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Wilkinsburg School District English Department Wiki
=Thursday, March 2nd=


 * Ms. Ayers and Dr. Webb called for a staff meeting on the morning of March 2nd via email
 * Agenda set by Ms. Ayers: Keystone Opportunity Grant, Language! assessments, Scheduling Language! classes for 2012-2013 academic year
 * Present: Mr. Furlow, Ms. Boyer, Mr. Boll, Ms. Conrad, Mrs. Drane, Mrs. Zubadi

= = =Tuesday, February 21st=

= = =Tuesday, December 13th= Hello English Department,
 * Mr. Johnson left the High School as principal
 * Ms. Ayers took a leave of abscence
 * Mrs. Webb was hired as High School prinicipal
 * Ms. Barb Maholev was hired by the district as a consultant
 * Mrs. Andrews resigned as Literacy Coach on 2/17/2012
 * Regular department meetings stopped after the Christmas break

Thank you for all of your efforts in pulling together the English Department budget for the 2012-2013 academic year, that was no small task! For Thursday's "meeting" I am asking all Language! teachers to please send me the test resutls from V-Port so that Melissa has reliable data to support our student's growth.

Once studets have taken the 3 assessments (TOSCRF Book **Baseline, TWS-4 Book** Baseline, LRS Book ** Baseline), please complete the following task:

1.) Log into the teacher V-Port account (you are going to generate a progress report of sorts for your class)

2.) click "My Results"

3.) click "Key Measures"

4.) under "Category" select the appropriate book (if you teach more than one Language! class you can select multiple books to generate 1 report)

5.) under "Sub-Category" make sure you select "baseline/progress indicator"

6.) under "measure" be sure that all of the options are selected

7.) Under "Chart Options" and "Scale" select the dropdown tab that says "lexile"

8.) click the "refresh" button in the middle of the page and you should have a lexile score for each student

9.) In the lower right hand corner there is a white highligted text that says "export table data," please click this text and it will create a spreadsheet containing current student lexil scores

10.) Please email Melissa and I the spreadsheet by Thursday, December 15th! If you need any help please feel free to ask us and we'll help you with this task!

Thanks,

Lucas = = = Thursday, December 1st = The English Department Meeting is cancelled today but please refer to the email and respond in our discussion section of the WIKI, thanks. = = = Tuesday, November 29th =

Thursday, D ecember 2nd will be a combined middle school and high school department meeting in the high school library. Agenda:
 * Establishing basic exit criteria for Language! program
 * Student Improvement Plans

= Tuesday, November 15th = = = Attention Department chairs, = = I am requesting an electronic copy of the planned courses for this year grades 7-12. Please email your respective department members to send these request to you. In turn please send the documents to me.These documents will be utilized on the extended day this Wednesday in order to setup a framework for the online courses. Please note that the deadline is Tuesday by 3 pm. = = Sorry for the short notice, but the goal is to have this framework completed before Christmas break.

AJ = = = Monday, November 7th =

English Department Update: Reminder:
 * Senior Language Arts Proficiency Course...coming soon!
 * Student Improvement Plans...
 * Thursday, November 10th English Department Meeting: I will be attending Penn Literacy Network Training (course 2) and will report out to the Dept.
 * Vocabulary Strategies - please review the PPT's, podcasts, and the Gunning text
 * Exam View: a great tool to instantly create PSSA test questions related to the Glencoe Literature books...tutorial to follow soon...
 * Language! Program lexile assessment and student placements (exit criteria)
 * Please **bring an artifact from your class that uses the PSSA question stems**
 * Please be prepared to have a **professional discussion** concerning the information in the podcast, Gunning text and PowerPoint

= Friday, October 28th =

= Thursday, October 27th = = = = Wednesday, October 26th =
 * Our next Department Meeting is on **Thursday, November 10th**
 * Our next topic will be strategies for vocabulary instruction and our materials will include: 2 podcasts concerning vocabulary instruction, a vocabulary instruction chapter from Gunning, T. (2011). //Building literacy in secondary content area classrooms.// Upper Saddle, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN-13: 978-0-13-704876-2 and a PowerPoint that summarizes the information.
 * Please **bring an artifact from your class that uses the PSSA question stems**
 * Please be prepared to have a **professional discussion** concerning the information in the podcast, Gunning text and PowerPoint
 * Correction: Meetings will be held on Thursdays in room 316 after school
 * A reminder that there is no English Department meeting Thursday, 10-27
 * We will meet on Monday 10-31
 * Please remember to post your response to the Wiki concerning the question stems as your idea might help someone else!

