Dec. 7th 2015

Great Things Noticed:

Events This Week:

December 7 Faculty Meeting

December 8 Advisory Schedule

December 10 Band & Choir perform for BLES – 9:30 am – APR

Band & Choir perform for BIS – 10:30 - APR

December 11 BIS Spotlight - 2:40 PM -

Holiday Dance

December 14 Mid-point MP 2

Student of the Month luncheon

Faculty Meeting

December 15 Advisory Schedule

Band & Choral Concert

December 16 Department Meetings

Board Meeting

December 22 Advisory Schedule

December 23 Early  Dismissal

Nuts and Bolts:

Hour of Code  On Tuesday of this week during what is traditionally our 20 (19 due to advisory) minutes of reading, we will be asking students to try their hand at coding.  After that initial try if students would like to continue learning, they will have that option for the rest of the week.

To get your students motivated here are two videos you can show your class.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKIu9yen5nc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYZF6oIZtfc

12 Days of the Holiday Season

Winter is coming, and we know how excited the students will be about the holidays so let's keep our sanity and have some fun along with them.

Day	Date	Event
Day 1	Tues. Dec. 8th	Tasty Tuesday - Receive a sweet treat
Day 2	Wed. Dec. 9th	Warm-up Wednesday - Hot Chocolate and Coffee in the Main Office
Day 3	Thurs. Dec. 10th	Thankful Thursday - Receive a note of thanks from an administrator
Day 4	Fri. Dec. 11th	Fanatic Friday - Show how much of a fan you are of Byram and wear as much Byram Apparel as possible
Day 5	Mon. Dec. 14th	Manic Monday - Wear your favorite team apparel (Dress Down)
Day 6	Tues. Dec. 15th	PayDay - Sweet Treat in your mailbox
Day 7	Wed. Dec. 16th	Pay $10 to have a catered lunch by Ron’s Landmark.
Day 8	Thurs. Dec. 17th	Twin Thursday - Dress like a twin, you can choose a teacher or students to team up with, the more the merrier.
Day 9	Fri. Dec. 18th	Hat Day - Students Pay $1 to wear a hat and all proceeds go to Relay for Life (Dylan Kunckan’s Team)
Day 10	Mon. Dec. 21st	Manic Monday - No Plans
Day 11	Tues. Dec. 22nd	Ticket Tuesday - Everyone receives a ticket in their mailbox and numbers are drawn throughout the day.  Winners receive a DD gift card
Day 12	Wed. Dec. 23rd	Staff Breakfast and Ugly Sweater Day

Tech Tips:

5 Things We Can do to Prepare Students to Work Independently

YouTube - It's Not Just Cats & Khan Academy

October 19th

Great Things Noticed: 

Nuts and Bolts:

Security Drills -- When we have them we will be asking teachers to be involved.  When we do ask we will do so in-person.

Olweus -- will be meeting tomorrow and the topics have been placed in your mailboxes for the next 20 meetings.  Tomorrows will be noticing the differences about how boys and girls bully each other.

Locked Doors:  According the fire codes we need lock our doors when we are not in our rooms.  This way when we have a fire drill everyone can exit the school as quickly as possible.  If you have students in an ICS setting and use another classroom to administer the test/assessment please fill out this chart so we can get additional keys for you.

School Way App:  Please remember to send push notification for the homework you will be giving and upcoming tests/quizzes.  We are having a parent information night on Tuesday the 27th for parents, and if anyone would like to come and help, we would be very appreciative.  We are asking all the

Committees -- We are encouraging everyone who is able to, to sign up for one of the committees below.  Our school is a better place when we are able to have as many teachers as we can on these committees.  We will be starting our meetings next week and we will begin working out schedules for everyone to meet.  We will be meeting about once a month.

School Climate & Culture (Olweus) First meeting Tuesday, October 27th 3:45 - 4:30

SCIP Team First meeting Wednesday, October 28th 3:45 - 4:30

Dates:

October 20 Flu Shots

October 20 Advisory Groups 12:46 – 1:24

October 21 Board Meeting

October 26 Faculty Meeting

October 27 Sussex County Tech field trip

October 28 AXA/Equitable in Faculty Room during Lunches

October 30 Halloween Celebration 2:45 - Students and staff will change at recess.

November 2 Conferences Begin

Tech Tips:

How to make groups in Google Classroom

Interesting Reading:

Don't Go for the Best

September 28th, 2015

Great Things Noticed:

#ByramPride

Nuts & Bolts:

Sign up for -- Before and After School help

Music Streaming - Is using a great deal of band-width.  I believe music in the background for students can help set a positive tone in the classroom and I do not want to loose it for those of you who use it.  What is the top music streaming apps you use?

