February 27, 2026

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• I was able to catch some Olympic Winter events in room 107/108 this week.  The bobsleigh and skating events were tight races!  Good job 4K team creating a fun way to learn and experience the Olympics!

• I have had the opportunity to listen to so many caring professionals in SIT meetings, IEP meetings, evals, etc and every time I can't help but think about how hard all of you work to help our students thrive and grow.  The way that you describe their skills is positive (even when you have to discuss deficit areas) and always with a plan for the next steps. Shout out to all of you that give tirelessly of yourself and your talents to make a difference in our students' lives.  It is definitely noticed!

• Shout out to Christina who gets to "show off" this next week at the WEMTA conference where she and Watson will be presenting about the "Paw-sitive" effect they have on our district!  Way to go Christina!  

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, March 2
• Read Across America Week starts!  PJ Day!
• Morning Duties:
• Blacktop/Playground - Westphal, Stampfl, Tietz
• 3K/4K playground - Mook, Ellefson
• Breakfast - Houk, Neis
• Lunch Duties:
• 12:00 - Ellefson
• 12:30 - Juech
• 1:00 - Neis
• Afternoon Duties:
• Blacktop/Playground - CaineT, Juech
• Circle Drive - Betsy
• Reading/Math Family Night from 6-7pm
• SuperHero Attendance Challenge starts
• Jenny in mtg from 1:15-2:30pm

• Tuesday, March 3
• Color Day: Staff=Black
• Social Media Posts due to Jenny: Mook, Brenda Caine
• Lunch Detention Duty this week: Braunschweig, CaineB, Fortmann
• Jenny in mtg from 9-11am
• Para Pd meeting from 3:15-3:45pm - Forward Test Training (anyone that missed this on 2/16 should plan to attend this meeting as well.)

• Wednesday, March 4
• Anything but a Water Bottle Day!
• Workout Wednesday
• Buddy Reading Day - Plan a day for your Read Across America Reading Team to read together
• Jenny in mtg from 8:30-10:30am

• Thursday, March 5
• Decorate an Apron Day!

• Friday, March 6
• Vocabulary/Book Character Day!
• Vocabulary Parade starts at 8:15am

Nitty-Gritty

• Attendance plan for March
• To continue to encourage students to be at school and on time, we will have an attendance challenge for March.  In your mailbox will be a SuperHero sheet to hang in your classroom.  Every day that your class is all present, please color in or draw a start in one space.  When the sheet is filled, please turn it in to my mailbox and I will bring the Trojan cart to your classroom!

• Read Across America
• Read Across America starts on Monday!  The committee has worked hard on special events for our students.  Click HERE for the details for the week.

• Looking Ahead - Mark your Calendar
• A preview of the HS musical will be performed for the elementary students on Thursday, March 12 from 1:30-3:00pm in the multipurpose room. This year's musical is "The Little Mermaid."

• Young American Poetry Contest
• Click HERE for information regarding a contest for students writing poetry. The contest ends on March 27th. This is a completely optional activity. 

• School Supply lists
• In order to get the supply lists ready for next school year, I need each grade level to go through the supply lists that are on the site.  When you are finished with it, please let me know so that I can approve them and make sure the company has it ready to go! Click HERE for the lists.

• Forward Testing Details
• The Forward test is coming up in a couple of weeks. The testing times are Tues-Thurs from 8-11:30. While our students are testing, please help remind students to be very quiet in the hallways so that students can do their best work. Schedules may be affected for specials, recess, etc.  Thank you in advance for being flexible and avoiding the testing areas as much as possible.  Dom has created a resource page for us that includes the links that many will need in order to prepare for the test, see the assigned rooms/groups, etc. If you have any questions, please let me know.
• Sunshine Committee
• Please remember that the Sunshine Committee would love to help celebrate events with our EL staff.  Please keep them in the loops for any upcoming weddings, baby news and retirements!

• Alt Lunch/Lunch Detentions
• In an effort to assist our custodians and also each other, please help make sure that our students are cleaning up after themselves, the table and the floor from lunch detentions and alt. lunch periods.  Food that sits on tables, chairs or the floor for hours before the room is scheduled to be clean after school becomes very hard to remove. Garbage is removed daily, but students should be wiping them down with the cloths after you spray the tables/chairs.  Thank you in advance for your help!

