Pre-holiday week...

Happy last week!! 

As we transition into this post-inside recess/snow day and pre-holiday week, Responsive Classroom's website shares some ideas to help in ensuring continued student behavioral and academic success these next few days!

Link to their site

Hang in there...

What can you do to help our students stay on track during this season? An extra measure of calmness, consistency, and structure can work wonders. Here are some strategies you might want to try...

Stick to Routines

As much as you can, stick to the routines that you’ve established to shape the school day. Choose a calm greeting (such as a simple “Hello” passed around the circle) to settle the group if they seem especially bouncy coming in the door. Use seasonally-themed sharing topics to help students learn more about each other and that every student in your class can answer comfortably. For example, questions such as What do you especially love about winter? 

Notice and Reinforce Success

Look for opportunities to remark on children’s success in meeting classroom expectations. By giving children genuine information about their competence, you can prevent many behavior problems.

Revisit Hopes, Dreams, and Classroom Rules

Any time children are going off track is a good time to review behavioral expectations. When planning such reviews, it’s tempting to think about what the children “should” be able to do by now (It’s December—they should know how to sit quietly for sharing!). But it’s much more productive to keep your focus on what the children can do right now and what they need from you to help them. For more ideas and resources on this topic, see Margaret Wilson’s “Revisiting Hopes and Dreams in the New Year.”

Keep Expectations High but Appropriate

Appreciate the extra energy your students may have during holidays or other exciting times and anticipate that they’ll need to expend some of that energy. Working in some talk, energizers, and movement throughout the day helps children stay calm enough to learn. 

Keep the Learning Going

It’s natural for children’s behavior to veer a bit off track during exciting or stressful times. During such times, observe your students, hold them firmly but kindly to classroom expectations, and make a few simple adjustments in your teaching practice. 

Let me know how I can help!  And have a great week!
Sue

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Mike Anderson is the author of the 3rd-, 4th-, and 5th-grade books in the What Every Teacher Needs to Know K–5 Series, as well as The Well-Balanced Teacher, and the co-author of The Research-Ready Classroom. He has fifteen years of experience teaching third, fourth, and fifth grades.

Margaret Berry Wilson is the author of several books, including: The Language of Learning, Doing Science in Morning Meeting (co-authored with Lara Webb), Interactive 

It takes 5...

5:1 Ratio... It's not just for Kids!

I was recently at a PBIS training, and a statement caught my attention - the 5:1 ratio for positives to corrections. What a great reminder! When I dug a little bit more, I found the following:

Business Teams:

•   High Performance      = 5.6 positives to 1 negative

•   Medium Performance = 1.9 positives to 1 negative

•   Low Performance       =  1 positive to 2.7 negatives

  

 Successful Marriages:

•  5.1 positives to 1 negative (speech acts) and

•  4.7 positives to 1 negative (observed emotions)

Losada, 1999; Losada & Heaphy, 2004

During these busy/crazy days, I encourage you to maximize positive feedback, to both your students and colleagues, by making it:

• Immediate. Give recognition as soon as possible after the event.
• Specific. State exactly what the person did that met or exceeded your expectations.
• Impactful. Explain how the event or behavior affected you, the student, or the school.
• Encouraging. Find opportunities to share your appreciation as often as possible! 

You will find a name in your mailbox on Monday (hopefully, otherwise Tuesday!).  I challenge you to give that person 1-2 positives before break.  I look forward to the impact of our encouraging words!

Have a great week!
Sue

Reading Refresher

Reading Refresher

As we look ahead to Tuesday's staff meeting and Thursday's Late Start, we are going to "refresh" our reading instruction.  The staff meeting will give you a quick review of the F&P Continuum and the leveled F&P Questions, and then the Late Start will be dedicated to giving you time to use these resources to plan reading instruction. 

Here's a review of the four questions that drive what we do:

What do our students need to know and be able to do?
Use curriculum map, F&P Continuum, and/or F&P leveled of questions

to determine learning focus.

How will we know if they learned it?

Determine an assessment task that measures attainment of

criteria for success for the learning focus.

What do we do  they already know it?
Build a continuum of skills, strategies, and levels of questions.

What do we do if students have not learned it?  

Using the continuum to look back to identify pre-requisite skills.

Hudson ELA Curriculum Maps

Continuum of Literacy Learning

Checking In

Checking In

Now that our SLOs have been in place for several weeks, and the end of the trimester is drawing near, it's a great time to check-in.  It's a great opportunity to see how far students have come, as well as identify specific steps that can be taken to keep things moving toward the attainment of your goals. Here are 2 questions to consider:

1.  How can students be involved?
When students are involved, you get better results.  If you give them the ability to visualize their own growth, even students in the earliest grades can have a clear understanding of what it means to work toward their goals.  This can be done by helping students understand:

• what it looks like to know and be able to use specific skills or strategies
• what specific activities they can do to help themselves move toward their goal
• how they’ll know if they’re on the right track (self-reflection, in-class assessments, a conference with their teacher) to reaching their goal

2. What are some things that can be done to help ensure the students are on track?

Because SLOs are often set for the whole year, one of the most important keys to success is to break down these big-picture goals into tangible mini-goals.  Without this systematic checkpoint, it can be difficult to have a clear picture of whether or not the class is on track.  This kind of progress check can be done through common assessments, student reading observations, or other formal/informal  measures.  Using these results allows teachers to identify where things are at, and if there's a need to course-correct.

