TLC Updates from Kathy and Dana

Update from the Teaching Learning Cycle (TLC) Trainings

From Kathy Devendorf and Dana Lott

·      The “Study” phase has been our big topic for the first three sessions.

·      Important understandings about the study phase:

o   This is not yet about the “what” of teaching (that is considered the planning phase); instead, the study phase addresses the “why” and the “how.”

o   These conversations set purpose for our work with students.

·      Some of you are already participating in this phase of the Teaching Learning Cycle, but we are learning strategies for deepening our understanding of it.

·      We’ve written a few sample Enduring Understandings regarding writing so that you can get a feel for how they sound.

o   We’ve purposely made them:

§  General, broad, philosophical

§  In kid-friendly language—ultimately, we want to share these with students

§  Reaching all grade levels in our building

·      These are only samples of what teams can come up with during the study phase

·      These will be posted in the theater area for us all to view

·      The district may be releasing a few very broad “interdisciplinary” Enduring Understandings (EU’s), but for them to “give these to us” would contradict the purpose for coming up with them in our teams.

·      Most recently, the focus of our trainings have focused on rigor and relevance- these were our group’s definitions based on an activity we did:

o   Rigor=begin with high expectations, focus on deep learning for students, quality vs. quantity

o   Relevance=making connections, kids being able to authentically/genuinely answer the “why are we doing this” question, enthusiasm and passion for a topic are apparent, teachers are able to “hook” the learners

The TLC is not “going away” from the district anytime soon.  It is our primary framework for all of the interactions we have with each other and our students.  We (Kathy and Dana) are a support for accessing ideas for implementation with your teams and colleagues.  We would be happy to meet with you to share more specific materials and information of you are interested. (We don’t want to give materials out of context, as that just gives everyone extra paper. J)  We are all in different places in the TLC process, and we don’t want this to be “one more thing” to get to, since so much is going on in the building right now,

Some materials we have available:

·      Suggested materials to bring to a study session based on content area

·      Unit planner to capture a study conversation

·      Quotes that define what rigor and relevance are

·      TLC Rubric for the study phase

·      DVD recording of a team working in the study phase for a math unit (coming soon)

·      Articles that help define the big ideas in the study phase

That is our quick synopsis for now.  More will come as we have future training sessions.  If you have nay questions, please feel free to see Dana and/or Kathy!  Thanks for reading!

ERD on November 17th!

Hi Teaching Staff!
If you are interested, I will be hosting a short "training" in the library on Wed. Nov, 17, 2010.  We will start at 1:30.  I want to take an opportunity to:
1.  show you how to navigate my blog posts (on both blogs),
2.  show you the library webpage and some resources available there, and
3.  teach you a bit about Destiny--you have an account, and  you CAN use it!
Hope to see you there!  It should last about 30-40 minutes.  Thanks!

Shout outs and Individual Library Visits

Hi!  I'd love to begin this post with a couple of "shout outs" to teachers with whom I've collaborated with recently! 
Here's to Jeff Ward--Thanks so much for letting me come into the classroom and truly co-teach a couple of writing lessons as kids turned their notes into paragraphs.  I had a blast being a part of your classroom community for writing!
Here's to Colin Ellerbruch and Melinda Younger--Thanks for trying out Glogs with your students!!!  It takes courage to step out and try a new tech tool with your kids!  Well done!!
And here's to First Grade Team--Pat Piche, Jennifer Crouch, and Stacy Hestermann--who were incredible to work with during a descriptive paragraph writing unit!  I had so much fun using mentor texts and teaching writing mini-lessons with you and your students.  Thanks!
I am looking forward to upcoming collaborations with third grade (country research) as well as second grade (writing support)!

The Library Advisory Council had their first meeting November 2nd. These were the topics shared with the team:

• Sharing of Developing Power Library Plan
• Specific materials needed for grade levels
• New Internet Safety Professional Tech books
• Databases and Discovery Education as wonderful resources
• How we are circulating CCBA books
• Book Fair prifits were about $1,300--we are using some of it to host an author this year-Laurie Keller didn’t pan out after all, looking into Justin Matott and David Cronk
• Feedback on passes?
• Flexible schedule working well!
• Please make sure kids are still coming down to the library other than their weekly time; centers is a great time for this type of visit!
• Some kids who visit us regularly are already past their 20th visit and working toward their 30th! :)  Some terrific first graders have already come for 20 times as well!  Yippee! (Kids recieve a cool reading keychain--kind of like a dogtag--on their 20th visit as a celebration for the milestone!)

