Book Leveling for classroom Libraries

As new books arrive for classroom libraries, I thought we should share some resources for leveling them for your students. 

Option #1: 
Please go to  http://www.fandpleveledbooks.com/ 
Then Log-in as our school in order to search for books. 

Log-in : literacy@canacad.ac.jp

Pwrd:  Academy1 

Option #2 (This site has more searchable books- but need to correlate to F and P level)

Scholastic Book Wizard

There is no log-in, but you will need to use this correlation chart to ensure it aligns with Fountas and Pinnell.  Up until letter J there is a direct correlation. 

Confirmed Assembly program 30th May, 2017

Dear colleagues,

Here is the confirmed program for the assembly:

1. Welcome Rico & Kate
2. Dance from a dance school - students
3. Second dance from the dance school - teachers
4. Library Announcement
5. KB sign language performance
6. Grade 5 acrobatic dance group I
7. Mathematics announcement
8. Song by Kate Garret
9. Grade 5 acrobatic dance group II
10. Principal chat
11. Track Rats
12. Birthday video
13. Conclusions

MCs: Kate & Rico
Venue: Main Theater
Time: 9 - 10

Weekly Update, 29 May, 2017

Dear colleagues,

The month of May is coming to its end and our schedules will keep us all very busy these last few weeks. Let’s just keep our eyes on the prize, enjoy dealing with our wonderful students, and keep smiling no matter how interesting and exciting things may get before we finish. On Tuesday we will enjoy the second to last ES assembly. Please note that there is only one opportunity to practice the performances on the stage. Please, remind your performers that the opportunity is during the Monday lunch recess. Those who cannot make it to the practice on Monday will have to negotiate with Trevor and Kim if they can perform in the last assembly in June. Please check the assembly post. On Thursday, we will have the Senior March in the school. Please, remind yourself and students to be ready to cheer on the graduating students. Finally, report cards are well on the way. Both writers and readers of the comments have been busy this weekend and we are getting there surely on time. Please, make sure we have all the comments in a Google doc for checking and feedback by this Friday. Check the report card comment writing guidelines for designing effective reports.

Let’s all have a great week!

Supervision:                                          Links to: Supervision Schedule 16-17    Supervision Protocol

Time	12:15-12:40	12:25-12:55	12:25-12:55	12:15-12:40	12:25-12:55
Duty	Cafeteria Tables	Playground / Gym	Playground / Atrium	Cafeteria line	Indoor recess ELAC Gym
May 15	Karen S	Trevor (Kim on Wed.)	Saiko	---	Maiko, Kaight

This week's schedule:

Day	Morning	Afternoon - After School
Mon	8:45 ES Student Support Team Meeting
Tue	ES Assembly
Wed	8:40 KB Parent Coffee: Transition from KB to G1 G3 Kidzania Field Trip	2:25 - 4:30 pm Professional Learning Time: Report Card Writing
Thu		Graduating Student March
Fri	Report Comments due

Professional Learning

How to apply for PD

Wednesday Professional Learning:

14:40-16:30 Report Card Writing

Wednesday Professional Learning Schedule

Coordinator's Meetings:                                 ES Team Planning Meeting Schedule

UOI: This week we will look at year end wrap up. i.e., complete reflections and tidy planners

• Mon KB
• Tues G1 from 12:45, G2 14:50
• Thurs: G5 8:45, G3 2:05

Literacy:

• Team meetings this week will be focused on reflections and resource collection for units of study #5

Future Dates:

10 June: Faculty End-of-Year Dinner - 6:30 at the Kobe Club

16 June: Last Day of School, ES Assembly 9:00-10:00, school day finishes at 11:30

End-of-year Procedures

Assembly on the 30th May

Dear colleagues,

We have two assemblies taking place in the next few weeks:

Date: Tuesday, 31st of May
Time: 9 - 10 am
Venue: Main Theater
MCs: Riko and Kate
Confirmed performances:

• Dance Theater Club Performance - visiting dance school
• A number of dance performances (Grades 1, 3 and 5)
• Song Kate Garret
• KB sign language performance KBL
• Library announcement Mrs. Schatzky
• Track Rats Ms. Kaight
• Birthday video Ms. Brown

Stipended Positions Available for 2017-2018

Dear colleagues,

The following stipended positions are available for the school year 2017-2018:

Grades Pre-K- Gr 2 Math Leader: A classroom teacher interested in sharing experiences, helping others alongside learning oneself about teaching mathematics in the upper elementary, as well as co-leading the conversation and professional learning with the Learning Leader regarding the new resources and implementing the revised math curriculum. Stipend 100, 000. JPY

Grades 3 - 5: Math Leader: A classroom teacher interested in sharing experiences, helping others alongside learning oneself about teaching mathematics in the upper elementary, as well as co-leading the conversation and professional learning with the Learning Leader regarding the new resources and implementing the revised math curriculum. Stipend 100, 000. JPY

Grades Pre-K - Gr 2 Balanced Literacy Leader: A classroom teacher interested in exploring, trying out, and sharing experiences of integrating and implementing workshop model and learning language. Co-leading the conversation and professional learning with the Learning Leader how to effectively implement literacy components and curriculum standards within our CA framework. Stipend 100, 000 JPY.

