October 15, 2018
A Communication Tool for the Seven Hills Staff
Empowering Instruction:
Thank you for your reflection last week. My hope is that you have a better understanding of the level of trust with each of your students with you, with their peers and within the class. If you did not take time to reflect on the current level of trust in your classroom, please do so this week. Also, if you have not completed the blog exit ticket that was due before you left on Friday, please do so as soon as possible. Also, if your post came up as an "unknown" user, please comment on your post with your name. :). Thank you so much.
Each of us can better ourselves and our practices with each of the 13 trust behaviors. For the next few weeks, we will spend time reviewing the behaviors and sharing tips and strategies for action.
Talk Straight: Be honest. Tell the truth. Use simple language. Call things what they are. Demonstrate integrity. Don't spin the truth. Don't distort facts. You can make this behavior better with peers and students by:
- Saying what you mean with kindness, even when it is hard.
- Choosing your words with care. Ensure your words affirm the worth and potential of the person you are speaking with.
Straight Talk Stems:
- "Here's how I see the situation..."
- "This is what I feel strongly about..."
- "I suggest we do the following..."
- "From my perspective..."
- "My intent is to speak truthfully..."
Demonstrate Respect: genuinely care for others. Show you care. Respect he dignity of every person and every role. Treat everyone with respect, especially those who cannot do anything for you. Show kindness in the little things. Don't fake it. You can make this behavior visible to your students and peers by:
- Letting them know you care about their struggles and their victories.
- Behaving in ways that show respect for all...even the most challenging student in your class.
Demonstrate Respect Stems:
- "I respect and appreciate you."
- "You are really good at..."
- "You are really good at..."
- "What do you think..."
- "We need your opinion."
- "You see things differently, I need to listen to you."
- "Thanks for all you are doing."
Create Transparency: Tell the truth in a way people can verify for themselves. Declare your intent. Get real and be genuine. Be open and authentic. Err on the side of disclosure...when appropriate. Don't have hidden agendas. Don't hide information. You can make this better with your students and peers by:
- Making sure your words match your actions and what others can verify.
- Being honest about the reason when you cannot disclose information.
Create Transparency Stems:
- "My intent it..."
- "This is what our class/team/school is all about..."
- "The outcome I have in mind is..."
- "Let me show you the data..."
- "It is okay to disagree with me on this..."
- "Things aren't going well right now..."
Right Wrongs: Make things right when you're wrong. Apologize quickly. Make restitution where possible. Demonstrate humility. Don't cover things up. Don't let pride get in the way of doing the right thing. You can make this behavior better with your peers and students by:
- Admitting when you make mistakes.
- Not making excuses.
Right Wrongs Stems:
- "I'm sorry."
- "It's my fault."
- "What can I do to make this right?"
- "How can I learn from this situation?"
- "What could I have done differently?"
- "Tell me how I can help..."
My challenge to you this week is this...choose at least one of these behaviors to practice getting better at...be intentional when practicing that you are focusing attention in areas where there is low trust. On Friday, reflect on your efforts. What do you notice about yourself and the level of trust with students, peers, and in your class?
Parent Conferences Begin This Week:
- If you are still struggling to open the Student-Led Conference resource folder in the Google Team Drive, please check again. I recently added everyone to the Seven Hill 18-19 folder, which should have given everyone the access they need.
- If you are confused about what students should share, etc. please start with your ILT representative. They are an excellent resource. If you still need clarification, let Molly, Tanya or I know.
- I shared parent communication in the newsletter last week. There is also a letter in the Team Drive that you can use. The text is copied below if you need to use it.
- Let students lead their part. :) Set them up for success with this conference by making sure all Leadership Notebooks are ready to share, data has been updated, etc. Leadership Notebooks and WIGs should be a point of pride for students! They should look like a point of pride at all times, especially when showcasing them. If you need a reminder about what a Leadership Notebook should look like, please reference the Aligning Academics Leader in Me PD book from last year. Also, PRACTICE with your students...let them practice with a peer and/or you before their conference.
- I know some people are missing items for the Leadership Notebooks. These will be copied tomorrow. Specifically, the 7 habits tree and divider pages. If you need something else, please let me know as soon as possible.
- Specials teachers, SPED and specialists are expected to attend/hold/participate in a minimum of 12 conferences. Because of the change in format this year, we asked that you schedule a time with the parent either right before or right after the student-led parent conference. Please do not take their time to shine.
- All teachers must turn in a conference log after all conferences are held as part of the FLEX agreement requirement.
- It is best practice for teachers to keep a record of the conference notes and details. What topics were discussed, ideas generated, next steps, people in attendance, date and time of conference are minimum expectations when documenting a conference. We do have example conference forms you can use, if you would like examples, please let us know. Teachers have autonomy in the documentation system they feel best meets their needs.
- Enjoy this process! This is a time for your students to SHINE and for you to establish partnerships with parents. Think about it...once students have practiced sharing with their parents, they should have confidence sharing with anyone!
