Professional Readings

  • 9/24/21 – Maybe it’s because I’m in my office watching our fall sports teams get dropped off or picked up right now (it’s definitely that), but I just went down a wormhole of the actual benefits of athletics on student outcomes.
  • 9/17/21 – This week’s reading is actually a video, the BLP kickoff video that shared how excited students were to reconnect with their favorite teachers this year.
  • 9/10/21 – I heard some amazing things about the ways their teachers addressed tomorrow’s 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks and I heard from teachers who were impressed with their students’ ability to have meaningful discussion on the topic. Here is a link to a short NPR article discussing ways to teach about 9/11 that contain great tips on how to teach any complex idea.
  • 8/27/21 – Defending a Teacher’s Right to Disconnect – I realize the irony present in my sharing an article about the importance of teachers disconnecting from work when the day is done late on a Friday afternoon, but want to share my thinking that I do not expect you to be available 24/7. I will do my best to not send work-related emails in the evenings or on weekends except to answer questions.
  • 8/20/21 – How to Cultivate a Schoolwide Culture of Authentic Gratitude – Sharing specific gratitudes is an easy and meaningful way to positively build relationship, self-esteem, and community.
  • 5/31/21- Which Way to Equity?– In this interview, Doug Reeves shares from his own history, provides actionable advice, reflects on Covid, and provides additional resources for those of us who want to know more.  
  • 5/14/21- Asian Pacific America Heritage Month– What it is and background information.
  • 5/7/21- Secondary Instruction Blog– Interviews with Steve Cook!
  • 4/30/2021- Finishing the School Year Strong– Using the power of Recognition, Reflection, and Reinforcement to support students (and yourself) at the end of the year.
  • 4/9/2021- What ‘Learning Loss’ Really Means– This article in the Washington Post describes what may be better narratives to foster as we welcome all students back in and we welcome families during conferences this week.
  • 3/8/2021- Youth Truth Student Feedback- This information came from our Youth Truth Survey this year. I will share the staff and family feedback in the next two weeks as well. This has MANY slides but it is worth it to explore the first 3 slides to understand the ratings and then explore the sections you are most interested in. If you have question, let me know.
  • 2/26/2021- The WHY of Why- This post speaks to the importance and power of explaining why students are being taught what they are being taught. When students are explicitly taught the application of the teaching point engagement increases. 
  • 2/22/2021- Supporting Secondary Instruction- This blog comes from Dean Richards and Michele Clements who are supporting secondary instruction within our district. This post focuses on structuring breakout rooms during Wednesday meetings when both cohorts are together.
  • 2/15/2021- LEAD COHORT Website- Please become familiar with the tools and resources within this district site. Ask Ami if you have any questions.
  • 2/5/2021- Black History Month– This is not the only time that we want to celebrate the contributions, creativity, cultures, and craft of the Black community but one way you might find to celebrate is through the joy of reading. This link has several options to engage in new authors, creators, or ideas with which you may not yet be familiar.
  • 1/29/2021- LEAD COHORT Website- During January, please become familiar with the tools and resources within this district site.
  • 1/22/2021- LEAD COHORT Website- During January, please become familiar with the tools and resources within this district site.
  • 1/18/2021- LEAD COHORT Website- During January, please become familiar with the tools and resources within this district site.
  • 1/10/2021- LEAD COHORT Website- During January, please become familiar with the tools and resources within this district site.
  • 12/21/2020- LEAD COHORT Website- During January, please become familiar with the tools and resources within this district site.
  • 12/14/2020- Parents are Watching like Never Before. ‘Trust Us’ Isn’t Enough– This article talks about a lot of aspects of this pandemic (district, community, leadership, classroom efforts, etc) but highlights how important those connections to students are during this time. They hear us and see us and understand our craft in a way that they have never before. I am so proud to say that what we hear from families consistently points to strength in these areas at PCMS!
  • 12/7/2020- The Zero Effect: “As teachers, it is our job to set kids up to succeed, not to fail. Changing some of our grading practices is a good place to start.” ~ Chad Donohue
  • 11/23/2020- Persuading Reluctant Students to Turn on Their Cameras: This has been a topic that we all have discussed in the past few weeks. See if any of these tips may work for you!
