Notes from the Principal:
"Do I belong?" is one of the biggest concerns students have in common across all grade levels. My challenge to each professional at Hayes Elementary, and all of OKCPS, is to give your students proof every day that yours is the right class and you are the right teacher for them.
Five things to avoid at the beginning of the school year!
1. Not asking for Help. - If you need help, ask! You will not annoy your co-workers or campus administration if you have questions. If you are struggling in an area, classroom management for example, talk to campus administration or your veteran teachers to get some ideas in order to keep the classroom a place for learning.
2. Afraid of being firm with your students. - DO NOT BE A DOORMAT. Do not be afraid to show your students that you are unhappy about their behavior. Think about the students who are missing out on instruction because of disruptions and an unsafe environment... If that doesn't make you want to take control, firm up, and do what's best for the students you may need to have a long talk with yourself.
3. Not knowing it's OK to leave the to-do list unfinished at the end of the day. - We will have days that are longer than others, but DO NOT FREAK if you leave stuff on your to-do list. Set yourself a time to go home and address your time sensitive things first. Tomorrow is another day.
4. Spending WAY to much $$$. It is very easy to offer extrinsic rewards, restock supplies yourself, and not know available resources we have at Hayes Elementary. Some ideas on keeping your hard earned money in your pocket: Limit those rewards, find the stores that have teacher discounts, utilize the teacher warehouse, ask your peers for available resources.
5. Worrying too much. - Some worry is valid, other worries are totally ridiculous. If you are investing in your students, designing reasonably effective lessons (even if they aren't as effective as they were in your head), and being diligent about identifying and fixing the things that truly aren't working, your students will learn. Even if you feel like a total failure, I can promise as someone who's been there that you're not. Keep doing your best and try to improve where you can, but don't get so hung up on the silly stuff that you are paralyzed by fear or burn out.
Hayes Elementary Academic goals for 2014-2015:
- All students WILL achieve academically.
- Increase OCCT Reading scores for all subgroups by 25%
- Increase OCCT Mathematics scores for all subgroups by 25%
- Increase OCCT Writing scores for all subgroups by 25%
- Increase the number of students who qualify for promotion in RSA by 25%
- Decrease Suspensions by 25%
- School wide overall attendance to 96%
- Faculty attendance to 98%
Videos Worth Watching:
Ron Gutman: The Hidden Power of Smiling - via @TEDTalks
Articles Worth Reading:
What an Effective Teacher's Classroom Looks Like - via @middleweb
Why Are We Waiting For Tomorrow? - via @gcouros
A Month of Math, Magic, and Mystery - via @sciam
2 Things That Really Matter When Leading Your School, District, or Organization This Year - via @21stPrincipal
Teaching Spanish with Comprehensible Input - via @sonrisedelcampo
10 Tips For Teachers To Connect With Parents via Social Media - via @TeachThought
Awesome Classroom Visual Featuring 10 Tips for New Teachers - via @medkh9
30 Ways to Use Chromebook in Education - via @medkh9
Additional Support Sites:
www.fcrr.org - Great, and FREE, website with RTI supports.
http://okcpscurriculumteam.weebly.com/instructional-guides.html
Weekly Look Ahead:
Monday August 4, 2014: Visit from Ron Millican (District 7 School Board Rep) and Aurora Lora (Associate Superintendent) during the school day. Normal School Day
Tuesday August 5, 2014: Grade Level Meetings during planning time, this includes specials teachers. Faculty meeting after school. Normal School Day
Wednesday August 6, 2014: McGraw Hill/Microsoft at Hayes Library at 10:00AM (Nielsen, Perry, West, Ross, Williams, Friere in Library) Great Expectations at Hayes Elementary at 1:00PM-1:30PM Normal School Day
Thursday August 7, 2014: Normal School Day
Friday August 8, 2014: Rise and Shine in the Gym, Wilmont Baptist Church soccer ball give-away, practice assembly. First Five Days Sheets due to office! Jeans Day.
Have a GREAT first week of school!
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