Teach Children Well: 2014-2015 School Year: Charting the Course

Analysis: 2014-2015 School Year
The post below was authored during the spring of 2014. Now a year Later, I've added a note to demonstrate which initiatives and efforts fared well, and those not met. Most goals set were met which demonstrates that this is a good planning process for teaching/learning.

Original Note

My primary focus of the year is to impact the science and math education of approximately 50 students from two classes. I'm looking forward to digging in deep and meeting this challenge with focus, care, and strength. I will put a great emphasis on optimal classroom choreography as I teach the year. This list will continue to be revised as the year ahead takes shape.

last updated 8/1/14

Summer 2014 Professional Learning:
Wayland Math Institute: Math Models, Unpacking the Standards 6/24-6/25, DESE Math Course	X
Update New Website. Complete Summer Reflections: Reflect for Success: Teach Well	X
Draft School Year Goals, Evidence Document	X
Revise “Learning to Learn” School Year Unit	X
Read Why Don’t Students Like School, This is Not a Test, and Thrive	X
Read The Sting in the Tale to prep for ecosystem unit (did not complete this book)
Shop for supplies for ecosystem unit, landscape model materials, containers (keep and submit receipts!)	X
Read and Apply PARCC/Next Generation Models and Standards to ongoing units.	X
Khan 5th Grade Level Math Review - will continue into school year	X
Read and Organize Science Standards and Units, post on science website.	X
Summer Math Study: Proportional Thinking, Prep Unit (completed 3/5 of course, dropped out due to the fact that the course was not meeting my teaching needs after the third day)	X
Review Summer Study Links and Respond Periodically	X
Wayland Foundation Grants: K'Nex simple machine kits, Discovery Museum Grant (successfully obtained and integrating grant)	X
Room, Classroom Routines, Schedule, Class Culture Prep - Week of 8/27
Curriculum Night Presentation Revision (ongoing) Determine schedule, presentation organization with grade-level team. (successful)	X
Draft Scheduling and Weekly Pattern. Review and Revise Communication Protocols with grade level colleagues: weekly meeting times, IEP dates. . .Planning Field Studies w/Colleagues (a good weekly share and communication was established)	X
Meet with special educator, partner teacher review student services and schedules. Complete Assessment Forms (assessment forms served us well with regard to parent-student-educator communication)	X
Ordering: Check orders, put away all supplies.(supply process resulted in many orders unfilled--complicated and something that needs revisiting in 2015)	X
Room Set Up: clean, organize child friendly learning space. see plan below. Make space for seed project, special place models. If possible include painting walls with whiteboard and/or magnetic paint. STEAM Stars Bulletin Board, Learning Objectives Bulletin Board (not enough space for these boards hence the information is online) (The room kept changing all year in order to teach well--need to reconsider room set up for 2015, a set-up that matches the assignment objectives well)	X
Review, revise, and set up Class Data Chart. Place progress report on website. (Overall the class website and data document worked well, I want to set it up to match standards a bit better in 2015)	X
Incorporate system-wide and school goals into overall year’s plan and efforts. (this goal was met)	X
First Weeks of School (School Year Plans) Description of Plans
Scheduling continues, work on grade-level calendar with colleagues (overall good schedule)	X
PLC Start (terrific PLC work)	X
Curriculum Night: Establishing the Learning Community (good curriculum night, but I wish I emphasized routines more and gave parents some options for working with me on tech-ed connection with regard to student learning)	X
Early Year Assessments/Goal Setting Complete Assessment Forms (Good process, but I'd like to complete assessments closer to the first days of school in 2015)	X
Review Parent Survey Results and Incorporate into Summer Planning (after parent night) (I want to create a more user friendly parent survey and pass out early in year)	X
Early Year Family Meetings (optional) (good option)	X
Evaluation Professional Learning and Practice Goals: Math Problem Solving/SMPs, Focus on Math Content Review with Evaluator (good to establish early and set up data charts, support materials for goals)	X
Learning to Learn Curriculum: Teach one lesson daily. (good start, needs revisiting and have to make more time to teach each piece of this curriculum for all classes)	X
Science Workshop What is a scientist? Introduce INSPIRE Establishing routines and mindset. Introduction to the tools of science. Science explorations. Start Ecosystem Unit Favorite Place in Nature Models and Share (good start, but requires more work)	X
Math Workshop Establish Routines Begin with facts, expressions/inequalities/equations, Problem Solving Strategies (see math website) Use SMP Unit roll-out for first unit: Expressions, Equations, and Inequalities and “My Life in Numbers.” Initial Assessments Begin Computation Thread w/daily attention, individualized student efforts. (good work, but requires more development)	X
Biography Framework Start with George Washington Carver Begin STEAM Inspiration response books (trouble finding the time to keep up with this, important but we ran out of time)	X
Professional Learning
Daily Reading, Writing, Reflection, Planning (helpful and successful)	X
MassCUE October: Presentation and Attendance (complete administrative form for this) (good learning)	X
Educon 2.7 (terrific learning)	X
NCTM Conference, Boston 4/15-18 (this conference was replaced with Mahesh Sharma's fraction presentation)
ISTE: June? (not this year) (Attended the Teaching and Learning Conference instead.
Wayland Institutes STEAM: June--Yes! and Wayland Literacy Institute