= Monday, October 24th = = = = Thursday, October 20th = Hello English Department,
 * Department meetings have been switched to Mondays
 * Please remember to post your response on how you are incorporating the PSSA question stems into your lessons
 * If you have any questions about the PSSA question stems please feel free to ask

We will be meeting in the school library today after school and hopefully the location will be better suited than my corner of the world on the third floor! Please review the agenda and prepare a brief response for the discucssion question.

Thank you for your hard work and service to our students, looking forward to seeing everyone this afternoon!

Thanks, Lucas = = = = =** Tuesday, October 11th **= I have not been informed about an English Staff Meeting this week but in the event that we do meet:
 * Language! Teachers please bring your laptops as we will working with data entry in V-Port
 * __//**All teachers**//__ please bring your completed unit plan to Thursday's meeting
 * Data Review and question stem usage (see emailed handout...coming soon)

= October 10th = Hello English Department,

Thank you very much for your dedication and hard work that went into making Friday's curriculum writing session a success. Please submit your Unit Plans ASAP so that we can post them to the Wiki for the Department to view.

Well done Ms. Robinson, you started a buzz with the novel //The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.// While I was subbing I had two students that I considered somewhat reluctant readers pull out the novel, read it, and discuss the narrative with me, that's good stuff.

Anyone else have any titles that are going over well or like 'lead ballons?'

= = = October 6th = English Department Staff Meeting: Cancelled Interim Tutorial Session in the Library at 2:35 = = = October 4th = Hello English Department. It has been quite some time since our last meeting and here are some updates: = September 29th = The English Department meeting is cancelled for today. Instead, all staff will report to the library after school for a meeting regarding Monday's field trip. = September 26th = All English Department Staff are to report to Hosanna House Room 207 at 7:30 - 3:00pm for training with Bel-Mor Associates. = September 22nd = Our "Department Goals" have been added to the Wiki under "2011-2012 English Department Goals!"
 * We are still awaiting news about our Language! book order
 * The Alternative program is receiving 8 students and some may be from the regular education setting
 * Teachers please take note and pass along any grades or materials to the appropriate Language!, Reading, or English teacher
 * Data Review for 4Sight and Acuity coming soon...
 * Please continue to post your progress, concerns and ideas to the discussion page of the Wiki
 * Thank you for your continued dedication to our students
 * Middle School Teachers, have you received your 4Sight Data?

English Department Meeting is being held in the library today after school and the middle school is having a year level meeting to select mentees. (thanks Mrs. Boyer) = September 20th = = = Attention High School Faculty & Alt. Ed. For Thursday's after school meeting please note the following: Math and Science departments will report to room 119 Social Studie, LAnguage Arts, & Cycles will report to the Library Thank You Mr. Johnson = = = September 19th = The **Progress Monitoring Form** has been poseted under "English Classroom Resources." Please bring your previous forms for the Department meeting this Thursday.

The final Language! order is going to be placed for the 2011-12 school year this week. Speak now or forever hold your peace!

= = =‍‍ ‍September 16th = Just a reminder that all lexile testing should occur with Mrs. Drane beginning Monday, September 19th.
 * **Furlow ** || **1 Teacher set E ** ||
 * **Myers ** || **3 C/D, 3 E/F student sets ** ||
 * **Carnevali ** || **Complete ** ||
 * **Robinson ** || **1 D teacher set 5C 5D ** ||
 * **Andrews ** || **5 Student Sets of C/D ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Jackson ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">1 teacher set D, 20 student D sets ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Vigilante ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">8 Student F/ 4 D student sets 1 D, E, F teacher set ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Wagner ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">15 Interactive Text A ****<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">15 Interactive Texts B ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Conrad ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">8 student B sets, 1 teacher set C/D and 2 student sets of C/D ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Boyer ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">10 Student sets of D materials ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Drane ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">5 Student sets of C ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Divoky ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">5 student sets of C and (5)D ** ||
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Zubadi ** || **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">11 student for C; 11 student for D ** ||

**High School Acuity Testing Dates** : Wednesday (21): Reading Thursday (22): Math Friday (23): Make-ups

Department Meeting: 2:35pm
Room 316

= September 13th = = = = = = = = September 12th =
 * **Teacher Name** || **Tuesday Lexile Data** ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Boll || N/A ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Drane || Complete ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Uhlinger || N/A ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Boyer || Complete ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Jackson || Complete ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Conrad ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Wagner || Complete ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Robinson || Complete ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Carnevali || Complete ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Furlow || Complete ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Myers || Complete ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Divoky || Complete ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Andrews: || Complete ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 * Vigilante || Complete ||  ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||

