Don’t wait! The time will NEVER be just right.
Zig Ziglar
Staff Blog - January 7th, 2016
From our cafeteria wall, organized by our counselor and contributed by a friend of the district, this canvas reminds us about the big picture and each of us get and give to the success here.
There are no shortcuts...
Reflection:
In an interesting sort of way, I was happy to be back at school this week after our Winter Vacation. Of course the down time was rejuvenating but the familiar routines and procedures here comforted and assured me that we are all in a good place in our lives. Connections with staff during our PD times, including everything from the meals and community to the passionate discussions about pedagogy reinforce the belief that diversity, experience, passion for learning and care for students as individuals are integral to good teaching. Together, this describes us corporately and individually. I am honored to work alongside each staff person in the building creating a better future for our students.
Speaking of students, visiting guests to our building praise the students for their behaviors and attitudes as they walk the halls, flow through lunch routines and display enthusiasm and excitement to see outside familiar faces. It is almost like we really are “that” school. Energy erupts when students see their peers with the understanding that teachers care enough to intervene when necessary but allow enough risk and failure so students learn the concept of “natural consequences.” For instance, a student may choose not to do an assignment and think that it will be fine with no real consequences. But in real life, we all must pay our cell phone bill or suffer the natural consequences to our credit rating, drop our data package or go to a new pre-paid plan. Similarly, assignments can't really be skipped.
Finally, the patterns and routines reinforce our societal norms of getting up, going to work and managing one's affairs. We spend time teaching and reteaching and maybe even reteaching again. We see growth and setbacks yet we persist. Then our audience grows, changes, matures and learns, and confirms we have done what we are called to do. Teaching is not just our job but our calling. We think about it all the time! Seeing learning confirms our teaching.
A student tracks and displays her own ELA grades, noting and celebrating her own progress personally and authentically. She knows how hard it was to reach grow! Nice job!
PD Report
Again, great work sharing out the steps, interventions, techniques and routines during our PD times. Hattie documents students self-reporting of grades and progress and staff collaboration, not competition, among the educators serves students better than just about anything else. Consider our current PD needs for Binder meetings and PD times.
Schedule
Monday - 1/11
Binder Meetings -
Tuesday - 1/12
Admin Meeting at CO - Scott Taylor & 504 details
VFW Pizza Party at Central Office for those students that contributed to an essay contest.
Wednesday - 1/13
Thursday - 1/14
Friday - 1/15
Myra Collins (consultant) in district to meet with MATH Teachers at Central Office. Coverage may be necessary.
Upcoming
Jan 18 - MLK Day, unless snow day make up
Jan 19 - Board of Education Mtg
Jan 20 - Early Release PD Day
Feb 15 - Presidents Day
Trying to gain progress setting up new habits, eating better, exercising more follows the Fitbit trend. Health can be measured physically, academically, physiologically, cardiovascularly, aerobically, socially, with diet, and even emotionally. At school, we can’t just do one but must address all our students needs together and collectively. A student struggling with hunger, emotional stress because the police were at the house the night before or a bit of drama, may not function to their fullest capacity. Regardless of the opinion, schools end up as the village that support and even raises the children
Conclusion
Watching teachers discuss teaching with a continual consideration over the impact of the various techniques, methods and structure inspires even the greatest cynic. Asking the questions of “How can I increase my impact?” or “What reaches kids the most?” and “What are other teachers doing that impacts students?” gives us a platform to build and reach greater heights together.
We are gearing up for a great time of learning. The beginning of this semester will lead into a good stretch for accomplishing big goals.
Thanks
Tom McCracken
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