Who is your MR FEENY?

Cinco de Mayo 2016

Winfield Middle School Staff Blog

If you could be any shape, which would it be?

Working with the staff at WMS always brings surprises, adventures and something from the outside the ordinary.  Wednesday, during our PD, it felt like we broke barriers, opened up new dialogues, saw updated revelations on our co-workers and confirmed that some of us can’t say no!  Each of us picked what shape we would be, then shared feedback with each other about that shape, then saw a written description that matched many of us quite accurately.  For instance, a square is always prepared.  A triangle wants to get to the bottom line and then move on! Circles want harmony and avoid the confrontation.  And squiggles, well, we never know what “great idea” is next.

Here is the link to our notes from Wednesday’s PD time.

Even though we did not get all those things checked off our list, we are prepared for the MAP test to begin tomorrow.  There were many details still to address but our time invested Wednesday was foundational for closing out this school year together. I cherish all of you.

Speaking of blooming flowers...

We are gearing up for the SEMI.  It is great to see everybody’s names on the sign-up in the workroom.  It sounds like it may be building up to be a good time.  We may need a brief discussion with the students about manners, dressing up, and what to say to your friends…

Like...

You look nice.

I like your hair.

Great dress.

Fun shoes.

Sorry you had to get dressed up, but it was worth it.  

Everybody else did.

And then the expectations from their friends. Such as,

Don't expect your friends to say nice things.  They don’t know how, yet.

From Principals Day to Teacher Appreciation Week.

It is an honor and privilege to work alongside such an energetic, passionate and diverse team that puts the team and student success first.

PS. Thanks for the socks!

Green Eggs and Ham, Formula Pair, Caution, Motorcycle Luck Sox and the SHARKS.  Thank you.

Important Links for the Middle School

• END OF YEAR CALENDAR WITH LINK TO MAP DETAILS

• SUMMER SCHOOL CANDIDATES  & SUMMER ACADEMY CANDIDATES
• Summer School Letter/Invitation

• Boy Meets World Clips… (although bandwidth restrictions may limit our access for a few days)

• Mr Feeny Clip One
• Compilation TOP EIGHT
• Education is ...
• Mr Feeny Walks Out
• Each of you is a MR. FEENY to somebody!  WHO?

Middle School Summer Details

• Book Study for Book Report - Recommended Book - Teach Like a Pirate but any content, or pedagogy tome will suffice
• Invitations to SUMMER PD sent out.  
• Please accept them in OUTLOOK EMAIL (thanks to those of you who already have!)
• Summer Work

• New standards approved by DESE

• Building Pacing Guide
• TIA DOCUMENTS FROM 13/14      H:\Curriculum 16-17 (I will get these out too)    
• Weekly Student Reported Grades
• Weekly Staff Determined Grades
• Lesson Plans to continue
• Revisit the same Unit of Instruction next fall.  
• Develop the various gaps in engagement, community connections, ELOs and DATA piece.
• Plan Back to School Theme, Events, Activities
• Leadership Data Review in July???

NEXT YEAR

• Expectations for SY 16-17
• Tardies (We will begin to track these next year on a quarterly Cycle.  Students will know the expectations and we will continue to improve the culture of learning.)  
• 1st - Warning
• 2nd - Waring and phone call home
• 3rd - After School Detention
• 4th - After School Detention
• etc
• Pyramids of Academic and Behavioral Interventions
• Tiers 2 & 3
• Hot Sheets
• Buddy Sheets
• Time Out Rooms
• Big Five Data by the end of the year.
• PINK & PURPLE could broaden out to other staff?
• Wordcloud Shirts are “Solid!”
• End of the Day Supervision in Cafeteria - Rotate next year with staff getting, days, weeks, etc.  Coach's, AM, PM, Hall duties…  etc  We will continue to tune the active supervision schedule as we head into the summer to remain as equitable as possible.

Schedule:

MONDAY - May 9

• REGULAR BELL SCHEDULE and Room Assignments
• MAP Test Make-ups - (Location TBD)

TUESDAY - May 10

• Red Day
• 8th Grade ELA Day

WEDNESDAY - May 11

• Black Day
• MAP 6th & 7th ELA
• BAND CONCERT in the MS Gym at 7pm

THURSDAY -  May 12

• Red Day
• SIX FLAGS LEADERSHIP DAY

FRIDAY -  May 13

• Black Day
• SEMI
• Thanks for signing up to supervise, chaperon, or clean up!  (Many hands…)
• Students must be at school all day

Upcoming (This list keeps getting shorter and shorter.)

