🌸 A Mother's Day Tribute to Teachers 🌸

On this Mother's Day, we celebrate the incredible educators who embody the spirit of motherhood in their classrooms. Your unwavering dedication, compassion, and guidance extend beyond lesson plans, shaping young hearts and minds with love and care.

Whether you're a mother yourself or a teacher who steps into the nurturing role for your students, your impact is immeasurable. You provide knowledge and emotional support, encouragement, and a safe space for growth. Your influence often mirrors that of a second mother, offering wisdom, comfort, and a listening ear when needed most.

As we honor mothers today, we also recognize the profound role you play in the lives of your students. Thank you for being a beacon of strength, kindness, and inspiration. Your dedication does not go unnoticed, and we are deeply grateful for all that you do.

Happy Mother's Day to all the teachers who nurture, guide, and inspire with the heart of a mother. 💐

As we approach the final weeks of the school year, it's essential to remember that our role in fostering student growth doesn't end with the calendar. The last days of school are an opportunity to reinforce the value of continuous learning and to leave a lasting impact on our students.

Here are some strategies to maintain engagement and motivation:

• Project-Based Learning: Encourage students to work on projects that integrate various skills and knowledge areas. This approach not only reinforces learning but also allows students to apply what they've learned in meaningful ways.We Are Teachers

• Reflection Activities: Facilitate sessions where students can reflect on their achievements and challenges throughout the year. This practice helps them recognize their growth and sets a positive tone for the future.

• Celebration of Achievements: Acknowledge and celebrate the progress and accomplishments of your students. Recognizing their efforts boosts morale and reinforces the importance of perseverance and dedication.

• Interactive Learning: Incorporate hands-on activities and interactive lessons that keep students engaged and make learning enjoyable. Tools like Kahoot or Quizizz can add an element of fun while reinforcing key concepts. Morgan Hunter - Education

As we approach the culmination of this academic year, I want to take a moment to acknowledge your unwavering dedication to our students' success. Your commitment to fostering a positive and effective learning environment is truly commendable.

In alignment with Virginia's educational standards, we must continue prioritizing the Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments and the necessary remediation efforts. The SOL tests serve as a critical tool in measuring our students' proficiency in core subjects and play a significant role in identifying resources needed for the next school year to prepare our students for success.

All students who qualify for expedited retakes should be provided remediation. As we move forward, let's continue to collaborate and utilize data-driven strategies to identify students in need of support and provide targeted remediation. Your efforts in this regard are instrumental in ensuring that all students have the opportunity to meet and exceed the expectations set forth by the Standards of Learning.

Thank you for your continued commitment to excellence in education.

SOL preparation, code name S.O.L.:

S.O.L. – Strive, Overcome, Learn

• Strive – Always put in your best effort and aim for excellence.
• Overcome – Face challenges head-on and persist through difficulties.
• Learn – Continuously grow, adapt, and expand your knowledge.

Evidence Based Intervention Slides

Evidence Based Interventions DATE EBI LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP SUBHEAD

launchdocs.google.com

Teach Like A Champion Techniques for Vocabulary Instruction

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1g4RXLUdeM-w5ZF6Gjlx1V-3Cruvy8ObQccZXdsX3PWc/edit?usp=sharing

The evidence-based interventions for reading and math are listed below.

• Reading - Provide explicit vocabulary instructions.
• Reading Resources:

https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/WWC/Docs/PracticeGuide/adlit_pg_082608.pdf

• Math - Teach students how to use visual representation
• Math Resources:

https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/WWC/Docs/PracticeGuide/MPS_PG_043012.pdf#page=29

All English and math teachers are expected to use these EBIs daily. During the PLCs and Department Meetings, the academic coaches will provide detailed implementation instructions for the second semester. Everyone must understand the implementation and monitoring of these EBIs, for them to impact student learning and outcomes.

