Meeting+Notes

=Meeting Notes= =April 1, 2010=

Responsive Classroom Training

 * Create a demonstration video of this year to view at the beginning of next year, with an emphasis on the language.
 * Making pamphlets available to TAs in case they want to take an actual RC workshop
 * Make a list of phrases to practice at home
 * The summer institute was helpful--could TAs have a day of that

Community Building

 * have more initial get-to-know-you things in the TA meetings.
 * Have a time set up before school starts for teachers to meet their TAs (maybe after training) instead of the free form email each other and set up a time. Perhaps have them stop by the classroom before the LS luncheon or plan to meet after that.
 * continue the lunches

Between TAs and teacher

 * Bin for work
 * Template to give rough idea of what expectations are
 * questions (some provided to the TA) of what to ask your teacher at the beginning of the year (and to ask them again at the mid year point).

Among TA's

 * perhaps a listserv that is used relatively often
 * assign a buddy for the next year; someone who is available to answer questions and show you around, ideally someone in a classroom next door who is readily available.

Between TAs and the larger USN community:

 * have the tech coordinator set up an email group for LS announcements
 * have the teachers put the TAs in their parent email list (add this to handbook)

**Curriculum** Give TAs a map of the curriculum in the TA manual at the beginning of the year. It is less important to know the topic (i.e. water) and more important to know the toleration level for intervention in different areas. For example, if one should intervene and help read the directions, cut a paper, etc. It would be helpful to meet at two times of the year to discuss what the kids should be expected to do. First half, the emphasis should be on what the curriculum was like in the grade below--what we expect them to do or try. The second half would be showing the next year's curriculum to give a sense of what students should be able to do on their own. At any rate, it would be very helpful to look at the grade levels above and below the grade level you are working with to see where they kdis are coming from and where they are going.