Weather Creators

via GIPHY

We build relationships!  We are now well on our way to an amazing year.  During these first few days of the new school year we are all investing in a top ten strategy to increase student achievement, Building Relationships.  It has an effect size of 0.72.  From our book study this summer, Eric Jensen, states:

"When you care about your students, they respond, When kids like and respect you, they try harder."

"You have the ability to engage every student, every day.  But first, students need to believe that you're on their side, not an adversary."

"It's not student's job to change their lives to make their school work better.  It is up to schools to adapt to work better for students.  One of the most important factors affecting student engagement and achievement is class climate, and it's under your control.  Remember: you are more than the weather reporter; you are the weather creator!"

Yes, we do create the weather in our classrooms every day, every period, with every student.  How is it going?  Are you establishing those important early connections with students?  All students?  How are you doing this?  Are there repairs you need to make with some students already?  How will you make these repairs?  What is the impact of sending a student to the hallway?  What is the impact of sending a student to the ISS room?  What is the impact of this so early in the school year?  Because we are Lincoln and we are relationship builders we must continually reflect on these questions and know that we have the power to make a difference, to take control and be the determining factor in the classroom.

I often ask students at lunch, before school, "How are things going?"  Here is what one student said to me last week; "Not bad I just wish my teachers liked me."  I responded "Oh, I am sure that your teachers like you, they probably are just getting know you."  Remember that whether we like certain kids or not is not as important as whether they think you like them or not.  A lot of times we have to make them believe that you believe in them and that you like them.  This is who they are, they want adult connections, positive adult connections.  As we now get into our community circles during our advisory time this will continue to be a great way to connect with kids and to build relationships.  We also have the opportunity in each of our classrooms to "Create the Weather"

Check out this video:


Highlights for Week 1

Collaboration-  We had a great start to our Wednesday collaborations.  It was awesome to have our interventionists at the table as we discuss our collaborative questions and plan to meet the needs of all learners each week.  Great start, this is who we are!

iPads- As I walked around I saw teachers reviewing their classroom expectation and engaging students in some creative ways using the technology.  Kids are adjusting to their new technology.  Remember we will continue to learn ways to utilize the iPads to impact student learning and engagement.

Welcoming Students-  It has been awesome to see teachers at their doors each class period welcoming their students to your classrooms and encouraging them to have amazing days.  This is so important to creating the weather in the classrooms.  I have seen some great use of music in classrooms and some really engaging do nows to create the energy in classes right from the start.  Great work to everyone.  Keep up the energy!

One Team One Family-  How awesome was it to see so many in their new shirts on Friday.  Thanks to all teachers for wearing their shirts and for promoting One Team One Family.  We will have more days like these.  Congrats to House Tsunami for winning the shirt competition with 50 of their students sporting the shirts.  Next Friday will be House colors day.  The House with the most students wearing their colors will earn first place points.  Talk it up and earn the points.

Speaking of Houses- Check out the connections that House Thunder were making last week.



Upcoming @ Lincoln 

Monday PD-  We will meet in the Red Room at 7:45.  The agenda will be:

1. Connecting
2. Getting to Know our students
3. Creating NWEA groups 

    8/26- iPad Unconference

    9/9- Meeting the need of all learners

    9/16- Behavior RTI 

    9/23- Academic RTI 

NWEA Testing-  Here is the NWEA information and Instruction document.  Remember all students need to download the app from the Kiosk.  Please check out the student resources link on the student app.  All teachers should add accommodations to their special education students.  Teachers have received the accommodations in the IEP at a glance documents that were shared via the interventionists. There are some good videos that could be used for testing.  I suggest going over at least the testing tools with students.  This could be done on Monday in advisory classes.  (Community circles 15 minutes/NWEA prep 15 minutes) All teachers except Ryan Ahlrich will test their advisory students.  Each of the three testing days will be 2 hour delays.  

Technology Committee-  The technology committee will meet on Wednesday at 3:15.  They will review App requests and plan the iPad unconference time for next Monday.  Remember the iPad Questions document located on this blog for any questions that teachers may have.  

iPad Questions-  Apple tech, Bryan Gerofsky, will be back in the district next week to visit and assist each building.  He will be here on Monday from 9:45-11:00. He will be in the media center as a resource for questions, answers, conversations, etc.

PTO Meeting-  The Lincoln PTO will meet Monday at 6:00.  Teachers are welcome to attend.  

Storm TV- Coming soon our digital media students will be ready with the announcements on Storm TV.  All students should have the opportunity to watch the announcements during advisory time.  The should be shown on Mondays and Thursdays.  I suggest setting a timer each of these days as a reminder to watch and share time with the other happenings in advisory.  (ie. 15 minutes for community circles 15 minutes for Storm TV) 

Additional Information: 

Project: Looking for a relevant authentic project idea?  This could be for one of our service clubs or for a PBL project.  Have you noticed the new cafeteria items in the lunch line?  Maggie and her staff are preparing sandwiches each day for students and staff however all the sandwiches come in plastic containers along with plastic utensils.  These items produce more trash as they are being thrown out each day.  An interested group/class could have a tremendous impact on our school and the environment by designing a recycling plan to reduce the amount of trash that is accumulated each day here at Lincoln.  If your group or class is interested in such a project let me know.