The Monday Message
Office of the Principal; Monday, September 28, 2015
Quote for the Week!
I proactively seek and consider diverse voices, ideas, and perspectives.
I seek first to understand , then to be understood.
I take care of myself, others, and the environment. (Leave no trace)
I embrace a mindset that promotes my own and others’ learning.
I address conflict directly, productively, and with compassion. Assume best intent.
- I seek opportunities to show gratitude and celebrate with colleagues.
*** Which norm will you commit to honoring and perfecting this week?
The Week Ahead
September - National Hispanic Heritage Month
October - LGBT History Month
Monday 9/28/15 - Admin Meeting (9-11am, Cafe'), School Board Meeting (7:00pm, Seven Oaks Elementary)
Tuesday 9/29/15 - World Heart Day, Team Meetings (during planning periods, designated classrooms), SLO Prof. Dev. (3:50pm, Cafe'), C-Team Volleyball (H) (5:30pm, vs. Chapin Middle)
Wednesday 9/30/15 - Optional All In Learning Refresher (3:45-4:15 Media Center), District Vision & Hearing Screenings, C-Team FB (H) vs Chapin Middle)
Thursday 10/1/15 - World Poetry Day, International Day of Older Persons, Lexington Middle (Staff Screenings), Google Classroom Intro PD (1st 30 minutes of 1, 2, 3, 5, 6) blocks in media center, C-Team Volleyball at Pleasant Hill (5:30pm)
Friday 10/2/15 - International Day of Nonviolence, PBIS Meeting (8:30am, Ms. Odom's Classroom)
Email: rsjackso@lexrich5.org
Website: http://www.lexrich5.org/IrmoMS.cfm
Location: Columbia, SC
Phone: 803-476-3600
Facebook: facebook.com/irmomiddleschool
Twitter: @irmomiddle
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Thursday, Oct 8, 2015, 04:00 PM
Irmo Middle School, Wescott Road, Columbia, SC, United States
Share Fair Nation
November 14, 2015
Save the date! Share Fair Nation is coming to District Five!
Join us at Irmo High School on Saturday, November 14th, for a transformative—and fun—learning adventure! We’re helping teachers bring innovation and technology into their classrooms, and we’re teaching kids to love STEAM—science, technology, engineering, the arts and math—with hands-on, interactive activities and experiments.
Join us for this (optional) FREE, exciting event!
Saturday, Nov 14, 2015, 09:00 AM
Irmo High School
Duty Roster
Click here for the Duty Roster
Monday - I Group on duty (Jackson/Mays-Fowler PM Duty)
Tuesday - R Group on duty (Major-Murphy PM Duty)
Wednesday - M Group on duty (Hutto/PK Jones PM Duty)
Thursday - O Group on duty (Godfrey PM Duty)
Friday - I Group on duty (Jackson and Mays-Fowler PM Duty)
Tasks to Complete This Week!
Tasks to Complete This Week!
1. Teach like a champion every period, every day!
2. Attend and actively participate in Tuesday's SLO Professional Development
3. Incorporate at least one of the Global Theme Events (listed in the calendar) into your classroom activities, lessons, etc.
4. Everyone report to duty as scheduled. See roster here.
5. Read the Monday Message in its entirety (including the articles linked and inserted). Also view the video clips, reflect, and adjust your practices where needed.
September/October Staff Birthdays
Robert Jackson – 9/1
Sharon Moore – 9/4
Kim Waters – 9/5
Tamika Battle – 9/6
Ryan Crothers – 9/8
Ann Weaver-Clark – 9/8
J. Aram Olson – 9/15
Keela Davis – 9/20
Brittany Fronhoeffer – 9/20
Pete Bobb – 9/26
Margaret Lewis – 9/30
Haley Calore - 10/3
Kelly Williams - 10/3
Please join me in wishing these staff members a happy birthday.
2. Josh Noble, Mary-Catherine Brown, Joe Cioffi, Bob McCloy, Janet Hudson, Shannon Avery, Clare Bellucci, Brian Hutchins - Last Thursday, we had our first Data Team Fishbowl PD. The teachers listed above gave unselfishly of their time and volunteered to help cover classes so our teachers could participate in the PD. I want to take a moment to extend a huge iAM shout out to them for demonstrating excellence during the Thursday Data Team Fishbowl. iAM so proud of them for being examples of excellence this week. Please join me in recognizing all of them for obtaining new results from their thinking and new practices. Let's give them a huge iAM shout out.
