2/28/12

The Upper End (3 and 4) plus Special Ed. and Title went over data about reading and through discussion came up with some good intervention strategies.  This was a very productive two hours.

Today we discussed guided reading and started working on making sure all teachers had same pages, questions, info.  On Tues., the 28th we will meet from 3:45 to 5:45 for our pd and continue to work on guided reading.  Our goal is to have uniform answers to all the questions so that we are sure we are getting accurate results.  We  also discussed students for the upcoming year and what we see as associate needs at this end.

Writing discussion:  We discussed changes we see ourselves making in the area of writing.  What materials are needed?  What are people ordering?  Nancy feels she is going to experiment for the remainder of the year but not make huge changes until the start of next year.  Kathy has taught the first 2 lessons.  Found the cheapest date stamps at Staples so Kathy will pick up.  Chart paper is needed and Kathy wants full-sized but Nancy, Brenda and Sarah want half sized.  Looking at stamp pads.  The 1st and 2nd grade are wanting to start next year using the composition books for writing rather than spirals.  Will put it on the student supply list as Sarah says they are usually only 50 cents a piece.  Thinking 2nd grade will need more than one per year.
Also talked about time to make a master for each guided reading book so we are all assessing the same.

Inservice 2/1/12

Today we followed up with the the PD writing discussion. Teachers shared what they heard at the different grade levels as well as lessons used today. The team also decided to start administering writing probes for correct word sequence. This will give information to the resource teachers for student concerns/identification. The classroom teachers will have records for progress monitoring.

Jayne shared scores for DIBELS with the Gladbrook teachers.