February 27, 2017

Our Mission:  “Educate students for lifelong learning and responsible living.”

Our Vision:  “Provide a learning environment that promotes and develops academic and

social growth.”

Attaining Learning Outcomes = Higher Achievement

• Monday - Review your District Benchmark Assessments.  
• Tuesday - State Testing Meeting Brett & Cramer Out am.  Please check your email for items to bring to PLC meeting.  Brett Principal Advisory Committee 3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday - Healthy Lifestyle Luncheon - Brett Out p.m. Fire Drill p.m.
• Thursday - Tornado Drill a.m., Ronald McDonald Friendship Shows, please check calendar invite.
• Friday - Honor Choir Show, Mid America Jr. Achievement,  K - 2nd grade. End of 3rd Quarter.

Read Across American Week
Please join us in celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday by participating in the school-wide spirit days !

• Monday:  Sleep Day (appropriate pj's or sweatpants)
• Tuesday:  Great Day for Thunder Up (OKC Thunder gear)
• Wednesday:  Oh The Places You'll Go (favorite college spirit gear)
• Thursday:  Dress like your favorite Dr. Seuss character
• Friday:  My Many Colored Days (wear you the color for your grade.)
• PK:  Pink
• K:  Orange
• 1st:  Yellow
• 2nd:  Purple
• 3rd:  Blue
• 4th:  Green
• 5th:  Black
• 6th:  Red
• SpEd, Specials:  Rainbow/tie dye

Link for State Testing Information:  State Testing Information and Released Questions

  

• March 6 - 10 Spring Intersession for 3rd - 6th Grade at Fillmore.
• March 13 - 17  Spring Break
• March 20:  Return to School - Last Quarter of the 2016-2017 School Year

Team Campaign

Dear Coolidge Elementary,

The 2017-2018 TEAM campaign is well underway!  Although our district has been faced with drastic budget cuts, we still rise above.  Thank you for showing up every day full of passion and dedication to learning and teaching.  Now more than ever, your donations matters.  I want to encourage each of you to contribute in some way to the 2017-2018 TEAM campaign.  If everyone in our district gave $1 a pay period, we would raise over $113,000.00!  100% of the funds raised through the TEAM campaign, fund our partnership with DonorsChoose.org.  We want our school to have a 100% giving!  Please feel out a pledge card or make a donation. 

The top 3 schools based on percentage of giving will receive a visit from the Dodgers Mascot.  

SeeSawMe. 

To Develop Every Child Into a Reader:

• Everyday a child reads something they choose to read.
• Every child reads accurately
• Every child reads something they understand.
• Every child writes something that is personal and meaningful daily.
• Every child talks with peers about reading and writing.
• Every child hears an adult reader read fluently.

Coolidge Elementary Academic Goals for 2016-2017

• All Students WILL achieve academically.
• Reading:  Increase reading proficiency by at least one grade level.
• Math:  Increase math achievement by 10% with 80% mastery of math facts on grade level.  
• Writing:  Increase writing proficiency by 15%
• Student Attendance:  Increase student attendance to 98%.
• Increase Faculty Attendance to 98%

OKCPS Literacy Standards

          1^st Grade

          2^nd Grade

          3^rd Grade

          4^th Grade

          5^th Grade

          6^th Grade

OKCPS Math Standards

          Pre-K

          Kindergarten

          1^st Grade

          2^nd Grade

          3^rd Grade

          4^th Grade

          5^th Grade

          6^th Grade

Melissa Brett | Principal

Coolidge Elementary School | Oklahoma City Public Schools

5212 S. Villa, Oklahoma City, OK 73119

(405) 587-2800

(405) 208-1581 (cell)

February 20, 2017

Our Mission:  “Educate students for lifelong learning and responsible living.”

Our Vision:  “Provide a learning environment that promotes and develops academic and

social growth.”

Attaining Learning Outcomes = Higher Achievement

How you speak to children and each other matters.  Your tone of voice as well as your body language speaks volumes to another person.  Reflection question to be answered in comments:  In what ways would you like to improve your communication with children, parents, or peers next week?

Coming Up:

• Monday:  District Comprehensive Snapshots - 3rd - 6th Grade all week.  Informal Observations.  Girls on the Run Begins
• Tuesday:  PLC Meetings, Faculty Meeting
• Wednesday:  Meeting with 6th Grade parents, 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday:  Principal's Meeting Brett Out 
• Friday:  Regular School Day Last day for district comprehensive assessments.

Be sure you have updated your F&P board, classroom individual data tracker card, and the Google Document Data tracker.

All APP forms must be turned in to Brett/Cramer for signatures by 3rd.

