November 4-8

Character Parade 2013

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4- DAY 1
8:30- Leadership Team will meet.
Sherri Marlin will be on campus visiting with System Thinker Teacher

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5- DAY 2
7:30- Mrs. Choplin at joint principal meeting.

• Gym will be used for elections today.  Mr. Ploof will provide you with information regarding PE today.
• Report cards should be completed by the end of the work day.  Verification sheets are due to Mrs. Dubose by 3:15.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6- DAY 3
3:15- Mistletoe Group will walk/jog

Mrs. Hendrix greets the crowd!

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7- DAY 4
2:45- PBIS team will meet in Mrs. Lea's classroom.
3:45-5:15  Systems Thinking Workshop at Bolton ES

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8- DAY 5
Happy Friday



NOVEMBER 4th: Mrs. Huppert
NOVEMBER 10th: Mrs. Vidal



PARENT CONFERENCES:
November 18-November 22
Every parent should be extended and invitation to conference with you regarding their child's grades. Please maintain a listing of parents that attend the conference.

Upcoming Dates from Mrs. Jakobowski
November 19th:  Mrs. Jakobowski will check K-3 documentation on literacy folders.  She will come to the classrooms to check them.  

Who's that witch!

Is that the Cat in the Hat!

What's Happening in Science Enrichment this Week?

Kindergarten:  Last week, the children found pods outside and took the seeds out of them.  This week, Mr. D will be telling the Apple Star Story.  The children are going to act out the story line.

First Grade:  Mr. Dougherty is trying to teach the first graders to "appreciate" nature.  First, he will be talking about his rules that the children should follow when they are outside.  The children are going to find their special place and imagine what it would be like if the trees, flowers, etc. could talk.

Second Grade:  The children are finishing their very own books about what they learned about birds.  They will be sharing these books with each other.

Third Grade:  The students planted trees last week.  They will be talking about different kinds of seeds.

Fourth Grade:  The students are finishing their presentations of their "Nature Squares".  They will be sharing with each other.

Fifth Grade:  The students are going to watch Mr. D perform a science experiment this week.  The students will also be preparing to build catapults with Mr. D.

Progress Monitoring DIBELS Next and TRC begins this week......

I will come around to your rooms on Monday to see when you would like me to help you  progress monitor your students.  Remember, we are only progress monitoring the children who are in yellow.  I will also give a "kit" of books to the grade level chairperson that you will most likely need to progress monitor TRC.  If you need another level that isn't in the kit, let me know.  I will get it from another grade level.  When you are progress monitoring TRC, you will have the opportunity to choose the page(s) for the student to read aloud to you.  Then before answering questions, allow the child to finish reading the book.  The machine will not prompt you to the next level.


I will also be putting the Home Connect letters in your boxes this week to send home with report cards.

K-2 Testing....  If you need any help with your math assessments, please let me know.  I can teach a lesson while you assess or I can assess.

Questions and Answers.....

1.  What if a student is yellow in CLS and red in WWR?  Do I test every 10 days or 20 days?  I would test every 10 days hoping that the child will achieve his or her goal of earning 3 scores over the aim line faster.

2.  What if a student is green in CLS and red in WWR?  How often do I test?  Again, I would test every 10 days hoping that the child will achieve his or her goal of earning 3 scores over the aim line faster.

3. How do you get the out of grade level box to come up?  If you click on an assessment such as TRC and it is "below grade level" for the child you are testing, the machine will prompt you to choose an out of grade level text.


Have a good week!!!!!

October 27-November 1

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28- DAY 3
7:20- Choplin/Vidal IEP
8:10- Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Ward, and Mrs. Mathews will be testing fourth and fifth grade students who have multiple days to take the Reading EOQ.  They will test the fifth graders first and then pick up the fourth graders from their classrooms to test.
*Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Hall will call for their students when testing is complete.
3:30- Choplin/Matthews/Mathews/Stuart meeting in conference room.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29- DAY 4
10:45: Choplin/Stewart/Jakobowski/Brown meeting in conference room.
8:10:  The fourth and fifth graders will take their Reading EOQ.  Please refer to the grade level test plans to find out when the testing for children with accommodations will take place.  
*Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Hall will call for their other students after testing is complete.
2:45- Choplin/Ward IEP

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30- DAY 5
7:25: Choplin/Vidal IEP
8:10:  Third, fourth, and fifth graders will take their Math EOQ today.  Mrs. Mayer, Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Ward, Mrs. Mathews, and Mrs. Stewart will all be testing children with accommodations this morning.
2:45: Choplin/Hall IEP



THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31- DAY 6


8:00: KINDERGARTEN BOOK CHARACTER PARADE:  Everyone is welcome to stand in the halls and watch the fun.
***After the Kindergarten parade, EOQ make-ups will take place.  Mrs. Mathews, Mrs. Mayer, and Mrs.Jakobowski will be testing this morning.
1:00- Choplin/Mathews/Dolge/Stewart meeting in conference room

EVERYONE MAY WEAR JEANS TODAY!!!!!

