Weekly Update - October 16, 2018

Happy Friday (well, Tuesday, but kind of a Friday!)! 

It's Education Minnesota break... we've made it to our first vacation.  Please take some time this weekend to relax, unwind, and regroup to come back strong. 

Transition Day: 
Just a reminder - Monday, October 22 is our transition day.  Please see the email that Sami Nelson sent out regarding this.  Remember- the goal of transition day is to re-establish routines, relationships, and regulate students.  We have a list of fun things for this day to help with this.  Don't forget to wear jeans and your STEAM gear! 

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

Have a great, long weekend!
-Justin

Weekly Update - October 12, 2018

Happy Friday, everyone!  I hear the sun is possibly coming out this afternoon... get out and soak up the Vitamin D!


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.

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
• Tara Brach
• Insight Timer meditation application
• Free Mindfulness resources, online guided practices for breath, body scans, mindful movement, and more

To read this article in its entirety click here.

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

Weekly Update - October 5, 2018

Happy Friday, everyone!

A huge thank you to everyone for the hard work around guided groups and Power 20!  I know this has been a ton of work to prepare for - with some grade levels not having much time between the start date and your data subout.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  High quality, purposeful core instruction (including guided groups) is one of the most effective ways to create readers.  I'm excited to see all the growth we have this year!

Also, a huge thank you for your flexibility around our new inclusive model around Special Education and EL.  I know the schedule changes have been frustrating - something we can work on earlier next year.  It's been a learning curve - you change one schedule, it impacts five others.  However, you have stayed focused on what our learners need.  Thank you! 

Belief System:
Do you believe all kids can learn?  Do you truly believe this?  Or, are you an educator who makes comments like "Oh, that kid" or "Man, it's only been a month with these kids!"  Your belief system determines so much of your daily experiences.  First, your beliefs will determine your outlook for the day.  If you are looking for negativity, you will find it.   If you are out seeking the positives, you will find many of those!   Secondly, your belief system can make or break a students' experience here at school.  This includes your thoughts and biases.  If you have already "painted a picture" of a learner in your room - and it's not positive - I challenge you to get to know that student more.  Find time and patience to learn more.  And, if you are biases are standing in the way of this work, walk to your bias.  Learn more about it... challenge it... decrease the way you think about it.  The quote below is from Jimmy Casas, a former principal and now author/presenter around school culture and all kids.   What legacy do you want to leave?

Picture Re-Take & Badges:
Just a reminder - next Thursday, October 11th is Picture Re-Take.  Every staff member needs their picture taken this year!  Everyone!   If you took it on picture day, you are good to go.  These photos will be used for our new badges.

Referrals & Discipline:
A couple of things regarding office referrals.  Please read this carefully so we are all on the same page.

• If a student is physical and harmed someone, they come to the office.  
• Please complete the referral completely -including last name, date, time, etc.  We use this data for tracking purposes (to provide supports to students).
• Please involve me if you are keeping a student in for recess.  I'm seeing more and more students inside for recess.   Due to schedules and space, I should be involved before the consequence is given.  Some students have temporary plans that include staying in for recess - this should not become a daily thing.  
• Please put referrals in the gray basket behind Julie and Selena - not in my mailbox.  I check the gray box frequently.  When you put it in there, please put this upside down to keep the information confidential.

Independent Reading:

So, now that we've worked hard to create purposeful, high quality small/guided groups, what are the other students doing?  As I've made my way around this week, I see a lot of independent reading.  This is awesome - kids need time to just read!  Something to reflect on - is this purposeful practice/reading of books?  Are students engaged, or fake reading?  Think about it this way - in a basketball game, the coach is off on one side of the court helping two players practice their form.  The other players are shooting hoops at the other end of the court.  If they end up playing tag down there, are they practicing and developing as basketball players?  This is more work we will be looking at this year - what can students be doing, including independent reading, to be purposeful and engaged (while you meet with groups)?  Libby and I will be around the building doing some time-on-task to gather this data.

Cell Phones:

Please monitor the amount of time you are on your cell phone.  I am not making a statement about not using phones, as I know how important they are for internal communication, as well as for posting the learning on Twitter.  However, I'm seeing more and more people on their phones throughout the building.  Please be aware of the time you are using this - especially for non-school activities.  

Learning Work:

Thank you for all your hard work this week around literacy beliefs and feedback.  I absolutely love that this staff is full of learners.  Not only in our meetings, but on Twitter and with each other.  The amount of learning that occurs in this building is fabulous!

Building Weekly Newsletter:

Click here to access the building weekly newsletter

McKinleyStrong Educator of the Week:

The McKinleyStrong Educator of the Week goes to Nurse Brittani Tancre!  Brittani wears so many hats during the day - and keeps our students healthy and ready to learn.  Brittani has compassion, care, and high expectations with everything that she does.  She takes great care of our students' health needs throughout the day.  Keep being awesome, Britttani!

