First, administer the STAR or another diagnostic that can determine students' growth since the start of the school year. Be sure to use the data to help and support your decisions for flexible grouping at the start of the next semester, as well as to help identify students who may benefit from remediation in tutorials. A diagnostic would also help identify your students that may need to be considered for the RTI process and could be an additional data source for those difficult to have parent conferences. More than anything, a December diagnostic gives you the chance to truly reflect on your work. You can celebrate your success over the break big time!
Second, determine the critical Parent Conferences that you need to have at the top of the second semester. Priority should be given to the students who you are thinking about retaining, those who have an unexplained decline in academic performance, or even those who've experienced great growth since the start of the year. Using the data from diagnostic could also show parents patterns of growth. While you're at it, go ahead and prepare the emails that you will send for each parent and save them as a draft so all you have to do is push send when you return from a much needed break. This also gives you some time to rethink kids to add to, or take off of the conference list. Here's an example of a parent conference form you can use that covers the basics, email me jeriggins@apsk12.org if you'd like the PDF.
Third, plan strategic after school tutorials for the next year. You could include "bubble kids" who may be ready to move to developing or proficient performance levels if included in tutorials. In addition to planning for the kids you will include, be very strategic about the skills and concepts you will cover. Think about including those skills that are cross curricular which will be present in all areas such as comparing and contrasting, cause and effect relationships, and determining the central idea.
Fourth, map out the next three months using the district curriculum maps, scope a sequence for your grade level as Units of Study, (Unit 3 available soon in the Phoenix Platform. ) Planning out the upcoming nine weeks will help you plan for any upcoming assemblies, field trips, and breaks so that you can accurately plan for your progressions.
I've saved the best for last! Write a funding proposal to cover professional development that may be considered by your GO Team, Principal, DonorsChoose.org or PTO. I know, I know, budgets are tight, but who could argue with the need to learn about best practices for teaching and learning? Do your homework here by looking for local trainings and conferences that are aligned to the district's instructional practices. It can't hurt to ask! Have a great Holiday break!
Jermal :-)
