We often talk of meeting students where they are. But how do we know where they are? And once we know, what do we do?
For my seventeen years as a classroom teacher, I built strong relationships with almost all of my students. I didn't have significant classroom management concerns. Students would hang out in my room before school and would eat lunch in my classroom. Many would share their school experiences and some confided their personal stories. While many of my actions, like greeting students at the threshold of the classroom, attending extracurricular events, etc., were purposeful, in hindsight many of them seem superficial.
About ten years into my teaching career, I remember my principal calling me into his office during lunch and asking, "Reed, how many African-American students are in the freshman transition program (a program for at-risk students that I was in charge of)?"
After a moment of contemplating, I gave him an answer and returned to my classroom. Walking back to my classroom--actually a trailer--I waited for my students to return. As I waited, I was actually proud of myself that I wasn't caught up in racial and ethnic data points. Then my students started filing into the trailer. In that one class, which represented only a quarter of the freshman transition students, I had as many African-American students as I had estimated were in the entire program. At that point, I realized I need to become more purposeful in my actions.
I needed to adjust from being unintentionally inviting to intentionally inviting, meaning I need to be more purposeful and sensitive to student needs and take appropriate actions based on their needs.
For me this meant going beyond positivity and knowing my students' interests. I needed to share my own personal stories with my students and provide opportunities for them to share their own stories. I re-examined how I taught world history to ensure I spent more time on issues that concerned and interested my students. Together with other teachers from the transition program, we visited some of our students' homes.
It also required changes to my instructional approaches. I made greater use of pre-assessments to better plan lessons and to ensure my students were able to monitor and see their progress. Increasing my use of formative assessments helped students progress as well. Using the data from formative assessments students were able to see their progress and when they didn't meet the learning targets, I would always take responsibility, "I need to do a better job of teaching. If you haven't learned it, I haven't taught it."
Meeting students where they are means that we are purposeful in our actions. It means making informed and purposeful decisions. It requires empathy and attending to the students' needs.
I still have a long way to go. I look forward to learning from all of you and our students this year.
Need to Knows
Please bring your computer to Monday's nuts-and-bolts sessions. We've made a slight change in the schedule
Below are a couple of bell schedules for reference. Please be sure to double-check your lunch period as there were a couple of changes since the original version was sent. All schedules can be found at Bell Schedules : http://bit.ly/MOHSbells
Please bring your computer to Monday's nuts-and-bolts sessions. We've made a slight change in the schedule
Below are a couple of bell schedules for reference. Please be sure to double-check your lunch period as there were a couple of changes since the original version was sent. All schedules can be found at Bell Schedules : http://bit.ly/MOHSbells
First 2 Weeks Schedule
Extended 1st Block
August 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30
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7:40-8:40
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Zero Period
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8:55-11:05
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1st Period
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11:10-1:00
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2nd Period
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1:05-2:25
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3rd Period
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2:30-3:50
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4th Period
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AM CATEC Students: Depart from Monticello High School at 9am and return from CATEC and
return to Monticello High School at 11:55am
return to Monticello High School at 11:55am
PM CATEC Students: Leave class at 12:50pm for 12:55pm bus departure
Wednesday, August 22
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Computer Distribution
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Thursday, August 23
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Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors: Naviance Goal Setting Lesson
Freshman: Class Meeting
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Friday, August 24
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8 Period Day
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Monday, August 27
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Senior: Class Meeting
Freshman: Naviance Goal Setting Lesson
Sophomores/Juniors: Club Slide Presentation
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Tuesday, August 28
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Junior: Class Meeting
Freshman/Seniors: Club Slides
Sophomores: Cyber Safety
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Wednesday, August 29
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All: Club Sign-up and Mustang Morning
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Thursday, August 30
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Sophomore: Class Meeting
Freshman, Junior, Senior: Cyber Safety
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8 Block Extended 1st Period
August 24
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0 Period: 7:40-8:40
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1A: 8:55-10:03
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1B: 10:08-10:46
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2A: 10:51-12:16
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2B: 12:21-12:59
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3A: 1:04-1:42
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3B: 1:47-2:25
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4A: 2:30-3:08
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4B: 3:13-3:50
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AM CATEC Students: Depart from Monticello High School at 9am and return from CATEC
and return to Monticello High School at 11:55am.
PM CATEC Students: Leave class at 12:50pm for 12:55pm bus departure.and return to Monticello High School at 11:55am.
Club Day with No Lunch
August 31
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0 Period: 7:40-8:40
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1A: 8:55-9:35
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CLUB: 9:40-10:03
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1B: 10:08-10:46
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2A: 10:51-12:16
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2B: 12:21-12:59
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3A: 1:04-1:42
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3B: 1:47-2:25
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4A: 2:30-3:08
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4B: 3:13-3:50
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AM CATEC Students: Depart from Monticello High School at 9am and return from CATEC
and return to Monticello High School at 11:55am.
and return to Monticello High School at 11:55am.
PM CATEC Students: Leave class at 12:50pm for 12:55pm bus departure.
Stats of the Week
Percent of teachers at Monticello who deduct points on late work.
Percent of teachers at Monticello who include one or more of the following in grades: effort, participation, tardiness, attendance, and/or adherence to class rules.
Birthdays
August 19: April Wilkerson
August 20: Jon McDaniel
Sorry if I'm missing anyone new.
Shout Outs
Hat tip to all of those responsible for a great start to the school year. This includes Garry Gibson for all his tech support and getting computers ready to roll out; our custodial staff for juggling CFA, a tornado, new furniture, August 14 with every ACPS staff member here, and our own needs; and our front office staff for getting keys ready.A personal thank you to Miriah Dudley, Michael Jennings and Mike Parsons for helping sort computers for distribution.
And finally for all of you who were part of Fresh Start (especially Katina Dudley), Freshman Seminar (especially Meghan Streit), and/or attended our Southwood Community Event, we appreciate your extra efforts.
Useful Information
The presentations and resources from the first couple of days have been added to the Monticello Team Drive on Google.
Don't forget to use the Shared Monticello Calendar.
Bell Schedules : http://bit.ly/MOHSbells
Morning Announcement Stream: http://streaming.k12albemarle.org/ACPS/links.htm
Announcement Request: http://tinyurl.com/requestannouncement
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