• College and Career Week
• Due to such a busy month of March, the college and career week events will be moved to the week after spring break. Watch for information from the committee for the events planned for the week of April 6.

TechKnow Tip

Common Sense Media’s Two Truths & AI is a fast-paced, "low-lift" digital literacy game designed to help students sharpen their "AI detective" skills. Inspired by the classic icebreaker, it challenges students to look at three movie posters—two are authentic, and one has been generated or altered by AI.

The game is entirely web-based (no logins or setup required) and features two versions tailored to different age groups: Grades K–6 (using G and PG posters) and Grades 7–12 (using G, PG, and PG-13 posters). It’s an excellent way to transition from "is this cool?" to "is this real?" without the need for a heavy lecture.

You could play the game in ‘timed mode’ as a high-energy bellringer or use the ‘untimed mode’ to slow down and analyze each poster. The game provides explanations for why certain images are fake, creating great teachable moments.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

IMC Newsletter

Behavior Specialist Information

Brainbreaks!

As we get into that tough part of the year, brainbreaks, especially cooperative and/or game based breaks can help keep relationships strong. Here is the Playworks Game Library if you need some fresh ideas.

Recess Information

Snow Gear

It seems that the weather is starting to get nicer and we don’t have any notable snow in the forecast so starting next week, March 2nd, snow gear will be optional on the playground. Especially for our younger students, it may still be worth encouraging them to wear all of their gear for warmth and to stay dry. 

Playground Evacuation

Please review the procedures in the event we need to evacuate the playground. There is no drill currently planned, but it is always good to review periodically.

Friday Funny

In honor of the first spring training game of the Brewers last weekend, today's Friday Funny is an compilation of short videos of funny moments in the MLB.  I LOVE this kind of stuff and can't wait for baseball to start up again!  Below it is the opposite end of the spectrum, but still just as funny! 

February 20, 2026

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• Shout out to the 3K and 4K team that worked so hard to put together a successful screening event for our community. Our parents felt heard and we had a few kids crying when they LEFT because they wanted to stay at school!  Nice job everyone!

• 2nd graders were working hard on learning phonics and could write the many ways to spell the long vowel sounds.  These vowel teams are very difficult to learn and they are nailing it!

• Nice job to all of your hard work on the Act 20 modules and the digital citizenship work that was completed on Monday. As I was reading through the work, I was impressed by your detail and planning. 

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, February 23
• Morning Duties:
• Blacktop/Playground: Miller, Bingen, Zastrow
• 3K/4K playground: Donovan, Vertz
• Breakfast: CaineB, Wagner
• Lunch Duties:
• 12:00 - Wagner
• 12:30 - Westphal
• 1:00 (alt lunch) - CaineT 
• Afternoon Duties:
• Blacktop/Playground: Huso, Lucht
• Circle Drive: Jenkins
• School Board mtg @ 6:30pm

• Tuesday, February 24
• Social Media posts due to Jenny: Wagner, Ellefson
• Happy Birthday Heather Stange!

• Wednesday, February 25
• Workout Wednesday
• Lunch Detentions Supervisors: Donovan, Huso, Bingen
• Jenny in Meeting from 9-11am
• Elem. Staff meeting in IMC @ 3:15-4pm

• Thursday, February 26
• Pop-Up PD on Translating like a Pro! in IMC from 3:20-3:45pm
• Referendum Info Opportunity in Commons @ 6pm

• Friday, February 27
• Citizenship grades due in the gradebook for February

Nitty-Gritty

• Read Across America
• This is only a week or so away.  (March 2-6)  The annual reading/math night for families will be held on Monday, March 2 from 6-7pm.  The committee has been working hard on the preparations for this exciting week. Feel free to come join the fun on Monday night.  Bring your children or grandchildren and enjoy a great time with reading and math!  
• Students will all get a plastic apron for the theme of the week. If you want your students to decorate it, please do!

