Month: August 2012

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Setting goals…it’s a valuable life tool.

It’s the time of year before school starts when educators set goals for the coming year.  We plan, prepare, discuss, share, collaborate, and communicate goals.  Teaching our learners how to set short-term and long-term goals helps them learn valuable life skills needed to become responsible citizens one day.  I was fortunate enough today to visit with a group of teachers who had this to share about goal-setting:

  1. Set goals easily reached at first because having success will encourage each learner to continue.
  2. Break more challenging goals into small steps so progress is made each day or week.
  3. Create a step-by step plan for reaching goals and focus on only one or two at a time.
  4. Support the learner with great encouragement and belief.
  5. Continue to have high but reasonable expectations as each learner carries through the goal.
  6. Be flexible and willing to adapt a goal if something unexpected occurs.

A couple of things I might add to their list from my perspective:

  • Children need to know failure is a part of the overall process of success; it’s really okay to fail as long as you learn from the failure and push forward to keep trying (this is tough for a recovering perfectionist like me).
  • Be a great role model by talking about goals reached, acting responsibly when goals are not met, and discussing what can be done better next time (this is something Mrs. Bass and I really work on during discipline interventions).

As we get our year started at LME, we’ll be sharing these and many other thoughts in actions with our learners.  We have a series of daily pep rallies and team huddles planned to actively demonstrate our campus expectations.  Let’s get ready to rally because…Every Day Is Game Day at LME!

Note:  Our first day of new student registration went well.  Let’s get those first-day enrollment forms filled out online!

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Left-Hander’s Day!

Did you know August 13th is declared National Left-Hander’s Day?  Did you also know about 20% of the US population is left-handed and of that, boys are twice as likely to be left-handed than girls?  I’m blessed to have a left-hander in our home, my sweet husband.  Here’s a picture of Professor Van Amburgh (getting ready to graduate a class of undergraduates from his university teaching assignment).  He tells me a gene is the strong contributing factor for being left-handed.  Scientists actually discovered the gene during a study of children with dyslexia and they believe it is an inherited factor from the father.  MENSA also reports that 20% of their members are left-handed—definitely some interesting findings!

Since the world is usually built for right-handers, it’s certainly a challenge to our left-handers when working with tools, cooking utensils, school supplies (think scissors and spirals in particular), and the list goes on… My daddy, who is also left-handed, tells the story of his first grade teacher slapping his left hand everyday in school for not writing with his right hand!  So sorry, daddy!  What was this teacher thinking?

For those of us who are right-handed, have patience with your left-handed friends who work in a right-hand dominated world.  As Mr. Van frequently reminds me:  “Lefties are the only ones in their right minds!”  🙂  Cheers to all the lefties today!  🙂

Note:  Let’s get those online first-day packets completed!

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What’s your mindset?

Our MISD Leadership Team just completed a two-day informative retreat.  Along with other homework, we read and discussed the book, Mindset, by Carol Dweck.  According to her website, Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., is one of the world’s leading researchers in the field of motivation and is the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University.  Her research has focused on why people succeed and how to best foster success.  She has held professorships at Columbia and Harvard Universities, has lectured all over the world, and has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.  Obviously, she is an expert in the study of success.

In the book, Dr. Dweck explains through her studies two types of mindsets—a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.  Before reading the book for the first time nearly a year ago (when challenged by my pastor), I took the professor’s online test.  Have you ever tested your mindset?

In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits.  They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talents instead of developing them even more.  They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort.  Dr. Dweck provides some very interesting articles on her theory of fixed mindsets when dealing with our children, using specific examples along the way to illustrate her points.

In a growth mindset, people believe their most basic abilities can always be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point.  This view creates a love of lifelong learning and a resilience essential for great accomplishment.  The strongest message here is “failure is a part of growing; we must sometimes fail in order to move forward in necessary growth.”

On both theories, there are powerful messages for parents, businesses, and especially schools.  Mindsets CAN be changed in what Dr. Dweck refers to as four simple steps.  After studying this book at length and enJOYing some intense conversation these past two days, I most definitely appreciate why our mindsets as learners, educators, and parents can affect overall success for everyone!  You are strongly encouraged to pick up a copy (or borrow mine) and read it.  As we get geared up for another school year, here’s a personal challenge for you to study your mindset (and that of your child) today!  🙂

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First Day Packets online!

In a continuing and determined effort to truly “go green,” exciting news exploded today in Midlothian ISD…those pages and pages of required school enrollment forms are now available online!  Parents, you have the ability to electronically sign-off on your child’s first-day enrollment packet. In order to begin this online process, you must enter each child’s unique activation code provided in the letters recently mailed home. The online enrollment closes August 31. Click here for more information and to complete the online packet.

Special thanks to the Tech Gurus in MISD for making this convenience possible to everyone!  We will have our LME Computer lab open on Meet The Teacher Night from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. if you need a computer, a quiet place, or some assistance to complete the work.  Let’s get those fingers clicking!  🙂

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Back to School Opportunities in our Community

The following information was shared district-wide today; here’s a synopsis for you:

Education Station for Pre K-5th
Sat., August 4 from 11am-3 p.m. at J.R. Irvin Elementary

School supplies, backpacks, a pair of new shoes, hot dog lunch/chips and a drink. The police and fire departments will have a patrol car and fire engine on site for children to sit inside, run the sirens and learn about what police officers and firefighters do to protect the community. Students can also play in bounce houses that will be set up. Two laptop computers will be raffled off as door prizes at the event. Each student Pre-K through fifth grade will receive a raffle ticket when they register for school supplies and must be present to win.  Sponsored by community organizations.
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Back-to-School Bash for K-12th
Sat., August 11 from 3-7 p.m. at MISD Multi-Purpose Stadium

Students will receive free haircuts, immunizations, and vision checks.  Lots of bounce houses, rock climbing wall, inflatable water slide, etc. (Parents must bring their child’s insurance and shot record). The community is encouraged to bring school supplies and drop them off at the Manna House booth.  These items will be donated to students in need. The Dolphin Tale movie will be shown in the evening hosted by Midlothian Parks and Recreation.  Sponsored by community organizations.
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Immunization Clinic
Wed., August 22 from 10am – 4 p.m. at MISD Administration Bldg.

Children ages 2mths to 18 yrs. old will receive free shots if covered by Medicaid or CHIP (please bring card).  Other shots are $25 for the first shot and $10 for additional shots.  Cash or checks are accepted (payable to Agape Outreach).  A current shot record must be provided.
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Midlothian Manna House
Manna House is a food pantry for families in need. Documentation is required: current utility bill and picture ID. Assistance hours are M-Th 9am-4pm and F 9am-3pm located at 210 West Avenue F.  972-775-1800.
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MISD Treasures for Students
School supplies, backpacks, and lunch tote bags are readily available throughout the year for students identified by their counselors, mentors and staff.  These supplies are strictly designated to help students whose family can’t afford supplies due to various circumstances.  Send requests to the MISD Communications Dept., Attn: Jana Hathorne, Public Relations Coordinator, 972-775-8296, ext. 1037 or email jana_hathorne@midlothian-isd.net.  Supplies are donated by the United Way of West Ellis County and community organizations.

Be sure to visit the MISD Back-to-School website today!  Here’s hoping we see you out there!  🙂

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Book Sale is this week!

Don’t forget about the book sale at our local public library the next three days!  The collection of materials is impressive and you just might see some friends while you pick up a bargain for that last summer read (or something for a school reading list) in the process!

Happy reading!  🙂