What's With These Modern Methods?!

What's new in Education? What's different from when we were kids?

OLD PARADIGM	NEW PARADIGM
Content Standards	Common Core Standards
Knowledge based	Skills based
Product oriented	Process oriented
Processes are demonstrated and copied. Answers are given expeditiously. Students are carried across the river. The goal is completing the work quickly and “correctly.” Teachers, not students, are typically functioning as the heroes of the story. The hope is that students will remember.	Productive struggle is encouraged. Students discover processes through trial and error. Students swim across the river. Teachers and aides wait, watch and encourage from the shore OR they swim alongside. But they don’t carry students across the river. The goal for students is to go through the process of thinking and exercising the mind. Students must connect the synapses and become the heroes of their own story.
Low-order Bloom’s, e.g., remembering and understanding theoretically, but not conceptualizing down to the bones	High-order Bloom’s, e.g., reasoning: applying; analyzing; evaluating; creating...
Teacher driven	Student driven
Teacher is "sage on the stage" lecturer or mommy robin that places already-chewed knowledge into the mouths of babes	Teacher is event planner and/or facilitator. When facilitating, the teacher asks leading questions (think Socrates) and offers wait time and provides as many students as possible the opportunity to share their thinking (not necessarily with the whole group; could be with a partner or journal...)
Students are empty vessels in need of being filled with information. They come with “deficits.”	Students come with richness and life experience and are eager to connect their own richness to new ideas when those ideas are presented in ways that acknowledge their richness
Guided Practice with "gradual release": I Do, We Do, You Do. Teacher demonstrates a specific way; the class practices that way to get the hang of it; students each practice independently the teacher’s way. Beforehand, students are "front-loaded with info that they must memorize in order to later do.	Constructivism: You Do, We Do, I Do. "Fiddle about 'til you figure it out." Students experiment, attempting to carry out a challenge; they share questions and ideas with peers; they return to the teacher for validation and/or a new challenge. Any "front loading" is instead "side-loading" (like a chart, map or reference guide) that may be immediately applied in context.
Differentiation	Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Homogeneous groups	Heterogeneous groups
Single entree	Menu of options
Teacher choice	Student choice
Students limited to the confines of the teacher’s offering (and the teacher’s content knowledge) and to the collective wisdom of the homogeneous group	Unlimited (not even limited by the constraint of time because students will take their curiosity, meaning-seeking and agile minds with them wherever they go)
Teacher does the high order thinking in analyzing, comparing, evaluating, synthesizing, preparing	Students do the high order thinking in applying, analyzing, comparing, evaluating, synthesizing, choosing, creating
Students do individual work to show “standards mastery”	Students go on individual quests during which they practice skills, solve problems and seek meaning
OR students do group work, often for group grades (which have a tendency to stifle the fringe/genius voices that are not also the dominant voices and that typically involve an imbalance of participation)	OR students work together to solve a problem, answer a guiding question or create something purposeful (roles may be chosen/assigned and equitable OR chosen/assigned and hierarchical to include a lead visionary or project manager so fringe/genius voices, whether dominant or not, are encouraged and fostered)

When it makes sense to use teacher-led guided instruction (and gradual release):

• High-stakes procedures like driving a stick shift, flying a helicopter or performing brain surgery
• Tasks where speed and standardization facilitate language and reasoning, as with procedures related to writing, such as printing, handwriting and typing 
• Routines and procedures for engaging in Constructivist lessons, so there is more time spent on the meaningful work than on the transitions into the work

When teacher-led guided practice is potentially stifling:

• Low-stakes procedures where no one will die (or get seriously injured) if a student experiments and does things their own way, and whenever guided practice shuts down reasoning (and ultimately atrophies reasoning), and/or when the "correct" or standard way of doing something lacks purpose and is "just because it is what has always been done”

Questions to ponder:

• What kind of tasks does the SBA (end of the year state assessment) include?
• What kind of problems will students encounter in life?
• Which column of the table likely leads to higher SBA scores?
• Which column likely leads to students being "successful" in college, career and life?
• Which type of lessons — teacher-led or student-led — likely leads more quickly to synaptic connections?
• Which column of the table gives you the strongest emotional response?
• Which aspects of teaching and learning are you most intriqued by?

Of course, after answering these questions, we are always encouraged to answer the ultimate question, which is "Why?" "Why is this so?" and "Why do I feel this way?" Such questions are essential.

I would love it if you were to reach out and engage in conversation with me/us about this or other education related topics via andrea.kittelson1@lausd.net.

Thank you!

Principal Kittelson

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COVID Info 2023-2024

 

Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year

Dear Walgrove Families, 

We look forward to welcoming you to campus Monday, August 14 at 8:05am! 

