2/5/13: Orientation for Parents of Incoming 7th Graders

Next Tuesday, 2/5/13, we will host parents of incoming seventh graders once again.  We will do this for one night only, and the evening will run much like it has in the past, after a Welcome and Introductions in the Auditorium, parents will rotate through the following:

A.      A Student and Parent Panel in the Auditorium

B.      PE, Reading, GEMS, SSD, our SRO, the Nurse and others in the gym

C.      Core Teachers in Rooms 214 and 210 (so all parents do not need to crowd into a double wide room)

D.      Elective Teachers in Room 126

The evening should end at 8:35pm.

I know that parents value hearing about your enthusiasm for your subject area and for students at this age.  This creates comfort and trust.  Also, it is important to focus on the academic program you represent.  You have done a great job in the past of doing this and sharing other important information about Hixson Middle School, so please focus on what makes our school, your classroom, and our students successful.  Please speak with pride in your own good teaching, and please share information that will give parents the clearest sense of what they are signing up for when completing registration paperwork.

If you have any questions, let me know.  I apologize for just getting this information out.  I looked back at my notes, and it looks like I apologized for this last year as well.  I hope to do better next year.  I will also make better notes about your suggestions for improving this.  So, if you made a good suggestion and do not see it, I owe you an apology as well.

Sincerely,

Jason

DQ 3 Faculty Meeting PowerPoint

AST DQ 3 Faculty Meeting Presentation.pptx Download this file

Here is the PowerPoint from our last faculty meeting.

February's Thinking Strategy: Repairing Confusion

The documents below will help you implement the reading expectation in Discovery for the month of February.

PowerPoint: This PowerPoint presentation provides detailed information about this month’s thinking strategy. This may be used as background information for the teacher, or as a prompt for classroom discussion.

Strategy Mini-Lesson and One-Pager: This document contains background information for teachers, suggested activities for a mini-lesson, the monthly one-pager, and possible feedback teachers may provide to a completed one-pager The mini-lesson should be conducted at the beginning of the month during the first twenty minutes of Discovery.

The one-pager should be completed in Discovery class at the end of the month. Teachers may choose to have students submit the one-pagers digitally or as a hard copy. Most students should be able to complete the one-pager in the first twenty minutes of Discovery; however, there are some, especially struggling readers, who may need additional time. Students should always complete the one-pager in class to ensure an authentic response.

Thinkmark: This month’s bookmark should be able to be copied double-sided so that the back may be used as a reading log.

Reader’s Toolkit: This document contains tools that can be utilized in your content area classes to assist ALL students in using this month’s strategy. During Discovery intervention time, those students who have been identified as struggling readers will benefit from explicit instruction in using these tools. Teachers should choose at least one tool and use assigned reading from their content to teach students how to utilize the tool.

Please contact Jen or Aimee if you have any questions or are in need of support.

Repairing Confusion Thinkmark.pdf Download this file

Repairing Confusion.pptx Download this file

Repairing Confusion Mini-Lesson & One-Pager.pdf Download this file

Reader's Toolkit - Repairing Confusion.pdf Download this file

January 28, 2013

Saturday's Trivia Night and Silent Auction

Our annual trivia night and silent auction is a point of pride for me as the principal of Hixson Middle School.  This event is completely organized and executed by Hixson Middle School staff. The money for this event is used to increase student access to technology at Hixson. Saturday's trivia night was our most successful and our students will benefit from this.  Thank you.  Thank you to those who participated and those who planned.

The list of those in the building and those in our community who contributed is long.  Please click here to read these lists as they are published on the parent blog.  In addition, you will learn that the winners of the event and of the raffle donated their winnings back to Hixson.  This speaks volumes about our community and our work.

More Information about the Faculty Meeting: 1/28

The information about Monday's faculty meeting is repeated from last week below.  Click here if you are interested in seeing the template for teacher self reflection regarding DQ 3.  You'll notice a space for teacher and student evidence as well as a proficiency scale.  This is an example of how aligned the supervision instrument is with The Art and Science of Teaching.  If printing this is helpful to your notetaking at the faculty meeting, then please do so.

 . . . from last week
The topic of our 1/28 meeting will be Design Question 3: What will I do to help students practice and deepen their understanding of new knowledge from The Art and Science of Teaching.  Please take an opportunity to read, skim, or at the very least review the action steps in chapter three.