Mastery Connect Common Assessments:

News on the District Comprehensive Assessments which open Tuesday, February 14^th and closes on February 24^th.    If you are having difficulty with Mastery Connect please see Ms. Hunt she is our Mastery Connect building level support.

3rd – 6^th will take a reading and math compressive assessment.  This is designed to be taken online.  3^rd and 4^th – you will need to work together to schedule your time with Chrome Books.  You may also check into using the computer lab for the assessment. 

5^th grade will also have a Science comprehensive assessment to take online.

5^th and 6^th –

Since you are departmentalized please have the students complete the test in your subject level classroom.  You will be sharing the Chrome Book Cart to have the students take the assessments so please plan accordingly. 

Q: Will I need to grade the assessment?

A: No. When the student is finished, the scores will automatically be recorded in the tracker.

To Develop Every Child Into a Reader:

• Everyday a child reads something they choose to read.
• Every child reads accurately
• Every child reads something they understand.
• Every child writes something that is personal and meaningful daily.
• Every child talks with peers about reading and writing.
• Every child hears an adult reader read fluently.

Coolidge Elementary Academic Goals for 2016-2017

• All Students WILL achieve academically.
• Reading:  Increase reading proficiency by at least one grade level.
• Math:  Increase math achievement by 10% with 80% mastery of math facts on grade level.  
• Writing:  Increase writing proficiency by 15%
• Student Attendance:  Increase student attendance to 98%.
• Increase Faculty Attendance to 98%

OKCPS Literacy Standards

          1^st Grade

          2^nd Grade

          3^rd Grade

          4^th Grade

          5^th Grade

          6^th Grade

OKCPS Math Standards

          Pre-K

          Kindergarten

          1^st Grade

          2^nd Grade

          3^rd Grade

          4^th Grade

          5^th Grade

          6^th Grade

Melissa Brett | Principal

Coolidge Elementary School | Oklahoma City Public Schools

5212 S. Villa, Oklahoma City, OK 73119

(405) 587-2800

(405) 208-1581 (cell)

February 13, 2017

Our Mission:  “Educate students for lifelong learning and responsible living.”

Our Vision:  “Provide a learning environment that promotes and develops academic and

social growth.”

Attaining Learning Outcomes = Higher Achievement

Greeting students with their own handshake.... it means so much to greet your students.  Cool Teacher "Certain moves go with certain kids because it is personalized".  

• Monday:  Professional Development.  Potluck Breakfast.
• Tuesday:  Valentines Day.  District Comprehension Snapshots with Mastery Connect Opens.  PLC meetings please bring your laptop.  Pat in the building.  Valentine's Parties 2:30 p.m.  No Faculty Meeting -  School Board Election Day.
• Wednesday:  Regular school day.
• Thursday:  Brett out - Principal Meeting.  Smart Start.
• Friday:  In the Gap at Coolidge

MyOn Data:
Coolidge students have completed 23,576 books and spent 4,526 hours and 8 minutes reading.  The leader for the school continues to be 4th grade with 8,200 books completed and 1,596 hours and 49 minutes spent reading.  

Blake Weese has spent the most time in the building reading with 104 hours reading.

Intentional Relationships with your students:  Edutopia.org

22 Ways to Build Intentional Relationships With Your Students, Even If You're at a Big School

If you can't fit advisory into the master schedule, you can implement a lot of what Big Picture does during homeroom, in your classroom, or during lunch and break periods. At the heart of advisory is building intentional relationships with your students. Here are 22 ways to do that.

1. Know your students' names, suggests Snorten. When you use someone's name, you're recognizing their identity. It's simple, but it helps your students know that they're being seen.

2. Recognize something that your students like. "Even something as simple as, 'I know your favorite color is green,'" recommends Snorten. "Or, 'I know your favorite football team is the Washington Redskins' -- anything like that. It's a talking point."

3. Notice something about your students. "'Hey, I love your blouse. It's really pretty.' That extends itself for a conversation," explains Snorten.

4. Ask your students about their experience in after-school activities. You can say something like, "’Hey, I know that you were able to go speak in front of the mayor. Tell me what that experience was like for you,’" suggests Snorten. “Or, 'You all had a softball game the other day. I understand it was pretty tough. Share some fun things about it.' These kinds of conversations are quick, and they don't take hours and hours to build."

5. If a student is late (or acting up), check in with them. "Instead of saying, 'Go to class,'" suggests Courtney Ivy Davis, Nashville Big Picture's school counselor and internship coordinator, "start a conversation, and say something like, 'Hey, I've seen that you've been late for the past couple days. What's going on? Do you need some help with anything?'"

