Last Call! NIU PD Action Focus Groups

 NIU researchers and D302 Educational Services team members are seeking to understand barriers to the

impact of teacher professional development on classroom practice in Kaneland.

We are offering several one-hour online Zoom meetings between November 7th and December 2nd.

Focus groups will be confidential and conducted by NIU researchers.

All participants will earn a paid hour for their time and involvement.

Please sign up by November 16th, 2022 using the link below:

http://go.niu.edu/rj01xb

Thank you in advance for your consideration. If you have questions or need further information, please

email one of our NIU faculty sponsors:

Todd Reeves, Ph.D. treeves@niu.edu or Olha Ketsman, Ph.D. oketsman@niu.edu

Writing Labs Are Opening for K-5

 We are so excited to continue to work with our Writing Consultant to assist in building foundational knowledge, skills and application in writing workshop.  We will be asking all classroom staff and MTSS Co-teaching Interventionists please complete this form to sign up for one of the grade level offerings to attend a half day session to observe and work with our writing consultant. Once you sign up please also enter a sub into AESOP for your half day. 

December 6th:

K and 1 - in the am 

2nd - in the pm 

December 7th:

3rd - in the am 

5th - in the pm 

January 24th:

K and 1 - in the am

2nd - in the pm 

January 31st:

3rd - in the am 

4th - in the pm 

IAR Initial Data Update

 The Illinois School Report Card data has officially been released.  Here are the overall updates on data, please feel free to search your specific school at https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/

ELA:  3rd decrease 39% to 32%, 4th increase from 34% to 45%, 5th decrease 40% to 36%, 6th increase 17% to 23.5%, 7th decrease 23% to 18.2%, 8th decreased 31.8% to 19.7 percent.

Math: 3rd increase 41% to 44%, 4th increase 29% to 41%, 5th equal at 31%, 6th increase 16.4% to 19.4%, 7th decrease 24% to 19%, 8th decreased 25.7% to 24.7 percent.

Student Voice Update

 Each month Administration takes time at every CHESS meeting to hear student responses.  This month we captured a few of the responses from our students.  Please enjoy! 

 How do you access support and resources? 

Ask teacher, monitor or peer for help when I have a question

Ask for help or check google classroom for resources and help

Student contracts for the week and PBP tables in google classrooms are great for help

I raise my hand and ask a friend or recess monitor for help

Can ask for breaks to adults as well

Ask for help via email, or add comments to Canvas for discussion

Co-teacher feedback:

Coaches come in and help with reading

Sometimes we go to the Magic Math Room

Co-teachers can read with students, they work with small groups

Small group conferences and POP or writing with the co-teachers

SPED Co-teachers come to help with unexpected behaviors or small groups

Sometimes they pull out students and we go to the room to work on reading problems or need

How do you advocate for learning needs?

Count with my fingers helps support my learning

I know I like to work in my living room with my parents

Asking to leave the room during small work when it is too loud

Asking for extra work for practice or to extend

I use my learner profile to share what is best for me as a learner

I like to do math on paper and write it out, sometimes I ask the teacher for a bit harder work

Just ask a teacher

I prefer to email my teachers 

I have asked to work in the hallways, especially when groups get to crowded 

Suggestions/input from students:

Updating Minecraft to newest version

Doesn’t like IXL

Wishes every single grade can have a Chromebook

5th grade would like snack and maybe a nap time.

Doesn’t want our school to change, likes it the way it is - it is fun interesting and a lot of stuff happens here.

Wish that all grades got to play Minecraft.

Personalized Learning 3.0 Updates

 We are beginning to get samples of evidence from various tenants of Personalized Learning 3.0.  If you would like to see samples please contact Sarah Mumm or Patrick Raleigh.  Please remember that a piece of evidence may span across multiple tenants as evidence.  Also another tip is that you can complete evidence as a team.  We have great submissions from teams that take time to share and reflect together.  If you have any questions at all please contact the Department of Educational Service.      

Escape Room Now Taking Reservations

 The student escape rooms are now taking reservations for the in-district field trip.  If you or your grade level team would like to host a field trip at Meredith and complete the escape events and other activities, please contact Sarah Mumm for optional dates.  We are excited to show off the newly designed escape room! 

MTSS Steering Committee Update

 We are excited to have the annual review of our MTSS progress.  We will be hosting the "Steering" committee meeting from 9:30-2:50 on January 26th at Meredith.  At the most recent KEA Initiatives meeting it was suggested that we shift the MTSS Steering Committee membership and time to all MTSS staff.  We do value our original steering committee membership, however the positions have changed, therefore we will invite all Coaches, MTSS staff and related service to the steering committee in January.  Thank you so much for working on this shift this year.