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Our teachers used an organizational structure of We were very pleased to be able to provide our
<br /> grade-level professional learning communities(PLCs) students with mindfulness education during this past
<br /> to collaboratively focus on improving student learning school year. Lessons were taught through a series of
<br /> and implementing best instructional practice. Each brief weekly lessons-15 in total. The program has
<br /> PLC developed a SMART goal in English/Language been shown to benefit our students by helping them to
<br /> Arts or in Mathematics. Development of common pay better attention, focus better, be kinder and more ?
<br /> assessments,progress monitoring, analyses of student grateful, develop better impulse control, be more able
<br /> performance data, and the sharing of effective to calm themselves,reduce classroom and playground
<br /> instructional strategies are integral components of the conflict,and perform better academically.Mindfulness
<br /> PLC model. Our PLCs met twice each week helps to build inner resilience. r'
<br /> throughout the school year.
<br /> Responsive Classroom is a way of teaching that
<br /> We continually strive to improve instruction and emphasizes classroom community building. The
<br /> student achievement. This was our third year using the program consists of practical strategies for helping each
<br /> Every Day Mathematics program. Through our student build academic and social competencies,
<br /> Focused Reading Block(FRB) groups in grades three including morning meeting. Most all of our teachers
<br /> and four we were better able to provide targeted reading have been trained in this approach and have
<br /> instruction to meet the needs of each student. The implemented it in their classrooms.
<br /> group placements were fluid with changes being made
<br /> throughout the year based on student performance data. We continue to promote a positive, safe, and
<br /> This model allowed us to provide more students with respect-filled learning environment through our PBIS
<br /> daily small group instruction. We continued following program (Positive Behaviors Interventions and 1/000
<br /> a six-day cycle for our special subjects—Physical Supports)—a program that supports social competence
<br /> Education, Art, Music—including Band, Strings, and and academic achievement. Our students receive
<br /> Chorus, Science/Health, Library, and Writing. Our explicit instruction on expectations and are encouraged
<br /> writing special provides a foundation and a consistent to consistently follow the"Falcon Five"—Be Safe,Be
<br /> school-wide approach to developing the skills Respectful,Be Responsible,Be Caring,and Be Ready.
<br /> necessary in good writing. This was the second year of When students are observed displaying desired F
<br /> our using the Empowering Writers program as our behaviors they are recognized with "Right Choice"
<br /> instructional guide/resource to help our students tickets that can then be used as currency at our Falcon
<br /> become better writers—both in the homeroom setting Five Store.
<br /> as well as in the special.
<br /> The Quashnet School is proud of our efforts to
<br /> We continue our efforts to update instruction and support the military. We completed our seventh year
<br /> learning through the integration of technology. All of of collecting Halloween candy donations for troops
<br /> our homerooms are equipped with interactive white serving overseas. Students wrote notes to soldiers that
<br /> boards which allow for web-based interactive teaching were included in the candy shipments. An assembly , ,F
<br /> and learning opportunities. We have two computer and luncheon was held on November 9, 2012 to honor
<br /> labs—one is equipped with laptop computers(formerly veterans and active members of the military who are
<br /> part of our Computer on Wheels—COW portable connected to our school families.
<br /> system) and the other equipped with desktop
<br /> computers. Both are used regularly by our students. The Quashnet School's Before-and After-School
<br /> Each homeroom has also been equipped with at least Activities Program was very popular with our students,
<br /> one wireless laptop computer for student use. All offering a wide variety of enrichment activities on ,
<br /> homerooms also have a document camera which allows Tuesdays through Fridays. Offerings included: Floor
<br /> teachers to enlarge and project student work as well as Hockey, Lego Club, Drama, Grade 3 Math Club,
<br /> Other instructional materials onto the whiteboard. Web- Soccer, Student Council, Partner Tutoring, Catapult
<br /> based instructional and learning supports are utilized Club, K-Kids, Indian Education—Tutoring, Indian
<br /> every day in our classrooms. We are grateful for the Education Culture, Strategy Games, Yoga, Board
<br /> technology we have in place that helps us to better Games, Science Fair Planning Club, Gr. 4 Math Club,
<br /> 1 prepare our students for success in the technologically- Just-Ducky Club, ELA MCAS Prep, Math MCAS
<br /> advanced 21st century. Prep, Spelling Bee Club, Monkey Club. We thank the
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