Challenge, Strengths, and Belief

I am currently creating a guiding framework for each week, and developing a weekly review habit. Here are some recent snippets from my weekly review: I look back each week and record takeaways from what I've been thinking, reading, and experiencing in the classroom and in life. My process is simple: Think, Learn, Share, Repeat.

• Just Right - There is a connection between the level of challenge in academic tasks and student engagement. When tasks are too easy or too difficult, engagement tends to decrease. The key is to create assignments that have differentiated levels of challenge built in.
• Running Record - Keeping a list of supplies that run out and taking an inventory in the last month of school can help you prepare for what you need for next year more easily.
• Strengths - Assess students' strengths and build from there. This approach provides a balance to the intervention-based school schedule. It can bring back some enjoyment to a kid’s school day.
• Teacher Appreciation - Teachers don’t teach for money or appreciation, and their efforts often go unrecognized. Still, it does feel good to be appreciated.
• Great Start - I get frustrated when I’m sitting in my chair at the end of the day and my watch tells me, “You’re off to a great start”. Even after I’ve exercised.
• Belief - It’s important to treat students like they have the power to solve their own problems. School discipline and classroom management should include a reflective component.
• Opportunities - “A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” -Duke Ellington. What are some ways to help students view problems as opportunities for growth?
• Analog - Creating mind maps and posters brings balance back to digitally dominated classrooms. I suspect that a balance between digital and analog classwork is good for students. It might be better if they did more of their work on paper.
• Mental Liquidity - The ability to change your mind when new information presents itself is a skill for the future. Motivation is needed to seek out new information and then determine if it’s factual or not.

That's a wrap for this week.