Chapter 7- Confidence

• Preparation is the key to success!
• Prepare over and over to the point where mistakes are not an option.
•  Don't dampen the students' energy, enthusiasm, and dreams... have faith in them
• Place confidence in the hearts and minds of children

HOW-- Classroom Confidence Builders:

"Pyramid of Pride"
Post work around the school
AR strategy w/ pictures
Sargent's Stars! (love this)
Praise
Allow opportunities for success

What are some ways you build confidence in your students?

Chapter 6 Compassion

This chapter made me feel guilty. I have had limited patience with this year's group and I hate that about myself. They have pushed every single button I have. There were several things I want to try for next year, though.

Clark's guidelines for building the classroom team rapport were awesome and I plan on practicing these next year (140-141). I also want to adopt a senior citizen. This year, Howard's mom was moved from the Assisted Living to the Nursing Home and I know how much she enjoys visits by kids.

In this chapter, one point really stood out to me:

"In our society, children seem to have less and less respect for others, especially adults. I think the main reason for this is that they aren't forming bonds with adults as they used to" (137).

 

This really hit home. I often wonder why in the world some of our students speak to adults the way they do and this makes perfect sense. I wished I knew how to correct this...

For posting, choose one idea/point and share with the group.

Chapter 5

Balance-- Ch 5
This chapter had wonderful ideas for balance in all avenues (instruction, discipline, & our personal lives).

** By the way, my Kindle had a typo and said, "Balancing Lift with Teaching." 

Pretty sure it meant "Life." **

Several takeaways for me were:
1) Model, group practice, & independent still works: "I do, We do, You do." We also have to keep our instruction full of options to engage all students. 
2) For any discipline to work, "you have to show the kids that you care about them and find wags to make them like being around you and in your class."
3) "We can't teach about life if we don't have a life... We have to allow ourselves breaks."

Choose one of the topics (instruction, discipline, or life) and share how you use balance. 

Chapter 4 Reflection

Learning from Failures.... NOT a bad thing! A fun video to remind us and our students that it is not only ok, but beneficial to make mistakes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWtRadR4zYM

 Ways to reflect...

How to improve

Through writing

Memorization

School year (photo albums, journals, etc.)

Growth

Sharing

This week's opportunity is a time for you to reflect. I would like you to offer TWO reflections in this post. Choose an area above and create a post that offers: 1) a personal reflection on your time as a student and 2) a way you allow for student reflection in one of the areas.

** NEXT WEEK is on Balance. Thank God because his energy is exhausting. I will not post during the break. We will resume on Wednesday 3/29.

 

Chapter 3 Creativity

This chapter made me tired. (Haha) The energy level to maintain creativity is tiring but I found it to be so true... Think about how well your students respond to those really creative and fun lessons/activities you plan. I think they know we have put in extra effort just for them. Another thing I liked was how the district introduces teachers each year. (This might be a great idea for JCS the year we combine.)

The question is this week... What is a creative classroom management technique you use to maintain order/engagement? 

Chapter 2- Adventure

"Life is too short to not take risks and to live with a daring heart and passionate spirit.... There are limits to what adults can and should do when adding adventures to a child's life." So, the question is really HOW? Clark mentions several options to incorporate a sense of adventure without ever leaving the campus. 

 - outside teaching (science lab)

-  food mentioned in a social studies lesson or reading story

-  dress up (see Mandy for ideas ;))

-  scavenger hunts (measure around the room, location of vowels on signs in building...)

-  dramatic read aloud (background music, stand on the tables, make crazy noises)

-  involved learning/ "spark" (Project based learning, readers theater)

"Experiencing new adventure reveals strength within ourselves that we might never have realized was there."

For our feedback on this chapter, please think WAY outside of the box. I know it might feel crazy or even out of reach but set a Long Term Goal of an adventure you'd like to 

a) personally take and 

b) an adventure you want to pursue for your students.

 Bucket List type things here....

Chapter 1 Enthusiasm

"There are numerous techniques to get kids to perform, but none is more effective than simply being enthusiastic yourself. When you show that you really care about something and that it means a lot to you, even the most challenging of individuals will tend to get on board and help achieve the goal you have in mind" (Clark, 21).

Reflect on that statement. Please give your thoughts on either
a) How you have seen enthusiasm transform a kid/class (your own or someone else's)
 OR
b) How will you commit to being more enthusiastic as we face the rest of the year?

Chapter 1 Assigned

Please read Chapter One before Wednesday, February 17th. I will post another Q&A opportunity based on that chapter on the above date. I am going to try to run each chapter the same way. Reading due on Wednesday and responses due on that Friday.

Reading due/response
Ch.1> 2/17 - - 2/18
Ch.2> 2/23- - 2/26
Ch.3> 3/2 - -  3/5
Ch.4> 3/9 - - 3/11
Ch.5> 3/16-  3/18
**Spring Break**
Resume on Wed 3/30 with Chapter 6.

Introduction

Read the introduction...

Who was your favorite ELEMENTARY teacher & why?

My favorite was Mrs. Parnell. She told me that I was the best reader she ever had. She let me narrate every single play we did. She also let me stand on the table to read and I thought that was super cool. I'm sure she told every student they were her best reader, but I truly felt she believed in me.

Essential 11

Yesterday, I began my Kindle version of our book and I think we are going to love it. We have 10 paperbacks coming (both 4th grade teachers, Ms. Parnell & MC Williams + additional).

