Springhill Style
Springhill Elementary Staff Announcements
September 30, 2019
Vision
Standout: with Strong Hearts and Strong Minds
Mission Statement
Hattie -- Phases of Motivation ** Repeat ** Leaving this here as we are still focusing on motivation this week! If you didn't read it last week please do this week! I did add a new line at the bottom!
We had several conversations last week during SIT and student conversations about motivation of students and students who are having a hard time focusing and paying attention. Motivation comes in at number 51 on Hattie's list with an effect size of .48. Keep in mind that Hattie says anything over the hinge point of .40 has a powerful impact on student learning. This factor of motivation comes from the student and while factors from the students are important, remember that Hattie found many more factors from teaching and the teacher that were higher than the .40 size than he did factors from the student. Motivation is a real life "opponent" for us but we have many more effective tools to overcome this! I am not saying that it isn't an issue or that it isn't difficult at times but if we reach out to each other and find new or different tools we can find a way to motivate our students and increase engagement.
I had several conversations last week with a student who we as a team have poured into for the past two years. I was working to set some goals with the student and set a success criteria for him, when he asked me a question. He asked, "So how big is it?" I asked him for clarification and he said, "The gap, how big is the gap?" I knew what he meant and it was a moment that took me back for a second because while I had had many conversations with him about his gap and that was the why behind all the things we were asking him to do, I couldn't remember ever actually showing him the gap. He needed to see it. He needed to know what he was working toward and I think he wanted to decide if it was too big and if he should even try. This was one of those slap in the face moments for me because that seemed so simple and maybe I thought he knew already. It was also a moment of HOPE for me because he was asking and he wanted to know if he could close it. The thing is HE CAN! After that conversation, I then begin reading from my Hattie book and came across the following passage. I hope you will take the time to read it.
From Hattie:
1, See a gap. The student needs to see a gap between what he or she knows now and the intended learning. In the first stage - task definition - the student processes information about the task.
2. Goal Setting. When he or she has sufficient (but not necessarily complete) information, he or she moves to phase two; this involves goal-setting and planning, whereby the learner frames a goal and works out a plan to approach the goal (with assistance as needed).
3. Strategies. When the students have goals and planning, they can search for strategies with which to move closer to the intention. This third stage involves enacting these strategies.
4. Closing the gap. The student critically examines whether he or she has sufficiently closed the gap to claim success and thus be able to move on.
It is often moving from the first to the second stages that can be the most difficult (for teachers and students). Some students never get past the first stage, and Winne and Hadwin noted that some teachers seem reluctant to allow students to get past the first stage. To make the transition involves being aware of the goals of the lesson, the nature of the gap, and then developing cognitive strategies and planning as well as having the motivation to reduce the gap."
We want to hear your ideas and success stories! Email Mrs. West and myself what you have been using to motivate specific students or a success story on something you have used. Sonic drinks for those who share!
Important
StandOUT Award
Ms. Caldwell passed the StandOUT to Ms. Henry.
"I would like to pass the Standout award to a teacher that is new to our building. She keeps learning fun for her students and is always on time to pick them up. My students have wonderful things to say about her when they return, like "She is always nice to us" or "She gives us good prizes", or "She trusts us." She is truly a Standout in many ways! I am passing the Standout award to Ms. Ashley Henry."
R.I.S.E. with Style
Ms. Caldwell's Hook
Mrs. Crass' Hook
Ms. Shinn's Hook
Announcements
Announcements:
- Just a reminder to please be mindful of the systems in our building and the importance of being on time. I know you all are working so hard and sometimes you get busy in the moment. However, in order for all our systems to run smoothly this is a critical piece. It is in these small (but crucial) details that champion schools are made and run!
- Cook Off Challenge Today in the Lounge! Tailgate Theme. Remember this is a taste testing not a potluck! :) Please make sure everyone gets a taste!
- Movie Night is this Friday and Spirit Day!!!
- Shout OUT to Mrs. West. If you haven't been keeping up with our social media and website make sure you check it out! She has been doing and awesome job of telling our story and sharing out all the amazing stuff you all are doing at Springhill! If you have something happening in your room make sure to send it to us and if you have pictures you can send those too! #tellingourstory
- Please make sure that you have shown your students the video of the VOCAB Word for the week. GRUDGE Mrs. West sent the video out but here is the link if you need it. Thanks to Coach Mo for helping with the video! She never disappoints us with her video skills! We will be placing this word around the school as well so that students can see it and we will encourage them to use our Vocab word of the week!
