September 26 Update

Happy Friday, McKinley!

Deep Thoughts....

Alright, I'm going to go deep and personal with you.  

These last few weeks have been difficult.  And, it isn't just one thing.  I think the new has worn off.  I have found myself stressed, short, overwhelmed, etc.  This "spot" of stress is somewhere I will visit, but I don't like to live in it.  I've been doing some deep reflection around why this is.  As much as it's hard to admit it, I think it truly comes down to my perspective.  Because I'm overwhelmed and stressed, I am seeking the negative things that are draining my energy.  The above picture (one of my favorites) is something I'm going to take to heart over the next few months.  I can't control what others do - what I can control is my perspective every day.   I get that power in EVERY interaction to decide my perspective.  

I only share this because I can feel it's heavy for many of you, as well.   After you read this, take some time to think about your perspective - what "seat" are you taking every day on the bus?  

Media Opt Out:

Please make sure you are checking your students who are "media opt out".   If you send students down with a Positive Office Referral, please put a post it note (or call) to let us know they are media opt out.  

Indigenous People's Day - Monday, October 13:

Indigenous Peoples Day falls on Monday, October 13 this year. All schools are required to do one hour of instruction related to Indigenous Peoples.  Below are two resources for you to use on this day:  

• Elementary Slideshow 
• Resources (developed 2 years ago w/new links)

Building Weekly Newsletter

Click here to access the building weekly newsletter

Have a great weekend!

-Justin

September 19 Update

Happy Homecoming!  Another great week at McKinley!
Just a reminder of today's Homecoming Picnic plan.  

Fire Drill/Raptor Feedback:
Thanks for your work around this week's fire drill.  Moving forward, we will be using Raptor for communication (reporting students with you, staff accounted for, and your location).  If you have feedback on your experience with Raptor Wednesday, please add it here before Monday at 8am. 

Collaboration Starts Next Week:
Just a reminder - we have collaboration Tuesday (SEL) and Friday (MTSS groups).  Linked is the plan for quarter 1's collaboration dates (subject to change if days 1-5 switch).  

Introducing... Book an Appointment with Demmer

Guest Blogger Katie Demmer, Teaching and Learning Coach

This week I learned how to create appointment slots on my Google Calendar.  This will allow anyone with the link to schedule an appointment to meet with me.  It already looks at my Google calendar for times I have available in my schedule, without having to wait for an email back from me about when we could meet!  Click the link below to check it out!

TLC Demmer Appointment Calendar

So, if you'd like to find a time to connect on something or have me visit your classroom, click on the booking link above and select a time that works for our schedules.  You'll then have the option to select the location (my office, your classroom, virtual), and add any notes about what you'd like to meet about or anything you'd like me to have prepared for our meeting.  We'll both get it added to our calendar and get an email reminder a day before that we are meeting.  You can schedule same day appointments (2 hours prior) up to 30 days in advance.  Appointment times are set for 30 minutes, but if you feel like you need longer, you can book multiple appointments or we can cut the time shorter if it's a quick check-in.   I've added the link to the Virtual Office as well if you need to come back and find it later.  You can also find a new sign on my office door with where I am and a QR code you can scan to open my appointment calendar.  I'm hoping this helps streamline communication and make it easier for everyone to find times to connect when needed! 

Loving Those Porcupines:

Don't forget about loving those porcupines!

Building Weekly Newsletter:
Click here to access the building weekly newsletter

Have a great weekend - Go Huskies!  
-Justin

September 12 Update

Happy Friday!  We made it through our first five day week! 

If you haven't completed your welcome back list, please do so by Friday, September 19.  I am still missing things (impact statements, elementary school pictures, voicemails).  Please take care of this ASAP.  