Both EBIs should be posted on the board, as part of the DASH. Teachers should state the EBIs right before they state the learning target. This will be "a look for", during classroom] observations.

1. Clear Objectives and Expectations
2. Knowledgeable and Passionate Instruction
3. Building Positive Relationships (students and parents)
4. Student-Centered Approach
5. Effective Communication
6. Encouragement and Support
7. Engaging and Varied Methods
8. Critical Thinking and Problem -Solving
9. Ongoing Assessment and Feedback
10. Reflection and Continuous Improvement

These are the elements of effective teaching. As you start the new year, consistently embed these elements into your teaching.

Below are the unified school strategies for planning and delivering instruction:

• SOL Preparation
• Lesson planning (weekly)
• Lesson plan submission (Wednesdays COB)
• DASH (posted on the board daily)
• HITS -High Impact Teaching Strategies
• C.A.R.D. - Text Analysis (for all classes)
• B..U.C.K. - (for math)
• Pear Deck (new)
• Personalized Learning Groups
• Student Conferencing /Next Steps(after assessments)
• Student Goal Setting (throughout the school year)
• Teach Like A Champion
• Kagan Strategies
• Observation Feedback

The unified school reading comprehension strategy C.A.R.D. is not being used across the contents and some teachers who are using it, are not using it correctly..

The C.A.R.D. strategy is more than just highlighting words and/or sentences. The strategic plan, helps students break down reading material into small manageable pieces when used correctly.

Students can use more than one color highlighter when identifying essential information. This must be explicitly communicated to students. For example, a pink highlighter is used to highlight the main idea, and a yellow highlighter is used to highlight the supporting details, etc. Teaching has to be intentional and not done for compliance.

The expectation is that C.A.R.D. is used whenever a student comes in contact with written text, regardless of the content or class.

High-impact teaching strategies (HITS) do just as their name implies—deliver high impact for students and their learning. When incorporated into the classroom, these pedagogical approaches have proven to consistently improve the student experience.

This article breaks down what HITS are and provides some simple suggestions on how you might like to lean on them to support your students.

Why high-impact teaching strategies?

While we work away in our classrooms, we sometimes forget some of the awesome educational ideas and research we can use to support our students. Researchers like John Hattie have trawled tens of thousands of educational papers to find, summarize and rank the best instructional approaches by how much they improve student understanding, creating a gold mine for teachers to use (Victorian Government, 2022).

The 10 high-impact teaching strategies that have been identified to provide the most benefits are:

1. Setting goals
2. Structuring lessons
3. Explicit teaching
4. Worked examples
5. Collaborative learning
6. Multiple exposures
7. Questioning
8. Feedback
9. Metacognitive strategies
10. Differentiation

High Impact Teaching Strategies should be used to deliver the EBIs daily.

Note: Click on a strategy to learn.

High Impact Teaching Strategies (HITS) aren't new. However, using these strategies consistently and effectively is. The HITS are a part of our School Improvement Plan (SIP). The HITS should be used to implement instruction across every content and elective classes.

When you create your lesson plans, please identify which HITS you will use to deliver the instruction. A drop box will be added to lesson plans with the HITS strategies.

Also, use the HITS to implement the EBIs.

Student engagement is important because it can lead to better academic performance, positive attitudes toward school, and other benefits.

Here are some additional benefits to student engagement:

• Academic performance: Students who are engaged are more likely to do well in school and on standardized tests,
• Critical thinking: Engaged students are more likely to develop critical thinking skills that can be applied to real-world situations.
• Collaboration: Engaged students, are more likely to collaborate with their peers.
• Positive attitudes: Students who are engaged are likely to have positive attitudes toward school.
• Higher GPA: Engaged students are more likely to have higher grade point averages.
• Life skills: Engaged students are more likely to learn life skills.
• Interpersonal skills: Engaged students are more likely to develop interpersonal skills.

