ACE Weekly Newsletter
January 18, 2016

In This Week's Issue:
Note from Executive Director
Announcements
Celebrating Excellence:
- Discipline Data
- Attendance Data
- Climate Data
- Link to ACE ACP data
Articles of the Week:
- Growth Mindset: how students with a growth mindset are able to perform better.
Video Spotlight
- The Power of Belief: how a teacher's praise encourages or discourages a fixed mindset.
Resources
- ACE Site
- Math SE live binder
- School Calendars
- HUB

Note from your Executive Director
Dear ACE Team,
This week's issue is filled with celebrations! We have shown growth and positive trends with not only ACPs, but also discipline, attendance, climate. With each achievement we are proving that struggling schools can achieve with the right people and resources.
I want to thank Trustee Blackburn for his newsletter, a reminder of Dr. King's dream and encouragement to reflect on our own dreams. My dream is that our collective work will positively impact hundreds of children by closing the achievement gap and opening doors to all of the best things in life. Doors to college, doors to careers with solid, living wages and doors to futures of fulfillment, purpose and happiness. Teachers in our ACE schools are vital to this dream.
I have always believed that effective teachers make the most difference in student academic achievement and our ACE journey has dramatically reinforced this belief. I also know that teachers cannot have the maximum impact when working alone. Their work is enhanced by strong leaders and healthy, inspiring schools. As you review the many data celebrations included in this week’s newsletter, please remember that this is mid year data. There is still time for each of our seven schools to excel by preparing students to meet STAAR requirements and achieve growth in all areas.
Please stay the course and find support with colleagues. For schools struggling in one or more areas, I urge you to engage in group problem-solving at your school. Let's be reflective, collaborative and innovative. Let’s fight for our dreams for our children.
Thank you for your perseverance and dedication.
Sincerely,
Jolee Healey

January 18th-22nd

Announcements
2016-2017 Calendar Approved!Click here for details on the new calendar which includes a full week off for Thanksgiving Break! | STEM Day!Saturday, February 6, 2016 Click here to learn more about this exciting event and register. Choose from over 80 hands-on sessions! | Teaching Trust-Big Rock Framework VisitsTeaching Trust will be visiting your campus in the next two weeks. Click here to view the framework that will be used during this visit! |
2016-2017 Calendar Approved!
Click here for details on the new calendar which includes a full week off for Thanksgiving Break!
STEM Day!
Saturday, February 6, 2016
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Skyline High School
7777 Forney Road
Dallas, TX 75227
Click here to learn more about this exciting event and register. Choose from over 80 hands-on sessions!
Teaching Trust-Big Rock Framework Visits
Teaching Trust will be visiting your campus in the next two weeks.
Click here to view the framework that will be used during this visit!

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE
Discipline is down at ACE campuses!
The number of suspensions for both in school and out of school for Fall 2015 as compared to Fall 2014 have also decreased at our ACE middle school campuses by significant percentages.
This is tremendous for we know students must be in class to learn. Your hard work is paying off, keep up the great work!


Attendance on the Rise at ACE campuses!
Let's work with parents and guardians to make sure every child arrives to school on time and ready to learn. Click here to read an article that outlines 3 simple strategies to improve attendance.

ACP Climate Data


ACP Growth!

ARTICLE FOR THE WEEK
Does a Growth Mindset Make Students Better Math Problem-Solvers?
“Having a positive mindset in math may do more than just help students feel more confident about their skills and more willing to keep trying when they fail,” reports Sarah Sparks in this article in Education Week. “It may prime their brains to think better.”
The emotion and thought structures in the brain are totally entwined, totally docked in the brain," she said. She has found the cognitive habits often associated with a fixed mindset—like focusing on grades or considering errors a threat to your identity—can make the brain react emotionally to the wrong things during learning.
Lang Chen and his colleagues studied elementary students’ brains with fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) and found that those with a “growth” mindset about math did better at spotting correct and incorrect math problems than those with a “fixed” mindset, even after controlling for differences in IQ, age, working memory, reading level, and math anxiety.
Click here to read more.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
The Power of Belief: Growth Mindset and Success
"The moment we believe that success is determined by an ingrained level of ability as opposed to resilience and hard work, we will be brittle in the face of adversity."
Watch the the video below to see how your praise can encourage fixed mind sets vs. growth mindsets in students.
Last Week's Video

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