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Teacher workday.   If you are not working today please complete a leave form for Mrs. Scott.  PBIS team members you may trade your summer workshop days for this workday.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

November 4: Sheri Marlin will visit with teacher involved with systems thinking.
November 5: Gym will be used for elections.  Please check with Mr. Ploof to determine the plan for PE.
November 6- Grades/report cards are due to your assigned administrator.  K-2 please print the report cards out when handing in to be reviewed.
Novmeber 7: PBIS Team Mtg. @ 2:45 in Mrs. Lea's classroom.

MINI FRIDAY FOCUS

Every Thursday evening I, along with many other LES parents,  hang out at Salem Gymnastics for hours on end.  Last night, while waiting for my little one to finish her class a lady approached me and said, "Are you Mrs. Choplin?  I thought I recognized your voice.  You do call my house every week!"  Naturally, I responded, Yes."  Now, at this point, I was about 110% sure this would end up being a conversation about school.  My assumption was correct-- the conversation about school.  I would like to share it with you.

The mom (to remain anonymous) said, "I just wanted to tell you that my daughter is in class with  Mrs. Letourneau and Mrs. Norman and she is having the best year!  We couldn't have asked for a better situation for her kindergarten year. She is learning Spanish and understands more that I do.  They are just fantastic and my daughter loves school!"  We went on to discuss her daughter and how well she was doing in school.  Then mom said, "I also want to tell you I loved the Kinder Camp.  I think you are the only school that does that around here.  I told my friend and she said that her school did not have a kinder camp and that she wished her child could have gone to kindercamp. Kinder Camp was fantastic! I just wanted to make sure I told you how much we like Lewisville School."  We talked for few more minutes and went our separate ways.

I must have been smiling from ear to ear after she left.  My heart was full of pride.  I wanted to share this for a couple of reasons.... 

• Each of you are making a difference.  You may not hear the good on a daily basis but you are touching lives.  
• I think we should lift each other up with the positives we hear. I hope that if you hear a good news story you will share it.  
• I may not tell you enough but you are a fantastic, hard-working, dedicated staff and I am proud to be your principal- your colleague.

Thanks for you do and have a wonderful weekend.

                                                     Angie

October 21-25

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21- DAY 4

2:45- SIT in Miss Palmer's Room

5K walk/run team meet immediately following SIT.  An announcement will be made for departure time.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22-DAY 5

9:00 String Ensemble for 5th Grade in auditorium.  Mr. Noftle will notify his class as to what he will do for his scheduled class at that time.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23- DAY 6

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24- DAY 1

8:00- Choplin at principal meeting

2:45- Grade 3-5 Book Club in Media Center

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25- DAY 2

Have  a wonderful weekend!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO 

MRS. DUBOSE~ OCTOBER 21

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BULLY WALK- OCTOBER 19

Thanks to Mrs. Mathews, Mrs. Burchette, Mrs. Hartman, Lauren, Nina & Ellie for attending this event.

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UNITED WAY

We are striving for 100% Participation! As of Friday, October 18 31 of 67 or 46% staff members have contributed to this worthy cause.  

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STICK PICK FOR iPad/iPhone

Check out this app---- only $2.99. 

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PINTEREST ANYONE!

Mrs. Choplin loves surfing pinterest for ideas.  If anyone finds a good one they would like to share with the group just let Mrs. Choplin know and she can share it via the blog.

Dance Math - mixing academic learning and physical activity! Left leg is for the tens, right for the ones - hold up math facts and have them dance the answer
http://numberloving.com/2012/04/22/dance-maths/



A Phonics Flip Book is a simple way to work on literacy and phonics for children without buying an expensive program. Make your own phonic flip chart, and soon the learning activities for kids you can play will teach kids to recognize any word in no time!

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5d/ba/84/5dba8472d9c2c835a13b4e05470d8394.jpg




Evidence based terms for responses.
http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/4a/99/8b/4a998b5223a53fde697da4906070741c.jpg




Site with lots of ways to use paint swatches in the classroom

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/8b/33/ef/8b33eff593900cba2639e0816b7075d6.jpg



Wacky Books Wacky Books Will Hook Reluctant Readers
http://imaginationsoup.net/2012/12/wacky-books-will-hook-reluctant-readers/

Curriculum Tips
The Week of October 7th


What's Happening in Science Class with Mr. D

Kindergarten:  The students will be comparing the different breeds of chickens.

