4th Grade, during BLT we discussed

October 31st, 2017

Next month, I will share all of our data for reading and math. SMART Goals, how they
went, what we are doing thats going great, successes, etc.
If you have anything that you are proud of and want me to share, please let me
know!
Mel will take this information and successes to Student Success Admin meetings
Vertical Meetings
We will be required to meet with 3rd and 5th grade once a semester
In our PLC, we need to come up with things that we want to discuss with each
grade.
What are we not doing but should to prepare them for 5th grade?, What do
we want 3rd grade to make sure to cover before 4th grade?, Not pairing
friends when creating class lists, etc.
Then, I will take this to next BLT meeting, and we will create a Document so we
can follow all the questions/categories we need and finish quickly
Wants the meetings to be beneficial for us, but also do not waste our PLC time,
especially since there will be so many people in one room. Discuss questions and
content, then get onto team PLC
After next BLT meeting (November 20th) we will need to find time to meet with
5th and 3rd for our first meeting
3rd grade did a PLC survey for Kristin
Master Schedule
We discussed master schedule and if we need to make changes to start them now,
but we have to vote majority to begin changes
Discussed poor math times, not having the full math time to teach, how
specials/lunch then math is getting the students all amped up so sit for an hour
instead of letting the energy go at recess
Different suggestions given, but we need to meet as a team to see if the schedule
meets the needs of our kids and why or why not so I can take back to BLT and we
can vote on changing schedule
Lunch Lines
5th grade voiced concern that lines will not start moving until Lunch supervisors
are there, even when the teachers are all there. Suggested that we (teachers) could
act as supervisors until they come (because we do have to be there anyway) so the
lines could start moving sooner
 Discussed that this could be an option, but we need to document when the
supervisor is not on time and let Mel know so he can take action there before we
try the first step
PBJ Request for 2018
We need to start thinking about PBJ requests if we want one. If we want a flexible
seating pod/community room, we will need to put in a request for that. Especially
now that we have chromebooks. 5th grade received $10,000-$12,000 to design it
how they wanted it, and we could do the same, if we choose to.
PTO Request forms
In shared Teacher 2017-2018 Google Folder
If you request money, fill out and send to Mel
If he approves it, send it to a Board Member so they can add it to their next
agenda
If you request money, Mel would like you to be at the meeting where your request
is being discussed
This is for extra money, not field trips
FUN Committee
Staff will start signing up for months that they want to participate in now
Examples
If you do not sign up for food, you cannot eat it at potlucks
If you do not sign up to participate in a month (October), you will not get
Booed
There was frustration because there were 32 people now Booed and one staff
member had to Boo 32 people
You can chose what months you want to be in
Does not have to be any or every month, whatever you are comfortable
and want to do

5-15-17

Data Review
Iowa Assessment Results
Document sent out for current and incoming grade levels
15-16 bullet points of successes compared to state
 Increases and decreases shown
Most scores consistently in 80% range - what can we do to boost those scores into
an even higher range?
Include move ins
PLC Topics Learning and Teaching
Flex Days
Remember that flex days must be in the building
Mr. Hewitt will be available during these times
Ancillary Teachers/Workshops
Changes for next year
BLT Teams come up with non negotiables - tight things, and PLC teams can then
take these expectations to form their workshop times
Nuts and Bolts
Class lists - Due May 30
Mr. Hewitt will send out tomorrow
Date unknown when teachers will receive class lists for fall
Mr. Hewitt will send as soon as he can
Chromebooks - 180
180 for each grade level
170 kids at each grade level
7 classrooms will have a cart - request for a cart for new 3rd grade teacher
Summer work - chromebooks will be re-carted and labeled - Mr. Kitchen will be
working on this.
Carts will be stationary - no need to have wheels if each classroom has their own
cart. Tech Cadre is looking into this.
Student can bring their chromebook to special ed or other classroom when they
come
Assign particular chromebook to particular student
Special ed and classroom teacher can help student build the routine of bringing
chromebooks back and forth to classrooms they attend

Questions, Concerns, Comments

End of Year
Lost and found items will be out for students to look at
Begin to have students start cleaning out their lockers
Friday, May 19th will be last day of workshops
Last day of special ed and reading support will be Wednesday, May 24th.
Carnival lunch will be sack with options outside with normal lunch supervisors.
If it rains, lunch in pod and classrooms with lunch supervisors and
teachers.
 Volunteers for carnival - Watch Dogs from Anderson and Morris, possibly band
kids.
Check with Kristin if there are questions on the district end of year assessment
tests form
Report cards will be emailed home by 4pm on the last day of school - May 26th.
Teachers should pick a couple students to send thank yous to PTO for helping
fund the carnival
Mr. Hewitt sends Anderson Angles and will send summer email updates to new
staff