6. When you're having conflict with a student, use that as an opportunity. As a teacher, you’re positioned to help students problem solve and work out their issues. The language that you use in these situations is key, and Snorten advises asking the following questions:

• What happened with this situation?
• Was there something that you could have done differently? What would the outcome have been?
• What are resources that you can use to help you work through issues or concerns that you have?

Edutopia.org  Project Based Learning:

Last year, I was surfing Pinterest with the intent to find some interesting ideas to implement into my AP World History class. I came across several articles where individuals had used the classic tales animated by Walt Disney to encourage student learning. After thinking on this I had an epiphany: What if I could have students use their historical knowledge gained throughout the course to pick out the inaccuracies in Disney films? This had the potential to be an interesting project for students to explore a movie of their choosing and develop a polished presentation to teach their peers about the selected time period and region. I wanted to create an assignment in which students harnessed and nurtured their creative abilities but also accomplished the goals.

After extensive planning, I was able to develop a project that embodied the analysis of historical context, a fun animated classic, and also primary sources. The parameters for the culminating project were as follows:

1. Summarize the story as portrayed by Disney.
2. Determine the origins of the fairy tale. Where did the fairy tale originate in the world? How true to the tale did Disney stay?
3. Determine the setting of the movie (time and place) and whether the architecture is appropriate. (i.e.: Is Mulan set in Han China when the Forbidden City was not yet constructed?) Is the clothing congruent with the setting? How accurate are the appearance of the characters? Are there any geographic misrepresentations? (i.e.: Does Hercules mention visiting Mt. Kilimanjaro in Greece?)
4. Determine what was going on the world at this point in history. Consider all events globally and identify at least one major event from each continent (except Antarctica).
5. What historical inaccuracies can you find in the movie? Aside from talking animals and the magical powers of wands and genies, what fallacies are represented in the movie?
6. Select two primary sources from someone who would have been a contemporary during the time and in the location of the movie’s setting. If Beauty and Beast takes place in Revolutionary France, you can use a letter from Robespierre. This source should be connected in some way to the movie. If you use Robespierre’s letter, perhaps you want to relate it to Gaston in his attempt to raid the castle.

As with any new project, there is always some trepidation as to whether the outcome will be as desired. There were several what if that flowed through my mind. “What if the students really just see this as an excuse to watch a movie and really do not analyze it as I envision? What if the students just decide to turn in poster paper? What if I have not prepared my students to think about these movies in a global context and really analyze the movies? Have I really thought through any possible hiccups? With so little guidance into what the final product should look like, what should I expect?” Because my students had worked so hard to prepare for the AP test, I figured I would wing it. Trial and error, right?

At the end of this project, I was more than impressed. Of course, there are always modifications to be made but essentially all of my students created final presentation products that were polished, analytical, and comprehensive. I received some Prezi presentations, video compilations, elaborate PowerPoints, and even a PowToon. Several of my students reported that they learned more from this project than any other assignment in their history classes. Others reported the freedom they were given to search out resources and to create a product in a format other than a written report was refreshing.

I consider every lesson a learning experience no  matter how many times it has been implemented. This lesson with a select group of students has taught me that the studies supporting project based learning  encourages a deeper learning model. I have also learned, that despite our best intentions to maintain a structured environment, there is something beneficial about letting students guide their own learning. We as teachers all know that our students learn more when they are interested in a topic, but letting them drive their own learning takes this to the next level. Granted, I consider this assignment a success and plan to implement it again this spring, I am still considering taking this project even further into the redefinition category (for you SAMR fans). Perhaps, it is time to engage my students in a digital collaboration platform such as Google Drive or even the Microsoft 365.

References:

Johnson, L., Adams Becker, S., Estrada, V., and Freeman, A. (2015). NMC horizon report: 2015 K-12 edition. Retrieved from http://cdn.nmc.org/media/2015-nmc-horizon-report-HE-EN.pdf

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This post was created by a member of Edutopia's community. If you have your own #eduawesome tips, strategies, and ideas for improving education, share them with us.

To Develop Every Child Into a Reader:

• Everyday a child reads something they choose to read.
• Every child reads accurately
• Every child reads something they understand.
• Every child writes something that is personal and meaningful daily.
• Every child talks with peers about reading and writing.
• Every child hears an adult reader read fluently.

