November 12, 2018
A Communication Tool for the Seven Hills Staff
Staff May Wear Jeans With College Colors Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Professional Attire With College Colors on Tuesday for Holiday Lunch.
Trust is the Foundation of Empowerment:
"Trust between you and your students and between your students and their peers sets the stage for empowerment. Trust is created by a deliberate focus on our credibility and the 13 Behaviors of High Trust, both of which have been proven to be predictive of trust in an organization. Trust affects our ability to do everything else in the classroom."
Each of us can better ourselves and our practices with each of the 13 trust behaviors. For the next few weeks, we will spend time reviewing the behaviors and sharing tips and strategies for action. We reviewed the first 3 a few weeks ago:
- Talk Straight
- Demonstrate Respect
- Right Wrongs
- Create Transparency
Trust Behavior 5: Show Loyalty: Give credit to others. Speak about people as if they were present. Represent others who aren't there to speak for themselves. Don't "bad mouth" others behind their back. When you must talk about others check your intent.
You can make this behavior visible to students and peers by:
- choosing words that affirm the worth and potential of those you speak about
- speaking about people as if they were present.
- I want to acknowledge ____ for this accomplishment.
- Thank you for your tremendous contribution.
- What is in the best interest of this person?
- How do you think we should discuss this situation with this person?
- Sounds like you need to speak to _____ directly. (This will shut down gossip)
Trust Behavior 6: Deliver Results:
Establish a track record of results. Get the right things done. Make things happen. Accomplish what you are asked to do. Don't compromise and underdeliver. Don't make excuses for not delivering. This trust behavior connects directly to 4Dx! Keep the main thing the main thing, and focus on a high functioning whirlwind and the wildly important.
You can make this behavior visible to your students and peers by:
- Choosing your promises carefully.
- Choosing priorities based on principles and desired results (is this in the high functioning whirlwind and wildly important?)
- Asking for help when you need it. (know your limitations and get better by asking for help)
Deliver Results Talking Stems:
- What specific targets are we expected to accomplish? By when?
- What are our criteria for success?
- By the deadline, I commit to deliver...("DO" component of PLC Learning Cycle)
- What do we need to DO to get these outcomes?
- Which of these needs or targets is MOST important?
Trust Behavior 7: Get Better:
Continuously improve, increase your capabilities. Be a constant learner. Develop feedback systems - both formal and informal. Act upon the feedback you receive. Thank people for feedback you receive. Don't assume your knowledge and skills will be sufficient for tomorrow's challenges. This trust behavior challenges us all to be learners and model a willingness to learn.
You can make this behavior visible to students and peers by:
- Demonstrating that you are willing and committed to learning from your mistakes.
- Valuing and focusing on learning. Use proactive language to turn mistakes into opportunities to improve.
Get Better Talking Stems:
- Where can I get better?
- How am I doing now?
- What specifically do we need to do better?
- How will we get feedback?
- Thanks for the feedback. I'll act on it.
My challenge to you this week is this...choose at least one of these behaviors to practice...be intentional when practicing. An easy area to practice is writing your own personal or professional WIG or updating a team WIG, and modeling/sharing with your students. Another easy area to focus is on getting better...how will you use the learning from Thursday 's staff PD to improve instruction this week?
On Friday, reflect on your efforts. What do you notice about yourself and the level of trust with students, peers, and in your class after focusing on this trust behavior?
Maintaining a High Functioning Whirlwind & Focusing on the Wildly Important:
Phonics and Vocabulary Instruction: We had time in our staff professional learning on Thursday to refocus on the wildly important. What new learning did you or your team have? What commitments will you make based on the new learning? What additional support do you need? Your teams will continue to discuss the learning in PLCs this week.
Lexia Updates:
We have an opportunity for face-to-face training with Lexia next week! So, be thinking about all of your questions to ask! I know I have a few of my own. We only have a half-day scheduled for Seven Hills, and we will have to be creative with who attends when. Unfortunately we will not be able to support entire grade levels attending in all grades. At least one representative per grade level will be in attendance and able to go back and share new learning! We have worked to make sure all new hires, who did not use Lexia last year, are able to attend. If I have missed someone, please, please, please let me know. The schedule is below. The training is Friday morning, November 16.
Friday, November 16 Lexia Training Schedule:
8:00 – 8:55: 5th Grade, Beck, Ehn, Argo
8:55 – 9:50: 4th Grade, Dodson, Sparks
9:50 – 10:45: 3rd Grade, Mitchell, Tucker
Resource, Interventionists, Reading Recovery, etc…your attendance is encouraged. Please choose a session to attend.
K-2 teachers on the list, someone will cover your class for the time assigned. Please be prepared with plans.
#7HillsLEADS...A Challenge:
Last Week's #7HillsLEADS Twitter Challenge Winner is....
Laura Sammons
The challenge continues this week...Are you sharing your story?