4-17-2017

Data Review

Review data - SMART Goals

Iowa Assessment results - EdInsight will be out later

PLC Topics Learning and Teaching

PLC Survey
Will send out later this month
What grade level team needs are and what team strengths are
Teams should take these into considerations when planning for flex days

Flex Days
Grade level work
An additional flex day may be added for Jan. snow day
Look at priorities as a team
Okay to invite new teachers - optional for them
End of year Academics
Maintain academics and learning opportunities - even with last week - balance academics with
field day and carnival. Maintain a schedule for the students.
More freedom on the very last day - send off

Grades are due May 23rd

Field Day right after lunch - afternoon - possibly 2 hours long - Mr. Zarr will send out a
schedule: Monday 5th, Tuesday 4th, Wednesday 3rd
Mr. Zarr will work this and try to have you not miss specials -

Carnival Thursday - times coming soon Will take about an hour - You will not have specials
this day - 5th grade morning???

Ancillary teachers and interventions

Some specials teachers have voiced a preference to come into the teachers classroom and work
with the teacher.
Possibly team plan with the teacher with the same level of students
Possibly work in a classroom with a teacher and team teach

SPED/Regular Ed Communication
Teams want to honor PLC times, but have been interrupted at times. When do gen ed. meet with
special ed?
Sped will make a list and Gen ed will make a list and we will share with each other.
Being more strategic when we meet so it is not so scattered - maybe a specific morning, day 1, or
beginning time of a Monday PLC.
Make sure communication is happening and built into the day
IEP dictates amount needed
Come to a consensus with grade levels when they will come so all can meet at same time and
then special ed can meet together opposite this.

Interventions - List Specific Interventions

What does the differentiation mean on PLC Logs - how exactly are you doing this? Get more
specific on what you are going to do.

Flip flop building PLC and Team PLC - AEA wants to meet with 3rd -8th grade to look into
math
April 24th will be a team day
May 8th will be a building day

Nuts and Bolts

Supply lists (optional items)
Anything that goes to whole class should be labeled optional - tissue, dry erase markers,
disinfectant wipes can be replaced with the spray from Tom if needed,
Can discuss needs throughout the year - sharing among grades or looking at needs

Cleaning
Down a custodian on the north end.
Utilize custodial need form and fill it out daily if needed
Frustrating if this is needed to be filled out by teachers
Is there a way to set up a system or schedule for whose room is getting cleaned when so
teachers know and can prepare with chairs and items on floor?
Hold our building to the highest standards - holding each other accountable for their jobs
This program only allows you to click one thing at a time - Mr. Hewitt will talk to Dave
Think about this with your teams and grade levels - are we holding each other accountable?
Blend into an Anderson expectation that everyone knows
Framework is consistent - how you teach it is up to you
What have we had success with?
What do we need to improve on?
What are the top items we can focus on at the beginning of the year?
Staff relationships
Relationships with students
Mentors - trying to bridge staff across grade level teams
There will be a 4th grade rep on this committee next year

Questions, Concerns, Comments

STEAM Night Update

Staff kids - lots of kids around before and after school and popping in rooms to talk to them
What are the expectations?
Teacher kids should be with the parent or mutually agreed room
Para children can go to breakfast, north area, south area, east area, or other agreed upon room
Para can check with teacher to see where they leave their personal coat/etc.?
We came to consensus to begin the year with new expectations

2-20-2017

Review data - SMART Goals

Send SMART goals to Mr. Hewitt so he can share them out with staff. Once a
month when we have BLT meetings.

