Last Week Before Winter Break

Good Morning Deep Creek Family,

It was really nice seeing or staff relax, laugh together and enjoy some time together.  Being an educator is difficult and it is refreshing to see that we have a staff that has "each other's backs". Often frustration and stress seeps in and having others to assist, share similar stories, or just listen is so important. I know our staff shares in comfort that you have each other for support as I always feel comfort in knowing I have the rest of the core team for support.  I hope you know and feel that our core team is here to support you as well.   It's always easy to feel and appreciate this support during the holiday season when spirits are up.   The real test is making sure we continue during the second semester of the school year.

I do not want to get into dates, events, and tests that we will be conducting when we get back from break, but I do want to make sure we come back from winter break with this same momentum.  When we feel like everything becomes overwhelming and too much remember you have co-workers and friends to rely on.  In coaching terms, you are always stronger as a group.  I always feel there that there are lessons to use from sports teams because in the course of one game there is so much adversity, constant change, adjustments, and finally success or failure.  Often the best team at the end is the one that has had to experience failure along the way.  Below are some quotes that Adrienne passed my way that I feel are appropriate:

There are powerful lessons about professional knowledge that teachers can gain from sports teams and the military, as well as from business:

•"None of us is as smart as all of us."

      (quoted in Warren Bennis, 1997, Organizing Genius)

•Continual learning and improvement drive success.

•No individual team member can succeed without the rest of the team; distributed teamwork is critical for improvement.

•We do not know what we don’t know. We do not know what we know.

      (paraphrased from U.S. Government 9/11 Commission report)

•“In times of drastic change, it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves beautifully equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.”

      (Eric Hoffer)

 

I want everyone to have a terrific Winter Break.  I want to come back and be prepared for the challenges that face us and have a great 2016 year.  Together we can reach our goal of Deep Creek being the best school in the county and a great place for children to come to school each day. 

Nothing Less Than Our Success!

 

Thank you for all you do,

 

James

Coincidence or Not???

Good Morning Deep Creek Family,

The week off at thanksgiving was a much needed and refreshing break. Everyone has come back ready to get our i-Ready testing done. It is exciting when you share the high points of your results. We must celebrate these things so we don't beat ourselves up over the other things. Using this data to diagnosis student needs for the remaining instructional time is key. I am thankful we will receive our results before the break so when we return we can begin immediately with the prescriptive plan you design. 

I titled this MMM after this picture someone posted on Facebook. I had never seen it before but maybe you have. I agree coincidence or not it really substantiates what we all know to be true, our attitudes mean the most. Things we emphasize, students comprehend. Things we think are important, students think they are important too. Things we care about, our student care about. We have seen this in our families with our own siblings or children and then after becoming a teacher we see the same thing happen with our students. 

It is that time of year where the district asks you to fill out a survey rating this school. I am including the link and directions below. Wyatt will do his best to make sure all students take the survey during computer lab time. The window for students and staff to complete the climate survey will open December 4th and remain open until December 18th, 2015. You can access the survey via the link that is located in the "breaking news" section of the district website or click below. 

District Survey:

https://cfapps.yourcharlotteschools.net/survey/ 

We are not required to do the surveys below. We simply would like specific data about ourselves so that we can reflect, learn, and grow as well. The two surveys below are completely anonymous. We are NOT collecting log in information.  

McElroy Survey:
http://goo.gl/forms/8uB2gh0pl1

Vernon Survey:
http://goo.gl/forms/p09ygJQ1Zv

“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things. If it is heeded in time, danger may be averted; if it is suppressed, a fatal distemper may develop.”

~ Winston Churchill

Thank you in advance for your time to provide us with feedback. 
Adrienne 

Spread Kindness like it is Confetti

"Kindness is a language

that the deaf can hear

and the blind can see"

by Mark Twain

Good Morning,

I hope you all had a wonderful break and now the race is on until our next break. 

During this past week, I spent some time reflecting on moments shared with family, friends and co-workers. The best times are the ones when we are happy, smiling and laughing or providing acts of kindness. Research shows that being kind makes us happy and when you are happy you are more kind.  A wonderful cycle to create. My hope is that we all have a holly, jolly, joyful three weeks together. I read a few articles, watched some videos and pinned a few ideas about kindness that I would like to share.