Teachers are to enter their current F&P scores into Skyward by Friday, Dec. 2nd.  We will be using this data for our grade level roll-throughs during PLC time on Tuesday, December 6th.  For these roll-throughs, we are going to look at grade level reading intervention and enrichment groups, and if time, math intervention groups. 

In addition, here's the Report Card Schedule:

• Early Release Friday, Dec. 2nd to work on report cards
• Monday, Dec. 5th - first print
• Changes and finalization by Wed. Dec. 7th
• Send home Thursday, Dec. 8th

Please let me know if you have any questions!
Sue

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing our Houlton family 

a restful and blessed Thanksgiving.  

I am thankful for the heartfelt dedication you commit to the well-being of our Houlton students, the hard work and diligence you put into your instruction, and the passion and energy you put into everything you do, each and every day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Community Strength

The Power of the Houlton Community

For those of you that were able to be a part of yesterday's Houlton Bazaar, 

you will know what I'm talking about...

The Houlton Community was in it's finest state yesterday, where all members came together for an amazing outcome.

Thank you to the many staff members that came to help, whether it was punch card sales, kitchen, classroom baskets, games, pet adoption, playground fundraising, set up, clean up - it was great to have your help, and even greater to see the kids' excitement in seeing you there!

Thank you to Dan and Jodi - I'm not sure who got the "better deal"... Jodi was there for set up, running to get everything ready, and Dan was there for clean up, trying to get classrooms back in shape for Monday.  What a great team!

Thank you to the office staff for their help with raffle tickets and other "organizational help"!  It's a busy week for them as they help to get everything ready!

Thank you to the Houlton students who returned to help!  We had a lot of alumni, excited to be back to see their teachers and to be back in the Houlton community.  We had a great turnout from NHS volunteers as well.

Thank you to the River Community Church who donated all of the food, so the sales were 100% profit for Houlton.

Thank you to the countless families and parents who helped in ways they could - organizing, helping, creating, publicizing, setting up, cleaning up - all for the benefit of Houlton Elementary School.

Even though this is an event intended to provide fun and entertainment for our students, I wanted you to know about some of them...

• Mary Prescott set up her entire classroom for Mr. Sahli.
• Micah Rambo made muffins to sell for MDA, to fundraise for his friend Logan.
• Kate Likness, the Skwira girls, and the Schmucker boys made and donated crafts to sell for the playground.
• The Alms girls were there Friday to set up, and for a long day on Saturday to set up and clean up.

There are many other contributors that I'm sure I have forgotten - but it is my intention to praise and give thanks to our amazing Houlton community!

Have a great, calmer week -
Sue

Closing the Gender Gap

As we've discussed, the "Closing the Gap" aspect of the Houlton SMART Goal is focused on closing the gender gap, as our girls are outperforming our boys.  Everywhere around us, boys want to learn, but they aren't learning as well as girls are. Boys are behind on state tests in all 50 states, and they drop out of high school at higher rates than girls. Many boys feel that they are inherently defective in today's education world.

The Assocciaton for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) has recently published an article on the gender gap, based on two decades of research, which includes ways we can address it in our classrooms.  A number of schools in the research base closed gender gaps and raised student performance. The study's research identified strategies that help build success for our male learners.  I hope you find some of the suggestions helpful!

1. Teachers increase the use of graphics, pictures, and storyboards in literacy-related classes and assignments. When teachers use pictures and graphics more often (even well into high school), boys write with more detail, retain more information, and perform better on written work across the curriculum.
2. Classroom methodology includes project-based education in which the teacher facilitates hands-on, kinesthetic learning. The more learning is project-driven and kinesthetic, the more boys' bodies will be engaged in learning—causing more information to be retained, remembered, and displayed on tests and assignments.
3. Teachers provide competitive learning opportunities, even while holding to cooperative learning frameworks. Competitive learning includes classroom debates, content-related games, and goal-oriented activities; these are often essential for boy-learning and highly useful for the life success of girls, too.
4. Approximately 50 percent of reading and writing choices in a classroom are left up to the students themselves. Regularly including nontraditional materials, such as graphic novels, magazines, and comic books, increases boys' engagement in reading and improves both creative and expository writing.
5. Teachers move around their classrooms as they teach. Instructors' physical movement increases boys' engagement, and includes the teacher leading students in physical "brain breaks"—quick, one-minute brain-awakening activities—that keep boys' minds engaged.
6. Students are allowed to move around as needed in classrooms, and they are taught how to practice self-discipline in their movement. This strategy is especially useful when male students are reading or writing—when certain boys twitch, tap their feet, stand up, or pace, they are often learning better than if they sit still.
7. Male mentoring systems permeate the school culture, including use of parent-mentors, male teachers, vertical mentoring (e.g., high school students mentoring elementary students), and male peer mentoring. 
8. Teachers use boys-only (and girls-only) group work and discussion groups in core classes such as language arts, math, science, and technology. Some boys and girls who do not flourish in the social distraction of coed classes get a chance to flourish in new ways in single-sex groupings.