First Grade:  The students have been studying the life cycle of the mealworm.  They set the "beetles" free, and now will create their own insect and record how their insect will satisfy his basic needs in their journals.

Second Grade:  The students will continue to study how birds are unique.  They will experiment with making nests.

Third Grade:  The students are "harvesting" seeds out of the gourds that are growing outside of the cafeteria. The students will look at the roots of the plants and discuss the functions of the plant system.

Fourth Grade:  The students have been participating in an activity called "Nature Squares" where the students  are assigned a "square" of natural wildlife and they are asked to 1. draw the area, 2. record their observations, and 3. record changes they observe in the natural habitat.

Fifth Grade:  The students are learning about the concepts of air pressure and water and how these influence the weather.  They will be reading "weather maps" during this rotation.

What's Happening in the World of Testing.....?

The Smarter Balanced Assessment will consist of two components which are performance tasks and an end-of-year summative assessment.  The performance tasks will be administered during the final 12 weeks of school.  The tasks will be organized around real-world scenarios.  For example, a high school student may be asked to review a financial document.  A combination of teacher and machine scoring will be used.  The questions on the summative assessment will include selected-response, constructed-response, and technology-enhanced items.  Most of these items will be immediately scored, although some human-scored elements may be included.

To see sample test items, go to www.smarterbalanced.org/sample-items-and-performance-tasks

CogAT testing for second graders will be Oct. 21st-23rd.  The testing each day is approximately 1 to 1.5 hours and will begin by 8:15.

Upcoming Staff Development Opportunities.....

Oct. 10th:  Healthful Living for PE teachers.....  3:45-5:15 at Caleb's Creek ES
Oct. 14th:  Progress Monitoring DIBELS Next and TRC for Curriculum Coordinators 2:00-3:30 EB: 219
Oct. 14th:  Progress Monitoring DIBELS Next and TRC:  K-3 Classroom Teachers:  3:45-5:15  EB: 219
Oct. 15th:  Social Studies Lesson and Assessment Planning for 4th and 5th Grade Teachers:  3:30-4:30 at Whitaker ES
Oct. 16th:  Reflections-Importance of Creativity, Departmental Support and Self Assessment in Teaching"  for Visual Art Teachers from 4:00-5:00 at the Reynolda House Museum of American Art
Oct. 22nd:  Destiny Reports for Media Coordinators and Media Assistants:  8:00-10:00 at the Ed Bldg Computer Lab or on Oct. 23rd at 1:30-3:30 or at 4:00-6:00
Oct. 30:  Elementary Media PLC at the IRC lab for Media Coordinators from 4:00-5:00

What are your Students Writing About?

As your grade level thinks of a narrative prompt for this quarter, please keep in mind that you want your children to go through the steps of the writing process with this prompt.  The students should be:
1.  prewriting
2.  drafting
3. conferencing with a peer or teacher
4. editing
5. publishing
6. sharing and celebrating.

Even though you do not have to document this writing score on the K-5 literacy folders, I would still like you to put this writing paper in the folders for each of your students.  I will be handing out labels for you to "stick" on your K-5 literacy folders that will show you the data I want you to record on the outside of the folder.  The narrative rubric that I handed out to you holds "end-of-year" expectations.  Please keep this in mind, as you mark the work your students produce.  As a grade level, please discuss your expectations for a narrative piece of writing right now.  So you are on the "same page" when evaluating the narrative piece.  Also, ask each other how much "guidance" are you giving or allowing during the conferencing piece of the writing process.
Please, grade level chairs, let me know when you will be having this discussion, so I can take part.  Thanks!

Science Fair Info....
To the Fourth and Fifth Grade Teachers, I will be sending home letters about individual projects in next Tuesday's packet.  I will have you proofread the letter of expectations prior to copying it and sending it home.
Right now, I have secured student and teacher judges from Reagan High School's National Science Honor Society.  At this point 10 people will be participating in the judging.  If you know of any other people who have a background in science and would like to judge, please let me know.

Have a good week!

October 7- October 13

MRS. STEWART AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PTA, PARENTS, TEACHERS & STUDENTS FOR HELPING MAKE LEWISVILLE THE BEST SCHOOL IN WSFCS!!!!!!!!!

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 7- DAY 6

3rd Grade to the fair.  Mrs. Choplin will accompany the 3rd graders.

