April 3rd- 7th

PERSEVERANCE

Please devote at least 15 minutes during your specials block to teach APRIL'S character trait: PERSEVERANCE

Bruno Mars- Don't Give up (This one is for you, Gabby!)

Janelle Monae- Power of Yet

Important Dates... check out more dates by clicking HERE

• http://sbac.portal.airast.org/practice-test/    Ask Stephanie if you need help!
• April 3 & 4- Mobile Dairy Classroom
• April 4- SPICE Info Night 6p
• April 5- Calendar Meeting (8AM) & Staff Meeting (3:05)
• April 6- Elementary Reclassification Ceremony- WCW Theatre 7pm
• April 7- Gorgeous Gal
• April 8- Super Science Saturday 8-12
• April 13- Donuts with Dad 8- 8:30 AM

Happening Things:  
Girls On the Run- T/Th 3-4:30
Markham Choir- Second Grade Hallway on Wednesdays before school
Exploring Biotechnology- Grades 3/4 Room 6 on Wednesdays for 5 weeks
Ballet Folklorico- Thursdays After school
Parent Institute Quality Education (PIQE)- Thursdays from 6-7 in MPR
2017-2018 Registration has begun
Art Smart- Tuesdays After school

• African Drumming- rm 16
• Clay- rm 15
• Theatre/Movement- MPR

The SPICE parent Board and PTO have decided to change the 5 de Mayo evening to a Multicultural Evening this year. The idea is to feature countries from around the world. We will get more information later, but I wanted to give you a head’s up early on.

        Briefly, teachers will be able to pick a country for their class to represent in the evening of May 5th. SPICE Board has Mexico and SPICE classes will have 1st bids on Latin American countries. REACCH can chose a country from anywhere around the world. That’s the basic idea for the evening, in a nutshell. Next Meeting is April 5th at 5:00.

Timberwolf Tips...

Read the article here about using role play to teach social-emotional skills.

Markham Shout Outs....

• Marcela: For letting us use her classroom for the SPICE program meeting
• Alicia B: For EVERYTHING she has done for Markham!
• Alicia B: You will be missed! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to our school! Stop emailing at 3 am :) 
• Jennie Rae: Thank you for all your FOSS support! From giving advice to providing materials, your kind guidance has been invaluable. Best of all, it's an excuse to visit and get to know you better!
• Jessica: Thank you for being an awesome teacher and colleague!  Your thoughtfulness and hard work are reflected in our students' enthusiasm for learning!  Thanks for your continued support and words!

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

March 27-31

COURAGE

      Please devote at least 15 minutes during your specials block to teach MARCH'S character trait: COURAGE
Activities: "Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway" . Write this quote on the board and have students in a group to write and illustrate the meaning.




Dont forget to submit the names of students that have shown Courage this month:   Click Here

Important Dates... check out more dates by clicking HERE

• http://sbac.portal.airast.org/practice-test/    Ask Stephanie if you need help!
• March 27- Third Grade AR 8:55; Fourth 2:05
• March 28- K/1 AR 8:55; Second Grade 10:40; Fifth/Sixth 2:05
• March 29- Staff Meeting- SPED Review
• March 31- Cesar Chavez Assembly- SPICE 
• 9:00– 9:10 opening, seating, etc (Luci or Rafael)
  9:10-9:20 kinders do something
  9:20-9:30– 1st graders
  9:30-9:40– 2nd graders
  9:40-9:50– 3rd graders
  9:50-9:55– whole audience will sing together– Las manañitas
• April 3 & 4- Mobile Dairy Classroom
• April 4- SPICE Info Night 6p
• April 5- Calendar Meeting & Staff Meeting:  SBAC
• April 6- Elementary Reclassification Ceremony- WCW Theatre 7pm
• April 7- Gorgeous Gal
• April 8- Super Science Saturday 8-12

Happening Things:  
Girls On the Run- T/Th 3-4:30
Markham Choir- Second Grade Hallway on Wednesdays before school
Exploring Biotechnology- Grades 3/4 Room 6 on Wednesdays for 5 weeks
Ballet Folklorico- Thursdays After school
Parent Institute Quality Education (PIQE)- Thursdays from 6-7 in MPR
2017-2018 Registration has begun
Kinder Pre-Assessments- 3/20 and 3/23
6th grade Parent Meeting at Jepson 3/16
Parent Meeting for Spanish Speaking Parents 3/21
Art Smart- Tuesdays After school

• African Drumming- rm 16
• Clay- rm 15
• Theatre/Movement- MPR

The SPICE parent Board and PTO have decided to change the 5 de Mayo evening to a Multicultural Evening this year. The idea is to feature countries from around the world. We will get more information later, but I wanted to give you a head’s up early on.

