IF+update+archives+2011-2012


 * From:** Denise Herman **Sent:** Friday, August 19, 2011 8:07 AM **To:** ES; WS; SS; MSSch **Cc:** Mary Krisko **Subject:** Instructional Facilitator memo -how we can help you


 * // The way forward is about becoming more human not just more clever. -- //**
 * // Peter Senge //**


 * Welcome to the 2011/2012 school year at Washakie County School District #1! **


 * Ruth, Kim, and I are happy to be here to help. **
 * Hereare some of our duties as instructional facilitators. Remember, we work for **** you **** ! **
 * ** Resource Provider **** (Ask us to find materials, lessons, accommodations, etc. for you. For instance, I am trying to find some research on the best research-based practices for journal writing. If you have/know something about this, would you let me know? I know this sounds like the opposite of what I just said but really, I can't find the research on this. **
 * ** Helping you to use **** data **** to drive your instruction We can find, sort, filter, and disaggregate-just ask! Jody Rakness has made this very easy for us. **
 * ** Ensure **** implementation **** of adopted curriculum **
 * ** Classroom Support **** (This is one of the best "bangs for our buck." Don't be shy about asking us to come in to your classroom. We learn as much or morefrom you as you do from us. This is a partnership. **
 * ** Learning facilitator **** for you (PD 360 and the new evaluation system are ournewbies this year.) **
 * ** Mentor **** We were all young once and new to teaching. We are safe, caring, and confidential. Please let us know how we can help. **
 * ** School Leader **
 * ** Learner **


 * Some of my goals this year beyond helping you with the IF list of duties: **
 * ** Get PD 360 off the ground so it is a tool you WANT to use to grow your teaching skills despite your busy schedules. Our principals are working to make this an effective tool for you. **
 * ** Promote 21st Century Learning Skills **
 * ** Facilitate and support Common Core Standards **
 * ** Help with differentiation for all students including our advanced level students **
 * ** Integrate the new technology standards/vocabulary inregular classrooms **
 * ** Promote student engagement and authentic learning **
 * ** Help with the new evaluation system **
 * ** Get us all thinking about using less paper by saving/retrieving things on the computer and using more cloud computing. **
 * ** Get us all thinking about using less paper by saving/retrieving things on the computer and using more cloud computing. **


 * ** Kim Wyman will be helping me this year at West Side! Go Kim! She has always helped but now it is official. She attended Space Camp this summer and has this and some other great engagement ideas/lessons. Please pick her brain even if you are not at West Side. Plus, as of this year, she is officially a Ed.D. Congrats Kim! She will be a great resource for all of us. **
 * We do have our Promethean board facilitators at each building. These are Tanya, Kim, and Sami. We are lucky to have such young clever ladies on the job!


 * ** I have West Side Study Island students ready to go except the new ones. I messed up on the other schools and promoted EVERYone of them to sixth grade. I am now trying to fix that :-( **
 * ** We are trying a different way to get paraprofessionals into PD360. We will let you know if this new way works. **


 * I have one slot left from 8:30-9:30 to come into a class. I will have a couple of early afternoon slots in a couple of weeks (after I get students in all the programs). Let me know if this works into your schedule or not. **
 * I generally switch up at quarter or semester time. **


 * Our one-to-one computing will be a slow laborious effort to reach our goal. Money is tight, but we won't give up on it. **
 * Our bandwidth initiative is slow too for the same reasons, but we are not giving up on that either. You should see some improvements now. **


 * // Lastly, //**
 * // Here is an excerpt from a Jim Knight presentation: //**
 * // (Maybe it will give you some goal ideas.) //**


 * // Instructional Improvement Target //**


 * Community Building **
 * ** (T) Posts expectations and ensures they are followed by students **
 * ** (T) Interacts with at least a 3:1 ratio of interaction **
 * ** (S) Are on task at least 90% or more **
 * ** (S) Keep disruptions no more than 0-4 per 10 minutes **
 * Content Planning **
 * ** (T) Creates and shares unit questions with students effectively **
 * ** (T) Fully understands the standards for the course being taught **
 * ** (T) Has created a Learning Map and shares it with students effectively **
 * ** (S) Can paraphrase the guiding questions **
 * ** (S) Can describing the plan for the unit as laid out on the map **
 * ** (S) Have the questions and map open on their desk before class starts **
 * Instruction **
 * ** (T) Uses intensive-explicit teaching practices appropriately **
 * ** (T) Uses constructivist teaching practices appropriately **
 * ** (T) Uses Cooperative Learning, Stories, Effective Questions, Thinking **
 * Prompts, Challenging Assignments, and Experiential Learning or other **
 * similar practices appropriately **
 * ** (S) Maintain a pass rate of 95% or higher **
 * ** (S) Enjoy learning in the classroom **
 * Assessment for Learning **
 * ** (T) Uses Informal assessments effectively **
 * ** (T) Knows how each studentsʼ learning is progressing **
 * ** (S) Understand the learning targets for all learning **
 * ** (S) Know how their personal learning is progressing **
 * (T) = teacher practice **
 * (S) = student behavior **

Thank you for all you do.

Denise

http://deniseherman.wikispaces.com/

Our District Vision:
Washakie County School District No. 1 will sustain a cohesive, K-12 learning community inspiring all learners to become productive, 21st Century citizens through:
 * Academic Excellence
 * Relevant and Authentic Learning Opportunities
 * Nurturing Relationships

The Mission of Washakie County School District No. 1 is to:

 * Foster a safe, caring, and student focused environment where all learners are connected and are able to succeed.
 * Provide a cohesive K-12 curriculum that relates to student interests and abilities, real world situations, and is linked to a global economy and democratic life.
 * Inspire students to become adept at deep understanding, applying knowledge, solving problems, and analyzing.
 * Enhance individual strengths, and guide learners in the development of effective habits of mind.
 * Strengthen technological skills to enable learners to be competitive in the 21st Century world.