PLC Topics Learning and Teaching

https://www.solutiontree.com/blog/33-questions-to-help-navigate-your-plc-journey/
Incremental changes: when to include reading and science and other areas?
Need flexibility in Monday PLCs to discuss some of those other areas
It is not about the log - it is about the product - what is the product that we are
going to develop or assess students with.
What would be a good form from the team to monitor the important areas?
Can always improve on the math end - what to do when they dont get it? What
to do when they need more?
 Changes with report cards might need more time to adjust - may make
implementing Reading PLC more challenging/stressful
If a completely new staff came in, would they know where are kids are at?
Where they need to go? We need to get to this point end goal - incremental
changes
Needed from Mel: continued support and open for ideas - communication
between everyone.
Teachers preferred Mr. Hewitt coming around to meetings
Mr. Hewitt could be the person who points teachers in a direction for
support in another grade that he has seen them. (ex. 5th grade datas
look)
How do we celebrate teams progress?
Teams complete work at different times
Could chart goal and celebrate as class - Mr. Hewitt congratulate at
lunch?
Continue thoughts on this
District Assessment tests: Kristin is waiting on feedback from Diane about
teacher questions on these tests. Want to make sure that it is a meaningful test
for the end of the year.

Nuts and Bolts

Set April BLT date
Student Supply List
https://www.educateiowa.gov/resources/laws-and-regulations/legal-lessons/fees-
0
In regard to Disinfectant Wipes, sanitizer, baggies, Kleenex and other
items for individual student ude - will say optional
Can bring in things like dry erase markers - but they cant consolidate -
keep them in their locker or somewhere with their names on them
Can possibly ask students to be responsible for their own supplies or give
them the option of storing them in a communal [tote]
Can no longer have community items

2-14-2017

Review data - SMART Goals

Send SMART goals to Mr. Hewitt so he can share them out with staff. Once a
month when we have BLT meetings.
We will discuss this at the next meeting - remember that all of your grade level
are your students - work together to look at all of their needs and successes

PLC Topics Learning and Teaching

 Share DuFour article: https://learningforward.org/docs/jsd-spring-
2004/dufour252.pdf?sfvrsn=2
We will read this article and come back together to discuss it next Monday the
20th from 2:20-2:45
2017-2018 Schedule
Start Week of March 8
Wednesdays 3:30-4:15

Nuts and Bolts

Set March BLT date - March 20th 3:40
Peer Review Form
Check it out
Good for teacher professional growth and reflection
Mr. Hewitt does not review these - these are not evaluative
Will be sent to teachers as a Google Doc - Teachers will make a copy and be
able to type and store their own copies.
PBJ Requests
Get any last requests to Mr. Hewitt quick - they will review and discuss these
coming soon.
Let teachers know that we should not use Donors Choose for funding
Possibly look into grouping together with others to put in a request for flexible
seating
Once chromebooks are set one to one - labs could become learning
centers - may be flexible seating could be there
Mr. Hewitt would support funding for this
Possible funds for carnival at end of year from PTO
Workshops - Related Arts
Some related arts teachers are working with lowest level students - many
members disagree because they dont know all of the curriculum and standards
and we are expecting them to work with these struggling kids.
The lowest students should not be working with these teachers because they
need to be with the teachers who are familiar with the curriculum and have the
differentiation down.
If they co-teach in your classroom, the numbers may be too big
Maybe teacher has lowest small group and another teacher teams with a related
arts teacher for a larger middle group
Could even have middle group with specials teacher in teachers classroom and
gen ed teacher take smaller group with them to specials office or room.
Even those bubble kids should be with a general ed. Teacher.
Kristin can share out Engage NY Resource Binder for Intervention
PLC Conference - Attendees
July 24-26th (leave 23rd and come home 26th)
3rd - Owen, Reents
4th - Phares, Van Woerkom
 5th - Lozano
BSIL - Maffin
PTO - Attend only if your grade level is requesting funds/support
Student Supply List
https://www.educateiowa.gov/resources/laws-and-regulations/legal-lessons/fees-
0
In regard to Disinfectant Wipes, sanitizer, baggies, Kleenex and other
items for individual student ude - will say optional
Can bring in things like dry erase markers - but they cant consolidate -
keep them in their locker or somewhere with their names on them
Can possible ask students to be responsible for their own supplies or give
them the option of storing them in a communal [tote]
Can no longer have community items
SUPPLY DUE TO BLT NEXT MEETING (MONDAY, Feb. 20)
Curriculum Needs for 2017-2018
Due back to Julie no later than Feb. 21 (TUESDAY)
2017-2018 Student Numbers (with 5% increase)
3rd: 185 (194)
4th: 168 (178)
5th: 170 (179)
Number of students, know inventory, auto ship
Talk to Julie for questions right away