        Briefly, teachers will be able to pick a country for their class to represent in the evening of May 5th. SPICE Board has Mexico and SPICE classes will have 1st bids on Latin American countries. REACCH can chose a country from anywhere around the world. That’s the basic idea for the evening, in a nutshell. Next Meeting is April 5th at 5:00.

Timberwolf Tips...

For our primary teachers - the following link shares fun activities that will build students' number sense :)

http://proudtobeprimary.com/building-number-sense-to-20/

Markham Shout Outs....

• Shannon Pike: Shannon is always friendly and helpful.
• Ruby Esparza,Norma Guerrero, Jenny Rae, Lucy del rio, Rafael Soler, Stepahnie Sanders, Nakaren Hamid:  I want to thank all of these people for giving support and sending out good vibes to help me pass the Spanish CSET, thank you guys so much
• Jessica: Thanks for keeping us caffeinated. :)
• Cindy (yard duty): Thanks for going out of your way to help the kids and always writing reports!
• Yard duties: Thanks for making it a point to say hello to our shy students who need to be noticed and seen.
• Laura Vanhoy and Natalie Sylvester: They put together a great GLAD unit on elephants for the first grade team to help with our descriptive writing. You both ROCK!!!!!

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

March 20-24

COURAGE

      Please devote at least 15 minutes during your specials block to teach MARCH'S character trait: COURAGE

What does COURAGE look like?

Have students draw a picture that demonstrates courage . At the top have them title it

"Courage is ___________________ "

 

 

Dont forget to submit the names of students that have shown Courage this month:   Click Here

Important Dates... check out more dates by clicking HERE

• http://sbac.portal.airast.org/practice-test/    Ask Stephanie if you need help!
• March 21- ELD Professional Development- REACcH 2, all 3-6, RSP, SDC 3:00-5:00 paid
• March 22- Program Meetings- rooms TBD
• March 27- Third Grade AR 8:55; Fifth/Sixth 2:05
• March 28- K/1 AR 8:55; Second Grade 10:30; Fourth 2:05
• March 29- PBIS Mtg 8:05, Staff Meeting- SPED Review
• March 30- Cesar Chavez Assembly- SPICE 
• March 31- Evacuation Drill
• Novel Knowledge:
• Monday, March 20 -  1:45pm-2:45pm, Tuesday, March 21 - 1:45pm - 2:45pm, Wednesday, March 22 - 8:45am - 9:45am, Thursday, March 23 - 1:45pm - 2:45pm 

• All teams that have qualified for the competition will be invited to a pizza lunch at Roundtable Pizza on Friday, March 24 from 12:00pm - 1:30pm, where the winner will be announced.  Janine still needs parent drivers.  Send parents to Janine that want to drive students to Roundtable on Friday, March 24th.

Happening Things:  

Markham Choir- Second Grade Hallway on Wednesdays before school
Exploring Biotechnology- Grades 3/4 Room 6 on Wednesdays for 5 weeks
Ballet Folklorico- Thursdays After school
Parent Institute Quality Education (PIQE)- Thursdays from 6-7 in MPR
2017-2018 Registration has begun
Kinder Pre-Assessments- 3/20 and 3/23
6th grade Parent Meeting at Jepson 3/16
Parent Meeting for Spanish Speaking Parents 3/21
Art Smart- Tuesdays After school

• African Drumming- rm 16
• Clay- rm 15
• Theatre/Movement- MPR

The SPICE parent Board and PTO have decided to change the 5 de Mayo evening to a Multicultural Evening this year. The idea is to feature countries from around the world. We will get more information later, but I wanted to give you a head’s up early on.

        Briefly, teachers will be able to pick a country for their class to represent in the evening of May 5th. SPICE Board has Mexico and SPICE classes will have 1st bids on Latin American countries. REACCH can chose a country from anywhere around the world. That’s the basic idea for the evening, in a nutshell. Next Meeting is April 5th at 5:00.

          DATE CHANGE!!! The assembly is now scheduled for Friday the 31st because the jogathon moved to another day.

Tentative Assembly Schedule:

9:00– 9:10 opening, seating, etc (Luci or Rafael)

9:10-9:20 kinders do something

9:20-9:30– 1st graders

9:30-9:30– 2nd graders

9:30-9:45– 3rd graders

9:45-9:55– whole audience will sing together– Las manañitas


You spoke and we heard you.  We are currently reviewing the SBAC schedule and will be making changes.  There will be a schedule to complete SBAC and to complete all STAR testing by 5/23.  More information to come.

Timberwolf Tips...

