FRIDAY,
APRIL
17,
2015
Essential Question #4:
What will we do if the students aren’t learning?
Upcoming Events
Choose LOVE Week
Monday,
April 20th
Split Lunch Schedule
Tuesday,
April 21st
Choose LOVE Week
Assembly
Split Lunch w/
Assembly Schedule
NHS Induction
6:00 pm in the LMC
Wednesday,
April 22nd
Early Release
PLC
12:00 in the LMC
Thursday,
April 23rd
STAT Schedule
Opening Night for
Romeo & Juliet
7pm in the Auditorium
Friday,
April 24th
Split Lunch Schedule
Romeo & Juliet
7pm in the Auditorium
End of 12 Week
Grading Period
Obviously student behavior can get in the way of student learning. In
visiting classrooms, I have seen certain classroom cultures create an
environment where misbehavior is almost non-existent. At the same
time, I am aware that often times there is a certain mix of students
which can create a challenging learning environment.
Here are some strategies to create a culture where student learning is
possible (ASCD resource:
1. Remember that authoritative beats authoritarian.
Being authoritarian means wielding power unilaterally to control
someone, demanding obedience without giving any explanation for
why one's orders are important. Being authoritative, on the other
hand, means demonstrating control, but doing so relationally through
listening and explaining. Studies of effective parenting have found that
children view parents who use an authoritative style as legitimate
authority figures; such children are less likely to engage in delinquent
behavior. The opposite is true for children of authoritarian parents
(University of New Hampshire, 2012).
2. Believe that everyone can grow.
Many teachers are familiar with Carol Dweck's distinction between a
"growth" mind-set and a "fixed" one. When we have a growth mindset, we believe that everyone has the inner power to grow and
change.
Teachers aren't superhuman. There are some things we cannot
accomplish. But we must ask ourselves whether we too readily write
off students who try our patience as "incapable," or some similar
adjective, without considering whether differentiating instruction for
these students might spur change and growth.
3. Understand that power isn't a finite pie.
I was a community organizer for 19 years before I became a teacher. A
key lesson I learned was that power isn't a finite pie. If I share the
power I have, that doesn't mean I'll have less. In fact, the pie will get
bigger as more possibilities are created for everyone.
Power struggles are at the root of much misbehavior. William Glasser
(1988) believes that students have a basic need for power and that 95
percent of classroom management issues occur as a result of students
trying to fulfill this need. Having more power actually helps students
learn. Giving students choices—about their homework, assignments,
how they're grouped, and so on—leads to higher levels of student
engagement and achievement (Sparks, 2010).
4. Be flexible.
Being flexible might be the most important thing teachers can "do" to
help students who challenge us—in fact all students—to get past
whatever challenges of their own they confront. Three practices help
me differentiate instruction and classroom management in a way that
helps everyone.
ASB Stuff
Choose Love Week April 20th – 24th
Gold Bricks:
As part of Choose Love Week, the ASB Leadership
students have asked staff to write positive things on
Reminders
gold bricks that will be displayed on campus. They
can be about specific students, classes, and staff
members or they can be about the students or staff
Keep Students
Until the Bell
Staff, please do not allow
your students to leak out of
your room early.
in general. Submit Gold Bricks to either Havig’s
mailbox or to Kristin in the library. Kristin also has
extra Gold Bars.
Elections:
Elections for Executive ASB Leadership positions
Email
Check your email & make
sure your inbox isn’t full.
ID Badges
Wear your ID Badges on a
daily basis!
and class presidents are coming up as well as the
selection process for class officers. Applications
will be available starting Monday, April 20th in the
ASB Office. If there are any students you think
would make an excellent ASB Leadership students,
please encourage them to apply. Also, each
candidate must have three recommendations from
staff, so you may be asked to complete one.
Learning Targets
Learning Targets need to be
communicated on a daily
basis. Please make sure you
are clearly using another
strategy evident to the
students
Classroom Culture
Our Classroom Culture
needs to be based on
relationships, respect, trust,
safety, and passion.
Summer School
(APEX) Program
While our hope is that no
student will fail classes, it
is inevitable that some
will. Counselors now
have information on
summer school -- please
send students our way if
they are asking or you
know they could benefit
from this program.
Students' Work Ethic
Affected By Peer
Groups, Desire To Be
Popular
Interesting article on OPB:
http://
www.npr.org/2015/04/16/4
00052239/students-workethic-affected-by-peergroups-desire-to-be-popular
8th Grade
Open House
2015