"Kindness is not difficult.” "It doesn't require any money, any training, any real effort, and you can start right away either individually or as a team. That is the beauty of it! We spend around 2,000 hours a year with our co-workers. Given how much time we spend with them, a little bit of kindness can really go a long way. By committing ourselves to kindness, starting today, we can really make a difference where we work.

·        

•  Lead by example
• Put an end to petty criticism
•   Welcome new employees with open arms
•  Recognize one another's strengths, not weaknesses
• Be nice to the "others

http://www.reliableplant.com/Read/22751/Start-kindness-revolution-at-work

I pinned and saved an activity called the.12 Days of Christmas Kindness. Please send me an email if you would like to view the file and I will send it to you.

Have an awesome week and 

spread Kindness Like Confetti,

Jodie

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Here are a few little quips and quotes to add a little humor and wisdom to your holiday!

Enjoy...

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. --Oprah Winfrey

My cooking is so bad my kids thought Thanksgiving was to commemorate Pearl Harbor.--Phyllis Diller

You can say you ate too much for Thanksgiving when you have to let your bathrobe out. --Jay Leno

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. --John F. Kennedy

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence. --Erma Bombeck

I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land. --Jon Stewart

Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way. --Native American Saying

With love and many thanks--
Noelle

Being Thankful!

Good morning Deep Creek Family,

            One more week until Thanksgiving break-YES! We all know, and are aware, we need this time off to share it with loved ones. With Thanksgiving right around the corner it allows us reflect on what we are thankful for. I can honestly say, you all, are one thing I am beyond thankful for. In the past few weeks, not only myself, but you as well, have felt what it’s like to be stressed-whether it be school, home, or in life. We all have those moments in our lives-but we can’t let them define us. We all are strong in our own ways; we have to overcome the obstacles and struggles in our paths through being thankful. I recently read an article on the importance of being thankful and showing gratitude. You would be shocked to hear that by having both, thankfulness and gratitude, we can experience many health benefits. It states people that are grateful may be more likely to:

• ·         take better care of themselves physically and mentally
• ·         engage in more protective health behaviors and maintenance
• ·         get more regular exercise
• ·         eat a healthier diet
• ·         have improved mental alertness
• ·         schedule regular physical examinations with their doctor
• ·         cope better with stress and daily challenges
• ·         feel happier and more optimistic
• ·         avoid problematic physical symptoms
• ·         have stronger immune systems
• ·         maintain a brighter view of the future

Who wouldn’t want all these benefits in their life? Below are some simple steps to take so we can reap these health benefits.

Focus Attention Outward

Your attitude plays a large role in determining whether you can feel grateful in spite of life’s challenges. According to Emmons, gratitude is defined by your attitude towards both the outside world and yourself. He suggests that those who are more aware of the positives in their lives tend to focus their attention outside of themselves.

Be Mindful of What You Have

You may assume that those with more material possessions have more to be grateful for. However, research suggests otherwise. Edward Diener, a psychology professor at the University of Illinois, found that a high percentage of affluent people in Japan report low levels of life satisfaction, just as those living in poverty in India do. These findings suggest that it’s not how much you have, but how you feel about what you have that makes the difference.

Keep a Gratitude Journal

Recording what you feel grateful for in a journal is a great way to give thanks on a regular basis. Emmons found that those who listed five things they felt grateful for in a weekly gratitude journal reported fewer health problems and greater optimism than those who didn’t. A second study suggests that daily writing led to a greater increase in gratitude than weekly writing.

Reframe Situations as Positive

It’s not actually a challenging situation that is upsetting. It’s how you perceive the situation. The next time you find yourself complaining about life’s hassles, see if you can mentally “flip the switch” to frame things differently. For example, rather than getting down about missing an opportunity, try to see the positive side. You might now have more time to direct towards other priorities.

With this being said, I wish you all a great week before break. Enjoy your week off from work and take some time to relax.  I can’t thank you enough for all that you do for myself, and our school, you all are amazing Deep Creek Cub leaders!

