Student Engagement

Dear Deep Creek School Family,

Reading encompasses everything. It's our longest block of the day and one of the most important. Each day we provide our students with knowledge that they will continue to use and expand on. During the reading block it's imperative that our students are engaged from start to finish. How can we do this you might ask? It takes time, hard work, and dedication on a teachers part. Below you will find some helpful strategies that you may incorporate to increase student engagement. 

1.  Have a plan for how your students will interact with the content.

Ask yourself these questions:

Which partner/group member is going first? 
What is the order for sharing in the partnership/group?
How will the students communicate using the academic language?
Who speaks or writes first?
What are the other kids doing when it’s not their turn?

2.  Create visual materials with your students, and display them as you go through the lesson.

As teachers, we LOVE having pretty things in our classroom.  This includes anchor charts, posters, and word walls.  We can easily get carried away preparing them and finding the perfect spot to put them up before we even begin our lesson.  I want to challenge you to try something different.

Prepare the skeleton of your materials such as an anchor chart, and fill them with content as you teach.

For vocabulary, have the word cards written ahead of time, but add them to the word wall as you go through the lesson.

Allow your students to record and generate information with you, through use of thinking maps, whiteboards or learning journals.

Your students will make stronger connections to the content you are teaching when they are a part of the process.  When you involve your students, they have the opportunity to take more ownership of the content they are learning.

3.  Make learning words fun!

One of the main reasons why I put a huge emphasis on learning words in my classroom, is because kids often skip over words they encounter without thinking twice about their meaning.  When I am reading aloud, and I read over a word that I am “unfamiliar” with, I make a big deal out of it.  I show my curiosity by trying to figure out what the word means based on the context of the sentence or paragraph.  I also show the kids that it is okay to use resources such as a dictionary or a kid version of “Google”, etc.  I will get really excited when I figure out what that word means, and I show my students my enthusiasm.  I also tell my students that I plan on using that word next time I have the opportunity to do so.  It is important to always model how learning new words can be a lot of fun!

4.  Integrate grammar throughout your reading block. 

Integrate the required grammar skills into your reading block.  In fact, think about integrating along with every subject you teach! 

Here are just a few examples:
When you have your kids read any piece of text, such as a poem, lyric, nursery rhyme, close read – focus on one part of speech by having your students underline or circle each word they find.

When you are going over tier vocabulary words, take a moment to let your students organize them into their journals using an interactive notebook activity or a thinking map, and then have them write a sentence that makes sense.

Instead of teaching grammar separately, incorporate it into your instruction, centers, or small groups.

5.  Make ordinary skills novel by incorporating songs, games, plays, show and tell, wordless books, etc.

Having songs in the classroom is a great way to get students familiar with the content so they remember key concepts. (Youtube has many)

6.  Read aloud as often as you can.

When students are able to hear an adult read text aloud, it becomes their inner voice.   They are able to build upon their language skills, vocabulary, reading strategies, expression, etc.  They are also able to associate reading with positive experiences.

7.  Make sure the kids have a pleasant atmosphere when reading.

The possibilities are endless! You want to make sure your library is accessible so that your students can find a book that is a good fit for them.  Having a pleasant atmosphere and a variety of book choices are important when it is time to read independently.

8.  Try to keep the same theme theme across the curriculum, whenever possible.

Immersing students in relative content across the day makes such a big difference!

If your basal program text is based around ocean animals, perhaps you can check the science curriculum to see if there are any ocean science lessons, and cover those specific standards during that week or unit.

When you are planning writing or writer’s workshop,  select a prompt that supports the theme you are have planned for reading, science, social studies, etc.

Carefully planning your day is key, because your students will absorb more vocabulary and content if you are able to extend the content throughout the entire day, week, etc.

I hope you are able to use at least one of these engagement strategies within your reading block. If you need help, please come see me! I'm always here, and would love to help! :) 

Additional information/resources are on this post: 

http://educationtothecore.com/2016/05/8-ways-engage-students-reading-block/

Thanks,
Kristina 

Using reflective listening

Dear Deep Creek School Family, 

It is easy to get frustrated when you can't seem to communicate with a parent.  We often have preconceived notions that the parent just doesn't care or that they don't value education. I was reminded today that this is usually not the case. In talking with a parent, who is a single mom, she works 50+ hours a week. Her child goes home to an older brother. She may not get home until 9 or 10:00 at night.  She doesn't even see her children off to bed most nights.  The best way to contact her is via text because she is always working and can't answer her phone. In listening to this parent, she had expectations for her children and certainly cared about them and their schooling. However, we, as educators, with the passion to help children, can sometimes misinterpret this as being uninterested.

