Your Mission

The Friday Five

TGIF Teacher Newsletter #159

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Here are three highlights from this past week:

1. Watching our middle school track athletes practice in the snow.
2. My 8th graders showed their grit during testing, creating a great testing environment.
3. Reading the drafts of my students’ mission statements gave me more hope for the future.

What made your highlight reel this week?

Reflection Questions:

1. How might the implementation of high-dosage tutoring and quality curricula address declining reading scores in American education? What potential challenges might schools face in implementing these solutions?
2. How can school leaders maintain their effectiveness while prioritizing their well-being? Consider the "5 Actionable Tips for School Leaders" mentioned in the newsletter.
3. Reflect on the quote "Vision without a purposeful mission is a ship without a compass." How does this relate to the importance of personal mission statements in education, both for teachers and students?

The Friday Five

1 - Nationwide Issues

One of the strengths of standardized testing is that it can show trends over time. The American education system faces significant challenges with declining reading scores and stagnant math performance, though there are promising signs of progress in specific regions.

Three key actions are necessary to address these issues nationwide: establishing clear national goals for student success, implementing proven solutions like high-dosage tutoring and quality curricula, and providing better support for educators through competitive compensation and professional development.

Success stories from places like Louisiana and Washington D.C. demonstrate that positive change is possible when communities commit to evidence-based approaches and bold leadership. This represents a critical moment that demands collective action from all stakeholders - educators, policymakers, families, and community leaders - to ensure every student receives the quality education they deserve.

Provide teachers with more support, time, and increased salaries and improvements will follow.

Tips for Teachers

• Establish a Structured Tutoring/Homework Help Program: Create a consistent schedule for high-dosage tutoring, either before or after school, focusing on students who need additional support in core subjects
• Integrate Quality Instructional Materials: Review and upgrade current teaching materials to ensure alignment with evidence-based curricula, particularly in literacy and math fundamentals. Ensure instructional materials align with current research.
• Create Collaborative Learning Communities: Set up regular meetings with fellow teachers to share best practices, review student data, and collaborate on implementing new teaching strategies.

2 - Sustained Leadership

School leaders (of course this includes teachers) often face significant challenges in maintaining their health and well-being while meeting the demands of their roles. Many struggle with feelings of isolation and imposter syndrome, working excessive hours and neglecting self-care in an attempt to meet unrealistic expectations.

Sustainable leadership requires a different approach - one that embraces collaboration, acknowledges personal limitations, and maintains healthy work-life boundaries. By focusing on individual strengths, sharing leadership responsibilities, and fostering supportive professional communities, educational leaders can create more effective and sustainable practices that serve both themselves and their school communities better.

5 Actionable Tips for School Leaders

• Schedule Regular "Off-Grid" Time: Set specific hours when you are unavailable for non-emergencies. Use this time for strategic planning, personal development, or simply recharging. Communicate these boundaries clearly to your staff. Teachers, keep your prep time sacred as much as possible.
• Build a Leadership Support Network: Identify and regularly connect with other school leaders/teachers facing similar challenges. Create a monthly meetup or virtual check-in system to share experiences, strategies, and emotional support.
• Implement Shared Leadership Practices: Map out your (and team) strengths and deliberately delegate responsibilities accordingly. Create leadership opportunities for staff members/colleagues and trust them to handle specific areas of school management.
• Establish Self-Care Non-Negotiables: Block out time in your calendar for essential health practices like lunch breaks, exercise, and family time. Treat these appointments with the same importance as any other professional commitment.
• Create Systems for Sustainable Success: Develop clear protocols for common situations and empower your staff to handle routine matters independently. This reduces the "educational firefighter" syndrome and creates more sustainable operations.

3 - Your Mission

Personal mission statements serve as powerful guiding principles that help individuals define their values, goals, and aspirations. These declarations act as personal compasses, providing direction for important life decisions and maintaining focus during challenging times.

For students, mission statements can guide academic choices and career planning, while teachers can use them to shape their educational philosophy and enhance classroom effectiveness. Creating an effective mission statement involves thoughtful self-reflection, clear articulation of core values, and regular updates to reflect personal growth.

When properly developed and actively used, mission statements become valuable tools for maintaining accountability, fostering personal development, and achieving long-term success in both academic and professional pursuits.

4 - Ship Without a Compass

Vision without a purposeful mission is a ship without a compass, drifting aimlessly in the sea of aspirations.” ― Aloo Denish Obiero

5 - Teacher Commuter Playlist - Love Will Get You There by Inhaler

Choose Your Own Adventure

• What happens when students lead more of their learning?
• Should schools play a role in promoting peaceful societies and democratic values?
• Success comes from consistent action, not initial perfection.

Why Edify Recommendations

• Only one this week. Here’s the new Don’t Let the Old In hoodie from my Bonfire Shop. It looks pretty sharp on this supermodel, aka my Dad.

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