Teachers can promote student engagement by:

• Using a student-centered approach: teachers can get to know their students, set expectations, and establish a positive learning environment.
• Promote active learning: Active learning strategies encourage students to participate in the learning process, rather than just listening and taking notes.
• Provide prompt feedback: teachers can provide students with prompt feedback.
• Communicating high expectations: Teachers can communicate high expectations to their students.
• Respect diverse talents: Teachers can respect the diverse talents and ways of knowing their students.

You’ve likely heard the term STEM, but what does it stand for? STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and math. These four fields share an emphasis on innovation, problem-solving, and critical thinking. And together they make up a popular and fast-growing industry.

Why Is STEM Important?

As society innovates and technology advances, the need for professionals who understand how these technologies work and who can propose practical solutions continues to grow. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calls STEM careers “tomorrow’s jobs,” emphasizing the importance of these unique industries.

Please make sure you are restating your STEM Connection at the beginning of each class, along with the learning target. The STEM Connection should be posted on the board and in your lesson plans.

This will be one of the "looks fors" during classroom observations this week.

What Are STEM Fields?

STEM comprises the following major areas of study:

• Natural, physical, and life sciences (sometimes including medicine)

• Computer, electronics, and other technology-related disciplines

• All types of engineering

• Mathematics, or any field involving a heavy application of mathematical principle

STEM activities do not require specific materials and processes; instead, STEM learning is about developing learning habits of inquiry and critical thinking skills. Children enjoy asking questions, exploring, and solving problems, but they need adults to facilitate their explorations and help them dig deeper.

In conclusion, STEM education is an essential component of any student's education. By providing students with critical thinking skills, career opportunities, and a lifelong love of learning, STEM education is shaping the future for a better tomorrow. By investing in your student's STEM education today, you are helping to secure their future success.

Please make sure you continue to set the tone for your classroom by implementing the following procedures:

• Set class rules and post them in your classroom
• Set culture and climate expectations for your classroom
• Keep in touch with parents routinely and not just to communicate challenging behavior.
• Set expectations for academic performance
• Have students set academic and personal goals for the first 9 weeks and write them in their interactive notebooks.
• Check students' academic progress weekly.

1. All students should know the EBIs for reading and math. The EBIs should be stated along with the learning target and posted on the board daily.

2. The second semester will focus on activities aligned to the current SOL standards, using HITS (High Impact Teaching Strategies) and specific learning techniques from Teach Like A Champion and Kagan Engagement anchor texts that promote rigorous instruction.

3. Purpose -Driven Teaching (backward design) - is a teaching method that involves planning instruction by starting with the end goal in mind, and then working backward to choose instructional techniques and assessments.

4. Student Engagement - Are students completing work independently, collaboratively, in small groups, in teams, reading independently, completing a gallery walk, etc.? Students should be responding to written text, with written responses. Students' ownership should be evident. Are student efficacy and teacher efficacy evident?

5. Checks for Understanding/Formative Assessments -The teacher regularly assesses whether students are learning the material taught through different strategies. This is a key part of effective instruction and should be done throughout a lesson, not just at the end. Exit tickets should be completed before students leave the class, which includes reviewing the answers.
6. Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) - is customized instruction for students with disabilities to help them access and progress in the general curriculum. It is based on a student's IEP and their unique needs. This may include academic, behavior, and communication.
7. A Moment in STEM- A statement and brief discussion that identifies the connection between the learning target and STEM. This statement should be posted on the board and shared verbally with the students during each class period.

Your exit tickets should be given 10 minutes before the end of class so that you can share the results with the students and clear up any misconceptions.

• An environment where students feel safe making and discussing mistakes, so you can spend less time hunting for errors and more time fixing them

TLC Technique - 100% Participation

• One hundred percent of your students follow a given direction in your classroom.