Here are some handy tidbits of info:

DROP OFF/PICK UP:

You may drop your kiddo off at any of the three gates, but preferably the gate closest to class:

> Appleton Gate for Grades 4-5
> Walgrove Gate for Grades 2-3
> Morningside Gate for Grades TK-1 and Alt Curriculum

Daily drop-off is 7:30-8:05am. Students will be supervised in the Quad until 8:05.

Daily pick-up is at the same gate from 2:30-2:45. STAR/Beyond the Bell pick up via the gate nearest the Auditorium.

SCHOOL STARTS: 

School starts at 8:05am. (Gates close at 8:05. Anyone who enters after 8:05 enters through the office.)

School ends at 2:30 (except on Tuesdays, when it ends at 1:35).

AFTER SCHOOL:

STAR/Beyond the Bell extends until 6pm for those who have applied. For those who have not yet, you may apply here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uQl8NRShtlRogoWgIXMfVJ9okt_yDWlQ/view

Email your completed form to andrea.kittelson1@lausd.net

ALL STUDENTS ETK+ MAY PARTICIPATE IN STAR, WHICH IS DAILY, M-F UNTIL 6PM. 

Strings by the Sea (violin), Angel City Youth Chorale (choir) and Tap with Danielle B are free after-school offerings for students who are in STAR/Beyond the Bell and students who are not. More info on these three offerings once school is in session. 

Musical Theater, which is another after-school program, starts after Winter Break. 

Theater class is during the school day, as are STEAM Studio, PE, Library and Garden. 

WELCOME PACKETS:

You may pick up a welcome packet anytime between August 7 and August 11 8:00am-3:00pm. 

Welcome packets will also be sent home on the first day of school. 

COVID testing is recommended but not required. 

UPCOMING DATES:

Thursday, August 3:
Welcome letters, welcome packets and class and teacher assignments will be sent to families electronically. In addition, hard copy welcome packets will be available in the office for pick up starting Monday, August 7 and will also be sent home with students on the first day of school.

Friday, August 4:
Harvest Day with Farmer Adam in the Garden 10am-11:30am

Monday, August 7:
Optional Paid Teacher Meeting Day 1 8am-3pm - Teachers must register via MyPLN

Tuesday, August 8:
Optional Paid Teacher Meeting Day 1 8am-3pm - Teachers must register via MyPLN

Wednesday, August 9:
Optional Paid Teacher Meeting Day 1 8am-3pm - Teachers must register via MyPLN

Thursday, August 10:
Optional Paid Teacher Meeting Day 1 8am-3pm - Teachers must register via MyPLN

Friday, August 11:
Optional Paid Teacher Planning Day 8am-3pm 
Kindergarten and New Family Orientation in the Auditorium 10-11am. Adults only, please, if possible

Saturday, August 12:

Kindergarten Playdate in the Kinder Yard 10-12pm. ALL KIDDOS AND FAMILIES WELCOME. 

Monday, August 14:
School starts at 8:05

ADDITIONAL INFO:

Assemblies (with Parent Coffee Cart and Garden Goodies) are Fridays 8:05-8:20am in the Quad.

Coffee and Diet Coke with the Principal are two Fridays per month after the assembly at the Council Circle and one Tuesday evening per month at 7pm in Dr. K's Zoom room. 

FOW meetings are one Friday per month after the assembly in the Parent Center.

Parents are allowed onto campus to escort their kiddos; to attend assemblies, meetings and conferences; and, by appointment, to observe class for up to 20 minutes. 

However, to stay longer, the District requires that you become a registered volunteer afterwhich you may volunteer in a classroom, in the library, in the Edible Garden, in the Wildlands, on the playground, in the cafeteria and/or elsewhere on campus!

What to bring to school:

• Backpack
• Snack
• Lunch (optional, as LAUSD provides free lunch to all)
• Water bottle (optional). We have both a filling station and drinking fountains
• Change of clothes/pants in a Ziplock bag
• If you bring a sweatshirt, then have a name-label inside!
• Close-toed shoes (wear them; don't bring them)
• If you bring technology, you may use it only when directed to by a teacher. No recreational technology use during recess, lunch or STAR
• Please do not bring toys, as they may be lost, stolen or stir up conflict

For questions, please refer to the welcome packet or contact Principal Dr. Andrea Kittelson 
andrea.kittelson1@lausd.net and/or SAA Ms. Tracy McCarthy tracy.mccarthy@lausd.net

Thank you!

WALGROVE BELL SCHEDULE

WALGROVE 2023-2024 CALENDAR

LAUSD 2023-2024 CALENDAR

STUDENT BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS AND SUPPORTS

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Kindergarten and New Family Orientation and Kindergarten Playdate

Save the Dates!