October 17th Charity Hike 

Math - Big Ideas -- Links

October 17th EdScape -- Keynote Pernille Ripp

November 21st EdCampNJ

Fire Drill -- Thank You for helping to make our first Fire Drill so orderly.  The students were well behaved and quiet, and that is because of the great standards you have set in your classroom.  When we have a Fire Drill please check to make sure your windows and doors are closed before you leave the building.  In case of a fire it would slow the spread of the fire if these were closed.  There were some that were left open.-- Orderly -- Please close your classroom doors when you leave

UpComing Events:

September 28       -         Faculty Meeting -- Cancelled

September 29       -         School Pictures

September 30       -          School Pictures 

September 30       -          SGO & PDP Due -- Please contact the office if you need more time--

September 30       -          6th Grade leaves for Frost Valley

October 1              -           Sussex Tech presentations for 8th grade;

October 5             -            Mid-point of marking period 1 

October 6            -              Grades must be updated in Parent Portal For Progress Reports

October 9              -            BIS Spotlight/Student Council speeches

October 9               -           Faculty Meeting

Tech Tips:

6 Updates in Google Classrom

Welcome Back

Great Things Noticed:

Thank you all for a great opening to the school year!!!

Nuts & Bolts:

Assessments: This week we will be administering two assessments for the students, one for math and one for language arts.  In math we will be using the Plato web-based testing that was administered last year, but has been upgraded to give us a better way to look at the student data so that it is a useful source of information for teachers in the classroom.   For language arts we are using the Star Reading program which is a branch of Renesance Learning we used last year.  At the faculty meeting on September 14th we will be reviewing how to log on and navigate both sites.

Ren Learn

Plato Learning

Research Simulation Task

The School Way App: was a huge success this year, but this year has gone through a major update.  Last year when a push was sent out it went to a parent or student phone and then it disappeared.   Parents had difficulty accessing all the homework and messages for the day, and this is one of the features being upgraded so the assignments will be easy for the parents to archive.  When talking to parents please let them know we will be using this as our primary method to keep them informed, but we will need to wait until the update is complete.  Once the update is complete we will have a parent night to walk them through the steps and send out a notification the App is fully operational.

Lesson Plans:  Weekly lesson plans will be submitted through Google Classroom.  If you work as an ICS team please develop a plan that works best for you to both have enough time to submit your plans.  We realize this is a work in progress and people are at different levels when it comes to Google Classroom.  Thanks to so many of you who have offered me tips while using this program, it will be a learning process for me this year.

ID Units:  Last year was the first year of our ID class and those of you who were involved in the class did an amazing job planning units that were engaging for the students and focused on application of skills that were multidisciplinary.  When we met to discuss the ID class the overwhelming feedback from teachers was that class needed to have a grade attached to it, so  this year in Genesis it will be graded.  By the end of each ID unit we are asking for each team to submit a unit plan with assessments that were used throughout the unit.

Observations:
Click on the link here to view our Observation Process this year.  It outlines what was discussed at our first faculty meeting this year.

Back to School Night:
  Locations:

• 5th Grade -- Annex Cafe
• 6th Grade -- Gym - Mr. Cady's Side
• 7th Grade -- APR
• 8th Grade -- Science Room

  Times:

• 7:00 - 7:30 APR
• 7:30 - 8:00 Grade Level Meetings
• 8:00 - 8:30 Grade Level Meetings
• 8:30 - 9:00 In Classroom

Please make sure to coordinate a schedule to introduce teachers who may have more than one grade level.  We would like to have four student ambassadors for grades 5-7 one for math, language arts, science, and social studies.  8th grade is a more difficult situation as those students are no longer in the building, an ambassadors you are able to have would be wonderful.  Please remember to meet with your ambassadors to practice and ease their nerves.

 Student Ambassadors Letter to Parents

Upcoming Events:

September 14 Faculty Meeting

September 16 Board Meeting

September 17 Back to School Night

September 24 8th Grade Washington Trip Meeting

September 26 Byram Day

September 28 Faculty Meeting

September 29 School Pictures

September 30 School Pictures 

September 30 6th Grade leaves for Frost Valley

Tech Tips:

Google Classroom: Co-Teacher & Draft Assignments

Teacher's Guide on How to Create Forms Using the New Google Forms

Kidblog -- This year Kidblog will not be free, however the BTEF is looking for teacher projects to fund, and I feel this would be one they may say yes to.

