Springhill Style
Springhill Elementary Staff Announcements
September 23, 2019
Vision
Standout: with Strong Hearts and Strong Minds
Mission Statement
Hattie -- Phases of Motivation
We had several conversations last week during SIT and student conversations about motivation of students and students who are having a hard time focusing and paying attention. Motivation comes in at number 51 on Hattie's list with an effect size of .48. Keep in mind that Hattie says anything over the hinge point of .40 has a powerful impact on student learning. This factor of motivation comes from the student and while factors from the students are important, remember that Hattie found many more factors from teaching and the teacher that were higher than the .40 size than he did factors from the student. Motivation is a real life "opponent" for us but we have many more effective tools to overcome this! I am not saying that it isn't an issue or that it isn't difficult at times but if we reach out to each other and find new or different tools we can find a way to motivate our students and increase engagement.
I had several conversations last week with a student who we as a team have poured into for the past two years. I was working to set some goals with the student and set a success criteria for him, when he asked me a question. He asked, "So how big is it?" I asked him for clarification and he said, "The gap, how big is the gap?" I knew what he meant and it was a moment that took me back for a second because while I had had many conversations with him about his gap and that was the why behind all the things we were asking him to do, I couldn't remember ever actually showing him the gap. He needed to see it. He needed to know what he was working toward and I think he wanted to decide if it was too big and if he should even try. This was one of those slap in the face moments for me because that seemed so simple and maybe I thought he knew already. It was also a moment of HOPE for me because he was asking and he wanted to know if he could close it. The thing is HE CAN! After that conversation, I then begin reading from my Hattie book and came across the following passage. I hope you will take the time to read it.
From Hattie:
1, See a gap. The student needs to see a gap between what he or she knows now and the intended learning. In the first stage - task definition - the student processes information about the task.
2. Goal Setting. When he or she has sufficient (but not necessarily complete) information, he or she moves to phase two; this involves goal-setting and planning, whereby the learner frames a goal and works out a plan to approach the goal (with assistance as needed).
3. Strategies. When the students have goals and planning, they can search for strategies with which to move closer to the intention. This third stage involves enacting these strategies.
4. Closing the gap. The student critically examines whether he or she has sufficiently closed the gap to claim success and thus be able to move on.
It is often moving from the first to the second stages that can be the most difficult (for teachers and students). Some students never get past the first stage, and Winne and Hadwin noted that some teachers seem reluctant to allow students to get past the first stage. To make the transition involves being aware of the goals of the lesson, the nature of the gap, and then developing cognitive strategies and planning as well as having the motivation to reduce the gap."
StandOUT Award
Mrs. Spainhour passed the StandOUT to Ms. Caldwell.
"I am passing the standout torch to Ms. Caldwell! She has been instrumental in observing and referring students for OT services. When she isn't how she can help her students, she emails or ask for ideas to better assist them. Last year I picked up students from her class during science. I always wanted to stay for the lesson and activities. She made science fun and interesting! I would get a recap from the students each week about what they were learning! I loved it."
Announcements
Announcements:
- NEW point opportunities have been added to the Olympics! - Last Day for your Hook to count toward your team is Tuesday!
- Mrs. West and I will be serving you some treats on Tuesday to celebrate the official first day of Fall which is tomorrow September 23 and National Coffee Day which is Sept. 29th! We know how hard you work everyday and want to celebrate with you any chance we get!
- Pineapple Board! - Triple points this week for each time you go observe someone! Thats 3 points for watching excellent teaching. Remember, if there is something you really want to see email Mrs. West and myself and we will do our best to get you covered for a short time so you can go see it.
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xq2LsSZIKyGvKN5S7D_QDKOwnjpgzoFSQNbbVrfw47Q/edit
- Fire Drill and Tornado Drill Thursday at 9:20 (as soon as 5th grade gets back to class) Please talk to your students about the procedures for Tornado Drill and make sure new staff members on your team also know what to do.
- SIT will meet on Tuesday. K-2 updated last week. We will discuss K-2 this week in SIT. This week will be 3-5 updates and will MAP progress monitor.
- Don't forget to see ways you can earn points for your team! - They are listed below.
- Sign Up for Fall Festival - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MsryG0L1smhgwgQ9UzB7vXlozFFWvE35eQrOt_x9Zzo/edit#gid=0
- Team meetings will be Wednesday. Agendas are on the Springhill Site and we will be Vertical for 3-5. K-2 will be completing MAP reflections.
- Commissioner's Memo about Constitution Day and Celebrate Freedom Week Celebrate Freedom Week is September 23-27.
- Student Conversations on Friday during your lunch recess. We will be finishing up assessment wall updates.
- Shuttle Bus will leave at 3:10. Ms. Sharon will call for them at 3:08 ... make sure you are aware of which students will be leaving at this time! Set an alarm on your phone if you have trouble remembering to send them.
- Westside Kids Day Out Van will pick up at 3:20pm- Please send them at 3:18
- Kiddieville Van will pick up after busses at 3:35pm- Send them out with our bus riders
- Please make sure your I Can statements are posted and you are referring to them during your lesson and ensuring your students understand the success criteria.
- Don't forget to post lesson plans and newsletter to the shared google classroom
Cooperative Learning in 4th
Kinder Math
Second Grade Growing Growth Mindset
Springhill Olympics - Ways to Earn Points
- Sharing our tools-- The next two weeks we will focus on ideas for student motivation. You will earn 2 points for your team by sharing out to Springhill staff email ideas for student motivation/engagement. Please put Student Motivation Tools in the subject.
- Attendance Challenge for StandOUT teams: The StandOUT team with the best percentage of attendance for the month of September will earn points for their team! First place earns 5 points, Second Place earns 3 points, and Third Place earns 1 point.
- Hooks -- From your Teach Like a Pirate Book (We didn't get to spend as much time on this book so teams fill in your new team members) Earn points for your StandOUT team by letting Mrs. West and myself know when you will be doing your first hook 5 extra points if you do your first hook during the first 30 days of school! September 24th!
- At the end of the month we will add up the points to award medals for the month! We will award medals each month and will have an end of year medal count as well! These Olympic Games will last ALL school year!!
Watch D.O.G.S. Kick Off
Save the Dates
September 26 - Fire Drill/Tornado Drill
October 1- Fall Picture Day
October 4 - Movie Night
October 4- Spirit Day
Oct 11 - End of first nine weeks
Oct 14 - 18 - ACT Aspire Interim 1
Oct. 15- 1st Nine Weeks Awards Ceremony
Oct 22 - 1:30 Dismissal time (Elementary PD)
Oct 24 - 1:30 Dismissal Time - P/T Conferences 2:00 - 7:00 PM
October 19th - Fall Festival Games
October 26th - Fall Festival Coronation
Oct. 29- K Pumpkin Patch Trip
Oct. 28-Nov. 1 - Red Ribbon Week
Oct. 31- Book Character Parade