• Trojan Press
• A huge thank you to all of the staff that are helping our Trojan Press members get pictures and information from you for the yearbook.  The last thing they will be adding to the book is Read Across America week.  Please continue to assist them with pictures, etc..They are working so hard and diligently to create something that they and all of us are proud of, and also will bring back great memories for them years from now!

• Personnel update
• Please help me thank Chrissy Manthey for her time, work and dedication this school year.  Friday, Feb. 20 will be her last day with us. I wish her all the best and maybe our paths will cross again someday.  
• Going forward, Sarah Patton will be joining us full-time in the elementary. She has been in our wing for awhile, but now she will be with us all day!  Welcome Sarah!

• Summer School
• I am looking for 2-3 teachers that would like to teach summer school this year for elementary classes. If you or someone you know is interested, please have them contact me as soon as they are able!  In addition, I am also looking for people willing to sub during the summer for anyone that may need a substitute. If this is of interest, please let me know.

• Dodgeland Den
• This summer the Dodgeland Den will be open before/after summer school from 6:30-7:30 and 12:30-5:30 and on non summer school days it will be open from 6:30am-5:30pm. It will be open for students entering grades 4K-6th grade and will have a daily cost for each student. It will open on June 3 and run until August 14.  If you are interested in working or subbing in the Den, please let me know.  The program will be organized and run by Sam Keberlein and Lexi Huelsman.  Reach out to them for specifics on the schedule, etc.

ML Information

Clear Path, Clear Success: Why Rubrics are a Game-Changer for MLs

For our Multilingual Learners (MLs), an assignment without a rubric can feel like trying to navigate a new city without a map. Providing a clear rubric at the start of a project doesn’t just set expectations—it lowers anxiety and provides a linguistic scaffold for success.

Why It Works

When MLs see a rubric on day one, they aren't guessing what "good work" looks like. It breaks down complex tasks into manageable chunks and highlights the specific vocabulary they need to focus on.

Quick Tips for Effective Rubrics

• Keep it Simple: Use student-friendly language. Instead of "Demonstrates mastery of syntax," try "My sentences are easy to read and follow a logical order."

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Attach a "Mentor Text" or a past student project. Seeing a "Level 4" example helps MLs visualize the end goal regardless of their current English proficiency.

• Use Visuals: For K-5 or newcomers, add icons (like a pencil for writing or a speech bubble for presenting) next to criteria to provide instant context.

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Rubric Quick-Check

Feature	Instead of...	Try...
Criteria	"Strong Organization"	"I used 'First,' 'Next,' and 'Last' to order my story."
Grading	Numbers only (1-4)	Numbers + Descriptive labels (e.g., "Getting Started," "Almost There," "Expert!")
Clarity	Giving it at the end	Reviewing it together before they start work.

Pro-Tip: Try a "Single-Point Rubric." List only the "Target" criteria in the center column, leaving blank space on the sides for strengths and areas for growth. It’s less overwhelming and focuses on the most important goals.

TechKnow Tip

PBS Learning Media is a free collection of curriculum-aligned videos, interactives, lesson plans, and more! You can find PBS Learning Media in ClassLink where you can sign in with Google. Once connected, you can add resources to your favorites to keep organized. Better yet, all the resources can be shared with students seamlessly through Google Classroom! Here is a quick look at a small portion of what you can find within PBS Learning Media. Jump right into the resource by clicking on each picture.

Friday Funny 

In the spirit of the winter Olympics, I came across this short video making light of the difference between events in the summer Olympics vs. the winter Olympics.  When it is pointed out like this, the winter Olympics sound crazy!  

February 13, 2026 (What a week, huh?)

 All in the same week, are you kidding me????   Friday the 13th, Valentine's, 100th/101st Day of School, Parent/Teacher Conferences...What else could we add to these 5 days?

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• Nobody is as happy as the Math Interventionist on the 100th Day of School!  Thank you for adding your expertise to our students for the day Sue!

• Shout out to Shanalyn, Samantha, and Teresa that used ingenuity and old-fashioned teaching know how to help a student struggling to come in from recess.  To some it may have looked like just a fun chair ride across the blacktop, but to others it was modeling, care and support and most importantly creativity to solve a problem.  Way to go guys! :-)

• Shout out to Taylor who solved a problem I didn't know I had at the beginning of the week.  Then when I figured it out, she determined how to solve the problem by making a chart for the data points and saved me HOURS of work.  I know I said this to you before; you didn't have to do this, but I can not thank you enough for it!