Flipping through the slides of this PowerPoint will help prepare you for some of the thinking and activities of the faculty meeting.  Click here to view this quick presentation.  Click here to view the Practice Exericse for Faulty Logic.

In addition, this protocol (click here), albeit simple, may be helpful with thinking through each strategy specifically in terms of how you will plan to use them.

In the faculty meeting, we will organize in as much job alike groups of 3-5 as possible (e.g., 8th grade social studies, Fine Arts, etc.).

New Copiers 

We should be receiving three new copiers relatively soon (by 2/4/13, I hope).  These machines will come with a new level of district accountability and, therefore, with some new considerations for copying and printing.  It is in the best interest of our budget, of the environment, and of our relationship with those to whom we are accountable that we become aware of and reduce our copying and printing, particularly because we must pay for any copies/prints over our allotted number.  To this end, as a building, we will no longer send the large August mailing to every parent (parents without web access may opt in to receiving a printed copy), we are looking at how often we are required to print and mail report cards, and we are looking into other copying and printing saving measures.

I need you to look at what, how often, and why you print as well, and I need you to begin considering these things immediately.  We have a limited number of copies left this school year before we will be charged again.  IF we were to divide the number of copies/prints by the number of copy codes and strictly ration how often we could copy/print, each of us would only be allowed about 5,500 copies/prints for the remainder of the school year.  This may sound alarming.  Fortunately, we will not have to ration this strictly; however, I will provide each of you with some feedback regarding your own printing/copying so that you can get a better sense of what this might mean for you. I offer this as feedback, not as a critique or an evaluation.  We have to begin somewhere, so we are beginning with awareness.

Based on this new awareness, please do your best to reduce beginning now so that we have to pay as few overages as possible.

Two More Items

1. Click here to view more information on February's Thinking Strategy: Repairing Confusion.
2. Click here to complete a brief (1 question) survey of Top Academic Concerns.  As mentioned in a 9/4/12 post, a small group of teachers have been meeting regularly to discuss how we might better implement RtI and a Care Team process in the building.  This survey will guide their work, so your response is very important. 

January 21, 2013

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critcally. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education.  --Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A three day weekend is a welcomed reprieve.  I hope that you were able to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. King in some way on Monday.  Over winter break I was in Austin, Texas, and visited, briefly, the site where Dr. King was assassinated.  It was a haunting experience.

Trivia Night

The 4th Annual Hixson Middle School Trivia Night and Silent Auction is the evening of January 26th.  This event is planned entirely by Hixson teachers who I know would value your being there.  Click here for more information.

Faculty Meeting: 1/28

The topic of our 1/28 meeting will be Design Question 3: What will I do to help students practice and deepen their understanding of new knowledge from The Art and Science of Teaching.  Please take an opportunity to read, skim, or at the ver least review the action steps in chapter three.

Flipping through the slides of this PowerPoint will help prepare you for some of the thinking and activities of the faculty meeting.  Click here to view this quick presentation.  Click here to view the Practice Exericse for Faulty Logic.

In addition, this protocol (click here), albeit simple, may be helpful with thinking through each strategy specifically in terms of how you will plan to use them.

In the faculty meeting, we will organize in as much job alike groups of 3-5 as possible (e.g., 8th grade social studies, Fine Arts, etc.).

Miscellaneous

If you allow students to use their own devices in class, please remind them that they should be off and put away once they leave your classrooms; electronic devices should only be out and in use whens students are being supervised.  Last week I say several students who walked out of class with their devices still out, on, and in use.

Next week, I will be out of the building on Thursday and Friday.  I will be presenting at a conference in Atlanta.

And finally, one last quote from Dr. King: Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.

January 14, 2013

Thank you for all of your energy, focus, and good planning for our first week back from Winter Break.  It was great to be back and see all of your classrooms active with learning.  I am looking forward to an excellent second semester.

Although I will continue to be in and out of classrooms as I have tried to be in the past, one of my new year's resolutions for school was to make sure that I take more time in more classrooms more often. I am looking forward to what I learn from you and from your students.

Faculty, Department, and Other Meetings

This past Monday, department chairs and I met to discuss how we might use faculty meeting time the rest of the school year.  After listening to their input, I have revised the list on the Network.  You'll notice that these changes are tentative (I'll keep you informed of any changes) and that they return some faculty meeting time to departments. Click here to view this.

All of us are assignedd for Monday's faculty meeting, and I hope our time together is productive. 

