Make Semester 2 Successful!

Check out some ideas on how to jumpstart the second semester for students!

Make the Most of Your First Days Back

https://www.teachingchannel.org/video/refocusing-students/?utm_source=newsletter20190112

Edutopia: 5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Non-Teaching Time

Take a look at this helpful article from Edutopia.  5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Non-Teaching Time | Edutopia

Time. It's the thing every teacher needs more of, and no teacher has enough of. Whether you wish to get deeper into student data analysis or want to spend more time with your own children, no teacher has enough hours in the day to do it all. But with very careful planning of their non-teaching time, I've seen thousands of teachers get more time back in their lives. Here are the top five ways you can make the most of your limited "free" time each week:

1. Start with a Detailed Plan

Whether you map out your week digitally in Outlook like Heidi Reed or on a paper planner like Hollis Hyland, start with a plan. Both Heidi and Hollis, middle school teachers at the same school in Washington, DC, map out their weeks the Friday prior. Yes, you heard right! The Friday before the week ahead! As they plan their weeks, Heidi and Hollis carefully consider their non-teaching time and what they want to accomplish -- both personally and professionally. This way, they head into the weekend with clear heads and way less stress.

2. Batch Process Your Work

Most prep periods end up being a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and by the time you've used the restroom, filled your water bottle, and decompressed for a second . . . wait, who are those 30 children walking in the door already?

Try this instead. Look ahead at your entire week and determine which prep periods are dedicated to planning, to grading, to family contact, to student tutoring, and so on. If you do your "like items" all at once, you will get into an efficiency groove. And while you're at it, try packing your lunches for the entire week at the same time! Don't Kate from Denver's lunches look amazing?

3. Consider Your Energy Levels

Let's be real. At the end of any teaching day, you're exhausted. Instead of staggering around your school at 4 PM in search of a cola or chocolate, become mindful of when you are capable of doing higher-level work and when you just need to check something easy off your list. Plan your lower-energy work, like data entry, quick emails, or erasing the whiteboard, for when you really just want to crash. There's just no sense in trying to write an awesome unit plan when you are dead-dog tired.

4. Bite-Size Your To-Do's

See those plans from Hollis and Heidi? See those teeny tiny to-do's, like print these documents or create those materials? Making a task specific and bite-sized helps ensure that it gets done. When to-do's are too big, they have a tendency to sit there like heavy bricks. Break it down and make it small. Yes, it will make your to-do list look longer, but it also makes it easier to take advantage of those teeny tiny five- or ten-minute pockets of time that materialize before staff meetings or when you're waiting for the copier (not to mention the satisfaction you get from all the checking and crossing off). And speaking of small pockets of time . . 

5. Use Small Pockets of Time

Since a half-day of time to plan, grade, and analyze data is not going to magically appear any time soon, be physically prepared to use those little blocks of time that do pop up in your day. One of my favorite teachers, Sue Harmon, has two nifty tote bags packed and ready to go at all times. Her first bag is full of grading materials, including sets of essays, stickers, her grade book, and her special grading pens. At a moment's notice, she can knock out a set of papers. Her second tote is packed with planning materials, like the book for an upcoming novel unit, Common Core Standards, and diagnostic data. When she has a moment to get some planning or grading done -- voila!-- her materials are right there waiting for her. And while you're at it, make a folder of everything you need to copy, and carry it with you at all times. You never know when you may see an opening in the copy line.

Teaching is a unique (and awesome) profession that doesn't lend itself to much "work" time. It's constantly changing, and we're always "on" with other people, be they students, parents, or colleagues. It's too easy to end every day feeling like the to-do list is never done. Take advantage of the tips above to get a few minutes back in your day! 

New Teacher Orientation

Each month, new teachers meet collectively with their New Teacher Coordinator to talk and learn together.  During the next week or so, new teachers will video themselves teaching a lesson.  After viewing, the teacher will reflect upon her video, using questions provided by the New Teacher Coordinators.  At the November New Teacher meeting, the group will debrief on the experience and share their insights and new learning with each other.  

