Recruitment Resources

2015-2016 Recruitment Strategy

Public Relations

Wendy to Update
Inside Schools
Great Schools
Google Review
Put Together Recruitment Video - Girls Inc, Soul Cycle, Oprah Blog

Targeted Elementary Schools

Key (Black Star is UAI)
Green - >10 students applied                      Star - Great Schools Rank Green
Orange - > 5 students applied                     Diamond - Great Schools Rank Orange
Red - <5 students applied                            Circle - Great Schools Rank Red
Blue - 0 applicants



Targeted Middle Schools
Goal - Cultivate at least 10 elementary schools into feeder schools providing us with at least 10 guaranteed students each year.

Year one - cultivate 10 schools to guarantee at least 5 students (20 applicants)
Year two - cultivate 10 schools to guarantee at least 7 students (30 applicants)
Year three - cultivate 10 schools to guarantee at least 10 students (40 applicants)

Week of December 21st

UAI Staff News

Volume III

Issue 16

Week of Dec. 14th, 2015

Announcements 

Last Blog Post of 2015.  This will be the last blog post of 2015!  It seems like this school year has really flown by.  You have all worked so hard and dedicated so much of yourselves and your energy to our needy girls.  Please do make the time to do nothing but rest and recharge over the holiday break.   The holiday break is also a great time to pause and reflect over the semester's progress.   As a reminder, we are rapidly dismissing everyone out of the building on Wednesday so that you can get started on your holiday recharging.  The building will not be open over the holiday break.  Please make sure students have all that they need at the START of 7th period.  They will not be able to use bathrooms or access lockers when rapid dismissal begins.

• Middle School - Rapid Dismissal at 1:47.  Staff, Teacher, and Students ALL DISMISS together.
• High School - Rapid Dismissal at 1:56.  Staff, Teachers, and Students ALL DISMISS together.

<<REMINDER FROM LAST POST>> School Rules Relaunch.  Starting Monday 21DEC, we're asking all staff to pitch in and help relaunch school rules with all students in their classes.  By all of us doing a little bit, we collectively create a consistent environment for our girls who need that most!  Here's the key areas

• Bathroom Use and passes out of class.  Bathrooms will be locked for the 1st and last 10 minutes of class.  Students should only use the bathroom during work time. Only one student can be out of the room at a time.  Teachers should hold onto the pass so that students must come to them to ask.  Teachers should also track bathroom use (e.g. like Marsha does using an index card taped to the back of the pass) or some other method.  Grade teams should analyze pass use to identify students who are using the pass to avoid work or other academic struggles.
• The Exit Slip and Class Removals.  Please do not send a student out of the classroom (unless it is an emergency).  When you need a student removed, please call the admin office closest to you (B31 = 83121; 301 = 30111; 302 = 30221; 401 = 40111; 508=50811).  If you can't get someone in the closest office, call any of the other offices to help you.  (You should take a moment to write down these extensions in your call box).  A dean or admin will come to your room to collect the student.  Please have the exit slip completed prior to dean/admin arrival.  We will not be able to remove the student without it.  Also, please remember that class removal happens after the 3rd reminder.
• Lockers.  Please announce to advisees that students are not allowed to share lockers.  Tell your advisees that we will begin looking at locker use this week and for those students who are sharing, all students will lose locker privileges.  (In reality, I'm relying on you guys to talk to your advisees so they can fix the sharing problem before we really start checking next week).  Finally, students will be able to access their lockers at any time but they cannot be late to class.  Note - This is a change from last year's policy of using lockers before and after school and before and after lunch.  

Staff Shout Outs

Kristin & Darby.  Sensing the need to boost staff morale, Kristin and Darby put together Staff Superlative Awards for all.  They began distributing some at the impromptu cocktail party Friday afternoon, and we hope to celebrate the remaining awards in PD on Monday.   So, for their social awareness and willingness to step up and address a need, let's give a big shout out to these two wonderful women!

Joanna.   Last week Joanna masterfully took on the DRP and coordinated both paper and computer administrations.  As our schoolwide testing coordinator, Joanna did an excellent job communicating and supporting staff in our 2nd administration of the DRP this year.  Congrats Joanna, and we're looking forward to seeing you in action for Regents week in January!

