Wow, I cannot believe we are already to the end of 1st semester, it has flown by! It also makes me realize that we have an entire semester to impact our students--academically, socially, emotionally, to help close gaps, and to build relationships. The work that we do matters!
If you are ever feeling low about your work, remember that "a power plant doesn't have energy, it generates it." Having a strong connection to your mission is key! When you focus on your purpose, your why, the mission of your work, that is what gives you energy to continue doing your impactful work with students! Hopefully, your #oneword rock can serve as a daily visual reminder of your purpose. Plus, also make sure you are taking care of yourself, so you can pour into others!
Upcoming Events:
Friday - PD Day (bring your #oneword rock to the table by the ICE room)
Monday - grades/report comments due by 7:30 am
EP Training 3:15 in IMC (mid-year SLO, surveys)
Wednesday - report cards distributed
-"Kilowatt Kitchen" theater presentation: 10-10:30 for K-2, 10:45-11:15 for 3-5.
Our 2nd qtr assembly (just staff and students) is coming up (February 1). I will have the google doc out for On a Roll and Guidance with Ganser Gladiator awards.
"Nuts & Bolts" Notes:
*Now that mid-year iReady Diagnostics are completed and you're looking at your student data...how are you giving THEM ownership of their learning? Make sure to meet with individual students to share with them their progress and help them to create a learning goal for the remainder of the year and help guide them to keep their goal at the forefront of their learning every week.
*We've had a crew of staff learning about how to build resilient learners that have now gone through 2 days of training (one more day this spring). We are learning SO much and are looking forward to sharing information to help your work with students in small, bite size chunks over time. Here's just a couple of nuggets:
Our visual (obviously created by our artist Mr. Mane!) to remind us of the 3 R's: Relationships, Regulation and Responsibility. Students that are struggling to cope need different things. A student that wants a relationship may benefit from: high fives, hugs, getting to share, have a buddy, connect, be given positive affirmations. A student that needs responsibility may thrive when given a special task/job (just think about our Jr. Coaches who are thriving from the experience!), having schedule changes forecasted for them, creating goals and monitoring their progress. A student that needs help learning to regulate may benefit from brain breaks, having a safe place, mindfulness activities, breathing, etc.
Also...you are all SO great at greeting your students in the mornings. I see lots of morning fist bumps, high fives, and hugs. Are you using that time to scan the faces of your kiddos to see right away who might be starting off their day not ok? Use that moment to connect and see what will help their day. Maybe they missed breakfast, got yelled at in the morning or heard mom and dad fighting last night. How you help a student coming to school can help them feel safe and ready for learning?
Blogs, Tweets & Pins...Oh My!!!
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10 Fun Alternatives to Think-Pair-Share
