2022 IgKnight Conference

IgKnight Conference 2022 is almost here! We are excited about all of the incredible sessions being facilitated by Kaneland staff for Kaneland staff. Here are a few details to prepare you for a day full of learning:

• Shuttle buses to Meredith Academic Center will be provided from the KHS student parking lot near the tennis courts at the band door entrance, as well as the district office entrance.  Moring routes will begin at 7:30 am and conclude at 8:30 am. They will run again for lunch from 11:15 am - 12:40 pm and for the end of the day from 3:00 pm-3:30 pm. Buses will NOT run during session times. 
• Carpooling is highly encouraged!!
• The Keynote Video will be emailed to all staff Monday morning at 7:00 am. The Keynote Video must be watched as there is a brief reflection activity that will be included in the sign-out form related to the video. The reflection must be completed in order to access your clock hour form. The video can be watched from any KANELAND CAMPUS location, as long as you're present at the start of your first session. 
• The Electronic Sign-In Sheet should be completed by 8:00 am. Be sure to have your IEIN number ready as you'll need to include it on the sign-in and sign-out sheets.
• The sign-out sheet will be emailed at the end of the day on 11-21-22
• Be sure to arrive with your schedule. We will not have printed schedules available for you. 
• There is a refrigerator available at MAC should you choose to bring a sack lunch. Additionally, we have notified Corner Grind that there might be a larger number of orders than usual. 
• If you want to participate in the raffle, be sure to grab a form in the front lobby and turn it in before you leave. To be eligible for the BIG raffle prize, you need to include how your sessions aligned with each of the 5 commitment areas.
• If your team is signed up for a Job Alike session, be sure to check the poster in the front lobby to identify open rooms available for you to work. Job Alike sessions are not pre-assigned to rooms. Locations are first-come, first-served. There are scheduled sessions in the LRC, Cafeteria, and gym, so please do not plan on using those areas. 
• If you have signed up for the Gratitude Walk, please be aware that this session is on the OUTDOOR track, so dress appropriately for the weather. Session participants should not walk indoors through hallways at Meredith while other sessions are running. 
• Be sure to only attend sessions that you are signed up for. Presenters have been asked to permit only registered participants into their sessions. There are room space capacities that need to be maintained. 

Reach out to Ed Services prior to the event if you have any questions!

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!