Dear Winnetka Families,
One of our favorite things to do as principals is visit classrooms and see how teachers are engaging all of their students. As each learner has unique strengths and needs, teachers are required to differentiate for the diverse learners in front of them. Differentiation means that teachers proactively plan varied approaches to what students learn, how they learn it and/or how they will show what they have learned in order to increase the likelihood that each student will learn as much as he or she can, as efficiently as possible (Tomlinson, 2003). Differentiation is a way of thinking about the classroom with the goals of honoring each students' learning needs and maximizing each student's learning capacity while developing a solid community of learners.
It is important to note that quality differentiation is not simply giving a student a harder math worksheet or workbook, providing a book that has harder words or more pages, or giving a student more work. Rather, it is found in the depth to which teachers know their students, the evidence and data they collect during observation and assessment, the questioning that occurs during a classroom discussion, math conversation, or writing conference, and the goals and activities they put in place for their students as a result of this work.
Hybrid learning has led teachers to experiment with a number of different tools and strategies for delivering impactful instruction and to aid in differentiation. For example, Google Jamboard is an online interactive whiteboard that can be utilized to support partner work. While it is harder for students to share materials or a common piece of paper, Jamboard allows students to work together in groups, write out their thoughts, visually organize, show their work, and receive feedback from teachers. This is just one example of the tools our technology integration specialists have shared with staff. Through the use of Jamboard, students can demonstrate their method for solving a problem and compare their approach with that of their peers. Teachers may then assess their student's conceptual understanding and offer guidance, input, or additional challenge or support as needed.
Most importantly, teachers continue to put a high value on rich-conversations, which are necessary to develop strong conceptual understanding. Questions such as: "how do you know that?", "what do you notice and wonder?", and "how might you explain this concept to your little brother/sister?" are types of open-ended questions that require higher-order thinking, analysis, and synthesis. These types of questions help teachers understand that a student has not just memorized a fact or an algorithm but rather are able to apply concepts to novel situations. Lastly, differentiated workbooks and activities can give students a break from their screens while also providing additional challenges for students that have quickly mastered concepts.
Sincerely,
Larry Joynt and Julie Pfeffer, Principals, Crow Island School
Joshua Swanner, Principal, Greeley School
Beth Carmody, Principal, Hubbard Woods School
Dear Greeley Community,
I hope you all had a lovely weekend and enjoyed the warmer weather on Halloween! I wanted to take a brief moment to express gratitude for Greeley School's ongoing partnership with the PTO, especially in consideration of the time and effort they placed into this year's Halloween activities. We may have some new traditions on our hands! The pumpkin carving/decoration contest showcased students' creativity and school spirit, and the virtual assembly gave all participating students an opportunity to be seen.
Continuing with the theme of tradition, votes are starting to come in for our Greeley mascot election. We are excited to finalize and share the results with our school community on Wednesday! Please remember that there will be no school tomorrow, November 3, for the election.
Sincerely,
Joshua Swanner Principal
DISTRICT NEWS
Student Survey
On Monday November 2, we will be administering a survey for students in grades 3-8 as part of our District-wide goal to support social emotional learning. The survey will provide information to better understand our students and help to inform our efforts to support the well being of all children in District 36. Based on this year's goals, the survey will focus on four areas: sense of belonging, well-being, engagement, and supportive environment.
Independent Work Teachers collaborate to determine what work is best suited for the remote period of the day. Examples of best practices include the application of academic knowledge, skill practice (word study, math facts, spelling, etc.), technology applications, learning extensions, constructive play, and integrating activities that have connections to in-person learning.
As part of our hybrid schedule, students are expected to complete between 60 and 90 minutes of asynchronous independent work. In order to calibrate the appropriate amount of student work, teachers will be specifying estimated time expectations for independent work activities for the next two weeks (Oct. 26-Nov. 6). This information will be shared in Schoology and any parent and student communications used by your teacher. If you find that your child is consistently working less or more than the recommended minutes, please reach out to your teacher. The refinements to the asynchronous remote work will serve to strengthen partnership between teacher and parent and improve the overall experience of the hybrid schedule.
2020-2021 Calendar
Travel Restrictions Update
It is important to note that several states (including Ohio and Florida) have recently been added to the Suburban Cook County Travel Quarantine list. If your family has visited any states on this list for more than 24 hours, you need to follow the Cook County Department of Public Health travel guidance and 14-day quarantine protocols. This applies to all families regardless of whether you stayed in a private home or what your activities were limited to within that state. Please reference this information from the Cook County Department of Public Health.
News from The Alliance for Early Childhood
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Pandemic Parenting: Tools and Tips, December 3, 7-7:45pm Register Here
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Pandemic Parenting: Tools and Tips, February 18, 7-7:45pm Register Here
Additionally, families are invited to participate in Let's Play! 2020-2021 Ongoing Community Programs. Upcoming events are as follows:
Family Action Network Events
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Dates to Remember
tuesday, nov. 3
no school
election day
friday, Nov. 13
no school
teacher institute day
wed. thru fri.
november 25 - 27
no school
thanksgiving holiday
friday, dec. 18
last day before winter break
monday, jan. 4, 2021
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The Winnetka Public Schools community empowers every student to flourish in an innovative, experiential environment. We support and challenge all learners to actively engage in continual growth and achievement to make a meaningful difference in the world.
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