Language! Program News and Notes: __//** Language Lexile Classroom Data Due Tuesday, September 13th **//__
= September 9th = Just a reminder that student lexile data can be accessed under "English Classroom Resources" for you to check if students are being properly placed in your Language! classes. = = = = = September 8th = English Department Meeting Time: 2:35 pm Date: 9-8-11 Room: 316 Materials Needed: Laptop (I can provide if needed), Language teachers need book 1 teacher's edition = = = September 7th ‍=
 * For this week only please lexile test all new students in your Language! classes
 * After this Friday, we will send all new students outside of your classroom to be tested
 * Please submit your __//**lexile classroom data ASAP**//__ as Melissa and I must present this data to Mr. Johnson and Mr. Perrin (Please email Melissa and I a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet with the student's last name, first name, raw score, & lexile level) (Save the document as teacher's last name, A, C, or E, lexilescores)
 * Example: Furlow.E.lexilescores I've posted my classroom lexiles under the "Language! Program Resource" bar if you would like to see an example.

=
The Language! materials have arrived, thank you very much for your patience and photocopying during this time! If you didn't receive your teaching guides or student materials please don't panic as there is more on the loading dock, I just didn't have time to label it all. Please find me after school if you didn't receive what you needed but remember there are limited amounts of student materials so I will try and divide them up according to the greatest needs.======

Thanks, Lucas

=
<range type="comment" id="653277">‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ V-Port usernames and passwords are available for Language! teachers. ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ======
 * <span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Please go to [|http://www.soprislearning.com]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Click on “V-Port” login at the upper right hand corner of the page
 * <span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Enter your username and password
 * <span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Follow the set-up wizard to create your account
 * <span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Import students or create your class lists (simply type the last names of your students and they should appear, click the arrow to add them to your class)

**Lexile Answer Key Status**:
Language A/B: Answer key is correct, thanks to Mr. B. Wags! Language C/D: For Book C the "Progress Indicator Key" is really the key for the Baseline lexile test! Language E/F: Anwer key posted to Wiki under "English Classroom Resources"

=
Ms. Jackson and Mrs. Vigilante have informed me that the answer key for the Language! C/D lexile is incorrect. We are working on getting a correct version posted to the Wiki so that we have accurate data. Would someone be able to check the A/B materials and E/F materials as I do not have those answer keys. =====

September 1st
//**At a Glance:**//
 * Post response to Wiki by Friday
 * Lesson plans due on Friday by 3pm
 * Question Stems: collect data
 * Gift for Melissa

Language
Hello All! Hopefully you are off to a good start for the 2011-12 school year? Please look under the "Discussion" tab on the left hand side of the page and post your commnets under the new discussion thread titled "Language! Program."

English/Reading/Literature classes For those of us not teaching any Language! courses we still want to hear from you! Please post your comment about your English class under the "Discussion" tab on the left hand side of this page!

Department Meeting : I spoke with Mr. Johnson who informed me that there will be no Department meeting this week. I'll have next week's agenda available soon. Thanks - Furlow

1.) I posted the "Reading Interest Inventory" under the heading "English Classroom Resources." There should be an inventory for Middle and High school students.
2.) More posts are coming to the "Wiki" so be sure to check the site frequently.

3.) NOTE: All baseline assessments can be found in student materials under the "Summative Assessment" title. If you do not have student materials photocopy these assessments from someone who does!

4.) I'm compiling a list of Language! materials that are still available and materials that are up for grabs from Ms. Ciuccio's room, update forthcoming.... These items will be distributed once I have a list of all staff requests for materials so please email me what you would like:

8 Crayola Washable Markers 6 boxes of 2 pocket folders (150 total at 25 per box) 99 Gray Binders 2 Easel pads

5.) Language! Inventory: Student materials: Book F 64, Book E 32 If you need anymore of these student materials please email me first before taking them so I can keep an accurate count of supplies, thank you!


 * New News from Melissa 8/26/11 **
 * 1) I spoke with Mr. Johnson today, and he said our order for Language! matls was approved and will be processed. I do not know when the matls will arrive, but I will keep you posted. Please make copies, etc. until you have what you need. Note that no more Language! matls can be ordered after this....until next year of course.
 * 2) Please check your email for the testing schedule this year. Note that the Acuity test dates will probably be moved.
 * 3) PLEASE GO TO the "Schedules and Classrooms" left and post your class schedule.