What is the Purpose of Your Staff Memos?

Each week I send staff a Weekend Update, which is a weekly memo for staff explaining upcoming events and information.  This school year I have vowed to devote the majority of the memo to getting staff to think about things.  I try to put information on instructional strategies and ask compelling questions.  Here is a sample of one of my articles:

Can We Opt Out of the Weekly Spelling Test?

Let’s ask ourselves this: what is the purpose of the traditional spelling test? Well, our first answer might be that we are teaching children the correct way to spell words. However, if you think about it, we are only asking them to memorize the spelling words. Will this DOK 1, Recall, be enough for most students? Is there a better way?



Our training in DOK tells us that students learn best when they are able to apply the knowledge that they learn. Asking someone to memorize a spelling word, recall what the capital of North Dakota is, or what the definition of a word is will result in short term learning. Usually, most students will remember the terms for the test and then it is gone. Is this what our purpose is?


So, how can we take the knowledge we need students to learn and have them apply it to something? Let’s take spelling – if students are able to use the words and spell them correctly in their writing, they have applied the knowledge. Teaching students those spelling rules like “I before E except after C” is something that will help the children (I still use that strategy). Showing students how to identify a word that is misspelled and how to fix it is a strategy that students will use forever. Shouldn’t that be our focus?


In today’s classrooms, we are bogged down with things to do: small groups, re-teaching, formative assessments, data analysis, etc. As we find new and better ways to teach students, it is OK to give something else up. I propose that you think about how you teach spelling and try an alternate way.


Does this mean that you don’t have to have a spelling list? NO – instead, make sure that you give students practice with the words. Teach them about word families. Teach them to apply the words in their writing. Teach them to identify when one of those words are spelled incorrectly.


Tradition means that parents expect it. If you choose to assess spelling in an alternate way be sure to let your parents know. Explain why you are doing things differently.


Here is an article that you might find interesting:

http://www.dldcec.org/pdf/teaching_how-tos/spelling_tests.pdf

What do you include in your memos to staff?  What topics have you discussed?  We, as principals and teachers, have so much knowledge that we can share with each other.  Use this blog as a sounding board for sharing great ideas!