MSIP 5 and MAP Results

The Missouri School Improvement (MSIP) cycle 5 uses a different method to calculate our Annual Performance Report (APR).  Since we no longer are subject to No Child Left Behind (NCLB), we do not receive scores for AYP.  Click here to get a beginning sense of how scores are figured and what our results for Hixson look like.  I am available to explain or answer questions if necessary. 

Have an excellent week!

MSIP 5 and MAP Results

A MAP Performance Index (MPI) is used to figure points earned in each of three categories: Status, Progress, and Growth.  The MPI is a rolling 2-year average.  Scores are rated as Exceeding, On Target, Approaching, and Floor.  Do not think of the scores as I have presented them below as averages.  If you are interested in the percent of students proficient and advanced, the MPI, and the statistics and Normal Curve Equivalencies that go into determining the points and what they mean, I can share this with you.

 

There are two status points reported for ELA, Math, and Science, one for overall achievement and one for super subgroup achievement (composed of all Hispanic, African American, FRL, IEP, and LEP students). 

 

Overall Achievement	Super Subgroup Achievement
ELA: 16/16 Exceeding Math: 12/16 On Target Science: 16/16 Exceeding	ELA: 3/4 On Target Math: 2/4 Approaching Science: 0/4 Floor

 

There are two progress points reported as well.  Progress compares this year’s MPI to last year’s MPI.

 

Overall Achievement	Super Subgroup Achievement
ELA: 12/12 Exceeding Math: 12/12 Exceeding Science: 3/12 Approaching	ELA: 3/3 Exceeding Math: 0/3 Floor Science: 0/3 Floor

 

There are two growth points reported.  Growth compares how this year’s group achieved as compared to its achievement last year (and only uses scores for which these two points exist).

 

Overall Achievement	Super Subgroup Achievement
ELA: 6/12 On Target Math: 12/12 Exceeding Science: No score reported as science is tested only in 8th grade (there isn’t a previous year’s score).	ELA: 0/3 Floor Math: 0/3 Floor Science: No score reported as science is tested only in 8th grade (there isn’t a previous year’s score).

 

Total points earned = Status + Progress or Growth (not to exceed the total points possible); therefore:

 

Overall Achievement	Super Subgroup Achievement
ELA: 16/16 Math: 16/16 Science 16/16	ELA: 4/4 Math: 2/4 Science: 0/4

 

We also receive points for Career and College Readiness (although I do not know how they are figured) and forattendance. 

 

Overall Attendance

Status: 7.5/10 On Target Progress: 2/7.5 Approaching

 

Our overall total points earned is 63.5 out of 70 (90.7%).  This is very good.  The WGSD average is a 94.3 percent if you are interested in comparing Hixson to the district overall.

 

January's Thinking Strategy: Determining Importance

The documents below will help you implement the reading expectation in Discovery for the month of January.

 Determining Importance Mini Lesson and One Pager

PowerPoint: This PowerPoint presentation providesdetailed information about this month’s thinking strategy. This may be used asbackground information for the teacher, or as a prompt for classroomdiscussion.

Strategy Mini-Lesson and One-Pager: This document contains background information for teachers, suggested activities for a mini-lesson, the monthly one-pager, and possible feedback teachers may provide to a completed one-pager The mini-lesson should be conducted at the beginning of the month during the first twenty minutes of Discovery.

The one-pager should be completed in Discovery class at the end of the month. Teachers may choose to have students submit the one-pagers digitally or as a hard copy. Most students should be able to complete the one-pager in the first twenty minutes of Discovery; however, there are some, especially struggling readers, who may need additional time. Students should always complete the one-pager in class to ensure an authentic response.

Thinkmark: This month’s bookmark should be able to be copied double-sided so that the back may be used as a reading log.

Reader’s Toolkit: This document contains tools that can be utilized in your content area classes to assist ALL students in using this month’s strategy. During Discovery intervention time, those students who have been identified as struggling readers will benefit from explicit instruction in using these tools. Teachers should choose at least one tool and use assigned reading from their content to teach students how to utilize the tool.

Please contact Jen or Aimee if you have any questions or are in need of support.

Determining Importance.pptx Download this file

Determining Importance Mini-Lesson & One-Pager.pdf Download this file

Determing Importance Thinkmark.pdf Download this file

Reader's Toolkit - Determining Importance.pdf Download this file

Determining Importance Mini-Lesson & One-Pager.pdf Download this file

December Discipline Statistics

Following are discipline statistics for December.  I hope they are useful to you.  One of the ways to make them useful is to be thoughtful about what you observe and how you might respond. 