Important Dates

• Monday, 21DEC15.  First Pod Debrief and Grade Team Meetings
• Monday, 21DEC15. Advisors call home to verify report card receipt.
• Wednesday, 23DEC15.  Early Dismissal at 2:00PM.  All students and staff MUST leave the building at 2:00 for the Winter Recess.
• Thursday, 24DEC15 through 03JAN16 Winter Recess.

For All UAI School Important Dates, please add "UAI School" calendar to your google calendars.

Per Session Posting

Resilient Scholars PLC.  Jamie, Rebecca, Kerry, and Martine are doing a Teacher SEL PLC after school.  

Other PLC Ideas.  If other teachers are interested in running/participating in another PLC, please let me know and we can fund it too!

Week of December 14th

UAI Staff News

Volume III

Issue 16

Week of Dec. 14th, 2015

Announcements 

Marking Period 3 Begins.  Monday marks the start of the 3rd marking period.  Marking Period 2 grades are due by 3PM.  As you finish your grades, please pay attention to your grade distribution.  To the left is a picture of a normal curve, if you have too many grades of the same kind, please double check your grades to make sure there are no errors.  Report cards will be distributed last period on Friday.  Advisors, please make calls home to verify that parents received the report cards and please check to see if parents are registered on Pupilpath.   It's hard to believe that we're already almost halfway through the year.  The time is flying quickly by!  So, let's make sure our kids and their families are staying informed and on top of student progress.

UAI Nets Night. Monday night is the UAI night at the Nets!  There is still some time to get tickets.  If you still want to come and celebrate with UAI families, staff, and students, please see Jen or Joanna by noon on Monday to secure your ticket (s).  It promises to be a super fun evening for all.

School Rules Relaunch.  Starting Monday, we're asking all staff to pitch in and help relaunch school rules with all students in their classes.  By all of us doing a little bit, we collectively create a consistent environment for our girls who need that most!  Here's the key areas

• Bathroom Use and passes out of class.  Bathrooms will be locked for the 1st and last 10 minutes of class.  Students should only use the bathroom during worktime. Only one student can be out of the room at a time.  Teachers should hold onto the pass so that students must come to them to ask.  Teachers should also track bathroom use (e.g. like Marsha does using an index card taped to the back of the pass) or some other method.  Grade teams should analyze pass use to identify students who are using the pass to avoid work or other academic struggles.
• The Exit Slip and Class Removals.  Please do not send a student out of the classroom (unless it is an emergency).  When you need a student removed, please call the admin office closest to you (B31 = 83121; 301 = 30111; 302 = 30221; 401 = 40111; 508=50811).  If you can't get someone in the closest office, call any of the other offices to help you.  (You should take a moment to write down these extensions in your call box).  A dean or admin will come to your room to collect the student.  Please have the exit slip completed prior to dean/admin arrival.  We will not be able to remove the student without it.  Also, please remember that class removal happens after the 3rd reminder.
• Lockers.  Please announce to advisees that students are not allowed to share lockers.  Tell your advisees that we will begin looking at locker use this week and for those students who are sharing, all students will lose locker privileges.  (In reality, I'm relying on you guys to talk to your advisees so they can fix the sharing problem before we really start checking next week).  Finally, students will be able to access their lockers at any time but they cannot be late to class.  Note - This is a change from last year's policy of using lockers before and after school and before and after lunch.  

Staff Shout Outs

Tracy, Sursattie, and Kelly.  A HUGE shout out goes to Tracy, Sursattie, and Kelly who put together an excellent assembly celebrating music, dance, and art from a wide array of cultures.  We celebrated both the talents and hard work of our middle school girls on Thursday.  Thank you Tracy, Sursattie, and Kelly for your hard work and dedication in supporting our young women to shine!  As a FYI, we'll have to pause on assemblies for January, but I am looking forward to some amazing team work as we prepare for Black History month in February!

Kim and NYU Poly Presentations.  Congratulations to Kim and Group X!! As a first year teacher, she is juggling her first year of teaching, being new to Learning Cultures, and teaching TWO very rigorous programs (Chemistry and NYU Poly).  It's pretty impressive!  This past Wednesday, Group X presented their end-term projects at NYU Poly.  This particularly group had some of the strongest and most professional presentations in the history of our partnership with Poly (which stretches back four years now!). Thank you Kim for stepping up and hitting it out of the park!