Rationale for Videoing and Self-Reflection:  Videotaping a lesson for self reflection or to review with a mentor can provide valuable information.  It allows the teacher to view the lesson from the learner’s perspective, and to identify techniques that work and those that can be refined.  

Goals:  

1.  Record and reflect on your teaching practice.

2.  Spot errors and think of how the lesson could improve.

3.  Focus on students.

New Teacher Coordinators:
Paine Primary - Melanie Glover
Paine Intermediate - Kristi Stacks
HTMS - Leigh Stovall
HTHS - Dawn Kilgore

Building a Positive Classroom Culture

The Teaching Channel has short, informative videos that support teachers in creating a positive classroom culture and good classroom management.

TCS Plan for New Teacher Orientation and Support

Trussville City Schools has a district plan for orienting and supporting new teachers.  Our objectives are:

To retain effective teachers, to provide a positive work environment, and to achieve success in teaching

To clarify the district’s beliefs, purpose, vision, and expectations

To provide intensive coaching, feedback, modeling, and supervision

To provide opportunities for networking, sharing experiences, and reflecting

To nurture a learning community that will produce teacher and student learning

To differentiate the type and amount of support to new teachers based on their needs

Each school has a designated New Teacher Coordinator who will work closely with mentors and new teachers throughout the year.  Already, new teachers have met with coordinators for lunch and an orientation to their schools.  All new teachers attended a systemwide orientation prior to the opening of school.  Each month, the groups will meet to share and to learn from each other and receive initial training for technology, etc. that experienced teachers might not need. Coordinators will provide opportunities for new teachers to observe in the classrooms of peers and to be observed and coached with feedback.  

Coordinators are:

Paine - Melanie Glover and Kristi Stacks

HTMS - Leigh Stovall

HTHS - Dawn Kilgore

New Teacher Coordinator Dawn Kilgore debriefs with new teachers after the start of the year.  

New Teacher Orientation

Approximately 40 new TCS teachers gathered at the BOE for New Teacher Orientation today.  The group attended sessions that included information about iNow, technology, the Alabama Code of Ethics, FERPA, Lee v. Macon, Educate Alabama, the TCS Strategic Plan, and the TCS New Teacher Orientation Plan.  This year, each school will have a New Teacher Orientation Coordinator and mentors for each new teacher.  New Teacher Orientation Coordinators are Melanie Glover, Kristi Stacks, Leigh Stovall, and Dawn Kilgore.  Today's orientation was the beginning of strategic support for all teachers who are new to the district.

Planning for New Teacher Orientation and Ongoing Support

New Teacher Coordinators met June 29 to plan how the district will collaborate to provide support for our newest staff members.  The group will meet to collaborate and share ideas and strategies. Each school has a coordinator who will work with principals to mentor new teachers or to select mentors from the staff.  The mentors and new teachers will meet regularly throughout the year with the goal of supporting teachers and students.

New Teacher Coordinators:
Paine Elementary - Melanie Glover and Kristi Stacks
HTMS - Leigh Stovall
HTHS - Dawn Kilgore

Objectives for New Teacher Orientation and Support

To retain effective teachers, to provide a positive work environment, and to achieve success in teaching
To clarify the district’s beliefs, purpose, vision, and expectations
To provide intensive coaching, feedback, modeling, and supervision
To provide opportunities for networking, sharing experiences, and reflecting
To nurture a learning community that will produce teacher and student learning
To differentiate the type and amount of support to new teachers based on their needs

For New Teachers: Communication Tips

In her book, The New Teacher’s Companion: Practical Wisdom for Succeeding in the Classroom,   ASCD author Ginni Cunningham shares helpful information about communicating.  She says that communication plays an important role in the day-to-day functioning of a teacher and their eventual success as a teacher.

Click on the link to read more.

http://inservice.ascd.org/education-resources/book-excerpt-the-new-teachers-companion-practical-wisdom-for-succeeding-in-the-classroom/