Check out this video on narrating positive behavior in the classroom: (source)

Markham Shout Outs....

• Carly and Aaron: Thank you to our PE teachers for offering their office space so that our counselors can have a private and confidential place to meet with students.
• Carly and Aaron: Thank you for allowing our YSS Counselors to conduct counseling in your office.
• Karen S: Thanks Karen for organizing all of the data for the grade level meetings.
• Classroom teachers: Thank you for your participation at the grade level data meetings! I loved the spirit of collaboration and "can-do" attitude that you all brought.
• Stephanie Sanders: Thanks for making the PD fun and engaging! You got us up and out of our zone out zone.
• Rafael and Alicia: Thank you for being at EVERY SINGLE IEP. We appreciate your support and know it takes a lot of time and mental stamina to sit through these IEPs! 
• Heather: Thank you for being patient with us while we schedule IEPs! We appreciate it! :)
• Sylvia: Thank you for dealing with me raiding your classroom asking about goals/dates/timelines/etc while you are in there working with students! You never turn me away, and for that I am grateful! 
• Shanti: Thank you for being flexible and letting me do speech sessions in your classroom and being okay with me moving all your things around and taking over your teaching table!   
• Laurel: Thank you for getting so many last minute evaluations done and reports written. We would be in a very sticky situation if it weren't for your willingness to help! You've been very patient with the team and we appreciate you! 
• Danesa: Allowing her room to be used for a biotechnology class after school on Wednesdays during her prep time. Thank you on behalf of our 3rd and 4th grade students.   
• Jennie Rae: Thank you for sharing your teaching insights!  Your positive attitude, dedication, and support made a real difference this week!  I look forward to further collaboration! :) 
• Stephanie S: Thank you for your engaging PD. 
• SPED Team: Thank you for trudging though these IEPS. 
• Office Staff: Thanks for all you do during March Madness 
• Sue: High five for the collaboration <3

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

March 13-17

COURAGE

      Please devote at least 15 minutes during your specials block to teach MARCH'S character trait: COURAGE

Poetry Activity
Help children understand courage through poetry. Read Maya Angelou's "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" poem to children. Then ask them to write their own poem. They can use Angelou's poem and simply change some of the words to fit their own lives, or they can write a new poem on the subject.

Another way to use poetry to discuss courage is to have children illustrate a poem, such as "Life Doesn't Frighten Me," with drawings or by cutting out pictures from magazines

Life Doesn't Frighten Me by Maya Angelou

Important Dates... check out more dates by clicking HERE

• First week of March:  Begin SBAC Practice/Training Tests  
  http://sbac.portal.airast.org/practice-test/    Ask Stephanie if you need help!
• March 13- Fiesta Days Assembly/ Retention Forms Due  Get your forms HERE/Leadership
• March 14 Muffins with Mom/ Rock Steady Assembly/ Lockdown
• March 15- Staff Meeting- Jane Shamieh and PD/ Turn in SBAC Accommodation Forms
• March 16- Zun Zun Assembly
• March 21- ELD Professional Development- REACcH 2, all 3-6, RSP, SDC 3:00-5:00 paid
• March 22- Program Meetings- rooms TBD
• March 29- Staff Meeting- SPED Review

Upcoming Events:

• PLC  July 19-21  Complete form here to specify if you want to attend:  HERE
• Monday 3/13- Second and Sixth Grade Data Meetings
• Wednesday 3/15; 3/220 Kinder Data Meetings
• Friday 3/17- Fourth, Fifth, First Grade Data Meetings

	Monday- Fiesta Days	Tuesday- Rock Steady	Thursday- Zun Zun
K-3	10:00	9:00-10:00	1:45
4-6	10:30	10:00-11:00	2:15

Timberwolf Tips...

Markham Shout Outs....

• Mrs. Burns: ...for letting me talk through my thoughts and wonderings about one of her student's speech and language skills and for helping collect language samples in the classroom! 
• Heather Parrish-Salinas: Heather is always pleasant and kind to work with. She always makes me feel like my question or request is important.
• Linda Molina: We are so lucky to have Linda Molina on staff. She gives so much! Thanks for being a Markham Angel Linda!!!!
• Shannon and Becky: You did a great job at the kick off for Kindergarten registration!
• Bobbie & Luisa: Great team work taking care of the front office on the first day of Kindergarten registration!
• Rafael: Thank you for participating in the office fun!
• 4th Grade Team!: Just want to shout out to my team how awesome you are! We had a crazy week back to school and working together, we got it done! Thanks for all your hard work, and thank you for loving ALL our kiddos! - Rosie
• Heather Salinas-Parrish: Thank you for having the parent information and sign in sheets copied and ready for the SPICE Parent Information Night. So prepared! It was a little thing but a huge help!
• Rafael: Rafael, thanks for reading Dr. Seuss books to the afternoon classes. Since the other visitors could not stay, we appreciate you stepping in!
• Rosie: Thank you for supporting our students this week and last.
• Markham teachers: Great job getting the reclassification paperwork filled out and back to Bobbie! AND it looks like we are reclassifying 47 students!! Way more than last year! Thanks for your great teaching.
• The office staff: Thank you to our office staff for not only running kindergarten registration but also helping sign up our incoming students for our new pre-kinder assessments. We appreciate all of your help!
• Gina Herrera: Thank you Gina for knowing what to do in our classroom. Thank you also for going above and beyond and really caring for our students and their families. Finally, thank you for encouraging me when I am really down about something. We could not achieve the results in this class without you!

