The Key Notes : February 2024

P/T Conferences

One of our Core Values is “Make our schools the best choice for parents and students.” Thank you for doing this EVERYDAY, especially as we prepare for P-T conferences. Please click here for a reminder of our expectations pertaining to discussing students’ academic performance, attendance, retention, and scheduling.

As a reminder, all salary staff are expected to stay until 8:00 pm on Thursday. On Friday, staff may do their virtual conferences from home, so you may leave the building whenever your schedule allows after 11:45. The PTO will be providing a meal on both days.

Please make sure you schedule your conference communication to go out at 8 AM on Monday!

Affirmations

Robyn for completing a compliance task for me. You didn’t hesitate to ask, “How can I help you?” That meant a lot.

Josie and Amy for providing your students opportunities to explore Black History Month. Thank you for inviting me into your classroom and providing me with social media posts.

Andria, Ellen, Cindy, Jen H, Crystal, Amanda, Jen D, Cayla, and Jessica W for going above and beyond this year with Reading Month. There are so many creative and new things this year to get our students excited about reading.

Steve and Emily for continuously supporting a new colleague with all things Keystone. Thank you for making sure she is included.

Stacey Reed, Alex, Robyn, and Tameka for taking on additional responsibilities in my absence. I know I can always count on you.

Stacey Ramirez for assisting me personally and professionally. I am very grateful for EVERYTHING that you do for me.

Teri Turner for facilitating our school spelling bee. Thank you for providing our students with this experience.

This Week

Sunday, February 25:

· Lisa’s Birthday

Monday, February 26:

· Jorvonna Out of the Building (Personal)-Robyn Acting Principal

· School Leadership Appreciation Week

· “Teacher VS. Student Dress” Reading Month Spirit Day. Teachers dress as students by wearing uniforms and students dress like teachers for FREE.

Tuesday, February 27:

· Wellness Day

Wednesday, February 28:

· Jessica G’s Birthday

Thursday, February 29:

· Family Learning Night-Books for Bingo

· Social Media Post Due to Jorvonna-5^th Grade

Friday, March 1:

· End of Trimester 2

· Trimester 2 School Store

Happy Birthday

Lisa: February 25

Jessica G: February 28

Important Dates

March 4: All Grades Entered

March 4: Trimester 2 School Store Reward

March 4: Talent Show Auditions 4:00-6:30 PM

March 5: Talent Show Auditions 4:00-6:30 PM

March 5: “Make the Other Team Sweat” Reading Month Spirit Day. Wear college or professional sports apparel (including hats and sweats) for $1.00. All proceeds will be donated to First Books.

March 5: SLT Meeting

March 6: Perfect Attendance Reward

March 6: Report Cards Go Home

March 7: PT Conferences 4-8 PM

March 7: Purple Club

March 8: Jorvonna’s Birthday

March 8: ½ Day of School

March 8: PT Conferences 12-4 PM

March 8: Morning Assembly Presentation Due (National Women’s History Month)-Hutcherson

March 8: Payday Breakfast-3^rd Grade

March 11: No School-Regional PD

March 12: Staff Meeting

March 12: Staff Meeting Snacks-1^st Grade

March 13: Y5s-5^th Grade Author Visit-Deb Pilutti

March 14: “Purple Out” Reading Month Spirit Day. Wear as much purple as possible for $1.00. All proceeds will be donated to March of Dimes.

March 15: Morning Assembly Presentation Due (National Women’s History Month)-Laurinec

March 15: GL Intervention Meetings

March 18: “Team Up” Reading Month Spirit Day. Find a partner and dress alike as twins for FREE.

March 19: PLC (Team) Meeting

March 20: SPED Open House

March 20: Spring Pictures

March 20: Enrollment Meeting 5:30-6:30 PM

March 21: Talent Show 5 PM

March 22: Tameka’s Birthday

March 22: Spirit Day and Popcorn $1.00 each

March 22: Payday Breakfast-Specials

March 22: Social Media Post Due to Jorvonna-6^th Grade

March 23: Megan’s Birthday

March 25-29: No School-Spring Break

April 1: Y5s-8^th Grade Author Visit-Alan St. Jean

*If you have an event to add or something has been forgotten, please let me know!

Instructional Strategies

I am continuing my “Instructional Strategy” series with an engagement technique that involves student discourse. Student discourse is important because you can only get so far talking AT your students. When the conversation only flows in one direction with students contributing simple responses, you miss out on a valuable opportunity to dive deep into a topic.

That's why it’s really important to teach students how to have a meaningful and valuable conversation with you, as well as with their peers. This instructional strategy is called ACCOUNTABLE TALK!

WHAT IS ACCOUNTABLE TALK?

Accountable Talk is an intentional open-ended conversation where participants listen, add on to each other's comments, and use clarifying questions to make sure they are understanding what others are saying.

WHY USE ACCOUNTABLE TALK?

Accountable talk requires students to take an active role in their learning. It requires students to focus on what other students are saying, so they can actively participate.

1. It gives students an opportunity to participate in healthy debating. In accountable talk, students are encouraged to challenge and even disagree (respectfully, of course) with what their peers are saying. In return, students learn to back up their opinions and ideas with facts and details.

2. It supports reluctant talkers. It's easy for students to respond with "yes," "no," or other short responses - or even saying nothing at all. We all know those students who just blend in to the conversation, not adding anything of real value to the group's discussion. Accountable talk prompts provide a scaffolded approach for students who may not know how to effectively engage in a conversation.