5/16 Field Day  -  ALL Middle School students - Pink & Purple Assembly, Expectations,

5/17 Final Ac Lab Challenge - Dunk Tank - eValuate - Locker Clean Out; Survey Day

BOE Meeting - 6:30 Central Office

5/18 Chris’s Cakes for Attendance and Student of the Month

5/19 Last Day, Half Day, 8th Grade BBQ & Walk-Out (8th grade graduation)

Working to get into the schedule

Next years - more than Mix Bucks and McCracken Money ???

Day One

Flexibility, focus and self-control allowed us to overcome the technology issues, the room assignments, the bandwidth concerns and student issues and students were able to focus, motivate and give superior attention to this key indicator.  The B building setting, the ability to think on the fly with situations like lunches and times, the gorgeous weather and our supportive Building Testing Coordinator allowed us to do our best to get everyone #onthemap.  Especially appreciative were the various obstacles teachers discovered, determining options and then proposing plans that would address each and every situation.  Together, we (read you) all worked together and got through Day One handling everything almost creating a pure success. Regardless of our progress or growth, we have made major impacts on the lives of our students and your relationships makes each of you a MR FEENY to someone else in this building.  The SuperPower Notes confirmed our individual and corporate impact on our students, building, community and even the future.  Thank you.

Encouraged,

Tom McCracken

Do not count the days, but make the days count!

April 28, 2016

Customary to the deadline, grades are due this weekend, MAY 1st at 5pm.

DO NOT COUNT THE DAYS,

but

MAKE THE DAYS COUNT!

Confidence - The assurance that you accomplish the task before you.

A Brief Note for Parents:

There are many sites on the internet that offer endless tips on what to do, how to be a good parent and how to raise your child.

This is one of our Favorites.

“...As long as it’s KG”

I am impressed by the extra effort displayed by this team while contributing to the Special Day of Honor for our Administrative Assistant.  Thanks for everything.

Ask Ms Gracey how this kinesthetic activity worked for her 6th graders

Here is a link to the FINAL APPROVED STANDARDS

Missouri Learning Standards  

MATH LINK HERE

ELA LINK HERE

SCIENCE LINK HERE

SOCIAL STUDIES LINK HERE

Final Approval looks like this:

What is different in your content?

Also listed on DESE at http://dese.mo.gov/sites/default/files/ProposedStandardsMar2016.pdf

Here is the link to the 280 page document discussing our new standards and curriculum.

Question #1 - What do we want them to learn? (See link above)  

What curriculum exists for us to work from or into?

Question #2 - How do we know if they know it?

Grades, progress reports, worksheets, rubrics, tests, self-reported grades, handouts, coloring and decorating sheets, essays, problems, the aha moment???  

How are we doing according to our Progress Report Grades?

Over 36% our grades assigned are A’s. Do they represent how close the students understand the tested curriculum?  The SPED populations and the Free/Reduced populations have more Ds and Fs tallied. What else can we infer?

How are we doing according to eValuate?

Cycle A

Cycle B

Seeing more Green increases in the individual grades.  

How do we review, apply interventions and foster growth?

And another View

According to eValuate, we have seen some growth.   Interestingly, we will wait again for the MAP results.  Does anybody want to visit with me on or about July 25th to review those.

How are we doing according to the state reporting?

According to the state scores as we discussed during summatives, we are still looking for the keys to finding that elusive success.

What does Hattie say works?

http://visible-learning.org/2016/04/hattie-ranking-backup-of-138-effects/ is a link to the top 138 things and how well they work.

Enlarge this graph to show his highest few interventions.  

To explain and expound on SELF-REPORTED GRADES from this website:  

and Watch this little 2 minutes video about SAFE TARGETS.

And this video on Piagetian Programs and age appropriate instruction.

How will we assimilate that into our schema, our way of doing business or our routines?

Great Attendance so far this month

Working through the 90/90 students, we see many of them responding to the special attention.

Red Card, and Black Card Statuses benefit many others that already meet our expectations.

We will tackle this group earlier next year.

MONDAY - Teacher Appreciation Week - May 2 - See the bulletin to follow along

• Binder Meetings 7th
• Track Pictures at the HIGH SCHOOL.  

