Mitchell School Improvement Input for 2014-15

Hello Mitchell Staff, School Improvement Team, Parents, and Community Members,

Not too long ago, I asked you for some input about the next version of the Mitchell School Improvement Plan....for the 2014-15 school.

The feedback I've received so far indicates we continue to be in agreement with the goals we've established around reading, writing, school culture, math, science and social studies. To be clear, everyone feels like we should continue with those overall goals. I agree with that direction as well.

In terms of potential changes, the input shares we should look at the wording of goals in the following ways:
- change wording about curricula references to reflect shift from Common Core State Standards as opposed to Grade Level Content Expectations
- change working about assessments to reflect shift from MEAP test to Smarter Balanced tests
- consider adding in summer correspondence reading activities for kids who cannot attend Bridge
- consider being more specific about implementing reading assessments - when to use fiction, when to use non-fiction, when to use Fountas and Pinnell benchmarks, when to use AAPS Benchmarks
- consider updating our Mitchell Family Literacy activities (M-FLI) to connect what we've learned this year and what we want to happen next year

If you have additional input you'd like to have considered as we begin to rewrite our plan, please use the link below to give that input by Friday, April 4. Thanks you.

If you need a reminder about what is in our school improvement plan, you'll find that by using the link below as well.

https://docs.google.com/a/aaps.k12.mi.us/forms/d/1NjrC-uEOrz5bropawtosYLsb0inLDqCHliUj8BZI6kI/viewform

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to let me know. Thank you.

Kevin

School Improvement Input for 2014-15 - PLEASE GIVE YOUR INPUT

Dear Mitchell Staff, PTO, Parents, Friends and School Improvement Team, 

I'm asking for your input about the Mitchell School Improvement Plan for 2014-15.  

Would you please share your thoughts by filling out the form linked here:

https://docs.google.com/a/aaps.k12.mi.us/forms/d/1NjrC-uEOrz5bropawtosYLsb0inLDqCHliUj8BZI6kI/viewform

In case you need to read the current plan, please CLICK HERE.  

Info about our current data:  http://mitchellschool.blogspot.com/2014/03/fall-2013-meap-update.html

Thank you.  If you have questions, please let me know.  

Kevin

SIT Agenda - March 14, 2014

Dear Mitchell SIT,

I hope you have tomorrow's meeting on your calendar . . .

Here's our agenda:

Updates
- Schools of Choice Update
- Education Yes!
- Literacy Night Update

Sharing
- Data, data, data
- What does our data say to you?

DRAFT - 2013-14 Mitchell Education Yes! - DRAFT

Dear Mitchell Staff and SIT,

Attached is Mitchell's draft 2013-14 School Process Rubrics report....one component of Education Yes! If you have additional input you want me to consider, I am happy to receive it by Friday, February 28.

This report is important because it is part of Michigan's Education Yes! system for school accreditation. The system is based on MEAP scores (both current and change scores) and the indicators of school performance (i.e. the attached school performance rubrics - SPR). These three parts translate into the school scorecard which can be viewed on mischooldata.org

Our MEAP scores show a general positive trend over the last three years (and these trends are confirmed by the other data measures we track - NWEA MAP tests, SRI reading test, report card outcomes).

Relative to the school performance indicators, our highlights include:
- Our new programming/work to involve families including all of the Mitchell Family Literacy Initiatives (M-FLI);
- Our work in data teams - small group work focusing on individual/small group instructional planning for success.

This is good news! Thank you for your hard work. Not many (most?) schools can say they show improvement. I believe we will keep our momentum!

So you know I'm aware: Of course I know that our work is not finished. We have predictable gaps....I also wish it would be corrected more quickly.

Again, thank you for your hard work.

Kevin

PS - Teach like your hair is on fire! :-)

Family Literacy Night Proposal

Date:  May 7, 2014

Time:  6:15 - 8:00 PM

Agenda

6:15 - Mingle, snacks, drinks

6:30 - Morning Meeting – Greeting at least

- Explain Night – IRAs, Ideas on how to support literacy with every day activities at home, connect to R, W, S, L, V, R

- Video - lots of clips, quickly presented of R, W, S, L, V, R in school and at home

6:55 - IRA #1  - families choose where to go....small group, teachers present IRAs that were planned during 4/30 staff meeting; during this time teachers should mention ideas on what to do at home, one Spanish speaking IRA at least

7:20 - 7:30 - Passing time - snack, bathroom

7:30 - IRA #2 - families choose where to go....small group, teachers present IRAs that were planned during 4/30 staff meeting; during this time teachers should mention ideas on what to do at home; one Spanish speaking IRA at least

6:55 - 7:55 - families also choose to visit a variety of "stations" - ELL, Specials?, Supports? - at each of these stations teachers either connect to an IRA or with literacy in their content area generally

 - Stations:  In the car ideas, Think Stretch station, families come to the Vendor section to pick up book (with reinforcing information about what to do with the book at home)

7:55 - Thanks for coming announcement from Kevin

Next steps

- Share this plan with SIT and ask for input

- Share with staff and ask for input

- Choose books

- Buy books

- Begin to share info about this in March during reading month

- Promotion Plan - make phone calls, eNotes, incentive for kids to get family to come (book)

SIT Agenda 1-24-14

Art Room?
7:30 AM

So looking forward to seeing everyone this Friday!

Agenda items:
- Report out on Family Literacy Night planning - discuss next steps
- Focus Schools update - share focus strategy
- Education Yes Report - due in March - consider our work around strand 4 in the last year
- Share Assessment updates - MEAP, NWEA, Benchmarks

Literacy Night Brainstorming

Cathy, Jackie, Stephen, and Kevin met this AM to brainstorm what would happen during literacy night.  Below is what we left with:

Welcome

Morning Meeting – Greeting at least

Explain Night – connect to R, W, S, V, L R

Video

IRA  - take away #1

·      Buy books for modeling . . .

·      Viusal demo

·      Take home similar book with written info about what was learned/what to do

o   Do read aloud at home

o   Games at home (or in car) connected to literacy

·      Respond to text :  draw, write

·      see how everyone participates, see what teacher does, can see all of R, W, S, V, R, show the content and process goal, can show how this connects to what happens at school

·      It happens at school….and it happens at hoem

Car Games – take away #2

·      I'm thinking of a….

·      What does that sign say?

·      Twenty questions in the car

·      A game while preparing the evening meal

·      Kid:  "Can we please get . . . " Parent:  Put it on the list

·      Check the ideas from the EMWP folders

 

 

Possible video clips:

·      Kids coming into the school

·      Settling into class

·      Teachers reading at home with their kids

·      Mighty Mustangs

·      Guided reading

·      Show everyone engaged

·      Show IRA beginning