Kristina

http://www.healthline.com/health/depression/giving-thanks#3

Remember we are in this together

Dear Deep Creek Family, 

We all know that successful relationships between Deep Creek Elementary and our students' homes is crucial for their success.  We all also know that sometimes it is often difficult to build these relationships with parents.  I know many of you feel that you are often pinpointed with all the blame if a student in not controlling his behavior, having trouble socially, or struggling academically, however the connection between school and home is important and we can not give up on trying to build that relationship.  I am not an expert on interacting with parents, but I do want to share my thoughts on building this relationship.

1. Parents/Guardians are our stakeholders; we have to make time for them
2. Remember our student is their "Baby" and their "pride and joy"
3. Communicate with them regularly and timely
4. Truly listen and let their point be valued and heard
5. Look at problems from their perspective
6. Do not become defensive or look to place blame
7. Communicate that we are a team trying to help their child
8. Follow through with the plan you create, even if parent does not

Even after following all these items, building this relationship is sometimes still tough, but we still can not give up.  Remember not all of our parents were the "shining stars" when they were in school, some of them struggled, were picked on, or hated going to school.  They come to our conferences and our school functions with a negative attitude of the educational system.  We have to be patient and show them that we care about their children.  If there is one thing I want emphasize on this MMM it's that we have to be a team; they have to know we care about their child.  Children know your heart.  They know whether you are real.  They communicate this to their parents and this builds trust. It is not US against Them, for the students we have to work together.

I have attached a Thinking Map of adjectives that describe the best practices for parent teacher interactions as well as this website with more tips for effective Parent and Teacher communication.
www.teaching.about.com/od/pd/a/Parent-And-Teacher-Communication.htm

Thank you all for what you do each and every day.  I know I need to say it more, but I appreciate everything you all do to make Deep Creek a great place for children.  Have a great week.

James

Thank You

Dear Deep Creek Family, 

Thank you for all you do each and every day. 

Have a great week. I hope the week is as low key as this MMM. 

Thanks, 

Adrienne 

Did you know...

Dear Deep Creek Family, 

We all encounter times in our lives where we need extra support. Life gets stressful and our county offers some free assistance. If you are in need, please take advantage of the following program. 

Did you know that the Charlotte County School Board provides each employee a benefit called the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?  When you visit www.yourcharlotteschools.net, just click on Employees and then Employee Benefits. The information below is there for your viewing.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

What is an EAP?

An EAP is a benefit sponsored by your employer designed to improve the personal and professional life of you and your eligible dependents. All services are confidential and available at no cost.

Who is eligible to use the EAP?

You and your eligible dependents, including your spouse and children.

How do I contact the EAP?

1-800-272-3626

Are there online services available? If so, how can I access them?

Yes, there are online services available. To access the available online services, go to: www.mylifevalues.com and use the following information to login.
Username: Charlotte County School Board
Password: 8002723626

Your EAP provides you AND your spouse and dependents with FIVE (5) free face to face sessions with a mental health professional. These professionals are Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Psychologists, marriage and family therapists, or Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC). Anyone can take advantage of this benefit, both full time and part time employees and you do not need to be enrolled in any of the CCPS health plans to use it. This is a benefit to you as an employee.

When you call the 800 number, you will speak with a representative who will give you a list of professionals in the area.  You then decide which professional to use and set up your own appointment.  These services are confidential. The online services are also very helpful and is included in your EAP benefit.  Life can be challenging to deal with at times, and sometimes we need a person to help us work through the stressful times and to teach us more effective ways to cope.   I encourage you to look at the website and browse through all of the information, articles, and webinars that are available to you to familiarize yourself with the array of resources.  The representatives at the 800 number are also very helpful and will answer any of your questions!

Enjoy the week...
Noelle 

Have fun while teaching!

