Mustang Musings
December 1, 2019
The power of kindness
Julian was "that" kid. When Sandy visited his classroom during the first weeks of school, he was already seated at a desk, alone, far from the rest of the class. He was angry and was prone to outbursts. He was very behind in reading and not engaged during independent reading time. When Sandy asked about Julian, his teacher said that he wouldn't read and she could not do anything with him. Sandy asked her to just check in with him each day and take an interest in what he was reading. When Sandy followed up a few days later, the teacher said that she had tried it one day and it had not worked! Sandy asked her to try it again for many days in a row. The teacher did and the next time that Sandy visited, she found that Julian was a different child. He was much more engaged in reading and began to make growth. What made the difference? His teacher expressed an interested in him and what he enjoyed reading. He was also reading because he knew his teacher was going to check in with him at the end of every independent reading time and he had to be ready to talk to her! Such a big impact from a simple action. Never underestimate the power of positive attention and kindness.
ARC Focus of the Week
- We will use equitable conferences to meet the needs of all of our students.
- Our emergency students must be conferenced with 3 times in a 10 day period.
- At-risk must be conferenced with 2 times in a 10 day period.
- Proficient students must be conferenced with once in a 10 day period.
- Log home and school steps daily
- We will continue to focus on entering quality evidence into School Pace.
- Update reader and writer engagement scores. Students with a 1 or a 2 on reading engagement need an action plan.
IWCS Reading Goals
ALL learners will receive the differentiated support needed to ensure 1 year of reading growth.
And we are striving for GREATER with this added part of our goal...
Proficient learners will make at least 1.0 (1 year) of reading growth.
At-risk learners will make at least 1.25 (1 year and 2 and half months) of reading growth.
Emergency learners will make at least 1.50 (1 year and 5 months) of reading growth.
On Target for IRLA Reading Level
K- .30
1st- 1.30
2nd- 2.30
3rd- 3.30
4th-4.30
HES creates readers!
On Target for Reading Practice
What a difference a day makes....
STEPS calendar
Teach the Teacher
There are SO many ways to get our students excited about reading!
Book Trailers
Book Tasting
Interest Inventory
What can I do for you?
- Modeling
- Side-by-side coaching
- Coaching and modeling of using the IRLA
- Round up resources
- Assist with differentiating lessons or materials
- Cover your class so that you can observe a colleague's class
- Cooperatively plan a lesson or series of lessons that meet best practices
- Serve as another pair of hands for a lesson
- Offer strategies for classroom management
- Help you connect with other teachers in the district
- Lend an open ear for a topic of your choice
- Reflect on student learning in your classroom through conversation and observation
- Work collaboratively to bounce ideas off one another to address a concern
- Evaluate new students to guide instruction
Hardy Elementary School
Email: lhenk@iwcs.k12.va.us
Website: http://hes.iwcs.k12.va.us/
Location: 9311 Hardy Circle, Smithfield, VA, United States
Phone: 757-357-3204
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hardy-Elementary-School-205065852892284/
Twitter: @Mrs_Henk