2010 – 2011 Back to School Inservice

1. 2010 – 2011Back to School Inservice SchoolMeans Success August 18, 2010

2. The Year of the Teacher • Who has the single greatest affect on student achievement in the school?

3. Dr. Haim Ginott … “I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous.

4. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized.”

5. Barbara Coloroso … • “If kids come to us from strong, healthy functioning families, it makes our job easier. • If they do not come to us from strong, healthy, functioning families, it makes our job more important.”

6. We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.– Dakota Proverb

7. “Organizations only improve “where the truth is told and the brutal facts confronted.” -Jim Collins • “Having an above average teacher for five years running can completely close the average gap between low-income students and others.” – John Kain and Eric Hanushek • “The questions is not, Is it possible to educate all children well? But rather, Do we want to do it badly enough?” – Deborah Meier

8. How important is the teacher? • Multiple studies found that teaching had 6 to 10 times as much impact on achievement as all other factors combined. • One recent study shows that the best teachers in a school have six times as much impact as the bottom third teachers. (Haycock & Huang, 2001) • Improved classroom instruction is the prime factor to produce student achievement gains.

9. How to Be an Effective Teacher • Classroom Management • Teaching for Mastery • High Expectations for Students -Harry Wong

10. As we begin the new year … • The things that help children succeed require no money or training and very little of your time. AGREE OR DISAGREE?

11. MYVision for a Perfect School … • All staff, every day come to work and look into the eyes of each of our students and say … • How are you? • Glad you are here! • Glad you’re in our school! • We have a very good school here. • We care about you here. • We want you to succeed. • I want to help you.

12. Could we all do this? • Does that cost money? • Require a special training? • Take up too much of your time?

13. Here’s what I think we should do … • Love these kids, love them enough to provide the structure they need with lots of love and “empathy” that will foster them as individuals. • When they make mistakes we should be SAD and at the same time hold them accountable. • That provides structure, safety, consistency • Something many do not have

14. Will you love them enough to set limits? • We you allow them to grow from their mistakes? • Will you celebrate their successes with them and their parents? • We you be their teacher, their mentor, their support system? • We you be a responsible, loving, emotionally mature role model?

15. Procedures Provide Structure • Many of our students do not have structure at home, they live in chaos. • Procedures provide structure. • Procedures provide a safe and secure learning environment. • Students learn best in a safe and secure learning environment. • Schoolwide procedures will provide structure for all of our students – Leveling the learning field for students who have no structure at home.

16. Harry and Rosemary Wong • Suggest for classroom teachers having a script for the First Days of School. • Schoolwide Script (Lesson Plan) for the first few days of school. • Consistency in following the script is critical to its success. • Non-negotiable ways of doing business in our school. • Entering a classroom • Bellwork Assignment • Setting up Assignments • Classroom Materials (Paper, Pencil, Independent Reading Book) • What to do when assignments complete: Reading! • Walking in the Halls • Exiting the classroom

17. The Schoolwide Lesson Plan… • Please follow the First Days Lesson Plan/Script for our school the first week of school. • Please make sure to Practice the Procedures in the Script. • Please introduce a few new procedures each day. • Practice the procedures until they are automatic--routine. • Consistency in every classroom will provide structure. • Students with structure in their learning environments achieve at higher levels. • We are in Level 4 School Improvement Facing Restructuring: All of our students need to achieve at higher levels.

18. Teacher Expectations… • ALL TEACHERS at their doors before and after class greeting students • Paras and support staff in the hallways • All adults talking to students not each other during supervision times • Students are to be supervised at all times • Students not to be signed out during class unless emergency – with escort or call office

19. Teacher Expectations • Bellwork is posted everyday in the same location. Students are expected to start bellwork immediately. • Daily Lesson Objective is posted every day in the same location. (Before beginning the daily lesson teacher tells the students what they will be learning today and how they will be demonstrating that learning.) • A daily agenda is posted every day in the same location. • The Content Standard is also posted in the same location. (Please note the difference between the Content Standard and the Daily Lesson Objective..