Dear Deep Creek Family, 

Welcome to Quarter 2-one down and 3 to go. Remember we are all in it together; we have each other’s back! As a fellow teacher, I can vow and say we sometimes fall into a rut. We get bored, we feel burnt out, we’re frustrated that our students are daydreaming and are not focused-we can’t let this happen though! We’ve all seen it, heard it, or done it. We are NOT those types of teacher, we are ones that engage, motivate, and entice the students. We need to focus on the good- having fun with our students. It all starts with US. If we have a good time, the students will as well. Our mood, how we portray ourselves, and how we speak to the children matter the most. They need role models that inspire them, enrich their brains, and promote growth. We, as a school, are positive and upbeat people. We walk around smiling, waving, and talking to our students; it shows we care and involved in their lives. Our mood transpires to them; so it’s important we express joy and comfort. When students are embraced with enthusiasm they will enjoy learning. Fun will actually promote learning by increasing dopamine, endorphins, and oxygen in the brain-all so important! ;) 

I know you are asking yourself how can I make my teaching more enjoyable for myself and my students-look no further than below. I’ve found the perfect resource, each one of the fifteen ways are right on target. I challenge you to read and use these in your classroom for Quarter 2. (You will probably shock yourself on how many you already do-you all are amazing teacher with some remarkable attributes)

How to Have More Fun Teaching

1. Discover new things together.
It’s much more fun for both parties when students and teachers learn new things together. Your job is, of course, to educate, but why can’t that process include the joy of shared discovery? Make a point each day of letting down your authoritative guard, humbling yourself, and enjoying the lifelong journey together–even if it’s just for a few minutes.

2. Incorporate mystery into your lessons.
Learning is the most fun when it’s surprising. Don’t just disseminate information; cloak it in mystery. Highlight the weird, the unusual, the unique. Ask questions. Start with a curious detail that can only be addressed by diving into the background of the subject and thoroughly exploring it. Pose a mystery at the beginning of the course and let your students work towards solving it throughout the term.

3. Be goofy; show you care.
Let loose; laugh; make fun of yourself. Don’t worry about sacrificing your authority. In fact, the latest research says authority stems from showing you care about your students, and making them laugh and feel good is one way to do that.

4. Participate in projects.
I had a creative writing professor at uni who would bring his own material to class for the students to workshop. It was great fun for all of us, and enjoyable for him as well. Stepping down to our level and actually participating in an activity he assigned himself made us all more engaged in the task because he was willing to be a part of it.

5. Avoid “going through the motions.”
If you feel yourself slipping into a rut, spending the same hours exactly the same way each day, stop and reassess your teaching process. It’s so easy to let it all become automatic, especially after twenty-plus years in the field, and to use the same lessons and techniques year after year with different students. But if it’s not fun for you, it won’t be fun for your students either. Make an effort to be fresh, try new things, take risks, make mistakes, enjoy the moment.

6. Flip your lessons.
Flipping your lessons will help you avoid boring in-class activities. If students watch lectures or correct their own homework the night before, you can spend the course period focusing on deeper learning. Everyone will appreciate the chance to reflect on, instead of repeat, the material.

7. Review–but don’t repeat–material.
It’s important for learning and memory to review new material regularly and to integrate it into the bigger picture shaped by old material. Spend an hour or two each week reviewing material from the past few weeks, but always position it within old material so that students see how it all fits together. Simply repeating new information represents a missed learning opportunity.

8. Share your passions.
Show students how you have fun. Passion is contagious. If you’re having a good time, chances are your students will too.

9. Laugh at your students’ jokes.
The best teachers I’ve ever had got a genuine kick out of their students. It’s one of the best ways to ensure teachers and students have fun: enjoy one another.

10. Replace lectures with conversations.
Why should teaching be so passive? Forget the sage on the stage and engage your students in a casual conversation like you would a good friend. This doesn’t necessarily mean asking more questions, but it does require a stylistic shift whereby you and your students are actively exchanging ideas–not just responding to them.

11. Put on a performance.
In his books and workshops, Doug Lemov talks about what pace to move around the room, what language to use when praising a student, how to adjust the angle of your head to let students know you’re looking at them. Teaching, he says, is “a performance profession.” You don’t have to be theatrical (though that might help), but you do have to be self-aware.

12. Enjoy yourself.
People with high confidence–people we respect and listen to–tend to have one important trait in common: they enjoy themselves. Quite literally. You’ll have a significantly better time teaching if you work on nurturing your personal relationship with yourself. Your
students will have a better time, too.

13. Make yourself available.
Don’t go to the teacher’s lounge during lunch; stay in your room and invite students to eat lunch with you. Keep your doors open after the bell rings at the end of the day. Make yourself available online for part of the evening. Hold one-on-one and group office hours. Invite students to your home for workshops or end-of-course celebrations.