HOW TO GET STARTED WITH ACCOUNTABLE TALK?

Just like everything else you teach in your classroom, students have to be explicitly taught how to have these conversations with a lot of modeling and practice.

One way to introduce the concept of accountable talk is to model for students with just one or two different phrases. These may seem a bit scripted, but it provides the necessary support for students who are just learning how to have these conversations. Phrases like:

· Does anyone think...

· I agree/disagree because…

· Could you explain…

You might first use Accountable Talk during a conversation about a book that you are reading together as a class. Begin the conversation by using one of the phrases "What do you think about (a character....an event...). Invite other students to add on to the conversation using other phrases.

It may feel a bit robotic at first, but it's important to keep at it, and as you do, the conversations will begin to flow smoother and more naturally. I suggest keeping posters visible like these. The more the students see these phrases, the more likely they will begin using them.

The next step is to have students try out accountable talk on their own in a small group and use more advanced phrases by using these elementary and/or middle school cards. You'll know students are ready when YOU are doing less coaxing of the accountable talk phrases and find the conversations to flow more naturally.

If you haven't already discussed with your students appropriate and inappropriate behavior during small group discussion, you will definitely want to do that before using this instructional strategy. Use a simple "Looks Like/Sounds Like" T-chart where you list behavioral expectations.

See this instructional strategy being done effectively below.

Core Values- Behave With Care

One of our Core Values is Behave With Care. As we approach spring, this is typically the time of the year when student behavior incidents increase. Some of the most typical behaviors are:

an increase in power struggles (arguments, backtalk, back-and-forth) amongst kids and adults
an increase in inappropriate physical contact, from fighting to public displays of affection
an increase in students bringing items to school that are not allowed, from toys to electronics

Things for you to consider:

1. You might be getting into a power struggle if you hear yourself saying: “YOU need to…”, “No, don’t,” “How many times do I have to tell you…”, or “why did you do that?” So, instead of getting into a power struggle, try a pivot! Pivoting is the art of saying yes instead of no and meaning the same thing. So instead of saying: “No, you can’t have free time until the whole sheet is completed,” pivot and say: “Yes, you can have free time as soon as you’re done with your paper.” The message is the same, but the tone is completely different, and saying “yes” gives kids a lot less to argue with.

2. Do you have a student that, by their actions and your response, turns you into the teacher you don’t want to be? Then you should read this article titled, Extreme Student Behaviors: 7 Traps to Avoid When NOTHING Seems to Work

listen to the podcast of the article below.

February Staff Meeting

Starting at 3:45 on Tuesday, please go to the staff lounge to sign in, pick up documents, and grab some snacks. Our staff meeting will begin promptly at 4:00 pm in the technology room.

You may click here for the agenda.

Affirmations

Jeanne for everything that you do during lunch. I know it’s not easy, but I am grateful to you.

Kim J for stepping in without any hesitation and teaching art class all day. You took a huge amount of stress off of me.

Sandy for teaching kindergarten all day. Thanks for being willing. You are appreciated.

Steve and Audrey for attending the Parent Meet and Greet. Thank you for your sacrifice of personal time.

Crystal, Danielle, and Maggie for jumping in to offer help. That meant a lot.

Stacey Reed for bringing me my favorite beverage. It’s a wonderful surprise every time you do this. It makes my day brighter.

Stacey Ramirez for staying on top of enrollment for this school year and next.

Kathleen for being so thoughtful. I love our relationship and how you know me so well.

Sarah for providing your students with a fun day and capturing it for our social media pages.

Jen D for your flexibility with WIDA testing locations. You never complained even when you had to make last minute adjustments.

Sarah for following up on email right away.

Jen D, Amanda, Amy, Nikki, Falak, and Emma for all your hard work with the Moral Focus Writing & Art Contest. Thank you for taking my hope and making it a reality.

John, Ja’Rayl, Jessica G, and Emma for taking on extra students and responsibilities these last few weeks in the absence of colleagues.

Danielle for helping me gather documents at the last minute. Thank you!

Josie for volunteering to give up your sub and come into work because you heard the tears in my voice. J/K…kinda. :)

Stacey Reed, Tameka, Alex, and Robyn for always filling in the gaps. Everyone assumes it’s your job, but it’s really NOT! You just do it because you can’t sit back and watch. Instead, you are always taking on extra roles and work to make things easier for everyone else. If no one tells you…please know that you make Keystone better.

This Week

Monday, February 19:0

· No School-Presidents’ Day

Tuesday, February 20:

· Jorvonna Out of the Building (AM)-Principal PD at Plymouth Scholars

· February 20: Staff Meeting

· February 20: Staff Meeting Snacks-Kinder & 3^rd Grade

Thursday, February 22:

· Schoolwide Spelling Bee 1:00 PM in Gym

· Jorvonna Out of the Building (Personal)-Stacey Acting Principal

Friday, February 23:

· Spirit Day $1.00

· Bulletin Boards Changed

· Math Con

· Morning Assembly Presentation Due (Reading Month Kickoff)-Nelson

· Payday Breakfast-7^th/8^th Grade

· Jorvonna Out of the Building (Personal)-Tameka Acting Principal

Saturday, February 24:

· Stefanie’s Birthday