Saturday, June 2, 2018

Dear Team,

Last notes of the year! We did it. 2017-18 academic year - check! Well done to each and every one of you for a hugely successful year. You’ve made it to the summer break and we invite you to use this time to take a break, relax and reflect on the wonderful year. The questions below were brought to the Leadership team this week and it was agreed that summer is a great time for all teachers to set aside an hour to reflect on the questions below. Going forward, they may be very useful for next year’s professional growth conversations.

Five Questions to Ask Yourself Near the Year's End

The month of May sometimes feels like a stumbling stagger toward the finish line. It can also be a time to reflect. Before the rush of the school year recedes into a hazy memory, give yourself 15 minutes to ponder these five questions. Grab your computer, or scrounge up a pen and notebook, and jot down your responses. Talk about them with a friend, family member, or colleague you trust. Or take a long walk, some evening when you’re not too worn out, and give yourself a little time to ponder.

1. What have you taught? This means a lot more than the bulleted content outlined in the standards. What have you taught the children in your care this year, by your words or example, about how to be a human being in the world?

2. What have you learned? What do you know now that you didn't in August about children, teaching, and yourself?

3. What have you done well? Teachers tend to be hard on ourselves. Don't gloss over your strengths and successes, large or small.

4. What do you need to work on? Not a single teacher in the entire world has had a flawless school year, so don't beat yourself up for the ways you may have fallen short. But think about what you can change or learn to better meet your students' many needs. Seek out resources on teaching English-language learners. Resolve to speak more kindly to the children in your class, even when you're frustrated. We still have a little time left to make those changes.

5. What impact did you have beyond your own classroom? Teacher leadership doesn't have to happen on a grand scale to be significant. If you led a professional development session at your school, gave your grade-level team an idea for a project, or gave a new teacher a little reassurance and wisdom right when she needed it most, your influence extended beyond your own students.

This comes from an article from a second grade teacher - full article, read here

Thank you’s and Recognitions

• "Thank you to the Responsive Classroom Team. Your energy, hard work and participation in working together towards creating safe, motivating and engaging classrooms was a great inspiration! We look forward to continuing to learn with you next year!  - Alex and Elliot
• Alex, Hilary, Dan and Sherriden for thorough report card proof reading

Elementary Returning Faculty Summer Reading

Please find here some short articles that we would like you to read before we begin AFO

together next August. In total, we estimate this to be under 2 hours of reading and thinking - although some of you will complete this much quicker, and some may want to invest more time with.

Please do try to read these and make notes using the framing question/takeaway suggestions as this will make the AFO PD sessions far more engaging and beneficial for all.

Thank you in advance, and happy reading!
Keryn & Dave

Differentiation and Communication commitments

As discussed at our faculty meeting, before you leave for the summer, please enter a draft idea into this form of what your triad will commit to doing differently to help achieve our goal of increasing challenge, differentiation and rigour in the elementary school. Also add your goal for how you may go about communicating differently to help change the parent narrative next year. We will keep these to revisit early next year during AFO.** One person per triad can enter this goal and include all names.

Planning Meetings 2018-19 - From Dan

I would like to clarify questions from grade level teachers regarding Learning Coach supported planning meetings for the 2018-2019 academic year.  As stated at the Elementary School Faculty Meeting, coach and curriculum coordinator supported team meetings may look different next year.

Every week EY5-Grade 5 will have dedicated time to plan and work together with a literacy coach.  Additionally, one 45 minute period will be reserved for cyclical math or science/social studies planning meetings.  This means, grade level teams will have the opportunity of one to two coach supported planning sessions per week. Team or individuals may opt for additional coaching as per their needs and goals.  

Coaches will also be available to meet with individuals, specialists or other groups of teachers in a cyclical or designated block according to needs. EY3/4 teams will also have opportunities for literacy coaching, as well as other instructional coaching. Further details

will be shared at AFO next year.

That’s it - a wrap on another great year in team green.

Warmly,
Keryn and for the last time.. & Lori