Kinder/New Family Orientation (Hosted by Admin and Teachers) Friday, August 11 at 10am in the Auditorium (Adults only, please)

Kinder Playdate (Hosted by Current Families) Saturday, August 12 at 10am in the Kinder Yard

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2023-2024 Bell Schedule

School Starts Monday, August 14, 2023

PBIS/RP 2023-2024

LAUSD implements PBIS/RP (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports/Restorative Practices). Each LAUSD school creates school-site matrices, classroom matrices, minor-major matrices and more. 

The following documents are the current prevailing documents that govern student behavior, discipline, rewards, consequences., etc., at Walgrove Elementary. All documents were approved by the previous LSLC and will be revisited by the 2023-2024 LSLC at the first LSLC meeting, which will be held in Mid-October in Dr. K's Zoom room. 

In addition to posting the documents in classrooms and around campus, Walgrove teachers are to regularly share the documents with students and to teach overt lessons on the pertinent concepts. 

The decision-making body that resides over the area of student discipline at Walgrove is the LSLC. 

The LSLC is comprised of the principal, elected classified staff, elected certificated staff, and elected parent representatives. 

Last year's LSLC was comprised of:

• Principal Andrea Kittelson
• SAA Tracy McCarthy
• UTK Teacher Alejandra Biolatto
• Gr 2 Teacher Ana Lima
• Gr 3Teacher Doug Merrick
• Parent Rep Lisa Margeson
• Alternate Teacher(s)
• Alternate Parent 

This years LSLC will be comprised of all those elected on Monday, September 18, 2023. 

For information on how to become a part of the LSLC, please read this information on the LSLC and then come to LSLC orientation meeting Monday, September 11, 2023 at 3pm in Dr. K's Zoom room. 

If you have any questions, concerns or big ideas, please contact me: andrea.kittelson1@lausd.net or stop by Coffee and Diet Coke with the Principal every other Friday at the Council circle in the Wildlands following the Friday morning assembly or via Zoom one Tuesday evening per month (7pm) in Dr. K's Zoom room. 

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Equity Conference June 20 2023

Walgrove Weekly Message

Dear Walgrove Families and Staff, 

Congratulations to all the sports participants who played in playoffs this weekend (and next). A special shout-out to all those who played and won and played and lost and played and grew!!

Thanks, also, to the volunteers who came out to help in the Wildlands yesterday at the last Volunteer Day of the school year. A small but mighty crew of folks won in the game of People vs. Weeds. 

If you couldn't come and work in the Wildlands or Edible Garden yesterday, have no fear, as there will be Harvest Days during the summer. We will post a schedule soon!

As we embark upon this last week of the 2022-2023 school year, which has been a year rife with challenge but also copious amounts of glorious regrowth, let us ponder all that we have accomplished individually and together. 

Here of what is coming up this week at Walgrove:

MON

Ms. Zeena and Mr. G in the Auditorium 8:30-10am

Mira P as Mr. D in the Auditorium 10:30-12pm

5th Grade Awards in the Auditorium 1pm

Violin with Ms. Danielle in the Auditorium - the last session of the year

TUE

9am Culmination tech rehearsal in the Quad

Mary Poppins cast party in the Auditorium 12:00-1:30

No staff meeting or PD -- instead grades, cum folders and other end of the year activities

Dr. to return ELPAC materials 1pm+

WED

2nd and 3rd Grade field trip to Penmar Park

Grade verifications due at noon

THU

Culmination 9am

FULL DAY. NO EARLY DISMISSAL

FRI

Special Assembly in the Quad 8:05-8:30. The cast of Mary Poppins to lead the Pledge. Special surprise performance with special guest

Rms 3, 5 and 8 to Penmar Park 9am-12pm

All DIBELS, Edulastic and SEGA assessments completed. All report cards completed. 

MINIMUM DAY, DISMISSAL 12:40 - CAFETERIA MEALS SERVED DURING 10:05 RECESS, NOT DURING LUNCH. NO LUNCH PERIOD FRIDAY. INSTEAD EARLY DISMISSAL

SAT & SUN - 

Angel City Chorale on NBC's California Live

Angel City Chorale and Angel City Youth Chorale at Royce Hall -- Buy Tickets Here 

MON

All-Day pupil-free PD Day in the Auditorium 8:00am-3:00pm

All cum folders completed and rooms readied for summer (unless sign form to extend)

Let's have a great week, Walgrove!

IMPORTANT LINKS:

WeAreWalgrove.com

LAUSD Strategic Plan

LAUSD 2022-2023 Calendar

Walgrove 2022-2023 Calendar

Walgrove 2022-2023 PD Calendar

Walgrove 2022-2023 Assessment Calendar

Walgrove 2022-2023 Enrichment Schedule

Walgrove Bell Schedule

Principal's Corner (COVID Info, Volunteer Info, News...)

