CSE STAFF UPDATE
Weekly Office MEMO
Week Of August 21, 2017
#TOP20- BE CURIOUS
Communication Gone Wrong
Communication is a very dynamic and difficult concept to do well. Why is this? This is because we all have different backgrounds and relationships that can make the same message mean different things to different people. As humans, we are sense makers, and as sense makers we want to understand the world around us. My wish for us as we continunue this year is to increase the volume in our High Quality Communication, and, when needed, follw the Top 20 Principle of "BE Curious"
As we begin a new year, let us be committed to "Being Curious" and asking questions before judgment. Let us assume the best intentions among each other. Let us view each other as humans on the other end of the radio communication.
If you have any questions about CSE, Direction, or Decisions.. please do not hesitate to ask me or the appropriate committee chair or CSE office member... we definitely want to know "What Each Other is Sinking"!
Have a great week!
Eric
Weekly Schedule
Monday 8/21
- Office Open
- District CI/RtI/SD at RHS
Tuesday 8/22
- Office Open
- New Staff Workshop
Wednesday 8/23
- Office Open
- New Staff Workshop
Thursday 8/24
- Office Open
- New Staff Workshop
Friday 8/25
- Office Open
Important Upcoming Dates
New Staff Workshops:
Aug 22, 23, 24 (Tuesday to Thursday)
All New Staff—Tuesday, August 22
New Teachers—Wednesday, August 23, and Thursday, August 24
ROCORI Back to School Workshop Week- August 29-31 (Click HERE) for agenda.
CSE OPEN HOUSE - Wednesday, August 30th, 6:00-7:30
Opening Day!- Tuesday September 5th
School News/ Annoucements
Access your 2017-2018 Back To School Workshop Week Schedule HERE
School Class Lists/ Family Welcome Back Letters are out! Questions? Ask @ the CSE Office
Congrats, Kudos, and Thank You!
Thank you to the CSE office staff for the incredible commitment to getting ready for the 2017-2018 School Year!
Committee Updates:
Click HERE to access the CSE committee memberships
Why do we have Committee Structure at CSE?
1. To improve decision making process/feedback between staff/administration
2. To Empower Staff to See the Problem/Own the Problem #TOP20
3. Amplify All Voices at CSE
4. Assist in the overall communication and governance at CSE
RtI (Response to Intervention)
- District Meeting 8/21/17 at RHS
CI (Curriculum and Instruction)
- District Meeting 8/21/17 at RHS
- Need a New District Rep from Building CI
SD (Staff Development)
- District Meeting 8/21/17 at RHS
SC (Site Council)
- Need a new Chair!
Literacy
Fun/Climate
Health, Safety, Building Improvement
- Lounge Updates -Input Committee Wanted
Family Groups
Spartan Pride
Digital Leadership
#CSESTRONG Weekly Staff Mindfulness Challenge
GRATTITUDE
Daily 5 Tip of the Week
August 11, 2017
Issue #474
“Try it, you’ll like it!” is a phrase I frequently heard while growing up. My mom was an experienced cook, but I was not an ideal taste tester. While the rest of our family raved about her meals, I picked them apart or asked for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich—not because I didn’t like what was served, but because I was too stubborn to even try it. My reasoning was that I knew what I liked and what worked for me, so what was the point of trying something else?
When I went to college, my persistent and patient mom told me I was going to have to expand my palate because peanut butter and jelly was not always going to be an option.
“What will happen when you go home with a friend for the weekend and their family fixes something new?”
“What about business dinners later in life?”
“What will you eat when you go to weddings and other social events?”
“How will you cook for your family when you have children?”
They were all questions worth considering.
Slowly I began to try things. Some I didn’t care for, whereas others were a pleasant surprise that I couldn’t believe I had missed out on for years. It was not easy for me to break out of my comfort zone and try new things, but it was necessary and rewarding, and resulted in my adding new items to the limited list of foods I liked.
When we continue to experience only what is familiar to us, we close the door to endless possibilities. It is easy to do . . . even in the classroom. I found myself frozen in that spot before I started using Daily 5 in my kindergarten class.
“I’m not sure when I’ll have time to launch Daily 5 because I have a list of first-week activities I like to use every year.”
“I form my small groups according to reading level, and that seems to work fine.”
“I understand choice is part of Daily 5, but putting students in groups and rotating them around is more manageable for me.”
“If what I’m doing is working, why change?”
Those comfort thoughts were the equivalent of the comfort food of my childhood. So I expanded my teaching palate by opening the door to Daily 5 and I learned that
taking time to teach learning behaviors for Daily 5 and Math Daily 3 at the beginning of the year made our use of the time that followed more efficient and productive;
forming groups based on student need instead of level heightened engagement and accelerated student growth; and providing choice of where to sit, what task to complete, what to write about, and what to read was motivating for students and enhanced their comfort, which led to longer stamina.
Change brought opportunity for new growth. I said no to the status quo and yes to manageable behaviors in the classroom, accelerated student learning, motivated students who were engaged in self-selected, good-fit books, and much more. Not doing Daily 5 or CAFE yet? Let me channel my mom and say, “Try it, you’ll like it.”
Old Weekly Updates
Cold Spring Elementary
Email: cseoffice@rocori.k12.mn.us
Website: http://www.rocori.k12.mn.us/cold-spring-elementary
Location: 601 Red River Avenue North, Cold Spring, MN, United States
Phone: 320-685-4951
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cserocori/
Twitter: @CSEROCORI