Week 16: Nearing the End of the First Semester

Happy Friday!

Thank you for all you have done this week to reach our performance targets for the year. Our trends in discipline and attendance continue on the same trajectories but we will have some academic updates by next week to see if our other efforts are paying off.

There is not much to write about this week; so, this Wrap-up will be all about the instructional data that has been collected in anticipation of our end-of-semester academic updates.

Data Update

Several more classroom walkthroughs have occurred since I last provided a report of what is happening. This link will take you to an aggregated report of charts and graphs showing the efforts taking place in our classrooms. There have been High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) items added to the instrument and it is encouraging to see that the district’s adopted curriculum material is being used. There has also been an increase in the Depth of Knowledge questioning reaching Level 3. This makes our continued focus on HQIM important in preparing our students to learn at high levels.

To ensure the correct amount of rigor in instruction, the use of HQIM plays a pivotal role. HQIM are designed with a deep understanding of subject matter, aligned with educational standards, and tailored to promote challenging, engaging, and meaningful learning experiences. They strike a balance between complexity and accessibility, ensuring that content is neither too easy nor excessively challenging for students. By incorporating a variety of learning modalities and resources, HQIM caters to diverse learning styles and needs, while consistently maintaining high expectations for all learners. This approach not only supports teachers in delivering instruction that is rigorous and standards-aligned but also empowers students to reach their full potential through materials that are both challenging and attainable. The appropriate use of HQIM in classrooms is a cornerstone for fostering a learning environment where rigor is thoughtfully balanced with student capabilities and educational goals.

Closing

We are grateful to all of you who are creating memories for our students, parents, and community through the learning-related activities that have taken place leading up to the holiday with holiday themes. From the Christmas concerts to read-alouds, there is certainly a relevance for our students in those activities that make learning more meaningful.

We hosted our first wrestling meet at The Rack this week. This was another milestone in our new program and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our coaches, volunteers, students, and parents.

Good luck to all of our spelling bee winners who are going to the Polk County Spelling Bee when we get back from the Christmas Break.

At Mena Public Schools our students are prepared, our staff is supported, and our community is confident.

Have a nice weekend!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bearcatwrap.substack.com