Thursday Thriller
December 7, 2023
PHOTOS from the FIELD
The love of a grandparent💙
Nuts-n-Bolts
1. Here is the agenda for tomorrow. Nicole is finalizing the details. There is a strong possibility that some of what is planned for the classroom won't take as long; please plan accordingly.
2. PLEASE go over the LUNCH schedule with your students. We do have some students feign forgetfulness at which lunch they are supposed to attend. SHOCKER! It's helpful if you reiterate which lunch. This is mostly for 7th graders. Thank you!
3. You probably haven't opened up the agenda for the assembly. Here is sneak peak. We hope you will want to participate.
5. Next Friday, December 15th we are having the GARRISON ANNUAL JINGLE BELL JOG!!!!!
We will use the assembly schedule and have the Jingle Bell Jog the last hour of the day. Students will go to all classes, leave backpacks in 7th period, go do the activity and then back to 7th for the last few minutes of the day. ASB along with Nicole and myself will plan this event. Students will earn their hot cocoa and toppings; much like last year. We have it planned. :D Because we are a TITLE I school, we need to have monthly family engagement events. This will be our family engagement event. Parents will be invited to participate. Again, we are taking care of the planning. If you would like to help, we welcome you with open arms. :D
7. GNN needs to be shown each morning. If you know you are going to be gone, please put GNN into your sub plans. Many of the things on GNN are 'interventions' and 'teaching the expectations.' It is great documentation when challenged by student and/or parent, "I didn't know." "When was this explained?" I know you gain students' attention before showing and there are some students who just don't listen. Regardless, let's be consistent and all 'row-in-the-same-direction.' The big one right now is the sagging pants. Show GNN-even go over the dress code if you want. Janelle has the slides up on the TVs which is super helpful. I have been able to show AND go over the "Just joking" slide with parents and students when it comes to discipline around harassment, intimidation and mean behavior. There are no excuses. Thanks!
8.
Something to Ponder
Six days to go! Most of us are counting down the days for holiday break. WHOOP!! WHOOP!! Most students are feeling the anticipation, joy, anxiety and even unknown that is just around the corner. This article offered 10 ideas on how to avoid the traps and temptations of the season. Hope you find a gold nugget and can implement an idea.
**The first four days back from break in January, we will review the 3R's and expectations much like we did at the beginning of the school year. This may be 5-8 mins each period reviewing an expectation. Nicole and I have this planned and will send it out. :D
- Routines and Procedures: Routines and procedures are your friend! You’ve worked hard since day one to establish them, now is the time to rely on them. By now you should have established protocols for things like how to begin and end class; expectations during different teaching and learning modes such as teacher-directed learning, group work, and independent practice; and clear guidelines for the use of technology. If you can predict it, you can prevent it. Work with your team to identify a major or common routine that either most teachers see as a concern or a skill that all students could benefit from reteaching. We all have those one or two misbehaviors that drive us crazy, so be sure to establish clear routines for “pet peeves” or behaviors that can test your last nerve. And, yes, they should know them by now, but they are adolescents and they forget…squirrel.
- Refresh Your Expectations: Don’t assume they know! They are teens. The prefrontal cortex of their adolescent brain isn’t fully integrated, so they often lack executive functioning skills to quickly adapt to change. That does not mean they can’t learn the necessary skills. You can help them through intentional and explicit teaching, modeling, and practice. This is especially true right after Thanksgiving and when returning after winter break. Be creative in how you teach them! Research suggests we need to hear things nine different times in nine different ways to internalize them (and, let’s be honest, if you keep telling them the same way and the misbehavior continues, obviously they don’t understand the expectations). Take time to refresh and clarify expectations.
- Get Them Moving: Many teachers don’t like starting new content before a break, so the days get filled with movies and other unengaging or low-interest tasks. If it was just one movie it probably wouldn’t be a big deal. But we can’t be too surprised when students get a little stir crazy after watching several movies in a day. Our knowledge of adolescent development tells us that a still student becomes a bored student and a bored student will find a way to entertain themselves – often manifesting as misbehavior. Use brain breaks and other team-building activities that will not only better engage them, but also get them up and moving to burn some of that pent-up energy.
- Use Proximity—Astute teachers may plan properly for the uncertainties of the holiday season, but then become complacent when it comes to supervising the projects and activities they have so carefully planned. We assume that students understand the assignment and expectations, but they are prone to the temptations to goof off and their effort can wane with the impending break. Use proximity to your advantage, because we know that a teacher on their feet is worth two on their seat! When you are up and moving you can head off frustration, confusion, and misbehavior before it can derail the best-laid plans.
- Provide Opportunities to Socialize—We know young adolescents are social creatures, so be sure to provide time for them to socialize. Funnel energy into icebreakers, group activities, and other purposeful interactions. Use project-based learning, simulations, and other hands-on activities with high relevance and engagement. And, remember, just like the adults, they need a chance to catch up with each other after the break, too.
- Accentuate the Positive—Focus on what is going well. Provide specific praise for those who are engaged, exhibiting expected behavior, or working hard. Success breeds success. When you keep the focus on what is going well, you will see more things going well. Each redirect should have four praises – the power of positivity!
- Provide Incentives—Yeah, it’s extrinsic motivation, but there will be times when you just have to make it to the end of the day. Never underestimate the power of a candy cane or sticker to increase engagement. The incentives don’t have to be wild or lavish, sometimes you just have to get the ship pointed in the right direction.
- Have a Plan B—While it is always wise to have a backup plan at your disposal, this is especially useful with the ever-changing schedules and hectic pace of the season. These include highly engaging activities such as escape rooms, or a Kahoot! or Blooket you can pull out at a moment’s notice. It might just save you from potential chaos!
- Prime the Pump—For some, being away from school can be stressful, while the idea of returning can be stressful for others. Consider sending a note to the students in your advisory letting them know you miss them and look forward to seeing them. Or, drop a note in your Google Classroom or send an email explaining upcoming lessons/activities/projects you’ll be starting when they return. Believe it or not, your students miss you and the routines of your classroom while they are away!
- Ease Out and Back In—Remember, it is called a break for a reason. Don’t saddle your students with homework or projects to do over the break. Aside from some light, relevant reading, students should rest and recharge over breaks. Imagine how you’d feel if your principal or superintendent gave you a “special” project to do over the break. Also remember that none of us will be 100% on the first days back from a break. Plan your lessons accordingly to avoid frustration.
There you have it, ten ideas to help you navigate the holiday season. In short, rely on your routines, procedures, and expectations; use your knowledge of the characteristics of young adolescents to guide your planning and teaching; work with and support your team; and remember to have a little fun along the way. There is no doubt that this time of year can be a bit hectic, but with a little forethought and planning, you can say “whoop-de-do” to the madness of the holiday season!
QUOTE
This is a great quote for me for tomorrow and one to live by. If you were to ask anyone in the office how I feel about school days that are not routine, you would get a chuckle from them. They would all agree, "Kim does not do well on activity, non-routine days." I need to check myself often. Checking myself, taking a deep breath and knowing that it will be okay is what I chant to myself all day long or I will react with emotion that is not helpful for anyone AND could have unintentional consequences. There you go. I'm telling on myself. :D
"The measure of who we are is how we react to something that doesn't go our way."
-Gregg Popovich
