NORTHWEST LEARNING COMMUNITY CHRONICLE November 2011 Volume I, Issue 3 Best Practices Best Practices
The Principal As Formative Coach By Gabrielle Nidus & Maya Sadder
Analyzing student work can help principals become more effective instructional coaches. Changing the Focus of Principal Coaching In This Issue Best Practices
...1
As a principal, you're often told that you are, first and foremost, an instructional leader. Not only must you manage the daily operations of the building and deal with a host of other unforeseen challenges, but you're also responsible for the academic progress of every student in the school. To effectively sustain school improvement, the principal must be the epicenter of school change.
School Events 2,3,4
To fulfill this challenging role, many school leaders can begin with formative coaching, an approach that uses student work as the foundation for mentoring and professional development. Community Gives to In formative coaching, teachers and administrators analyze student work to determine next steps NWLC …5 for instruction. Formative coaching is built on deep analysis of teaching and learning—and on the assumption that the ultimate purpose of improving instructional practice is to improve NWLC Stars ...6 student achievement. Coaching teachers with the formative cycle is a simple process you can include as part of teacher observations, informal coaching, grade-level meetings, or schoolwide Know Us ...7 professional development. Let's consider how you might use the steps of this cycle to deepen the conversation following a classroom observation. Upcoming Events & Contact Info
...8
The formative coaching cycle follows three steps: 1. Pre-observation: Setting the goal for student learning & collecting formative data. 2. During the lesson: Observing and recording students’ responses and writing down best practices used during lesson. 3. Post-observation: Discussing instructional strategies, digging into the data and providing feedback to teacher.
Nidus, Gabrielle & Sadder, Maya (2011). The Principal As Formative Coach. Educational Leadership, October 2011. Volume 69, Number 2; Pgs 30-35.
[1]
NWLC School Events
11th Annual Kin Folks Day At Polk ES Every year Polk Elementary School students’ relatives are invited to share the school's traditional Thanksgiving meal with the students. On November 10th over 200 relatives of Polk students ate lunch in the "transformed gym" (with tables with table cloths, light jazz music and a special tea for parents). The students as well as the relatives had a great time!
Junior Achievement granted Sudie Williams ES a $5,000 check!!! CONGRATS! Photo: Volunteers from Junior Achievement & Principal, Lorena Hernandez
[2] Photo:
NWLC Schools Events
Sudie Williams ES
“Once Upon a Time At DeGolyer”
November 11 Read In At DeGolyer ES
On Thursday, November 10, over 200 students and their families participated in our family literacy night. Teachers in each grade level read their favorite fairy tale to students. The building was transformed into “fairyland.” Students and staff wore their favorite PJs with pillows and blankets as they heard the fairy tales. This was a wonderful way to kick-off Dallas Reads at DeGolyer ES.
They had 30 readers in every classroom on DeGolyer’s campus on 11-11-11. Included in the readers was Mrs. Sharon Goldblatt, President of Texas PTAs to read one of its second grade classes. The students really enjoyed Mrs. Goldblatt in their class. The second grade class was featured Friday evening on Channel 33 News at 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
HURRAY DeGolyer ES!!!
Photo: Monica Alonzo and Principal at DeZavala ES, Lisa Miramontes
[3]
NWLC Schools Events
Harry C. Withers ES
Gabe P. Allen ES
Jerry Junkins ES
[4]
The Community Gives to NWLC
Navidad In Ben Milan ES Ben Milam School has been selected to receive the Navidad’s Fall into Reading bulk book donation. The Executive Director, Rosanne Ortega as well as the Principal Anna Gamez attended the ceremony on October 26th. Navidad has been serving predominantly minority children 12 and under in lowincome communities for over 20 years. Our non-profit children’s charity has enjoyed partnerships with over 163 local social service agencies, schools, churches and recreation centers in Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties. Navidad is the only organization in DFW whose sole mission is to collect books, learning toys and sports equipment year-round through the volunteerism of corporations and individuals. We are addressing two of the most important concerns of today’s families: literacy and physical fitness. GO MILAM!
Junior Achievement At Sudie Williams ES On November 10th Williams ES had 21 Wells Fargo volunteers participate in Junior Achievement Day with all of our classes K-5th . The students were engaged in sessions about entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy. Bravo!!!
DeGolyer’s Discovery Garden
Gabe P. Allen Discovery Garden
Last spring, DeGolyer ES received a $4,000 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant. Combined with the funds that were raised by our families and community members during the Loving Our School campaign, they are now able to expand its existing area and create an outdoor learning area. All students and teachers will be able to utilize and enrich the current science program. In order to make this happen, they will have four Family Build Days on November 12-13 and December 3-4.
Gabe P. Allen received a grant from United Way which they used to create a garden to expand an existing area and create an outdoor learning area. All students and teachers will be able to utilize and reinforce the current science and math program. Teachers, staff and students will be utilizing the garden for projects as a learning tool.