Thanks so much to the Library Avdisory Council and Power Library Team for their help on this committee!! These people are: Sheri Gurule, Erin Dolan, Chuck Freeman, Jeanne Vollmar, Jeff Ward, Craig VanPatten, Christy Walp, Jennifer Crouch, and Margo Walsh.  If you have any questions, please see one of the team members or Dana.

Colorado Childrens' Book Award Nominees and Internet Safety Sources

Hi Everyone!  As we enter into November, I wanted to make you aware of a few resources we have in the library!

CCBA Books
Need a GREAT Read Aloud? This year's CCBA nominees offer some great stories that can lead to great writing ideas, word choice, and organization for the Riverdale writers in your rooms!!!  We have a couple copies each of the 10 picture books and the 10 junior novels that are nominated for this years voting in February.  (I am hoping to do voting in an online format this year!)  Since I am not meeting with your classes in a fixed schedule, we have created 4 tubs of picture books that can be checked out to read aloud in your classroom.

When checking these out, please follow these guidelines:
* We will check out each book in the set of 5 to you.
* You do not have to read all 5 books, however, please return all 5 books when you are finished with all of them--do not break up the sets.
* Please plan to read the selections in about a week's time.  I want to have enough time for all of the books to be circulated throughout the building before voting time.  If we check them out for the full 2 week period, there will not be enough time for all to have access to them.

The chapter books will be in the library to check out.  We will give preference to teachers checking out these titles but will still check them out to students as well.  (We have a REALLY great one for 4th this year!  It relates to Colorado history!) 

I will e-mail an attachment (couldn't figure out how in this blog...sorry) introducing this year's picks (along with some great lesson ideas)!  If you want me to talk to the kids about the titles as an introduction, I'd be happy to do so!  Stop by and schedule a time.  :)  In order to vote, students need to have read or heard at least 3 titles.  If you have any questions, please let Bonnie or I know.  Happy reading to all!!!

Internet Safety Sources!
We have recently purchased some really great non-fiction books for teaching internet safety!  Here is a link to the titles.  Under "Resource Lists" in the center, choose the internet safety books.  You can see the covers and even click on them for more information!  Come and see us if you'd like to check them out!

One More Thing...
The Power Libraries in Adams 12 were recognized at the School Board Meeting on October 20th!  Bonnie and I were quite proud to be among the 25 libraries in the district who are at the developing or high performing levels.  We LOVE our jobs--and working with staff members like you have a large piece in that.  Thanks foe letting us have a part in impacting your students' education and achievement!  Yea for Power Libraries...and YEA that the School Board regognizes the importance of a staffed library in each building!

Read For the Record!

Hi Staff!
I was trying to think of a fresh, new way to celebrate Read Aloud Month in October...and I think I have it!  (In the past we have used CCIRA "color in the poster" activities as a way to encourage reading at home.  I just don't see enough kid participation to see this as being beneficial.  I know you are already expecting them to read at home on a regular basis, so I don't want to add another "thing" to that arena.  If you are interested in using these resources with your own class, I have the booklet and you are welcome to browse through it.)

So....here goes!
We will participate in the Pearson Foundation's "Read for theRecord" event on October 7th by reading Ezra Jack Keats' Caldecott winning, Snowy Day throughout the building.  I have purchased a copy of the book for each classroom as well as specialists to use and add to your classroom libraries! :)  I will register us as a school and just need you to e-mail me how many people heard the story on that day (only count yourself once, please).  I will then tally our numbers and submit them to the Pearson Foundation for the record count.  Last year, there were 2,019,752 people participating by reading the foundation selected book! 

We are working on currently getting bookplates in the books and you will have your copy soon.  In the mean time, here is a link to the Pearson Foundation listing a TON of fun resources for participating in this day.  Please note: you can make this a big deal or a small deal--totally up to you.  If you simply want to read this book with your class, that is enough to participate.  If you have any questions, please let me know. 
Yours in BOOKS!!!
Dana :)

P.S.  Unfortunately, I won't be able to read aloud the selection to classes on this day, as we will be setting up the book fair and conducting preview sessions in the afternoon.  Sorry about that...conflicting schedules?!?! 

Google and Read Aloud and Collaboration, Oh My!

Hi all!
I have a few thoughts to share with staff as we near the middle of September!  Let's start with celebrations!

