Goal Setting Conferences

My days at HP this week consisted of valuable teacher goal setting conferences. Four days of them to be exact.  Lizanne and I met with each teacher to discuss 12-13 goals connected to our Any Given Child initative, review district initatives, ask about any self-selected teacher goals, and sign our commitments to each other and our goals - commitments such as support where needed and positive, open dialogue.   Though these are long days of back to back meetings, when we take the time to do them, the personal connections we make can be powerful. Nothing beats face time.  In addition to the typical data goals related to STAAR and DRA for end of the year, the use of our curriculum roadmaps, Schoolnet curriculum system, and more, our top goals for HP revolve around the creation of Process/Product displays this year.  This year, we are asking each teacher to commit to focusing on the learning processes that take place in student final products - do our processes connect to our learning expectations and to our final product? Much of the thinking and doing leads up to that culminating letter, research paper, or project.  We are also asking teachers to include reflection, both by teacher and student, on those learning processes and the outcomes.  What would the teacher do differently next time?   What did the student learn from the lesson?  Were there any surprises or ah-ha moments along the way?  We, as some other Any Given Child schools hope to also highlight at least one creative teaching strategy within the Process section (think DAR or any of the drama based instructional strategies teachers are learning) and we are encouraging as much student input into the creation of these displays as possible.  Simply asking students "What did we do to get us to this final product?" can be a valuable learning tool in and of itself.  Loved these when we saw them at this summer's Arts Integration Conference in DC - a simple tool to help us move forward in our understanding of what we are asking kids to do, why we are doing it, and what it means to us (students included!) when it's all said and done. Look for these displays in the hallways throughout the year.  Thanks team for jumping on board with our goals, sharing your ideas, showing enthusisasm for the work, and keeping kids at the forefront of all we do.  Couldn't ask for a better use of my time.




Model created by Laine L and me this summer - FUN!

Of course, as our days were busy, so were our nights.  In addition to the  PTA general meeting Tuesday evening, homeroom parent night took place on Monday, with approximately 40 HR moms showing up for the cause.  Elizabeth Rose is the coordinator for the year and I appreciated the questions asked when I gave my brief welcome.  These ladies rock and I can't thank them enough for the volunteer commitments they make to our school.  Thanks PTA and parent base for giving of your time to help our teachers and our students.

One other worthwhile afternoon and evening happened Thursday. Reggie Cajayon, TX State Schools Safety Specialist, presented to Lee and HP teachers, then parents, on the topic of cyberbullying.  He tailored his presentation to our needs, not only giving us tips to help us and children deal effectively with the issue, but also gave much valuable information on general internet safety - for all of us!  Those I've spoken to said they truly enjoyed this engaging presentation and our hope is to bring him back in the spring for our fifth (and Lee's sixth) grade students.  Truly good information and reminders for anyone. Thanks Reggie!

Next week my goal is to get back out in classrooms each day and see what's happening with kids.  I did manage to catch a quick glimpse of our new dance teacher in action down the second grade hallway.  Natalie Reed was facilitating high, medium, and low movements in Mr. Gay's classroom when I walked through.  Cool.  Next door, Paramount Theater was engaging first graders in Ms. Brunello's classroom with an enthralling workshop on The Three Little Pigs - hear they are set to see the performance next week.  Equally cool. And of course Paramount Lit to Life program is beginning their work with third grade.  Much happening!

Final note.  Don't forget our equally wonderful after school programs again this year.  We have them in place so your children can have easy access to enrichment opportunities.  We love Brick Builders, Austin Film Kids, and more and are equally excited to bring teacher Rog Wall and Zach Scott Theater back to our campus for the second year.  K-2 students will be engaged in Act the Story:  Dr. Seuss, bringing well loved stories to like while learning theatre skills.  Grade 3-5 students will participate in Create a Play:  Narnia, and create their own original play based on the story.  Check out the info at www.zachtheatre.org/education/classes  Thanks to all our providers for what you bring to our campus.  We appreciate you.