Resilient Scholars Project

Optimistic Thinking. The holiday season affects many people in different ways. It can be a warm, fuzzy, feeling with friends and family. However, it can also be a high stress time with friends and family. The holidays, for some, can be lonely and bring on sadness. In any event, the emotions of the season are tricky to navigate at this time of year, and it's important that we remember that our girls have not yet learned the emotional tools required to persist through the pitfalls of the holiday break. Please take a moment to think about how the ability to think optimistically impacts your efforts to develop a growth mindset in students. What time will you plan to give to teaching concrete strategies for developing this super significant Social Emotional Learning skill?

Important Dates

• Monday, 14DEC15.  Full staff PD (Pod Selection)
• POD Topics
  1.     How do we engage students with different learning styles and needs using Technology use/UDL/teaching to different learning styles "best practices"
  2.     How do we convert study strategies into study habits?
  3.     What are the most effective (both for teachers and students) tools/methods to evaluate growth in SEL in our classrooms?
  4.     How do we check for understanding throughout each of the LC formats?  Redefining Assessment – it’s not just the big tests…it can be UR records, CBMs, the levels of questions/breaches, essays, etc.  how are we defining checks for understanding?
  5.     How do students use their own data to measure and track progress?  Redefining Assessment – it’s not just the big tests…it can be UR records, CBMs, the levels of questions/breaches, essays, etc.  how are we defining checks for understanding? Both understanding in the moment and growth over time?
  6.     What are the best ways to differentiate for all students, especially our high level students, to make sure that each student is challenged at her appropriate level (e.g. creative use of workout plans, differentiating tasks, charting growth on assessments)
  7.     Subject Team Pod – How do we create standards-aligned assessments that accurately measure student achievement against NYS standards?
  8.     Grade Team Pod – Group Y Pod and Q Pod – How do we improve the social norms in these groups?

• Monday, 14DEC15. UAI Nets Family Night - $25 tickets - give money to Jen or Joanna
• Tuesday, 15DEC15.  Kiri is out at UA Instructional Rounds visit to UA Criminal Justice
• Wednesday 16DEC15.  MP Grades Due at 3PM
• Friday, 18DEC15.  Progress Reports Distributed 8th Period. 
• Monday, 21DEC15. Advisors call home to verify report card receipt.
• Wednesday, 23DEC15.  Early Dismissal at 2:00PM.  All students and staff MUST leave the building at 2:00 for the Winter Recess.
• Thursday, 24DEC15 through 03JAN16 Winter Recess.

For All UAI School Important Dates, please add "UAI School" calendar to your google calendars.

Per Session Posting

No new posts

Week of December 7th

UAI Staff News

Volume III

Issue 15

Week of Dec. 7th, 2015

Announcements 

Calls Home.  Let's make a goal this week to make it a point to make and log all of our calls home - that's calling any advisee who doesn't make it to 2nd period on time AND sprinkling a few positive calls (they are good for the teaching soul) in this week.  We are all gearing up for the winter break, so let's help our kiddos launch into the recess with some positive reviews and improved attendance!

PTA Dinner.  This Tuesday (08DEC) the PTA is hosting a family dinner for the UAI community.  Please come join the festivities and help us build stronger family bonds while we have delicious food!  It will be a wonderful evening with family and staff.  So, please make an effort to attend.

Subject Team leaders have been asked to develop some quick ideas around what to do during the winter recess.  Help your leaders out! We're really looking for simple things that parents can do to help their students develop academic and social emotional skills at home.  

Intervention.  As we prepare for the 2nd Marking period to end, it is clear that students need some extra help and in some cases, extra challenge.  To check in, please make sure that you are using all of our interventions

• Tier I:  Double Unison Reading and Double Conferences (Assessment = UR or Conference Record).  Students with IEPs and/or who have a DRP lower the the 25th percentile should automatically be scheduled for twice the amount of Unison and double the conferences.

• Tier II:  Workout Plans, Learning Groups, Lunch Time Tutoring (Assessment = CBMs, Self-Check Quizzes, etc.)  Students who are lagging on classroom assessments and/or need to build basic background abilities in math and English need to be equipped with Remediation workout plans, scheduled for learning groups, or mandated to Lunch or after school tutoring. 

• Tier III:  Parent-Teacher conference to create intervention plan (Specific Goals and Scheduled Follow Up Meeting to Check on Goals TBD by meeting).  Students who are unresponsive to Tier I or Tier II interventions and are persistently failing need to have an intervention scheduled with teachers and parents.  Grade teams should review Tier I and Tier II data to help inform goal-setting during the meeting.  Goals need to be SMART (specific, measureable, achievable, relevant, and timely).  

