Friday Focus
Moreau Heights Elementary
February 16
Moreau Heights is a collaborative community focused on student growth with a commitment to excellence.
PBS lesson -
The PBS lessons for the week will focus on Working Together As A Team. Please look to reinforce times when students are flexible and respectful with peers.
Our Second Steps lessons this week will focus on the following:
Kindergarten will learn about handling being knocked down.
1st grade will work on Problem Solving Part 2.
Grade 2 will focus on Problem Solving Part 1.
Grade 3 will focus on Problem Solving Part 1.
Grade 4 will focus on Problem Solving Part 1.
Grade 5 will focus on Avoiding Assumptions
Are you using Charger Cash to reinforce PBS expectations and Second Step skills?
- We want to use positive reinforcement to draw attention to what we want to see more of from our students.
- How do you make sure you are putting the focus where you want it?
- Are you remembering to use all your tools? Specific feedback? Charger Cash?
"You are a giant, yellow highlighter. Highlight behavior you want more of, and help children become aware of the many kind and helpful things they do each day."
Conscious Discipline Connection - What is each student's story?
The Story of Johnny Lexus
Five years ago Johnny was known as the annoying older guy who hung around the waiting area of the Hendrick Auto Lexus dealership in Charlotte and bothered the employees.
After receiving a number of complaints about him, Steve Strickland, the General Manager, invited Johnny into his office. He found out what his employees already knew. Johnny wasn't there to buy a car. He just wanted to have conversations and talk to people.
Steve learned that Johnny had worked in one of the towers of the World Trade Center but he wasn’t there on 9-11 because he had a doctor's appointment. Many of his friends died that day so Johnny and his wife moved to Charlotte for a fresh start.
One day Johnny brought his car to the dealership to get serviced and liked the coffee and atmosphere so much he came back to hang out. Steve told me that in listening to Johnny's story he realized that Johnny wasn’t looking to bother anyone. He was looking for a family.
Instead of telling Johnny to get lost and stay away from the dealership, Steve actually hired him to be part of their customer service team.
"What does he do," I asked?
"Anything we ask," Steve responded. "He does a little bit of everything."
At first the employees weren't happy with Steve's decision. But the more they worked with Johnny and learned his story the more they grew to love and appreciate him. He's become so popular and indispensable to the team and dealership he's now known as Johnny Lexus. No one even knows his real last name. Everyone just calls him Johnny Lexus.
Johnny Lexus has gone from the guy who no one wanted at the dealership to a beloved team member that represents the brand of the dealership... all because Steve Strickland took the team to hear Johnny's story.
It's a great lesson for all of us. Everyone we work with and everyone we meet has a story to tell. I've learned that amazing things happen when we get to know their story.
Remember that everyone you work with is bringing their story to work. Your job is to get to know their story. When you know their story you will know them a lot better. When you know them better, you will be less likely to see them as annoying, difficult or negative and more likely to see them as someone who is searching to belong; to matter and to add value.
When you look for the good, and see the good in others you find the good in them and yourself.
Steve took the time to listen and look for the good in Johnny and found it and Johnny Lexus found his family.
Duties for the Week
Wanting Some Behavioral Support Ideas?
