Anna Dellinger Shaw Recognized as Jones Elementary Teacher of the Year

Anna Dellinger Shaw was recognized at the October Springdale school board meeting as Jones Elementary teacher of the year.


TubeChop - Springdale School Board: October Meeting (00:28)

Principal Melissa Fink Goes Above and Beyond

Jones Elementary Principal Melissa Fink received a service award for going above and beyond. 

Although teachers and staff observe her daily dedication to go above and beyond in making Jones Elementary a place that supports students to live the life they dream, it is wonderful to see her recognized. She leads by example and inspires us all to do the same.

Shifts in Writing Instruction

Lucy Calkins helped guide our uncertainty when it came to the shift in instruction under common core with her book Pathways to Common Core. She states, "As challenging as it must have been to write and finesse the adoption of the Common Core State Standards, that accomplishment is nothing compared to the work of teaching in ways that bring all students to these ambitious expectations. The goal is clear. The pathway is not." 
This book was our starting point a few years ago and read at the building level to help staff begin unpacking the standards and understand the key shifts with instructional implications. It was only natural that we returned to her resources when struggling to figure out what writing should look like.  
Because our curriculum units are collaboratively designed by teachers across the district, writing conversations within planning meetings included the benefits of using her resources by teachers in other buildings. Mrs. Pianalto, a first grade teacher passionate about writing, approached me about the Units of Study resources to support our writing instruction. Our journey with her resources began during our back-to-school professional development where I highlighted many common concerns with writing and how her resources could begin to bridge the instructional gaps. Some of the obstacles I see these resources helping to tackle are:

1. I want to communicate expectations to my students in a way they can understand and use when the current rubric doesn't.
2. How can I make sure my writing workshop supports common core standards?
3. I don’t understand the writing process for my students several grade levels behind?
4. Help me know specific skills my kids should be able to do throughout the year to reach end of the year standards.
5. I need grade level common core writing samples for all three types of writing from a credible source.
6. I always need more examples of anchor charts and annotated student work.
7. I’m out of ideas for specific feedback and next steps for my students
8. Sharing resources is difficult.

As an instructional facilitator, I continuously look for solutions to problems. During our professional development, I was able to address these concerns and point to resources. We found that the Writing Pathways Book (in each grade level set) includes student-friendly checklists for each domain of writing at grade levels K-5. A Common Core alignment is given on the back cover of each of the 4 writing area books. Writing Pathways shows grade specific alignment of the writing process learning progression K-8 throughout the year based on CCSS’ Levels of Proficiency. In the Writing Pathways book, you can see grade level samples across level in each of the areas of writing as well as annotated writing samples organized by type of writing and grade level. If...Then...Curriculum organizes student or conferring group descriptor, suggested conversation/strategy, and an artifact to leave with the student in their notebook when conferring with writers. To help make materials easy to access, a Google folder was shared with staff that organizes checklists, student samples, anchor chart examples, continuums, etc. by grade level.

The hunger for these resources was amplified as teachers incorporated further study with these books into professional growth plans and PLCs. This step is only the prologue as our journey has just begun, but I appreciate the teacher enthusiasm and the feedback I have received in just a short time. I can't wait to continue these words with teacher and student success. 

Ms. Green's Earning By Learning Grant

Earning By Learning

Ms. Green's supplies project at Jones Elementary School in Springdale, AR

Completed!

August 16, 2014
$551 given
3 donors

A typical day in my classroom is filled with reading (including academic vocabulary), math, and language understanding. I firmly believe that every moment is a teachable moment. And that each teachable moment is vital to student success. ... more
My students need activities such as board games, puzzles and arts and craft materials at home to aid in thinking skills, creativity and language building skills. Critical thinking skills and creativity are often mastered during play. I ... more

My students need activities such as board games, puzzles and arts and craft materials at home to aid in thinking skills, creativity and language building skills.

I am amazed at how successful Earning By Learning has been in my classroom this school year. I was able to implement this reward system the very first day because of your generous gift! No more spending huge amounts of personal money for unimportant treasure chest trinkets. These prizes were items the children really wanted and were willing to work hard to earn the money to purchase them.

Today was our first "store" where the students were allowed to spend their hard earned cash! The first place student earned $205.00 while the twenty-fourth student only had $6.00. Please understand I began to take money from them also for behavior issues, lack of self-control, etc. All of the students were extremely excited about their new educational games, floor puzzles, play dough and tools that they could bring home for Thanksgiving and play with their families.

My volunteers today said that all of the students did a fantastic job counting out all of their money and really have a better understanding of base 10. This is a huge standard in first grade! 

All in all I believe it has been a great success and everyone is ready to begin to earn money again after Thanksgiving holiday is over. "Will you work harder to earn more money," I said. "You bet I will!" was the unanimous response. We all are excited to see who will earn the most money this next semester!

With gratitude,
Ms. Green

Mrs. Fisher's Science Savvy Pre-K Grant

Science Savvy in Pre-K

Mrs. Fisher's supplies project at Jones Elementary School in Springdale, AR | Highest Poverty

Completed!

June 15, 2014
$229 given
6 donors

Mad Scientists in action! My classroom uses a total hands on approach at learning. I would like to provide materials for my students so that the literacy and language skills we work on can be accompanied by real world examples and manipulatives for better understanding!

I am a pre-k teacher for a small school that is considered high poverty. 18 of my 20 students are ESL students and many if not all of my students do not get real life rigorous experiences in the science world. I have a very active and eager to learn class this year and I have quickly run out of experiments and manipulatives for their busy minds! I am hoping that this donation will add to our last unit of study for this year which is Earth and Life science. We will be learning how to take care of our Earth and how a healthy Earth benefits our well being in the long run. This unit will be a first experience for my students and I would love to provide them with fun hands on examples so that they enjoy this unit to the fullest and leave for kindergarten on a positive well rounded note!

My students will use these materials to learn more about recycling and taking care of our Earth. We will also be studying animals, insects and life cycles as well as weather and seasons. These materials will give my curious students hands on opportunities as well as activities I can do with small groups to go deeper with their thinking. Because my students are ESL students, hands on materials are a vital resource to have to make their learning more relevant.

My students are all considered high poverty at risk students. Any donations will greatly help them have a fair and comparable educational experience to other schools that may have more resources. My students will be able to gain more understand of Earth and Life Sciences when they can do experiments and activities with hands on manipulatives instead of just gaining knowledge from a book. Being able to share literacy and language skills ALONG with hands on activities is every teachers dream. My students need science kits with hands on manipulatives.

My students were beyond thrilled to receive these great science resources. I teach a class of 98% ESL students and it is important to their education to provide them as many hands on experiences as possible. By you providing these tools for my class they were not only able to learn new vocabulary but they were also able to use that vocabulary while working together on projects. They gained some experience with weather, insects and earth science that was much more rigorous and relevant than it would have been by just looking at a book. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with these tools and my students as well as myself are so appreciative. We are very grateful that you chose our class this year!

With gratitude,
Mrs. Fisher

Jones Teachers Reflect On Race To The Top Grant

Jones Elementary School teachers reflect on the impact the race to the top grant will have on student learning.

Jones Elementary Trip to the Arkansas Capitol

Join the Jones Elementary choir as they go on a once in a lifetime trip to Little Rock, the State Capitol of Arkansas, to perform a variety of Christmas melodies. View the entire concert  here.