14. Try being a student again.
Take a seat in the audience and let your students teach you for the day. Spend a week doing your own assignments. Let students grade you on projects or presentations.

15. Don’t take yourself–or your subject–too seriously.
One complaint I hear from students is that teachers don’t sympathize with the fact that their course isn’t the only course students are taking. Students have to balance assignments and material from several courses at once (you had to do the same thing not so long ago). This doesn’t mean loosening your rules or being lenient on late work; it means acknowledging that students have interests and priorities that might not line up with yours. Try to be understanding, and even express interest in other courses students are taking. Think of it as an opportunity to strengthen students’ grasp of your subject by relating it to other disciplines.


Every child is lucky to have you; don’t ever forget that. We all have our FUN moments, but now it’s time to focus on making our teaching MORE FUN so we all can reap the benefits! Hope you have a great week.

Again, thank you for all that you do, 

Kristina 

Cited From: https://plus.google.com/u/0/101796324413630088793#ixzz3ohBGAvYE

You are appreciated

Dear Deep Creek School Family,

It was nice to share success with all of you last Friday morning.  We know we have not reached our final goal, but we felt it was important to celebrate our improvements.  It gave us a chance to let you know that your work with our students is appreciated and we understand how hard you work. We know that decisions that are made don't always make life easier for you or that you often don't agree with the decisions.  Just know that every decision we make, we make in the best interest of our Cubs.  Also know that or offices are open and we will always speak to you about problems or your ideas.  Your input is valuable


Monday we do not have students and many of you have completed posting your grades.  With our upcoming SREF inspection coming sometime during the last week of October it would be a great time checking your room for violations.  I hate seeing many of you rushing around the last few days before the inspection to meet requirements.  I will email the SREF most common violations again to each of you so you can check your rooms.  Our custodial crew will be working during the day Monday so they will be available for help and answering questions.  The school will be open until 5:30pm on Monday.

Thank you for all you do,
James

Walk the Talk!

Dear Deep Creek School Family,

I'd like to welcome Dr. Becca Janiak to our third grade team. She will take over room J112. She will set up her room this week and begin transitioning her students on Thursday. Also, Dara Ferretti begins on Monday. She will be working with the kinder team for the month of October. We are so happy to welcome both of these talented ladies that are going to help us achieve our goals. 

'Walk the walk' is almost always said in combination with 'talk the talk', for example, "if you’re going to talk the talk, you’ve got to walk the walk", or "walk it like you talk it". This is a 20th century American alternative to various old sayings which epitomise the notion that 'talk is cheap', for example 'actions speak louder than words' and 'practice what you preach'. The context for the use of any of these expressions is in response to what is seen as empty boasting. (http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/walk-the-walk.html) Let's Walk the Talk from our Action Plans and School Improvement Plans. If we want to be the best elementary school then we have to walk the talk. We stated we were going to do these things well now we have to follow through on them.  I thank you for all the work you are doing to make sure our students are learning what they are supposed to be learning. I appreciate all you are doing to accommodate this change. Please remember change is rough and as we get into routines the change isn't so bad any more. 

This week I am focusing on the importance of monitoring our i-Ready data. In your boxes Monday morning, you will find a Class Response to Instruction report. Some of your students are doing a great job logging in and completing their lessons. Remember you must log in REGULARLY to be sure students aren't struggling in a domain. I have highlighted some positives and some areas I need you to address on each of your reports. Tuesday the i-Ready rep will be here during team meetings to help answer any questions you have regarding reports. Also, she will discuss a new standard assessment that we can possibly use for our iii program. I thank you all for the hard work you are doing with this program. I know it takes prep and collaboration - both of these things we need to fulfill the new superintendent's vision of One Team, One Voice, One Mission. In an effort to help with this our new additional computer labs should be up and running this week. In addition, Mr. Vernon challenged all the students in the cafe with earning a paw for the grade level who utilizes i-Ready the most. Remember the goal is 40 minutes per week in each subject. This can't be done in computer specials alone. 

Monday, October 12th we have decided not to have a faculty meeting. We recognize you need the time to plan. Please utilize the time to complete needed MTSS paperwork or meet with your case manager, work with your team on action plans, and/or hold a planning session for your team to discuss ways to make iii programs better. There is never enough time but we can be guilty of not using the time given. 

