Week 27: Committed to Tier One Instruction

Happy Friday!

As we close another week at Mena Public Schools, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all our dedicated staff members for the incredible work done throughout the week to reach our performance targets, mission, and vision. Your commitment to fostering a supportive and enriching environment for our students did not go unnoticed, especially the Read Across America activity. This week, our Wrap-up focuses on crucial educational strategies that are essential for the success of our students and the efficiency of our teaching methods. We will delve into defining Tier I instruction, underscoring the importance of not allowing students to make mistakes in Tier I instruction without addressing them. This focus is pivotal in ensuring that our foundational teaching practices are as effective and impactful as possible, setting our students on the path to success from the very beginning. I will also provide you with calendar voting results.

What is Tier I Instruction?

In our pursuit of educational excellence at Mena Public Schools, we are focusing on what is happening in classrooms and what curriculum materials are being used. This is in our effort to make sure Tier I instruction is the best it can be for our students. We often employ terminologies and concepts that are fundamental to our instructional strategies and the use of the term Tier I instruction plays a critical role in setting the groundwork for our students' learning journey. However, it is crucial to recognize that our interpretations of such terms can vary widely, even among our dedicated staff. Assumptions about common understanding can sometimes lead to discrepancies in application and expectations. To bridge any gaps and ensure we are all aligned in our educational approach, I would like to invite you to participate in a Thought Exchange about Tier I. This Thought Exchange seeks your definition of Tier I instruction. By gathering these insights, we aim to harmonize our understanding and application of this vital concept, ensuring a cohesive and effective learning environment for all our students. What is your definition of Tier I instruction? Please respond to this as your definitions will help our district create an overall better understanding.

Congratulation Inflation

I have been a part of literacy training all semester and am taking online classes to better understand the Science of Reading. Part of the training includes observing videos of lessons and providing feedback. I have noticed in the videos how teachers will say things like “good job” or “nice work” even when what the student did was incorrect. While I worked at the coop and observed classrooms, I would notice this happening sometimes, and, assuming the teacher knew their content, I would theorize that educators were so eager to encourage students that they inflated the number of affirmative statements they would make. I called it congratulation inflation.

Our commitment to fostering a nurturing, supportive environment for our students remains paramount. In our pursuit of excellence, we recognize the invaluable role that positive reinforcement plays in motivating our students. However, it is essential to strike a delicate balance between celebrating achievements and providing constructive feedback, especially if we are reinforcing bad habits with our feedback.

This trend we might call congratulation inflation refers to the well-intentioned practice of offering abundant praise to students, sometimes even when their work may include notable errors or areas for improvement. While our enthusiasm in acknowledging students' efforts is commendable, an overemphasis on praise without addressing mistakes can inadvertently hinder learning and growth.

Why is constructive feedback crucial? Here are a few reasons:

* Promotes Learning and Improvement: Constructive feedback helps students understand what they did well and where they can improve, turning mistakes into learning opportunities.

* Builds Resilience: By learning to accept and act on feedback, students develop resilience and a growth mindset, key attributes for lifelong learning.

* Ensures Authentic Achievement: Recognition becomes more meaningful and motivating when it is tied to genuine achievement and effort. It helps students value the process of learning as much as the outcome.

As educators, it is our responsibility to prepare our students not just academically, but also emotionally and socially for the challenges that lie ahead. This means helping them develop the ability to assess their work critically, recognize their areas for growth, and celebrate their authentic achievements.

To support this, we encourage our dedicated teaching staff to:

* Be cognizant of how you use positive feedback.

* Balance praise with specific, actionable feedback.

* Highlight students' efforts and strategies, not just the end result.

* Create a classroom culture where mistakes are viewed as part of the learning process.

As we continue to nurture our students' potential, remember that our feedback is a powerful tool in guiding them toward their goals. By fostering an environment that values constructive feedback as much as congratulation, we empower our students to embrace challenges, learn from their experiences, and celebrate their genuine accomplishments with pride.

Together, we will commit to encouraging our students' growth with congratulations and constructive guidance, ensuring that every Bearcat is equipped to reach their fullest potential.

Calendar Recommendation

Thank you to those who voted on next year’s calendar. There were not a lot of differences between the two options but Option 2 came out with the most support. I will be recommending this calendar to the board next week.

Closing

We had a slight hiccup with the framing of the Hensley Activity Center this morning. A portion of the steel beams shifted but has been reset and extra bracing has been added to keep that from happening again. It is back in shape and safe thanks to the quick actions of our facilities staff and construction crew.

Congratulations to our Battle of the Books teams, especially 2nd Grade for their win!

It was another productive week at Mena Public Schools and we look forward to more as Spring Break draws near!

At Mena Public Schools our students are prepared, our staff is supported, and our community is confident.

Have a nice weekend!