This letter is given to new employees at Apple. I can very easily see this being a letter given to new staff members at Parma Elementary. We would never compromise on our work. We don't come here to play it safe. We are in the deep end! Our work adds up to far beyond what we can even imagine. Because of YOU, so many things happen at Parma that couldn't happen anywhere else.
It was a great first week of school.
This is the opportune time of year to rehearse classroom procedures--showing each procedure the "wrong" way to get it out of their system and then modeling/rehearsing the right way over and over to build those "procedural muscles;" giving positive recognition to build those correct procedures. When you focus on positive behavior, you will have far less negative behavior in your classroom.
The start of a new year is the best time to begin building positive relationships with parents as well. Remember, every parent wants their child to feel fully known, fully understood & fully loved. If we can do this for ALL students, then we will be the best school in the country!
Parents are hoping you will find the uniqueness, greatness and light in their child. Don’t give up until you discover it for each of your students!
I encourage you to try to make a positive contact home for each of your students over the next few weeks, before you may have to call with a concern. As you make these calls home, you will be filling 3 buckets: the parent, the child, and yours!
Finally, please collaborate & be kind with one another. I truly believe you are here at Parma because you are the best in your field, or have the potential to be the best in your field. Learn and share with each other.
Let’s make this the best year ever!
Great Things I Noticed Last Week and a few highlights:
*Classroom activities to build classroom community.
*Teachers practicing various procedures throughout the building--walking quietly in the halls, how to go to the lunchroom, how to come in from recess, etc. It is so important that we nail down these procedures now before bad habits develop.
*I loved observing The Leader In Me activities throughout the building. It is amazing how the kids seem to be grasping the concepts so quickly.
*One of our students was hurt and several other classmates quickly came to his rescue and helped him to the office. I love that our kids care about each other.
*Ryder, our kindergarten student with Cerebral Palsy was the Fox in gym class playing "What time is it, Mr. Fox." His smile and laughter as he ran across the gym was....priceless.
*I had to talk to a couple kindergarten students about having a "scissor war". One of them plugged his ears and told me, "I do not want to have this conversation."
*So many positive comments from parents about our school.
I thought this was a cute idea for a "Book Worm" wall.
Please take time to read the ideas, tips and explanations in these articles:
Tips for making it a great school year.
30 Second Video that made me think about "Seek First to Understand":
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