Hackberry Howl
Vol. 3 No. 27
LOVE-SERVE-CARE
PLC WEEK 2
Another great read by Jon Gordon
Reading Jon Gordon this week and I came across this:
Unity is the key. Whether we’re talking about a sports team, work team, school team, health care team, church team, or home based business team, it’s essential that we get everyone on the bus and moving in the right direction with a shared vision, focus, purpose and direction. When a team comes together they are able to succeed together.
But if unity is so important then why aren’t more teams more united you might ask? Why are there so few great teams and so many average and dysfunctional teams? The answer is simple. It’s not easy to bring people together. Agendas, egos, politics, power struggles, negativity, energy vampires, poor leadership, mismanagement, complaining, and a lack of vision, focus and purpose all prevent a team from uniting and performing at their highest level.
The bad news is that there are hundreds of negative forces and factors that can sabotage your organization, teamwork, unity and success. The good news is that unified teams show us it is possible to overcome them.
Unity happens when leaders are committed to and engaged in the process of building a united, winning team. It requires focus, time, and energy. Unity occurs when team members care more about the vision, purpose and health of the organization than they do their own personal agenda. Changing the mindset is essential. Unity happens when each person on the team can clearly see how their personal vision and effort contributes to the overall vision and success of the team. This involves meaningful conversations. And Unity results when you weed out the negativity that sabotages far too many organizations.
The great news is that I don’t write this based on theory but rather from experience having witnessed the process of unification in countless organizations. In fact I wish I could share with you all the emails I receive from people who have utilized The Energy Bus to unify their teams. I don’t want to share this with you to impress you, but to show you that there are leaders who are doing what you want to do and teams that have come together like you know you can. I was able to provide a proven tool and plan that works and these leaders and their teams committed themselves to the process. I have heard from CEO’s who have increased their productivity and performance by 30%. I have heard from hospitals who say they can tell which members of their staff are on the bus and who is off the bus. I have heard from principals of schools who said their morale and unity were at an all time high. I’ve received emails from customer service teams that have won company-wide awards for their teamwork, results and positive energy. It’s truly a rewarding feeling to bring people together and best of all it leads to positive results. I wish that for you and your team.
-Jon Gordon
Our One Thing: Early Literacy
Reader's Theater
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/readers_theater
Recommended by Darcie Brodsky & Ashley Measles
AVID-Strategy of the Week
Carousel brainstorming Carousel brainstorming is a strategy that requires students to access background knowledge or review what they have learned by thinking about subtopics within a broader topic. This strategy can be used in any discipline. Carousel brainstorming is a strategy that requires students to access background knowledge or review what they have learned by thinking about subtopics within a broader topic. This strategy can be used in any discipline. A variation of this strategy is called graffiti — particularly if it has students producing images as well as words.
By Ruth Morales
Article of the Week
Keeping the Focus on the Positive
Hackberry Happenings!
PLC SCHEDULE-WEEK 2
Monday, February 16
-Green Day
ATTIRE: Jeans
Hours: 7:45-4:00
Tuesday, February 27
-Pack Meeting 4:10-5:00
-Crazy Sock Day
Attire: Professional Dress
Hours: 7:45-4:00
Wednesday, February 28
-Richardson Out All Day
-Mix-Match Clothes
Attire: Jeans
Hours: 7:45-4:00
Thursday, March 1
-Open House 5:30-7:00
-Hat Day
Attire: Jeans & Professional Dress for Open House
Hours: 7:45-4:00
Friday, March 2
-Pack Rally
-Pajama Day
Attire: Jeans & Spirit Shirt
Hours: 7:45-4:00
Howl Outs!
Masai Howls to Beerley for your kind words :) you are a blessing!
Masai Howls to Escamilla for your sweet gift for my first week back. You are so thoughtful!
Lay Howls to Carol for pushing me and working with me on my office . Thank you Carol! I couldn't have done it without you!
