Grade Level Meetings

Notes from Grade Level Meetings, Week of 8/27/2012

I-Pad Basics

Here are some simple helps for those who are new to using an I-Pad.

• If you need help getting your device connected to the internet at Edgewood, let me know.
• If you do not have a place to keep you device secure when you are not using it, remember (most of) you have a locker in the hallway that you can padlock.
• Please remember to keep you I-Pad charged. If you dim the screen a bit, you will lengthen your battery life.
• When you open the gray cover, your I-Pad should come on. If it does not, you probably need to power it on.
• You will be notified when the M-Class icon is available. Once it is up, if you have any problems signing in, see Mr. Gniffke

Benchmark Assessment Calendar

Teachers need to do only the grayed in testing (This is for Reading 3D)

This is the Math Assessment Calendar.

 

 

Click on the picture to view larger.

Social Commmittee

Here is a link to the text of the e-mail from the Social Committee.

Social Committee members are: Sara Ferguson, Ann Poole, Amy Wilkins, Christy Goen, Autumn Pratt, Jennifer Myrick, and Denisa Babb.

If you are interested in ordering other shirts, here is a web site that I have found that has polos and other apparel available. It is my understanding that items from this site may be ordered in single or bulk quantities.

Have a happy Friday!

"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance."  --Will Durant

Click on the light bulb for an article about "The Power of A-Ha!"

Staff Handbook

Click here for link to Edgewood Elementary Staff handbook.

There is also a link to the right under "Informational Sheets"

"Control Panel"

To remove the "Control Panel" option from the start menu...

• Click on the start menu
• Right click about halfway between "help and support" and the "shut down" button. (In the open area)
• A box should pop up that says, "properties," click on this button
• On the box that pops up, in the upper right is a box that says "Customize." Click on that button.
• Under "Control Panel," change the "Display as a Link" option to "Don't Display This Item."
• Then click "OK". That box will go away.
• Then click "OK" on the next box, it too will go away.
• You are done!

E-mail signatures

To update your google signature line on e-mail...

• Go to your e-mail account.
• Click on the "wheel" on the upper right hand side of the screen (Settings)
• Drop down menu appears, click on "settings"
• Scroll down to "Signature"
• Update your information
• Scroll down to and click on "Save Changes"
• You are done!

Staff Meeting 08/16/2012

Highlights from staff meeting...

• Custodians can be reached at extension 4099. 
• Don't forget to fill out your Staff Health Info card and give to nurse.
• Turn in your Universal Precautions signature sheet by 8/31
• Calendar links will be sent soon. If you have any problems, do not get the links, or have questions, please see Mr. Gniffke.
• Edgewood Staff handbook will be distributed soon. Hopefully you will also be able to link to it from this site.

Phone System Video

Here is a link to a video for our phone system.

M-Class Training 8/16/2012

Link to training sheet

Using your classroom phone

Classroom Phones

Office Phones

Call Forwarding:

• Press the CFwdALL Button (Note: Calls can only be forwarded to another extension
• Enter the extension you are forwarding to. 

• To cancel: Hit the CFwdALL  again.

Volume:

• Volume applications are all independent.
• Hit the volume slide bar to raise or lower volume
• Hit the SAVE button to make your new setting the default setting for that application

Transferring a Call:

• Hit transfer and then enter extension number, hang up
• Stay on line to talk to person before hanging up, which will transfer call

Transfer to Voice Mail: .

• Hit transfer, then *, then extension number, then hang up

*411: Voice activated directory

Parking a Call:

•  "More" + "Park"

Motivation

Below is an 18 minute, research based talk on the issue of motivation.

Since the 8-Step process is based on a business model, I found this to be an interesting piece.

The question is, "How do we best motivate our students to perform at a higher level of thinking?" Research shows that intrinsic motivation far outweighs extrinsic. What does that say to the way that we motivate our students? What does it say to the way that we are motivated ourselves?

Curious? Have a peek...

Calendar Viewing

You can view any of the calendars on the right by clicking on them. To view multiple calendars at once, you have to go to your ACS Google account.

Here is the steps to follow:

1. Send me a request to be given access to the calendars.
2. Once they show up on your calendar list, you can view as many of them together as you wish.

• To view the events of a calendar in a merged view, the box for the calendar you wish to include the events of must have the box colored in. If they are not already colored in, simply click on the box to toggle between colored in and empty.

  If you need any help, let me know.

M-Class Tips and Reminders

• You will be given a USER NAME and PASSWORD when you recieve your device. Please change your password and then share your new password with the Data Coach.
• Once signed in as yourself, you must set up an icon on desktop to use it off-line.
• It is important to SYNC you device often. Syncing will update information to your I-Pad as well as syncing information from you I-Pad. Failure to SYNC could result in a loss of student data. To SYNC, you simply hit the SYNC icon (bottom left) before signing off.
• Each teacher will have a demo class assigned to them for the purpose of practicing and gettign familiar with M-Class testing and usage.
• PROGRESS MONITORING:
• RED: Every other week
• YELLOW: Once a month
• GREEN: As needed. (Consider doing bubble kids at least once a month)
• Step Kit:
• Purple and Yellow books are fiction
• Green books are non-fiction
• Indiana DOE website has resources for M-Class!
• Wireless Generation contact, support, and live chat
• Freereading.net = Resources for skills and interventions.
• Click "Teach the Program" for 40 weeks of interventions and plans.
• Click "Find Literacy Activities" for help with phonological awareness
• Under "Tools and Resources," click "Word List Generator" to generate words lists where you can set the parameters.
• Florida Center for Reading Research
• If you are having trouble logging in, clear history and cookies and try again

See notes from M-Class training for more tips and reminders!

M-Class Info from training

Date of Training: Aug. 1-3, 2012

(More will be added as I have time to go through notes)

• One of the KEY elements of a successful implementation of Wireless Generation is that the instructional teacher of the student must administer the tests. It is important that the teacher do this hands on in order to have a working knowledge of the student's ability in the various areas. It is my understanding that teachers will be supported in this be being given classroom subs during the testing windows. Please understand that this is a non-negotiable issue.
• Another key aspect of Wireless Generation is that of Progress Monitoring. Progress monitoring should be done 2 times a month for students in RED, once a month for students in YELLOW, and as needed for students in GREEN.
• Most successful teachers do 2-3 students a day during testing window.
• Testing: Classroom teachers do benchmark testing, person responsible for intervention does progress monitoring.
• Get dibels done early as reading levels will take longer!
• You can skip levels when doing TRC. Use Oral Reading Fluency scores to help determine a starting level for TRC
• You will not progress monitor as much on TRC as you will Dibels.
• When progress monitoring in Math, do only in the weakest area.
• Always SYNC before doing assessments so everything will have the latest updates.