• With all of the changes in the schedule and the illnesses and the weather changes this week, there were a number of our students that had a rough week. Thank you to all of those that stepped in to help them out, support them, communicate with others about the events and make plans for helping to improve their days.  Whether this is discussing recess issues for an exhausting amount of time with a group of 4th graders, talking about the bathroom mess AGAIN with a student, helping students clean up a mess they made, or even just patiently redirecting the student for what probably seemed the 100th time in an hour. Thank you for all you do and know that it is noticed and appreciated!

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, February 16
• PD Day!  Schedule is HERE
• 3K/4K Screening from 12:30-6:30pm

• Tuesday, February 17
• Happy Birthday Christina!
• Morning Duties
• Blacktop/Playground - Chambers, Fortmann, Caine-Arnes
• 3K/4K buses/Rm 109 - O'Toole, Schuett
• Breakfast - Schulte, Braunschweig
• Lunch Duties
• 12:00 - Schuett
• 12:30 - Miller
• 1:00 - Klink
• Afternoon Duties
• Blacktop/Playground - Juech, Klink
• Circle Drive - Rollins
• Social Media Posts due to Jenny: Huso, Stampfl, Miller
• Jenny in a meeting from 9-11am

• Wednesday, February 18
• Workout Wednesday
• Lunch Detention Supervisors: Ellefson, Juech, CaineT
• Jenny in meeting from 8:30-10:30am

• Thursday, February 19
• Seals on Wheels visit
• 5th Gr. Field trip to Discovery World (all day)

• Friday, February 20
• newsletter articles due to Patti!

Nitty-Gritty

• Lavender Reminder
• Please refrain from using lavender items on Mondays to help one of our students that has a severe allergy.  This includes lotions, perfumes, air fresheners, etc.  Thank you!

• Low Power Mode on iPads
• Please make sure you have read Brad's email earlier this week about the low power mode on our iPads.  While it seems like it is a way to conserve battery, it actually causes a lot more problems than it helps.  Please help our students (especially 4th-5th graders) understand this as well so that their learning tool is working well for them for their work.

• Feb 16 PD Day - Details you should know
• On Monday, there will be a few important tasks to work on and complete before April 22, our last PD of the year.  Anyone that will be proctoring the Forward test for students in grades 3-5, must attend the Forward training with Dom in the IMC at 8am.
• For teachers that teach 5K-5th grade, please plan to meet with me in the IMC at 9am to work on the next steps for preparing for next year and the digital citizenship lessons for each of our grades.  Mrs. Rollins will be on hand to assist with this work as well.
• Finally, at some point when it works for you or your team, please go into Cox Campus and complete the Reading Fluency module.  As always, you can do this as a group, or individually. When you complete the assessment, please print or email the certificate with everyone's names on it for my records. This may take about 2 hours.  It just has to be done before April 22.
• Dodgeland Den will be open in Room 109 (and for a short time in room 102/gym) during the day. There are only about 15 kids signed up for the day.
• 3K/4K Screening will start in the hallway near the office and the Early Learning hallway at 12:30. Right now, there are about 30 students that will be coming in that day to see our school and meet our staff.  If you pass through this area for the copiers, lunch, etc, please keep this in mind as many of these students get very nervous when they come in.

• Disinfecting
• If you are like me, somedays, I just want to take a bath in the sanitizer to keep germs away.  I am taking the emergen-c vitamins faithfully to hopefully help with this too!  One other thing that may help is helping our students to also be deligent with disinfecting hard services frequently and whenever possible letting it sit for 10-15 min.  Of course, frequent hand washing can never be over stated either! Every little bit helps!

• School Supplies for the 2026-27 School year
• It's time to look at the supply lists already for next year.  We will again be using 1st Day School Supplies for families that want to utilize this for purchasing a kit to have at school for the next school year.  The prices may have changed and we want to be sure that students will use all of the items that are on the list.  Last year's list is HERE.  I will send you a link for the 1st Day site to make any revisions to the items that you had in it from last year next week.  