Questions, Concerns, Comments

STEM Night Discussion
Kristin shared ideas and will come up with a template for the beginning plan.
BOY, MOY, EOY Assessments - Table for later???
Can shred end of year or dispose of in the bin outside the main office

For next time:

1. Unit by Unit - Skill by Skill PLC Documentation
2. Read article and answer questions Mr. Hewitt sends out

12-19-2016

Review data - SMART Goals

Send SMART goals to Mr. Hewitt so he can share them out with staff. Once a
month when we have BLT meetings.
2017-2018 Schedule
In the past we have started in March after spring break
No stipend since BLT has a stipend already
Think about when we want to start looking at these things
 Think of special ed possible to change which grades do which specials when?
Go back to teams and discuss with them what their thoughts are
Specials - 3rd prefers afternoon
math/reading (3rd and 4th would change)
Essential Standards
Do we know what standards have that longevity?
Standards-based Report card committee is working on these for an updated
report card
Possibly some PD on teaching how to determine what the power standards
would look like
Possible document spanning grades vertically
PLC document - 15-Day
PLC Conference - Attendees
Who would like to attend?
July 24-26th (leave 23rd and come home 26th)
3rd - Owen, Reents
4th - Phares, ?
5th - Lozano, ?
PBJ Requests
Principal - Chromebooks
Grade Level Teams - no type up needed
Related Arts - Individual requests
CODE - Julie Barnett
Conference on coding - may share with us in the future
Celebration of Learning Replacement - Spring
Conferences changed the dates of our previous Celebrations
Parents are excited to see the students work - like Literacy Night
Not necessarily something mandatory for teachers - like Literacy Night
STEM Night?? Math Night??
Stay Tuned...
PTO
Do we have any building requests
Run these requests through the BLT committee
Only thing does not need to be run through BLT is field trips
Ideas:
Extra carnival funding - ex: popcorn for machine
Flexible seating - part PTO, Part District
Kelsi shared article
Ipad for each classroom
Regrade playground

Questions, Concerns, Comments

Lunchroom issues
Teachers may or may not be discussing these things
 Sometimes there needs to be a directive so that there is something in place to
prevent it from happening.
As long as there is a teacher there to watch the students go through the milk line,
he is fine with that. - Make sure it is covered.
Adjust your time so that the 22 minutes is met - there is time in the schedule - like
with specials before or recess.

11-16-2016
Review data - SMART Goals
3rd: Ch. 2 was graphing - goal was that 80% of kids would get 80% or higher
from pretest to posttest. Did not meet goal - average was 80% to hit goal, but
80% of students did not meet this goal. Decided for chapter 3 to change the
format of the pretest and posttest. They created an assessment that matches more
- took out some of the reading portion.
4th: Discussed results from chapter 2 - had lower % to start on this one, and
students made great marks. Within chapter 3, they set a higher goal, and the skills
are showing the first one was met with 87.3%, but the second one was not - so it
will be important to review the second skill before the final assessment.
5th:Ch 1 - 5 of 7 made it - the 2 that fell short had 60-70%. 80% of each 5th
grade class will score 70% or higher on exit slips.
These are great things that teams are doing - deep discussions, making changes,
and working toward what is best for kids.
PLC Survey
Are any teams planning to meet with others on the 21st?
Wants to discuss survey with teams and preface it with a discussion on articles he
has shared in his newsletters about PLCs - some of the items teachers want more
information on are in these articles.
May meet as a whole and discuss for 30 minutes or do teams before or after
school
Most agreed teams would prefer Mondays
Some items from the survey can be discussed in the BLT team, some are non-
negotiables, and some are items teams must address within their individual teams
Agendas and Math PLC logs are tight items
At least twice a year, your team should be meeting with teams above and below.
Whenever it works out for both teams to meet.
Report Cards emailed to parents on November 18
Some shares issues with empty box
Walk-through - Share
Shares a sample of his results. He has been in 59 classrooms throughout the year
- he wants to see the stuff we discuss in PLC happening in the classrooms. He
 likes seeing all of the things that the teachers are doing. His goal for himself was
to be in your classroom at least 1 time per month. He is looking at how to use the
data with the BLT team. His results break down by part of class time (he tries to
come at a different time each visit), technology use, objectives discussed or
shown (it is important for kids to know what they are going to be learning),
instructional strategies, essential elements of teaching, observation notes (quick
snapshot of what students are doing and what teacher is doing) - This is not a
gotcha - it is a way for Mr. Hewitt and Mr. VanderLinden to be informed about
what is happening in the classroom. This is not a tool for evaluation - it is a tool
for him to stay connected and provide you with feedback.
PLC Conference - Attendees
Who would like to attend - end of July - Possibly leave 24-27th (July 24-26 in
MN)
A couple people from each grade level
Possibly 6 from each building
Des Moines conference this year filled up too quickly for us to catch (Oct.
23-25)
Questions, Concerns, Comments
Collaboration with Sped/At-risk
5th grade concern with struggling kids are sped or at risk. It is difficult to
find time to collaborate with these other teachers - the collaboration is not
able to happen. This is an issue that we need to address
special education team has issues that need to be addressed. How do we
reduce supports for the kids that are at grade level? Increased times when
special ed. Meets as a group - updating rosters, differentiation in their
classrooms, look at exiting kids - etc.
Since this is a new process, we will be working through some of these
issues.
Possibly send a collaborative email or Google Doc sharing scores from
gen ed with sped teachers
Recommended teachers being more educated on expectations from AEA
and looking at the whole picture
Special education teachers will be looking at the data from the whole
student - sped goals and classroom work
Agendas
TIGHT
This Monday agenda has to be shared and prepared before the meeting
The Math PLC document has to be shared and completed - chapter by chapter -
common, formative assessment
The norms have to be there to help guide the team and keep team prepared.
 Continue the fun committee ideas - encourage others to participate
Task to complete before next meeting
Unit by Unit - Skill by Skill PLC Documentation

