Lovett Notes
A Newsletter for Lovett Staff
Coming up this week!
Thursday 11/30
Holiday in the Park(Chorus performs at 7:30)
IAT
Magnet Tour 9-10 and 1-2
SWPD@ 3:30
Friday 12/1
Nurse field trip to Eye Institute 8:15-1:30
(see email for student list)
Finish Stronger!
The start of our school year was a little rocky! But with the support of our community and hard work and dedication from each of you, the normalcy of a structured and engaging school day was back to their lives. We are now twenty days from the close of the first semester and our challenge is to FINISH STRONGER ensuring that high levels of learning is happening for all our your students AND if students are having challenges you know why and have taken steps to help them over the hump.
As educators we have a greater moral purpose. In our walls we have some of the most talented people I have ever worked with. You could have chosen a different field of work, but you were drawn to this profession where the future and well being of children are placed in your hands. It's a HUGE responsibility and we must never forget "why" we are here....FINISH STRONGER!
"Failure is not an option AND it begins with you!"
At the beginning of the school year, we discussed HRO's(High Reliability Organizations) and the principles of an HRO. One of the principles is a preoccupation with failure. At Lovett failure can not be an option for our students; the consequences are just too great!
During the first quarter, I examined our failure list. We had a 65 students who failed the first quarter. As I reviewed each name, I was discouraged to find patterns that some of our neediest students are the ones that are failing. Needy meaning there are challenges that they face that might interfere with their learning or their speed of learning with in the time frame they are given to learn a concept. This is not a discussion solely about grades, it is much deeper. We know that grades reflect a student's mastery of the concepts taught. However when we look deeper the discussion should be about WHY these students are not showing mastery and what is being done about it.
I would ask that each teacher take a close look at students in their classroom that are not being successful. As you look, I want you to resist the urge to look outside of your own circle of influence for reasons why a student or students are not being successful. You, me, and our collective school must look deeper at what we can and must do to help all students be successful.
Failure is NOT an option! Food for thought
As you reflect on your students that are not succeeding, I invite you to reflect on the following questions individually and to take time in your PLC to reflect together. As you reflect however, remember to keep at forefront the needs of your students. Happy reflecting!
1. If failure is not an option, is it okay to not notify parents of a student's failure for weeks at a time?
2. If failure is not an option, is it too much work to allow a student to re-do an assignment, test or quiz to show you that after additional instruction they have now mastered the concepts taught?
3. If failure is not an option, one of the most powerful first steps is ensuring that the first time you teach a concept it is solid. You have planned for it, you know misconceptions that students might have, and you have taught critical strategies to help those that need to use the strategies. Can you give you strongest first teach if you are not planning or not studying your plans?
4. Who is responsible for ensuring that a student masters the content? Is it the teacher, student or parent?
5. Who do you need to become as a teacher to ensure that failure is not an option for your student?
There are many more questions that you can reflect on and I hope that you come up with some of your own. Remember, not making failure an option begins with YOU!
Teaching with Intention: First steps to failure not being an option!
Below are points you have seen before, but they are more applicable than ever when we think about our push for all students to successful. Teaching with intention is a key element to failure not being an option for our students. Below are a few points for reflection:
1. Know your curriculum! Know all the in's and outs, the what's important and what's not. Know the level at which your students need to learn and be able to apply the skill
2. Step outside your comfort zone. If you've always taught something a certain way, evaluate if its the most effective way to teach it or to teach it to your current group of students. If it is not, don't hang on to that strategy or method just because you are comfortable with it.
3. Move beyond the worksheet! Worksheets have a place in learning, but they can become a crutch both for teachers and for learners. The preparers of the worksheet have no knowledge of your students, their interest and what excites them about learning. Make your learning activities authentic.
4. If you don't know...ask somebody! You have amazing colleagues all around you, ask them, use their resources, ask them for advice and for feedback. However, the trick is..do something with what they offer. If you don't like the feedback, is it your ego or maybe fear of trying something new?
5. Don't wait! Someone once told me that the shelf life for our student is very short, meaning their window for learning is short and they loose when we wait to fix it! The fix is not always easy, however when you know that you are not reaching your students(even one) there must be urgency in taking students to fix it!