Shull and Peculiar STEAM TEAM
Update Week of June 13, 2016
Reflections About Our Summer Family
My expectations for a peaceful day were squashed when I realized my friends had never fished Lake Taneycomo. Worse yet, they were convinced they "knew" how to fish for trout and from our conversation I could tell they really had NO IDEA!
When we arrived at Trout Hollow, I observed 2 different mindsets quickly emerge. My friend Jim (growth mindset) arrived and began asking questions to anyone and EVERYONE he ran into. My friend Jason (fixed mindset) grabbed his gear and went to the boat slips confident he knew everything he needed to know.
We loaded the boat with our gear. After the resort owner answered a few more questions from Jim, we were on our way. We began bumping our way down the lake which is more like a river. I heard Jason exclaim, I'm just using a "rooster tail" because that's what I caught my first trout on and it works every time. I just smiled and nodded my head. Jim tried a few different things he thought would work and when I pulled in my 6th trout he looked to me and asked, "Can you show me how you set up your rigs?" Needless to say, Jason got skunked that day. Jason caught 3 trout only after changing his ideas about trout fishing and finally setting up his rod differently.
Although, Jim caught the first fish and the most (beginner's luck).. I did catch the biggest trout measuring 14 inches.
The moral of the story is... There was benefit in letting my friends experience their failures before they were willing to learn and try a different way. (Honestly, I think they were worried they would be "out-fished" by a woman!)
This was also the first time, I had uninterrupted time to sit and think about the amazing journey we are taking together. Here are my thoughts.
- Just like my fishing companions had to learn a different way of fishing.. Keep pushing yourselves to try something new. Push the boundaries of your teaching practices. Reach out to each other and embrace a different way.
- Trout can see the "wrong color" of fishing line just like our students realize when you are really excited about the learning you are facilitating or just trying to "fake it until you make it."
- You have to know where the trout are.. just like you need to know where each student is in their academic ability to make their summer school experience amazing and meaningful.
- It's all about having the right bait to lure trout in! Are you using the right bait? Are you bringing a level of excitement and enthusiasm to your classroom each day to lure your students into learning?
- It's so important to recharge and find your energy during your time off. What brings you happiness? What are you grateful for?
- Most importantly trout fishing is about "Staying Calm and Accessing your Brilliance"
Reminders from the Office
- Lunch Money Envelopes were sent to classrooms on Monday morning. If you did not receive one, let the office know.
- Continue to call the office if your dismissal list doesn't match your riders. It is no trouble for us to double and triple check. (Some parents call last minute, or kids go home sick) Better to be safe than sorry.
- We will be saying goodbye to a few students only attending session 1 and welcoming new students attending session 2 next Monday. Make a point to reach out to your new student families if you haven't already done so.
- We are here to help you!
Pre-Post Test Gratitude
Students only attending 1 session will still take the Post test. If it will help, Kiley and I can set up a testing time in the office to administer the test for you. Just let us know.
FAMILY LUNCH on THURSDAY
Principal's Challenge
You can choose your challenge
1) Give Meaningful Feeback- Often it is easy to slip into the habit of saying "Good Work" or "Good Job!" Instead make your feedback purposeful and meaningful to enhance the learning of your students. i.e. "I noticed you had several different ideas about how to solve the problem, you kept trying different ideas, until you found one that worked. How did that make you feel?"
2) Practice gratitude-Research proves that gratitude increases overall happiness. Find something to be grateful for and express your gratitude each day for 5 days. The video below shows what the micropscopic version of happiness looks like. "Molecules of the protein myosin drag a ball of endorphins along an active filament into the inner part of the brain's parietal cortex, which produces feelings of happiness." In case you always wondered....
Let me know via email or text the results of your challenge for a special prize!