• Tier IV:  Full Intervention Meeting (hour+ long meeting with Admin/Teachers with specific goals and follow up scheduled in Conference time with teachers) This full length intervention will use strategies to shift student mindset and self-concept. Students who continue to fail despite multiple attempts to intervene often have deep-seated issues with self-concept and require a mindset shift.  This intervention uses the LC intervention protocol.

Things To Do This Week

• ALL STAFF.  Please take a minute to RSVP to the staff party so that we can get an accurate head count for the catering order.  Please bring your $20 to room 401 by Wednesday this week.

• ALL STAFF. In grade and subject teams, for the next few weeks, please take the time to use the Data Driven protocol to review these data points (DRP, Benchmark Data, and Classroom Grade Data) to identify students in need of intervention (see above for the Tiers)
• ALL STAFF: Please take a moment to review the DRP testing schedule for this week (click the tab "DRP Digital Testing") .  Ultimately, we will be moving to a 100% digital platform for these exams.  For this period, only the 6th and 9th grade will be using the computers.  However, this will be the schedule that we use for the next two administrations in the Spring.  So please follow this schedule for next week.

Staff Shout Outs

Perfect Attendance.  Val, Elena, Steve, Kim, Meredith, Natalie, and Tom have all been to school every single school day in September, October and November.  Congratulate them on their 3 month streak!  Let's see how many of us can join this perfection over the next 3-month span of December, January, and February!

Parent Outreach is on the Rise.  Natalie, Tracy, Marsha and Carol are all working together to build up parent involvement in our Middle School.  In addition, Carol is hard at work generating monthly newsletters to connect our families to UAI.  Bit by bit we are working to build bridges to our girls' families and these four amazing women are pivotal players in making that happen!

College Applications are In (or mostly in)!  This week, Mara and Lori pulled out all the stops to work with the Class of 2016 in completing their college applications.  It was a long week, but the majority of the girls have either fully completed or are well on their way!  Great work you two!

Resilient Scholars Project

Relationship Skills. Our students are a third of the way through the year, and some are persisting in showing defiant, rude, and other maladaptive social behaviors. As we work, it's important to be aware of how perspectives shift in reaction to these behaviors. Take a moment to do this activity to reflect on your relationships with students. Making time to reflect provides perspective on situations that seem unsolvable. Finding a different vantage point will often lead to the ideas and revelations that result in excellent strategies!

Important Dates

• Monday, 07DEC15. Pod Cycle 2 Begins (07DEC15 Through 18JAN15) - Pod Share on 02FEB16
• Monday & Tuesday 07DEC and 08DEC, 9th Grade DRP
• Wednesday, 09DEC15.  10th Grade DRP
• Wednesday and Thursday, 10DEC15 and 11DEC15.  11th Grade DRP 
• Friday, 11DEC15, UAI Staff Party 4-6PM
• Friday, 11DEC15.  MP2 Ends
• Friday, 11DEC15.  Middle School DRP
• Monday, 14DEC15. UAI Nets Family Night - $25 tickets - give money to Jen or Joanna
• Wednesday 16DEC15.  MP Grades Due
• Friday, 18DEC15.  Progress Reports Distributed 8th Period. 
• Monday, 21DEC15. Advisors call home to verify report card receipt.
• Wednesday, 23DEC15.  Early Dismissal at 2:00PM.  All students and staff MUST leave the building at 2:00 for the Winter Recess.
• Thursday, 24DEC15 through 03JAN16 Winter Recess.

For All UAI School Important Dates, please add "UAI School" calendar to your google calendars.

Per Session Posting

Recruitment Team.  This team will be working alongside Jen & Jennifer to plan and create deeper relationships during the Spring Term to build feeder-school relationships with Elementary and Middle Schools. Activities will include but are not limited to, planning mentor activities between our students and outside middle/elementary school students, planning community service events at local elementary schools (e.g. gardening, book reading, etc.).  Essentially, we need to show the schools how awesome our girls, our staff, and our school are so that we can create stronger relationships with these schools and UP our  enrollment!   

