Friday Feedback - Ups and Downs...
October 8, 2021
The Roller Coaster Ride in a School Year -
Even though the title of the chart (provided with the link below) in this week’s edition, says “Phases of First-Year Teaching” I think we can all relate to these feelings of a roller coaster ride that the field of education throws our way each year. As the chart depicts, this time of year can be a struggle and challenge for beginning teachers, but also for all educators as "the honeymoon phase" wears off. Keep in mind that students share these feelings as well so creating engaging, interesting and fun experiences in the classroom for the students can help boost morale and the overall experience. Capturing Kids' Hearts "moves" and commitment to GRR will be essential when students aren't meeting expectations; stay consistent with your high expectations and accountability for learning.
The approaching holiday season is an especially good time of year to reconnect with those hobbies that have taken a back seat or to reconnect with those friends or loved ones we have neglected because of our busy professional lives. This phase of the year we have to dig deep, do some solid acting on many days (remember, we love our jobs and we love kids!), and remember what it is that brought us into this field in the first place. Our patience may be short, our morale may be lower at times, but we have to take a deep breath, reflect often, collaborate with and lean on our teams, and rely on family and friends to help pull us through (and maybe a cold drink or two, responsibly of course :) ).
Keep up the great work and let me know how I can support your daily efforts because there are a lot of exceptional things happening at DCMS and it is due to your daily efforts!
Thank you for all you do for our kids and your efforts to keep learning at the center of the madness that sometimes goes along with middle level education!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9un8pkmqtqob1cxaEREdlhNZVVxLXFldmpRR0xWY2Z6eXJV/view?usp=sharing
When Motivation Is Dwindling, Try Some of These Tips!!!
Top 10 Practices that Foster Engagement and Motivation
Teachers create opportunities for active rather than passive learning
Teachers encourage autonomy and nurture independence through choice
Teachers create relevance in assignments and topics
Teachers value and use collaborative learning methods
Teachers use technology as a tool to increase learning opportunities and depth of study
Teachers employ multiple learning methods and texts
Teachers develop lessons and assignments that incorporate both challenge and success
Teachers differentiate and scaffold learning
Teachers create authentic assessments and offer timely and frequent feedback
Teachers develop a culture of inquiry within the classroom
(Principal Leadership, November 2014 edition)
What's Coming Up?
Monday 10/11 - MS Volleyball @ Chariton;
Tuesday 10/12 - MS XCountry @ EBF; MS Football @ Home; MS Volleyball @ Home
Wednesday 10/13 - MS Pictures
Down the Road...
Tuesday 10/19 - MS Choir Concert
Friday 10/22 - MS Haunted Hallways