Happy Friday!
Another great week of learning and relationships!
1:1 Staff Interviews:
I sent a link with appointments for staff interviews. Please make sure every staff (who is in the building over 50% of their day) is signing up for a time. It's a great opportunity for us to connect - checking in on you and how I can continue to support you as we finish up the year. Please sign up today:)
1:1 Student Interviews:
A focus area for our building this year is around belonging and student voice. Earlier this year, we had a team complete 1:1 interviews with students to hear their voice and gather information on the student experience. We are at our second round of interviews - schedule is below:
Today (Feb 20) - Kindergarten & 2nd Grade (12:30-1:45)
February 23 - 5th Grade (1:15-2:00)
February 24 - 4th Grade (9-10am)
February 26 - 1st & 3rd Grade (9-10:30)
When our team comes around, we will interview students one on one. When we finish, we will send a student back and ask them to send out another student. Any help with that is greatly appreciated :)
When we finish, we will share the data and themes that emerge.
Pout, Pout Fish:
Next week, an RSVP will go out for a "Pout, Pout Fish Family Night" in March. This is a shared family night for McKinley, Washington, and Wilson (Title dollars). Families can RSVP to receive the book and a kit to do at home. Then, if they complete it, they get a ticket to the movie on March 25 at our Owatonna theater. The RSVP will be open next week only (due Friday).
Student Wait Time:
Time is precious - right? And, when you follow a pacing guide, it becomes even more precious. But, what's your most effective return on time - is it worth it to take that extra minute to provide think time?
In saying that, don't forget about the power of "wait time" during a lesson. We often get moving and do most of the talking - with little time for students to process, digest, and think throughout the learning. Think of wait time as eating a meal... if you eat your food too quickly, you will have a stomachache. As you eat, you take a few bites and let your food digest before moving on. Don't forget about this as we are teaching - students need those moments of think to truly learn.
Over the next few weeks, I challenge you - no matter what you teach - to build this wait time into your lessons. It may be awkward at first, but the long-term benefits will outweigh the awkwardness. Design your lessons to have these natural wait times built in ... give students, particularly those who have developed a "learned helplessness", time to think (and possibly have productive struggle!).
In saying that, don't forget about the power of "wait time" during a lesson. We often get moving and do most of the talking - with little time for students to process, digest, and think throughout the learning. Think of wait time as eating a meal... if you eat your food too quickly, you will have a stomachache. As you eat, you take a few bites and let your food digest before moving on. Don't forget about this as we are teaching - students need those moments of think to truly learn.
Over the next few weeks, I challenge you - no matter what you teach - to build this wait time into your lessons. It may be awkward at first, but the long-term benefits will outweigh the awkwardness. Design your lessons to have these natural wait times built in ... give students, particularly those who have developed a "learned helplessness", time to think (and possibly have productive struggle!).
March 9 Staff Power Hour:
Our March 9 Staff Power Hour will be time for your committees to meet. I will be sharing your agendas in the next week or so. This was rescheduled as I cancelled our Feb 2 meeting.
Building Weekly Newsletter:
Click here to access the building weekly newsletter
Have a great weekend!
-Justin
Have a great weekend!
-Justin
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