PPO Resources 03DEC15

PPO Visit 03DEC15

The Urban Assembly Institute of Math and Science for Young Women is designed to encourage and foster the achievement of young women in math, science, and technology. Our college-preparatory curriculum uses interdisciplinary, inquiry-based models of learning that actively engage all students in both their advanced work in math, science, and technology a well as their other classes. As a commitment to developing life-long learners and strong leaders, our young women will have mentors, internships, and access to college level classes at partnership universities. Graduates of the UA Institute will possess the skills needed to be successful in college and to make choices that positively impact their lives.  Visit us at www.uainstitute.org.

PPO Agenda

• Initial Meeting 8:00-8:50 - Meet with Kiri in Room 401
• Orientation to UAI and Learning Cultures
• Review of Artifacts, PD Plan, School Goals, Etc.

• Classroom Visits
• [1] 8:50-9:10 - (H) Alison & Matthew - 8th Grade Math in Room 403
• [2] 9:10-9:30 (R) Danielle - 10th Grade Math (Tenuring Teacher) in Room 511
• 9:30-9:34 -Debrief with Kiri
• [3] 9:34-9:54 (Z) lyana 12th Grade English in Romo B57
• [4] 9:54-10:15 (M) Jamie & Kerry 9th Grade ICT Math (Jamie is Tenuring) in Rm 409
• 10:15-10:45 Debrief with Kiri
• [6] 10:45-11:10 (N) Michael & Michelle 9th Gr. Global (Tenuring Teachers) Rm 509
• [7] 11:10-11:30 (H) Christina & Phillan 8th Gr. Reading (Christina is Tenuring) Rm 405

• Wrap-Up Meeting 11:30-12:30 - Meet with Kiri
• Debrief final classroom visits
• Debrief visit

PPO Components

• 90 minutes to talk and walk through the indicators (especially 1.2)
• 50 min Orientation to UAI and Initial Meeting with Kiri
• 40 min Final Debrief and Discussion at end of Visit

• 5-7 Class Visits - 9th grade math + tenuring teachers, + spread
• Tenuring Teachers
• Christina Choi, Middle School ELA Special Ed 
• Jamie Ross, 9th Grade CC Algebra
• Michael Stuart, 9th Grade Global
• Michelle Babick, High School ELL Support
• Danielle Romano, 10th CC Geometry
• Anna Avino, 11th Grade Spanish 2
• Other Classes to Visit Teachers ("spread" visits to get the span of the school)
• Alison Green and Matthew Turner, 8th Grade Math
• Ilyana Contreras, 12th Grade English

• Artifacts - School PD Plan, Unit Plans, Lesson Plans, Etc.
• Coaching Plan
• POD Protocol
• Last Pod Share
• Unit Contracts and Lesson Plans
• Sample Workout Plans

• Observations of the Teachers we're seeing and their lesson plans
• Danielson Aligned LC Rubrics
• Mini Lesson
• Sample LC Evaluation 
• Sample Danielson Alignment
• Unison Reading 
• Sample LC Evaluation (I'll email you the actual evals so you can scroll)
• Sample Advance Correlation

• Relevant UAI Artifacts
• PPO From Last Spring
• School Quality Review
• UAI College Profile
• Learning Cultures
• Framework for Good Schools (Question Detail)
• CEP
• UAI Master Schedule
• Resilient Scholars Project

POD Resources from 30NOV15

UAI POD Share 30NOV15

Our first share-out of our first POD cycle happened on Monday 30NOV15.  The topics, posters, and powerpoints are shared below.  Also, you can peruse teacher feedback and potential topics for the next cycle below.

POD Cycle 1 topics

(I didn't catch all of the group members, so please do let me know what I missed!)

Formative Assessment - How to use it to support student choice (Mike, Christina, & Phillan)

                 

Using transitions to build self-management (Paula, Rebecca, & Tom)

Using transitions to build self-management (Marsha, Steven, and Sarah)

Questioning and Student Agency (Michael, Wendy, and Meredith)

How to get students to work with intention (Alison, Marianna, and Anna)

Improving Student Responsibility in the Inquiry Cycle (Michelle, Kristin, and Kim)

Using Conferences to Inform Instruction (Danielle, Joanna, and Natalie)

Facilitating Student Buy-In in Learning Cultures (Brodie, Darby, Jamie, and Juelle) 

Facilitating Student Buy-In in Learning Cultures (Ilyana, Damon, Kerry, and Erick)

Teacher Feedback

(If your feedback wasn't included, it's only because I couldn't decipher your handwriting!  Sorry!)

[1] What did you learn about today that you will definitely implement in your teacher practice?