Please consider thinking about this information as a team and/or department.  Students who are not in class miss valuable (and limited) instructional time, and it may be beneficial to discuss strategies with your colleagues.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please let a principal know.

Dec Action.pdf Download this file

Dec behavior.pdf Download this file

Dec Grade.pdf Download this file

Dec location.pdf Download this file

Dec time.pdf Download this file

Trivia Night - Advertisment & Registration

HMS Trivia Registration Form2013.pdf Download this file

Trivia night will be here before we know it! It’s just three weeks (1/26) from when we return from winter break.

I know it’s a busy time of year, but we need to start advertising so that the event will be successful. Here’s how you can help:

1.    Get the word out to your friends and family. This year, we are offering online registration and payment. You can send the following link to any and all who may be interested: http://bit.ly/XGQ2zI (or the longer address: https://sites.google.com/site/hixsonmiddleschool). A registration form is also attached to this email; feel free to send that out as well.

2.    Look for a Facebook event page (to be created soon) and invite your Facebook friends!

3.    If you send regular correspondence to parents, please include the website and attached form. The form will also be mailed in January with first semester report cards.

We are also bringing back the silent auction this year. If you have any items to donate to the auction, please send them to Gail Tumminello. If you could also make a donation request to parents via your email, blog, etc., and direct them to Gail, that would also be helpful.

We’ve changed venues again this year; the Shrewsbury City Center should allow for a larger crowd to fit comfortably with the silent auction tables. I’m excited to see a packed room! Thanks for your help!

Aimee Vogt

January 7, 2013

Happy New Year and Welcome Back!  I hope Friday was productive for you and that you are ready to begin the second semester.  For me, everything seems to speed up from here.

January Meeting Dates

• Monday, 1/7: Department Chairs will discuss and offer recommendations for how best to use our remaining faculty meeting and development time. Click here to review the dates as they are currently listed if you are interested.
• Monday, 1/14: Team teachers will meet to brainstorm/discuss/share strategies around Discovery.  This was at the request of teachers from a previous opportunity this year to have a similar discussion.  Other teachers are welcomed, of course.  I will work with SSD and elective teachers to discuss how they might use this time.
• Monday, 1/28: Design Question 3 from The Art and Science of Teaching is on the table.  More information about that will be coming.

 

MAP Testing

Please consider the following questions from the counselors regarding MAP testing:

• Would you prefer our test schedule to be a half day schedule or a similar schedule to previous years where testing times are rotated throughout the day?
• What feedback do you have that might help us create a more consise and consistent schedule for students and staff?
• Is there anything, in general, you would like us to consider or keep in mind?

Click here to e-mail your responses or click reply on the e-mail Mrs. Peterson sent on Friday.

 

Other Reminders

• Please remember that the grading window closes at 11:59pm on 1/8/13.
• Determining Importance is January's thinking strategy. 
• I have December disicpline statistics to share; I'm just having trouble getting them posted.  So more on that at another time.

Best wishes for a successful second semester; as always, I have great expectations.

Jason

January Thinking Strategy: Determining Importance

The documents below will help you implement the reading expectation in Discovery for the month of January.

 Determining Importance Mini Lesson and One Pager

PowerPoint: This PowerPoint presentation providesdetailed information about this month’s thinking strategy. This may be used asbackground information for the teacher, or as a prompt for classroomdiscussion.

Strategy Mini-Lesson and One-Pager: This document contains background information for teachers, suggested activities for a mini-lesson, the monthly one-pager, and possible feedback teachers may provide to a completed one-pager The mini-lesson should be conducted at the beginning of the month during the first twenty minutes of Discovery.

The one-pager should be completed in Discovery class at the end of the month. Teachers may choose to have students submit the one-pagers digitally or as a hard copy. Most students should be able to complete the one-pager in the first twenty minutes of Discovery; however, there are some, especially struggling readers, who may need additional time. Students should always complete the one-pager in class to ensure an authentic response.

Thinkmark: This month’s bookmark should be able to be copied double-sided so that the back may be used as a reading log.

Reader’s Toolkit: This document contains tools that can be utilized in your content area classes to assist ALL students in using this month’s strategy. During Discovery intervention time, those students who have been identified as struggling readers will benefit from explicit instruction in using these tools. Teachers should choose at least one tool and use assigned reading from their content to teach students how to utilize the tool.

Please contact Jen or Aimee if you have any questions or are in need of support.