BTEF Grant Application

BTEF Grant Rubric

June 16, 2015

Great Things Noticed:

Check out the latest #Byrampride

Nuts and Bolts:

• Byram Day:  We have been asked by the BOE to have some new exhibits at Byram Day.  If you have any student projects, that students have created, or they can bring from home we would love to be able to store them here for the summer and have them ready for Byram Day.  Unfortunately, there are no plugs at this location so technology requiring power will not be available.
• Grade levels please make sure you have a school appropriate song and lots of pictures for Jimmy by Wednesday so he can have some time to put together videos for the last day of school.
• Move-up Day will take place on the last day of school.  During this time we will run it very similar to what we did last year, trying to highlight the best parts of being in this grade.  Field trips, fun projects, etc.  It is not a time to go over rules and procedures, there will be plenty of time for this moving forward.  This is a time to get the students excited about working with you next year.   Students will report to the following locations for periods 7-8. 
• 5th grade - Annex Cafe with 6th grade teachers
• 6th grade - APR with 7th grade teachers
• 7th grade - Mrs. Stevens room in OS with 8th grade teachers
• 8th grade - Gym - Sign Yearbooks with 5th grade teachers
• Our final BIS Spotlight will happen on the last day of school periods 13-17.  We will call each grade level down.  We will have award winners for May and June combined, please go to the Google Doc here to enter the names of students.  We think it last about 45 min.  Please help us to manage student behavior during this assembly by sitting with students.
• Supply Lists:  Please create a grade level supply list and share it with me before school is out.  We will make a Supply page and attach it to the website.
• Next Year we are starting a new BSI program for those regular ed students who seem to struggle in class.  We will be using testing data, grades, and teacher recommendations to determine what students would benefit the most.  We are asking each grade level to create a list of 20 regular ed students who you feel would benefit most from this program.  10 for ELA and 10 for Math, no student can be on both lists.  Please create and share the list with me by the EOY.  

Dates:

• June 16 – Half Day for students.  Teachers to work on ID units and rubrics in the afternoon.
• June 17 - 5th Grade Picnic
• June 17 - 7th Grade Field Day
• July 17 -18 - Half Day for students.  Teachers can pack up their rooms for the custodians to move.  
• June 18 8th Grade Awards Ceremony, 9:30 a.m., APR
• June 19 Transition Day, 4th grade visits BIS, Periods 3-4-5-6 
• June 19 - Genesis closes at 4:00 PM for Grade Reporting
• June 22 - End of Year BIS Spotlight 
• June 22 - Move-Up Day
• June 19 - Genesis closes at 4:00 PM for Grade Reporting
• June 22 - Graduation 7PM

Tech Tips:

Google Classroom – Using RubricTab to Assess Students

Book Recommendation: 

This is a great summer reading book that provides actual ways to incorporate many of the things Danielson is asking for into your teaching.  It is the kind of book you can read, easily at the beach or pool during the summer, it does not read like a college textbook.  So many of the lessons I have been in to see, already incorporate some of these activities, and it would be a great resource.  

"In Learn Like a PIRATE, Paul Solarz explains how to design classroom experiences that encourage students to take risks and explore their passions in a stimulating, motivating, and supportive environment where improvement, rather than grades, is the focus. The particular techniques (and the underlying philosophy) he offers are highly consistent with teaching practice at the distinguished level in my Framework for Teaching. In that model, I tried to describe, at the distinguished level, classrooms in which the teacher has created a community of learners, with the students themselves assuming much of the responsibility for what occurs there. Mr. Solarz offers specific ideas for how to accomplish that."
- Charlotte Danielson, author of Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching

May 26, 2015

Great Things Noticed:         http://sfy.co/s0S08

In a language arts class students are creating their own poems and then sharing them aloud with the class in a Poetry Slam.  The students in class all provided feedback for their peers along with the teacher, and this week those that were considered the best will perform for educators around the country via Google Hangout.  Great to see the students have an audience beyond the walls of their own classroom.

In a math class students were learning how to calculate area and perimeter.  Students used an online program to create their own dream house and then determine the area of every room in the house.  The students had a great time completing this assignment I'm not even sure if they realized they were doing math.

Our before and after school help programs are continuing to go strong.   It is wonderful to see students WANT to come to these extra help programs, and even better to see the grades they earn when they attend consistently.  Thank you to all the teachers who continue to work to make these programs what they are.