Have a great weekend - enjoy some down time! 

-Justin

Weekly Update - Friday, September 28, 2018

Good morning! 
It's been a great week of learning at McKinley!  Thank you to everyone for your focus and commitment to our students through our data subouts.  I know a half day subout can be hard - we got a lot done in a short amount of time.  Our collective commitment to all kids and "all hands on deck" was evident through this process.  I'm excited to work with Kindergarten and 3rd Grade today!  A HUGE THANK YOU to Libby Zeman for all her work around this - she has spent hours (late nights!) preparing for this.  

Inclusion ABC's:
With our model change to providing a more inclusive learning environment, I thought this was a great, visual reminder of the work we are doing to make McKinley a place for every learner, every day.  

MCA Data:
Our Building Leadership Team spent some time digging into our MCA data from last school year.  As you know, our data doesn't look good.  Our data really points to a core instruction issue - 80% of our learners should be meeting or exceeding without intervention.  As much as the data can leave you feeling negative, we have a lot of great things in place this year that will improve core instruction, including:

• Fountas and Pinnell targeted small/guided group instruction.  This alone will show great results and create better readers.  Our instruction is very targeted, focused, and aligned.  And, as we know from the research I've shared around reading effectiveness, small/guided group instruction is the most effective way to improve readers.  
• Targeted Power 20 groupings  - we are addressing foundational skills in this first round of Power 20.  This will greatly help address student's missing skills so they can access grade level standards.  
• Classwide Interventions - Our classwide interventions will greatly help us with a classwide "dose" of practice around fluency. 
• PLC process - I promise you, if we do this well, we will see results.  As we talked about at Monday, we are doing some great work - and have some room to continue to grow.  

If we continue to do great work and support core instruction, we will grow even stronger readers.  

Click here to access the data 

Growth Mindset - as Adult Learners:
One thing I love the most about McKinley is the way we are really embracing the growth mindset - we are always learning, evolving, making mistakes, and learning from these mistakes.  Every person is a work in progress.  I love when I hear students - and staff- saying things like "we haven't gotten there YET".  Wow.   Such power around that statement alone.

I'm challenging us as adult learners to continue this practice.  We are all learners - and will continue to be learners as our careers continue in education.  This includes all staff, not just teachers.  I'm challenging you to this - reflect on something you don't know about YET, something you haven't mastered YET, or something that you just need support in.  Be honest with yourself.  

The great thing about this- we have support.  We have a great Teaching and Learning Coach to support and walk right along side you!  I can't think of a better support for any staff member!  Additionally, you have each other... we have some collective strengths in this building.  Utilize each other's strengths.  Use Twitter - there is some great professional learning and networking there.  Remember, as we said in our PLC meeting Monday, there is no isolation with education.  Education must be collaborative - for our students, but also for our adult educators.

Challenge - go learn, practice, or reflect on something you want to learn more about!    

Mindful Moment from Annette:

WHAT IS A MINDFUL MOMENT?

It has been so exciting to see our educators embrace our students and families with genuine love and caring and it shows in all the smiling faces I see entering our building in the morning and again when leaving in the afternoon.  I’m also so impressed with our educators for being open minded to embrace new and different ways to support our students.

As we move forward into October we will be focusing on mindfulness, which has had a lot of focus Nationwide, for its effectiveness in helping kids in school regulate and engage.  I came across an article that does a nice job of talking about what mindfulness in the classroom is, why it is important to practice and 6 ideas for creating mindfulness in your classroom.

Mindfulness can play a part in creating and sustaining the kind of atmosphere and community that frees us to teach and offers kids the freedom to learn. By switching to our “feeling brain,” we tap into a channel that we often push so far into the background of our consciousness that we learn not to acknowledge it at all. The practice of noticing what is happening in the moment and responding with non-judgmental friendliness is a resource to keep in your “toolbox” of pedagogy and classroom management techniques.

Checking in throughout the day

When we practice checking in with our sensations throughout the day, we allow ourselves time to choose a response to whatever is arising in our feeling brains by bringing our attention to what is happening in the moment.

That brief interlude to take inventory of our sensations and emotions is a mindful moment. A little chance to reboot if we find things are heading off in an unskilled or unhelpful direction. When we employ those brief moments of awareness, repeated throughout the day, we bring ourselves back to what is happening in the present.

If we necessarily spend time in our thinking brains and then practice checking in with our feeling brains, how do we keep our school day running? Can we just stop and be still with closed eyes in the middle of presenting a lesson on exponential growth? Of course not, unless we want to run the risk of encountering a live example of disruptive behavior during our own math period! It may seem counter intuitive, but we have to plan. Like a football team, we have to practice making the plays every day so that it can become intuitive. To create a mindful classroom, we must have a mindful grounding of our own.