There is a section in chapter 6 of this book which talks a little about the barriers to communication and how to effectively listen, reflect, and problem solve with a parent. It is an easy read..one that is well worth the time. It discusses what reflective listening is...reflective listening is different from that of ordinary listening in that you reflect, or summarize, the message that the parent is trying to convey.

"It sounds as though..."
"So let me be sure I am understanding you correctly.."
"I'm hearing you say..."

Sometimes, the parent did not have a positive school experience themselves, thus seeming to be more defensive to your suggestions.  When you listen, think, and then reflect, you are letting them know that they were heard and that you understand.  Reflective listening takes practice, just like everything else!  However, it is the key to effective communication with parents.

https://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/BacktoSchool/Learning%20to%20Listen%20chapter%206.pdf

Thanks,
Noelle

A Great First Week

Dear Deep Creek School Family,                                              
                                              

                                            
                                                  
                                                   James arrives home after the first day of school.

Wow, what a week!  I'm exhausted sitting on my couch and watching the Olympic Games.  My wife already fell asleep on the couch next to me, because she said that she had an "exhausting week" as well.  (She is off tomorrow as she works 4 ten hour days.)  It's cute to me when she explains how busy she is at work.  I am a good husband so I just nod sympathetically.  She, like many other professionals, will never know what it's like to have all those same busy moments, but add 651 students to them. 

She will never know what Monday's Open House is like.  You take over 500 parents, who are usually irritated before they get in the school building, because we only have 100 parking spots, and instantly change their moods with your welcoming attitudes and carefully decorated rooms.

She will never know what the first day of school is like.  Get them here, get them fed, and get them home means nothing to her.  (She gets an hour lunch)  She doesn't understand the 10 minute lunch most of you got on the first day?  She definitely didn't understand why I wasn't hungry when I got home because I ate lunch at 4:00pm.

She definitely will never know what the first day of school is like when you add 100 kindergarteners to the mix.  She has never tried to get 100 kindergarteners to carry their own lunch trays to their tables and then get them to dump them in the trash 20 minutes later.  (I almost lost my mind) 

She has no idea the energy it takes from each and everyone of us to make our school run smoothly, but I do.  I appreciate the effort each and everyone of you made this week to ensure that our students felt welcome and safe.  (Sometimes it even takes catching a snake.  Special shout out to Tracy Gilray!)  It has been a great first week. I'm looking forward to the rest of them.

Thank you for all you do,
James
 

Positive School Culture

Dear Deep Creek School Family, 

It was so great to see everyone this week. We are all so refreshed after summer break. 

As we begin our first week of school, we are provided with an incredible opportunity. For each of us, and for each of our students, it is a new beginning--a chance to get a fresh start. As you prepare to meet our kids, Jeff Delp has written 5 essential elements for a positive school culture. 

1. Kindness

Guard within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, and how to acquire without meanness. - George Sands

The majority of our students will come to school on the first day a bit anxious. They will be focused on each interaction with an adult, listening to our tone and seeking reassurance. Let’s be certain that every student leaves our campus, on the first day, experiencing multiple acts of kindness.

2. Empathy

I’m not interested in whether you’ve stood with the great. I’m interested in whether you’ve sat with the broken. - Unknown

For each one of our students, understand that what you see on the outside rarely tells the whole story. Cast aside your “experience bias” and provide high expectations with an empathetic heart.

3. Patience

The children who need love the most will ask for it in the most unloving ways. - Russell Barkley

Remember that our students are kids: they will sometimes make bad decisions, mess-up, be absent minded, and speak rudely. Model civility for them. Be long on patience and quick with kindness.

4. Appreciation

It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences. - Audre Lourde

It is my hope that we will truly marvel at the diversity on our campus and the integral part that our differences play in creating our campus culture. Through words, and actions, show students that we appreciate them for who they are and what they bring to our community.

5. Humility

True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. - C.S. Lewis

Remember that our purpose as educators is to serve the best interest of our students. Let’s allow humility to guide our actions, and our interactions, with our students and our peers. Together we will make a difference for our school community!

As we begin a new school year, we challenge each of you to be intentional about demonstrating each of these five essential elements of a positive culture. We have unwavering confidence that our staff will go above and beyond to ensure our students have a wonderful experience as a Deep Creek Cub and we are thankful for the role that each of you play in supporting our school community. 

For Jeff Delp's complete blog follow this link: http://jeffdelp.blogspot.com/2016/07/5-essential-elements-of-positive-school.html?spref=tw

Thanks,

 Adrienne