It's May! We have 4 solid weeks left in the school year to continue our creation of meaningful learning experiences for our students. After May 28th, our students will have 3 whole months of summer break, with many having no learning structures in place...with the Spring we've had, it's hard to think about that much time away from the school building for our kids and staff. So, as we look ahead to the month of May, think about critical skills our students will need, and how can we get the most out of our situation with our students. I appreciate what each and every one of you do each day with students at the center of your focus.
Resource of the Week
I have started to tackle another book, titled "Time for Change" by Anthony Muhammad and Luis Cruz. As I read, I thought I'd share some quotes from the book that represent some of my takeaways. I have heard both Muhammad and Cruz speak, and both are leading the way in getting down to it takes to grow an exemplar school. Some takeaways below...
On School Culture...
"A healthy school culture produces a professional environment in which educators unwaveringly believe that all students have the ability to achieve academic and social success, and they overtly and covertly communicate that expectation to others."
-This belief comes through in all conversations about kids, in both words, tone, and body language...whether it's with the student, or with colleagues about students in empty classrooms or offices...
"Hattie (2012) identifies the top-three factors, which all relate to culture and belief in or prediction of student achievement.
1. Teacher estimates of achievement
2. Teacher collective efficacy
3. Student estimates of achievement or self-reported grades
Those educators work together to convince students that they can achieve the lofty academic goals that their teachers set for them."
On the Science of Human Motivation...
"The challenge of change is tough enough with the right skills and research-based strategies, but when a system operates from its own conjecture, folklore, and gut instincts, it makes the task nearly impossible. Daniel Pink (2011) points out that gut instincts lead to one of two very ineffective assumptions.
1. People are motivated through force -- the stick approach.
2. People are motivated through incentives -- the carrot approach.
He notes that both assumptions are incorrect because people have much more complexity and nuance than their fears or material desires."
Construction Update
The bids are in, and the scope of the project in the Middle School is coming into focus. There continues to be good news, and it's safe to say, most of our school will be unrecognizable when we can get back in our building in August. Thank you to all of you for your work purging unnecessary items, packing up items to be moved, and being so positive in the process. We are almost to the point of having everyone packed up, and things will start to get moved into summer storage places starting this week. Findorff will be taking over our building on May 15th.
Student Pick-Up
In your Homeroom meetings or other conversations with students, feel free to encourage them to contact the school to set up a time to come in and get items from their lockers. We have a lot of items (including Elementary and High School) to store and not much space to store them.
Middle School Video
Thanks to Mrs. Serstad for leading the charge on creating a video to send to our students. We have all of the slots filled up, and there is still room for some creative additions if you have an idea. Contact Mrs. Serstad for more information...videos need to be submitted by end of day Friday.
8th Grade Send-Off
I am looking for a couple of teachers and students who are interested in planning a send-off/tribute for our 8th grade students. I have some ideas at this point that could be pretty cool, however, I need more creative energy for this project. Please email me if you are willing to help with this project.
We Were Awarded a STEAM Grant!
This is very exciting news as we were one of a handful of districts to be awarded this grant, which will add many exciting pieces of equipment to our facilities...more 3d printers, vinyl cutters, laser cutters, etc. Big thanks to Katie and Anna for their work on making this happen for our district! More detailed information to be shared soon...
“We have the collective belief, language, and actions that we will positively affect every student in our school. We make the difference for the kids!”
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The Middle Update 5/1/2020
It's May! We have 4 solid weeks left in the school year to continue our creation of meaningful learning experiences for our students. After May 28th, our students will have 3 whole months of summer break, with many having no learning structures in place...with the Spring we've had, it's hard to think about that much time away from the school building for our kids and staff. So, as we look ahead to the month of May, think about critical skills our students will need, and how can we get the most out of our situation with our students. I appreciate what each and every one of you do each day with students at the center of your focus.
Resource of the Week
I have started to tackle another book, titled "Time for Change" by Anthony Muhammad and Luis Cruz. As I read, I thought I'd share some quotes from the book that represent some of my takeaways. I have heard both Muhammad and Cruz speak, and both are leading the way in getting down to it takes to grow an exemplar school. Some takeaways below...
On School Culture...
"A healthy school culture produces a professional environment in which educators unwaveringly believe that all students have the ability to achieve academic and social success, and they overtly and covertly communicate that expectation to others."
-This belief comes through in all conversations about kids, in both words, tone, and body language...whether it's with the student, or with colleagues about students in empty classrooms or offices...
"Hattie (2012) identifies the top-three factors, which all relate to culture and belief in or prediction of student achievement.
1. Teacher estimates of achievement
2. Teacher collective efficacy
3. Student estimates of achievement or self-reported grades
Those educators work together to convince students that they can achieve the lofty academic goals that their teachers set for them."