Homecoming Next Week:

A couple things about Homecoming:

• Please start checking on family plans for early release (12:40) on Friday.  
• Linked is our plan for the picnic.  Please take a minute to read this closely.  All students must be checked out in the office if they are leaving early.  Also, it was great having teachers eat lunch with their class last year (and a great way to engage with families).  If you are able, I would greatly appreciate it.  
• Early Release is at 12:40pm; parade is at 1:30pm.  
• Teachers - normal work hours.  Two options - supervise at the parade or stay here at school and work. 
• EA's - clock out at 12:40pm
• Paras - Three options - supervise at parade, clock out at 12:40pm, or stay back and work on your required trainings.  Please let me know your choice.  

Go Huskies!  

Fire Drill - Wednesday:

We are having our first fire drill next Wednesday.  We will be using Raptor for this.  A few minutes before the alarm goes off, we will activate the drill on Raptor.  You will get an alert (it's a loud buzzer).  Once you are outside and safe, please go into Raptor and note the students you have/are missing.  This will be a learning expereince for us all, but please try and go in and mark you are safe.  

Collaboration: 

Collaboration starts on September 23.  Our first focus will be SEL.  Please note - because of the Homecoming early release/picnic, we do have two collaboration times the week of September 22.  This is because we follow a day 1-5 and not a M-F schedule.  This won't be a regular thing, as most times will be seperated by a week.  Please note - starting September 18, you do not attend library or Creation Station for that five day rotation.  

PD in your Pocket:

Each week, I will highlight a new tip for you as an educator (please note - I didn't say teacher.  This is applicable to all staff who support student learning).

Today's tip is around creating independence.  Linked below is a video (Cult of Pedagogy - she's fabulous).  Skip ahead to 1:44.  Jen provides some tips on how to create independence in your classroom by asking questions with questions.  Please, please, please - take the 4 minutes to listen to Jen's thoughts. 

“One of our main goals as teachers should be to build students’ independence,” says Jennifer Gonzalez in this Cult of Pedagogy article/podcast. “The more we do for our students and the less they do for themselves, the more we perpetuate a cycle where they become helpless and dependent on us.”  Gonzalez kicks herself for answering too many student questions when she was a teacher. “I used to think of them as baby birds in a nest, with all of their beaks open, waiting for the mother bird to feed them,” she says. “I remember feeling like I was constantly racing around trying to meet everyone’s needs.” It’s quicker to answer the question than to push students to do more of the work, but “that short-term efficiency comes at a long-term cost,” she says. “It keeps us working harder than we need to and prevents students from developing the habits that will make them more independent.”  Gonzalez’s suggestion to her former haggard self and many other overextended teachers: when students ask a certain kind of question, pause and answer them with questions that build self-sufficiency. And pose your questions with the right tone of voice and a smile, not in a way that embarrasses kids. 

Some examples: - 

Where might you find that information? 

Where on the handout could you look for that? 

What resource could help you answer that question? 

What is our task completion routine? (when students ask what to do when they’re finished). 

Building Weekly Newsletter:

Click here to access the building newsletter

Get outside this weekend and do something you love - it's going to be a beautiful weekend!

-Justin

September 5 Update

Happy Friday! 

What a great start to the year!  

Thank you for all your time, energy, and passion into making this the best start yet!  

Homecoming:

September 15-19 is our Owatonna Homecoming Week!  Below are dress up days for the week. 

Additionally, we have an early release on Friday, September 19 (12:40pm).   Additionally, we have our yearly Family Picnic on that day.  More info to come.  

For early release, please plan -

Teaching Staff - supervision at the parade or working back here at school.  If you are supervising, please plan to be present and helping enforce that students are doing what's expected and staying off the road.  

Paras - supervision at the parade, work back at school, or clock out (please see my email and let me know your plan)

EA's - clock out at 12:40pm

Please let me know if you have questions!  

Movement Pods:

A reminder from Dr. Dokken -

Building Weekly Newsletter:

Click here to access the building newsletter

As you enter this Friday, remember - you WILL have impact.  We don't get to decide that.  What you do get to decide is what kind of impact you want to have - positive or negative.  :)

Have a great weekend!

-Justin