Lower Campus' Weekly Update
March 19- 23, 2018
Engaging Students with Poverty in Mind- Engage for Motivation and Effort
1- Make it their idea.-Let students make more choices. When students feel they have control, motivation and engagement increases.
2- Manage risk.- Students need to feel safe. They will put more effort into learning when they are not worried about being embarrassed by their peers and their teacher.
3- Build the learner's mind-set.- Students living in poverty feel less control over their lives which may result in a sense of hopelessness. They tend to believe they are stuck at their present cognitive level and will only perform at that level. Changing a fixed mindset takes time, but it is not impossible. Focus on students' capacity to grow and change.
4- Provide feedback.- Students growing up in poverty tend to get less positive feedback at home. Feedback is a powerful motivator. It can motivate students in a positive way or a negative way, depending on the feedback. Good feedback motivates students closer to their goals.
5- Get a trial-size effort.- Start slow with students in an unmotivated state. Celebrate a small effort at first. You can't expect students to go from 0 to 60 overnight. Be patient, yet persistent.
I will post this chapter on the Google Drive so you can read more about how to implement these 5 steps in your classroom.
LAST WEEK'S DREAMBOX WINNER
Kali: 487 lessons
Katie: 377 lessons
Heidi: 331 lessons
Page: 291 lessons
Caitlin: 278 lessons
Beth: 190 lessons
Since we have begun using Dream Box each class has completed...
Katie: 2,026 lessons completed
Kali: 1,730 lessons completed
Heidi: 1,619 lessons
Caitlin: 1,283 lessons
Page: 1,131 lessons
Beth: 974 lessons
Keep up the good work! I have passed along the feedback I have received so far to the Dream Box rep. Please continue to share your feedback.
Important Dates to Remember
March 21: Active Shooter Drill
March 26: PLC meeting
March 27: Tier 2 data due
March 29: Fuel Up to Play 60 Kickoff
Staff Birthdays
April 3: Monica Barron
April 20: Amber Rabsatt
April 25: Kali Thompson
April 29: Alyssa Catalano
April 30: Elexis George
Westside Atlanta Charter School
Email: dana@wacs.us
Website: wacs.us
Location: 1903 Drew Drive, Atlanta, GA, USA
Phone: (404) 228-9678