November 7, 2018
I'm reminded each time after our Wednesday collaboration how invested and passionate you are about your content, teaching and working with your colleagues. My goal is to support, guide and gently nudge you into the uncomfortable zone; if we are always comfortable we won't move forward. Discussions and questions are welcome because this is how we clarify not only the 'why' but the how and what. Keep working hard! It is paying off! THANK YOU for WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY!!!
NUTS-n-BOLTS
1. Budget -if you are needing classrooms supplies we ask that you use your $125.00 first. Once that is depleted we can find other funding to support what your classroom needs.
2. Here is a great website to check out for texts for ELA, Science and Social Studies. I know you probably have ample resources. If I see something in a classroom that may be beneficial to others, I like to share.
3. A quick reminder on discipline. If you send a student out for a classroom exclusion, that triggers an automatic lunch detention. When you communicate with parents, please don't assign more discipline. Assigning additional discipline comes from Carina and/or me. We are always open to hear why you think more discipline should be given to the student. If you think more than a lunch detention is deserved then it is probably a referral not a classroom exclusion. Please don't hesitate to ask clarifying questions.
4. Activity day has come up multiple times by students and parents. Attached is a quick brainstorming of an idea for a SEMESTER activity day. As noted, nothing is set in stone. These are suggestions to get the ball rolling.
5. Wednesday the 13th grade confirmations need to be sent/turned in to Sherry.
6. In my Coffee with the Principal sessions, parents had some good questions. They asked how to access tutoring for their children and in the tutoring sessions will the tutors be able to help with content specific homework. I explained to parents the before and after school help we offer. I then said if their child has a specific content question, they should email the teacher. Some of you have answered email in the evening and told students to come in the morning to the classroom. Students would not necessarily have a pass so they would just need to talk to the adult on supervision so they could go to the classroom.
I reassured parents that teachers are more than willing to help students in the morning; students just need to ask.
7. Yesterday's collaboration made me reflect on this poster:
The work you are doing is intentional and sets the course for measurable student outcomes.
SOMETHING to PONDER
In continuing the discussion on pacing (creating a "fast" or "slow" moment in a lesson by shifting activity types or formats), here are five activity types. I won't throw all five at you at once. Rather here are the first two to think over.
If you are into listening to educational podcasts, I listened to this one this morning. A few things from it resonated with me:
"Rigor is not about the top step; it's next step."
"You have two choices with rigor: 1. Vigorous learning or 2. Rigormortus. Rigor should not just mean "work, work, work..." How do students reach levels of proficiency in learning?"
Little Funny
Beating the November Blues