• Intentionality.  Intentionality sheets for students. Strategies around intentionality, using some of the strategies in upcoming units (x2) AND Questioning and agency! Being intentional so my students will be intentional.  Student responsibility to prepare before taking diagnostic exams (x3).
• Resource Maps. Simplifying resource maps and labeling each more specifically. I will definitely use a resource map and a scaffolded resource map (based on Danielle's presentation) (x3)
• Exit Tickets.  I am definitely going to implement (or at least TRY) systematic participation and exit tickets
• IWT Menus. Find a way to keep a menu of options up during IWT for longer period of time (x5)
• Timers. Back to timers for all formats - not just transitions; visual timers is something I need to implement to demonstrate to the girls the intentionality and fidelity to formats
• Other Ideas
• Remember that students may need to build stamina for independent activities like silent work time
• Daily participation grade (x2)
• I'm going to implement positive emails/phone calls home (Brodie suggested)
• Positive/constructive feedback to deter/stop negative behavior
• Rethinking diagnostic exams. Double entry diagnostic tests (students take notes and write questions) (x2)
• Guided notes
• Pair on-task kids with off-task kids
• Leveraging UR groups during lesson to get students to understand the importance of listening and not interrupting
• Grassroots lessons from conferences to address student skill deficiencies

[2] From this POD cycle, what worked best for you?

• Travelers and Tellers.  Travelers and Tellers to see what other groups were seeing (x2);Today was the best part of Pod cycle.  We were able to get best practices for so many topics!; Today was most helpful (x2)
• Feedback/Debriefs and Discussion. It was interesting watching our research question change and develop as each observation and feedback was given; Quick, informal debriefs and flexible scheduling; Debriefing/talking about best practices & trying new strategies learned from each other (x5); Getting quick, direct feedback; Receiving feedback on how I can improve students' intention; I found debriefing and planning my next steps with my pod to be most effective; My group had productive conversations around the issues we faced on a daily basis
• Observing Others' Classrooms. Visiting pod members' classrooms was really insightful and gave me lots of ideas for my own practice (x2); Choice in when to have more visitors and with whom; Getting to see high school classroom and expectations!; Having people come into my room; Observing other teachers and how they interact with students (esp in Middle School)
• Other things that worked about Pods:
• Being able to find common patterns
• How do we help students with intrinsic intention?
• The low-inference notes worked well
• I felt that our mutual collegiality and flexibility worked well.  Nobody was "mad rigid" about observations. We got them done, without stressing over them.
• I enjoyed the people in my pod

[3] From this POD cycle, what would you change?

• Scheduling Classroom Visits:  Not necessary to visit during the same period on the same day; Unclear when observations were over;  Classroom visits were sometimes inconsistent or challenging to schedule; More times per week to visit one another; Teacher commitment and not forgetting to show up for Pod observation; Plan full observation calendar in advance and have dates posted on UAI school calendar (e.g "Pod debrief #1" etc.); I wish that pods and grade teams met on different days; No accountability!!! Was never even observed by my pod.  Scheduling MS/HS is difficult. I think it should be separate since we are doing different things; Scheduling and mixing things up with middle school teachers.  Seeing something once with my schedule was tough
• The Pod Cycle Protocol:  Less time for debriefing and more grade team time (x2); Pod protocol.  Share less - more feedback- should be less formal (x3); Less time spent - 2 months was too much (x3) ; Sharing out what Pods learned mid-way through the process AND at the end; Feedback cycle - if we could, as a pod, agree upon our own protocol, it would help us feel more engaged; it's too short to debrief without any other time to study/talk about what we are inquiring
• Other things we should consider changing
• A refresh on using google docs and a refresher on how to incorporate theories
• Make observations more individually focused, eg. "I want you guys to look at "x" and give me feedback in that."

[4] For the next POD cycle, what would you like to study?