20. Teacher Expectations… • Teach, review and practice the procedures regularly. • Don’t be the weak link. This will cause hard feelings among the staff and I will have to talk to you about it. • All teachers are expected to teach students that the bell does not dismiss class. • Teachers should dismiss class from the door and speak to each student as they exit the room. • This could be a time to collect a “Ticket out of Class” formative assessment of the daily objective.

21. Teacher Evaluation • New Teacher Evaluation Policy This Year • Minimum of 4 Classroom Observations • Observations will be drop in visits. • I will probably drop in at least once a week, more if necessary. • First observation will be to assess the use of procedures. (Rubric is provided). • Procedures will be observed using the rubric quarterly. • We will be “Creating a Culture of Consistency.”

22. Are you up for this challenge?Do you want to make an impact? • I challenge you to deeply consider how you can get to know them, gain their trust, build a positive relationship, build a team, a family, develop camaraderie. • Will you take the time and care enough to develop a positive relationship with each student? • Will you love them enough to provide structure and the most effective learning environment possible? OUR KIDS DESERVE NOTHING LESS!

23. Team Effort • We have to work together • We have to get along • We have to be nice to each other • We can’t be critical of each other • We can’t be critical of our school • There will be no place for negativity and criticism in our school • We need to be Builders not Destroyers

24. Words of Discipline Wisdom (expected staff behavior) • Do not raise your voice, yell or scream at students – model respectful behavior at all times. • Do not use sarcasm or insults. • Always remain calm, respectful and in control. • Do not get in a student’s space/face. • Do not overreact. • Do not embarrass a student in front of others. • Do not let them see you get angry.

25. Instruction (Monitoring) • Lesson Plans using template • Classroom Observations and feedback • Monitoring PLCs • Faculty Meeting every Wednesday focused on instruction (not events) • 3:30-4:30 with K-8 once a month • 3:30-4:15 all other weeks

26. Assessment • Summative Assessments • Daily Formative Assessments • Work on Assessments during PLCs • Need to improve Assessments

27. School Improvement Status • Level 4 for Reading • Level 2 for Math • Must submit Restructuring Plan in May • Goes beyond last year’s Corrective Action Plan • Immediacy

28. Ready, Set, Go … • Back to School Night • Agenda • Procedure • First Day of School Lesson Plan/Script • First Week of School – PROCEDURES! • ENRICH – Go over the changes in the handbook with students • Get to Know You Activities

29. Student agendas are in the office. • Use Sharpie to write name on the inside cover. • Use Highlighter for hall pass pages • More student handbooks will be printed after Back to School Night for students to have a copy. • All students who registered already have their locker assignment. • A list will be sent to staff. (Amy) • All others will get their locker during ENRICH on the first day of school.

30. The First Week of School for Staff • First PLC meetings on Wednesday • K-8 Faculty Meeting in the PAC at 3:30 (Dr. Harry Wong Video Series) • Developing Positive Relationships with Students and Parents • Teaching Procedures

31. Do’s • Arrive each day on time. • Notify Mrs. Whitney in advance and always sign out if leaving early. • Speak positively to each other, about each other and about our school. • Bring concerns directly to the principal. • Teach procedures. • Turn in lesson plans by noon on Friday.

32. Do’s • Show up for your assigned supervisory duties on time. Paras clock in at 7:55. • Submit all vouchers to Mrs. Whitney for a signature after your team leader has signed off on your hours. • Do get approval for time submitted on all vouchers prior to doing the work. • Be considerate and communicate with each other (using the library, computer lab…).

33. Do’s • Build Positive Relationship with Students. • Communicate positively with parents. • Remember why we are here – STUDENTS. • Compliment each other and recognize successes every day! • Remember why you became a teacher.

34. Don’ts • Gossip and complain – NOT Acceptable, NOT Professional. • Have conversations in the office – Confidentiality. • Children in the middle school after school • Use the WASP program • Free to school employees

35. Here’s to the best year yet@SMS whereSchool Means Success