Skyhawk Staff Update
A Peek at the Week at Layton Elementary School
End of the First Term
After what has seemed a very heavy load, our first term comes to an end Thursday. With the end of the term, I'd like you to put some of those anxieties and burdens behind you and focus on making the next term a happy and fun one for you and your students. You are doing a beautiful job of attending to the important things. Your students are well-behaved (for the most part!) and are learning and growing. Thank you for your dedication to excellence. I can't think of any place I'd rather work than with you! You are truly amazing!
What an Angry Child Needs to Hear
Our friend, Dr. Castor, taught us that all our feelings come from one of two places: Love or Fear. A child who is angry may fear that her anger will make her unlovable or defective in some way. These phrases, or others like them, can build a relationship of respect and trust between you and your student.
What a Disappointed Child Needs to Hear
Disappointment is another type of fear - fear of failure; fear of not being good enough. Maybe you can think about a time when you have felt that way, put yourself in your student's place, and express pure empathy. Your kindness and understanding will be appreciated.
What an Anxious Child Needs to Hear
This is one of the most common types of fear we see, and sometimes the most misunderstood. There is a difference between anxiety and worry. Anxiety for a test you aren't ready for is worry - it is a real fear based on a real lack of preparation. Anxiety is worry about something that may or may not happen which could be totally unreasonable. At any rate, helping a child describe how they are feeling and encouraging them to talk will help both of you to develop respect and empathy - the child for himself and you for the child.
Click Here to Teach Kids How to Cope with Emotions
“This isn’t what schools are designed to do...but unfortunately society isn’t what it used to be either and if we don’t do it, no one else is going to. And we can’t get to the academics until we do.”
The Importance of Leadership: Share with Kids!
Lead Together
Cultural Responsiveness: Dia De Los Muertos
Click here to read a very interesting article about this holiday which may be important to some of your students. There is also a short lesson plan to study the holiday with your students.
Sketchnote Offer
My offer is still good! If you would like me (or Heather) to come and teach your students a sketchnote lesson or two, please let me know. We will need a copy of your lesson plan or at least the content you plan to teach, along with the objective! Give us a few days to practice and prepare, please!
Deep Learning Happens When Kids are Invested
Gayle shared this great video about a bold experiment with student learning! I found that my reflections have helped me clarify my own values and beliefs about learning.
New experiments in self-teaching | Sugata Mitra
Calendar
October
- 29 - No CoGAT testing
- 29 - Classic Family Fun Night 6-8
- 30 - STARBASE - Berensen
- 31 - Halloween Parade, 9-10 am (Parties after, if desired)
- 31 - Early Out, End of Term
- 31 - Your Work Time
November
- 1 - Professional Day - Training 8-10:30 (Apple Meeting at 9 for 20-30 min)
- 3 - Daylight Savings Time Ends
- 4 - Lesson Study, Morgan Elementary, Math Team 12:30-2
- 4 - STARBASE - Hammerschmidt and Sullenger
- 6 - School Picture Makeups, 9-1
- 6 - UTA Assembly in Gym, 1:15 pm 2nd, 3rd, and 5th
- 6 - Faculty Meeting 7:30 - The Science of Reading
- 6 - Key Leader Lunch - #3 Be Respectful and Kind
- 7 - LCMT, 7:45 am
- 7 - Alice in Wonderland Performance, 9:15 am
- 7-9 - School Musical
- 8- Fire Drill 9am
- 9 - Building Open, 8-3:30 pm
- 11 - Costco at Lunch
- 11 - Waterford Open House - Free learning software for 4-year-olds. Our school is one of the hosts for registration. 4:30-7:30 pm.
- 12-13 - Utah Museum of Contemporary Art Truck (We will probably have kids go during art prep time on the 13th and another prep on the 12th
- 13 - Women in Leadership, 7:30 am
- 13 - Lexia Training in PLC's - Please arrange to meet that day so they can help you with questions or reports
- 14 - Reflections Awards, 6:30 pm
- 15 - STARBASE Graduation, 9:30 am
- 15 - Lunch starts 15 minutes early
- 15 - House Meetings, 1 pm