Thomas Jefferson Star Report: February 6-10, 2017

I have had several recent conversations with staff members about grit, perseverance and stamina in our students. With our new ELA curriculum and the second year of the Math adoption we are looking into an increasing amount faces of students who may not be getting it... YET. We can teach our hearts our but are we teaching them the "cognitive structures" they need to embrace cognitive struggle?
In the book, Getting to "Got It! by Betty K. Garner the author highlights the notion that we may assume that students come to us with the cognitive structures needed to engage in the rigorous thinking work we are expecting them to do. I am wondering if we have provided the foundation for our students to ensure success. Are we we teaching them the mental structures, mental tools and patterns of thought needed? It is never too late to engage in the instructional work of cognitive structures and students will benefit from the tools we could provide. Please see the link below:
Cognitive Structures

Please read the first chapter that is provided prior to the staff meeting on Wednesday. We will be reviewing this reading during a protocol.

The Week Ahead

1/6/10 - SPED Staffing - Platt, Grodan and Team - 8:00 am

1/7/10 - IEP - Jordan, Ertola and Team - 7:15am

1/8/10 - Staff Meeting - 3:15

1/9/10 - Speech IEP - Scudder and Dean

1/9/10 - GATE Parent Night - 6:00pm

1/9/10 - PTC - 6:30pm

Superintendent Garcia and Board Member Visit - Feb. 10

Derk and several School Board Members will be on campus on Friday morning. I will be contacting several of you about a student who would be a good representative of TJ. I would like to have a small focus group with the visitors to talk with them about Thomas Jefferson, PBIS and what is great about our little school. If you have a well spoken kiddo in mind please let me know. We will be visiting classrooms during the visit.

Student Teacher Observations

We have had several requests from William Jessup students for observation hours. Partnerships with local universities are a great way to support the profession. I will be contacting you about possible observation dates coming up.