Cruz howls to Northcutt for helping out
Cruz howls to Measles for helping out
Cruz howls to Moya for helping out Hatcher sends a howl to 3rd Grade for awesome work with LE3 Groups and Liink Ideas!
Hatcher sends a howl to Sylvia for helping keep 3rd grade afloat with subs.
Julie howls out to Karla for helping me with donuts and juice for the Bluebonnet Breakfast.
Julie howls out to Jill and Lecrecia for taking their time out to sit in on the Book Club.
Julie howls out to Pam for putting together a wonderful Specials Smore each week.
Wells howls to Rogers for allowing me to observe her classroom.
Wells howls to Mathews for suggesting a great lunch place on Monday.
Wells howls to Vanessa Lay for the organizing trays, thanks so much!
Flores howls to Sylvia for doing whatever she did to fix my air! You're a miracle worker!
Anderson howls to Moya for getting Victoria on the days I was at a training
Anderson howls to Nelly for holding down the fort while I was at my training
Anderson howls to Romig for being an awesome partner the last couple of days!
Measles howls to Darcie, Karla, and Christi for your help this week. I appreciate you ladies so much!
Measles howls to Kate for my cards! It was so sweet of you to think of me.
Measles howls to Callie for jumping right back into the swing of things. Your kiddos are so happy to have you back... and so am I!!
Measles howls to K-2 for surviving soooo many indoor recesses!
Christi Beerley howls to Measles-thank you for going above and beyond and always thinking of others. You’re a blessing to me and to Hackberry.
Christi Beerley howls to all of the teachers of the classes I visit-Branch, Martin, Masai, Head, Olsson. The dedication and love you show our students is amazing. Thank you for doing whatever it takes to reach those kiddos who need extra help or just extra love. It’s a privilege to work with you all!!
Head howls to Northcutt and Measels for watching two of third grades classes... you guys are the best!
Head howls to Whitehead for doing a great job while boss man was out on vacation :)
Karla Howls to Measles for listening to me!
Karla Howls Mathews and Richardson for helping as I was putting together the Mirror Wall.
Karla Howls to Beerley, Brodsky and Measles... Just because.
Karla Howls to Carol for helping Nurse Lay.
Karla Howls to Whitehead for always willing to help out and always smiling!
Karla Howls to all involved with the school board spotlight. Within LEISD and the community I have heard nothing but positive feedback. #Hackberryrocks
Karla Howls to PTA for sponsoring $50 for our Science night this spring.
Kate howls to Zuli for making my amazing cat!
Kate howls to Vergara for being my coffee pal.
Kate howls to Lay for rocking her test!
Mathews Howls to everyone who helped with arrival and dismissal during the rain storms this week!
Kate howls to Beerly for everything. Thank you for the daily reminders and the reminder to have courage! I thank God for you!
Kate howls to Hill for allowing your friends to come down and help mine edit their autobiographies.
Kate howls out to second grade for surviving indoor recess this week! Our humor and love got us through! :)
Kate howls to Lackey, Lawson, and Flores. This year is made easier by you three! You’re the best dates! Love y’all!
Webber howls out to Darcie for reviewing data with me and putting some of the puzzle pieces together! You rock! Appreciate you big time!
Webber howls out to first grade for partaking in the awesome Teach Like a Pirate book study! I’m loving every bit of it!
Webber howls out to Martin and Lawson for working with me to make sure we get our new field trip in order, and quick!
Webber howls out to Márquez for creating our First Grade weekly newsletter! You’re the best!
Webber howls out to Ratliff for introducing me to Pebble Go! The kiddos can’t get enough; seriously they ask me every free chance they can to work on their research project! GAME CHANGER!
You’re the best
Stephen HOWLS to Jill for holding down the fort while I was out this week!
Stephen HOWLS to Karla for the Mirrors...They look amazing!!!!
Stephen HOWLS to everyone that helped with the Hackberry Tsunami this week.
Stephen HOWLS to everyone that made our Hackberry Board Spotlight a huge success!