 Kindle download is super easy. IF you do not have an Amazon account, go to Amazon and start an account with your SCHOOL EMAIL. Then, open the app on your school iPad. They will sync and any book you buy will automatically download.

Grab the CC from Ms. Deb today and go ahead and download the book. Let me know when you're set. As soon as the paperbacks get here, we will be ready to go.
xo
Leigh

Beginning Book Study

We will be engaging the book, Essential 11 by Ron Clark in an effort to study better ways to improve our teaching practices.
I am excited about leading this blog-based book study and hope we can learn not only from the text, but also one another.

Things to remember....
1) I am flawed and will make grammatical mistakes. No judgement! :)
2) If you get behind, it is okay. No judgement!
3) Do your best to hit the reading targets.
4) Comment! Comment! Comment! Add your thoughts whenever you feel... not just at designated times.
5) Make plans to meet at least twice throughout the study.
6) Have fun and be yourself. Remember: No judgement!

We will be purchasing books, asap. 

Please comment and state your preference: Paperback or Kindle edition

Slideshow from TLIM Symposium in AL

Another free slideshow by Smilebox

Thank you for these awesome ideas from TLIM schools! All photos are courtesy of other Leader In Me Schools in the North Alabama area.

Leader In Me-- Teachers Leading

We will be using this site for our Leader in Me Lighthouse updates, information, etc. We are planning on adding a Pinterest widget and creating a place for us to pin our favorite L.I.M ideas/teaching tools/bulletin boards. I am looking forward to this being an interactive blog for us all.

WJS Survey Results-- Poverty & Achievement Gap

West  Jasper Survey Results:
Poverty & Achievement Gap

1. Please rate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements regarding WJ
	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree	Not Sure	Rating Average	Rating Count
Our school has a high rate of children who live in poverty.	12.0% (3)	4.0% (1)	16.0% (4)	56.0% (14)	12.0% (3)	3.52	25
The poorest students tend to underperform in the classroom.	4.2% (1)	41.7% (10)	33.3% (8)	12.5% (3)	8.3% (2)	2.79	24
Many of our children will drop out of high school.	16.7% (4)	29.2% (7)	41.7% (10)	4.2% (1)	8.3% (2)	2.58	2

2. Please rank the issues in order of their affect on students and their performance
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Rating Average	Rating Count
Home life (ie disruptions, divorce, single parent, etc)	56.0% (14)	24.0% (6)	12.0% (3)	0.0% (0)	0.0% (0)	4.0% (1)	4.0% (1)	1.92	25
Teacher influence (relationship, effectiveness)	28.0% (7)	12.0% (3)	20.0% (5)	12.0% (3)	24.0% (6)	4.0% (1)	0.0% (0)	3.04	25
Academic Ability	8.0% (2)	8.0% (2)	20.0% (5)	28.0% (7)	12.0% (3)	24.0% (6)	0.0% (0)	4.00	25
Motivation	4.0% (1)	20.0% (5)	20.0% (5)	28.0% (7)	4.0% (1)	12.0% (3)	12.0% (3)	3.92	25
Socioeconomic status	0.0% (0)	4.0% (1)	4.0% (1)	0.0% (0)	32.0% (8)	24.0% (6)	36.0% (9)	5.76	25
Attendance	0.0% (0)	20.0% (5)	16.0% (4)	8.0% (2)	12.0% (3)	24.0% (6)	20.0% (5)	4.64	25
Behavior	4.0% (1)	12.0% (3)	8.0% (2)	24.0% (6)	16.0% (4)	8.0% (2)	28.0% (7)	4.72	25

3. At our school, how many teachers/faculty actively attempt to build significant relationships with students?
		Response Percent	Response Count
more than 80% teachers/faculty		66.7%	16
<80% but more than half of teachers/faculty		33.3%	8
<50% teachers/faculty		0.0%	0

4. Please indicate your level of agreement to the following questions.
	Disagree	Agree	Don't know	Rating Average	Rating Count
College is not a priority for most of our students or their families.	16.0% (4)	80.0% (20)	4.0% (1)	1.88	25
It is our responsibility as teachers to help give students a sense of destiny.	0.0% (0)	100.0% (25)	0.0% (0)	2.00	25
Our school is a safe haven for most of the students.	0.0% (0)	100.0% (25)	0.0% (0)	2.00	25
Boys tend to struggle more in the classroom setting, than girls.	28.0% (7)	48.0% (12)	24.0% (6)	1.96	25

5. As an educator at WJ, most of the time I feel as if there is nothing I can do to change a student's future outcome.
		Response Percent	Response Count
True		20.0%	5
False		80.0%	20

Boys In Poverty-- book Conclusion

This book has really helped me to have a better understanding of ALL boys and their unique design. Its authors did an excellent job with providing not just WHY behaviors occur but also detailed ways on HOW to help boys in poverty.

Sadly, when a boy drops out of school he tends to become a statistic in the judicial system, which costs a community not only money, but safety. So, "the sooner the interventions, the lower the cost."

The book recommends a systematic approach of identifying at risk boys, then a consistent diagnostic approach of early intervention (not a wait-to-fail), with a use of the indicators and interventions noted throughout the book.

Teachers-
Be proactive
Build relationships
Establish mutual respect
Assess resources of family
Watch for disproportionate amounts of boys in poverty being placed in special ed
Involve the community as stakeholders within the school

"The talent that can be developed in an individual when he is educated, is phenomenal. We owe it to the greater well-being of everyone."