Hawk Talk
Oh, The Places You'll Go!
First --- Have you maintained and communicated high expectations for students? For yourself?
Second --- Have you worked purposefully to build and maintain positive relationships with students, parents, and colleagues?
The end of first quarter is a great time to get a pulse on where you at in working towards both of those goals. Why are those goals the two I ask you to reflect upon? The answer is simply this: Our work towards those goals must guide our actions each and every day. The expectations we set for our students and for ourselves dictate the results we get. We agreed as a team to work towards seeing 80% of our students achieve proficient/advanced scores across the board this year. As we end first quarter, are your students where you would like them to be with their instructional goals for the first quarter? What actions resulted in the results you are currently seeing? What steps are you taking to continue growing as a professional? These are important questions for us to consider as we plan for second quarter.
As we consider the expectations we set academically, we also must consider the quality of relationships we have built with students, families, and colleagues. Uniting as a team and trusting one another at all levels is an important part of our work together. When we trust one another and work for a common purpose, we achieve better results. This is true for us at the classroom level with our students, at the family level as we partner together, and at the building level as we work as a team.
Take a moment to stop and reflect...pause....reflect a little longer...then make a plan. What steps will you take in second quarter to ensure that our students receive the best education each and every day? What actions are necessary in order to make that happen?
Writing Workshop
As I share that, I want to be clear in sharing the WHY behind each of these pieces of data. There is no better way for us to reflect as teachers than for us to take a look at our implementation and have some actual data to tell us a few things: Are we using our time effectively in writing workshop? What pieces are solid and in place in the workshop and what pieces might be a little shaky? What pieces might be missing entirely? As a teacher of writing, how am I spending my 60 minute writing block with my students?
During this observation, you will NOT receive a NEE feedback form --- as this is not an observation in NEE. It is an observation to track those two pieces I mentioned before: use of time, expectations. Each of you will receive data specific to your classroom, and we will create an overview of data to show the status of our school. After exploring and reflecting on this data, we will schedule observations in model classrooms within HPE and outside of HPE, which will allow each of you to observe others in writing workshop. The data that you gain from your observation, along with your own reflection as a teacher, will guide what you are looking for as you observe in model classrooms.
I am excited to hear the conversations that arise after each of you receives your data. The reflection and collaboration among our team will be a benefit to our students and to our learning together!
Proud to Be Hawks
Yes, we have much to do and we all wish there were more hours in the day. But ask yourself this question --- can you think of any better way to spend your time than making a difference in the lives of our students?
If your answer is yes, then keep that passion for teaching at the forefront and remember that each and every day we are here to give our students our very best. If your answer to that question is no, then I invite you to have a conversation with me about why you are feeling that way. Are you still passionate about teaching? How can we ignite that passion?
As a team, the experience we create for our students each and every day matters. The passion and excitement we bring to each lesson makes a difference. Let's make a positive difference in the lives of our students together!
Important Dates
10/5- 15 STAR Testing Window
10/14/2015 HPE Staff Meeting at 4:00 pm
10/15/2015: Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill at 10:15 am
10/15/2015 Lions Club visits 3rd grade to deliver dictionaries
10/15/2015 Health Department visits 5th grade for chat
10/15/2015 Eagle Fork Family Fun Night 5:30-7:30 pm (rainout date is Oct. 20)
10/16/2015 School Picture Retakes
10/17/2015 Education Foundation Art/Memorabilia Auction Fundraiser (evening)
10/20-22 Parent Teacher Conferences (Oct 22 is late night)
10/23/2015 NO SCHOOL
10/27/2015 - 3rd Grade Symphony Field Trip
10/26-30 Red Ribbon Week
10/29/2015 5th grade Flag Presentation - Marine Corps League @10 am
10/30/2015 Fall Parties 2:15-3:15 pm
11/7/2015 PTO Spaghetti Dinner and Auction
11/11/2015 Veteran's Day Assembly (time to be determined -- Dan Busekrus will speak)