Getting Good

On Friday, I was fortunate to spend most of my day with the 6th grade team, our coaches and Billie Donegan getting good at Hattie’s top two instructional practices: specific learning goals focused on skills and tracking progress with kids.  Over and over again, I keep hearing that “we do not ‘cover curriculum’, we ‘coach up’ skills”.  Ask our 6th grade team about our “cheerleader” move; it even has sound effects.  

Our 6th grade team, with specificity and enthusiasm, began to design progress monitoring charts and learning experiences within the classroom that would help kids get from their current level of understanding to the next level.  Three questions are driving our design focused on specific content and learning skills:

1. What are we getting good at?
2. What does good look like?  
3. How do you keep track of your progress?

The graphic below is keeping us focused on when the real teaching starts ~ after kids have tried it the first time.  Think Austen’s Butterfly.

I can’t wait to go out to 6th grade classrooms and hear our 6th graders answer with enthusiasm and pride the aforementioned questions.  I can’t wait to hear kids talking about moving from their current level of learning to the next with pride  and enthusiasm.  I can’t wait for students to share evidence of their growth with specificity, pride, and enthusiasm.  

 

Reflect, Reconnect, Resolve

Linda Beckstrom, founding Principal of Harvest Middle School, told me in my first year as an Assistant Principal that we have to allow "people to reinvent themselves over the summer". This simple yet powerful statement made in passing has shaped my leadership.  It gives me hope.  It reminds me that part of the life of an educator is to believe that all people can grow and it is our job to support their growth.  As we embark on a new semester, I believe this statement holds true for Winter Break and the beginning of a new semester.  With this in mind, I encourage you to:

• Give yourself the freedom to reinvent yourself.  At the end of last semester, we spent time reflecting and resolving.  Look back on those resolutions and take the time to commit to new ideas and/or recommit to old goals and ideas.  

• Give students the opportunity to reinvent themselves.  With a new semester, give students a fresh start.  Reteach routines and procedures, build a culture of team in the classroom, believe in the potential of all students, and support their growth.  

As educators, we have the unique opportunity to serve all kids.   For some kids, we are the only believers and supporters in their life. Remember that you are a game changer in the lives of all students.  

Keeping with our theme of team and culture, we will continue to dive deeper into building team within the classroom and school community this semester.  In fact, our staff meeting this week will focus on building team in the classroom and multi-tiered support.  As I prepared for this work, I spent time over break reflecting on team and our work serving students.  I was reminded of the power of our Wellness Team at Harvest.  When listening to Michelle Obama honor educators in her final speech as the First Lady, specifically counselors for their work helping students go to college, I was reminded that in middle school we don’t often see the fruit of our labor, but the social and emotional support along with the focus on academics at Harvest is making a difference in the lives of our students in high school and beyond.  In supporting all students at Harvest, I reaffirm Mrs. Obama’s statement that “our school counselors are truly among the heroes.”  As we ramp up our tiered supports, I want to publically thank our Wellness Team for the supports they provide students and staff at Harvest Middle School.  It is heart work and we are a better team, school, and community because of the love (tough love at times) they pour into our students and families.  Thank you!