1. Welcome Back!!

2. Informal Cooperative Learning
Today we will review many “better practices” together and at the same time each new staff member will get a chance to work with every staff member at Scenic.
Later on your own, you will examine each item and think about how you can implement it this year. If you need more info what resources do you need.
Each group will meet for 5 minutes to discuss the “What and Why” of each initiative or strategy.
New teachers will rotate to a new table each round to work with a new group.

4. SMS Vision Statement
Scenic Middle School is a safe, positive, and engaging learning environment where staff, students, and parents work together to support and inspire students to become well-rounded and successful life-long learners.

5. SMS Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide a safe, respectful, and highly engaging learning environment in which all students are appropriately challenged while receiving an equally high level of support and encouragement. By fostering a “Growth Mindset” we believe all students will successfully work toward meeting their full academic and social potential, and be well prepared for high school and beyond.

7. Three types of Cooperative Learning:
Formal Cooperative Learning- Groups last from one class period to several weeks and usually complete a fairly complex and demanding task or project.
Informal Cooperative Learning- May last a few minutes to one class period.
Cooperative Base Groups- Long term groups like the ones you were placed in today that we will use for Trimester 1.

8. Mandates-a directive that requires every student simultaneously to process the learning.
Two Types:
Covert-Time to think
Overt-Manifest a response
Key parts:
Every Student
Simultaneously
Processing
Can your group come up with several examples?

9. Today at Scenic I learned…
Learning Targets
Today at Scenic I learned…
Written in student friendly language.
Answers for the student:
What will I learn today?
How am I going to learn it?
What do I have to do to prove I learned it?
How do I know if I am successful?
Example: Today at Scenic you will re-learn and review “better practices” and determine how to implement them this year. You will do this by participating in group discussions and listening to some briefs that I have prepared for you. You will be successful when you use them to increase your students’ success!

10. Resilience

12. Standards Based Grading Overview

13. Final thoughts for the day…
Not best practice? Could it be malpractice?
CWLP
PWLC
CWLC
SWLS
SWLK
KWLS
SWLS
KWLK

14. SMS 17-18 Goals and Improvement Web
Study and implement “Trama informed” principles and Collaborative Problem Solving Practices
Increase awareness of college and career pathways.
Collaborate to develop school-wide grading practices that align earned grades more closely to what students learn or are able to do as a result of the class.
Increase awareness, knowledge, and empathy of our students and parents in regard to ACES. Develop systems and implement strategies that help build resiliency and hope in our students.
Goal: Decrease in Failure=
Increase in Success
Use the power of core teacher teams to monitor student progress and quickly design and implement differentiated and effective interventions as needed.
Increase real-world connection Innovative and highly engaging projects that lead to application of learning and authentic products.
Develop vertically and horizontally aligned learning targets and common formative and summative assessments.
Continuously improve curriculum, instruction, and assessment.