Grades 3 - 5: Balanced Literacy Leader:  A classroom teacher interested in exploring, trying out, and sharing experiences of integrating and implementing workshop model and learning language. Co-leading the conversation and professional learning with the Learning Leader how to effectively implement literacy components and curriculum standards within our CA framework.  Stipend 100, 000 JPY.

Elementary Drama Project (ES Play) leaders: CA teachers who are interested in leading a drama project that will culminate in a final performance - Elementary School Play. An opportunity to explore and utilize the power of drama, CA theater facilities, and the student creativity as a form of learning, thinking, and art. Stipend 125, 000  JPY/ teacher. This project requires two teacher-leaders.

Elementary School Student Voice and Leadership Leader (s): An elementary school teacher who is interested in leading the review of structures and opportunities for increasing ES students' voice in the school. This position includes regular meetings with a group of student leaders, planning events, possible fundraisers, seeking opportunities for presenting student ideas, and collaboration with the ES counselor and Principal. This position can be split between two teachers. Stipend 200, 000 JPY/leader or 100, 000 JPY leader (if two leaders).

How to apply:
Please email to Heikki by June 2nd the latest, if you are interested in any of the positions above.
For further information about the roles, please contact the following people:
Math Leader: Kim and Trevor
Balanced Literacy Leader: Kim and Trevor
Drama Project: Toyoko Miller
Student Voice and Leadership: Heikki

Graduating Class March, 1 June at 3 pm

Dear ES teachers,

On Thursday 1 June, the senior class will be back in school for a transition and graduation rehearsal day.  

At the end of that day, from about 3pm, the graduating class will march around the school, covering all of the corridors of ES, MS, HS and ELAC areas.  They will be wearing graduating caps and music will be playing.

We would be very happy if you and your students would like the corridors and make lots of noise, cheering for them when they come past, much like for an APAC opening ceremony.  If your class has time to make a banner to congratulate the class of 2017, that would be great, but please don't feel obliged.  The main thing would be to make lots of noise and cheer for them as they go past.

We will let you know by early next week roughly what time you can expect the class of 2017 to process past your area of the school.

The grade 12 students will really appreciate your support and good wishes.

Liz Durkin

Weekly Update, Monday 22 May, 2017

Dear colleagues,

The last four weeks are speeding away. Thank you to Stephen Taylor and all the faculty for your organization and flexibility regarding the MAPs testing. Everything run smoothly.

Many of you are already writing your report card comments. This coming and following Wednesdays are opportunities for you to collate data, communicate with your colleagues about comments and grading as well as do some actual comment writing. There is a lot to write, so please make sure you pace yourself well.

Our teaching teams are pretty much confirmed for the next school year, however, please be mindful not to share who is teaching in which grade or class next year with the parents at this point. We will publish the class lists and the teachers in August. Anyway, enjoy the sunny and warm days, keep up the great spirit, and continue the great work in helping the students be so active and excited about learning.

Have a wonderful week!

Supervision:                                          Links to: Supervision Schedule 16-17    Supervision Protocol

Time	12:15-12:40	12:25-12:55	12:25-12:55	12:15-12:40	12:25-12:55
Duty	Cafeteria Tables	Playground / Gym	Playground / Atrium	Cafeteria line	Indoor recess ELAC Gym
May 15	Jeff	Karen T	Satsuki	---	Maiko, Kaight

This week's schedule:

Day	Morning	Afternoon - After School
Mon	8:45 am ES Student Support Team Meeting
Tue		3:30 pm  LSA Meeting re Next Year 3:45 pm Early Learning Philosophy Meeting
Wed		2:25 - 4:30 pm Professional Learning Time: Report Card Writing
Thu		2:30 - 3:30pm Parent Partners’ Meeting
Fri		12:30 - 1 pm Assembly Practice 6 pm G3-4 Spring Concert

Professional Learning

How to apply for PD

Wednesday Professional Learning:

14:40-16:30 Report Card Writing

Wednesday Professional Learning Schedule

Coordinator's Meetings:                                   ES Team Planning Meeting Schedule

UOI: Reflect on UOI #5 - Library and Tech are free to join as need be

• Mon KB
• Tues G1 from 12:45, G2 14:50
• Thurs: G5 Planning UOI#6 & PYPX Reflection wrap-up, G3, PreK-KA

Literacy:

• Team meetings this week will be focused on reflections and resource collection for units of study #5

Future Dates:

27 May: International Kids Day Festival on Rokko Island

30 May: ES Assembly

31 May: KB Parent Coffee: Transition from KB to Gr 1

10 June: Faculty End-of-Year Dinner - 6:30 at the Kobe Club

16 June: Last Day of School, ES Assembly 9:00-10:00, school day finishes at 11:30

End-of-year Procedures

May Running Records and Spelling Inventory 2017

KB- G5 Teachers,

Running Record Data

In order to best consider our community of readers, we ask that a formal running record be taken for every student unless they have already been tested at a PM level 30.  The data can also be used to inform report card writing.