Behavior Specialist Information

Help me, Help me!

Thank you very much for continuing to report behaviors so we can get ahead of issues as much as possible. While I very much appreciate being told about behavior incidents that require more immediate attention, PLEASE also write them up in Powerschool so I have the report to tie the consequence to and can be as timely and as accurate as possible in informing families. 

As always, please make sure that you are only using the student you are writing ups name in the reports, use as accurate and professional/neutral language as possible and leave any feeling or interpretational words out of formal reports.

Thanks for your help and please reach out if you have any questions!

TechKnow Tip

Google Chrome’s live caption and live translation are tools you can use which turn spoken words into text in real-time, making digital audio content more inclusive for all students. 

When accessed, live caption and live translate will auto launch within Google Chrome whenever spoken content is detected. The small text window can be moved or resized.

These accessibility tools are game changers for all our students when sharing videos or audio during your whole-group instruction. 

To get started:

• Open Chrome settings

• Click Accessibility along the left-hand menu

• Toggle live caption on

• To translate, toggle live translate on and select the preferred language

Watch a demo HERE

ML Information

Empowering Multilingual Learners: The Magic of Scaffolding

Think of scaffolding in the classroom just like scaffolding on a building: it’s a temporary structure put in

place to help a student reach heights they couldn't scale alone. For our Multilingual Learners (MLs),

scaffolding isn't just "help"—it’s the bridge between understanding a concept and being able to express it.

The secret to successful scaffolding isn't just putting the support in place; it's knowing when to

gradually take it away.

Teacher's Scaffolding Checklist

Phase 1: Heavy Support

• Sentence Frames: Provided full sentences with blanks for key vocabulary.

• Visuals: Paired text with images or icons.

• Bilingual Glossary: Provided translations for tier-three terms.

Phase 2: Moderate Support

• Sentence Starters: Provided the first few words of a response.

• Word Bank: Provided a list of relevant academic vocabulary.

• Graphic Organizers: Used Venn diagrams or flow charts to organize thoughts.

Phase 3: Light Support

• Think-Pair-Share: Allowed oral rehearsal before writing.

• Checklists: Provided a list of "Must-Have" elements for the task.

• Paragraph Frames: Provided transition words (First, Next, Finally).

Phase 4: Independence

• Student-Led: Student completes the task using only their own notes or memory.

Friday Funny

I came across this 13 sec. video online this week and it made me laugh. Then I was challenged to see what would happen if I tried this. I openly admit that I was perhaps a bit too overconfident. Today's Friday Funny is a run down of what happens when Jenny is rightfully put in her place by the cutest kids on the planet and their teachers.

Good Start: It looked okay at first. We were moving, had one little one bouncing off the wall literally, then a pretty big gap that I haven't noticed yet, but all in all, it's a good start. After all, we are only going to the music room!

Early Boast: By the end of the hallway, I'm feeling pretty good about myself as I look back and they are all in a line against the wall so they aren't in the way. I see Lexi and do a little cheer for all of us. See how HAPPY I look!

Sabotageur: Then, as we get closer to Lexi getting ready for recess duty, she of course is doubting my skills. AND THEN, do you see the sabotaging she does by encouraging a student to get out of line?! I believe her negativity and her blatant corruption of this innocent child caused my ultimate failure... Yep, I said it.

Wheels Came Off: By the time I get to Mrs. Houk's room, I have now stated at least 10 times, "Stay in line please. ___ walk straight please, ____ turn around so you don't run into anyone." And, I learned exactly what you all probably knew already, "That definitely didn't look the same as when Tina, Mandy and Bethany do it!" They make it look soooo easy, but I always knew that kindergarten was not the grade I could teach, but walking in the hallway I thought I could at least do! Guess not! :-)

February 6, 2026

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye

• We finished up the data meetings this week and I want to share with you all how much I value these conversations and even more the actions and plans you put in place after looking at the data for your class.  Our kids benefit when you not only analyze data, but make adjustments based on what that data says.  Way to Go everyone!

