OSP Connected
October 2021-Office for School Performance-Volume 52
Message from Dayle
As we dive into October, we are in the thick of it. It’s amazing to have students in school and be back with real books in their hands, having conversations that don’t start with “you’re muted” and painting, creating, experimenting and designing in person! It’s also been pretty hard. Our stamina for full days and full weeks isn’t quite there - yet. We have had staffing and sub shortages. Covid has been an issue in some of our schools. Many unforeseen things have also popped up.
And in the midst of all these challenges, are some very tired staff. Yep, that is you and that is me. I know “self care” is a term people use a lot. I like that but at times I put it at the bottom of my list of to dos and maybe you do, too; to be honest it can feel a little selfish to me. The phrase that I use more often is this one that I stole from a podcast, “Treat yourself like you are somebody you love.” It is pretty easy to think about how someone I love is treated.
Someone I love:
- Always eats good food. Their body is fueled for their day ahead.
- They always get to bed on time and aren’t allowed to stay up for one more task.
- Even if they think they don’t have time, I make them get outside to walk or play a sport and soak up nature.
- They are forgiven when they aren’t perfect and get help instead of criticism.
- If they are working too much, I make sure they get a break for a good laugh, a tasty snack or a fun time with other people.
- They are reminded that although things are hard right now, it will pass, they will get through it and great things are ahead.
Those we love always get our best. What specifically do you do for those you love? Treat yourself like someone you love; you are worth it!
Rebuilding Student Agency
Doug Fisher, Nancy Frey, and Dominique Smith presented at the HSD Summer Summit on August 26 highlighting content from their newest book, Rebound: A Playbook for Rebuilding Agency, Accelerating Learning Recovery, and Rethinking Schools. As we return to full time in-person instruction for the first time since March 2020, Rebound emphasizes the key strategy of Rebuilding Student Agency.
Student agency is defined as management of one’s own learning in Rebound. Fisher states, “It’s fair to say that the confidence of many learners has been shaken by the experiences they have had during the past year. Young people are amazingly resilient, and without question, all of us continue to be awed by what students have and still are accomplishing.” As we return to in-person learning with students and educators interacting in the same classroom, we can devise lesson plans that capitalize on students teaching and learning from each other - something that was often difficult in a virtual setting.
Fisher dives into the eight dimensions of student agency in Chapter 3 of Rebound. Over the next few weeks, focus on how you can incorporate one or two of these in your instructional practice:
Self-efficacy. The belief that one can achieve goals is fundamental to student agency.
Pursuit of interest. Think of this as a consistency of passion for a topic.
Perseverance of effort. Hand-in-hand with interest is the willingness to continue on when something becomes more difficult.
Locus of control. The key word is “control”—To what extent does a learner believe that they are an influencer in the successful completion of the task?
Mastery orientation. Goals drive all of us, but there is also the motivation for those goals. The beliefs we have about the goal orient us onto a path.
Metacognition. Often described as “thinking about thinking.”
Future orientation. A goal of schooling is to help students see that the learning they do today is grounded not only in their current context but also in their investment in their own future aspirations.
Self-regulation. A student can choose a different strategy for learning when the first does not work; they can seek, hear, and act on feedback from others.
Check out Chapter 3 of Rebound on student agency for free at this link.
Physical Education and Health: Brainboosts are refreshing to students and teachers alike. Research shows Brainboosts increase the learning effectiveness of students through energized/stimulating or calming/quieting practices when included periodically throughout the school day. They also play an integral part in helping us meet the Division 22 requirement of 150 minute a week of Physical Education for every elementary school student and 220 minutes a week for middle school students. Please access the HSD Brainboost video to use in your classrooms as transitions or brain breaks.
Teacher Resources: Teaching & Learning 2.0
Climate & Culture: A Culture & System of Care
Climate and Culture - Our commitment to building and sustaining a Culture of Care requires detailed attention to the climate and culture in each of our schools. Culture involves all of the values, beliefs, practices, activities and events that occur in schools while climate is how individuals feel while participating in the culture. The Culture of Care provides an academic and work environment in which all individuals can participate in the school’s culture with the understanding and confidence that their participation is celebrated and valued by all. What are the values, beliefs, events, activities, and practices within your building that enable students, faculty, and staff to feel safe from the moment they arrive on campus until the moment that they exit campus? As you reflect over your school’s culture and climate, how can Care and Safety be further elevated throughout your building? Give careful consideration to a specific routine, space, room, person, group, or particular time of day and commit to an act of Care that increases feelings of Safety in your building.
Leading Change in HSD
Spending time during the first two months of the school year setting a firm framework of accountability and support reaps benefits throughout the entire school year. Where do we start? We start with Trust! Trust is the fundamental ingredient underlying positive, pro-social relationships. We begin knowing our students by name, strength, and need by spending time building community through the nurturing of relationships and trust in order to bring about change and action. This is Equity in HSD. We begin to know their story when we have established a safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environment for our students. Remember, the community is only as strong as the power of relationships!
