Respect Video

Each day after the morning announcements I would like for each class to view the RESPECT Rap video as a daily warm up.  Learn the rap and later we will have a competition to determine which grades are the best! The video can be found at;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGuT9-_Y5J4.

Moving Forward With a Sense of Urgency

1.  What a run over the past few weeks with winter weather!  If nothing else, we all should be well if not over-rested.  It is imperative that we move forward with a strong sense of urgency about our instruction in order to ensure that we meet our academic goals.  Each team should submit to administration at this week's data meeting a progress report on pacing for each core subject and details as to how the team will make up ground missed due to (5) weather related absences.

2.  As follow up to our Data Meetings, I expect for teachers with sub par performance areas to be able to articulate in specific detail, what they are doing to affect improvement in these areas.  This should include but not be limited to collaborating with colleagues for support, providing extra instruction during available time (before school, during UA classes with UA teacher consent, after school etc.), collaborating with program specialists, increasing rigor in instruction and adding more small group time.  All teams should embrace any colleagues and share your strategies for improvement.

3.  As for future data meetings, teachers will lead the data discussion regarding their student performance data and field questions from administration and teachers.  Teacher data meeting reporting forms area available in the office.  Teacher report should be specific and based upon data results, intervention and instructional solutions identified.

4.  All students must be engaged in meaningful instruction from their teachers as assigned and not be used as helpers for other classes.  If these students have competed classwork and have "extra time" that is an indication that the Rigor in the base class should be ramped up for students who can complete work at a 100% level and have time remaining.

5.  Our Black History Programs will be rescheduled for 2:00 PM as follows.  All program should be educational, well rehearsed and high quality.  Be sure to send flyers home and text your parents informing them of the data changes.

February 26th - 4th and 5th Grades
February 28th - Kindergarten and 1st Grade
March 7th - 2nd and 3rd Grades

6.  Reminders

a. Each week I should receive a copy of parent call logs for each teacher and team minutes from your grade level collaborative meetings during which you developed the lesson plans for the grade level.  All grade levels should be using the lesson plan format provided by administration.  If after analyzing plans more rigor is needed, they should be revised prior to submission.
b. CPU based instruction using the nooks in all subjects should be evident in lesson plans and grading.
c.  All student grades should be posted in I-grade weekly.
d.  A list of proposed field trips (March-May) should be submitted to administration this week.
e. Email pictures from Space Week and other unique instructional activities to administration for inclusion in our digital yearbook.

February Calendar

2/7/14   

Boys Basketball v. Dolomite 5:45PM @ Charles A. Brown School

2/11/14

Boys Basketball v. Mystics  6:00PM @ Our Lady of Fatima School

Boys Basketball v. A.G. Gaston 5:15PM @ Charles A. Brown School

2/13/14 

African American History Program

Vertical Data Meetings (K-2 and 3-5 Clusters)

2/14/14  

District Wide Professional Development @ Huffman H.S.

Boys Basketball Tournament Round 1 6:00PM @ UAB Court 1

2/17/14 

President's Day School and District Offices Closed

2/20/14 

PTA Meeting 6:00PM Charles A. Brown School Gym

2/21/14 

African American History Program

2/21/14 

Vertical Data Meetings (K-2 and 3-5 Clusters)

2/21/14  

Boys Basketball Tournament Round 2 6:00PM @ UAB Court 1 

2/28/14 

African American History Program

January 21, 2014

1.  Continue the study of the speeches and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Include video and audio in your learning centers for reading instruction.  There are a variety of reading lessons available online that have the work of Dr. King as a central theme.

2.  The Discovery Education website is a great source for differentiated instruction based on student needs.  The site will provide each student individualized lessons based upon their most recent benchmark data.  The expectation is that each student will work in discovery education each day as a learning center in Reading, Math and Science.

3.  Each team is asked to set a (30) minute time slot for daily Spanish instruction using the babble.com website. Suggested times are (30) minutes prior to or after lunch or 2:30 -3:00PM.

4.  Digital Learning Community Planning Committee Meeting will be held 1/22/14 @ 7:45AM in the Conference Room.  Members are: Ms. A. Clark, Mrs. Alexander, Mrs. Issac, Mrs. Perry and Mrs. Reese.

Goal - Establish a (3) Year Plan to increase parental involvement through implementing Digital Media and other 21st Century Technologies.

January 17, 2014

1. Space Week continues as we culminate with our Rocket Launch today @ 1:45PM at the Outdoor Theater. Do not bring students outside without their coats as it will be around 47 degrees.
2. GEO Disc Domes will be judged today @ 12:00 Noon. 
3. Due to Space Week Activities Grade Level Meetings will be held today in the Conference Room.  Bring your nooks as we will set up Classroom Blogs and share apps for student learning.
4. The PTA Honor Roll Recognition Program is today @ 2:00PM in the Gym.
5. School will be closed Monday in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
6. Focus on the Gaps!  In math, operations, measurement and data and fractions.  For Reading, Information, Literature and Writing.
7. Observations will keenly look for infusion of technology into every lesson, explicit instruction and focus on our student weaknesses.

Tech Partners

Thanks for completing our Computer Acumen Assessment.  After compiling the results, the following is a list of Faculty and Staff pairings.  Each team should work closely to share ideas on how to use or Nooks HD plus tablets and other digital media during instruction.  Team members should ensure that each partner is on task and up to date on all Tech assignments.

Mr. Smith & Mrs. S. Glover

Mrs. Perry & Mrs. Dixon

Mrs. Foster & Mrs. Aaron

Mrs. Acklin & Mrs. L. White

Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Tunstall

Ms. Davis & Mrs. Jefferson

Ms. Williams & Mrs. Asher

Ms. Manning & Mrs. Cottingham

Mrs. N. Glover & Ms. Clark

Mrs. Crocker & Mrs. A. Smith

Mr. Robertson & Ms. Marshall

January 15, 2014

1.  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday is today.
     Celebrate the greatness of one of America's greatest leaders and scholar.
     

2.  Professional Learning toward our Digital Initiative will continue on tomorrow during grade level
     meetings.
     On tomorrow each teacher will make / refine their classroom Blog.  Be sure to have your  
     required information for uploading.

3.  Nook Roll Out to Students 

• Identify one of your lockable cabinets for storage.
• Establish a system for daily distribution.
• Upon receipt of your nooks, orient your children to operation using prometheon board tutorials form Nook Website. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/nook-tablet-videos/379003527/
• Allow students to explore devices and share what they discover.
• Immediately identify the pre-loaded apps that can be infused in your learning centers.  There are great apps for Math and ELA objectives.
• In that small group instruction is our instruction delivery format for every subject, it is my expectation that the Nooks will be used in at least one learning center for each subject.