3. Tamika Battle, Sandra Jensen, Kerra Mays-Fowler, January Cisco - This past Thursday, our 8th grade math teachers participated in the Data Teams Fishbowl PD. They worked very hard for the past couple of weeks in preparing for this activity. I want to take a moment to extend a huge iAM shout out to them for their participation in the Fishbowl. iAM so proud of them for being examples of excellence this week. Please join me in recognizing our 8th Grade math teachers for obtaining new results from their new thinking and new practices obtained from the Fishbowl. Let's give Mrs. Battle, Mrs. Jensen, Mrs. Mays-Fowler, and Mrs. Cisco a huge iAM shout out.
4. Robin Gary, Ed.D, Hannah Goeckner, and Betty Stevenson - This past week, we had a few staff members that had to be out for a variety of reasons. As everyone knows, we do not have the luxury of our permanent substitute this year. Week after week, I am seeing teachers give a portion of their planning time to ensure our students are adequately supervised and instruction continues in those classes. This past week, Dr, Gary, Ms Goeckner, and Mrs. Stevenson covered unplanned absences. I want to take a moment to extend a huge iAM shout out to them for covering unfilled absences when needed. iAM so proud of them for being examples of excellence this week. Please join me in recognizing Dr. Gary, Ms. Goeckner, and Mrs. Stevenson for obtaining new results from their new thinking and new practices. Let's give them a huge iAM shout out.
5. Janet Hudson and Nadia Steere - Recently, Mrs. Steere and Mrs. Hudson attended an EL PD in Atlanta. They actively engaged and returned back with new information to share with everyone. Also, this past Wednesday, during our late start PD, they participated in a fishbowl strategy and shared their major takeaways which served as a launching pad for our school-wide book study. I am so proud of them for their willingness to engage in new thinking to acquire new practices which will lead to new results. I want to take a moment to extend a huge iAM shout out to Mrs. Steere and Mrs. Hudson for their role on our growth as an EL school. Please join me in recognizing Mrs. Steere and Mrs. Hudson. Let's give them a huge iAM shout out.
No updates this week!
Book Study "Management in the Active Classroom"
Teacher Presence
Some teachers just seem to have “it”. They command the room. They hold students spellbound, willing, and ready to focus on learning. For teachers who feel that they don’t possess this seemingly elusive quality, classroom management can feel like a daily challenge. Sadly, they may end up defeated, feeling that they will never have “it”. This does not have to be the case. We believe that much of a teacher’s presence in the classroom-the thing that students intuitively respond to-is composed of actions teachers can take that can be taught, practiced, and mastered. From tone of voice, to body language, to the physical space surrounding them, teachers can learn to manage themselves and their environment for the benefit of their students-and serve as models of self-respect and self-discipline in the process.
Teacher Mindset: I know myself, I know my students, and my students know me.
Underneath a teacher’s presence is a foundation: attitude and mindset. How can a teacher think about herself, his/her role, and his/her students in such a way that he/she creates a strong presence in his/her classroom? Researchers Carol Rogers and Miriam Raider- Roth (2006) describe presence this way: “(We view) teaching as engaging in an authentic relationship with students where teachers know and respond with intelligence and compassion to students and their learning. We define this engagement as ‘presence’- a state of alert awareness, receptivity and connectedness to the mental, emotional, and physical workings of both the individuals and the group in the context of their learning environment...the quality of these relationships is not a frill or ‘feel-good’ aspect of schooling. It is an essential feature of learning.”
A teacher with presence knows who he/she is: his/her strengths, his/her weaknesses, his/her passions, and his/her values. He/She projects confidence and makes his/her students feel safe and accountable. He/She brings that knowledge to bear upon his/her work, and invites his/her students to share in that knowledge with him/her. He/She is not a different person when he/she leaves the classroom. The student who meets his/her teacher in the street should see the same person who teaches her everyday.
As a teacher knows and values himself/herself, he/she works hard to know and value his/her students. He/She understands what makes them “tick” and what makes their eyes light up. He/She conveys his/her firm belief in their capabilities. When he/she does this, he/she is able connect the learning to his/her students in a way that engages them wholly. He/She is also able to create a relational feedback loop: he/she can see how his/her teaching impacts the students, and he/she shapes her further actions accordingly.
Seeing and knowing students in this way is the foundation of a strong presence in the classroom-students respect the authenticity of the teacher and feel respected in return. Setting up his/her classroom in a way that builds on this authenticity and promotes learning is an extension of his/her presence. It is inviting, personal, organized, and stocked with resources that students learn to use and care for responsibility. It celebrates beautiful work and learning. Confidence and trust grow from there.
4 Practices that affect Teacher Presence
Body Language
Voice
Managing Emotions
Setting Up Your Classroom Environment
Management in the Active Classroom Part 1:Foundational Structures and Practices p.9