Excellence in Education:
Accentuate the Positives
The first week of school is by far my favorite week. Filled
with energy, positivity and enthusiasm, the atmosphere rivals—and I’d argue
exceeds—that of the last day of school.
Teachers are glad to that all of the mundane administrative stuff of the
prior week are behind them; finally time to teach. It’s time to put a summer’s worth
of planning and “next year, I’m going to try…” into action. Students are no
different; each beginning the year with a fresh attitude.
The faculty parking lot filled up early on Monday (and no it
wasn’t because we don’t have assigned parking anymore) and soon students poured
into our halls to be greeted by friends and teachers.
As we go forward, I challenge each of us (me too) to maintain
this energy throughout the entire school year. As we go forward, let’s
continually support our students and each other. Undoubtedly, there will be
days when we’re exhausted and emotionally spent, so let’s pledge to lift each
other’s spirits with a pat on the back, a simple note, or a quick phone call or
text.
Before we know it, SOLs will be here. We’ll be awaiting the
5am phone call to tell us that school is canceled, and we’ll be turning the
term. Along the way, let’s maintain our enthusiasm and support each other by
accentuating the positives. Let’s recognize and celebrate our efforts and our
accomplishments.
Ideas for the Classroom: Walk The Line
Walk the Line is a simple classroom strategy that can be
used to formatively assess students, to foster discussion, or to simply get
students up and out of their seats. It allows students to practice thinking,
speaking, and listening.
To begin the teacher creates a line in her classroom. The
teacher indicates what the ends of the line stand for. Some possibilities:
Agree/Disagree; For/Against, True/False, etc. Between the two end points are
places for students who are on the fence.
Students then go to their spot on the line and the teacher
randomly chooses various students to explain/argue their case. Other students
are allowed to move according to the various arguments made (real feedback!)
This activity has lots of flexibility, so some other
options.
1.
Have students work in pairs to determine their
answer and send one student to the correct spot on the line.
2.
Instead of using a line, use the four corners of
the room (Strongly Agree-Agree-Disagree-Strongly Disagree, for example).
3.
Have students take on different figures/persons.
For example, if you’re looking at early American colonization, you could have students
take on the role of a Native American, a European explorer, a European king,
etc.
4.
Other possibilities for the ends of the line:
Names of two people or two events (which was more important).
Administrative Notes
Due
Dates for Initial Goal:
1.
Comprehensive Cycle: September 5,
please remember to give pre-assessment as soon as possible. For those of you on
the comprehensive cycle, if you’d like to set up a meeting before next Friday
to discuss the pre-assessment data and the goal setting process, I’d be more
than willing.
Additionally, I plan on trying to schedule
quick (less than 15 minute) weekly meetings with those of you on cycle. This
will help me provide more consistent and valuable feedback to you and ensure
that we’re working together.
2.
Annual Cycle: February 6
Positive Referral
Link: http://goo.gl/s0KXRB
Work Order Request
Form: http://goo.gl/H7hFwK
Video of the Week:
Kid President’s Pep Talk for Teachers
What I’m Reading
Preparing
Your Students For Tomorrow’s Challenges Definitely check out the links in number 6
