Mindful in the Middle

We want to develop thoughtful, compassionate, and collaborative human beings in an increasingly chaotic, complex, and information-rich world. - Arthur Costa and Bena Kallick

91 Summer Staff conversations...

We care deeply about our students.

We enjoy what we do and want to keep doing it better.

We yearn for more connections with each other.

Communication

We yearn for more connections with each other.

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Fall Staff Profiles SlideShow QR Codes (next step)

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Parent Seminar Topic Requests?

Middle Families’ Blog

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Call and e-mail questions and concerns; please speak directly to the person who can do something immediately to respond. Presume Positive Intent - ALWAYS!

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Introducing...

Social Media Request Form

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From Raider Blue (6th)

1. The Raider Blue house has the largest amount of students running for Student Council. That shows that they want to be involved in their school and community.

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2. We have gotten to know students and their needs through conferencing with individual kids. This helps our relationships with students and helps us better meet their needs.

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From Raider White (6th)

• Advisory conferencing helped us learn A LOT about our students as we listened to them, asked questions to deepen our understanding, and guided them with setting goals.
• Academic highlights:
• ​Ask your child about their Paleolithic and Neolithic comic book.
• Ask your child what common characteristics are shared by all living things?
• Ask your child what topic they are researching in the Britannica database.
• Ask your child to show you the Time For Kids web site, and discuss a current event they recently read about and responded to.
• Ask your child to demonstrate a problem with a decimal in it. What can you do with this number?
• Students have been learning about locker organization, homework completion, PAT processes, and positive peer interactions.

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From Excalibur (6th)

Please ask your child…

to show you their Google Classroom pages.

...to show you how Connect Ed math/science tutors work online.

...to show you how to navigate Skyward to see missing assignments, grades, and online assessments.

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From Avalon (7th)

We have observed the students are in tune to the reflections.

We’ve also observed how students are reflecting on their assignments and work.

This is leading to the developing of the student's responsibility for their own learning.

From Knights

We’ve started utilizing Google Classroom for individual classes and advisory.

We have also been working hard to teach/reteach personal responsibility. Please ask your student, “What resources can you use to be more successful in and out of class?”

Another highlight was conferencing on the late start day. Students expressed how much they enjoyed setting a goal for themselves and being able to talk about it with both their peers and their advisor.

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From Windsor (8th)

1. Windsor teachers enjoyed getting to know students through the goal-setting conferences and getting-to-know-you activity.

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2. Windsor students are looking forward to the Hudson Walking Tour taking place this Friday.

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From Norman (8th)

One highlight of ours was the conferencing we did last week. Having the opportunity to meet one on one with kids and truly listen to them and encourage them in their goal setting process, definitely seemed to be mutually beneficial. We got to know our kids on a different level - a level that is fairly surprising for this early on in the school year.

Another highlight has been the way the students get along with each other and work together. We have absolutely noticed a common trait of Norman students this year: kindness. The students have proven already to work well together in classes, even when paired with students they may not be used to working with or who may not be their first choice in a partner. How perfect for a focus on collaboration!

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PBIS = Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports

RAIDER PRIDE HALLWAYEXPECTATIONS

Be Respectful

• Use positive language and quiet voices
• Treat everyone with kindness

Be Responsible

• Leave Surroundings better than you found them
• Walk directly to your destination

Be Safe

• Walk at all times
• Heads up, devices down

Educator Effectiveness

We enjoy what we do and want to keep doing it better.

SMART Goal 2020

By June 2020

85% of middle school students

will demonstrate proficiency

in collaboratively creating a solution

for a real world challenge.

100% will have the opportunity.

SMART Goal Indicators Students...

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade level topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

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Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration and inquiry.

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Produce clear and coherent writing: development, organization and style fit task, purpose and an authentic audience.

Focus for 2015-16 - Collaboration

85% of middle school students engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade level topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Habits of Mind

Knowing our students and ourselves

We care deeply about our students.

Habits of Mind

Persisting

Managing Impulsivity

Listening with Understanding and Empathy

Thinking Flexibly

Thinking about Thinking (Metacognition)

Striving for Accuracy

Questioning and Posing Problems

Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations

Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision

Gathering Data through All Senses

Creating, Imagining, Innovating

Responding with Wonderment and Awe

Taking Responsible Risks

Finding Humor

Thinking Interdependently

Remaining Open to Continuous Learning

Habits of Mind

Which habit is a strength for you?

Which habit do you want to develop further?

Which habit would you most like to see further developed in your middle-level student(s)?

Student Leadership Opportunities

6th Grade Students Supporting Students (S3)

STATeam - Student Tech Assistants

SAA - Student Advisors to Administrators

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Mindful in the Middle

We want to develop thoughtful, compassionate, and collaborative human beings in an increasingly chaotic, complex, and information-rich world. - Arthur Costa and Bena Kallick