Charger Spirit Store is Open
Calendar of Events
Monday, Feb. 19
*No School, President's Day
Tuesday, Feb. 20
*5th grade Fine Art Recruitment at Miller 9:00
*CM IEP (Haugen, Farmer, Gaines, Rackers, Humphreys, Lueckenhoff, McKim) 9:00
*JK IEP (Gragg, McGeorge, Haugen) 10:00
*Lunch with the Principal 11:00
*EG IEP mtg 1:30 (Haugen, Dunn, Spear, James, Connelly, OT, PT, Humphreys)
Wednesday, Feb. 21
*EJ IEP mtg (Haugen, Farmer, Humphreys, Spear, James, Day, McKim, Cremin) 8:30
*Staff meeting 3:40
Thursday, Feb. 22
*Collaboration Day - work on CFAs/Guided Reading planning tools
*Elementary Principal mtg 8 - 10
*Tobacco Presentation for 3rd grade in gym 10:30
*SS IEP 3:30 (Henderson, Haugen, Gragg, Treat)
*Science Resource Fair 4:00 - 5:00 at Dix Rd
Friday, Feb. 23
*PBS Assemblies
- 8:30 grades 3-5
- 9:40 grades k-2
*AH IEP 2:00 (Sexton, Haugen, Lock, Rackers, Humphreys, Lueckenhoff)
Monday, Feb. 26
*Fine Art Recruitment visit 8:30 in gym
*Student info mtg (Fleming, Haugen, Treat, James) 11:00
*Leadership Team mtg 3:30
Tuesday, Feb. 27
*Sue visit with Lori at MH 8:30 - 12
*Fire Drill 1:20
*PBS Team mtg 3:40
Wednesday, Feb. 28
*SST with Reece 10:00
*Student info mtg (Haugen, James, Fleming, Treat)
*Problem Solving Team mtg 3:40
Thursday, March 1
*Collaboration Day
*CN IEP (Haugen, Gragg, Fleming) 3:30
Friday, March 2
*No School for Students
*PD Day for staff
Looking Ahead
This day will include walking during specials, aerobic/cross-fit activity, yoga, nutrition and health presentations.
If you find reading passages that are appropriate for your levels of readers and that connect with wellness, you might pull them for use in your classroom on this date.
Student-led Conferences
Your conferences can have the flexibility to work for you. The goal is to communicate strengths and areas to improve with parents. Students should do MOST of the talking! Having some grade level work to compare is always a good idea, and incorporating technology when you can is encouraged!
These conferences should not be a sit and get a bunch of reports! You can send home reports and printouts at any time.
Teacher and student preparation
• The key to a successful Student Led Conference is the successful preparation of the student prior to the conference.
• The student will probably need a form / checklist in order to ensure that he/she has all of the necessary materials for the conference.
• Some students and teachers will create a script for the child so that he/she doesn’t feel intimidated by conducting the conference.
• The student will need to make sure to have his/her work and the necessary questions / prompts ready for his/her parent.
Teacher responsibilities before the conference
• Train students on student-led conferencing. The teacher should role-play with the student how a student-led conference should be conducted.
• Give all students time to practice. The more practice they have, the more confident they will be during the conference.
• Provide ample time for students to get their desk, folders and notebooks together before the conference.
• The parents should know that their child will be leading the conference.
• Send home a parent handout on student-led conferences.
• Be sure to send a Confirmation Form home to the parents within 24 hours of the
conference.
Ideas for student responsibilities during the conference
• Introductions
• Agenda to follow. . . Plan for. . .Will students go to centers? What work will they have to demonstrate? Where will this work be located? Did you plan for a SmartBoard activity? Are all materials and equipment (if needed) ready? Where will students put their completed work when the conference is over?
• Review reflection sheet –academic
• Review behavior / attitude checklist
Set personal goals for upcoming weeks
Teacher responsibilities during the conference
• Teachers – should be one station during the conference. Other than that, the teacher should let the student lead the discussion of the learning. Teachers should be active in the room. Teachers should not disengage from the student/parent conference and work on other things. Watch and observe the student and parent interact. Be there in case of a question or if the child needs some guidance.
• Encourage the student to keep focused on his or her checklist.
• When you have a conversation, be positive and supportive, emphasizing the
things the student has accomplished.
• If parents want to speak to you about their child for more than 5 minutes, then ask
them to schedule another appointment for a parent/teacher conference.
• Encourage parents to fill out Evaluation forms.
Our Schedule for Communicating with Parents about Conferences
February 23 - Send home preference note to parents
March 2 - Schedule siblings
March 9 - Send home scheduled times to parents
March 19 - Send home reminder note to parents
March 20 and 22 - Student-led conferences
Kelly's Coaching Corner
Thursday we learned the 3 Reads Strategy. This video is an example of the strategy with lots of discussion and discourse with students. Please share pictures of your students learning this strategy. Also, remember I am available to support you.
Instructional Strategies Photos/Video Folder
Recognize Awesome Students
Excellence comes in many forms. It can be realized through hard work in the classroom. It can also be attained through artistic or athletic performance. Excellence is a product of dedication, passion, and a constant desire to improve. Nominate your JCPS Student Superstar(s) today!