Essential Strategies for Teaching Boys Effectively

Positive Mindset

Dear Staff;
This time of year always seems to bring a little more stress throughout the building.  Perhaps it's that the "honeymoon" of good student behavior is over, or the anticipation of winter weather approaching... whatever it is, the heightened stress can be seen, heard, and especially felt.  Our attitudes may start to swing, and our bodies start to get run down.  I wanted to include a few things to think about this week, as reminders to dig deep for that positive way of thinking!

Positive Thinking Is a Way of Life

With a positive attitude, we experience pleasant and happy feelings.  This brings brightness to the eyes, more energy, and happiness.  Our whole being emulates good will, happiness, and success.  Even our health is affected in a beneficial way.  We walk tall, and our body language shows the way we feel.  It is any wonder that we want to be around positive people?

According to Mayo Clinic, there are health benefits associated with positive thinking, which include:

• Increased life span
• Lower rates of depression
• Lower levels of distress
• Greater resistance to the common cold
• Better psychological and physical well-being
• Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

One theory for these health benefits is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body. It's also thought that positive and optimistic people tend to live healthier lifestyles — they get more physical activity, follow a healthier diet, and don't smoke or drink alcohol in excess.

Something to think about... when you start to feel overwhelmed, remind yourself to be positive.  And let others know how they can help!

Have a great, and HEALTHY, week!
Sue

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SLO Development

Certified Staff;

We will be working on SLOs and PPGs Monday morning, and into the afternoon. Many of you have already started thinking about your SLO - I thought I'd send a reminder to help you get started on your planning so you can be productive tomorrow!

During tomorrow's meeting, you will have time to review and reflect on the Stronge Standards, and then time to work independently or collaboratively with your team to write your SLO.  Once the SLO is determined, the PPG is developed to support the learning related to the SLO.

It is my hope that SLOs will be nearly completed by the end of the day - and possibly even time for some team planning!

See you in the morning!
Sue

SLO and PPG: October 24th

Monday, October 24th

Professional Learning Day

Dear Staff;

Our "Data Day" is coming quickly!  Here's an overview of the day, which has been set aside for you to work on your SLOs and PPGs.  I'm including this information in this week's blog to give you an opportunity to begin thinking about your SLO, so you can most efficiently use your time on October 24th.  It is my hope that you will finish your SLO/PPG, and have enough time for team planning in the afternoon.

Have a great week - 

Sue

8:00 - Staff Meeting (potluck breakfast/treats)

• Business
• PLC overview
• Standards Reflection
• Teacher Standards
• Specialist Standards

10:00 - Individual/Team Work Time

SLO/PPG Work:

1. Complete your  SLO & PPG in My Learning Plan and submit for approval by October 31. Sue will be in the building, available for support.

1. Sample SLO
2. SLO Professional Practice Goal Reflection (video)
3. SLO Data Sheet (make a copy)
4. Directions how to format data/spreadsheet

2. Sign up for an SLO approval meeting for Oct. 25 (Day 6) if you are probationary, on cycle, or if you just want to meet. Otherwise, submit it electronically and I will approve it. Probationary and everyone on cycle should meet as an individual.  Others may meet individually, as a team, or just submit it electronically. Please SAVE and NOTIFY  EP Professional Goal Setting Plan on My Learning Plan before Oct. 25th if you are meeting with me. The SLO and PPG must be completed by October 31st.

Individual/Team Planning:
PLC Cycle

Plan for personalized instruction (Guided Reading, math groups, TARGET Time groups)

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parents and teachers are the two most important contributors to a student's educational success.  When parents and teachers communicate well with one another, they are able to support student learning together.  This makes the communication between home and school vital.  Meaningful communication between teachers and parents increases parental engagement in student learning.  It is also associated with:

1. higher academic achievement
2. increased attendance rates
3. positive student attitudes and behaviors
4. increased student readiness and interest in their work
5. increased parent satisfaction with teachers
6. higher teacher satisfaction ratings

However, parents and teachers don't always have many opportunities for interaction - which is why parent-teacher conferences are so important!  As you prepare for your upcoming conferences, you will take note of students' strengths and areas for development.  You may want to reach out to parents prior to your meeting with some sort of questionnaire (sample: Parent-Teacher Conference form). This will help you gather feedback, prepare a thoughtful response, and be most efficient with your time together.  Take time to talk to your students about their goals, and share this with the families as well.

Although the conference days are exhausting, they are also exhilarating, as they allow you to partner with families to build a successful school experience for your students.  Enjoy - and let me know how I can help you!

Have a great week!
Sue


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