Parent Communication Sent Last Week in Parent Newsletter:
To help you better understand what is going on with your child’s learning this year, we are holding a different type of parent-teacher conference this year. This month we will hold student-led conferences.
Your student will lead the conference and explain to you what he or she has been accomplishing around academic and personal goals. Your child has spent the first weeks of school learning about themselves as a leader and a learner. They are prepared to present their goals, achievements during the first 15 minutes of the conference. The last minutes of the conference can be spent visiting with your child’s teacher.
What to expect:
You and your child will have time to go through the Leadership Notebook.
You and your child will discuss Wildly Important Goals.
You and your child will discuss ways to continue the learning and leading at home.
You will be able to discuss growth opportunities for your child with the classroom teacher.
Students are busy preparing for this conference, so please put first things first in order to attend. This is their chance to show you what their goals are for the year and what steps they will take to achieve them. This should be time to celebrate your Star Leader, and we encourage you to make arrangements for siblings during this time. Your child's teacher has already or will be scheduling conferences.
Seven Hills Parent Conference Dates:
- Thursday, October 18 3:45 pm - 6:45 pm
- Tuesday, October 23 3:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Accountability Partners:
Homework Hub:
Homework Hub launched last week. We are ready for students!
What is Homework Hub?
Homework Hub is an opportunity from 7:20-7:40 for you students to get additional assistance and or time to complete their homework with staff that do not have a homeroom class. We can listen to reading, practice spelling words, work on math and so much more.
Where do I send students for homework hub?
Homework Hub meets in the cafeteria on the opposite side from where breakfast eats. Students that eat breakfast can get their food and come to HH to begin working. Once the 7:40 bell rings we send students to class.
Homework Hub Help Needed:
If you do not have a homeroom class we would love your support at homework hub! Please sign up using this link under the dates you are available to help. Ideally we would like to have atleast 2 staff members each Tuesday and Thursday! Thank you! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ag7IvdH0Ss3EbQlFsWh-5WXuwB40dbhCjt8lS8D9B18/edit#gid=0
Habit Focus of the Week: Habit 6
Habit Huddle Connection:
Think about it..
- Do you know the unique strengths of the people you work with? The students in your class? Your family?
- In what relationships do you merely tolerate differences rather than value them?
- Are there differences that have become a source of conflict in any of your relationships...with peers, students, your family members?
To help you move into a highly effective paradigm and embrace a willingness to recognize and value differences, try this:
- Identify someone you disagree with or have low trust with. Make a list of that person's strengths. Use these strengths to help you shift your perspective. This will help build trust and support action in the following trust behaviors: Right Wrongs, Demonstrate Respect, Listen First and Get Better.
- When someone disagrees with you, say, "Great! You see things differently. I need to listen to you." Not only with this promote synergy, but it will also help you develop the Listen First Trust Behavior.
"Insecure people have a high need to clone others, to mold them over into their own thinking. They don't realize that the very strength of the relationship is having another point of view. Sameness is uncreative - and boring! The essence of synergy is to value differences - to respect them, to build on strengths, to compensate for weakness."
- 7 Habits Book-
Tanya's Classroom Management Tips and Tools:
The Power of Our Words
When we say what we mean and use a kind, straightforward tone, students learn that they can trust us. They feel respected and safe, a necessary condition for developing self-discipline and taking the risks required for learning.Sarcasm, another form of indirect language, is also common—and damaging—in the classroom. Sometimes teachers use sarcasm because we think it will provide comic relief; other times we're just tired, and it slips in without our even knowing it. If a teacher says, "John, what part of 'Put your phone away' don't you understand?" students will likely laugh, and the teacher may think she has shown that she's hip and has a sense of humor. But John will feel embarrassed, and his trust in this teacher will diminish. The position of this teacher may shift in the other students' eyes as well: They no longer see her as an authority who protects their emotional safety but as someone who freely uses the currency of insult. Much better to simply say, "John, put your phone away." If he doesn't, try another strategy, such as a logical consequence.
Take the time to notice and comment on positive behavior, being quite specific: "You're trying lots of different ideas for solving that problem. That takes persistence." Such observations give students hard evidence for why they should believe in themselves.
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month:
Are you up for a challenge? Ms. Goosey and Mrs. Bryan will post one challenge a week for you to either read, watch, or respond to. If you complete ALL 4 of the Dyslexia Challenges posted in our Google Classroom within the month of October, you will earn a JEANS or HAT PASS!!! Remember, you must complete all 4 challenges in order to receive the jeans or hat pass. Our goal is to further educate our staff in all areas relating to dyslexia. We want to provide you with a Google Classroom full of resources to help support you and your students, the characteristic of dyslexia, and the steps in the identification process.
Please let Mrs. Bryan and/or Ms. Goosey know if you have any questions! We hope you accept the challenge! (It is optional)
Join our Google Classroom with the code: rqwuql
Let us know if you need any assistance logging into Google Classroom and accessing our assignments.
