Monday, October 17, 2016

Striving towards #onthemap at WMS



This Week at Winfield Middle School:
Conferences,
Brunswick,
and Fall Break.
What works at Winfield Middle School!
October 17, 2016
What is our biggest battle?
Here in Winfield, what do we struggle with the most? Where do we find ourselves saying “If only…?”
Is there something we could “fix” to make us happy?
Anyone who has ever faced a battle knows those answers are hard to articulate!
 At Winfield Middle School, we want #thoseteachers to serve #everystudent creating #thatschool. We use all these tools to get there! Where do you see yourself fitting into that equation?
We see parents as the backbone, the foundation and the key element of holding students to the highest standards, keeping a vigilant watch on their behavior, applying tough love when necessary and improving the future by using discipline today.


Heading away from “It’s only Winfield” to #onthemap.


Our very favorite single wish must be: READING!
Even if a student says “I don't like to read” it really means, “I haven't found something I like, yet!”  
Encourage them and keep trying.
It will happen, but not naturally. They will struggle, and that is all the more reason to stay with it. Their future depends on what WE ALL do today!
Remember F.A.I.L. stands for:
First
Attempt
In
Learning
Keep Pressing!

Here is our Schedule for next week!
BUS SAFETY WEEK
This poster won last year’s contest.
Over 80,000 posters were printed and have been distributed.
We even have some at our school.


Monday
  • Basketball practices for boys and girls this week
  • Night 1 Parent Teacher Conferences  -
    • Teachers will be in teams, placed throughout the building to assist parents in navigation
      • 6th Grade in Ms Cosby’s Room
      • Math Teachers in Room 300
      • Social Studies in Mr. Davis’ Room
      • SPED - As needed
      • Science in Mr. Utlaut’s room
      • Physical Education in the east end of cafeteria
      • English Language Arts across from the Science Rooms
      • Electives teachers have signups outside their doors and will be at the high school
Wednesday
  • Brunswick for 6th & 7th graders
    • Students will come to school, gather assignments for the day and then head to Brunswick. Many of these students have improved their grades enough to earn this type of reward for the first time. Others, typically scoring advanced or proficient make up the rest of the group. All together, we have over 100 going on this FIRST EVER BRUNSWICK TRIP
      • We leave about 9:30.
      • They will open just for us.
      • Bowling for 1 ½ hours
      • Laser Tag
      • Play through with their $5 Arcade Card
      • Pizza & Soda Lunch
      • Return by 12:30
  • Night 2 Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday
  • Like a Friday, with no school for a few days.
Friday
  • Fall Break - No School
Monday
  • Fall Break - No School
Tuesday
  • No Students - Teacher Professional Development Day
Ongoing/Upcoming
  • Brunswick  - ROUND TWO - Nov 9th
    • We will take the 8th and 9th graders on their MAP incentive trip in the second round
  • November 16 Early Release themes - At the middle school, we will be looking at improving reading.
  • Red Ribbon Week
October 26, 27 & 28
 Wed/26th- “Follow your Dreams” Wear PJ’s
 Thurs/27th - “Don’t Let Drugs MIX You Up” Wear crazy mixed up clothes                      
Fri/28th- “Red-y to Live a Drug Free Life” Wear


Thanks for adding to those big white plastic Y2K tubs in front of buildings! They are for winter clothes and coats!
Share the love, share the warmth and share the extra clothes and winter items with those less fortunate and get into a game for free. Winter will be upon us before we know it!
What we have all been waiting for… MAP Scores
Our math shows improvement across all grades and Algebra
ELA Scores
ELA is growing cohorts as each grade travels through the building, from 6th, to 7th to 8th grade.
Science Index Score
Science took back some losses but only tests in 5th and 8th grades.
Above, we see three pairs of graphs.
The first graph in a set of two is a relative score that adds up how well we score compared to every other school in the state of Missouri. The percents of each score are tallied, combining all students:  Below Basic, Basic, Proficient and Advanced. The highest score is 500.
The second chart is just how many students are in the proficient or advanced category. The state uses this indicator as well when determining what schools need extra attention, support and development. The highest score is 100.
Building Summary
This single chart lays out an overview of our school.
SCHOOLDIGGER.COM
https://www.schooldigger.com/ shares this data in user friendly formats without as much detail of information as presented by DESE. By looking at trends, indicators and overall factors, SchoolDigger has in fact raised our status 137 points in their index score. Look there for more data, results and ranking ideas.
#onthemap
What can we all do together?
FOR ELA
Help students read and read better.
Encourage them in reading, to ask questions and allow for failure and redos!
Ask lots of questions about their reading.
Don’t use reading or writing as punishment.
Instead, allow reading to be a privilege or responsibility and something we need to practice at to get better.


FOR MATH
Improve their number sense. Talk about speed, rate and time when traveling.  
(At 60 mph, how far would you travel in 15 minutes?)
Talk about change, sale prices and money when shopping.
(How much would that video game cost if it was 25% off $40?)
Ask Siri or google questions as often as they come up.
Start a savings account!
In the Classroom...
PBiS: 8 Effective Classroom Practices
  1. Classroom Expectations
  2. Classroom Procedures
  3. Encouraging Expected Behaviors
  4. Discouraging Inappropriate Behaviors
  5. Active Supervision
  6. Opportunities to Respond
  7. Sequencing and Choices
  8. Task Appropriateness
Does it work? Most any system works, as long as there is consistency and follow through from all.
This chart demonstrates our current focus on the minors and addressing things through The Warrior Way, Reteaching, Buddy Rooms and Reflection sheets. By concentrating on the minors, we strive to minimize the number of majors. Early data tends to verify this relationship.


Some Middle School steps to reach our goals:
  • MAP Incentive Brunswick - Oct 19th for 6th and 7th graders
    • Nov 9th for 8th and 9th graders
  • Parent / Teacher Conferences 10/17 & 10/19 for the Middle School
  • Fundraising
  • Chromebooks for All*
  • MobyMax for all*
  • eValuate
  • Newspapers in Education*
  • Data Walls*
  • NEE Teacher Evaluations
    • Units of Instruction
    • Lesson Plans
  • Word Walls*
  • Student Self Reported Grades*
  • Teacher Support
    • Collaborative Work Grant
    • Math Consultants*
    • ELA Trainers*
    • Teacher Collaboration
  • Block Scheduling in ELA
  • Binder Content Meetings
  • Parent Positive Postcards Home*
  • PBiS
  • Collaboration Days
  • Pepsi (& Pizza*) with the Principal
    • * New this year
BMX Motocross in our gym with the Primary students
Our fundraisers have been so successful that we could bring in these motorcross BMX Trick Riders. We have brought Knockerball, Basketball Trickshot Artists and ???
Asking for those orders teaches the students responsibility, allows them to talk to adults, supports their learning, fun and motivation, and even earns them special prizes, fun and adventures!
Student Reported Grades, Data Walls, Anchor Charts & Word Walls
Not just for English Class, most rooms of the Middle School now have Word Walls and Data Walls. Reminding our student of how far they have come, what they have learned and what high expectations can do for them is often just enough encouragement to help them set goals, work hard and reach beyond their personal limits! Growth, progress and getting better permeates all walks of life.


Sincerely,

Tom McCracken
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