RMS Weekly Review V1:I19

RMS Weekly Review

Volume 1 Issue 19
April 20, 2012

We’re Back!!!

25 more days until Baby Gribble makes her way into the world.  It has been BUSY at the Gribble house the last couple of weeks.  I know. I know.  This is just the beginning.

Speaking of weeks.  The first week back after break is always a doozy.  I cannot imagine why, but students forget what the expectations are at school when they return.  By Wednesday, things started to settle down and return to the status quo.

Monday, the math teachers met to discuss calculators.  Currently, we are using six different calculators in our building.  Which means, students have six different calculators that they need to learn on.  We want to simplify that process and have the students learn on just one calculator the four years that they are with us.  Now, if they do happen to get into the ninth grade algebra course in eighth grade, they will be learning to use a graphing calculator.  But, for the purpose of math functions, instruction, and for using on the MEAP, we want our students to get familiar with one calculator instead of six.  That way, we are not spending time teaching the functions of the tool.  The students will be comfortable with the tool prior to them walking into the classroom or sitting down to take the MEAP.

Tuesday night at our KAB (PTO) meeting, we honored our volunteers by providing them with a snack for their meeting and letting them know that they are O”fish”ially Awesome; this being National Volunteer Recognition Week.




Our School Improvement Team met on Wednesday.  It was a day of DATA CRUNCHING.  The goal for the day was to finish our CNA (gap analysis) report.  Except for our perception data, we were able to meet our goal.  We have two meetings scheduled for May.  The would like to have everything done before the first of June.

During our meeting, NWEA and their MAPS assessment tool was brought up again and the reasons for using that assessment.  We need something concrete that will thoroughly assess the students abilities.  We all agree that our common assessments are not the strongest benchmark for us to measure our students growth.  With the onset of the Common Core in the horizon, we are in need of a national assessment with common norms.   The data that the MEAP test gives us is not beneficial to us.  It does not give us or allow us to see the areas that we need to improve.  While we focus our SIP goals on reading, writing and math, we need a tool that will truly give us feedback on what we are teaching in the classroom.  NWEA has the research to show that schools that use the MAPS test  have shown improvement on the state’s standardized assessment; we all want that. In addition, it also serves as a tool for administrators for evaluating teachers.

Speaking of students achievement, I had my four co-teachers attended a presentation by Mr. Reed and Mr. Tafelski today regarding the Coaching model in their special education classes.  I feel strongly about moving in this direction.  As my quote below states, their DATA over the last three years proves that when you focus on student achievement, good things will happen.  With that being said, we are looking at incorporating the Coaching model here at Riverside next year.

Today is also Friday Fun Day for our students.  As always, it is very well attended.

Everyone have a great weekend.

Respectfully submitted on this 20th day of April, 2012.


Jason C. Gribble
Educational Leader
Riverside Middle School


“Teachers will Teach
Students will Learn
The Data will prove that what we are doing is Right.”