• Data and Assessment.  How to implement formative assessment; Using data to create differentiated resources; How do students know when they learn; Using data/assessments in learning cultures and to drive instruction (x3)
• Intentionality.  I'm interested in "intention." I'm curious about choice and "urgency."
• Social Emotional Learning. How do we build SEL goals into our daily academics; Building relationships with students during class time; Decrease Anger; Helping students see the importance and the connection between SEL and academic learning
• Curriculum Planning. Curriculum Planning to help student buy-in (x2); Rigor- how are we supporting our higher achieving students; How to create a curriculum as well as activities that enhance motivation and excitement; Rigor in reading - pushing students who are on and above grade level - planning lesson plans for reading; The most effective way to plan units and lessons; Creating rigor in the English upper grade classes; Subject Area Inquiry - curriculum building and resource creation to better meet CCSS standards for ELA; How to make the most of 10 minute lessons (what to include/what to leave out)
• Conferences. Conferences- How to make them more effective for students; Using Conferences to inform instruction; 
• Independent Work time. Managing the multiple projects that students can do and making them equitable; Redirecting/refocusing students during IWT; Making IWT productive
• Other Topics Proposed for the next Pod Cycle
• Technology use/UDL/teaching to different learning styles "best practices"
• Free form? Debriefing on issues as they arise, things we notice during observations (most or of the time what my group came to observe did not happen) or SEL in class
• How can we increase buy-in to learning. 
• How do we better teach study habits?
• Creating Responsibility teams and small group instruction that work with artifacts of learning in the context of the unit contract but facilitate Regents Prep.
• Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (Transformative Bonds)
• Expectations
• Minilessons
• Classroom Management

[5] What feedback would you like to give to today's presenters

• Michelle, Alison, and Marsha were all really clear and succinct

Week of Nov 30th

UAI Staff News

Volume III

Issue 14

Week of Nov. 30th, 2015

Announcements 

First PPO Visit This Week.  Our new superintendent is Fred Walsh and his deputy superintendent, Richie Cintron will be visiting us on Thursday for my first (of two) Principal Performance Observation of the year.  This will be Richie's first formal visit to UAI and his first official visit to a Learning Cultures school.   He has specifically requested visiting 9th grade Math and all tenuring teachers.  In addition to this being a formal evaluation of me, this is our first chance to establish an impression with our new superintendent.  I will be orienting him to LC and UAI, and specifically highlighting our work around 

• using the formats to build student agency and autonomy in their learning
• working with the Urban Assembly to establish strong structures for Social Emotional learning & growth
• teacher collaboration and inquiry with PODs

In preparation for Thursdays visits, teachers should 

• submit lesson plans (for Thursday) and current unit contracts into THIS Folder by the end of the day on Monday
• Make sure to plan with co-teachers to be in formats for Thursday.  Reschedule any quizzes, labs or other non-format days for another day this week.  All classes must be in format on Thursday.
• Make sure student work is posted (which should have already happened for Parent Conferences) with specific and actionable next steps for students.

If you'd like to know more about the PPO visit and what will be happening, you can visit my PPO Preparation Page to learn more.

Congratulations!  On Wednesday before the break, the high school celebrated our honor roll students!  This Friday, we look forward to celebrating the same efforts of our middle school students as well as celebrating the wide array of cultures that make up our school.  Leading up to this celebratory assembly on Friday is a week of fun and spirit! Please join the middle school in celebrating UAI Middle School Spirit Week!

Full Staff Meeting for Pod Share This Week.  In Monday's PD, we will be having our first full staff share of the work we've done in Pods for the last two months.  You and your Pod will have about 15 minutes to prepare and we will then use the Traveler's and Teller's protocol to share out what we've learned.  

Things To Do This Week

• All teachers.  Please submit your current Unit Contracts and Thursdays' Lesson Plan into THIS Folder by the end of the day on Monday 30NOV15.  PLEASE Name your two submitted files like this:  
• YourName_30NO15_UnitName 
• YourName_03DEC15_LessonTopic
• High School teachers need to update the SLC Appointment Sheet to accurately reflect completed conferences.  This sheet needs to be completely updated by Friday, 04DEC15.
• High School teachers:  Please also update the SLC results chart on the Appointment Sheet if you make changes to the document.  Our SLC goal is 80% completion of SLCs.  So, please use time this week and next to conduct conferences with families in person, via phone, or if needed with another staff member so that the majority of our students complete fall Student Led Conferences.
• Middle School Teachers:  Benchmark Data Updates.  Please complete grading of benchmarks and have all data entered into this Benchmark Data Document prior to dismissal by Friday, 04DEC15.

