The Hero Focus
Heritage Staff Newsletter - May 1, 2017
Finish Strong by Bethany Hill
Press On to the Finish Line
The truth is that kids cannot afford for us to loosen the school day and take away instructional time from them. Consider the most at risk child in your classroom. What does three to four weeks of instruction mean to her? When she moves to the next grade in the fall, how will ¨the summer slide¨ impact her? Pressing forward by honoring instructional time will support kids all the way to the end, and help them carry over into the summer months.
A More Appealing Path
Finishing strong requires a level of motivation that looks different than the starting line. At the beginning of a race, runners are highly motivated by the energy stored in the body. They know it won’t be easy, but feel ready to face the path ahead. The finish line is not in sight, yet they envision getting there. Throughout the race, runners’ level of energy begins to decrease, and their motivation may be hindered by negative thoughts or emotions, fatigue, etc. The end may be in sight, but the stretch to the finish line seems too far out of reach. Finishing requires a new mindset; one of determination, renewal, and positive thinking. Finishing requires something different than starting. It requires MORE. We can keep kids focused and motivated, but doing so requires us to go the extra mile, considering it will take more to ¨edutain¨ students in May than it did in September
Relax a Little
When the home stretch reveals the finish line, runners can relax their minds and begin to enjoy the accomplishment before them. Although they must muster up every ounce of strength and will within, their minds can begin to celebrate where they are. We can do the same with our students. It is a FACT that teaching kids in May takes more energy, creativity, and patience than teaching kids in September. Instead of allowing stress and fatigue to consume us, we can take the time to relax and ENJOY our surroundings. We have invested in these kids for nine months…they are ours. They are leaving us, moving on to another chapter in their little worlds. Enjoy them. Play with them. Tell them stories. Engage them. Entertain them. Do all of these things while continuing to teach them. Finish so strong that they will always remember you for great things. You are a huge part of their world. You have been their leader for nine months. You will forever be part of their development.
Finish strong this school year. Allow your mindset to shift so you can push through the finish line and look back to see your accomplishments.
Press On, Relax…and enjoy the finish.
Bethany Hill
RtI Update and Due Dates
EOY End of the Year RtI Assessment Windows:
- EOY Reading Level Window: May 1st - May 26th
- AIMSweb Window: May 1st - May 26th
- I-Sipp Window: May 10th - 19th (IST's will be working with you to schedule your computer lab times)
- Intervention Logs updated to Aware by May 26th.
Please have all your Tier 2 and 3 students assessed by your PM meeting.
You will want to start early so that students will be able to participate in all End of the Year activities and you are prepared for you PM meetings.
May Character Quality - Positive Attitude
A Note About Reading Levels
Updates and FYI's
- May 1st: Teacher Appreciation Week - May 1st: Teacher Luncheon
- May 4th: Music Night at Heritage
- May 5th: Progress Report Grades Due
- May 8th: STAAR Math
- May 9th: STAAR Reading
- May 12th: All Library Books Due
- May 12th: Nurse Appreciation Day
Professional Development
- May 3rd: No PLC meetings - prep for STAAR
- May 4th: Staff Meeting 3:35
- May 10: No PLC meetings - STAAR week
- May 11th: Team Leader Meeting
Keller U
follow on twitter #kelleru and #kellerpd
Be in the Know! Legislative Updates!
Keller ISD Board Elections
Election Day is Saturday, May 6, for the Spring General Elections, including the election for Keller ISD Board of Trustees Place 4 and Place 5. Both seats are being contested this year. Beat the crowds on Election Day by voting early. Early Voting is currently open through Tuesday, May 2.