On the Science of Human Motivation...
"The challenge of change is tough enough with the right skills and research-based strategies, but when a system operates from its own conjecture, folklore, and gut instincts, it makes the task nearly impossible. Daniel Pink (2011) points out that gut instincts lead to one of two very ineffective assumptions.
1. People are motivated through force -- the stick approach.
2. People are motivated through incentives -- the carrot approach.
He notes that both assumptions are incorrect because people have much more complexity and nuance than their fears or material desires."
Construction Update
The bids are in, and the scope of the project in the Middle School is coming into focus. There continues to be good news, and it's safe to say, most of our school will be unrecognizable when we can get back in our building in August. Thank you to all of you for your work purging unnecessary items, packing up items to be moved, and being so positive in the process. We are almost to the point of having everyone packed up, and things will start to get moved into summer storage places starting this week. Findorff will be taking over our building on May 15th.
Student Pick-Up
In your Homeroom meetings or other conversations with students, feel free to encourage them to contact the school to set up a time to come in and get items from their lockers. We have a lot of items (including Elementary and High School) to store and not much space to store them.
Middle School Video
Thanks to Mrs. Serstad for leading the charge on creating a video to send to our students. We have all of the slots filled up, and there is still room for some creative additions if you have an idea. Contact Mrs. Serstad for more information...videos need to be submitted by end of day Friday.
8th Grade Send-Off
I am looking for a couple of teachers and students who are interested in planning a send-off/tribute for our 8th grade students. I have some ideas at this point that could be pretty cool, however, I need more creative energy for this project. Please email me if you are willing to help with this project.
We Were Awarded a STEAM Grant!
This is very exciting news as we were one of a handful of districts to be awarded this grant, which will add many exciting pieces of equipment to our facilities...more 3d printers, vinyl cutters, laser cutters, etc. Big thanks to Katie and Anna for their work on making this happen for our district! More detailed information to be shared soon...
Resource of the Week
I have started to tackle another book, titled "Time for Change" by Anthony Muhammad and Luis Cruz. As I read, I thought I'd share some quotes from the book that represent some of my takeaways. I have heard both Muhammad and Cruz speak, and both are leading the way in getting down to it takes to grow an exemplar school. Some takeaways below...
On School Culture...
"A healthy school culture produces a professional environment in which educators unwaveringly believe that all students have the ability to achieve academic and social success, and they overtly and covertly communicate that expectation to others."
-This belief comes through in all conversations about kids, in both words, tone, and body language...whether it's with the student, or with colleagues about students in empty classrooms or offices...
"Hattie (2012) identifies the top-three factors, which all relate to culture and belief in or prediction of student achievement.
1. Teacher estimates of achievement
2. Teacher collective efficacy
3. Student estimates of achievement or self-reported grades
Those educators work together to convince students that they can achieve the lofty academic goals that their teachers set for them."
On the Science of Human Motivation...
"The challenge of change is tough enough with the right skills and research-based strategies, but when a system operates from its own conjecture, folklore, and gut instincts, it makes the task nearly impossible. Daniel Pink (2011) points out that gut instincts lead to one of two very ineffective assumptions.
1. People are motivated through force -- the stick approach.
2. People are motivated through incentives -- the carrot approach.
He notes that both assumptions are incorrect because people have much more complexity and nuance than their fears or material desires."
Construction Update
The bids are in, and the scope of the project in the Middle School is coming into focus. There continues to be good news, and it's safe to say, most of our school will be unrecognizable when we can get back in our building in August. Thank you to all of you for your work purging unnecessary items, packing up items to be moved, and being so positive in the process. We are almost to the point of having everyone packed up, and things will start to get moved into summer storage places starting this week. Findorff will be taking over our building on May 15th.
Student Pick-Up
In your Homeroom meetings or other conversations with students, feel free to encourage them to contact the school to set up a time to come in and get items from their lockers. We have a lot of items (including Elementary and High School) to store and not much space to store them.
Middle School Video
Thanks to Mrs. Serstad for leading the charge on creating a video to send to our students. We have all of the slots filled up, and there is still room for some creative additions if you have an idea. Contact Mrs. Serstad for more information...videos need to be submitted by end of day Friday.
8th Grade Send-Off
I am looking for a couple of teachers and students who are interested in planning a send-off/tribute for our 8th grade students. I have some ideas at this point that could be pretty cool, however, I need more creative energy for this project. Please email me if you are willing to help with this project.
We Were Awarded a STEAM Grant!
This is very exciting news as we were one of a handful of districts to be awarded this grant, which will add many exciting pieces of equipment to our facilities...more 3d printers, vinyl cutters, laser cutters, etc. Big thanks to Katie and Anna for their work on making this happen for our district! More detailed information to be shared soon...
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