I am learning a lot this summer about the importance of staff retreats. It is vital in order to get your entire team heading in the right direction! Below are my agendas for both Team Leader and Staff Retreat. I also love the idea of goodie bags at both!
This past Monday, our staff was sent off into the summer with our awesome book study we are doing this summer called "Kids Deserve It." We are all jazzed about it and we are tweeting out using our new school hashtag #hillchat101. Follow us there to see all of our reflections!
Greetings you all! I hope you have a fabulous weekend and here's to starting off a new week in a new month! Quick shout out to Arryn and Stephanie as they have rolled out some of the most amazing morning announcements that we have ever seen! Thank you for being innovative inside the box and giving our sweet babies another way to shine!
Quote of the Week
"Give to the World Your Kindness and Your Joy and Watch What Happens."
How can you give your joy and kindness to a student or staff member next week? If we all did this, what difference would it make?
On Deck for the Week:
Video of the Week:
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/quick-student-assessment
Student Assessment Strategy: Twitter Style Exit Slips
www.teachingchannel.org
Fun way to assess student learning. Using a twitter style exit slip, teachers can gain a quick understanding of what their students know.
The last 10 minutes of our lessons and blocks are crucial for us to have our scholars stop and reflect on their learning. How can you use twitter style exit tickets this week to end one subject or lesson? How will it tell you where your students still need to go? If you are willing to try it, let me know so I can come in and CELEBRATE YOU!
Building Up Your PLN: Professional Learning:
Do you listen to Podcasts? I know I sure do. I love getting little nuggets of truth on my way to work or while journaling and reflecting at home. Below is a GREAT Podcast for teachers from Angela Watson. They are 10 minutes long and have quick strategies and ideas to implement in your classroom. Enjoy!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id954139712
Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers by Education Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts
itunes.apple.com
Download past episodes or subscribe to future episodes of Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers by Education Podcast Network for free.
Final Thoughts to Ponder:
When is the last time you felt pure joy? How do you create space for joy to be part of your life every day? My hope is that every day you make space for joy to creep into your heart and soul. Find joyful moments and share them with others around our building. Joy changes lives, I truly believe it.
One quote that sums up the way I lead is "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." I love building capacity within my campus to show teachers their role, responsibility, and relationship to our vision and mission. When I get their commitment on this level, they truly have committed and will work 100% towards our goal. This picture sums up what brings me all the joy in the world in my job:
I am currently an Interim Associate Principal at a school in Arlington. Seeing that I am leading the work that the current principal has created while trying to build trust as quickly as possible, I have learned that it has to be an intentional balance. One way I do this is by conducting Post-It Note Walks once a week, usually on Fridays. I create time in my schedule to get into every classroom and look just for something positive I see, with the students or with the teachers. Before leaving the classroom, I write my praise on a post it, stick it on the door, and head to the next class. WOW! The impact this has had on the teachers in just 2 months is unreal. I have been able to push teachers further and coach them quicker because they know I am on their team. My vision for our school is that everyone would be a learner-teachers, students, leadership, community. By setting the tone, being in the classroom daily, and leaving positive feedback, teachers are open to learning from me which then inpacts our students. It is a win! Try it for yourself-I promise it works!