JEN’S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

AUGUST, 2009

Notes from the Lit Coach

HERE WE GO!!!! 2009-2010
LA Teams Update:
Please see the updated
3-Year plan included with
this newsletter.
For your information, the
LA Teams for our
collaborative work this year
are listed below. Our
emphasis is different for
different grades, however,
everyone will be involved at
some point in the year.

As school starts out this year please remember that I am Reading: Lydia, Laura,
here for YOU. Maryke, (Shachon/Nandita),
1. The Leveled Library and Browse Book area are ready for Stan, Chris
you to use. (Both are a forever work- in-progress...)
2. I am available to coach into your room. Talk to me about Writing: Heather, Betsy
how that might look. (Elizabeth), Kim, Ken,
Alison, Marisa
3. Feel free to come by anytime with questions, concerns or
just to chat.
Word Study: Josie,
4. Once the orders arrive you will have new books for your Emily, Farah, (Shachon/
classrooms. Also, I will have loads of new professional books Nandita), Scott, Jared
for you to look over.
I will be emailing you
soon with meeting time/
LA Curriculum Review Year format suggestions.

As I’ve mentioned, the LA Curriculum Review
Team will be made up of a representative from each subject to change.
of the ES grade levels. We will be completing our
review work in our LA curriculum teams; then I
will be sharing that work back with the other
divisional reps and Fred and Janet. Our goal is to
“fast track” this review so we can order the
necessary supplies during the regular ordering
window.
Here is the schedule so far- it is of course
August: Philosophy Review
September: Belief/Teaching Statements
Review
October: Benchmarks, Genre Grids, and
Book Lists Work
November: Finalize Benchmarks

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 JEN’S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER AUGUST, 2009

GRADES 1-3 DRA INFORMATION

Last year we worked together to better
understand and utilize the DRA2. Now it is
time for our hard work and plans to be put to
the test.
Our G.1-3 testing window is Sept. 6-18
with make-up DRAs happening after the Eid
holiday on Sept. 27 and 28. The plan is for us
to meet as a group to discuss the test and our
results on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
In order to make all of this happen, I will
be sending out an email next week (Aug.
GRADES 3-5 WRITING PROMPTS
As many of you know, at the end of last
year the writing team began discussing how to
better utilize and analyze our writing
prompts. While this discussion really just
began 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 discuss
it (the week of August 30-September 3).
Please set aside 2 1-hour blocks of time to
give this prompt so it is similar to the
23-27) with details about how/when to get
your materials as well as a reminder about our
DRA agreements and procedures. (New
teachers I will also have a special handout
with suggestions for you- but feel free to see
me with ANY questions.)
This would be a great topic for us to discuss in
your team meetings next week. Please invite me!
BEGINNING OF THE
YEAR WRITING PROMPTS
G.3: Write about a goal you
have for yourself and how you
feel about it.
G4: Write about something
WRAP format you learned to do and how it
we use in the made you feel.
Spring. On one G5: Write about a personal
success and how it made you feel.
day the children
should draft and plan and on the second they
can edit and write their final drafts.
We wi# discuss the results $om the first prompt
in team meetings the week of Aug 30-Sept. 3. Please
invite me!

NEW TEACHERS AT ACS

I’m excited to begin
working with our new staff
on literacy topics this year.
Please don’t hesitate to call
on me. No question is off
limits.
Our first new teacher TL: Do you have a
meeting will be on
September 1st, after topic you would like to
school. Jane and I will have have discussed in this
a few things to go over,
meeting? Please let me
however you will also have
time to bring up your own know.
questions.

Next Regie Routman Session: Wednesday, August 26 after school for 40 minutes.
In case you forgot, pick up the last session readings from Jen.

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