  • 11/16/2020- Quick Start with Pear Deck: Please check your e-mail for your welcome account message for Pear Deck and use the attached to get started. We will also have a training from 8-8:45 on December 2.
  • 11/13/2020- World Kindness Day: Twenty five ways to be kind today.
  • 11/9/2020- Curbing Educator Burnout: Rethink. Reset. Revitalize.
  • 3/16/20- How to Keep the Greater Good in Mind: In this article, Jill Suttie describes ways we can also remember our social hygiene—looking for the heroes, staying calm ourselves, being grateful, and remembering our common humanity amid pandemic.
  • 3/9/20- Academic Mindset and Culturally Responsive Teaching– Zaretta Hammond, the author of “Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain” explains what children need to have an academic mindset. Dr. Hammond also explains how “grit” and “pep talks” aren’t the solution when early learners struggle. This video is 22 minutes long. Please take some time here and there to digest this valuable video over the next three weeks.
  • 3/2/20- Child and Youth Resilience Measure Information– The information outlined in this document will be gathered using a survey that we will deliver to all of our students on March 16th during Advisory. There will be more information coming your way but please prepare to take attendance for all those that participate that day so we can have an accurate count for a make-up day after the 16th to ensure that all students take the survey.
  • 2/24/20- Reframing Behavior & Power– These two posters were shared by our district behavior coaches. This type of thinking is particularly important during this time of year. Re-teaching, re-coaching, and re-framing are all helpful activities when you feel that your classroom may feel particularly rocky.
  • 2/10/20- Committee Shares Map Recommendations– This link will bring you to the newest proposed recommendations for attendance area boundaries. There is an online survey attached that will be open until February 19th for public and staff comments.
  • 2/3/20– Small Group Instruction: How to Make it Effective– This document is one that we will go over briefly as part of SIW this week. Although it is written for specific reading instruction, the general premise and guidelines for creation are the same in any content area. We will also be hearing from our colleagues who went to another school to observe small groups in action.
  • 1/26/20- Hitting Reset– If you didn’t get a chance to read the article that Ryan shared on Friday, please do so. Second semester is a great opportunity to go back to basics, take stock of learning progress and classroom culture and pivot if necessary. Additionally, here is a link to the information that we all synthesized during SIW last week. What is your take away? What is the action step you are willing to take after hearing ideas from colleagues?
  • 1/20/20- Equity and Excellence Review- Bend-La Pine Schools (from the webpage) The goal of this document is to synthesize the the academic, social and emotional experiences of our students, particularly those from historically under-served populations. We will be reviewing this as a school with our ICCL team on Wednesday.
  • 1/13/20- Five Surprising Ways Exercise Changes Your Brain If any part of your self-care plan includes exercise, here is an interesting read! This article is from an organization that is part of UC Berkley and provides great articles around wellness and the science behind balance, wellness, and a meaningful life.
  • 11/02/20- Four Ways to Help Students Feel Intrinsically Motivated to Do Distance Learning: This article highlights the power of students as leaders within their own learning.
  • 12/9/19- 20 (Self-)Critical Things I Will Do to Be a More Equitable Educator Yesterday we talked about the idea that a training like TIU is not full of action lists; however, this link is a tool that we can use to determine one thing we will do moving into the next 3 weeks to support our students even more.
  • 12/9/19- Jay Smooth – How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Discussing Race: This TedX Talk is one that is shared as part of Taking It Up participation after participants have taken some time to wrestle with different definitions and ideas around race and racism in our schools. There are several talking points presented within this video but I think it is a telling way to highlight just how difficult these conversations can be. Separation of “what you said or what you did” from “what you are” is a particularly poignant idea for our work as educators and can be used as a framework as we work with students in a variety of different aspects- behavior difficulties in particular. I’d love to hear your thoughts after you have watched this video.
  • 11/18/19- Staff Self-Care: As we move into our break, I encourage you to be selfish and please take time to consider the information in this document. Use pages 18-21 to help you reflect on the things that you do (or don’t do) for yourself when stress increases and energy takes a dive.
  • 11/11/19- The Power of a Compliment: This article is a reminder of how important it can be to lean on one another when we feel down. By giving a compliment to someone, they are not the only beneficiary and that trip down the hall to be in another class might help you and our community more than you may think.