Stay tuned for idea #1 of creating mindful classrooms in next weeks blog.   

This weeks challenge: the first person who accurately comments on this blog what the above article defines as a “Mindful Moment” will get a prize from me!   - Annette M Warner, LICSW

https://www.mindfulschools.org/personal-practice/back-to-school-6-ideas-creating-mindfulness-classroom/

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

McKinleyStrong Educator of the Week:
Our McKinleyStrong Educator of the Week goes to Kindergarten Teacher, Jen Koziolek!  Jen is a caring, supportive, and positive educator who truly builds impactful relationships.  Jen is always striving to make her classroom a place for every learner, every single day.  One of the things I appreciate the most about Jen is her positive learner mindset - she is always looking for ways to grow as an educator to make her classroom, instruction, and relationships even stronger.   Jen is an amazing educator!  We are so lucky to have Jen at McKinley - keep being awesome, Jen!   

Other: 

• Picture Re-Takes are Monday, October 8.  If you didn't get your picture taken on picture day, you need to on October 8.  This is for ALL staff.  The District is issuing new badges and will be using these pictures.  
• Guided groups start Monday! 
• Infinitec Training - don't forget to complete your training (4 sessions) by October 26!  
• Red Ribbon Week is October 29 

It's going to be a cold one this weekend - stay warm!  Take some time to enjoy those around you!

-Justin

Weekly Update - September 14, 2018

Happy First Week, everyone! 
What a great first week of school!  It's great to see people (students and staff) happy and enjoying our time back at McKinley. A huge thank you to everyone for your flexibility and "going the extra mile" this week - there is always things that come up when we are teaching routines and schedules.   Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

Thank you to Paige Larson for sharing the above picture on social media.  What a great reminder to us all - and to help us keep that "perspective".  Remember your "why".

ALSO - If you haven't gotten me your impact statement, please send ASAP.  Also, just a reminder that Infinitec training is due October 28!

Welcoming Students with a Smile:
While this isn't a new concept to McKinley, it's a great reminder to us all - the importance of setting the tone from the minute students arrive.  This article is showing the research behind teachers/staff who greet students at the door with a smile and a relationship - discipline decreases.  It also sets the tone for the classroom, from the first minute students arrive.   Please remember - your language, facial expressions, body expressions, and overall demeanor impact more than just you.   Click here to access the article

Going Outside: 
If you are going outside with your class, you need a walkie talkie.  It is a requirement.  In the event of a safety issue or just for us to communicate with you, you need this outside (recess and outdoor learning).   Two things - please identify yourself ("Kiel to Office") and please make sure the light is on when you return it (they need to be charging).   I know this is a change, so please make a note to grab a walkie as you head outside. 

Fountas and Pinnell Benchmarking:
As you work on completing your assessments (by Friday, 9/21), please make sure you are finding the instructional level for each student.  You will bring your records (the actual copies of assessments) to our data subouts, as the information is essential for our collaboration around supporting all of our students. 

Every student should have a new F/P benchmark done this year. 

Libby recently wrote a blog entry on using the data to create actionable instructional goals.  The entry has some steps you can take, but also some things to consider as you create groups -   Click here to read the article. 

Core Instruction Reminders:
As we are providing high quality core instruction, please use the below chart as a great reminder to balance the teacher talk, student talk, and thinking in your classroom.   As you can see, students need time to think, discuss, and reflect on the learning. 

Birthday Books:
We are trying something new this year - as students have a birthday, they can come down to the office and pick out a book in honor of their birthday.  We have a wide range of levels and interests for our readers.   The goal is to continue to send the message that we value literacy and learning! 

Social Media- Twitter:
I love seeing all the learning on Twitter - wow!  Not only does Twitter communicate our "why" with the outside world (including families), but also can serve as a professional learning network for our staff.  How awesome is it to see the amazing learning we are doing with students, each and every day!  Please continue to use this - and use our hashtags #mckinleystrong (things related to school pride) and #mckinleyPD (for any learning that you are sharing with our staff). 

Educator Hub:
I have added a few links to the Educator Hub:

• Computer Sign-Up 
• Learning Studio, MakerSpace Cart, and Outdoor Learning Cart Sign-Up is coming soon!
• Link to Teaching and Learning Coach's Blog

Thank you to everyone who is accessing the Hub.  I hope you are finding the efficiency of this document to be helpful! 

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

McKinleyStrong Educator of the Week:
The McKinleyStrong Educator of the Week goes to Special Education Paraprofessional, Sonya David!  Sonya is a student-centered educator who is positive, committed, and always about "all kids".  Sonya goes above and beyond to make McKinley a place where all students are valued and successful.  Keep up the great work, Sonya! 


I hope you have a relaxing, rejuvenating weekend.  It's going to be a beautiful, hot weekend... enjoy one of these last few "moments" of summer!

