Magers Memo
9.3.15
How Full Is Your Bucket?
The magic ratio is 5 positive interactions for every 1 negative interaction.
While this section of the memo is meant to focus on ways to increase positive emotions, it's important to note that authors Rath and Clifton don't recommend a "Pollyanna" approach and note that "positivity must be grounded in reality". It is not realistic to think that everything is perfect all the time. When negativity is ignored, the false optimism that results can be counterproductive and sometimes simply annoying. It is often necessary to address mistakes and figure out how to turn our weaknesses into strengths. However, continuous negativity will not help any situation and will in fact make it worse.
When you are visiting with colleagues, are you addressing mistakes and figuring out how to turn your weaknesses into strengths or are you simply complaining, spending no time thinking about what you can do to improve the situation?
When you remain positive you are not only filling other buckets, but you are also filing your own! Lets' fill OUR buckets this week!
The Mystery of the Drone
Thank you for keeping our students safe and being so alert and aware of what is happening on the playground. I also had a parent express concern about the back gate being open during the day. The gate was off the hinges and our officer helped repair it so the gate can at least come together during the day. We will talk about adding a lock that would be in place during the school day and unlocked morning and afternoon.
From Good to Great
Effective teachers want to prevent misbehavior, where ineffective teachers focus on punishing a student after he/she misbehaves. What can teachers do when a student misbehaves? If you were to sit down and make a list it may look something like this:
use proximity, make eye contact with the student, redirect the student, make them sit in the hall, yell, ignore, praise another student for positive behavior, embarrass the student, use sarcasm, take away their recess...etc. the list goes on and on...
Every teacher has a bag with the same tricks. What separates an effective teacher from an ineffective teacher is how the teacher uses the bag of tricks. An effective teacher will only need to pull a couple things out of their bag a day. An ineffective teacher is pulling things out of their bag continually and will eventually pull out something that is ugly.
Todd Whitaker makes several VERY GOOD points:
- When is sarcasm appropriate in the classroom? Everyone knows the answer: NEVER-let's not use it in our classrooms.
- Who decides how many arguments we get into in a week? we do. We never win an argument with a student. As soon as it starts, you have lost. In all student-teacher interactions, there needs to be at least one adult, and I would prefer that it be the teacher.
- When is the appropriate time and place for yelling? We all know the answer, Never. The students we are tempted to yell at, are already yelled at so much-why would we even begin to think that it would be effective? Let's not yell at students.
GREAT teachers prevent misbehavior from happening, rather than seek revenge. Thank you for respecting your students!
Duty Schedule 9.8-9.11
If you have duty your name is highlighted:
West Walker: Griffin or Dougherty
Bus: Pawlowski or Slominsky
Bus: Wadsworth or Nichols
East Walkers: Sharkey & Hill or Watson & McAllister
APR: Mullins & Roman or Zay & Collins
Car Line: Schofield, Nelson & Kilburn or Wood, Rinkoski & Popp
September 7th-September 30th
Monday, September 7th:
- No School-Labor Day-Enjoy your day off!
Tuesday, September 8th:
- Kids Campaign Deadline-please remind your students
- Crystal has meeting @ 1:00 p.m.
- Rinkoski/Popp Goal Team meets @ 4:00
- Linda/Bobbie Goal Team meets @ 4:00
Wednesday, September 9th:
- Happy Wednesday!
- Crystal has meetings @ 9:00 & 11:00
- 1st & 2nd grade level team meetings with Crystal
Thursday, September 10th:
- APD Breakfast @ 7:30 a.m.
- Story time with Angel in the library @ 9:00 a.m.
- 3rd, 4th, & 5th- grade level team meetings with Mrs. Magers
- Crystal & Dottie have parent meeting @ 3:00 p.m.
- Sequiota day to volunteer at the Clothing Bank (anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.)
Friday, September 11th:
- Spirit Day!
- Wear your Sequiota Spirit Wear!
- Mid 1st Quarter
- Japanese Assembly @ 1:00-1:45ish in the gym (all school)
Monday, September 14th:
- Michelle/Alison Goal Team meet @ 3:45 p.m.
Tuesday, September 15th:
- Michelle out for training @ Tefft
- Innovation Team meets @ 3:35 p.m.
Wednesday, September 16th:
- Crystal @ Principals meeting 9:30 a.m.-1:00ish
- PTA Board Meeting @ 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 17th:
- Civility Assembly-staff help with dance @ 9:10 a.m. (optional)
Friday, September 18th:
- Health Fair
- Spirit Day! Wear your "S" wear!
- Hat Day
- DRA2 Window closes
Monday, September 21st:
- Book Fair begins
Tuesday, September 22nd:
- Jennifer Morris out for training
Wednesday, September 23rd:
- Crystal out from 9:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
- Grandparents Day at the Book Fair!
Thursday, September 24th:
- TST meeting all day (see Alison's schedule)
- PTA General Meeting @ 6:00 p.m.
- K Prep w/Angel @ 2:15 a.m.
- Open House from 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (dinner provided by PTA)
Friday, September 25th:
- Spirit Day! Wear your Sequiota Spirit Wear!
- Crystal out all day for Leadership Academy
- Web reports due for DRA2
- 4th Grade Chat and Chew
Monday, September 28th:
- Crystal out for SPED Training 9-1:00 p.m
- Mandy attends Open Forum
Tuesday, September 29th:
- Staff meeting @ 4:00-5:15 p.m.
Wednesday, September 30th:
- Celebration Assembly @ 1:00 p.m.
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Email: clmagers@spsmail.org
Website: http://sequiota.spsk12.org/pages/Sequiota
Location: 3414 South Mentor Avenue, Springfield, MO, United States
Phone: 417-523-5400
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Twitter: @SequiotaIndians