January 22, 2016

If It's On The Calendar, It Happens

I've been reading 'Better Than Before - Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives' by Gretchen Rubin. I was listening to one of her Podcasts from her book and was intrigued. Next step - cue that book up from the library! I like this kind of book - I can read a chapter here and there and in no particular sequence.

Lately, I've been monitoring my goals both personally and professionally (there's another chapter about monitoring which is really good!) and have a surprising number of areas that have been sorely neglected.  Some of them are such great ideas...why can't I move them into action? This book has really helped me identify the barriers that have prevented these ideas from becoming actions. Just naming some of these simple strategies has raised my awareness and has me really thinking!

The strategies in this book are so familiar that we take doing them for granted - but they're invaluable.
 One of those is the strategy of scheduling. One reason I think we have been so successful with our school-wide rituals is that we schedule them. We drum the first day of each week. We start each day with Morning Meeting. We end each day with Closing Circle. How easy these would get away from us if we were not intentionally carving out time in daily and weekly schedules to ensure they happen!

Are there some other things you value that 'slip away' from you? Do you wish you did a teambuilding exercise every couple of weeks with your Crew? Do you desire to observe another teacher? Do you need some planning time? Do you need some help from a colleague? Do you need to finish documenting a Learning Expedition or document the revision you want to hang on to for the future? Do you want to increase your progress monitoring of students? Do you want a routinely scheduled sample of student writing? Do you want to increase your parent communication? I wonder how putting this down on your calendar, building it into your routine, might make it happen?

Calendar:

January 21 - 25th:

Monday:
5th Grade Winter Voyage
Deborah out of the building

Tuesday:
* RTI 7:30 a.m.
Deborah out of the building

Wednesday:
The Beat
PD: 1:30 Library
     *Kim presents her learning on Financial Literacy
     *Instructional protocol study

Thursday:
5th grade Day of Rest
Student Work Dialogue with Tammy and Austin - rotate during plan times


February 1 - 5th:

Tuesday:
RTI meeting 7:30 a.m.

Wednesday:
PD 1:30 Library
     *Diana features guest from Follett sharing 'Lightbox' (tool for teachers)
     *Instructional protocols study

Thursday:
Deborah out of the building - admin mtg.

Friday:
Vision and Hearing Screening

Have a wonderful weekend!

Deborah