The DCMS Bat Signal: 11/12/18
Super me, super you, everyday heroes make dreams come true.
First Snow of the Year Expected Tomorrow AM
With the first bit of weather hitting tonight, please plan ahead. Leave early in order to be here on time. We have a guest presenter visiting tomorrow morning for part one of our state-mandated suicide prevention training. Wouldn't want to be late for that!
If for some reason you should have to miss, you will have to attend the same training at the high school on Friday morning, November 16. This is mandated training.
ALSO, remember, our parking lots and walks can be slippery. They will get treated, but if you arrive early it may be prior to their salting. Walk carefully! See image below.
PT Conferences: Thank You for Your Professionalism & Effort!
Teach Like a Champion: 100% by Jordan Thompson
100%
What is this strategy?
The 100% strategy is a strategy which includes the mechanisms in which a teacher does not move on to the next activity or statement until the entire class is attentive. In this way, the teacher sets her expectations extremely high, and doesn’t really give any kids the opportunity to be distinctively “bad” or “good.” More specifically, there truly isn’t an option for a kid to be non-compliant within following directions because the teacher will literally not move on to the next order of business until every student is giving 100% of their focus.
Different ways to enhance compliance include inventing ways to maximize visibility, be seen looking for compliance, avoid marginal compliance, and leverage the power of unacknowledged behavioral opportunities.
Wondering how to make corrections to a students behavior involving non-compliance? Here a few different correction techniques!
6 level of corrections:
Nonverbal intervention involves doing a quick gesture or making eye contact with off-task students, letting them know that you're watching them and you know that they aren't making the best choices.
Positive group correction is to remind students of what they should be doing rather than telling them what they shouldn't be doing. This way, you aren't just reprimanding them unnecessarily, you are calling them out but also telling them how to fix their behavior.
Anonymous individual correction is when you clearly state the behavior that needs to be fixed but don't focus on one student individually. This can be done by saying "I need 2 more people to focus," or "all my friends need to have your eyes on me."
Private individual correction allows a teacher to individually reinforce a student without any other students noticing. This reduces the risk of embarrassment for students, which can be extremely unmotivating.
Lightning-quick public correction requires short, positive corrections directed towards specific students. This can include "Sally, I need your eyes." In this case, rather than taking time scolding a student, you correct their behavior and allow them to know what they should be doing.
Consequences may be necessary if there is no other way to quickly correct a child's misbehavior. Short, external consequences can be beneficial to teachers in that instruction won't be interrupted.
How does this work?
This strategy should work because, in order for young students to be able to focus and truly learn, a teacher needs to eliminate as many distractions as possible, in which other students can be huge distractions. If a teacher can get 100% of her students to give 100% of their attention to the topics at hand, then those students with particular behavioral/attention issues will not be able to further distract students who don’t.
Studies show that multi-tasking actually doesn’t exist and isn't even possible- rather the brain is constantly switching from activity to activity one at a time. This proves that students actually can’t learn from a teacher while they are focused on something else, whether it is looking around the classroom or talking to another student.
100% also allows teachers to take on an authoritative teaching style. Authoritative teachers use techniques including high involvement and high warmth, meaning that they truly do care about their students and they prove it to them. These teachers provide democratic teaching styles which do have a lot of rules, but they are all explained thoroughly so that students have a logical understanding of what is accepted and what is not. This teaching style is extremely effective for students, so if the 100% strategy is implemented through this, then it will be sure to make an improvement in your classroom!
How can I implement this strategy in MY classroom?
Specifically, in a future classroom of mine, which will be an elementary school classroom, I hope to be able to classically condition my students to give 100% of their attention. I hope to have a specific signal in which the students know that they need to have 100% of their focus on the teacher. For example, I can use a specific code word, or do a specific body motion, to signal the kids to get focused. I also hope to not single kids out and embarrass them because that can be extremely discouraging. I will positively reinforce students who are giving 100%, in a way which other students will want to join in and do the same thing.
For example:
Josh is extremely off task in class. All the students are supposed to be completing a speed multiplication worksheet for which they have 120 seconds to complete. Josh, however, is building a sculpture out of his chewing gum. You, as his wise teacher, must get him focused so that he can finish his worksheet before the timer goes off. In order to get his attention, and have him give 100%, you use the correction technique of private individual correction, meaning that you will quietly walk to his desk and whisper to him something along the lines of, "Josh, I need you to complete your math worksheet so that you can improve your math skills."
Upcoming Events
- Veterans' Day - Monday, 11/12, - Social Studies classes will complete related activities.
- School Board Mtg - Monday, 11/12, @ 6:30 PM at South Elementary cafe
- Midterm Window Opens - Wednesday, 11/14. Grades must be posted by Friday at 3:00 P.M.
- Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL on Wednesday, 11/21 - Friday, 11/23
- School Board Mtg - Monday, 12/10, @ 6:30 PM at South Elementary cafe
- MS Band Concert - Tuesday, 12/11, @ 7 PM in the gym
- 8th Grade Choir @ DHS - Thursday, 12/13, @ 7 PM at DHS
- Semester Celebrations (Individual by Grade Level) - Friday, 12/20 PM
- NO Students - Friday, 12/21; Grades are due prior to leaving for the holiday.
Upcoming Meetings
- Faculty Mtg - Tuesday, 11/13 in The Bat Cave @7:25 AM for Suicide Prevention Training 1
- PLC - Wednesday, 11/14, in The Bat Cave @7:25 AM
- NO PLC on 11/21 - Thanksgiving Break
- Dept Mtg - Tuesday, 11/27
- PLC - Wednesday, 11/28, in The Bat Cave @7:25 AM
- PLC - Wednesday, 12/5, in The Bat Cave @7:25 AM
- Faculty Mtg - Tuesday, 12/11, in The Bat Cave @7:25 AM for Suicide Prevention Training 2
- PLC - Wednesday, 12/12, in The Bat Cave @7:25 AM
- DLTA Rep Mtg - Friday, 12/14, in Marsha's office
- Holiday PLC Celebration - Wednesday, 12/19, in The Bat Cave @7:25 AM
Regarding...
Student of the Month - The student chosen for our October SOM was 7th grader, Gabi Pigecella. Thank you to the teachers who wrote such nice things about Gabi for me to use in her letter. Thank you Laura Crosby for attending tonight's Board meeting.
Shorts, Longs, & Coaching Observations – Expect that we will be visiting frequently and maybe even multiple times in a week.
Attendance Must Be Taken EACH Period – Attendance must be taken each period. This is not optional and cannot continue to be forgotten. At this point, this is considered a minimum performance expectation.
- Cell Phone Violations Procedures are found here at the following link. Please familiarize yourself with the process. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yo87qFzgaYYG4L5Tw6LKFdpQ7d_OHymU4UId1rL2qlI/edit?usp=sharing
- Friday School / Detention Supervisor Sign-Up – Please sign up to supervise a Friday School or Detention for the good of the school culture using the links below. Detentions will now be on Thursday AM and Thursday PM.
Friday School - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AZ7wto6mePwKuZMiJKTMSHRL7as4EjSdTHnyIUvj91s/edit?usp=sharing
- Final Exams - See below
Thursday, 12/13 - Red Related Arts
Friday, 12/14 - White Related Arts
Monday, 12/17 - Science
Tuesday, 12/18 - Social Studies
Wednesday, 12/19 - English
Thursday, 12/20 - Math * Modified Schedule to allow for grade level semester celebrations in the PM.
December Fun is Coming!
All activities are meant to be fun and not to offend anyone. No one has to participate, but it is more fun if you do. :)
- Christmas Continental Breakfast Pitch-In – Friday, December 21 @ 8:15 AM. Please pitch-in and join even if you did not do Secret Santa. We want to see all the ugly sweaters! Please bring bagels/cream cheese, donuts, pastries, fruit, breakfast bars, milk, juice, etc. If you choose to bring a hot item, we won’t be mad. But only do so if you feel inclined.
- Christmas/Holiday Spirit Week – (for staff and students) Within reason, hats and other Christmas/holiday spirit wear are acceptable this week only providing the items are not a distraction to the learning environment. Should any item prevent teaching or learning, you have the right to confiscate the items. Please turn in any confiscated items to the office with a student name attached.
· Monday, 12/17 – “No Sweat Day” – Wear your favorite sweats!
· Tuesday, 12/118 – “Red and Green Day” – Wear your favorite red and green outfit.
· Wednesday, 12/19 – “Christmas/Holiday Hat Day” – Wear your Santa hats, elf hats, etc.
· Thursday, 12/20 – “Santa Day” – Wear your Santa gear to feel festive; beards, hats, etc.
· Friday, 12/21 - “Ugly Sweater Day” – Does this need an explanation?
- Cookie Exchange – Friday, 12/21 @ 11 AM in the administrative conference room. If you want to participate in the cookie/candy exchange, email Marsha.
- Secret Santa Gift Exchange - Information will be coming soon.
About Us: Mission & Collective Commitments
We are a collaborative group of educators committed to ensuring high student achievement.
We commit to…
- Focusing on student proficiency of Indiana College & Career Readiness standards, not just coverage of material.
- Working collaboratively to benefit all students with a focus on results.
- Join forces to learn by doing on a daily basis.
- Using frequent common assessments that inform and drive our instruction.
- Providing intervention and enrichment based upon the formative data.
- Furthering a culture that uses value-added language, encourages one another, and celebrates successes.
Email: mwebster@danville.k12.in.us
Website: https://www.danville.k12.in.us/Domain/9
Location: 1425 West Lincoln Street, Danville, IN, USA
Phone: 3177455491
Facebook: facebook.com/DCMSWarriors
Twitter: @DCMS_Warriors