Community Philosophy:
I believe any child can learn if they are provided with a safe, nurturing, and comfortable setting. Before any curriculum, it is my most important job to make sure your child feels safe and comfortable. To foster ownership and belonging, students help create our classroom community, starting with our class rules, and from there, they are involved in decision-making, with me guiding and facilitating along the way. This helps to create a classroom where they feel comfortable taking risks while learning the required curriculum. Students are held accountable for the expectations they create, and will be provided support by myself and support staff should they need it. You are also a part of our community and I look forward to partnering with you to best support your child throughout the year!
What does it look like?
If a student is having difficulty following an expectation they helped to create, they will be given a reminder of accountability, and a tool or strategy to guide them back. If they continue to demonstrate a need for support, they will take a break from the activity we are doing. If they consistently need support for their choices, I will communicate that home to parents via email. Students will check in with their zone throughout the day, as well as participate in mindfulness and a daily pause to assess how they are doing, and will also give me an opportunity to provide them anything they need to continue to be successful the rest of their day.
7 Habits:
The teachers at McDowell incorporate the 7 Habits into their daily lessons with the students. The students will learn and begin to “live” these habits. They will then develop great leadership skills in order to be productive, responsible members of our classroom, your home, and the community.
1. Be Proactive (You’re in Charge)
2. Begin with the End in Mind (Have A Plan)
3. Put First Things First (Work First, Then Play)
4. Think Win Win (Everyone Can Win)
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood (Listen Before You Talk)
6. Synergize (Together is Better)
7. Sharpen the Saw(Balance Feels Best)
I believe any child can learn if they are provided with a safe, nurturing, and comfortable setting. Before any curriculum, it is my most important job to make sure your child feels safe and comfortable. To foster ownership and belonging, students help create our classroom community, starting with our class rules, and from there, they are involved in decision-making, with me guiding and facilitating along the way. This helps to create a classroom where they feel comfortable taking risks while learning the required curriculum. Students are held accountable for the expectations they create, and will be provided support by myself and support staff should they need it. You are also a part of our community and I look forward to partnering with you to best support your child throughout the year!
What does it look like?
If a student is having difficulty following an expectation they helped to create, they will be given a reminder of accountability, and a tool or strategy to guide them back. If they continue to demonstrate a need for support, they will take a break from the activity we are doing. If they consistently need support for their choices, I will communicate that home to parents via email. Students will check in with their zone throughout the day, as well as participate in mindfulness and a daily pause to assess how they are doing, and will also give me an opportunity to provide them anything they need to continue to be successful the rest of their day.
7 Habits:
The teachers at McDowell incorporate the 7 Habits into their daily lessons with the students. The students will learn and begin to “live” these habits. They will then develop great leadership skills in order to be productive, responsible members of our classroom, your home, and the community.
1. Be Proactive (You’re in Charge)
2. Begin with the End in Mind (Have A Plan)
3. Put First Things First (Work First, Then Play)
4. Think Win Win (Everyone Can Win)
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood (Listen Before You Talk)
6. Synergize (Together is Better)
7. Sharpen the Saw(Balance Feels Best)