Nuts & Bolts - Week of 4/25

PBIS Updates: Planning next year's kickoff event. See separate email survey to gather input. Your input about the kickoff day, PRIDE Cards, etc. is invaluable. 

Teachers Got Talent Update: Eric, Gina, Mary, Bethany, Lisa, and I met last week to narrow our song selection. We'll be playing various percussion instruments along with a mash-up of "Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song", Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up", NSYNC's "Bye Bye Bye", and DNCE "Cake by the Ocean". You're ALL invited to embarrass yourselves on stage with us. We may have 1or 2 very short rehearsals this and next week.  

TRMS Common Resources Website: Jennie and Mike are building a Google Site from the ground up with common resources for ALL including rubrics, close reading bookmarks, etc. 
https://sites.google.com/a/pylusd.org/tr-common-resources/    Feedback Appreciated!

• 4/25 - Chinese Principals Touring Campus 9am-10:30am
• 4/27 - PLC Staff Meeting - Mandatory Emergency Bucket Training 
• 4/29 - TRTV Schedule
• 5/2-5/6 - CAASPP Testing ELA
• 5/6 - PTA Family Night - Travis Got Talent

Shout Out! - Elizabeth Rosol + Rebekah Smith + Cynde Riley

As 3rd quarter ended so too did ZAP and CICO. The Travis Team wants to recognize the efforts and success of Elizabeth, Rebekah, and Cynde (sorry didn't have a pic of Elizabeth).

Thank you for facilitating these interventions for 2 whole quarters! Many mornings, lunches, and afternoons were given to students by these amazing teachers, providing much needed assistance to struggling students. Your dedication to the success of our students reminds us all of our shared vision!

Text Sets Spark Unstoppable Learning

"We click, read, and share what we identify with. But our learning does not stop there. We listen to podcasts, view compelling images, and find ourselves hooked into streaming stories so available today. Our reading, listening, viewing, and learning are all unstoppable and interconnected." This short POST from MiddleWeb authors Katie and Chris Cunningham reminds us of the unique diversity and ever-growing stockpile of 21st century media. It also reinforces the notion that teaching using narrative as the delivery method ensures students make contextual and contemporary connections to their learning. Great read! 

Tech Tip: Kaizena (Giving students voice-recorded feedback in a Google Doc. )

Nuts/Bolts - Week of 4/18/16

4th Qtr. PRIDE Card - Distribute 1st Period 4/18

End of 3rd Qtr. = End of ZAP and CICO: Funds were budgeted to cover the supervision of these 2 support programs for 2nd and 3rd Qtr. If you feel strongly that we need to allocate more to run these interventions year long, provide that feedback on our LCAP Input Boards Focus Area 1.0

4/19: Spirit Week - College Dress Up, 3rd Qtr. Grades due by 12pm, Open House 6-7pm. 
4/20: Spirit Week - Look Alike Day, Horizontal PLC (Thank You card to PTA for Pride Day by each team??)
4/21: Spirit Week - Decades Day, Teachers Got Talent Meeting 3:35-4pm - Mike's Office - Planning our PTA Talent Show act.
4/22: SPECIAL SCHEDULE, Spirit Week - ER Day, Earthquake Drill - FULL Simulation (Reminders/Details Forthcoming)

Shout Out! - TRMS Staff!

We would like to reiterate how much we feel inspired by all you do day in and out. Your service to students inspired us to write the "Gold Ribbon" application. The many tiers of support that you provide daily were fully illuminated and recognized through the application process and our intensive site visit. Your professionalism, dedication, collaboration, and innovation truly earned Travis Ranch the title of a Gold Ribbon School. 

Thank you! 

TechTip: Get More Out of Google

I often find quite a few resources in between the cupcake and cheesecake recipes on Pinterest. :-)

Anything from videos, art, and infographics to strategies, pedagogical advice, etc. Consider using the resources/tools as a springboard for class discussion, as the foundation for instruction, or as part of a well balanced reflective teacher diet.

For example, students could discuss and/or use this infographic in conducting effective internet research.

Designing Lesson for Unique Learners

This excerpt from a post on "Teaching Channel" by Katie Novak provides a brief summary of strategies she outlines further in her book UDL Now!: A Teacher's Monday Morning Guide to Implementing the Common Core Standards Using Universal Design for Learning 1st Edition

How do I start?The first thing you’ll want to do is examine the UDL Guidelines, a list of teaching strategies to consider before, during, and after planning. Checkpoint 8.1 reminds educators to “Heighten salience of goals and objectives” for students, but this is important for you as well.

