Mustang Message
October 19, 2015
A Principal's Perspective
We have been challenged to "miss big" when teaching. How do we design our classroom environment and our instruction to allow our students to "miss big?" In a Harvard study, a researcher found that hospitals that were most successful had a safe zone where mistakes could be shared openly for further discussion and improvement. Better hospitals were not necessarily smarter or more talented, they had what the researchers called a "psychological safe zone: a shared place where mistakes weren’t hidden, but discussed in the clear light of day." They further stated that our brains are wired to excel when we feel safe. "Brains are keenly sensitive to safety, and react with the equivalent of an on/off switch. When we get signals that we’re safe, we can relax, switch on, and perform to our potential. But when we get signals that we’re unsafe, we instinctively revert into what some call the “critter state”: fearful, twitchy, hunkered down. We switch off." What can we do as educators to foster a psychological safe zone in our classrooms and school? The researchers suggested three things: model making mistakes, send the message early and often that making mistakes and talking about them are okay and finally being systematic where we can discuss mistakes to make connections and further ideas. Are our students truly safe to "miss big?"
Article Link: http://thetalentcode.com/2013/12/31/how-to-make-better-mistakes/
Be Legendary - See the possibilities!
Donna
Morning Duties of the Week
Morning Assembly (7:30): Rhine
Gym (7:20): Lake
Cafeteria (7:20): Murphy
Bus (7:20 - Buses/ Cafeteria after all buses arrive): Jankowski
Parent Drop Off Traffic: Parr
Parent Drop Off: McMurray & Littlefield
Counselor Schedule: 1st & 2nd
Librarian: at GP
Week at a Glance
Monday: Grades due to SPED
Tuesday: 3rd Grade Chemistry Road Show at George Bush Library; Tech Training 3:30-4:30 (YouTube, 5 Appmazing Apps, Yoki & Tackk)
Wednesday: Running Club 3:00-3:45; Open Tech Support with Parr Room 405 3:15-4:00
Thursday: Make-up SIT; 3rd Grade Musical 8:30-3rd, 4th & K, 1:30-1st & 2nd (3rd & 4th Switching CAMP times); REACH 3:15-4:15
Friday: Kinder Fall Festival; Fire Prevention Presentations during CAMP; Life Skills Field Trip
News & Notes
- GP Social Dues: Dues are $25 for full-time staff, $12.50 for part-time staff and $15 for paraprofessionals. Please pay in CASH to your team representative. Team rep turn in team funds to Deanne, secretary, when collected. Our goal is to collect all the dues by the end of October.
Grants: PTO Classroom Innovative Grants due November 16th (note date change from previous Smore). PTO Grants will be awarded Monday, December 7th. CSISD Foundation Grants awarded November 9th.
ARD Notices: Please be sure to return any signed ARD Meeting Notices that you may receive as soon as possible, This will help Cindy Wellmann and Lara Lewis when scheduling/confirming ARDS.
Selfies: Selfies due Monday in Social Committee Selfies Folder in the Teacher Scratch Folder.