Baker-Butler teachers engaged in professional development

Today our teachers engaged in our first professional development day of this school year. 

We used the DEEPdt (Discover, Empathize, Experiment, Produce) design thinking methodology to help us develop strategies to reach all of our students this year academically, socially, and emotionally.

We divided our staff of 65 teachers into 10 design teams that were composed of teachers from all of the grade levels and content areas for diverse ideas and perspectives. They then went through the DEEPdt framework to identify potential obstacles and brainstorm solutions for these problems, with a goal of creating solutions that could begin starting on Monday when our students return.

Here are some pictures of their hard work today.

Updates from our ESOL, School Counselors, and Intervention teachers

We are trying something new this year to help spotlight more students and teachers on our school's blog. Once a month this school year we will be featuring a guest blog post from a different team of teachers in our building. 

This month's blog post is from our team that includes our ESOL (English as a Second or Other Language, also called English Learners), school counselors, and intervention teachers. 

Here's what they've shared about who they are and how they're working with students so far this year.

English Learners

Ms. Sabra Timmins

3rd Grade English Learners send a photo greeting to the preK class.  They are looking forward to serving as reading buddies and mentors to the youngest students at BBES this school year.

After English Learners shared the book "All Are Welcome," we talked about what that looks like at BBES.  Students created artwork and "welcome" signs in other languages to help everyone feel good about being at our school.

Guidance

Mr. Miles Nelson

My name is Miles Nelson and I am one of two schools counselors at Baker Butler Elementary. I work primarily with third through fifth grades. The beginning of the year starts with with building rapport with students. In the classroom lessons we are working on empathy and collaboration to help build our community within BBES.

I am Welby Moon and I am the other one of the two school counselors! :) I work primarily with grades K-2. This week the kindergarteners were introduced to Sooper Puppy and learning about feelings.

Intervention teachers

Ms. Marcee Porterfield, Ms. Tabitha Roberts, and Ms. Danielle Paxton

The intervention team supports students in grades K - 5. We offer extra help to students who need to strengthen reading skills in order for them to master grade level expectations. We also support classroom teachers during math and writing blocks.  

During intervention, we work on many skills, including:

Working on Writing

Working on Reading:

And Working with Words:

What are our kindergarten students learning over the past week?

Our kindergarten students have been quite busy recently. Check out some of these pictures to see how they've been learning about letters, sounds, questions, and shapes!

Pictures from the first week of school!