Watching the first week get under way at Hoover Elementary has been a wonderful and uplifting experience.
It is so evident walking the halls and into classrooms that teachers truly care for their students, and students enjoy being here.
At out first Staff Meeting we talked about what we stood for at Hoover, or what our Pillars were. It was so interesting to look at the staff responses and hear what everyone had to say, and a totally other thing to walk the halls and SEE our words take actions.
So many classrooms the first two weeks created specific lessons regarding the Hoover Pillars of Respectful, Responsible, Safe, and Caring.
Deb Carlson had the Pillars posted and visible for every student as they entered the classroom.
Tonya, Becky, and Jamie each had the Pillars and descriptors listed in their rooms that they had discussed and created look fors with their students.
I was able to witness Lyndsay Daley teaching each student in her room what it means to be a productive and successful student at Hoover. Students were participating in the discussion, and providing examples to show they understood. As I continued to walk through Lyndsay's room the rest of the week, they continued to revisit this anchor chart, and the language Lyndsay used each time she addressed a student behavior or retaught an action, the language matched the chart. This type of consistency will truly resonate with students and help them to learn and live in a way that is Respectful, Responsible, Safe, and Caring.
Our jobs as teachers have grown increasingly difficult over the past couple of decades, with it becoming more of the job of the teacher to develop the WHOLE child. We no longer focus on just academics, but instead are responsible, for the social, emotional, and mental state of a child. By embedding these skills and traits throughout our everyday lessons of what it looks like to be in our classrooms and schools, we are setting up our year for success!!!
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