Oh' The Places You'll Go
Zitzman 411
ZE Mindset - "I'm a valued member of a winning team doing meaningful work in an environment of trust."
What's Happening This Week:
https://applauncher.gotowebinar.com/#notStarted/3239982979172730369/en_US
Tuesday: A Day. Dr. Sladek @ ZE! PLC's. St.Clair Admin Walk Throughs. Costco Volunteer Program Begins.
Wednesday: B Day. Dr. Sladek @ CE. Cooks Recognition Day! Principal Mtg @ 10AM. Action Teams Mtgs in Library @ 3:45PM. MVR3 Board Mtg @ 6:00PM.
Thursday: C Day. Dr. Sladek @ ZE! Staff Mtg. @ 7:30 in Library (bring your chromebook) Permission Slips go home in Thursday Folders for students who kept a 95% or higher attendance for the months of Jan. & Feb.! Spirit Squad @ 3:40PM in Gym. PTO Scentsy Fundraiser Flier goes home.
Friday: D Day. Dr. Sladek @ ZE! Zitzman Spelling Bee @ 1:30 PM in Cafeteria. PTO's Dudes and Darling (Daddy/Daughter Dance) 6:30-8:30 pm. Staff volunteers welcome-see Stephanie Godfrey or Debbie Dunn.
PLC Focus:
2/20
Positive Pop-Ins: Visit the grade level below you. Kdg visit 1st, specials or SPED.
Post to Twitter ['Social Media'/Dojo] something/someONE that you are proud of at ZE whether it be something on the walls of a classroom, an assignment, or something as simple as the morale and feel in the classroom.
Use any of these hashtags: #ZELeads #ZEPLC #ZEContagiousCollaboration
Or feel free to get creative and use your own!
*There is no agenda this week. Please make sure your MOY Teacher Reflection is filled out ...some were started but not complete (There are a total of 4 question on the reflection). Also please updated/complete the RTI Data Sheet to the best of your knowledge (We will be discussing and clarifying the RTI Sheet at the Staff Meeting on Thursday)
HABIT 5: HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PRACTICE
Practice Empathetic Listening
Listening with empathy means getting to the heart of what matters to the other person, whether we agree or not. When listening emphatically, we listen with the intent to understand. We respond by reflecting feelings and words.
COMMON PRACTICE
Listen with the intent to reply.
Think About...
- · Do the people around you feel that you genuinely understand them?
- · Do you often find yourself interrupting other people to give advice, agree or disagree, judge, probe, or tell your own story?
Try This...
- · Practice Empathic Listening with a friend. Ask that person to coach you on whether or not he or she felt understood.
- · Identify a relationship where the other person doesn’t feel you understand him or her. Create an opportunity to listen emphatically.
From the 7 Habits Book
“Next to physical survival, the greatest need of a human being is psychological survival— to be understood. When you listen with empathy to another person, you give that person psychological air. After that vital need is met, you can then focus on influencing or problem solving.”
PBL Project Idea:
The idea of me sharing these with you is not to add to your plate but to serve as a small reminder, or to light that little re in your heart, that teaching can still be fun, creative, and out of the box. Really just take these ideas and run with it! Examples: As a center, as an 'above and beyond' assignment, as an alternative or a finish early... enjoy!
As everyone knows, we're in the middle of u season. So, in this week's exercise, students are going to design a "Fight the Flu" Initiative for the school. This includes outlining the details of the plan, such as its goals, the roles of different individuals, and specific strategies and procedures that the school should implement to keep students healthy. Here's the link: http://pblproject.com/page.aspx?pageid=PBL-ww-Flu
-OR-
In this exercise your class has been chosen to give a presentation about President`s Day at an upcoming school assembly. The students must decide what they should say about President`s Day, and the best way to get across that message to fellow students (it could be a skit, mock interview, pretend game show, or even a musical number...). Here's a link to this exercise: http://pblproject.com/page.aspx?pageid=PBL-ww-Presidents-Day
Always Err on the Side of Positive
By George Couros
From the beginning of my teaching career, I remember trying to go out during recess and playing basketball with kids, because I was passionate about the sport, and that meant something to the students. Not only did this boost my confidence as I grew older that I could still score on 12-year-olds on the playground, it was also a great way to connect with both students I taught and didn’t teach that year.
I have a personal policy that if I was to pass a student or an adult in the hallway, I would
always acknowledge them in some way positive. A little “hello” or positive comment to
someone could significantly improve their day, whether you know it or not. I know that
when I go to the gym and get a friendly hello or acknowledgment from someone working
at the counter when I check in, it can improve my mood and change my workout, and
sometimes, my entire day.
There is a lot of bad stuff in our world. Maybe there is more than there has ever been,
perhaps we are just more aware of it, or maybe it is both I don’t know. What I do know is
that a subtle positive interaction with a student (or adult) walking in the hallway could be a pebble in the ocean that eventually changes the tide for that child.
Or maybe it doesn’t.
I also know that no matter how many times I acknowledge someone positively, I never run out of opportunities to do it again.
The safest bet is to always err on the side of positive. Small interactions can make a
massive difference.
Costco Volunteer Program
I'd suggest using the volunteer to work with a student that needs practice reading aloud, practice sight words, practice math facts, or editing writing with a student.
Volunteers will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 20th from noon- 3 p.m. They will be with the same time each week. If you are interested in one of the 4 volunteers, please email me.
Make it a great week... or not. The choice is yours!
What you do every day matters more than what you do every once in a while.