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

March 6-March 11

COURAGE

                                                       Primary : (song about courage)

                                              Upper: (motivation for students to relate to)

Please devote at least 15 minutes during your specials block to teach MARCH'S character trait: COURAGE

"Courage is maintaining strength in your own decisions" 

Important Dates... check out more dates by clicking HERE

• First week of March:  Begin SBAC Practice/Training Tests  
  http://sbac.portal.airast.org/practice-test/    Ask Stephanie if you need help!
• March 7- SPICE Recruitment Meeting at 6pm 
• March 7-10 Conferences
• March 8- Reclassification Forms Due
• March 9-Picture Day
• March 11- Super Saturday
• March 13- Fiesta Days Assembly/ Retention Forms Due  Get your forms HERE

Upcoming Events:

• PLC  July 19-21  Complete form here to specify if you want to attend:  HERE
• Mandatory Bandwidth Test: 3/10  10:40-11:15
• K-2:  I-station
• 3-6:  SBAC ELA Practice Test
• Checklist due 4/15

The purpose of the bandwidth test is to do the following:  

• Identify dead zones
• Determine if SBAC dates can be pushed back
• Headphones are working
• All students have mice
• All technology is working and is not damaged
• Lighting is appropriate in classrooms
• There are no environmental distractions.

This is MANDATORY FOR ALL CLASSES FROM 10:40-11:15

K-2 will sign in and complete I-station activities whole class

3-6 will sign in and complete ELA Practice Test

Admin in coaches will be checking in to classrooms to assist/support and ensure your class is participating.

Technology will be on campus to monitor technology use.

Teacher's Corner:
5 Ways to Give Students Free Choice on Essay Topics, and Still Save Your Sanity (Read the entire article here)

1. Have them focus in. Really focus.

Don’t have students tell the story of the whole game—or worse, the whole season. Invite them to write about what the goalkeeper is thinking in the last few minutes. About how she knows she needs to concentrate, but she can’t stop thinking about the way the light cuts across the field. Write about what it’s like to put on a uniform for the first time, or to shake hands with the team that’s just crushed you. Take two minutes—and only two minutes—of that exciting game and write the heck out of it.

2. Switch perspectives.

When you talk with students about different points of view, oftentimes they go straight for the inanimate objects—I’m going to write about the game from the point of view of the ball! Or the scoreboard! And while those could be interesting to read, simpler switches in perspective can go a long way not only toward deepening students’ writing, but also nurturing empathy. Can they tell the story of the game from a parent of an opposing team member? From the kid sitting in the stands who didn’t make the team?

3. Add sensory detail.

The next time you get a totally flat essay on the big game, start by inviting the writer to add 25 sensory details to the piece. It might seem like a lot, but many novelists accomplish this in a single page. Beginning writers often focus on visual details alone, so be sure to challenge the writer to include taste, smell, touch, and hearing as well.

4. Get personal.

Ask your writers: Why are you the one telling this story? Could this same essay have been turned in by anyone else on your team? If so, what perspective can you bring to it to make it yours? If one of your great-grandchildren found this essay in a trunk in the attic, what would you want them to come away knowing about you?

5. Switch genres or forms.

Can your student take his boring essay on the big game and turn it into a heart-thumping mystery? A piece of alien-snatching science fiction? Or perhaps they could write a big game sonnet or pantoum. The trick isn’t just randomly choosing one of these alternatives, but thinking about how a different format could deepen the story the student wants to tell.

Timberwolf Tips...

Markham Shout Outs....

BAW teachers: Thank you to all of our BAW teachers for being so accommodating and welcoming us into your classroom.

Fourth Grade Teammates: We survived! I am grateful for all your support, dedication, and time this week to make both the UC Davis field trip and Thursday's testing a success! Our students enjoyed both experiences! :)

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