Article:
Why Strong Relationships Lead to Student Engagement and a Better School Environment
Commemorations: Hispanic Heritage Month Lessons & Resources
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15 through October 15, our Hispanic Heritage Commemorations document is ready to share and implement! There, you will find bilingual, English-only and Spanish-only lessons and resources from PreK-12th Grade.
The intent of these offerings is to:
Remove the white-centric approach and balance the well known stories, people & events in our community
Elevate voices not heard in the mainstream
Increase celebration of diverse cultures
Hispanic Heritage Commemorations
This is a living document and more lessons, resources and activities will continue to be added. If there is a lesson that you would like to contribute or if you would like to be a part of the 2021-2022 Commemorations Team, please reach out to your Humanities TOSAs: Maricruz Acuña (Elementary), Catherine Jäger (Secondary) or Yessica Hardin-Mercado (Equity TOSA). We would also love to hear your feedback and needs and a survey will be sent out at a later date.
We hope you utilize these resources with your students all year long as we continue to elevate and honor ALL students’ diverse backgrounds, history and culture, making HSD an inclusive and welcoming community in which to grow and thrive.
HSD Equity Policy: JBB.pdf
EAE Website (External-Public)
EAE Website (Internal-Staff)
#ThisIsEquityHSD
#EquityEverywhere
Coffee Conversations
Liberty High School changed their model for special education services to a grade level focus a couple years ago. In this month’s Coffee Conversation, Christopher Keller (gen ed teacher) and Rachel Phanichayakarn (special ed teacher) discuss the benefits of the changes and their collaboration that makes it work for students! Watch all the way through for some great Ted Talk recommendations and a classic ending.
CAREER & COLLEGE READY
OSP Connected CCP Blurb - October 2021
It is that time of year, ORSAA/FAFSA and Postsecondary Visitations! Please help to connect students to their School To Career Counselor, so that students and families are able to access all the support and information that is available to them. For the latest financial aid information including FAFSA/ORSAA information please go to www.oregonstudentaid.org. The Washington County Chamber works collaboratively with community partners to put on Career Related Learning events as well as Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs) to help students explore the vast array of careers in our community and practice professional skills. COVID-19 has not stopped this work, just modified what it looks like. Events and placements will still occur this year, but rather than be in person and individualized by students, the Chamber is organizing group virtual events for students to participate in. All events and guest speakers will be recorded so that students can access the information even if they were unable to attend the “live” event. Please check out their site for events, and as always connect with your School to Career Counselors as they are incredible resources. In addition, please refer to our Hillsboro School District internship site for additional information, click here.
Student Support Network Information Below:
Our CCP building supports will start the week of September 27. Here is the schedule for high school supports.
Dual Credit Partner Updates:
Due to sub shortages, NW Promise Orientation scheduled for Sept 24, 8:30-10:30, has been canceled. NW Promise teachers should ensure they plan to attend their PLC kickoff meeting this fall to hear the Fall updates.
PCC Symposium Feb 11 (lower division courses, non CTE), Feb 25 (CTE courses)
Willamette Promise is still accepting applications for dual credit offerings in the 21-22 school year. Course OfferingsDual Language: Community Connection
We’re riding the momentum created in the last year and a half of finding creative ways to engage the dual language community we serve. The District Wide Virtual Summit for Dual Language Families provides a rich mix of information about issues of critical importance to families from both linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds, and also our native English speaking parents who are currently participating in the program. Event will be held virtually on Saturday, October 2, 9am to 12pm.
Language interpretation will be provided.
Tech Teach Grow Team
OUR PURPOSE
This digital magazine is intended to support educators with technology integration in the classroom. Our hope is to provide HSD staff with tech integration ideas, info and updates via quick digital media easily accessible at your convenience. Everything we share works with current HSD tech.
WANT A DIFFERENT RESULT? TRY SOMETHING NEW!
LEARN WHAT"S NEXT...
Follow this link to a new (3.2) #TechForward>> Our digital magazine for tech integration ideas, info & updates relevant to HSD tech. Issue 3.2 focuses on #DigitalCitizenshipWeek (Oct. 18-22) and includes access to HSD curated K12 Digital Citizenship Lessons.
Oregon Department of Education Development Grant: Supporting Students Who are Emergent Bilingual
New grant opportunity! Are you an Oregon secondary teacher who has experience working with students who are emergent bilingual? The Oregon Open Learning team invites you to apply individually or as a part of a team to participate in a new grant opportunity for the 2021-22 school year focused on developing open educational resources (OER) to support students who are emergent bilingual. Grant award: $5000. More information and the grant application can be found on ODE’s OER Grant & Professional Learning Opportunities webpage.