TUESDAY - May 3

• Binder Meetings 6th & 8th

WEDNESDAY - May 4

• APRIL HENRY AUTHOR VISIT- Get those 6th graders home early
• Early Release
• Office Staff will host
• MAP Testing Details
• Hattie Presentation
• Reflection - Instead of the list of EXIT SURVEY QUESTIONS, write me your reflections on your expectations of the year, how you worked to meet them and what you would like to adjust for next year to help our student population reach higher marks.
• Summer School Candidates
• Summer Academy Candidates
• End of the Year Planning

THURSDAY -  May 5

• MAP - Day 1 - Here are the details.  Feel free to make a poster for your students and where they go.
• Steering/Building Leadership Meeting

FRIDAY -  May 6

• MAP - Day 2

Upcoming

5/4 Spencer Library - (Meet the Author - April Henry - Get home and in Bed Early 6th Graders)

Early Release

End of the Year

Expectations for SY 16-17

Summer School

Summer Academy

Summer Planning

End of the Year Planning

5/5 MAP Testing - Middle School

Steering Committee - Higgins Room 7:20

5/6 MAP Testing - Middle School

5/10 MAP Testing - Middle School

5/11 MAP Testing - Middle School

5/12 Six Flags  - Leadership Students

5/13 SEMI - Students must be in attendance this day to attend

5/16 Field Day  -  ALL Middle School students - Pink & Purple Assembly, Expectations,

5/17 Final Ac Lab Challenge - Dunk Tank - eValuate - Locker Clean Out; Survey Day

BOE Meeting - 6:30 Central Office

5/18 Chris’s Cakes for Attendance and Student of the Month

5/19 Last Day, Half Day, 8th Grade BBQ & Walk-Out (8th grade graduation)

Working to get into the schedule

Next years - more than Mix Bucks and McCracken Money ???

Conclusion

Thank you for your willingness to explore various options, study techniques and contribute to the success of all learners here in Winfield. Ranking in the lowest 10% of all the middle schools in the state is nobody's idea of success. As teachers who transparently demonstrate our own learning process, we exemplify true, life-long learners for our students.

Summer reading programs are characteristically a challenge, both for adults as well as students. After a demanding year in which we have given our all, asking anyone to do more can be viewed as either a burden or an opportunity. It could be a burden because of the additional work, or an opportunity to serve others by fine-tuning our skills. Either way, we will have a book report next summer again completed on Google Docs. You may read your own book but connections to how we can improve our achievement scores in this building will be stressed. I will not waste money on books that won’t get read but I recomend choosing a good book about teaching or learning. I will be doing “Teach Like A Pirate” by Dave Burgess. If you would like me to order you a copy, that would be great. Another favorite of mine is “Discipline without Stress” by Marvin Marshall. Thank you.

Next year, we will be expected to share with our parents each week regarding their student’s progress through SISK12. Two grades will be input each week: one will consist of students self-reporting a grade of their own, and the other will represent a typical teacher-determined grade. We will increase the student's sense of control, contribution and participation in their own learning, achievement and grades. I will not mandate what that assignment looks like, but only that one exists, gets entered weekly and considers the student’s perspective on his own learning. I envision this component containing things such as a review, reflection, weekly summary or a workbook containing a SWBAT from each day of the week. The teacher follow up activity could be a quiz, test or assessment to determine if the reporting accurately reflects learning and achievement. We need them to be able to retain what they learn longer than a few days after the lesson, so that scaffolding can form for future development. According to Hattie, when a student claims how well he will do, he achieves that level of mastery. This action will affect all learners in all Tiers, from those barely passing to those striving for perfection.

Please persist through the development of this initiative. Feel free to run ideas by me on what it might look like in your content and class. Of  course we will need some time to adjust, but what we have been doing has not been academically successful. Within our NEE, we will be looking for fidelity in these areas to ensure maximum student achievement:\

Question 1: What do we want them to know?

The Golden Minutes

Direct Instruction

           SWBAT versus TO DO: items

           KAGAN Activities

           Teacher Centered versus Student-Led Discussions

           Word Wall / Vocabulary

           PBiS-4:1 Ratio of Positive to Negative feedback, Buddy Sheet interventions, majors/minors

Question 2: How do we know if they know it?

          Wait time

Pyramid of Interventions Flow-Chart

          Guided Practice, Peer Assisted Practice and Independent Practice

          Student-Led Lessons

          Teacher talk or student talk

          Exit Slips

          Student Reported Grades

          eValuate/MAP/Progress Report Grade Distribution

          CFA Collaborative Planning Binder Teamwork

Question 3: What do we do it they don’t?

           KAGAN Activities

           Teaching Peer Visits

           Sub Coverage from within to observe fellow teachers

           Assessment Item Analysis

           Re-teach until all have attained Mastery

           IBD Research

I know it seems like a lot to look at right now.  I am not asking for things to change but we do need a shift in focus.  I cherish each of you and working alongside of you motivates and prompts me to do my best.

Sincerely

Tom McCracken