HUMS staff week of May 28, 2019

A DAILY EVENT IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL - well not exactly  - but we all can relate..



IF YOU NEED A LAUGH AS WE WIND DOWN THE YEAR - TAKE A LOOK HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50i-qwUmC7A

ITEMS:

1.  Middle School Saff meeting - Tuesday afternoon 3:00 in Kendra's room
Duane is out on Wednesday.  Please connect with Hilary or Eric with regards to student discipline issues (which most of you do anyway)

HU meetings:
May 28 - HUMS meeting

May 30 - LT/DH Meeting

June

June 4 - Full Faculty (Kathy/Harkness, Health, Transcript, Indocator Survey walk-thru)

June 10-14 Final Week of Classes including 9th & 10th grade Exhibitions of Learning & Recovery program

June 11 - Full Fac Mtng

June Inservice -  Faculty Writing Workshop Part I

2. lastweek schedule:  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1T5XOv7AR1bW4JNsOmKmWf1eKHweq9uZXlGcSxKtbl1c/edit?ts=5ce2a01f#slide=id.g58394fb681_0_0

3.  Responsive Classroom Credit information: 

RC works with Brandman University to offer credits. Teachers have to register through Brandman. Here's the link for that: https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/professional-development-credit/

4. IMPORTANT End of the year NOTICE

I know the end of the year can be hectic.  Although I spent many years at Harwood, my first year back has been a bit overwhelming and I find myself "so far behind [in the race] that I think sometimes I am first.  I appreciate your time and patience with this process.  

I am reaching out to everyone who is listed on the  email sent last week 5/16 to ask that you submit to me via "hard copy" yep paper, your end of year reflections on your goals that you handed in at the beginning of the year.  I am hoping to receive these by, Friday May 31st.  Please place them in my mailbox in the high school office or give them to liz in the HUMS office.  Once I receive them I will seek you out to briefly meet so you can sign off on them.  Please use the goal template you sent to me to write your reflection.  Thank you!  

IMPORTANT REMINDER:  Harwood utilizes a student feedback tool that all teachers are to administer to their classes prior to the year's end.   This is not part of your evaluation, but a class by class feedback tool for you to view and use to make adjustments or improvements in your classes.  Here is the link to the form - please make a copy of this for your use. DO NOT use as is.. please make a copy.  You will need to sign off (as part of your goals template)  that you have completed this task by the end of the year.  

SURVEY LINK: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1m-F610YAwxCfHiRGynoTf6jG7XGFG-pp_5Tt1nHKVJY/edit

Please let me know if you have any questions.  

5.interesting read...  

Possible Downsides of Five Educational Innovations

            In this Education Gadflyarticle, Robert Pondiscio plays contrarian to current innovations in U.S. schools, embracing Dylan Wiliam’s saying, “Everything works somewhere. Nothing works everywhere,” with an additional question: What are the side effects?Inspired by the fine-print disclaimers and warnings in pharmaceutical ads, Pondiscio lists problems that have surfaced with these highly-touted initiatives:

            • Social-emotional learning– Effective programs work to ensure that all students have understanding adults in school they can trust and work with to set goals, manage emotions, and learn to show empathy for others. Downsides can include reduced academic expectations, lower standards for student behavior, and a suspension of moral judgment by educators. Inadequate teacher training and expensive, poorly thought-out programs are also problems. 

            • School choice– The idea is to give families the same kind of choice with schools that they have in other walks of life, allowing them to enroll their kids in schools that are in synch with the family’s values and beliefs. In addition, competition among schools should drive improvements in curriculum and quality of teaching. Downsides include reduced funding for public schools, lower salaries for educators, gentrification, pockets of poverty and poor performance, teacher strikes, an erosion of the civic mission of the “common school,” and lower test scores. Also, parent satisfaction is no guarantee of school quality. 

            • No-excuses charter schools– The hope is that strict, safe, achievement-focused schools will put disadvantaged children on the path to college and life success. Downsides have included conflicts over dress codes, narrowing of the curriculum, “drill-and-kill” instruction, excessive test prep, burdensome homework, difficulties for children who can’t sit still, high suspension rates, and teacher burnout.

            • Project-based learning– Students’ curiosity and imagination are sparked by hands-on activities linked to real-world interests and issues. But unstructured classrooms may lead to undisciplined, self-indulgent students who can’t handle structured academic environments later on. In addition, effective projects are difficult to plan and execute, and lower test scores may result.

            • Restorative justice– The theory is that children will learn to solve their problems and avoid conflicts under the watchful eye of caring, well-trained educators who are sensitive to the challenges of youth. Downsides occur when teachers don’t agree with the philosophy and/or aren’t properly trained. Lower suspension rates can look impressive, but if underlying problems aren’t addressed, classroom disruptions and bullying can continue, compromising the quality of instruction, stressing out educators, and causing parental backlash.

            “If we were more clear-eyed and honest in pitching and adopting policies and proposals – and more candid about side effects,” Pondiscio concludes, “we might be more apt to stick with them, anticipate complications, and adjust more thoughtfully when they surface.”