From the CIT:
It’s time to get ready for the Scripps National Spelling Bee! Molly will be emailing information out to the teachers this week so that your terrific spellers can be practicing for the Seven Hills competition that will be held on Tuesday, December 18th. We will have classroom tryouts first to see who will advance to our school competition. Stay tuned for more news this week!
Assessments this week:
5th Grade: October 15-16 5Science.2.Matter CBA
Looking ahead at assessments:
Kinder: October 22-24 KMath.2.Module 1-3
3rd Grade: October 22-23 3Science.2 Matter CBA
4th Grade: October 22-26 4.ELA2. CBA
5th Grade: October 22-24 5.Math.2 Modules 1-3
From the Librarian:
- I typically drop by K-3 classes for Pop-In storytimes but I would LOVE to include upper grades.. If you are interested, choose a few times and email me. I will do my best to meet any/all requests. Here is the library schedule for this week. If you are not on it and want to be added, choose a time and let me know! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cMrcHJiw5Xj5I0lt6AkctKJdglrNRsuOKIsTK0rOKmM/edit?usp=sharing
- If you have something you would like to add to the Rotating Slide presentation in the cafeteria, email it to me. carie.wells@nisdtx.org
- I saw this on Twitter, what do ya’ll think?@joshfunkbooks "FollowingFollowing @joshfunkbooks Hey, teachers! Are you familiar with #classroombookaday? It's an amazing challenge where you read a picture book every day to your students (at ANY grade level) in order to grow classroom community and joy of reading. More details here: http://www.classroombookaday.com/ via @heisereads
Please talk with your students about the Storybook Pumpkin Patch and encourage them to participate. If you have kiddos that you know would love to make a pumpkin but there is no way they can get a pumpkin, let me know. I will be happy to purchase some for those kiddos. I also have supplies I can help out with.
Campus and District Announcements and Updates:
- UIL Update from Jen Gill: Thank you for signing up to help our kids be successful in UIL this year. We could not do it without YOU!!! Free Jeans pass for signing up to coach!! I need teachers signed up by next Friday so that I can get letters out. Please put times you will meet so that I can add that to the google forms that I send out to the kids. Any questions please ask!! :-) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1r2mlSr0CCIchDrvtCS1XT5OpIjtaqc3OxOLqX6ghXig/edit?usp=sharing
- RtI: We will continue to hold RTI meetings this week on our tier 3 students. Meetings will be on Wednesday, Oct 17th and any reschedules will be on Friday, Oct 19th. Tanya will be sending out the schedule for the week.
- Fall Parent Conferences: Conferences begin this week! ILT members should be updating all grade levels with information about this year's parent conference format. We are moving forward with student - led conferences, and the ILT has worked hard to prepare protocols, parent letters, etc. to help support you with this. What an exciting opportunity for students, teachers, and parents.
- Latest Edition of the Math Coaches' Newsletter: https://www.smore.com/z42vb
- Latest Edition of the C&I Newsletter: https://www.smore.com/kaczx
- T-TESS Observations are Beginning Now. Your evaluator will be reaching out to you to schedule your observation and pre-conference.
Save the Date:
- LHT Meeting, 3:30
Tuesday, October 16:
- Grade Level PLCs
- Kim, Tanya, and Molly off campus for Learning Teams
Wednesday, October 17:
- Picture Day
- Guest Educator Folder and 1 Day Emergency GE Plans Due
Thursday, October 18:
- Kim off campus all day at DLT/Leading and Learning
- Tanya off campus afternoon only for Leading and Learning
- Parent Conferences, 3:45 - 6:45 pm
Friday, October 19:
- Sharpen the Saw Clubs
Happy Birthday to You:
Julie Haney 10/15
Tanya Ledger 10/17
Please Share This Information With Parents:
Check Out the Latest Edition of the Campus Newsletter:
Picture Day is This Week:
PTA Reflections:
PTA chapters accepting Reflections art entries until Oct. 26
Northwest ISD school PTA chapters will accept campus entries for the Reflections art contest until Friday, Oct. 26, with local sponsors then submitting advancing entries to the council on Nov. 26. Following the advancement process, a show for the artwork will take place Jan. 10.
Reflections is a program operated by the National PTA and its member organizations for 50 years, designed to help students explore their thoughts, feelings and ideas. The contest is open to students of all ages – from pre-kindergarten to high school seniors – and features a range of categories, including dance choreography, film, literature, music, photography and visual arts.
This year’s Texas PTA theme is “Heroes Around Me.” To download entry forms and obtain information about eligibility and participation, click here. Students must submit their entries to their local PTAs by Friday, Oct. 26, with winners required to be submitted to the Northwest ISD Council of PTAs by Monday, Nov. 26. To submit entries to local PTAs, please drop entry forms and entries together at a school front office. For more information about the Northwest ISD Council of PTAs Reflections contest, click here.
Northwest ISD’s PTA Reflections reception and art show will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, at Northwest High School, with the formal presentation set for 7 p.m.