Keep inspiring excellence!
-Justin

Weekly Update - September 7, 2018

Welcome Back, Everyone!
I have never been so excited to be back at school - in my entire life.  The energy and passion around this year has been amazing.  Thank you for all that energy and positive energy!

Common Planning Time:
I made an error in my original email regarding common planning time.  Per Building Leadership Team's request, Libby will be joining your common planning every other week.  She is there to support, learn, and provide guidance to you.

My Goal- Instructional Leadership/Walkthroughs:
One of my goals for the year is focused on walkthroughs.  As you know, I have always been passionate about instruction and student learning - however, I've let things fill up my calendar that do not allow me to get into classrooms.  Building Leadership Team helped me brainstorm some ways to make this happen - and become one of my goals for the year.   Why did I set this goal?  Student learning is the most critical thing we do here.  To help support this work, I need to be in classrooms to support the real work being done... and be in the "trenches", as some would say.  Also, it helps me find ways to make connections between staff (drawing on your strengths) and ways to learn right along side you.

To do these walkthroughs, I need a few things from you.   First, I need you to be a learner and have a growth mindset.   Yes, I need you to put yourself in the role we expect our students to be in.  We are all learners, each and every day.  As a learner, you take failure, mistakes, and feedback and turn it into a learning experience.  Secondly, I need authentic work.   Don't feel like you need to change your lesson, do something different, or stop the class to welcome me.  Keep doing the work you are doing.  I was an elementary teacher and understand the complex dynamics of this job!   Please keep doing the real, engaging work you are doing as I am in your room.

We have such amazing talent at this building.  I look forward to supporting, connecting, and continuing to grow this talent as we move into the school year!

Observation & Evaluation Cycle:
Just a reminder to check the observation/evaluation cycle document to see where you are at in this process.   On the second page, there are assigned weeks for this.  By assigning weeks, I can manage my schedule a lot easier to truly provide the time and energy you deserve in this process.  I am expecting you to schedule this during your assigned week - Julie will not contact you.  Please email her and set your meeting/observation up.  Thank you!

Impact Statements:
Just a reminder - impact statements are due Friday, September 14.  This includes all staff, not just teaching staff.  The impact statements will be placed in the hallway and will be a statement to our McKinley Community on what we believe our impact is on educating all McKinley students.  I have some turned in already and they are inspirational.   Don't forget to send a picture and your Twitter handle with it.

Family Night & PTO Sign-Up:
If you haven't already, please see the family night and PTO meeting sign up sheet.  We need your help!  Plus, families love to see staff engaged in this.   Sign up by yourself or as a team - but we need your help!

Random Reminders:

• Infinitec Training - please take care of this ASAP!  This is for all 761 staff!
• Impact Statements-  As you complete this, please send to me.  I will start hanging these up soon.  This is for ALL staff.  
• Leaving building during day - if you leave the building during the day, you must sign out.  We need to know where you are in the event of an emergency or someone looking for you.  Please sign out (and back in) at the main desk. 
• STEAM journals - I am checking with Dr. Meagher to see if we can get Jeffers journals.  More to come on this!  

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

McKinleyStrong Educator of the Week:
Coming your way next week!

Thank you for a great start to the year.  Everything this week has been focused on students and families first.  You are an amazing group of educators - I am honored to work beside you!

Have a great weekend, everyone!
-Justin

Welcome Back - August 27, 2018!

Welcome back, everyone! 

I am so excited for our year to begin!  I can truthfully tell you this is the most excited I have been in many years.   The work we are doing at McKinley is amazing - your focus on all kids is impressive.  Below is a picture of something I believe is one of my "why's" as an educator - the reason I come to work.  Our learning environment is focused on students first.  This picture helps remind us that it's students first, all the time. 

Welcome to our New Staff! 
Another huge welcome to our new staff!  We are fortunate you are sharing your talents  You are entering a magical place that is focused on learning and all kids!  Welcome!

New District Logo:
The District has created a new logo this summer - it's very modern and looks awesome.   As you can see from this logo, our tagline to ISD 761 is "Inspiring Excellence - Every Learner - Every Day".   I think that speaks to the work we have been doing at McKinley to ensure it's all students, all the time.  This is another example of the commitment we are making to ALL means ALL. 

McKinley Educator Hub:

Just a reminder - we will be using the McKinley Hub to share all important McKinley documents.  You will want to "star" this document to keep all year long!  Click here to access the document.

Building Weekly Newsletter

For communication purposes, we use two methods from our office - one is my blog which contains bigger picture items, visuals, and learning items.  The second is our building weekly newsletter which contains the "nuts and bolts" of McKinley - daily schedules, birthdays, etc.  This is our first edition of the weekly newsletter - click here to access it!  

Have a great start to the year and remember - it's all about building relationships with our students and families!  

-Justin

(@jm_kiel)