A short film A few business items The Single Story Homework Policy design, revise, finalize Stonegate Staff Wikispace Reading blocks initial RTI scheduling This is flexible Stanford Ericksen has said, but Goethe knew something else: o In all things we learn only from those we love. o Add to that Emersons declaration: the secret of education lies in respecting the pupil, and we have a formula something like this: o Students learn what they care about, from people they care about and who, they know, care about them Our ability to provide that connection with kids and families is contingent upon our ability to understand and accept the story of that child and family Looking at our own attentiveness, biases, tendencies, and perspective (inside) allows for our knowledge, understanding and empathy to grow and ultimately truly connect with those around us (out). Could this concept be applicable to our colleagues as well? o Yep. o Lets have some fun! Find 2 partners who you do not know well Share o Your complete name o Your preferred name o Who gave you your name o How you experience your name o How you think others experience your name Share out: o Something that impacted you o Something interesting about your partner o What you learned Chimananda Adichie Chimananda Adichie Join with 3 colleagues Suggested prompts: o What is your reaction to the video? o What is the single story? o What single stories do you see in your work? o Describe if you have been a agent/target of a single story. Larger group share out Activity: Select a partner that you do not know well Identify an A and B B shares his/her perceptions about A A responds to those perceptions A shares his/her perceptions about B B responds to those perceptions How do you think your partner would respond to the following questions: Country of family origin and heritage Languages spoken Interests or hobbies Favorite foods Preferred types of movies, TV programs Preferred types of music Pets, if any, or favorite animals When you were the asking partnerhow did you feel? When you were the stoic partner how did that feel? Members of culturally proficient learning communities are willing to explore and assess their knowledge about the diversity of their communities, recognize the assumptions one makes about the cultural groups within the communities, and become more informed in order to be a more effective educator. We can make a difference for our students and their communities when we listen to who our students say they are and what their needs are. Too often our needs or the needs of the school system take precedent over the needs of our students and their communities. Empathy: The capacity to know emotionally what another is experiencing from within the frame of reference of that other person, the capacity to sample the feelings of another or to put one's self in another's shoes. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowingand face with us the reality of our powerlessnessthat is the friend who really cares. Please bring: o Notes & materials from June staff development (folder) o Any homework information for your class/grade level that is shared with students & parents From June ppt Today: o Become familiar with the CIEs and the new Homework policy/administrative regulation our focus is on the admin. Regs. o Begin Conversation about what your grade levels plan is start brainstorming / bullet points When we return in September: o we will finalize our specific grade level plans vertically share and look for consistency publish for community by Back to School Night! Write, Revisit & Revise Homework Purpose Statements Create description of appropriate parent/guardian involvement. Delineate how parents will be informed about homework expectations, homework in relation to student grades, and how to respond when homework feels excessive Discuss next steps in relation to homework plan The amount of homework assigned to students should be different from elementary to high school. Parent involvement in homework should be kept to a minimum. The purpose of homework should be identified and articulated. If homework is assigned, it should be commented on. Pre-Learning Checking for Understanding Practice Processing Homework assigned to provide practice: o usually associated with learning a skill as opposed to learning information. Homework assigned as practice commonly increases students speed and accuracy relative to the skill they are learning. Homework is assigned to introduce a topic: o This type of homework might ask students to reflect on what they have learned previously about this topic or what they want to learn. Homework is assigned to ask students to elaborate on a topic: o This might involve conducting research, comparing items, etc. Parent Involvement Should Be Kept To a Minimum While it is certainly legitimate to inform parents of the homework assigned to their children, it does not seem advisable to have parents help their children with homework. Specifically, many studies show minimal and even negative effects when parents are asked to help students with homework. Neither of these statements mean that parents should not facilitate homework. Parents should be careful, however, not to solve content problems for students. Conclusion: Always assign homework as if there in no adult to help complete it Help set up a consistent organized place for homework to be done. Help your child establish either a consistent schedule for completing homework or help him create a schedule each Sunday night that reflects that particular weeks activities. Encourage, motivate, and prompt your child, but do not sit with her and do the homework for her. If your child is practicing a skill, ask him to tell you which steps are easy, which are difficult and how he is going to improve. When bedtime comes, please stop your child, even if she is not done. With your grade level team, write, review and edit: o Your homework purpose statement. o Create a description of appropriate parents/guardian involvement for homework. o Decide the means by which parents/guardians shall be informed about: Homework expectations How homework is factored into student grades, when it is factored into student grades How to respond when homework demands feel excessive o Homework and Absences o Academic Breaks With adjacent grade levels, share each grade level statements Check for consistent language and for a consistent continuum of expectations. Have a spokesperson for the group share with the staff. If necessary, continue to revised purpose statements and other components of the Stonegate homework policy. Grade level homework plans will be digitally submitted to Stan and will be shared via Stonegate Staff Wikispace. Published by Back to School Night and will ultimately be reviewed and approved by the Board of Education in November. The grade level homework policy will be a component of our goal setting for this year.