Family - Teacher Conferences:
Next week, we hold our fall "family-teacher conferences". It's a great time to get families into the building and continue to build a partnership with them around educating their child/children.
Last year, we changed the name from "parent - teacher" to "family - teacher" to be more inclusive of our students, families, and their home situation.
As we move into conferences on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, remember these tips:
- Get up and meet the family, at the door. This body language starts the tone of the meeting from the time they arrive. If you shake hands, be aware of any cultural norms that may impact this.
- Have some strengths ready to discuss. Each of our students' have strengths - be ready to share these throughout the conference.
- Be honest about where the student is at, academically and socially. However, be ready to support this with the data (including your observations).
- The conference should feel like a planning session, in which it really is. You, as a team, are coming together to acknowledge the facts and then create a doable action plan to ensure the learner will grow.
- Value the family's input - what can they add to the table to deepen the conversation and action? What is their vision for education and their child's future?
Thank you for all you do around family engagement. Our staff does a great job of building - and deepening - our relationships on a daily basis!
Transition Day - October 22:
October 22nd is our first "transition day" at McKinley. For our new staff, we engage in transition days after long breaks from school. The goal is to reunite, re-engage, regulate, and re-establish community on these days. We have found that students (and staff!) need this day to get acclimated back into school life.
We had a wonderful team design our first transition day. More information will come out early next week on the details of the day. We did move our McKinleyStrong Assembly that day to 8:40 (*the building calendar has been updated).
The POWER of THINK TIME:
It's been great getting around to classrooms to see the real work - learning - in action! As we are designing and instructing lessons, please remember the power of "think time". Students need time to process, question, and reflect on learning. As a former classroom teacher, I remember teaching a lesson, getting to the end, and thinking - "did I even take a breath?" Being intentional about building in think time would have helped me - and can help you and your students! Don't forget... students need this time to process, but also need to productively struggle with their thinking and questioning.
September Office Referral Data:
Yesterday, our PBIS team met to analyze our September office referral data (see link below). We looked at trends, as well as possible causes and solutions for the behaviors.
On Monday, October 22, we have a Staff Power Hour where we will focus on this data. Your team will spend some time looking at your grade level data and creating an action plan to see what supports/changes we can make to decrease the negative and increase the positive behaviors. More information will come out on this.
When you have some time, check out the data below. *Please note - these graphs include both major and minor behaviors.
Click here to access the data
Education MN Break - Take Some Time for YOU!
Next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday is our Education MN Break. During this break, take some time to focus on YOU! Do something that only YOU enjoy. Do something that makes YOU happy and relaxed! Our work is highly stressful and can wear on a person. Take this break to enjoy YOU and reground yourself in your WHY and your PERSPECTIVE. Below are some ideas, if you need them:
Mindfulness Tip from Annette:
As promised, here is #1 of 6 ideas for creating a mindful classroom:
If you already have some familiarity with mindfulness, you may know that establishing a regular practice is key to implementing mindfulness in your life, inside and outside your work environment. Here are some ways to bring mindfulness into your classroom and your teaching life.
1) Establish a regular practice. To create a mindful classroom, it is important to be anchored in your own mindfulness practice. Find a few moments each day to sit quietly and focus on your breath. First thing in the morning can be wonderful, but the best time is the time that works for you.
If you already have some familiarity with mindfulness, you may know that establishing a regular practice is key to implementing mindfulness in your life, inside and outside your work environment. Here are some ways to bring mindfulness into your classroom and your teaching life.
1) Establish a regular practice. To create a mindful classroom, it is important to be anchored in your own mindfulness practice. Find a few moments each day to sit quietly and focus on your breath. First thing in the morning can be wonderful, but the best time is the time that works for you.
Mindful Breathing: If you’re brand new to mindful breathing, try this. Find a spot where you won’t be disturbed. Sit with feet flat on the floor, and with a relaxed upright back and head. Place your hands in your lap on on your thighs. Close your eyes or lower your gaze to a spot on the floor in front of you. Breathe regularly through your nose, paying attention to each in breath and out breath. Thoughts may arise; plans, worries, ideas, ruminations or stories. When they do, just gently let them go and return to focusing on each breath.
Additional Resources for Guided Practices
- Center for Mindfulness at University of California at San Diego
- Insight Timer meditation application
- Free Mindfulness resources, online guided practices for breath, body scans, mindful movement, and more
Challenge: Comment one mindful activity you tried this week. A drawing of the comments will take place with winner receiving a prize. - Annette Warner, LICSW
Building Weekly Newsletter:
Click here to access the building weekly newsletter
McKinleyStrong Educator of the Week:
Our McKinleyStrong Educator of the Week goes to 2nd Grade Teacher, Katie Demmer! Katie is a positive, creative educator who puts in countless hours to make sure students are getting the supports and learning they need. Katie has a gift of keeping students engaged in their learning - and will even be silly (or stand on a table!) to keep them engaged and having fun! Keep up the great work, Katie!
Have a great weekend, everyone!
-Justin