I hope everyone had a restful weekend. Please help welcome our new school family members. 

Thanks for all you do, 
Adrienne

Student Success for ALL!

Good morning-

Our BOY data is in, actions plans have been created, iii groups have been formed, and teachers are immersed in teaching core curriculum and differentiating instruction.  You may be concerned with those students who are not making gains despite your intervention strategies.  Below is the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) which is a framework to ensure successful education outcomes for ALL students.  The MTSS model uses a data-based problem solving process to provide and evaluate the effectiveness of multiple tiers of integrated academic, behavior, and social-emotional instruction/intervention supports matched to student need. Your teammates and case managers are here to assist with this process.

This problem-solving approach requires collaboration, organizing our tiers/iii time, and utilizing the strengths of those on our team.  The conversations that are generated during child talk also require trust...trust in ourselves and in our teammates.  This is the one point that hit home for me as I watched this video. EVERY student needs differentiated instruction. EVERY student needs to feel success. Sometimes we get into a negative frame of mind and get hung up on the how's and when's.  In order for all of use to feel success, we must be willing to trust in one another, keep a positive attitude, and use our precious time wisely to generate meaningful intervention strategies that will assist all of our cubs.

Thanks,

Noelle

Goals!

Good Morning Deep Creek Family,

First off, I want to personally thank each and every one of you for making our first data day a success! I enjoyed working with each team creating action plans with intervention strategies that will effectively reach our student’s needs. Not only are we working within our teams, we are working as a school- to raise the number of students proficient in each grade level. We are all dedicated, determined, and devoted Deep Creek leaders that put forth everything needed so that all of our students grow academically, socially, and behaviorally. I thank you for all that you do, your hard work does not go unnoticed.

With that being said, it’s important that we include our students in the goal making process. Students should be aware of how to create, work towards, and meet goals. For us, and students, goals help us in all aspects of life. We should be exposing and allowing all of students the chance to work toward a goal/s. Research shows that students' learning, motivation, and self-regulation can be improved when students pursue goals that are specific, proximal, and moderately difficult, receive feedback on their goal progress, focus their attention on learning processes, and shift their focus to outcome goals as their skills develop. We all do this at one time or another. It’s important that students are held accountable and have expectation to work towards, just like we do. On both ends, it required effort, time, and perseverance. We all hear those three words too often. We can help by maximizing our resources, working together, sharing ideas, and planning collaboratively.

In our data day we formulated goals of where we wanted our students to end, they can do the same thing. We set strategies to reach those goals and will revisit them every so often to track our goal progression. They should have specific learning outcomes that they can work toward and reach too, but in small steps. We are not superheroes although sometimes we wish we were. We have to break a part our goals into small digestible chunks before reaching our end. With that being said, help them strategize ways to reach their end goal by allowing them small steps along the way. We all have to cross a hurdle one time or another. Teach them that is okay. Allow for mistakes, everything is a learning opportunity to strengthen ourselves. Our children are active participants in helping us meet our teams, and schools goal-as well as their own. It’s vital that they understand what it is we both are hoping and striving towards. I included each team's action plans so there is an awareness with everyone on campus. We are in this together-Deep Creek Cubs are ONE- One Message One Voice One Team!

Thanks, 

Kristina

Attitude Reflects Leadership

Dear Deep Creek School Family,

“Remember the Titans” is my favorite movie for several reasons.  Partly because I love every movie that has Denzel Washington as its star, I love sports, but mainly as a coach/teacher I love the way the team becomes unified as the players and coaches learn to depend on and trust each other. 

If you haven’t seen the movie it takes place in Virginia in the early 1970s at two separate high schools.    To start the new school year, these two high schools integrate together to create TC Williams High School and a new African American coach, Denzel Washington, is appointed as the new football coach.  The movie goes back and forth as the players, coaches, adults, and the community come to grips with integration and all the changes that await for them in the school year. 