Coolidge Elementary Academic Goals for 2016-2017

• All Students WILL achieve academically.
• Reading:  Increase reading proficiency by at least one grade level.
• Math:  Increase math achievement by 10% with 80% mastery of math facts on grade level.  
• Writing:  Increase writing proficiency by 15%
• Student Attendance:  Increase student attendance to 98%.
• Increase Faculty Attendance to 98%

OKCPS Literacy Standards

          1^st Grade

          2^nd Grade

          3^rd Grade

          4^th Grade

          5^th Grade

          6^th Grade

OKCPS Math Standards

          Pre-K

          Kindergarten

          1^st Grade

          2^nd Grade

          3^rd Grade

          4^th Grade

          5^th Grade

          6^th Grade

Melissa Brett | Principal

Coolidge Elementary School | Oklahoma City Public Schools

5212 S. Villa, Oklahoma City, OK 73119

(405) 587-2800

(405) 208-1581 (cell)

January 30, 2017

Our Mission:  “Educate students for lifelong learning and responsible living.”

Our Vision:  “Provide a learning environment that promotes and develops academic and social growth."

Attaining Learning Outcomes = Higher Achievement

• Monday:  I-Observation Informal Observations will be occurring all week.  These do count in your formal evaluation score.  All F&P data must be uploaded to the Google Drive Running Records Folders. 
• Tuesday:  PLC Meetings.  Mastery Connect and F&P data
• Wednesday:  100th Day of School?  
• Thursday:  Brett Out.  Smart Start 8:30 a.m.
• Friday:  Brett Out  Fire Station Visit.

Please be sure you have uploaded your F&P Data into the Google Drive.  If you have added or removed a student please indicate this in your records.  All students must have their student ID numbers included in their running records form.

Parent Teacher Conferences are coming up.  Be sure you have entered your grades into Infinite Campus.  Teachers consider having students create a Google Slide Show with their grades and goals to share with parents.  Ms. Metz has a great app for scheduling appointments - please check with her and see if it is something you might like to utilize for conferences.

Free Teacher Resources:  hese are "FREE-99" "FREE hundred" "FREE thousand" "FREE"
I think you get the picture. They are free. 

http://www.dreambox.com/teachertools

Coolidge -- Coolridge. Close enough? 

Every 4th grader at Coolidge got 3 tickets to the Oklahoma City Blue basketball game tonight. They won these tickets by reading the most minutes on Myon, our online reading program. Way to go, 4th grade crocodiles! Our great 4th grade teachers deserve a pat on the back as well---- Ms Harden, Mrs Kappel, Ms Russell, and Ms Navarro.

Police Visit PreK

Thank you Master Sargent Lourse for visiting PreK .  

Thank you for working with Coach Barton to create our new ABL Schedule.  Please remember to sign into the lab. 

 Basketball Season is on.  Thank you OKC Pals.  Our students appreciate it.

 Math Night Fun.......

In the comment section please share at least 3 good things that you would like your colleagues to know.  

To Develop Every Child Into a Reader:

• Everyday a child reads something they choose to read.
• Every child reads accurately
• Every child reads something they understand.
• Every child writes something that is personal and meaningful daily.
• Every child talks with peers about reading and writing.
• Every child hears an adult reader read fluently.

Coolidge Elementary Academic Goals for 2016-2017

• All Students WILL achieve academically.
• Reading:  Increase reading proficiency by at least one grade level.
• Math:  Increase math achievement by 10% with 80% mastery of math facts on grade level.  
• Writing:  Increase writing proficiency by 15%
• Student Attendance:  Increase student attendance to 98%.
• Increase Faculty Attendance to 98%

OKCPS Literacy Standards

          1^st Grade

          2^nd Grade

          3^rd Grade

          4^th Grade

          5^th Grade

          6^th Grade

OKCPS Math Standards

          Pre-K

          Kindergarten

          1^st Grade

          2^nd Grade

          3^rd Grade

          4^th Grade

          5^th Grade

          6^th Grade

Melissa Brett | Principal

Coolidge Elementary School | Oklahoma City Public Schools

5212 S. Villa, Oklahoma City, OK 73119

(405) 587-2800

(405) 208-1581 (cell)

January 23, 2017

Our Mission:  “Educate students for lifelong learning and responsible living.”

Our Vision:  “Provide a learning environment that promotes and develops academic and

social growth.”

Attaining Learning Outcomes = Higher Achievement

• Monday:  Regular Day.  F & P January Assessments
• Tuesday:  OKCPS Teacher for A Day.  PLC Meetings, Faculty Meetings.  
• Wednesday:  Yearbook Meeting after school, library.  
• Thursday:  Brett out - Principal Meeting
• Friday:  Delta Dental Recheck, In the Gap in the building

Shout Out to the awesome Math Team that put together the Coolidge Math Night.  Students, parents, and teachers all had a good time.  Be sure you signed the sign in sheet if you plan to use that  event as part of your Snow Make Up Days.  

