Hackberry Howl
Vol. 3 No. 39
LOVE-SERVE-CARE
Summer Reflection as a Teacher
This time next week most of you will be on summer break, and it’s natural to want to just let down your hair and relax. And I don’t blame you. That is exactly what you should do. And while you are floating in the pool, let your mind wander back to this past school year and do a little reflecting. Here are my tips for effectively digesting the school year.
Reflection is a key element to improvement in any area. And reflection on the school year can give you a HUGE leg up on setting your intention come fall.
So first – let’s give ourselves a little graphic organizer for this task. Divide your paper into thirds with two vertical lines running down your page. At the top of one column, write “What worked well”. At the top of the second column, write “What has to change”. And at the top of the last column, write “Start with for next Year”.
This is where you’ll record your thoughts about the school year.
Reflect on what is working well in the “What worked well” section. This is where you list all the things you want to continue to do next year because they were effective and valuable.
Reflect on what isn’t working in the “What has to Change” section. This is where you’ll list things that were ineffective that you want to change for next year.
Reflect on what you’d like to start doing in the “Start for next year” section. This is where you’ll list new methods you want to try, lessons/units you’d like to revamp etc.
Reflect on Your Teaching vs. Yourself as a Teacher
- What have you been doing as a teacher that needs to continue if you are going to be the happiest version of yourself?
- What were your happiest moments of the year?
- What things did you do that contributed to your overall happiness this year?
What did not work well?:
- What sabotages your happiness as a teacher? Are these things you can control or not control?
- What can you control that needs to stop in order for you to be a happy teacher?
- What boundaries do you need to put up to protect your heart and mental health?
- What habits can you stop that will help you stay happy and thriving?
What I need to Start Next Year Start:
- What habits do you need to cultivate in order to by a happy teacher?
- What can you do to rejuvenate your spirit throughout the school year next year?
- What things bring you joy about teaching that you need to start doing more of?
Hopefully you have some ideas for how you can not only reflect on your teaching and what you’d like to improve for next year for your students – but ALSO for yourself so that you can be the happiest version of your teacher-self and THRIVE in your teacher life!!!
Keep Howling!
-SR
Early Release Schedule
9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.- Lunch hand out
Kinder- 9:00 a.m.
1st Grade- 9:10 a.m.
2nd Grade- 9:20 a.m.
3rd Grade- 9:30 a.m.
4th Grade- 9:40 a.m.
5th Grade- 9:50 a.m.
9:50 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.- Class Parties
10:50 a.m.- Clean up
11:05 a.m.- PRE K DISMISSAL
11:55 a.m.- Stage for dismissal
12:05 p.m.- Dismiss
Hackberry Happenings!
Monday, May 21
PRE-K AM Award Ceremony-9am
1st Grade Award Ceremony-1PM
2nd Grade Award Ceremony-2PM
ATTIRE: Jeans and College Shirt
Hours: 7:45-4:00
Tuesday, May 22
Pre-K PM Award Ceremony-2PM
Choir Field Trip
-Lawley Celebration @ 4:30PM @ Blue Goose Cantina in Frisco
Attire: Jeans
Hours: 7:45-4:00
Wednesday, May 23
9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.- Lunch hand out
Kinder- 9:00 a.m.
1st Grade- 9:10 a.m.
2nd Grade- 9:20 a.m.
3rd Grade- 9:30 a.m.
4th Grade- 9:40 a.m.
5th Grade- 9:50 a.m.
9:50 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.- Class Parties
10:50 a.m.- Clean up
11:05 a.m.- PRE K DISMISSAL
11:55 a.m.- Stage for dismissal
12:05 p.m.- Dismiss
-Lobo Luau 12:30PM-4PM
Attire: Jeans
Hours: 7:45-4:00
Thursday, May 24
Work Day
Attire: Comfortable
Friday, May 25
NO SCHOOL
Enjoy Your Summer Break!!!!
Howl Outs!
Stephen HOWLS to Anderson for an AMAZING Lobo Fest!!!! The kids and adults had a blast!!!!
Stephen HOWLS to Karla for her help with all meals this week, Lobo Fest, Awards, and much much much much more!!!!
Stephen Howls to the 5th grade teachers for helping make our Night of the Lobo a success!
Stephen HOWLS to Jill for a smooth testing week! Great job!!!!
Sawhney howls out to all the volunteers who made Lobo Fest a success.
Sawhney howls out to Lackey for an awesome kinder performance. It was the most precious moment.
Sawhney howls out to Crutchfield for helping me set up my slide show. You are awesome.
Sawhney howls out to my awesome kinder team for volunteering for Perot Night making sure I leave for a family emergency. So blessed to work with you ladies.
Sawhney howls out to Stephen and Jill for a great award ceremony.
Sawhney howls out to Karla for announcing the kinder awards and for always going above and beyond.
Rogers howls to Whitehead for organizing and preparing for STAAR testing. We appreciate you!
Rogers howls to Richardson, Whitehead, Karla and anyone else involved with providing meals last week. Thank you!
Rogers howls to Flores for finishing her master's degree! Wooo hooo!!!!!!!!!!