• Collaboration SuperStars-I want to tell you all about a couple of excellent collaborations I've had this week!!!
• Mrs. Stacy Hestermann-We co-taught a lesson on creating a name rebus in Kidspriation with her first graders.  Both the process and product were wonderful!  Thanks, Stacy!  Love working with you!! (Thanks to Jennifer Crouch and Carol Jennings for getting the idea rolling for the whole grade level!)
• Mrs. Christy Walp-We've begun our zoo animal research with 5th grade and I truly appreciate the way we can be viewed as equal teaching partners to her class.  When I forget to mention an important idea to her kids, she is able to fill it in, knowing the questions that may be in her students' minds.  Now, that's what I call co-teaching Christy! Thanks!
• Technology Kudos!-Go out to:
• Mrs. Sheri Gurule who is figuring out how to blog her weekly newsletter!  She figured out how to create an e-mail list of parents in IC to e-mail them her blog link instead of sending home a paper newsletter each week!  Wow...tech savvy and going green!  Way to go Sheri!
• Mrs. Christy Walp who is figuring our how to manage student accounts in Glogster (and helping me figure it out as well!)  As frustrating as it has been, she is sticking with it so that her kids can benefit from an innovative final product--and 21st Century too!  Nice work!

And now some news...

• Google Calendar-The last ERD in September we will learn how to use Google Calendar to book Tech Lab times.  I will be coming around soon to put the shortcut to login screen on your desktops.  

• Read Aloud Month Activity-Instead of participating in CCIRA's annual Read Aloud Month (color in the poster) activity, I will be purchasing a copy of The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats for each teacher to share with their students.  On October 7th, we will participate in the International Reading Association's "Read for the Record" event by reading this book.  Last year, more than 2 million people read the same book that day.  I will be collecting data on how many participants we have at Riverdale to contribute to the BIG statistic that day...and you get to keep this classic title (and Caldecott winner) to add to your class library!  More information on specifics and related lessons to come!

• CCBA Book check out-Looking for a few EXCELLENT books to read aloud...and possibly spark some writing ideas?  This year, we will circulate the Colorado Childrens' Book Award Nominees in a new way!  We will be creating tubs of books containing 4-5 titles for you to check out and share with your students.  You will be able to keep them for an extended time so that you and your class can enjoy multiple titles together.  (Students will still be able to check out CCBA's as well, but they will be on a limited basis.)  In February, we will vote for our favorites.  In order for kids to vote, they need to have read or had at least 3 of the books read to them.  I hope to craft some type of online voting this year!!!

• Professional Books-We should have several of the latest professional technology books back from cataloging soon.  If you are interested, stop by and ask! :)

Thanks for a successful first full week!

Teachers and staff,
We'd like to thank you for a wonderfully successful first full week in the library!  We met with all 17 classes (K-5) conducting orientations and enjoying a a grade-level specific library related story.  Students learned about book care, overdue notices, areas of the library appropriate for their level, and how to use passes this school year in the library. (NOTE: CLAIRIFICATION ON PASSES-Students will need their pass with them whenever they are in the library for a period of time.  This includes checking out books, using computers, using a table for study or reading time, or playing games.  They DO NOT need their pass if they are only returning books and going back to class immediately thereafter.  My apologies for any confusion there may have been.)

We are happy to report that we circulated 1,081 items this first week!  Averaging a bit more than 200 per day, this is up from a 180-190 average last year.  67 of these items were magazines, which makes me glad!  One of my goals last year was to build up a magazine collection that students enjoy reading.  Third, fourth, and fifth graders may check out magazines.  If second grade teachers are interested, I can do a magazine lesson for their students later in the school year (after winter break).  Magazines provide students with a nice variety of articles and many non-fiction features of texts (photos, captions, bylines, columns, etc.)  Magazines can also be a great option for reluctant readers, as they generally have shorter "stories" to read, rather than several long chapters which can prove frustrating.

When checking out the new Canon Powershot Cameras and Flip Video Cameras this year, please be sure to remove your photos and videos from the cameras and SD cards before returning them to the library.  Also, please recharge the batteries for the Canon Powershot Cameras before returning them.  (The charger is included in the tub when you check one out.)  If you have any questions regarding use of these tools, pleas let us know!  We'd be happy to help!

I would love to meet with grade level teams to sketch out major projects for the year (in Google Calendar) in the near future!  I would like to COMMEND the FIRST GRADE TEAM for having met and talking about their needs!  We are on our way to scheduling a super-meaningful year of collaborative efforts for these young learners.  We have some reading and writing collaborations as well as science ideas in our plans.  Thanks to Jennifer Crouch, Stacy Hestermann, and Pat Piche!  I love working with you ladies!

I am working on a plan for assisting Bonnie with passes during whole class checkout times.  After I talk with her, I will give you more information on having your students prepared when they come down so that we can keep this circulation time to the allotted 15 minutes.

Thanks for a SUCCESSFUL first full week with Riverdale Students!  Looking forward to the week ahead and helping with assessments. 
:) Dana