January 23-27

JUSTICE/FAIRNESS

Kid President video :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z7gDsSKUmU&list=PLJFKt9rj3bAr3QCdmtgSksAGghHZWWYth

"Fairness is protecting not only you, but all who are involved"

Please devote at least 15 minutes during your specials block to teach January's character trait: Justice and Fairness

Activity: Brainstorm with the class discuss possible unfair situations they may experience 

(home, school, activities)
Discuss solutions to make them fair and just in order for everyone to succeed.

The Great Kindness Challenge Jan 23-27. The classroom with the highest amount of student participation will receive a hot chocolate party. The kindness checklists have been placed in your boxes.  Please distribute one to each student and collect them by 1/30.  On 1/31 please submit the number of students in your class that have completed 25 or more acts of kindness.

Important Dates

• Progress Reports go home the week of January 23rd

• Jan 23-27 - The Great Kindness Challenge  http://greatkindnesschallenge.org/School/event.html

• Jan 30th- Feb 3rd Opinion Benchmark Writing Window for both Reach and SPICE.
• Jan 23- 5th Grade BAW PD and LEADERSHIP RM 5
• Jan 24- 4th Grade BAW PD
• Jan 25- PBIS Meeting
• Jan 28- Super Saturday
• Jan 30 & 31- New Teacher Math PD
• Jan 31- SPICE meeting 3:10- 4:10 Room 44

Parent Community Liaison 

I would like to introduce to you Luisa Shirzai our new Parent Community Liaison. She will be working with our bilingual parents to help them access school and community resources. We will be developing the scope of her practice over the next month. One of her responsibilities will he helping teachers communicate with their parents about concerns regarding attendance, homework completion etc. If you need your help come on down to the office and talk to her. She essentially will do what Becky does all day. When you come into the office please be sure to welcome her to the awesome Markham family!

Teachers please make every effort to take attendance every day! Below is the language in the teacher handbook:

 Attendance Procedures:  

The State Department of Education requires a verified attendance documentation system.  Attendance and lunch counts are taken using the Aeries.Net which links classroom computers to the student database.  Student absences are cleared by written note, phone confirmation or email notice by the parent.  Verifications are kept by the Attendance Clerk.  Attendance should be completed by 9:00 a.m. each day.

Monthly Attendance Summary Reports – End of attendance register period an attendance summary sheet for your class will be printed and placed in your mailboxes.  Teachers are to verify accuracy and note any changes with the attendance clerk before signing the report.  After corrections are complete, sign and return monthly attendance sheet to the office.

Something to Think About.................

Differentiated Instruction: Resource Roundup

In this collection of tools and advice from Edutopia and the web, find resources to help you adjust instruction in response to diverse learner needs and interests.

Understanding Differentiated Instruction

• Summer DI Readings List: 150+ Seedlings for Growing Stronger Learners: Browse a bountiful reading list as you plan your garden of differentiated-instruction methods and strategies for the year. (Edutopia, 2015)
• Myth-Busting Differentiated Instruction: 3 Myths and 3 Truths: Get to the bottom of common misconceptions about differentiated instruction. For a quick reference on what differentiated is -- and what it isn't -- Differentiation Is / Differentiation Is Not, a set of infographics from ASCD, is also worth checking out. (Edutopia, 2015)
• Defining Differentiated Instruction: Take a look at a few specific examples to better understand differentiated instruction in practice: using graphic organizers, offering alternative assignments, and providing extended work time. (Edutopia, Updated 2014)
• Differentiation Concept Map: Reference a flowchart that shows key elements of differentiated instruction and relationships among those elements. (Differentiation Central/Carol Tomlinson, 2010)

For more click: Differentiated Instruction

Have student concerns?  Click the link to check out our Academic/Behavior Concern Folder for the process to follow.

Jose Bermudez,

                                                                                   6th Grade SPICE

                                                                                    Teacher In Charge

1. Your job as a sixth grade teacher, Teacher In Charge, and Saturday School Lead means that you see kids of all ages and work with teachers at all grade levels.  Do you notice anything in terms of behavior that may be different from younger/older grades ?

 Upper grade students are a bigger version of the younger students. They have a lot of the same needs. Their  issues are bigger because the students are bigger. Upper grades students love receiving the PAWS of pride. Their eyes light up when they are recognized for something good.

2. Have you worked at another school that uses PBIS or similar school wide practices?

 Both in Davis and in Woodland PBIS was implemented. Along with PBIS we used restorative justice. Both practices were a way of making sure that students, parents, teachers and the community as a whole communicated in the same language. It brought us closer together in making sure that we had an positive learning environment with clear and high expectations.

3. What are some reasons that you have given students Paws?  What specific behaviors did you reinforce?

  I have given PAWS when I have noticed students going beyond what they are suppose to in classroom work as well as in their behavior towards their peers. When I hear other students say, "Mr. B, "Jonhy" deserves a PAW of Pride because he helped Jenny," those are the best to give out. Anytime students show initiative and behavior that is beneficial to Markham as a whole (it will ultimately benefit them).

4. PBIS requires that the whole school be active and participate in implementing its components - regardless of job duty.  Do you think that this approach will benefit students? If so, why?

 I believe that the more united we are and the more common language that we speak the higher the benefit will be for all students. Students need consistently and need to understand that all adults at Markham have the same high expectations for them.

5. About how many Paws do estimate you give students per week… and why do you think you use the PAWS to recognize your students at such a high rate??

 This is an area that I need to improve. I give only about 10 PAWS a week. I truly believe that the more your recognize the positivity and the good behavior, the more positive environment you will have. It allows to build a stronger relationship with the students an thus have them produce more effective work by being more engaged.

6. Is there anything about the way that Markham approaches/implements PBIS that you would change? 

I know that one of our challenges is our lack of space, but I would definitely would like to see more rally/assemblies that truly  promote character development.

7.  Imagine that you are able to receive Paws as an adult for good behavior.  What reward would you choose to spend your Paws on, if the # of Paws did not matter?

(ex: favorite food, a trip to ______, a day in bed, etc.)

 The possibilities are endless. I would choose a getaway (southwest style)! :)

Citizenship Awards...

This month is flying by.  Please remember to choose ONE student in your classroom that has exemplified Justice/Fairness ALL MONTH.  Click on the Blue Justice/Fairness link to list your student NOW.  Other students you would like to recognize can be praised by using Good News Referrals and PAWS, which each staff member has received.

Timberwolf Tip...

FrontRow is now on the Markham gateway! Click the math link on the top or find it on the student links on the side. Kinder and 1st grade ipads should already have the app installed.

Markham Shout Outs....

Thank you Jennie Rae for hosting the Front Row webinar in your classroom.

Heather! For helping with all the IEP scheduling

Becky Ensley- She is always so willing to help out in any possible way.  The office would not be the same without her!!  Thanks Becky!!!

Sylvia, Christin, & Shanti- Thank you for being flexible.

Jessica just finished her first BTSA assignment! Woohoo! I am so proud of all your hard work and for not giving up. It is hard being a first year teacher and you are kicking butt! From now on, it gets better. Keep it up! -Gabby

Becky Ensley- Always Cheerful, Always Helpful!  keeping our parents informed & happy!  

Let out a happy "howl" here -  Markham's Staff is HOWLing....