Scope and Sequence K-12 Math

Standards and Curricular Maps K-12 ELA

PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) Docs​

Attendance Info

LAUSD Safety Smarts Video

Updated COVID Guidelines

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Walgrove Weekly Message

Dear Walgrove Families and Staff, 

I wish to all a meaningful Memorial Day. Indeed, this is a day to honor those who have sacrificed while serving. Thank you to all Walgrove parents, caregivers and staff members who have served in the United States armed forces. 

Here is some of what is coming up this week at Walgrove:

TUE

Dapper Day/Fancy Dress Day  

Secret Fifth Grade Special Event (bring messy clothes in addition to your dapper clothes)

Staff Meeting in Rm 24 2pm followed by Grade Level Meetings

Tutoring per LaV

WED

10:30 and beyond -- Class trips to the Lost and Found in Dr. K's office. 

Tutoring per LaV

THU

Staff-Student (5thGr) Softball Game 11am

Tutoring per LaV

FRI

Wear Orange Day

Assembly in the Quad 8:05 all 5th graders to lead the Pledge

Performers Roslyn and Ivy

WeMoves! in the Upper Yard1:00pm

Violin w/Danielle Villalobos in the Library

SAT

Last Volunteer Day of the Year 9am-1pm. Come for a few minutes or a few hours to help in the Wildlands. Bring friends, bikes, and tunes but no pets. (We've got plenty!)

Please remember to not bring toys or balloons, as toys get lost or stolen and cause conflict, and balloons, when they pop, are highly upsetting to certain students. 

Let's have a great week, Walgrove!

IMPORTANT LINKS:

WeAreWalgrove.com

LAUSD Strategic Plan

LAUSD 2022-2023 Calendar

Walgrove 2022-2023 Calendar

Walgrove 2022-2023 PD Calendar

Walgrove 2022-2023 Assessment Calendar

Walgrove 2022-2023 Enrichment Schedule

Walgrove Bell Schedule

Principal's Corner (COVID Info, Volunteer Info, News...)

Scope and Sequence K-12 Math

Standards and Curricular Maps K-12 ELA

PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) Docs​

Attendance Info

LAUSD Safety Smarts Video

Updated COVID Guidelines

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Walgrove Weekly Message

Dear Walgrove Families and Staff, 

A huge and mighty congratulations to Mr. Donzell and the three incredible casts of "Mary Poppins" who put on over nine outstanding shows these past two weeks. What an amazing run! 

Thank you to all the many parents who volunteered so many hours to help Donzell realize his vision (and Donzell and the students to realize their collective vision!)

Thank you to the staff who made so many accommodations along the way and in many cases volunteered as well. 

The unique Walgrove attributes of intellectual and emotional risk-taking, confidence, collaboration, and unfettered joy were all on grand display. 

We have three more weeks of intellectual and emotional risk-taking, confidence, collaboration, and mightly joy before our fifth-graders move on to middle school (OMG!) and all others move up the trajectory toward whatever superb adventures await next!

Here is some of what is coming up this week at Walgrove:

MON

Students participate in the upper yard pickleball, basketball and mural project per this schedule

Violin in the Auditorium 2:30-3:15pm

Tutoring with high school students in the Library per LaV's schedule

TUE

All-Day ILT (if enough substitutes)

9am All-School Photo

Staff Meeting 2pm in Rm 24 (brief) followed by The Yearly Reorganization Experience

Tutoring with high school students in the Library per LaV's schedule

WED

M.s. B to collaborate on CGI math with Ms. DeWig and Ms. Luz

Mr. Rosales to attend the Everyday Heroes Luncheon! Congratulations, Mr. Rosales!

4th Graders to Penmar Park

Tutoring with high school students in the Library per LaV's schedule

THU

LSLC and SSC meetings at 3:00 and 3:30 in Dr. K's Zoom room

Tutoring with high school students in the Library per LaV's schedule

FRI

Assembly in the Quad 8:05am - 

    > Ms. DeWig's class to lead the Pledge

    > Dr. K, Maren A., and Violet C. to perform a song

    > Emmett M. to perform an original piano composition

Prospective Parent Tour 8:05-10:00am

Violin in the Library 2:30-3:15pm

SAT-MON - MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Let's have a great week, Walgrove!

IMPORTANT LINKS:

WeAreWalgrove.com

LAUSD Strategic Plan

LAUSD 2022-2023 Calendar

Walgrove 2022-2023 Calendar

Walgrove 2022-2023 PD Calendar

Walgrove 2022-2023 Assessment Calendar

Walgrove 2022-2023 Enrichment Schedule

Walgrove Bell Schedule

Principal's Corner (COVID Info, Volunteer Info, News...)

Scope and Sequence K-12 Math

Standards and Curricular Maps K-12 ELA

PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) Docs​

Attendance Info

LAUSD Safety Smarts Video

Updated COVID Guidelines

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Updated COVID Guidance