Staff Shout Outs

Danielle Skillfully Sets Classroom Norms.   I observed Danielle last week and saw some expert handling of socialnorms to establish a strong culture of learning in her classroom.  Danielle, I think, is not overtly aware of her subtle, but powerful steps, but I highly recommend dropping by to see what she does - particularly during the lesson.  Here's some of the most effective strategies she used

• Transition Time into Class.  Before setting the timer for the lesson, Danielle provided students a transition period into getting ready for class.  She stated that students had a set amount of time to "Get Ready for the Lesson" but most importantly, she narrated what "being ready" looked like as the transition time counted down. For example, she said things like "Being ready means having your notebook and pen/pencil out; your bags are off your desk; you're facing the board.  Ok, you have about 30 more seconds"
• Setting the stage for the lesson.  Before diving into the lesson, Danielle clearly explains the objective (by the end of today's lesson, you will be able to...) it's relevance (you need to know this today because it will help you...) and she establishes urgency with time (we have about 10 minutes to get through the lesson...)
• Tactical Use of Global Resets.  As the lesson progresses, inevitably, the girls are chattering and start falling away from lesson expectations.  Danielle pauses the timer and says, "Some of us are not quite following all the lesson expectations.  Let's pause the lesson timer and review really quickly.  Be engaged looks like what?  (students answer things like "facing forward, not talking, asking questions").  Danielle then says "Ok let's all focus on being engaged!" Then, after a "global reset" of the format norms, Danielle starts the lesson again.  
• Strategic Use of Reminders.  During the lesson, one student was at the board showing how to solve the problem. She gets a little agitated with her peers and curses.  Danielle acknowledges the misstep, but it is not the focus of the redirection.  She says "Q-Tighe, you're not focusing on using the lesson time right now, so that's a reminder for cursing."

Danielle is probably turning bright red from embarrassment now, so I'm going to stop.  It was a truly awesome observation for the day, and I told her I was gonna share it, because she had so many shareable strategies!  By creating and skillfully using these structures in her classroom, Danielle successfully creates an environment that addresses her student needs and surrounds her students with a classroom in which her students feel success and thus are willing to take risks and try harder.  It's true that not every day is perfect, but last week's lesson was a high point for Danielle!  

Resilient Scholars Project

Optimistic Thinking and Goal Directed Behavior through Assessment. Now that Thanksgiving has passed, we have three and a half weeks of school before the Winter Recess. There are no holidays to make the weeks chunky, so this month presents a good opportunity to establish some traction and good habit with our students. The Marking Period ends on Friday, December 11th. To establish a growth mindset and thus the belief that in students that they can succeed (optimistic thinking), we need to work with them in conferences and work time to establish achievable, measurable, and appropriately challenging goals. Using assessment is key to doing this, and subject teams should be working together to develop formative, interim, and summative assessments to help students measure their growth and progress.

Important Dates

• Monday 30NOV15. First Pod Share
• Tuesday 01DEC15.  Grade Teams Moved to Tuesday this week.
• Friday, 04DEC15. Middle School Assembly
• Friday, 04DEC15, Middle School Dance NOTE THE DATE CHANGE
• Monday, 07DEC15. Pod Cycle 2 Begins (07DEC15 Through 18JAN15) - Pod Share on 02FEB16
• Wednesday, 09DEC15.  10th Grade DRP
• Thursday, 10DEC15.  9th & 11th Grade DRP 
• Friday, 11DEC15, SAVE THE DATE for UAI Staff Party
• Friday, 11DEC15.  MP2 Ends
• Friday, 11DEC15.  Middle School DRP
• Monday, 14DEC15. UAI Nets Family Night - $25 tickets - give money to Jen or Joanna
• Wednesday 16DEC15.  MP Grades Due
• Wednesday, 23DEC15.  Early Dismissal at 2:30PM.  All students and staff MUST leave the building at 2:30 for the Winter Recess.
• Thursday, 24DEC15 through 03JAN16 Winter Recess.

For All UAI School Important Dates, please add "UAI School" calendar to your google calendars.

Per Session Posting

Middle School Dance Chaperones.  December 4th 5:30-7:30.  So far I have Kristin and Anna as chaperones. I still need at least two more. 

Recruitment Team.  This team will be working alongside Jen & Jennifer to plan and create deeper relationships during the Spring Term to build feeder-school relationships with Elementary and Middle Schools. Activities will include but are not limited to, planning mentor activities between our students and outside middle/elementary school students, planning community service events at local elementary schools (e.g. gardening, book reading, etc.).  Essentially, we need to show the schools how awesome our girls, our staff, and our school are so that we can create stronger relationships with these schools and UP our  enrollment!   No one has volunteered for this, yet.  Please step up to help us!