BARBER BULLETIN
Week of August 26-30 Creating Joyful Leaders and Learners
POSITIVE PHONE CALLS
How many times have you tried calling a parent only to find that they won’t answer? It shouldn’t surprise you. So often the calls parents get from schools are negative. We call to ask for help with poor behavior. We call when homework is not done. We call to remind. We sometimes even call to scold.
It’s time to flip that dynamic and call parents when kids do something good.
Let’s call parents to share good news about their children!
Yes, it takes time, but, it is worth every minute spent and it doesn’t have to be done in one day, one week, or even one month. Make it a goal to call or text two to five families a week to share a kind word about your students. Observe your kiddos as they work and play and jot down any positives you notice.
- Does the student have a nice smile?
- Did someone get to class right on time or always come prepared?
- Did a student ask a good question
- Did you catch one of your students helping a classmate?
- Did the student finish an assignment on time?
- Did a youngster earn an ‘A’ on a difficult project?
- Did someone make great growth on an assessment?
- Did one of your readers finish a challenging book?
- Did a kid tell you a funny story?
Share it!
Once you have something specific and positive to share, start by calling the families of students who may have had phone calls home in the past for doing something wrong. Make sure you tell the students when you call or text their parents. You may be surprised to learn how much it means, to even your seemingly toughest kids, to learn that you care enough to call.
Make it a goal to call or text two to five families a week to share a kind word about your students.
One teacher I know recently shared how he goes about making positive calls:
I carry my cell phone in my pocket. I try to call at least two families per week right in front of my students. If someone does something great, I’ll pull out my phone and ask the kid to dial his mom or dad’s number. Then, right in front of everyone, I will sing his praises. The students love it and all ask if I can call their mom or dad next! It is really motivating. I get lots of return calls and emails from parents telling me how happy it made them. Later, in the year, when I sometimes have to call to share not-so-good news, I think the parents are more receptive to me because they know I care. It is totally worth the extra effort in the long-run.
An added benefit is calling to share good news is that if or when you need to call to ask for support, to remind, to share a negative consequence a student has earned, parents are more likely to answer the phone and listen to you. Positive phone calls breed positive feelings. Positive feelings are like money in the bank.
If you choose to call, but are unsure of what to say, try using a script or writing your own prompt. If you get voice mail, no problem, leave an upbeat message with instructions for how to reach you.
If you can’t call at all for one reason or another, email, text, or message parents with positive information. No matter what you do, STAY POSITIVE, and pick up that phone!
Please make positive phone calls home to all of your students' homes by Friday,September 6.
Please LOG these calls in PowerSchool using the log entry feature.
AVID FEATURED IN USA TODAY!
AVID has been featured in an op-ed published by USA Today titled, What can we do to help low-income kids graduate from college? The piece was written by Richard Whitmire, a respected education journalist and author. The article cites newly released AVID college success numbers! AVID alumni who are first-generation college students from low-income backgrounds are four times more likely to graduate than their peers nationally.
Whitmire points out that AVID's college readiness and support strategies are getting students both to and through college. "Getting kids to college is only a starting point. Helping them complete a degree program is the end goal. AVID has its priorities straight. Bottom line: 42% of its alumni earned four-year degrees, compared with 11% of similar students." He goes on to say that this is striking considering the students who are targeted for the AVID Elective. Whitmire's use of the words "so-so students" is referencing students that AVID would refer to as those who have yet to achieve their full potential in school. As you know, AVID believes in all students and reaches a diverse population of students in both the AVID Elective and through AVID Schoolwide practices.
Remember, these amazing outcomes for our AVID alumni would not be possible without educators like you! This opinion piece shines a positive light on the work of AVID educators across the nation and around the world. Please help us spread the word about these exciting results by sharing the article on your favorite social media channels, or you can share our posts on Facebook, Twitter,LinkedIn, and Instagram. Thank you for all that you do for your students every day!
LEADER IN ME REMINDERS
- Remember to report to your Habit Huddle partner each day by 8:15am.
- The Habit Huddle online calendar lessons will begin after Labor Day. It can be found on the team drive and will be linked in the handbook for your easy reference.
