MIS Navigator
September Edition
Our Goal: To help you navigate all the strategies and tools we have available within MGSD and Mooresville Intermediate School!
September's M-Powerment Strategy Focus
Teachers collaborate to create a culture of caring where every child every day feels valued and nurtured.
- greeting each individual student in the morning with a handshake, high five, or fist bump
- weekly communication with parents using classroom newsletters, emails, etc.
- purposefully contacting parents with positive
- implementing our school-wide PBIS ticket system successfully in your classroom (our PBIS resources)
- making decisions based on what is best for students
Instructional Highlights
Melissa Luffman is one of our teachers who develops a culture of caring in simple everyday interactions with students: hugs, morning greetings with a smile, and generally showing affection. She also talks with her classes about being a family and encouraging one another.
This year, she used a quote from Kid President ("Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody") as the basis for a class discussion and a writing prompt in which students planned for how they could make others feel important throughout the year.
Mrs. Luffman takes the time to learn about her students. When behavior issues arise, she listens to them rather than just reacting to negative behaviors. She also asks parents to write a letter about their hopes and goals for their child and anything that they want her to know about their child. This has given her further insight into her students and brings parents into that culture of caring.
Using Cooperative Learning Strategies to Support a Culture of Caring
Using Picture Books to Support a Culture of Caring
Picture books can be a great springboard for classroom discussion. We have books about kids overcoming anxiety about school, overcoming differences, dealing with bullying, developing empathy and more.
- Check out Ms. Thoennes' GoodReads Culture of Caring shelf to see some of these books.
- Read "Children's Literature Promotes Understanding" from Learn NC for some deeper thinking about using literature to address issues arising in your classroom or considering broader societal issues.
- Share your own favorite books for supporting a culture of caring in your classroom in the form below!
"Techify" It!
Interested in other simple ways to incorporate various Tech Tools with our monthly M-Powerment Strategy: M-1? Check out the ideas below!
• Google calendar--celebrate birthdays
• Google Drive--work on projects/assignments at the same time
• Mastery Connect- compare assessment data/communicate results with kids
• Today’s Meet--backchannel for daily classes
• Educreations--student groups collaborate to create tutorials
• Kahoot!--team play
• Smore -- share information about classes and good things with colleagues, parents and students
• Padlet--whole class collaboration & brainstorming
• Learn--communication: email, live chats/study groups, sharing classes as teachers, creating/grading assessments together
We have seen lots of great activities done to create a positive classroom community across the building - from student surveys, getting to know you activities, and weekly class newsletters. It's impossible for us to spotlight them all!
How do you create a culture of caring in your classroom?
Please take a moment to share your ideas and "show yourself off"
on the Padlet board below!
MGSD Top Ten Tech Tools Focus
Spotlight #1: BBLearn
There are lots of ways within Blackboard to promote a culture of caring. One great way is to use the Discussion Boards feature! This allows students to have a voice within the classroom and to know their thoughts and opinions are valued! Click on the images below for some resources to help you get started!
Spotlight #2: Google Apps
Interested in building your Google Drive skills or taking them to the next level? Check out the Smore linked below! Linked to it is a Thinglink "Choose Your Own Adventure with Google Drive" to meet your needs. Additional Google resources can also be found below.
Additional Resources
Need help with either of these MGSD Top Ten Resources or
any of our other ones?
Email one of us to set up a time to meet!
Sarah Dillard
Email: sarahdillard@mgsd.k12.nc.us
Kristina Thoennes
October's Focus:
Teachers set high expectations for learning and believe all students are capable of achieving success.
Do you have a strategy or process you use within your classroom or a colleague's that you would like spotlighted next month? Let us know!