- https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox/FMfcgxwDrRXKlqfxmTSCKlZJwJrXfGzj?projector=1
- Exciting News- Through a partnership with the Museum of Discovery we are going to get to host a STEAM parent night on November 4th. This is an extra parent night in addition to our Christmas Open house and Wellness Night. The good news is that the Museum of Discovery will be doing the event for us. They will do a 30 min science show and then have some hands on stations set up for parents and students to do as well. You are NOT required to work this night as it is an extra night. The leadership team will be helping to facilitate with set up and take down and could use a few volunteers to help if you are able. Please email Mrs. West and myself if you are available to volunteer. We will be sending out more details closer to the event but please go ahead and put this on your news!
- *****Pineapple Board! - Triple points ******AGAIN this week for each time you go observe someone! Thats 3 points for watching excellent teaching. Remember, if there is something you really want to see email Mrs. West and myself and we will do our best to get you covered for a short time so you can go see it.
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z0We4cQiMVJk4OtgV0LZ_ByqZHE2dFYnwQSJl-xiHrE/edit?ts=5d8e8048
- SIT will meet on Tuesday. 3-5 it is your week to update and 3-5 will progress monitor.
- Don't forget to see ways you can earn points for your team! - They are listed below.
- Sign Up for Fall Festival - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MsryG0L1smhgwgQ9UzB7vXlozFFWvE35eQrOt_x9Zzo/edit#gid=0
- Team meetings will be Wednesday. Agendas are on the Springhill Site and we will be Vertical for 3-5.
- Student Conversations on Friday during your lunch recess. We will be finishing up assessment wall updates and sharing out of focus students.
- Shuttle Bus will leave at 3:10. Ms. Sharon will call for them at 3:08 ... make sure you are aware of which students will be leaving at this time! Set an alarm on your phone if you have trouble remembering to send them.
- Westside Kids Day Out Van will pick up at 3:20pm- Please send them at 3:18
- Kiddieville Van will pick up after busses at 3:35pm- Send them out with our bus riders
- Please make sure your I Can statements are posted and you are referring to them during your lesson and ensuring your students understand the success criteria.
- Don't forget to post lesson plans and newsletter to the shared google classroom
Springhill Olympics - Ways to Earn Points
- Sharing our tools-- The next two weeks we will focus on ideas for student motivation. You will earn 2 points for your team by sharing out to Springhill staff email ideas for student motivation/engagement. Please put Student Motivation Tools in the subject.
- Attendance Challenge for StandOUT teams: The StandOUT team with the best percentage of attendance for the month of September will earn points for their team! First place earns 5 points, Second Place earns 3 points, and Third Place earns 1 point.
- At the end of the month we will add up the points to award medals for the month! We will award medals each month and will have an end of year medal count as well! These Olympic Games will last ALL school year!!
Save the Dates
September 30-Oct 4 - Book Fair
October 1- Fall Picture Day, TAG Field Trip 4th grade
October 2 - 2nd Grade Guest Speaker - Game and Fish
October 4 - Movie Night
October 4- Spirit Day
October 8th - PAC meeting @ 3:15
October 8th - PTO meeting @ 3:45
October 10th - Lil Dribbler Parent Meeting @ 6:00
October 10th - 5th Grade Field Trip
Oct 11 - End of first nine weeks
Oct. 11 - Panther Store
Oct 14 - 18 - ACT Aspire Interim 1
Oct. 15- 1st Nine Weeks Awards Ceremony
October 19th - Fall Festival Games
Oct 22 - 1:30 Dismissal time (Elementary PD)
Oct 24 - 1:30 Dismissal Time - P/T Conferences 2:00 - 7:00 PM
October 26th - Fall Festival Coronation
Oct. 29- K Pumpkin Patch Trip
Oct. 28-Nov. 1 - Red Ribbon Week
Oct. 30th - Flu Shot Clinic
Oct. 31- Book Character Parade, Kona Ice purchase
Nov. 4 - Museum of Discovery STEAM Night