Greetings!
I hope you have had a great start to the new year. In this issue, we'll focus on setting your vision for your classroom this year.
You might remember this from Alice in Wonderland. Alice is lost, and she asks the Cheshire Cat for directions. "Where do you want to end up?", says the cat. Alice replies, "I don't really know." And the cat's reply? "Then it really doesn't matter which way you walk."
It's the same for us. Unless you have a clear vision for you and your students, new ideas and strategies are just isolated ideas. Take just a few moments, and try one of the ideas for yourself...and then with your students!
Enjoy this issue, forward it to friends and colleagues, and as always, please contact me with any feedback or questions.
Barbara
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Vision Letters For the rest of the school year, what is your vision for you and your students? Would you like your students to become independent learners? Would you like your students to learn at higher levels? Do you want to provide rigorous instruction and still have fun? The first step to a exciting classroom is setting your vision. Project to the last day of school and write a letter to a colleague or friend. Describe the second semester of the school year that just happened (remember, you are imagining that this school year has already happened). It was the best year ever....it far exceeded your expectations. What did you do? What happened with your students? How did they learn and grow and change? How did you?
You can write a letter, make a list, or draw a picture. What is it that will make the rest of the year your best year ever? And please share--I'd love to hear your thoughts!
This is a great goal-setting activity for your students (check out Tips for Engaging Learners) that is different--and fun!
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Vision letters are a great way to understand your teachers goals for their students. Ask your teachers to write a vision letter as described above (by the way, this is a fabulous way to start the school year). Then meet with each teacher individually or in small groups so they can share what they would like from the letters. Your goal: to ask them how you can help them achieve their goals, and to remove barriers to their success. You'll be amazed at what you learn!
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I hope you found a new idea. Remember, if you would like to see daily tips and strategies, check out my blog. And, if you'd like to share a tip and see your name in my e-newsletter, contact me! Just under the table of contents, you'll also find ways to connect with me through social media outlets. To kick off 2012, I have just launched my new website. It's full of resources related to motivation, engagement, rigor, and high expectations for students. School and district leaders will also find resources specific to their needs. Click the free resources tab to find new ideas you can use immediately!
Sincerely,
Barbara Blackburn
Blackburn Consulting Group |
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Tips for Engaging Learners
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The vision letters are a great way to connect with your students. "It's the end of the year. Why was being in my class/fourth grade/etc. the best year (or 1/2 year) ever?"
Use what you learn to connect to what they value and to help them be more successful.
Teachers at Klentzman Intermediate School asked students to write the letters, than helped students pull one affirming statement from each letter. The affirmations are posted on each student's desk as a motivating reminder. Great idea--individualized and focused on success!
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Remarkable Resources
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This site describes a student guide and resources for helping your students set and achieve goals. This site is full of free resources related to student goal-setting. EduHoundprovides links to multiple resources about goal-setting for students. What I'm reading: 1,001 Pearls of Teachers' Wisdom. It's full of quotations on life and learning & it provides quick motivation for any educator! One of my favorites: Teachers are people who start things they never see finished, & for which they never get thanks until it's too late.--Max Forman
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