TLC Technique - Do It Again

• When students fail to complete a task, ask them to do it again correctly.

https://www.kaganonline.com/free_articles/dr_spencer_kagan/281/Kagan-Structures-A-Miracle-of-Active-Engagement,3

Below are the SOL results for the 2023-2024 school year:

• Reading -61.23%(+17 % increase)
• History - 43.7%(+21% increase)
• Science -37.33%(+17% increase)
• Math - 58.20%(+4% increase)

At least 50% of students will pass the reading, math, science, and civic SOLs.

This year we will create an in-house end-of-the-year assessment for non-SOL content classes.

The instructional focus is on tier I instruction, for maximum growth, for all students.

Implement the EBIs for all students with fidelity, using the recommendations from the SIP.

All attendance should be taken on ASPEN. If you need access, please, email your grade-level administrator.

Students should have a pass when they leave your classroom.

Review expectations for fire and other safety drills.

• Use TestNav, math, and reading district resources to prepare students for the SOL assessments
• Independent critical thinking is the key to passing the SOL assessments.
• Teachers should state the EBIs and learning targets daily.
• The reading EBI should be implemented during the first 10 -15 minutes of class daily.
• C.A.R.D. and B.U.C.K. Strategies (anchor charts) were posted in all the classrooms.
• Teachers should arrive at work by 7:45 a.m. and follow established procedures for reporting absences.
• Teachers should be at their classroom doors or on morning duty by 8:00 a.m.
• Homeroom teachers are to collect students' cell phones and place them in the Yondr pouches during homeroom. follow the same process for students who arrive late to school.
• Attendance is to be taken daily, with no exceptions, on ASPEN.
• Review classroom rules, expectations, and routines daily.
• Practice student ownership daily
• If you see something, say something...
• Everyone should be implementing the 30/30 classroom rule, daily.

Monday, May 12, 2025

• B-Day
• Faculty Award Celebration moved to this Tuesday, May 27, 2025
• Conduct EOY Teacher Conferences -May 12 -30, 2025 -Admins
• Admin Meeting 10:15 - SOL Results, Remediation Plans, and SIG Spend Down
• SOL Testing -Earth Science/08 Physical, 08 Read Aloud Physical Science Examiner: Faush, MU Testing: 07 Physical Science

Tuesday, May 13, 2025:

• A-Day
• SOL Testing -07 Math (08 Math SOL) and 06 Math, MU Testing: Earth Science and 08 Physical Science
• MTSS Meetings

Wednesday, May 14, 2025:

• B-Day
• SOL Informational Meeting w/ John Grove 1:00 p.m. - Leadership Team
• SOL Testing - Exp. Retake Algebra I, MU Testing: Verbal Prompt: Math 6, MU Testing: 07 (O8Math SOL) and 06 Math, MU Testing and Retakes
• Young Kings and Queen In Action Closing Event @ 10:00 a.m.
• Attendance Meeting - Ms. Couther

Thursday, May 15, 2025:

• A-Day
• SOL Testing - Exp. Retakes for Verbal Prompt Testing: 06 Reading, Exp. Retakes 08, 07, and 06 Reading, MU Testing, and Exp. Retakes
• EOY Principal Meeting
• SPED Meeting TBD

Friday, May 16, 2025:

• B-Day

• SOL Testing -Exp. Retakes -Earth Science and 08 Physical Science, MU Testing and Exp. Retakes

• Grade Level Meetings - Discuss Retention List

Saturday, May 17, 2025:

• Bush Gardens - 8th Grade EOY Field Trip
• RPS Award Banquet at VUU Life Center-12 -2:00 p.m.

Mrs. Carter has created a Google folder for our social media pics and videos. Please drop your pics and videos into the folder. Also, contact Ms. Carter or your grade-level administrator if you have any questions.

Suggestions for school pic and/or videos:

• students of the month
• grade -level hallway décor
• special grade-level and/or department events
• student projects with a descriptor
• Special recognition awards/shout-outs for staff
• School Spirit Week
• etc.