Bay Lane Staff Bulletin - 10/19/17
Every student learning, growing, succeeding.
Staff Commitments
I believe all students are capable of achieving proficiency.
I am capable of fostering proficient readers.
I will use results to drive my work.
News and Updates
Staff Meeting - The staff meeting on Th, November 2 is being postponed and will on Th, November 16.
Highly Functioning PLCs
- Do we believe that all kids can learn at high levels?
- Do we believe that educators are the key contributors to student learning?
- Do we believe education is critical to the future of our students?
- Do we believe we can make a difference in the lives of our kids?
Why PLC's? "Collective efficacy has a greater effect on student achievement than does socioeconomic status." Smith, Hoy, and Sweetland, 2001.
Collective Teacher Efficacy and the work of your PLC has the largest impact on learning in classrooms. See two charts below from Hattie's work and research.
Hinge point for a year of growth
Teaming
Collective Teacher Efficacy
PBIS
Reinforcing appropriate behavior (5:1 ratio)
Students need to trust you as the teacher, and they need to feel safe. When teachers reinforce positive behavior, kids tend to calm down. Students don’t feel that it’s about “gotcha”. Scientists have proposed that our brain naturally keeps track of our positive to negative moments and the resulting score contributes to our overall mood. It can be very difficult to meet the 5 positives reinforcement to 1 negative reinforcement ratio. Here are some strategies to help you increase your positive to negative ratio:
Increase your own awareness of how often your comments are negative. Have a peer observe your classroom for 15 minutes and track the number of positive comments to negative comments used. Use this as a guideline to increase your ratio.
“Shine a light on what is right”. When interacting with particularly challenging students, focus on what they do right rather than where they went wrong. (Think compliment sandwich)
Make a list of praise statements that are generic. While specific and individualized praise is always best, having a mental list of general statements you can use will give you the tools to be positive when you run out of unique ideas.
Thanks to everyone for taking the PBIS Self-Assessment Survey (SAS).
Increasing College Going Culture at Bay Lane
Students can submit weekly college and career factoids for Tuesday morning announcements. Thanks for any help encouraging them to join the fun.
College and Career Wear Wednesdays
College and Career Wear Wednesdays Random Monthly contests will begin in November for Homerooms.
Career Cafe updates coming soon!
Engaging Parents
In order to help parents understand and support their child's learning, we are asking that all teachers put comments (not canned) for students with "D" and "F"s that are specific to the area of weakness and how they can improve that area/skill. Here are some examples of what could be written:
- John could be improve his overall understanding by revising his rational number test, as well as consistently completing his homework to reinforce the skills taught in class.
- Jane needs to work on her fluency. She can do this by reading aloud to her sibilings, parents. Another suggestion would be to have her record herself reading and then listen to the recording as she follows along.
Thank you for your support and helping all our students learn, grow, and succeed!
Student Agency at Bay Lane
How much agency should we give?
The question stated above is one of much contention and not an easy answer. On the one hand, we want our students to build independence, problem-solving strategies, and have meaningful choice in their learning experiences. On the other, we have a set of non-negotiables as educational professionals that we need to hold true to. Check out this blog post about the balancing act of how to harness the power of student agency within a classroom without compromising the necessary content and learning skills. JoEllen Lynch sums it up well by stating, "In all these decisions, it is important for us to be guided by the developmental needs of young people — rather than by our own need, as adults, for control." It is hard to let go of control as a teacher in your classroom but letting go in the right way will ensure powerful results.
Important Dates Ahead
Fri, Oct 20 - Rachel Rydzewski's Birthday!
Sun, Oct 22
- Kim Kramer's Birthday!
- Staff gathering for a football game at the Zandt's 11:30 am
Wed, Oct 25 - Universal Screening meeting for Multi-Tiered Support Systems
Mon, Oct 30 - Bob Radtke's Birthday!
- Quarter 1 ends - Please see note above about parent engagement.
- 3:15 pm - EOTG team meeting
Thurs, Nov 2
- NO Staff meeting (postponed until Th, Nov 16)
- PBIS Team training at CESA
- 2-6 pm Magazine Delivery & Pick Up
Thurs, Nov 9 - 1st Sandbox PD
Mon, Nov 13, 6:00-7:00 pm - BL PTO meeting in the BL/CM Library
Thurs, Nov 16
- 7:15 am - Staff meeting
- Around the World students on Art Field Trip with Mrs. Ruchalski
Engaging Students
Important Links
Positive Contact Log- Core Teachers
Positive Contact Log- Encore Teachers/PPS/Administration
Student Team Bobcat Nomination Form
Staff Member Team Bobcat Nomination Form
*Please email Dawn or Rachel if you'd like us to add an Important Link.