Lucky Duck Matching

 Here are more reported lucky duck numbers, the raffle is coming soon!  If you see your match on the lists, contact them and reach out to be entered into the raffle!  Good luck and happy hunting! 

Elearning for Emergency Days

 Please remember the BOE did approve the use of elearning for emergency days.  See this guide for teachers on what the expectations look like for staff.  EC-1 staff be sure to hand out to families the blizzard bags at parent teacher conference time.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact Educational Services.  

Summer School K-5 Update

 Summer School Vacancies 

I know it's only October but we are already planning for summer school 2024! Last Friday vacancies were posted for the following positions: 

2 Teachers, preferred candidates identified, posted 10/20/23
2 Teachers, posted 10/20/23
2 Interns, preferred candidates identified, posted 10/20/23
2 Interns, posted 10/20/23

Below is proposed/tentative information about the elementary summer school structure. Please note that interns are college students who are currently enrolled in a college of education program. Please reach out to Kara Salto, Elementary Summer School Principal, for additional information and/or questions. Please also see the IgKnight session opportunity below to gain additional information about our K-12 summer school program. 

Summer School Dates: July 8th - August 1st, 2023 (Monday-Thursday)

Elementary Gradespan: Students who will be entering 1st-5th grade for 2024-2025 school year. There is a proposed Step up to Kindergarten session for incoming Kindergarten students. We are proposing that outgoing 5th grade students attend middle school programming. 

Elementary Proposed structure:

8:30-11:00- Interdisciplinary block with customized paths (1 KEA with 2 Interns for every 30 students)

11:00-11:55 Lunch/Recess for students who attended the interdisciplinary course and who are also attending an engagement camp

12:00-1:30 Engagement Camps (Sessions offered in 2 week increments)

1:30-3:30  Themed Day Camp

Summer School IgKnight Informational/Q&A Session

"I'm Ready for Summer" 

November 20, 2023 1:55pm-2:45pm 

Do you find that after a few weeks of summer you don’t know what to do? Do you love teaching and having fun with students? Do you have a passion for science, music, basketball, weightlifting, podcasting, sewing, dancing, etc? If you answered yes to any of these questions, sign up for the "I'm Ready for Summer" session during the IgKnight conference to get answers to all of the questions you’ve always wondered about! 

Key Tips for Parent Teacher Conferences

 As we come up on our Parent Teacher Conference week, we wanted to share a few research-based tips with our staff.  We know these days can be very long and intense, so first and foremost please take a bit of time for yourself.  Schedule a block of time to allow yourself to reflect, relax and eat!  Please remember also this is a great time to share information about IgKnight Academy with incoming 3rd to 9th grade if you are observing self-driven learners within your school.  A few other research-based tips are as follows:

1.  Communicate your expectations for the conference to all families prior to the event

2.  Be on time for the conferences, families are nervous and waiting at times

3. Be welcoming, this might be the first time they have been in your classroom or school

4.  Be prepared, parents want to see that the teacher knows their child and has a plan for their success. Review your students' grades progress, and behavior before the conferences. Jot down notes about each student, anticipate questions or parental concerns.

5.  Share the student voice, if the student is not present or leading the conference, collect information ahead of time from the child to share.

6. Do not tolerate abuse.  If a parent becomes aggressive simply end the meeting and follow up with your Principal.

We wish you all a fabulous parent conference time and bookfair event!  Please reach out within and support at all you need.  

PD Spotlight - Collaborative Conversations

This week, we are excited to promote a group of teachers and coaches who came together to have a very collaborative conversation regarding our accelerated math offering at the middle school. From the start, the group was entirely student-focused as we looked for ways in which we could better streamline our accelerated math delivery. 

I want to recognize the work of Sam Maurer for representing the work of all math teachers K-5 as well as Lindsey Roscoe, Christy Kukovec, Kelly Wilson, Rachel Walker, and Laurie Villalobos from 6-8 for their knowledge of our students, the fluency in which all of our teachers can speak to our math standards and proficiency tables, and the ability to identify issues that need adjusting and offering tangible ways in which we can improve. 

Great work as one of the many examples of our teachers collaboratively working towards a common goal!

Lucky Duck!

Over the past few weeks we have had more matches AND a few lucky weekly winners.  Our first HUGE raffle is coming up in December, so go duck hunting and find your match to be part of the raffle.  This week be sure to check your numbers and see if you have lucky duck number 33!!!  Email Sarah Mumm at 10358@kaneland.org if you are a lucky winner!  

Tenet J- Customized Paths

The last tenet spotlight is on tenet J.  Within this tenet is the evidence that shows how students are allowed and encouraged to work through their own pathway in content.  Evidence of this tenet would show how student made decisions about the process or content they are learning.  It is not just product personalization but more about the how and what they are earning.  Examples would include math continuum progress, pathways projects, students selecting reported standards to explore, and some project based learning units.  

Please remember that all tenants for those employed prior to 2023, are due in May of 2024.  If you have been working on a tenet or two and would like feedback will reach out to your Director of Educational Service.