Summer Reading

Happy Monday.

It was nice to see all the children walking in this morning.  Some of them had the tired teenager look, but there were plenty of smiles too.  This summer I found myself reading about children and their character, attitudes, pre-dispositions and outlook.  Specifically, I read How Children Succeed by Paul Tough and Nurture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merriman.  Both books are combining modern brain research with studies in education to provide new insights into the best ways to help children become happy, high-functioning adults.

The challenge as educators is how to take these ideas and bring them into the school day at our site.  Many of the ideas are already being used in our curriculum and policies (for instance, the school board's policy against using food as a reward ties in with the best research on creating intrinsic motivation), but there are many ways we can improve.  At the same time, these changes can be difficult because so many of us were either trained or grew up in a time that encouraged us to constantly praise and reward children. New research says it is better to provide honest feedback, which of course can be positive when students do well, but is best when the feedback is focused on effort shown and specific details, as opposed to a blanket "you are awesome" statement.  But because of our different backgrounds, when a discussion about developing character arises there are always lots of differing opinions.  Coming to consensus is part of the work we will be taking on as a staff.

As I outlined in my 90 day plan, the goal for our school is to collaboratively identify our strengths and challenges and collaboratively implement new strategies that will improve on both.  Therefore, I am not here to report a long list of new initiatives that I am bringing to the school.  I can tell you, however, that last week, and continuing into this week, the fourth grade team, the fifth grade team and the middle school team will be working on identifying areas in which students performed well and areas where they didn't on the MCA tests (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments).  Using that information they will start identifying strategies that will help all learners.

Last week the Advanced Learners sub-committee of the Site Council (of which I am a new member) also met.  This is a group of parents, teachers and administrators that is trying to identify ways that we are already helping our advanced learners; and how we can do more in the future.  All of this is a long way of saying that our school is working hard to constantly adapt to our students and find the ways we can help all of them improve their character and academics.  Look back to this blog and in the newsletter in the future because I will continue to report on what we are trying and how it is working.

Have a great week.