• Shout out to Patti who has been navigating an increase in "patients" in the office for the last couple of weeks as well as helping me fill in gaps for sick staff.  The germs that are spreading through the building are NO JOKE!  Thank you also to everyone that is stepping in to help out, going short staffed while I move people around, and being flexible with schedule changes. It is very much appreciated!

• Shout out to Ella who has been working very hard at getting to know one of our new students and sharing with her team to help us all get to know him better to help him transition to school. Her patience and kind words seem unending.  (At least with the kids at school...With Lexi and I, we definitely can see the end of her patience!:-)). Thank you for all you are doing for him!

• I want to take a moment to publicly thank Eneida for stepping into the 3K and EC role while Amber has been enjoying her maternity leave with her little one.  Amber will return on Tuesday and I'm certain that the 4K students will be glad to see her back in their classroom, but I can not express my gratitude for taking on this challenge the last couple of months. I appreciate the work you have put in and the many experiences that you have given our students. Thank you! 

What's Happening at Dodgeland?

• Monday, February 9
• Morning Duties:
• Blacktop/Playground - Stampfl, Tietz, Neis
• 4K/5K Bus Duty - Ellefson, Houk (one meet buses please)
• Breakfast - Mook, Westphal
• Lunch:
• 12:00 - Stampfl
• 12:30 - Vertz
• 1:00 - Tietz
• Afternoon Duties:
• Blacktop/Playground - CaineT, OPEN
• Circle Drive - Huelsman
• Support your favorite football team - Wear you team gear!

• Tuesday, February 10
• Lunch Detention - Wagner, Westphal, Neis
• Social Media Posts due to Jenny: Braunschweig, Cook
• Welcome Back Amber!

• Wednesday, February 11
• 100th Day of School!
• Jenny in meeting from 9-11am
• Parent/Teacher Conferences 4-7:30pm

• Thursday, February 12
• Jenny in virtual meeting from 8-9am
• 101st Day of School!
• Pop-Up PD on Translation tools in IMC 3:20-3:45

• Friday, February 13
• Wear Red, Pink, or Hearts for Valentine's Day

• Sunday, February 15
• FFA Pancake breakfast - 8am-12pm

Nitty-Gritty

• Author Visit 
• Please mark your calendars:  On April 17, an author named Diane Nienas will be visiting our school. She has written a series of books with her son as inspiration. Her message is very much about kindness, empathy and celebrating what makes us each unique. Here is the link to her website. I have spoken to her about the presentation and it will fit with the messages we send to our students every day!  She will be reading a book aloud to each 3K/4K classroom separately and then doing a larger group presentation in the IMC for grades K-2, 3-5.  More information to come next month, but wanted you to have this on your radar!

• Read Across America
• Heads Up!  Read Across America week is coming up March 2-6.  Our family reading/math night will be on Monday, March 2.  Watch for information from the committee coming out soon.

• Social Media Posts Requests
• You all do a magnificent job of sharing pictures and posts for social media to tell our community what is going on in our classrooms.  I want to emphasize how important is to continue to tell "our story" frequently.  Especially during the next few months before the referendum vote, we want to make sure that we are telling and showing the amazing work we do each day.  Even if you aren't on the social media list for that week, please share any posts with me that would be great to share on FaceBook.  (If you are already posting to Class Dojo, share it with me for Facebook too!) Just be sure that their is a blurb attached to explain the activity and/or learning and at least a couple of pictures to showcase the work. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

• Art Show Update!
• Thank you to Brenda and Chris V who have volunteered to help with setting up for the Art Show in May.  We can always use more help.  You know the saying, "Many hands make light work!"

ML Information

Level Up Your Classroom: The Power of "Modeling the Mic"

As teachers, we know that how we say something is often just as important as what we’re saying. We are constantly encouraging our students to "speak like scientists" or "write like historians." But before they can produce that high-level academic language, they need to hear it—constantly and naturally.

Modeling academic language isn’t about being "fancy"; it’s about providing a verbal roadmap for critical thinking. When we intentionally use precise vocabulary in our daily speech, we bridge the gap between casual conversation and the formal language required for academic success.

Learn more about helping your ML learners with Elevating Classroom Discourse!

The Quick-Start Guide: Modeling Academic Language

To help students speak like experts, they need to hear you speak like one first. Use these quick "swaps" to turn everyday classroom talk into high-level academic modeling.