Wiley Blevins Phonics: To download the software to be able to use Phonics WhiteBoard Activities please  Start Here:    Interactive Whiteboard CD   OKCPS Phonics Sequence

What Research Says About Phonics:

• Phonics Instruction can Help All Children Learn to Read
• Explicit Phonics Instruction is More Beneficial Than Implicit Instruction
• Most Poor Readers Have Weak Phonics Skills and a Strategy Imbalance
• Phonics Knowledge Has a Powerful Effect on Decoding Ability
• Good Decoders Rely Less on Context Cludes Than Poor Decoders
• The Reading Process Relies on a Reader's Attention to Each Letter in a Word
• Phonemic Awareness is Necessary for Phonics Instruction to be Effective
• Phonics Instruction Improves Spelling Ability
• A Teachers's Knowledge of Phonics Affects His or Her Ability to Teach Phonics
• It is Possible to Overdo Phonics Instruction.

First Grade Blueprint   Second Grade Blueprint  Third Grade Blueprint
Fourth Grade Blueprint  Fifth Grade Blueprint  Sixth Grade Blueprint

MyOn Data:

Congratulations to the fourth grade.  Consistently this year they have completed the most books and spent the most time reading with MyOn.  They will receive tickets to the Blue Basketball Event at the Cox Convention Center.

As a school we have read 3,645 hours and 34 minutes.  19,614 books have been completed.   We are falling behind our reading on MyOn from last year.  Please encourage your students to read MyOn at home as well as at school.   

1. First Place 4th Grade with 1,321 hours 12 minutes.  6,828 books completed.  
2. Second Place 2nd Grade with 723 hours, 12 minutes.  5,343 books completed.
3. Third Place 6th Grade with 595 hours, 34 minutes.  2,254 books completed.

Don't forget to complete your F & P January Assessments - the end of January is coming up.  Be sure you upload your data into the Google Drive.  Be prepared to discuss your students progress compared to their Star Data  and 2nd Quarter Reading Grade.    Do I use fiction or non-fiction texts to assess my students?

o   We are using just fiction this year.

Ms. Cramer and Mrs. Brett will be conducting the final round of observations.  This is an informal observation so there will not be a pre and post conference with this observation, but it will COUNT in your final evaluation score.  

Coolidge Problem of Practice is Student Engagement.  During the informal observation and walk throughs we will be looking for student engagement.  

• Engaging Students- The technique used to help students practice should support students as they develop automaticity or controlled processing with skills, strategies, or processes by engaging in appropriate practice activities 

Practicing Skills, Strategies, and Processes

When the content involves a skill, strategy, or process, the teacher engages students in practice activities that help them develop fluency.

Evidence:

Teacher Evidence:

• Teacher engages students in massed and distributed practice activities that are appropriate to their current ability to execute a skill, strategy, or process

  • Guided practice if students cannot perform the skill, strategy, or process independently
  • Independent practice if students can perform the skill, strategy, or process independently

Student Evidence:

• Students perform the skill, strategy, or process with increased confidence
• Students perform the skill, strategy, or process with increased competence

Resources:

Instructional Coaches Ashleigh Helmick and Carrie Skaggs are here to help you with your instructional strategies, lesson planning, transitions, or other areas you may choose to work on.  Coaching sessions are not part of the evaluation process.  A coaching session length is determined by the teacher and the I.C.  

To Develop Every Child Into a Reader:

• Everyday a child reads something they choose to read.
• Every child reads accurately
• Every child reads something they understand.
• Every child writes something that is personal and meaningful daily.
• Every child talks with peers about reading and writing.
• Every child hears an adult reader read fluently.

Coolidge Elementary Academic Goals for 2016-2017

• All Students WILL achieve academically.
• Reading:  Increase reading proficiency by at least one grade level.
• Math:  Increase math achievement by 10% with 80% mastery of math facts on grade level.  
• Writing:  Increase writing proficiency by 15%
• Student Attendance:  Increase student attendance to 98%.
• Increase Faculty Attendance to 98%

OKCPS Literacy Standards

          1^st Grade

          2^nd Grade

          3^rd Grade

          4^th Grade

          5^th Grade

          6^th Grade

OKCPS Math Standards

          Pre-K

          Kindergarten

          1^st Grade

          2^nd Grade

          3^rd Grade

          4^th Grade

          5^th Grade

          6^th Grade

Melissa Brett | Principal

Coolidge Elementary School | Oklahoma City Public Schools

5212 S. Villa, Oklahoma City, OK 73119

(405) 587-2800

(405) 208-1581 (cell)