This Week
Fahari's Weekly Staff Memo: 3/11/2016 - 3/17/2016
A Message from Fahari's Principal: Stephanie Clagnaz, Ed.D.
What are strategies to fully engage students?
Here are some strategies for increasing student engagement according to Dr. Robert Marzano, educational researcher and author of Marzano’s Art and Science of Teaching:
1. High Energy. The same part of the brain that processes movement also processes learning. When planning lessons, find ways to incorporate movement. It doesn’t have to be dramatic—using three different colored highlighters to highlight different types of information is still movement. Allowing students to “vote with their feet,” by strategically placing answers around the room and having students walk and stand by their answers is a great way to add movement.
2. Missing information. Curiosity killed the cat, and it also increases student’s “appetitive” state. Academically focused puzzles and games provoke the “mental appetite” and provide an element of anticipation. Incorporate academic games into your lessons. They are great previewing and reviewing activities for students.
3. Mild Controversy and Competition. Students enjoy problem-solving with their peers. When controversy is not too strong, it can enhance learning by adding excitement and fun into classroom activities. Incorporate structured debates and group competitions to enhance student achievement. Inconsequential competition can be PowerPoint-based “Jeopardy” and “Clue” games. Be mindful to ensure that all students are part of a “winning team.”
4.The Self-System. The self-system is the system that controls what we decide to attend to. Everything we find personally interesting and valuable. Take a general inventory of your students’ likes. Plan critical input experiences that reflect the learning goal, and things that give your students enjoyment, satisfaction, and pride.
5. Mild Pressure. Students are smart; they look for patterns in our behavior. Keep them guessing and also attentive. Students will raise their level of attention if there is a moderate chance they will be called on. Mild pressure can be generated during questioning. Don’t stop calling on students once someone has given the right answer, and get several points of view to sharpen students’ thinking.
Reflection:
- What are next steps for you to engage students more fully?
- How can you incorporate a new strategy to increase student engagement?
On Culture with Jared Roebuck - Assistant Principal
Over the past three weeks, there has been two instances of students stealing items from teachers in the school. Situations like these are some of the most difficult moments in working in school. When students violate our trust, we feel, rightly, betrayed and hurt.
In both of these instances, we were able to find the students who were at fault, and recover the items that had been taken. What is important to highlight here is the compassion that the teachers who had been harmed showed to the students. I’m reminded of the following quote from Plato: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” The teachers involved in both situations truly lived up to this conception of compassion. They provided support for the families, showed genuine care and concern for the students. It was clear that these teachers weren’t writing these children or families off, and recognized that these kinds of actions come from somewhere.
In the meetings following the incidents, we learned more about each of the students. In each case, we uncovered years of trauma and hurt in the families and children. As the stories poured out, the teachers found the compassion to move beyond their own feelings of hurt, and betrayal, to a place of concern and love.
Note that having compassion for these students did not mean letting them off the hook. There was plenty of follow up and accountability for both students. But the adults involved did not get stuck there. As important as it is to hold students accountable and to support them in making things right, there was an acknowledgement that the children’s behavior comes in the context of their lived experience. For these particular children, that experience is something they are still struggling with. Even when children cause harm, we can’t lose sight of that. I’m proud of the teachers involved for the example they set for all of us.
Culture Time with Edwin Santiago Jr. – Director of School Culture
Greetings Fahari family,
When you hear the word Joy, what comes to mind? Is it watching the sun rise? Or relaxing at home with a good book? Maybe it's just being able to sleep in. Whatever it is that comes to mind, we all know when we are feeling joy. Joy is defined as a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. A big mistake many people make, is confusing joy with fun. For many children, having fun is watching TV, text-messaging their friends, or playing video games. Having fun certainly brings us joy, but students don't need to
have this type of fun in school to experience joy.
As educators, we have the responsibility to educate and inspire the whole child. According to Steven Wolk’s, Joy in School, here is one of many ideas we can use to help put more joy into students' experience of coming to school and having a joyous experience at work.
JOY 11: Have Some Fun Together
Find ways to take a break from the sometimes emotional, tense, and serious school day and have some fun with the students. Maybe during students lunch period you can come down or bring students up to have lunch with you. This helps build rapport and helps everyone get to know one another better, tears down the personal walls that often get built inside schools, form more caring relationships, and simply have a great time together.
Ops Updates with Bev Parsons, Director of Operations
NYC Parent Surveys
Please continue to remind students to return their completed parent surveys. Our goal is received 100% of the back from parents/families. Remember in addition to student incentives there is also a staff incentive. The first grade to reach 100% completion each staff member on the grade team will receive 1 FREE PTO day. The grade that comes in 2nd place will receive a ½ FREE PTO day.
All collected surveys must have the students' name and homeroom and they should be returned to Ms. E in the main office.
The results will be announced on Monday, March 21st.
The Joy Factor - Fahari Joy Wall
Our Fahari joy wall is up! This is a space for staff to acknowledge and shout out members of their Fahari family for acts of kindness, spreading joy or a job well done. Word bubbles will be left in your mailbox for you to write your comments or shout out your colleagues. Please submit your completed word bubbles to Ms. St. Louis for her to post on the joy wall.
So far, there are some really great shout outs for acts of kindness and joy on the wall. Let’s keep it going!!!!!
Report Cards
Quarter 3 ends on Monday, April 18th. Grades and comments are due on Friday, April 22nd, both are due on the 22nd because our spring break begins the following Monday.
On Monday, April 4th, I will be doing a check in Skedula to assess how many teachers have begun entering grades. If I see you have not entered any grades for Quarter 3, I will reach out to you. I will not be giving ANY extensions, the grade and comment due date is a hard deadline.
This week's schedule updates
Will it be an A or B week?
We will be following a B schedule this week.
Who will be out this week?
Monday, March 14th, 2016
Tamara Destine (Jury Duty)
Basil Leslie
Tuesday, March 14th, 2016
Tamara Destine (Jury Duty)
Shirleen Brown
Wednesday, March 14th, 2016
Tamara Destine (Jury Duty)
Marianne Kramer (AM Out)
Beverly Parsons (PM Out)
Thursday, March 14th, 2016
Tamara Destine (Jury Duty)
Friday, March 14th, 2016
Tamara Destine (Jury Duty)
Upcoming Events
Monday, March 14th, 2016
Full Professional Development Day
No School for Students - Critical Day for Staff
Tuesday, March 15th, 2016
Battle of the Building Basketball Game
in the Fahari Gymnasium from 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016
Parent Teacher Conferences
@ Fahari Academy from 2:00 - 6:30 PM
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016
Battle of the Building Student vs Staff Basketball Game
in the Fahari Gymnasium from 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2016
Hiring Open House
@ Fahari from 4:45 - 5:45 PM