Great Start Sullivan Heights!

As an icebreaker at our first staff meeting, I posed these two questions for table talk discussion with our teachers.

They had some great things to say.

We’re all looking forward to a great year!

What are your plans for implementing something new into your teaching this semester?

• Focus more on mastery-based learning
• Work at connecting history with real life
• Use district account for e-books (can highlight/make notes)
• Get students blogging for PE – get kids taking videos/make use of their technology (i.e. phones)
• More focus on using technology appropriately and to benefit learning
• Implement self-regulation practices for students
• Seek out Pro-D on classroom management
• Integrate iPad technology
• Implement “Expert” on a pressing issue into class discussions
• Use Inquiry based learning through iPads
• Tell students that it’s not good enough to just get by – if less than 70%
• Utilize exit and mid-term interviews (exit interviews) for Planning 10
• Develop more web based handouts
• Implement Genius hour with parent participation
• Use e-portfolios
• Use more Traditional & Digital art mixed media
• Develop better Interaction between students on blogs & parents
• Less “testing”
• Develop better strategies for teaching a split class
• Use more field trip experiences
• Implement inquiry learning in Science…Discovery Labs
• Move away from textbooks
• Try lit circles with English 10 and narrative writing…less novel studies
• Integrate rubrics into lab assessment
• Get band students out into community (e.g. long term care homes, etc.)
• Be more efficient
• Use more project-based learning
• Pace myself so I have more to give students at end of term
• Utilize student assistants in Science labs
• Give more emphasis on social-emotional component of learning
• More collaboration with departmental colleagues
• Blog and have more organized parent contact plan, e.g. More frequent phone calls with positive comments
• Immerse students in a French culture and using 100% French for questions and instructions in FSL classes for teacher and students
• Utilize more student involvement in assessment and interviews with blogging
• Accept more electronic submissions …use dropbox for example
• Implement more strategies from summer reading by better supporting students with special needs
• Have an arts share day – promote feeder schools and inspire students
• Use exit interviews rather than final exams
• Incorporate iTunes U into lessons
• Utilize Garage Band and apps into music 8 and 9
• Try using stop motion videos and technology
• Work on developing an LST student specific approach

  

How do you plan to help set a positive school tone?

• Take time to stop and get to know the students; make the extra effort to make connections.
• Conduct a mini unit to start the year in Socials where students bring in artifacts from their lives, learn how to ask purposeful questions and get to know their peers on a more personal level
• Circulating during student work time to interact with kids
• Smile
• Greet students at the door
• Have clear expectations
• Model appropriate behavior
• Smile and be pleasant… Be enthusiastic
• Model how to be a master teacher - Zach Good
• Create a community of kindness and respect and empower students to do the same
• Have students complete “academic recovery” plan – (Math)
• Promote a tone of high achievement and support for students.
• Be more present in the hallways before class – greetings and goodbyes
• Open doors, open ears, open hearts
• Utilize hallway helpers, especially for grade 8’s
• Implement more frequent assessment - early feedback and often
• Lots of smiles
• Model it (positive behavior)
• Promote a business-like environment
• Get to know as many students as I can
• Outline expectations, policies and boundaries
• Be positive, smile, say hello, greet kids at the door
• Be in the hall!
• Focus less on content and focus more on building relationships
• Get involvement in extra-curricular
• Implement strategies to reduce tardiness
• Have a sense of humor
• Use games and activities with students
• Treat students firmly and fairly
• Be patient rather than abrupt
• Have clear expectations
• Have more positive parent contact
• Invest time to learn names early to help build rapport
• Making sure gr 8’s are comfortable
• Be a greater presence in the hallway
• Reward positive behaviors both inside and outside the classroom
• Address unacceptable behaviors right away (swearing in hallways, inappropriate behavior, etc)
• Get to know students, create positive tone and relationships
• Clearly communicate structures and routines
• Model pleasant behavior to students and staff
• Promote Global Issues Club
• Work on team building within department
• Build relationships with new students and staff
• Saying ‘hello’ and make eye contact
• Leave doors open… encourage visitors
• Maintain high profile in the halls