student reads independently is entered onto SKORES. Literacy Squared: ·          Kindergarten students are assessed with the EDL2.  The EDL2 level and level of proficiency (emerging, developing, and independent) is entered onto SKORES.  Students reading at a Level 3 EDL2 independently for the first time are also administered the DRA2 and the DRA2 level and level of proficiency (emerging, developing, and independent) are also entered onto SKORES.  Students unable to read an EDL2 level 3 independently are also re-administered Spanish WATS (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10).  The WATs data is entered onto SKORES.  If the student has previously shown control on any of the required WATs, the teacher may indicate “control” without re-administering that task.  Copies of the WATs, DRA2 and EDL2 assessments and record-keeping forms are sent on to the first grade teacher.   ·          1st-5th Grades Literacy 2:  Both EDL2 and DRA2 are administered and the scores (at independent levels) are entered into SKORES.
Grade Level End of Year Benchmarks	·          Kindergarten  Independent Level 3 ·          Grade 1          Independent Level 16  ·          Grade 2          Independent Level 28		·          Grade 3          Independent Level 38 ·          Grade 4          Independent Level 40 ·          Grade 5          Independent Level 50
Biliteracy Zones	EDL Level—Spanish DRA2 Level—English A-6 A-2 8-10 3-6 12-16 8-10 18-28 12-16 30-38 18-28 40 30-38 50-60 40+
IEP Notes	Students on IEP’s (with reading-related goals) may have testing modifications written on to their IEP’s (when appropriate) for the DRA2 or EDL2.

Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment,     Revised April 9, 2012

Candalaria Print is in the file cabinets in room 6.  I ordered more Levels A-20.
Lee Print is in A-6 in the file cabinets (sorry, it is not labeled)  EDL2 print is also there.
McKinley Print is in the file cabinet in the "Spanish room". 
I did not run off WAT print. Please use the Record of Responses (beginning on pg. 111 of your WAT Teacher Guide).  The reason for using these response forms is so that next years teacher can refer to them. 

I will offer a SKORES refresher "class" at each school (if needed).  I'll send out dates on a later blog.

Oregon Writing Project: A great learning opportunity!  
http://www.willamette.edu/gse/owp/

Camp Science: For students in 4th-5th grade.  Please contact me if you are interested and I can send out application forms. 

STRAUB ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMER DAY CAMP – FREE!

Teacher Info Sheet

Who:  Friends of Straub Environmental Learning Center

What:  We’re providing a FREE summer day camp with goals to:

-          Provide a hands-on educational program that will increase students’ knowledge of Oregon ecosystems, natural processes and ecosystem management

-          Educate students about the many benefits and products provided by Oregon’s environment

-          Teach students about stewardship of our natural environment.

Where:  Straub Environmental Learning Center

We will meet each day of the trip at the Straub Environmental Learning Center, 1320 A. St NE (near North Salem High School and Olinger Pool). From there, we will travel to a variety of destinations to learn and explore Oregon’s outdoors! Campers meet at the Straub Center each day at 7:30am, and return to the Center by 4:00pm.

When:  July 2012

Grades 4 -5 = July 16-20, 2012 (Students entering 4^th & 5^th grade in the Fall of 2012 are eligible to attend)

Grades 6 - 8 = July 23-27, 2012 (Students entering 6^th-8^th grade in the Fall of 2012 are eligible to attend)

Please distribute the enclosed applications to interested students!!

 

Important Information:

-                     Each camp is limited to 20 students, and preference is given to students from Title I schools and/or who qualify for free and reduced lunch. Please encourage these students to apply.

-                     ALL applications require teacher evaluations, so please be sure to complete that section of the application before returning it to us.

-                     Completed applications can be delivered to us in the provided envelope. Applications for students in grades 4-5 can either be given to Bobbie Snead (email bobbie.snead@gmail.com to arrange a pick-up) or sent to Jon Yoder via in-district mail. Applications for students in grades 6-8 should be sent to Jon Yoder via in-district mail.

-                     Submitting an application does not mean students are automatically accepted into the camp. Students and their parents will be notified by phone or email if they are accepted into the camp no later than June 10, 2012. 

-                     For questions on the camp for grades 4-5, please contact Bobbie Snead at bobbie.snead@gmail.com

-                     For questions on the camp for grades 6-8, please contact Sally White at lvworms@yahoo.com

Applications must be received no later than 5:00pm Tuesday, May 15^th, 2012 to be considered.

Thank you for your help!

No written word

         nor spoken plea

Can teach our youth

               what they should be.

Nor all the books

           on all the shelves.

It's what the teachers

        are themselves.

~ Unknown

That's all folks:)

Happy Week!

~Brenda