Many teachers are outside of their rooms during transition times and this is greatly appreciated.  This is the time of year where we see an increase in misbehavior and your presence is needed in the halls.  Thank you to those of you who make your presence felt!

In a science class the students conducted an experiment where they extracted DNA.  The students had to follow several steps and then were able to see what DNA actually looks like without a microscope.

I am amazed at how focused all of your lessons are as we are approaching the end of the school year. As I walk in and out of classrooms it is wonderful to see how focused the students are with the learning taking place.  Thank you!  Thank you for continuing to do a great job all year even in the heat.


Nuts and Bolts:

We will be having a last day of school event similar to the one we had last year.  We are asking each grade level to put together a quick 1 song video with pictures from throughout the year.  You can use any of the pictures that are on Facebook and add any from field trips you have taken.  If your grade would like some help with this even Mr. Clayton and his team of Mass Media students have said they would help us complete these projects.  We are looking to have them completed by Wednesday, June 17th.

Next year we will be having a day over the summer where all students, except 5th grade, will be able to pick up their chromebooks before school begins.  This will allow you to dive right into the teaching you will be doing.  5th graders will be assigned a chromebook, but not be allowed to take it home until they have demonstrated they understand how to care for it.

End of the year placement tests for math will happen the week of June 8th for grades 5-7.  When you decide on a date as a grade level please let me know.  If you provide me with the test you would like to use I'll make sure you have enough copies for everyone in your grade who is taking it.

Upcoming Events:

May 26 -------------- Senior Citizen Luncheon (Band students also)
May 27 -------------- NJ ASK – Grade 8 Science
May 28 -------------- 5th Grade Trip to Liberty Science Center 
              -------------- Band Concert, 7 PM 
              -------------- Arts Fair
June 3 – 5 ----------  8th Grade to Washington, D.C.
June 4 --------------  6th Grade Poetry Slam (Jazz Band will play)
June 8 --------------  7th Grade to Philadelphia
June 9 --------------  Band to perform at Lakes School, 9:30 – 10:30 
             --------------  Choral Concert 7 PM
June 12 --------------End of Year Dinner/Dance; Dinner @ 6; Dance @ 7
June 15 --------------DARE graduation, 9 am, APR; picnic to follow 
                                 8th Grade Color Wars
June 16 – 22 ------- Early Dismissal
June 18 ------------- 8th Grade Awards Ceremony, 9:30 a.m., APR
June 19 -------------- Transition Day, 4th grade visits BIS, Periods 3-4-5-6
June 22 -------------- End of Year BIS Spotlight 
              -------------- Last Day of School 
              -------------- Graduation, 7 PM


Tech Tips:

Google Scholar -- This site narrows the possibilities students can have returned to them. Some of the results might be beyond their reading level, but could be an interesting place to start.

May 18, 2015

Great Things Noticed:

Check out recent #ByramPride pictures:  http://sfy.co/q0QFz

In Science this week students were learning about the properties of warm and cold water.  Instead of having the students read a worksheet and then answer questions the students were able to have two containers, one with hot water and one with cold water.  They conducted an experiment to see what happens when they are combined quickly and observe what happens.

In a language arts class students had a discussion in a Socratic Circle.  Groups of students were given a problem to solve and then had to defend their decision.  Students in the circle then asked questions to explore other ideas and the group presenting defended or modified their position.  This activity is similar to what the pilot PARCC test requires students to do for speaking and listening skills.

It was great to see students reading in book clubs, with books they chose.  When we think about how to motivate students to read I love how we are trying to model what are best readers do.  Our best readers have conversations, ask questions, and can identify with characters and situations.  By having the students work in book clubs we are teaching these students how to fall in love with reading.

It is great to see how grade levels are using their ID class to incorporate #GeniusHour activities for students.  Those of you who are not familiar with this activity, the students pick a topic to research, or find a problem they would like to solve and then work on the project of their choosing.  The projects I have seen have been amazing, students built their own bows, researched black holes, discovered what it is like to be an author, and much more.  The students spend a great deal of time sifting through nonfiction text to make connections and draw conclusions.  Perhaps my favorite part is the students are no longer just consumers of information, they use this information to create something new.

Nuts and Bolts:

Chromebooks Collection - will begin to be collected on June 7th.  Any plans that you have with the students and the chromebooks will have to be completed by this date.  We need to conduct and inventory and assess any damage to the chrome books and have enough time to collect fines from students.  I know how hard you have worked to incorporate technology into your classrooms and now by taking it away it will require a different method of teaching.  Thank you for all the dynamic lessons you were able to create with the chromebooks this year, the students have benefited tremendously.

