Today was the second of our 2 professional days. The first is mainly about the adults: a superintendent message, the re-gathering of colleagues (including at least 1 ice-breaker activity!), a principal-led meeting about new employees and goals and policies. Then you use whatever remaining energy you have to spruce up the classroom.
This second day focuses on students. Each cluster of four core-class teachers sits for about 90 minutes with the guidance counselor and special-education facilitators. We get a brief description of about twenty of our 80-something students -- the brand-new move-ins, the girl whose sister died last spring, and particularly those with IEPs and special-ed support. Within about one hour we feel like:
This second day focuses on students. Each cluster of four core-class teachers sits for about 90 minutes with the guidance counselor and special-education facilitators. We get a brief description of about twenty of our 80-something students -- the brand-new move-ins, the girl whose sister died last spring, and particularly those with IEPs and special-ed support. Within about one hour we feel like:
Then it took about an hour to sort out the support staff situation. I cannot describe the situation in detail on a public blog. Suffice to say there was some disagreement about which students are and are not ready for a mainstreamed Social Studies class; the number determines which teaching aides will come to my room for specific sections. I think we went through five different versions of the plan, and I'm not totally confident that the "final plan" will actually happen. We'll have to see next week!
After lunch, the four core teachers met in my room to make some class roster swaps. Twin sisters should not be in the same section! 14 boys + 8 girls = 1 nightmare!! It's always better to make these changes before the first day, although we can and should make some more switches later in September.
One flipping relevant item from today:
After lunch, the four core teachers met in my room to make some class roster swaps. Twin sisters should not be in the same section! 14 boys + 8 girls = 1 nightmare!! It's always better to make these changes before the first day, although we can and should make some more switches later in September.
One flipping relevant item from today:
- I helped the assistant principal learn to use the Chrome extension Screencastify, so she can produce a 7-minute presentation for teachers to watch about the difference between accommodations & modifications. It only took a few minutes to get up and running and make a test video. She was so happy! I feel hopeful that more school-based announcements and PD can get flipped this year.
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