Nuts/Bolts - Week of 4/11/16

4/13 - Structured PD: CUE Conference Brain Dump! - Teachers who attended the CUE conference will share some quick tips, tricks, etc. in Room 45. Nerd Up!

4/15 - Super Special Positive Behavior Reward, Minimum Day, End of 3rd Quarter SCHEDULE

Teacher Talent Show - If you are planning to participate in a small act with middle school teachers on May 6th PTA Family Night, please email Mike. No talent required!

CICO Time - Begin evaluating who should be coming on/off this program. You will have time to discuss with your Horizontal Teams during the 4/20 PLC.

OPEN HOUSE - 4/19, 6-7pm. Time to shine! Dinner provided by admin. Duck, dodge, dive, duck!

Supervision Duty - A friendly reminder to ALL teaching staff that we rely on you to show up to your supervision duty as scheduled on time. Please set reminders, do your best to arrive on time, and notify administration if/when you are not able to attend.

Shout Out! - Masonic Teacher of the Year: Mary Chapluk

We have chosen Mary Chapluk for her continued dedication to Travis Ranch. She not only started the JUMP Club as a bridge program to Esperanza's Medical Science Academy, but also started this year as Department Head, mentors 2 student teachers, and manages the STEM lab like a pro! She continues to innovate, lead, and inspire all those around her! Congrats Mary!

Tech Tip: Cram.com

Thanks to Bethany Curtis for sharing this resource with the Ranch! Cram.com is yet another free and fantastic resource for digital flashcards. This particular resource is available not only online but in app versions for iOS and Android. What's more is you can create a set and have students practice using various modes including memorize, test, and games!

Smart Teaching: Understanding What a Brain Can't Ignore

I came across this infographic on my Pinterest feed (more info / resources in the full infographic). If I haven't already made it known, Pinterest is a fantastic way to curate educational resources. There are many educators pinning / sharing resources out there. This portion of the graphic reminds us of the ABC's of student engagement which ALL lead to meaning / memory making!

Nuts / Bolts - Week of 4/4

PTA Family Night Talent Show - Our talents have been requested at the PTA Family Night on 5/6.
Percussion play along to a song. Eric and Mike will help coordinate.

Calendar those FORMALS!

Email ideas to Mike for Structured PD that you've been desperately wanting! 

4/6: Vertical PLC  - Vertical Teams
4/9: 9am-12pm Pride Day -- Join us and bring your family -- campus beautification!
4/12: Team Leader - If you have input, topics of concern, etc. please send forth with your department head.
4/15: Minimum Day - Positive Behavior Reward Day Super Special Schedule?? TBD -- Afterwards staff = Potluck?, 6 foot sub?, Hot Dogs / Hamburgers?

Shout Out! - Cynde Riley

She's done it again! Our very own rock star Cynde Riley organized a fantastic Pep Rally, facilitated the application / interview process for next year's ASB students, and is actively coordinating the 8th Grade Promotion Dance with PTA.

She was also just notified that her leadership group will be receiving recognition from the California Association of Student Leaders for her exemplary program. Student representatives will receive the award at the CASL conference this week. It's a very prestigious award that Cynde wrote an application for. Congrats Cynde! You continue to impress us with all that you do for Travis!  

Tech Tip: Visme

Yet another presentation tool that you could use to either present lesson information to students -OR- give to students as a menu option to demonstrate their learning. The tool is free with an email account.

The Science of Attention: How To Capture And Hold The Attention of Easily Distracted Students

This article explains the complexity of students and attention-span, offering some useful strategies to keep students actively engaged. "We can see that it’s effective to “break-up” lectures with periods of active learning, not only because of increased attention during such activities, but also because of the indirect boost in attention that can occur during lecture periods immediately following such activities." Some strategies listed here:

1. Change the level and tone of your voice.

2. Use props or visuals.

3. Make a startling statement or give a quote.

4. Write a challenging question on the board.

5. Choose relevant examples.

6. Teach at the right level of difficulty.

7. Involve students in lectures.

8. Use humor.

9. Establish the routine, task, and time limit.

10. Plan carefully and fully; make the plan apparent to students.

11. Divide target skills into manageable subskills.

12. Establish clear roles.

13. Introduce change and surprise.

14. Stress relevance and concreteness.

15. Tell stories.