Teachscape Domains 1 & 4 - Please make sure to update your domains in Teachscape.  We are looking for systems you have developed throughout the year in each section.  For example when it talks about Parent Communication you could give a brief narrative about your system for communication and provide some examples for us.  We do not want you finding every example of communication but if you could provide a few you have throughout the year that would be great.

Make-Up PARCC Testing - This will take place this week and then we will have completed all PARCC Testing for the year.

End of Year Activities - Thank you for continuing to teach and assess as far into the year as possible.    When the actives in your classroom become less and less academic the more behavior issues tend to increase. As we move towards June we realize you might have some activities planned with your students the last week of school that are fun (i.e. 8th grade color wars).  Please keep us in the loop with these activities and when they are scheduled.


Upcoming Events:

May 22     ---------- Early Dismissal
May 25     ----------  Memorial Day – SCHOOL CLOSED
May 26     ----------  Senior Citizen Luncheon
May 27     ----------  NJ ASK – Grade 8 Science
                                 BOE Meeting
May 28     ----------  5th Grade Trip to Liberty Science Center 
                                 Band Concert 
                                 Arts Fair
June 3-5   ---------- 8th Grade DC Trip
June 16     ---------- Early Dismissals Begin
June 18     ---------- 8th Grade Awards Ceremony
June 22    ----------  Last Day of School -- Graduation

Tech Tips:

12 Tips for an Organized Book Loving Classroom

Turn Your PDF into Word Documents

May 4, 2015

Great Things Noticed:

Check out recent #ByramPride pictures.

A teacher rethought the way in which student presentations are done in his class.  Instead of having one student present and all the other students listen to presentations over several days, he set up 3-4 presentations to take place at once and students could travel between presentations.  This allowed for students to be up and moving instead of stuck to their seat when listening, and it also allowed students the opportunity to give their presentation more than once.

Another class had the students use different tools in the ancient world to keep track of time.  The students were able to not just read about these devices but actually use them.  They then evaluated which ones were good tools and were able to explain why.

In language arts, a few teachers are beginning their book clubs.  They are having students read a section of each book before choosing the book that is right for them.  This allows the student to choose one that is interesting to them, but also at their reading level.

Thank you to the 5th grade teachers and students who attended our last BOE meeting.  The students presented their Monster ID Unit and did an amazing job.  They showed how the unit connected to all disciplines and even had the BOE play a game of Kahoot.


Nuts and Bolts:

John will be meeting with teams on Tuesday to give out PARCC Testing books and go over testing groups and the PARCC website.  For those not on a team who are testing please come to the conference room on Wednesday before school (8:15) or after school (3:45) to receive your testing manual and go over how to find your students on the PARCC Website.

Pick up for testing materials will be in the APR on Monday starting at 8:00 AM.  Please remember you will have to sign your materials in and out.

When your group finishes testing please call the office to alert us so we can send someone down to you and you can sign your materials back in to the APR.

Once most students have finished testing we will make an announcement and students can move to their academic classes.

During the week of PARCC we will be using our delayed opening schedule found here: SCHEDULE.  If we should finish the testing early students will go to their first period class a few minutes early but will stick to the schedule for when they are dismissed.  If we should finish the testing late the students may miss some time in their first period class.

All SGO assessments should be complete at this time and uploaded to Teachscape.


Upcoming Events:


May 5 & 7                 8th Grade to Lenape Valley
May 11                      Faculty Meeting
May 11-14                 PARCC Testing, grades 5-8
May 21                      Faculty Meeting
May 25                      Memorial Day – SCHOOL CLOSED
May 26                      Senior Citizen Luncheon
May 28                      5th Grade Trip to Liberty Science Center
                                  NJ ASK – Grade 8 Science 
                                  Band Concert 
                                  Arts Fair

Tech Tips:

News ELA gets an Upgrade:

For teachers who are planning ID units or ELA teachers who are designing Research Simulation Tasks, NewsELA has a new feature called 'Text Sets'. These have several articles about the same topic from different perspectives and experiences. Teachers would still need to choose between the 5-15 articles and design questions to promote student thinking, but the work of finding the articles is already done for you.

National Conference for Teachers of Mathematics:

This conference was held in April and math teachers rom around the country came to learn and present.  For the next week, maybe two, all the sessions are live and you can download handouts that were given in each session.  Math teachers this is a great opportunity to acquire some innovative lessons on those topics that are difficult to teach.