Rogers howls to 4th grade for being so nice and concerned about me last week, especially Friday. You guys are the best, sorry to make you worry!
Rogers howls to Karla and everyone who helped host an awesome awards assembly on Friday.
Rogers howls to Anderson for a super fun Lobo Fest! The kids really had a good time-well worth the hard work!
Brodsky howls to everyone who helped make STAAR run smoothly and for lunches and treats this week.
Brodsky howls to Northcutt for organizing Perot night-so many happy faces!
Brodsky howls to Anderson for an amazing Lobo Fest-so much fun that even I had fun :)
Brodsky howls to Measles for helping me staple papers and creating amazing photo booths and a million other things.
Brodsky howls to Lackey for an awesome 4th grade performance.
Webber howls out to Lecrecia for taking our kiddos under her wing, and shining unconditional love and light on them all year long! These kids are so blessed to walk along side you, and so are we!
Webber howls out to Lawson for being a great shopping buddy and Perot buddy!!
Late all nighters are totally our thing!
Webber howls out to Coach Anderson and everyone involved in Lobo Fest!! What a fun filled amazing day! Great job! Tons and tons of fun. Great way to finalize an amazing year!
Webber howls out to Northcutt for such a unique and engaging Perot Museum experience. The kids thoroughly loved it. Thank you for all your hard work in making learning fun for the big hearted people who matter most! You da bomb!
Webber howls out to Sylvia for always being there for everyone and making me laugh! I love working with you! And thanks for the folder trick too!
Webber howls out Karla for always remaining so centered, calm and positive! As the old saying goes “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!” You are one tough cookie! Thank the great heavens for peeps like you!
Webber howls out to Carol for working tirelessly to make sure we are ready for the EOY! I look at you in awe, always working so hard!
Webber howls out to Lay for always taking such great care of our little people with great big hearts! We love and appreciate you so much!
Webber howls out to Jill for being Jill! You have the gift of peaceful happiness that is contagious and so inviting!! Thank you!
Webber howls out to Stephen for leading the way of the most amazing year yet. I can’t wait for what is to come! Thank you for growth mindset, innovation, and making it very clear that success comes with mistakes, and rolling with the punches is how we grow!
Webber howls out to Cali for speaking from her heart and loving her kids so much! I love our heart talks, they speak the same language!
Webber howls out to Sawhney for the great Wisdom you share with me. You are an amazing friend, teacher and wisdom sister! You are a gift to us all! Your continuous desire to learn and grow is refreshing and inspiring!
Morales howls Silvia for all of her help all the time!
Morales howls Sanders for going above & beyond with the student awards.
Morales howls Admin, social pack, and volunteers for all the food and snacks during testing.
Morales howls Jill for her help and smiles and treats when picking up our testing buckets.
Wells howls to Jackie for letting us use her classroom this week.
Wells howls to everyone that had food for us for testing week.
Wells howls to Pam for letting me use the gym with my kids on Wednesday.
Wells howls to Sylvia for always being Sylvia!
Masai Howls to everyone who helped with lunch this week. It was delicious!
Masai Howls to Karla for printing our certificates! You are awesome!
LAY HOWLS:
HOWL TO OUR ENTIRE HACKBERRY FAMILY FOR MAKING NURSE DAY/WEEK SO SPECIAL FOR ME. I LOVE MY JOB AND ALL OF YOU. YOU ARE ALL SO WONDERFUL. I APPRECIATE ALL YOU DID FOR ME. I AM SO BLESSED!
HOWL TO MR. RICHARDSON, KARLA, MRS. WHITEHEAD FOR PROVIDING MEALS FOR US THIS WEEK - WHAT A SPECIAL TREAT.
HOWL TO MS. ROBINSON FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
HOWL TO MRS. OLSSON, MRS. SAWHNEY, MRS. BEERLEY, MRS. VERGARA FOR YOUR HUGS. THEY ALWAYS MAKE ME SMILE.
HOWL TO MR. RICHARDSON - THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS HAVING MY BACK. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
Anderson howls to everyone involved in feeding us these past few days, it was so nice not to have to worry about lunches!
Anderson howls to Ms Lackey for working hard to get 4th grade ready for their performance, they will do amazing!
Anderson howls to Nelly for being the best side kick I could have asked for, I can't wait to see what next year has in store for us!
Anderson howls to all of our Hackberry family, only 4 more days, we can do this!
Victoria howls to Stephanie for making it through this year in one piece! Thank you for all your help and for being my partner in crime this year. I'm so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with you :)
Head howls to anyone involved in providing us lunch the last three days.
Head howls to Whitehead for doing a great job with testing!!!
Head howls to the campus for supporting one another through the end of the year crazy.
To Webber, Lawson, and Marquez for watching Ritter and Martin’s classes so we could watch our son’s kinder graduation. You are the true definition of team!
Dalia howls to Pam and everyone involved in planning field day. The kids enjoyed themselves tremendously!
Dalia howls to Jill for taking care of STAAR. So glad that's over!
Dalia howls to Richardson, Karla and everyone involved in our awards assemblies. It was really special!