Just a reminder - Halloween is next Thursday. We are all wearing orange for Unity Day on Thursday. We are not doing costumes, but instead focus on fall parties/activities.
Toot Your Horn Thursday:
This week, we have two nominees - Danika Brown and Gretchen Bygd.
Danika was nominated by Amanda Andrews - "Danika has the most calming patience in her K classroom. She has built a caring community and the students really do feel loved. Watching them smile and get excited about school and learning is a wonderful sight to see and it is directly connected to Danika's ability to make each and every student feel that they belong!"
Gretchen was nominated by Jen Bricko - "One of my friends was having a tricky time separating from a Big who came to visit another student. Gretchen noticed and helped without me even asking! She was very patient with the student and helpful to the Big. I was able to keep teaching the rest of my class."
If you see these two today, thank them for being amazing!
Conferences:
On November 12, 14, and 15, we have our first Family-Teacher Conferences (see building calendar for times). We moved away from parent-teacher conferences to be more inclusive of who is joining the conference (it's not always a mom or dad). Please take some time to read through the tips, as well as watch the 6 minute video clip. Both are from the Search Institute and will help remind us of tips to a great conference.
Tips for Teachers - We have some tips for educators who hope to make the most out of conferences:
- Think of this (short but important) meeting as a relationship-creating opportunity. Use intentionality. Start off by sharing a bit about yourself, ask about the parents. Share a few wonderful observations about their child. Build a connection. This will set a positive tone for the meeting and create the kind of conversation that will yield benefits throughout the year.
- Be the expert, but listen to parental concerns. Parents expect you to be adept at teaching, but they want to feel that you value their input too. Not focusing only on the child’s weaknesses, but also their strengths, can help parents feel like you know and care about their child.
- Don’t start with the negative. Don’t begin the conversation with “I have no concerns”—that starts the exchange in deficit mode. Instead, start with a simple, plain-language description of the three things you hope the students learn by being in your class.
- Emphasize your goals. Giving a syllabus or written materials is great, but talking clearly, even passionately, about your goals for the class is better. Talk about what you hope to accomplish during the semester with excitement, and you’ll be amazed at how the parents become your partners in learning.
- Provide feedback—both good and bad. Give them the feedback you need to provide, such as a review of grades and assignments. But if you feel it’s necessary to point out a deficit, find a way to do it with understanding, and try also to point out a strength.
- Before they leave, ask one last question. This is one of the most important ways a parent can see that you really notice and care about their child and are seeking to develop a positive relationship with them; that they are more than just one among many. Something such as “What do you think I should know about your son or daughter to help him or her thrive in my class?” works. Or something more specific, such as “Tell me about your child’s sparks,” or perhaps their strengths, struggles, or “How might I be able to help your child navigate these challenging times, or give him or her extra support?”
- Take notes on what you learn. Integrate what you learn from the parent into your interactions with the student, and return to your notes at your next parent-teacher conference.
- Remember it’s about the relationship! Parents want to know their child is seen and cared for and that you are paying attention to the insights they are sharing with you about their child. They want to feel like they have built a connection with you. They—and you!—want to build on that connection next time you meet.
Positive Recognition:
Just a friendly reminder to be using the positive recognitions (Positive Office Referral, High Five letter home, McKinleyStrong slips, Toot Your Horn, and Good News Calls).
I give you two challenges with these for the month of November -
- All staff giving positive recognition, not just classroom teachers. All of you play an important role in our building - it's great for non-classroom teachers to also recognize our scholars.
- I challenge you to think about who is getting these recognitions. Often times, we use these with students who may need a "boost" or have been doing positive work for the day. That's awesome and I hope people still do this. Don't forget about those students who are always doing their job or who often get missed because they are always doing amazing things. They could use it, too.
Tasks Vs Learning:
This idea may sound common sense - tasks vs learning. However, as you really start to think about this (and notice what is happening in your classroom, as well as others), this whole idea starts to get challenged. Are we focused on tasks or learning? When you design your learning blocks, are you thinking of the learning you want students to master or a task (learning activity) they can complete? Now, think about your day. Are you seeing tasks or learning? Are students revisiting their learning days later or are they turning something in and moving on? I recently came across this blog entry - it's a quick read (please take the time to read).
School Social Worker LTS:
Annette is going out on leave from November 19 - December 20. During this time, Sue Schroeder will be filling in on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays only.
Building Weekly Newsletter:
Have a great weekend!
-Justin
