Swans+Elementary

**__All About Our School __**
====Swans Elementary is a Title I school located in Richmond, Virginia. Our school is comprised of 95.7 % African Americans, 1.6% Caucasian, 1.3% Hispanic, and 0.2 % Asian students. The school houses 504 students in grades Pre K- 5. Swans Elementary has a high percentage of free and reduced lunch students at 91.9%. The school has 21 general education teachers and six exceptional education teachers; four of the classrooms practice full inclusion. Swans also offers an adult GED program to the community members of the school to allow parents and guardians receive their GED. ====

**__Areas of Improvement __**
====Over the past three years, Swans Elementary has been a School in Improvement. This is to due to failing rates in Virginia Studies and fourth and fifth grade math during the school years of 2007-2009. During the course of the school's three year improvement plan, Swans Elementary has managed to raise the failing scores in math and Virginia Studies. During this time, the reading scores school wide have only passed benchmark exams and SOL tests by the minimum state requirements. We feel that this is an area that needs to be addressed and worked on school wide. ==== [|Storybird] is a phenomenal website that allows student to create stories online by themselves or collaboratively. It allows them to read other storybird books and it is completely free. Here is a video on how to use the site. This would be a terrific tool to enhance reading and writing scores preK-12. media type="file" key="Storybird.mp4" width="300" height="300" Here is the link just in case it doesn't play. []

**__Student Access __**
====Technology is prevalent throughout the building. Each classroom contains five or more working computers. Each grade level has a CMS, classroom multimedia station, and a SMARTboard. The upper grades use the Study Island computer program to master SOL concepts through differentiated instruction and the lower grades have access to Ticket to Read, which helps with phonics and reading instruction. An ITRT, instructional technology resource teacher, collaborates with teachers regularly and encourages them to utilize the resources that he presents in grade level meetings and faculty workshops. ==== __Handouts for parents and teacher on how to use Ticket to Read __ __Phonics__ __Reading__ __Information on Study Island __ [|Study Island]

__The Basics of Smartboard __ __media type="file" key="SMART Boards Why are they so easy to use_.flv" width="360" height="270"﻿ __

Click [|here] to see the video if it doesn't play.

**__Internet Safety __**
__Internet Safety “I Understand” Statement __ <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Richmond Public Schools (RPS) students will follow a structured approach to gaining skills that will allow them to become independent, responsible users of the Internet. This approach addresses Internet use based on age and topic appropriateness. In order to promote this standpoint, it is essential that all RPS faculty, staff and community volunteers provide guidance to students when using the internet to ensure that all uses involving Internet resources are consistent with the RPS mission and goals and the Standards of Student Conduct. Please review the following guidelines for using social networking, for handling cyberbullying and for enforcing appropriate Internet filtering. After reviewing each guideline, place your initials in the “I Understand” column acknowledging that you will model Internet best practices at all times.
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Date || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Before allowing students to access the Internet in an educational environment I will have each student and their parent/guardian read the RPS Internet Acceptable Uses Procedures on pages 37-38 in the RPS Standards of Student Conduct. Each student must return the signature page on page 38 with their own and their parent/guardian’s signature. || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Date || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Many students have an active social networking site account (ie: Facebook) and there are many legitimate ways to incorporate social networking in today’s educational climate. Students must learn to abstain from using impolite, abusive, or otherwise objectionable language when using social networking. I will provide training to students in class and to parents during school “open-door” days on appropriate social networking behavior. || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Date || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Cyberbullying is a reality that must be discussed with students and parents. I also realize that it is in direct violation of the RPS Standard of Student Conduct 9-BU1. If the internet is used during instruction, I will have computers configured so that I may monitor student communications and aid in eliminating cyberbullying. If I become aware of cyberbullying I will immediately handle the event per the RPS Standards of Student Conduct in addition to providing or referring the aggressor and victim to appropriate mediation. || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Date || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Twenty-first century youth are extremely technologically savvy. Many students are able to navigate the internet better than the supervising adults. Though RPS has a number of internet filters in place, the best way to prevent students from navigating to objectionable websites is direct supervision. I will not leave students unattended when using the internet. In addition, I will consult with my school’s ITRT to become aware of various proxy servers and other software that attempts to debilitate the RPS firewall. ||
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__Links to help teachers and parents with Internet Safety__
[|Internet Safety Tip Sheets] [|Internet Safety Interactive Games with Garfield] [|Free Internet Filter for Kids]

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**__<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Funding __** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Funding comes from several sources. The majority of the funding comes from local sources at about 65%, then state at 35%, and then federal at 5%. We <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">plan to rely on several of these sources to fund our equipment, but we know this can not be our only source. Teachers are encouraged to utilize personal grant websites like Donors Choose and Digital Wish. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Title I Funds__: Our school meets the federal criteria for receiving Title I funding. The funding will be used to purchase technology. Subscriptions for our interactive learning sites will be funded from Title I money. The sites will be maintained and purchased annually to insure proper support for our students. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__ARRA Funds__: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Use technology to improve teaching and learning. Purchase and train teachers to use instructional software, technology-enabled white boards, and other interactive technologies that have been shown to be effective aids for instruction, particularly for English language learners, students with disabilities, and both struggling and advanced learners. Use open education resources or purchase high-quality online course ware in core high school content areas.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Donors Choose__: [|www.donorschoose.org] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This is an online charity where teachers can submit projects to has people, businesses, and community members donate funds to accommodate their needs.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__Digital Wish__: [|www.digitalwish.com] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">A non-profit on a mission to solve technology shortfalls in classrooms. Teachers make technology wish lists, campaign for donations, swap lesson plans, and share in the community.

**__<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Professional Development __**

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">[|**VSTE**]- Virginia Society of Technology Educators provides annual conferences to regional educators interested in developing technology skills. Teachers who attend the conference participate in training that will contribute toward their recertification points. Teachers are driven to attend because rewards are available to those who participate. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">[|**Ed Tech**]- An inexpensive conference located at Randolph Macon College in Ashland, Virginia. Their focus is to develop teachers professionally in multiple aspects of the technology world. The primary goal is to train teachers to encourage implementation of new skills into their own classrooms. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">**City Wide Professional Development**- This development opportunity is offered to RPS employees on quarterly basis. It is a free event that involves teachers, administrators, and other faculty in promoting the use of technology in their classrooms. The environment creates a user friendly atmosphere that encourages one on one training. Each class offered is taught in a small group setting that provides collaborative engagement with RPS colleagues. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Here are some links that teachers and students can use to enhance instruction and learning: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">[|Smartboard Training] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Diana's tutorial on[| Live Mocha] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Erin's tutorial on [|Animoto] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Eunice's tutorial on[| Wordle] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Jennifer's tutorial on[| Live Binders] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Jerry's tutorial on [|Delicious] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Kym's tutorial on [|Voice Thread] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Leo's tutorial on [|Moodle] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Rodney's tutorial on [|Youtube] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Shante's tutorial on [|Skype]