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JENS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER AUGUST, 2009

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As Ive mentioned, the LA Curriculum ReviewTeam will be made up of a representative from eachof the ES grade levels. We will be completing ourreview work in our LA curriculum teams; then I

will be sharing that work back with the otherdivisional reps and Fred and Janet. Our goal is tofast track this review so we can order the

necessary supplies during the regular orderingwindow.

Here is the schedule so far- it is of coursesubject to change.

August: Philosophy Review

September: Belief/Teaching StatementsReview

October: Benchmarks, Genre Grids, andBook Lists Work

November: Finalize Benchmarks

LA Teams Update:Please see the updated

3-Year plan included withthis newsletter.

For your information, the

LA Teams for ourcollaborative work this yearare listed below. Ouremphasis is different fordifferent grades, however,everyone will be involved atsome point in the year.

Reading: Lydia, Laura,Maryke, (Shachon/Nandita),Stan, Chris

Writing: Heather, Betsy(Elizabeth), Kim, Ken,

Alison, Marisa

Word Study: Josie,Emily, Farah, (Shachon/Nandita), Scott, Jared

I will be emailing yousoon with meeting time/format suggestions.

HERE WE GO!!!!

Notes from the Lit Coach

LA Curriculum Review Year

2009-2010

As school starts out this year please remember that I amhere for YOU.

1. The Leveled Library and Browse Book area are ready foryou to use. (Bo th are a forever work- in-progress...)2. I am available to coach into your room. Talk to me abouthow that might look .3. Feel free to come by anytime with questions, concerns orjust to chat.4. Once the orders arri ve you wil l have new books for yourclassrooms. Also, I will have loads of new professional booksfor you to look over.

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JENS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER AUGUST, 2009

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GRADES 1-3 DRA INFORMATIONLast year we worked together to better

understand and utilize the DRA2. Now it istime for our hard work and plans to be put to

the test.

Our G.1-3 testing window is Sept. 6-18with make-up DRAs happening after the Eidholiday on Sept. 27 and 28. The plan is for usto meet as a group to discuss the test and ourresults on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

In order to make all of this happen, I willbe sending out an email next week (Aug.

23-27) with details about how/when to getyour materials as well as a reminder about ourDRA agreements and procedures. (New

teachers I will also have a special handoutwith suggestions for you- but feel free to seeme with ANY questions.)

This would be a great topic for us to discuss inyour team meetings next week. Please invite me!

NEW TEACHERS AT ACS

Im excited to beginworking with our new staff

on literacy topics this year.Please dont hesitate to callon me. No question is offlimits.

Our first new teachermeeting will be on

September 1st, afterschool. Jane and I will havea few things to go over,however you will also havetime to bring up your ownquestions.

TL: Do you have a

topic you would like tohave discussed in thismeeting? Please let meknow.

GRADES 3-5 WRITING PROMPTS

As many of you know, at the end of lastyear the writing team began discussing how tobetter utilize and analyze our writingprompts. While this discussion really justbegan in May, we were able to set a date for

giving the first writing prompt (the week of

August 23-27

)and for sitting down to discussit (the week of August 30-September 3).

Please set aside 2 1-hour blocks of time togive this prompt so it is similar to the

WRAP formatwe use in theSpring. On oneday the childrenshould draft and plan and on the second theycan edit and write their final drafts.

We wi#discuss the results$om the first promptin team meetings the week of Aug 30-Sept. 3. Pleaseinvite me!

BEGINNING OF THE

YEAR WRITING PROMPTS

G.3: Write about a goal you

have for yourself and how youfeel about it.

G4: Write about somethingyou learned to do and how itmade you feel.

G5: Write about a personalsuccess and how it made you feel.

Next Regie Routman Session: Wednesday, August 26 after school for 40 minutes.

In case you forgot, pick up the last session readings from Jen.