Important: Running record data should be put into the Running Record spreadsheet  by June 2nd

Please refer to the following support documents if needed

• How to take PM Benchmark running records 
• Where to find Resources

**If you would like a refresher on any aspects of collecting and recording this data, please send Kim a quick message. 

Trial Fountas and Pinnell

As suggested by the Literacy Committee, please try the Fountas and Pinnell Running Record  template with one of your students to begin to understand how the tool is similar and different.  From next year, we will all be switching to the Fountas and Pinnell benchmark assessments.  

**Kim will check out one kit to each grade level, to be returned (with all resources) at the end of the year

Please use this correlation sheet to convert to PM level before you input into system

Spelling Stage Data

For each student please also include the spelling stage they are assessed at in May using the Words Their Way Spelling inventory. 

5 Spelling Stages

• Emergent
• Letter-Name
• Within Word Pattern
• Syllables and Affixes
• Derivation Relations

Feel free to also indicate whether the student is in Early (E) or Late stage (L). 

Ex: Within Word Pattern (L)

Weekly Update, Monday, 15 May, 2017

Dear colleagues,

We hope you had a great weekend and were able to enjoy the sunshine on Sunday. Today we will have one of our Gr. 5 student's grandfather Sir James Fraser Stoddart visiting Canadian Academy. He recently won the Nobel Prize. You can enjoy his journey and recent science discoveries by joining a community lecture at 7 pm.

Also this week we will enjoy the warm weather and busy schedules as well as focus on the MAPs testing in grades 3-5. The MAPs testing requires some flexibility and collaboration from us all to make sure our students will have the time and organization to successfully transfer their understandings and skills into a test situation.

The last few weeks are often creating emotional and social tensions amongst the students. The best antidote to this is to make sure you have regular class meetings, maintain all the routines, keep the behavioral expectations high by modeling routines and staying extra vigilant in class, corridors, and of course in the playground.

Let's all have a great week!

Supervision:                                          Links to: Supervision Schedule 16-17    Supervision Protocol

Time	12:15-12:40	12:25-12:55	12:25-12:55	12:15-12:40	12:25-12:55
Duty	Cafeteria Tables	Playground / Gym	Playground / Atrium	Cafeteria line	Indoor recess ELAC Gym
May 15	Jerome	Jennifer W	Toyoko	---	Maiko, Kaight

This week's schedule:

Day	Morning	Afternoon - After School
Mon	8:45 ES Student Support Team Meeting	7:00 James Fraser Stoddart: Nobel Prize winner in the main theater
Tue	MAPS testing G3-5 Language
Wed	MAPS testing G3-5 Maths	14:40-15:45 Tankyuu Closure (Location?) 15:45-16:30 TBA
Thu	MAPS testing G4-5 Reading, G3 Rest
Fri	MAPS testing G3 Reading G4-5 Catch-up Report Card Committee creating the report template in the ELAC Conf. Room

Professional Learning

How to apply for PD

Wednesday Professional Learning:

Wednesday Professional Learning Schedule

Coordinator's Meetings:                                   ES Team Planning Meeting Schedule

UOI & Literacy:

Trevor and Kim will meet together with teams to look toward next year. At this meeting, we will discuss and decide how units of inquiry will be ordered, and which units of study will be matched with them. As only one meeting is allocated, please consider your units in advance so we are ready to discuss the alignment.

• Mon: PreK-KA 15:40 in Kaoru's class
• Tues: Gr 4:  8:45  Book room
• Wed: KB: 10:00am in Ellen's class
• Thurs: Gr 1 12:45, Gr 2 2:00,  Gr 3 Thurs 2:45, Gr 5: Thurs 8:45 (all  Book room)

Future Dates:

22-26  May: Secondary School Jazz Week in the Atrium

26 May: Gr 3-4 Concert

27 May: International Kids Day Festival on Rokko Island

30 May: ES Assembly

31 May: KB Parent Coffee: Transition from KB to Gr 1

10 June: Faculty End-of-Year Dinner - 6:30 at the Kobe Club

16 June: Last Day of School, ES Assembly 9:00-10:00, school day finishes at 11:30

End-of-year Procedures