Each week, we will be monitoring Twitter to see who is tweeting and which tweets capture our GREATNESS! We are looking for instructional greatness...student greatness...team greatness...school greatness...community greatness...habit greatness...you get the idea...GREATNESS! When you tweet, make sure you use the campus hashtag, #7HillsLEADS and if appropriate tag @TheLeaderinMe , and/or me n your tweets.
Weekly winners will receive a traveling trophy (it lights up...so fun!) AND a treat. At the end of November, the staff member with the most tweets will receive a prize!
Habit Focus of the Week: Habit 3
Habit Huddle Connection:
3rd Grading Period Habit Huddle Partner Assignments:
Staff 7x7 Week 3:
Looking at Day 5 of Week 3, Covey reminds us that quadrant 2 is the quadrant of effectiveness. Your challenge this week is to identify a Quadrant 2 activity that you have been neglecting and make a plan to take action. Put first things first this week, and hold your accountability partner accountable. Are you meeting with your accountability partner regularly? Are you tracking your meetings? Remember, it only takes 14 minutes!
Habit 3 Connection:
Habit 3, Put First Things First, is at the heart of effective self-management. It is the ability to organize our time around the most important things. Are you spending time on the most urgent (common paradigm), or are you spending your time on what is most important (highly effective paradigm)?
When you practice Habit 3, you:
Focus your highest priorities (quadrant 2)
Eliminate the unimportant (quadrant 3 and 4)
Plan every week
Stay true in the moment of choice
Habit Family Challenges:
This cycle of habits, we will offer opportunities for families to learn more about each habit each week. Families who complete the challenges will receive recognition on the boards in the cafeteria. Activities will be in mailboxes by the end of the day on Monday.
From The Assistant Principal:
Emotional Intelligence:
Emotions can either enhance or derail classroom performance. Interest and amusement, for example, harness attention and promote greater engagement. Boredom, anxiety, and fear disrupt concentration and interfere with the ability to learn. Extreme emotions like chronic stress, sometimes arising from trauma or the perception of danger, can result in the persistent activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the release of stress hormones like cortisol. Prolonged release of these hormones affects the brain structures associated with executive functioning and memory, hindering a student's ability to learn and thrive in school and in life.
Research shows that emotional intelligence is associated with a wide range of positive outcomes among children and adolescents, including improved cognitive and social functioning, psychological well-being, and higher academic performance. Emotional intelligence is also associated with less stress and burnout and greater job satisfaction among educators. Our own observational studies have shown that classrooms rated higher in emotional intelligence have students who are more engaged, behave in more prosocial ways, and learn better.
You may consider displaying a mood meter in your classroom to promote self-awareness.
Attendance:
I sent out communication to parents about excessive tardies and absences. Please continue to let me know about students who are consistently absent or late to school.
From the CIT:
Remind students who made the cut for the Seven Hills Spelling Bee to study for the December 18th competition.
Assessments this week:
Kinder-4th Grade
None
5th Grade
11/12- 11/14 5Science.3Force/Energy CBA
Upcoming Assessments for the following week:
None
From the Librarian:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18dRnrcUvsZjwSiXTF90xSAk3M7HsZUb5d6Ykv-wGWW0/edit?usp=sharing
Thank you to those of you who brought your classes for the Turkey Hide-Out Stem activity. It was fun!
Please remind kiddos that when I am teaching or reading to a class they need to wait if they have questions or need help. I will start hanging a sign on the door as a reminder too.
If you are willing to have some UBC kiddos come in your room at lunch or before school this week, please let me know. I will open the library Monday-Wednesday during lunch for those kiddos that want to come. They may bring their lunch.
Campus and District Announcements and Updates:
Reminder to let Lighthouse Team know what service project your grade level has chosen. https://goo.gl/forms/Q9hfGZfBhwg4VKfM2
- Please remember to check ride changes every day in the google folder. We add changes until 2:45 when the bell rings.
Save the Date:
- Lighthouse Team Meeting, 3:30 Zoom Conference with Robin
Tuesday, November 13:
- Thanksgiving Lunch
- Grade Level PLCs
- Lighthouse Action Team Meetings, 3:15 (all staff are a part of an action team)
Wednesday, November 14:
- Meredith on campus for planning and coaching support
- Kim off campus at Principal PLC
- Tanya off campus at Leader in Me Coaching Day
- 4th Grade MegaLabs with Rebecca Maddox
Thursday, November 15:
- Depth and Complexity PD with Nicole Wallis
Friday, November 16:
- Lexia Professional Learning
Happy Birthday to You:
Barbara Reyes 11/12
Kaitlyn Ehn 11/15
Cari Wells 11/20
Please Share This Information With Parents:
Check Out the Latest Edition of the Campus Newsletter:
Reindeer Romp:
It’s time for the 11th annual Reindeer Romp! Join the fun as we get a great workout while raising money for your school.