Change is hard.  In the movies, changes happen in 1.5 or 2 hours and everything comes out great.  In real life, it takes work, struggles, setbacks, and sometimes feeling like everything is stacked up against us.  Right now, watching the teams go through their data days is painful for me;  I want to support you, cry with you (I don’t cry though), give tough love and tell you not to give up.  When I first got here year last year, Mrs. DeGroot, was going through the LESRA model and changing the way Math was taught, the reactions were the same.  Later in the year, I remember hearing many of the staff say that they have seen improvements.  I believe the same will happen with the hard work you put in on these data days.

I have never heard one person at this school say, “I don’t want Deep Creek to be a great place,” or “I do not want to help my students learn.”  I know that your days are often difficult and challenging.  I know that some of you feel “fun” has been taking out of teaching.  I know that some do not agree with common core. I see your struggles and I never want to forget what it is like in the classroom.  But, at the beginning of this school year we all sat in our cafeteria and talked about success, doing our best for our students, and having positive attitudes.  We can’t forget these things 4.5 weeks in to the year.  WE have to be unified, depend on each other, and trust each other.

Back to my movie, “Remember the Titans.”  There is a scene where the captain of the team is complaining to another player on the team about everyone giving up and having a poor attitude.  That player looks up and says, “attitude reflects leadership, captain.”  That line has stuck with my whole teaching and coaching career.  My team, my classroom, and my family reflect my leadership.  Your classroom reflects your leadership.  My role has changed, but this school reflects mine and Adrienne’s leadership.  We want to be proud of that reflection.

I know I was supposed to use my MMM week to talk about attendance and behavior, but I just wanted to let the staff know I feel your struggles, I see your obstacles, but we cannot use them as excuses.  We have to keep moving forward and accept Nothing Less Than Our Success.

James

Five Characteristics of an Effective School Team

Dear Deep Creek School Family,

This week we start our beginning of the year data days and I am so excited to see the teamwork and collaboration between our fabulous teams. We have worked on a structured standards based immediate intensive intervention plan that we hope will elevate our student proficiency scores to the next level. Our goal is to be the best elementary school so we still have lots of work to do. Change is hard but we can do it if we do it together.

If a team is effective, then people learn from each other. They accomplish far more than would be possible alone. They inspire and challenge each other. An individual's strengths can be exploited, and we don't have to do the stuff we're not so good at. Again, this is an efficient approach to undertaking a huge project (transforming a school, for example) and it feels good. I couldn't agree more with the five characteristics below:

1. A good team knows why it exists.
It's not enough to say, "We're the 4th grade team of teachers" -- that's simply what defines you (you teach the same grade), not why you exist. A purpose for being is a team might be: "We come together as a team to support each other, learn from each other, and identify ways that we can better meet the needs of our fourth grade students." Call it a purpose or a mission -- it doesn't really matter. What matters is that those who attend never feel like they're just obligated to attend "another meeting." The purpose is relevant, meaningful, and clear.

2. A good team creates a space for learning.
There are many reasons why those of us working in schools might gather in a team -- but I believe that all of those reasons should contain opportunities for learning with and from each other. I have met very few educators who don't want to learn -- we're a curious bunch and there's so much to learn about education. So in an effective team, learning happens within a safe context. We can make mistakes, take risks, and ask every single question we want.

3. In a good team, there's healthy conflict.
This is inevitable and essential if we're learning together and embarked on some kind of project together. We disagree about ideas, there's constructive dialogue and dissent, and our thinking is pushed.

4. Members of a good team trust each other.
This means that when there's the inevitable conflict, it's managed. People know each other. We listen to each other. There are agreements about how we treat each other and engage with each other, and we monitor these agreements. There's also someone such as a facilitator who ensures that this is a safe space. Furthermore, in order for there to be trust, within a strong team we see equitable participation among members and shared decision-making.

5. A good team has a facilitator, leader, or shared leaders.

There's someone -- or a rotation of people -- who steer the ship. This ensures that there's the kind of intentionality, planning, and facilitation in the moment that's essential for a team to be high functioning.

Full Article  in case you would like to read more. 

Being aware of these five characteristics will help your team grow and learn together. I know this week you will synergize to do great things. I hope everyone has been taking time to reflect daily (or as often as you can). Remember keep it simple with a "Wow" and a "Yikes" each day. This simple habit can go along way. 

Have a great week! 

Adrienne