- 3rd-5th grade teachers: you should have LIM workbooks in your classroom. We use these like textbooks in grades 3-5, so please have students write responses on a piece of paper and NOT in the workbook.
- Grade level crates of read alouds that tie in with the Habits are in Mrs. Whitney's office. Please send a grade level rep to pick them up.
- New staff:
- Here are instructions for setting up your online account to use The Leader in me website: Go to www.theleaderinme.org
- Click on the Green "Leader in Me Online" Button
Click on Register
Then enter your registration code below in order to set up your profile and begin using the site.
Registration Code: A43C053
Please let Julie Whitney know if you do NOT have a 7 Habits of Happy Kids book in your classroom.
THANK YOU for teaching our students the 7 HABITS as we strive to create joyful leaders and learners at Pontiac!
Updates from RTI
The RTI team will begin fall benchmark testing on Monday, August 26th. We will pick students up from their class and send them back when they have completed their testing. The testing is required by the district and is important data that we need to collect prior to starting our jump start RTI groups. Will not be able to follow stretch times during benchmark testing, however, we will not interrupt lunch, recess, or global. We will assess your students as quickly as possible and send them back to class.
Benchmark testing will take about a week or two, however, it shouldn't disrupt your class more than one or two days.
Per District/State Guidelines: We will use Easy CBM to asses all kindergarten students, all 1st grade students, all students currently enrolled in RTI, and any student in 2nd-5th grade that performed below the 25th percentile on Spring Reading and/or Math MAP.
Thank you for your flexibility as the RTI team works hard to complete district benchmark testing so that we can best serve our students. If you have any questions, please contact our Intervention Specialist, LaShon Bokman.
PONTIAC: Needs, Reminders, Updates
- Last call for Secret Staff Buddies! If you would like to sign up, please email Jennifer Harki no later than Monday, August 26. All information forms are due by Tuesday, August 27. Late bloomers will have to wait until January.
- We have a wonderful grandparent, Mr. Griffin, who is anxious to spend time in classrooms and volunteer! Please let me know if you would be willing to welcome him.
- We are still in need of a staff member to sponsor the SCHOOL STORE for Pontiac. This allows for several student leaders to help us sell items, engage in marketing, and practice the art of accounting! Please consider sponsoring our school store!
- We would still like an early childhood teacher to help us serve on PTO. Thank you to Ashley Neal, Lisa Rayner, and Ashley Saullo who have already agreed to serve in this role!
- The Student Lighthouse Team is looking for 2nd and 4th grade students. If you teach 2nd or 4th grade teachers and think you have a student that might be a good ambassador for our school, please send his/her name to Michelle Hawkins. Interviews will be scheduled soon!
- Habit Huddle starts at 8:15am each morning. If you are a Habit Huddle buddy, thank you for supporting your Habit Huddle classroom each day!
- LOG ENTRIES is a very important feature of POWERSCHOOL. Don't forget to utilize this when you communicate with parents by phone.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO SUPPORT ALL STUDENTS AT PONTIAC!
A LOOK AT OUR WEEK AHEAD:
MAP testing window opens
PE 2 Begins! Welcome, Mr. Palmer!
Our PDS Liaison, Dr. Jennifer Morrison, will visit classrooms - not at all evaluating; this is simply in an effort to get to know all of you!
1:45pm 5th grade district bullying presentation led by Mrs. Whitney and Mr. Williams
3:30pm Staff meeting in media center
Tuesday:
K.Barber off campus for Carolina TIP presentation from 8am-10am
3:15pm ESOL Meet N Greet
Wednesday:
K.Barber at Elementary Principals' meeting
Thursday:
Math Meet n Greet during planning with Carol Sample (BrainForest)
8:30am 3rd grade district bullying presentation led by Mrs. Whitney and Mrs. Savage
Friday:
NATIONAL COLLEGE COLORS DAY - Wear your favorite college team shirt!
Grade level photos taken in courtyard
7:30am HIGH FIVE Friday! Welcome, Richland County PD!
8:30am 4th grade district bullying presentation led by Mrs. Whitney and Mr. Williams
2:00pm Summer Reading celebration (list provided by media specialist)