2:45- IEP (Choplin, Mayer)

Unite Way Kick-Off

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8-DAY 1

7:20 IEP (Choplin, Vidal)

6:30- Skate night (light homework load would be appreciated by PTA)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9-DAY 2

UNITY DAY FOR BULLY PREVENTION: EVERYONE WEAR ORANGE!
Career Day: 8:15-12:00 in the gym.
1:00- PTA Board in Lego Mobile

2:45- IEP (Choplin/Mayer)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10- DAY 3

2:30- IEP (Choplin/Mayer)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11- DAY 4

SCHOOL PICTURES

DUTY FREE LUNCH
9:45- 3rd Junior League Puppet Show- Mrs. Mathews has sent out information.

12:30- end of day: PTA will be using conference room.

1:00 IEP (Choplin/Vidal)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12

8:30- Gather for Bully Walk at BB& T Stadium.  Come out and support this worthy cause.

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LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE 

Oct. 7^th 2013 through Oct. 18^th 2013:

          United Way kick off campaign begins at Lewisville. This year’s goal is to have 100% participation from our LES staff! Grade level chairs will be given on-line e-pledge directions as well as literature about the United Way of Forsyth County. Thank you for your support with this worthy cause!

Incentives:

          *Pledges made Oct 7^th through Oct 12^th- You will be able to wear jeans for that whole week!

          *Highest Pledge- Wins a $25.00 Target gift card!

          *Drawings at end of Campaign- All those who made a pledge will be eligible! A variety of items have been donated for the drawing.

                             -Gift cards and coupons from local businesses such as Starbucks,  

                               McDonalds, Alexes etc.

                             -Coffee and biscuit breakfast delivered to your classroom!

                             -Duty Free Lunch!

                             -One Day Jean Pass!

                             -Hanes T-Shirt !

                             -Starbucks Pumpkin Spice coffee package!

Any questions please contact the LES United Way Committee:

        Grace Ward, Maria Hendrix & Vivian Wrights

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MRS. BURCHETTE- OCTOBER 9

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PLEASE CHECK FOR VISITOR PASSES

ALL VISITORS MUST HAVE PASSES WHEN IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING. IF A SOMEONE COMES TO YOUR ROOM OR IS IN THE CAFETERIA WITHOUT A PASS PLEASE SEND THEM TO THE OFFICE TO SIGN IN!  

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Teachers please remember to check cumulative folders to determine which children can have their photos taken or published. The forms are in your cumulative folders.

***TECHNOLOGY TRENDSETTERS***

Each month I hope to spotlight "Technology Trendsetters" at Lewisville. For the month of October, it is Cristen Letourneau and Lori Norman. This months prize is a $20.00 gift certificate to Alex's grill. Here is what they are up to:

Using QR codes in the classroom

Printable instructions are located on the staff shared drive. If you have something you'd like to share, please let me know so I can stop by. Thanks!!!
-Stephanie Mac

Curriculum Tips

TRC Update and Reminders:  Please make sure you mark the MSV's for your students who score in the yellow or red range on the TRC.  Children in green are optional.

*I will be making a copy of the Home Connect Letter for each student once our BOY is complete.  Each grade level needs to choose a day to send them home.  The Home Connect Letter will explain the assessments and provide targeted activities for the children to do at home.

*When you conference with a parent about TRC, focus on comprehension abilities, not just the reading level.  Remind parents that DIBELS Next and the TRC are "teacher tools" for informing and changing instruction to meet the child's needs.  These assessments are also administered on an ongoing basis.  They are not "static" or "summative" information on the child.

*Remember, students perform differently on DIBELS and TRC.  These assessments are different lenses through which we learn about a student's literacy.  For instance, a student proficient on TRC and intensive on DIBELS reads connected text with comprehension but may have issues with fluency or a prerequisite skill assessed by DIBELS.  These weaknesses may not effect his or her performance until he or she is in an upper grade and has to read "academic" words.

*High performing students also have room for growth. Literacy skills such as character analysis and writing can be focused on through TRC.  Progress monitoring these children may also help you analyze error patterns and ensure that these students are maintaining performance at or above grade level.

*Choosing a TRC level at MOY and EOY should be easier because we will have information based on small group instruction and progress monitoring.

*Proper nouns on the TRC are only counted once as an error if a child misreads the word.

*Please do not rephrase directions or give any prompting when assessing a child in written or oral questions or on a retell.  We want valid, reliable data.

*Graphic organizers do not have to be used to answer the written questions. They were intended to serve as examples.  Students should use their own paper to write their answers.

*You may scribe for a child if he or she is in Kindergarten or in First Grade at the BOY and MOY.

*When grading written comprehension answers, document the lowest score.  Please do not take an average of the two scores.  I know I suggested this, but the information I read in the document sent to me this weekend "spells" this practice out.


"A New Generation of Assessments"

* The assessments will feature complex, multipart tasks.  In language arts, this may include executing electronic searches, selecting credible sources, and developing written arguments that are supported by evidence from the sources.