DT&L Bytes
Digital Teaching and Learning @PCHS │ August 14, 2017
Making Connections From The Start
It’s here, the start of another school year. Our halls and classroom will soon be filled a variety of students possessing a variety of needs.
Last week, Pine Creek High School’s new Mission Statement was revealed, opening the door for our next steps forward. Part of the Mission Statement speaks of “providing a safe and welcoming learning community.” Have you thought about how you might make that happen in your classroom? What would that look like? What would that feel like?
The beginning of the school year is the perfect time to begin making the connections necessary to foster that safe and welcoming environment. Wes Kieschnick, author of Bold School, says that “on the first day of school, if you spend more time talking about rules than connecting with kids, you’ll spend more of your year enforcing those rules than teaching” (Kieschnick). Those connections are a vital ingredient in increasing student achievement (Richman) as well as building the trust needed to make mistakes and ask for help (Hattie, 2012, as cited in Richman).
How are you going to begin this year? How are you going to make those connections with your students? Take the time to make these connections. Don’t lose this opportunity. Your syllabus can wait. Model the behavior and relationships you want in your class. Take the time.
Resources: Safe and Supportive Learning Environments
- 5 Ways to Build a Supportive Learning Environment in Your Classroom
- 20 Tips for Creating a Safe Learning Environment
- Create a Supportive Environment for All
- Creating a Safe and Supportive Learning Environment, Literacy Online
- Creating a Welcoming and Intellectually Challenging Classroom
- Every Child Learning: Safe and Supportive Schools
Resources: Activities to build a safe, supportive learning environment
- 10 Team-Building Games For The First Day of Class
- Classroom Activities to Build a Positive Environment
- Team Builder & Icebreakers: Techniques for Success
- Team Building, Adlai Stevenson High School
- Team-Building Activities for High School Students
- Team Building Activities For Teens: A Complete Guide
Resources: Connections
Additional Resources
- Hattie, John. Visible Learning.
- Kieschnick, Wes. Bold School.
Look for the complete article and references in our Staff Google Drive Digital Teaching and Learning Resources folder.
Which Digital Tools are You Using?
Partner with us and help us ensure your tools are approved and ready for the next school year. Visit Pine Creek's Resource List; it includes the resources submitted at the end of last school year or the District database. Don't see your resource? Fill out the Digital Tool Application and we'll get it submitted to District IT for approval. Once the tool is approved, we'll update our list and inform you. This process takes time, especially if a purchase needs to be made.
Please be patient with us and the District as we embark on this new process. The District database is continually being updated as is our own resource list. Our goal is to ensure you have the resources you need while protecting our students' privacy.
Have questions? Contact anyone of your Digital Resource Team members, Susan, Sasha or Steve.
Digital Learning Study Halls
eHallpass & gClass Folders
Digital Learning
What can your Digital Learning Coach do for you?
- Share with you what tools we have available to you and your students
- Show you how to use the tools we have
- Push out course-specific apps to you and your students
- Co-teach with you so that you can focus on the content and I can focus on the tool and any digital issues
- Trouble-shoot issues, iPad and Desktop
- Share our Vision and what it means as we travel down the road towards making that it real
- Help you plan and reflect on lessons using digital tools
- Provide Digital Citizenship tips and resources
I'm here to serve you!
Susan Murray-Carrico, Digital Learning Coach
Email: susan.murray@asd20.org
Website: http://www.pchsdigitallearning.org/
Location: 10750 Thunder Mountain Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO, United States
Phone: 719.234.2663
Twitter: @FrauSusi