[5]
NWLC Stars
November Happy Birthday to: Alecia Cobb at DeGolyer ES on November 2, 2011 Susan Walker at Stevens Park ES on November 10, 2011
Ben Milam Elementary Marks 100 years Ben Milam Elementary celebrated its 100 Year Anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011. Faculty, staff, students, parents and alumni participated in the program. State Rep. Dan Branch presented the school with a State of Texas Resolution and a commemorative flag that had been flown at the State Capital in Austin. Special guests included 98 year-old Geneveive Olsson, who attended Ben Milam in 1920, and James M. Railey, who attended Ben Milam in 1931.
Photo: Left to right, Anna Gamez, principal, former Milam’s students
Menay Harris at Kramer ES on November 14, 2011 Margarita Hernandez at Pershing ES on November 18, 2011 Tammie Brooks at Walnut Hill ES on November 30, 2011
Harry C. Withers ES Celebrated Its 5oth Anniversary Congrats to Withers ES for celebrating its 50th on Friday Oct 21st. They had some alumni attend the celebration that were students at Withers in 1961! Feliz Aniversario!!!
Allen ES and its AVANCE program making toys, one of the workshops for parents.
[6]
Getting To Know Us-New Principals Karina De Los Reyes,
Lisa Miramontes,
Tom C. Gooch Elementary School
Lorenzo DeZavala Elementary School
Favorite Meal: Sushi
Favorite Meal: Sushi from Kona Grill
Hobbies: Traveling, working out, reading and spending time with family & friends
Hobbies: Cooking, running, shopping and relaxing with a venti Starbucks coffee
The best book I ever read is Confederacy of Dunces because it made me laugh out loud.
The best book I ever read is Gone With The Wind because of the historical content and the romance.
The two historical figures I’d most like to have dinner with: Jackie O. & Princess Diana.
The 2 historical figures I’d most like to have dinner with: Princess Diana & Judy Garland.
Artist or group that appears the most on my iPod/ MP3: Dave Matthews.
Artist or group that appears the most on my iPod/ MP3: Michael Bublė.
I wish I knew how to play the piano.
My favorite subject in school was Reading.
I wish I knew how to play the electric guitar. My worst habit is drinking at least two Starbukcs a day. My favorite subject in school was Science.
When I was young, I wanted to be a Lawyer. If I had $100, I would spend it on a massage.
When I was young, I wanted to be a fashion designer. If I had $100, I would spend it on a manicure and a pedicure.
My worst habit is shopping (according to my husband).
Robby G. Wilson,
Shavanniah Dash,
Jerry Junkins Elementary School
George W. Bush Elementary School
Favorite Meal: Rice and beans with pollo guisado
Favorite Meal: Gumbo (honestly anything my mommy cooks for me)
Hobbies: Gardening
Hobbies: Reading, shopping, & quality spending time with my family
The best book I ever read is 100 Años De Soledad (100 years of Solitude) because of the created and even surprising story.
The best book I ever read is The Bible because there’s no better book that details the struggle of day to day life and that outlines how time after time, individuals overcome setbacks and challenges.
The 2 historical figures I’d most like to have dinner with: Abe Lincoln & Diego Rivera
The 2 historical figures I’d most like to have dinner with: Abraham Lincoln & Martin Luther King, Jr.
Artist or group that appears the most on my iPod/ MP3: Bob Dylan. I wish I knew how to play guitar.
Artist or group that appears the most on my iPod/ MP3: Adele & Jay Z.
My worst habit is pretending I’m listening when watching the game.
I wish I knew how to the piano.
My favorite subject in school was Math.
My worst habit is procrastination.
.
My favorite subject in school was Reading. When I was young, I wanted to be an artist & an architect.
When I was young, I wanted to be a nurse.
If I had $100, I would spend it on a good meal with my wife.
If I had $100, I would spend it on SHOES (of course).
[7]
Upcoming Events
Just-In-Time Math Training: Audience: One 1st grade teacher per campus On November 29 th or 30th at the Buckner Building, room 738 2:00-4:30pm
Carnegie Learning Math Training: Audience: 4th & 5th grade teachers per campus Session 2: November 28th, 29 th, 30th or December 1st at the Fannie C. Harris 8:00-4:00pm
NWLC AP Meeting Thursday, November 29th, 2011 at Foster ES from 9:00-12:00pm
Science *5th grade Saturdays On November 21st Audience: *3rd -5th grade teachers (Self- Contained)—3.5hours * 3rd -5th grade teachers Departmentalized—7 hours *K-2nd grade science teachers Location: Nolan Estes Plaza *K-12 Science Teachers –3.5 hours Location: Buckner
Contact Info Gilbert Gonzalez NWLC Executive Director 972-749-2540
Liliana Suero Coordinator 972-749-2504
Laura Valdez Rodriguez Coordinator 972-749-2517
Virginia Gonzalez Administrative Assistant 972-749-2509
Olga Pina Administrative Assistant 972-749-2507 Hortencia Ibañez Parent Liaison 972-749-2505 Phone: 972-749-2540 Fax: 972-749-2503
[8]
Dual Language Leadership Institute Audience: One rep per campus Location for NWLC: Cigarroa ES 9:00-12:30pm