10-10-2016

Established Team Norms

NEXT TIME: we will look at unit by unit - skill by skill - Kristin will bring 4th grades data
Focus on math, except for 5th grade will have both reading and math
Look at the data skill by skill, unit by unit
Review 3-5 Unit one SMART Goals
If Mr. Hewitts agenda is ready at least 2 days in advance, we will be able to bring
this information
SMART Goals - Unit by Unit, Skill by Skill
Agendas
Encourage teams to start adding to next weeks agenda tomorrow
PBJ Requests
Never too early to think about these
Requests from each team
They want to help schools reach a large population - last year was Chromebooks
- Goal could be one to one
Subscriptions should be Lohse $ and teacher budget
All requests will run through BLT team
Administration looks at these requests after
Some years one person needs more than others - shift of those resources
Daily News/Weekly News
Mr. Garnass at HS does weekly
Julie would send out absent teachers daily
More to come on this...
Set next meeting date - November
Monday, November 14th
Afterschool learning sessions - Kristin
There are a lot of questions
Who would be in charge of this?
Would this be a teacher referral?
Would there be more than one person?
Tutoring? Would this need a lesson plan?
Would AM time work better? - start at 7:30, have breakfast, then to school? - No
snack needed?
Does Ames school do this?
Evidence of what teacher is doing in class before allowing the extra after school
support
 Will the kids that need to come be able to come - will parents be able to get them
here or get them afterwards?
Resources would need to to be provided
Sometimes work would need to be one on one based on student level
Are we able to supply a list of tutors for parents? Recommendations?
We will continue this conversation...
School calendar will possibly have more people involved this year
Report cards due Nov. 15 - go home Nov. 18th

9-6-2016
Purpose/change from last years BLT
Data review, celebrations, lead learner in PLC process

Team Norms - September 12

Remember what to do when members are not following the norms

Career Development Plans Due -September 26

Vertical Meetings (ex. 2nd/3rd, 3rd/4th)
Times to meet with grades above and below
On teams to decide - setup on your own and decide when you will meet

Conferences: Oct 3/6

Check up vs. autopsy
We gave midterm - will continue this year

Grade level news to parents

Review examples
Teams will have a template - teachers make a copy and add their
additional items or tweak information - template on the front side should
be the same
All send weekly or bi-monthly - consistent within team
Make sure news is sent out by at least September 19th - consistency is
there...

Building Wide Mid-Term Report

Review grade level examples
UPDATE ON MIDTERM FORMS
Kristin will email Voss and Lozano to have them tweak for 3rd and 5th
grade to show Mr. Hewitt
BLT teal leaders will discuss with teams if they feel we can have a new
midterm form for October conferences
 Kristin will check with Alex to see if there is a way to turn this form more
digital
Special Education will continue to send progress reports only
I will get this to you to look at and see what may need changing

Jean Days
Kristin will update the dates to match 2016-2017

***Let me know if there are items that need attention. :)