The Power Swaps

Goal	Instead of...	Try Modeling...
Math	"Let's solve this."	"Let’s evaluate the efficiency of this strategy."
Science	"What do you see?"	"What phenomena are we observing?"
ELA	"Find it in the book."	"Cite evidence to support your claim."
General	"Tell me more."	"Can you elaborate on that concept?"

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3 Ways to Make it Stick

1. Narrate Your Brain: Say your thoughts out loud. "I’m predicting X because of Y."

2. Bridge the Gap: Use the "Fancy Word" + the "Simple Word" together. "Let’s contrast—or find the differences between—these two."

3. The Echo: After you use a target word, ask a student to use it in their response.

Level Up Your Classroom: The Power of "Modeling the Mic"

As teachers, we know that how we say something is often just as important as what we’re saying. We are constantly encouraging our students to "speak like scientists" or "write like historians." But before they can produce that high-level academic language, they need to hear it—constantly and naturally.

Modeling academic language isn’t about being "fancy"; it’s about providing a verbal roadmap for critical thinking. When we intentionally use precise vocabulary in our daily speech, we bridge the gap between casual conversation and the formal language required for academic success.

---

Why It Works

Think of academic language as a "hidden curriculum." Students from diverse backgrounds may not hear these specific structures at home. When you use them, you:

• Lower the barrier: You demystify "big words" by putting them in context.

• Provide a scaffold: You give them the sentence starters they need for their own writing.

• Normalize rigor: It shows that complex thinking is part of our everyday classroom culture.

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From "Teacher Talk" to "Academic Talk"

Small shifts in your phrasing can make a massive impact. Here are a few ways to swap everyday directions for modeled academic language:

Instead of saying...	Try modeling...	Why?
"Let's look at this closely."	"Let’s analyze this problem by looking at each part."	Introduces the verb for deep examination.
"What's the difference?"	"How can we contrast these two characters?"	Uses precise comparative language.
"Why do you think that?"	"What evidence supports your hypothesis?"	Reinforces the scientific method/logic.
"Tell me more."	"Can you elaborate on that point?"	Encourages detail and expansion.

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3 Quick Tips to Get Started

1. Narrate Your Thinking: Don't just do the work—talk through it. "I am predicting that the story will end this way because of the foreshadowing in chapter two."

2. Use "Think-Alouds": When you hit a tough word in a text, model how you figure it out. "This word 'precarious' seems to describe a dangerous situation. Let's look at the context clues."

3. Display a "Word Wall" for Yourself: Keep a small sticky note on your podium or laptop with 3–5 "Target Terms" you want to use that week.

By consistently "Modeling the Mic," you’re not just teaching a lesson—you’re giving your students the tools to express their own brilliance.

TechKnow Tip

As you prepare for Parent/Teacher conferences, keeping a student’s information confidential is required. Teachers should not show a live PowerSchool Gradebook with parents. It is recommended that parents log into their Parent Access Account to view their students’ progress and grades. If they do not have access to PowerSchool, another option is using PowerTeacher Gradebook Reports. PowerSchool Reports can assist you with conversations with your students’ Parents/Guardians. Helpful reports may include “Individual Student Report” and “Missing Assignment Report” (reference the attached image). These reports are available for all your classes, but ensure you are only sharing specific student data with specific parents/guardians. Specific directions can be found here. 

PD Spotlight 

I don't know how many of you have had a very LONG week, but by Tuesday I felt like the week must be over already as I thought the next day was Friday.  Yikes!  Part of it was that there were a number of students that had some pretty big feelings this week.  A friend shared this with me and I thought it just spoke to me so I am sharing it with you too.  And while I am not much of a dancer, I do think there are lots of things I can do (and things I can encourage our kids to do too) that help make it better!  Click HERE to see the 30 second long video.

Friday Funny

In honor of my brother's 45th birthday this next Wednesday, my Friday Funny is a text message he sent on the family group chat about an email he received. He played college football for St. Norbert College back in the day.  Leave it to him to take something serious and poke some big holes in the plan.  He is such a smart aleck, but we LOVE it! (and him of course!)