✦How to work smarter, not harder - It is all in the systems; concentrate on your days piece by piece; ROUTINES!!; be mindful about how you set up your environment.

✦Be focused and Intentional

✦Lean on that support; take the help, the resources, the advice; don't be afraid to build those relationships and rely on the community you build within the school

✦Why Teach? There is no other job that will provide you with the joy and purpose like being a teacher, educator, or a school employee (in any capacity); we are the ones who get to make a difference each and everyday.

✦Resource: https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Love-Difficult-Discipline-Cooperation/dp/0060007753

✦EXIT TICKETS!!!

✦How to work smarter, not harder

-Make the students do it

-The more they can & know how to do on their own, the better

✦"You know what I'm doing so I'm going to try and get better."

✦Relationships with students is key; you can never have too much procedure especially in the first days, weeks, and first month; you don't have to run a tight ship, just an orderly one

✦Why Teach? You can open their minds when you teach them. When you see the kids get it; when you see the kids happy; when you see the kids excited to come to school - that's why.

✦Resource: https://www.amazon.com/Culture-Code-Secrets-Highly-Successful-ebook/dp/B01MSY1Y6Z/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XAttw_vke7svzcFSZzv2zkJMpNAuYDwLMSBJ2eE0U5WF6lWEleBNsuWeXVh7mdts87jD-4IO-UYq_RS_p6iiBVVkt7OWww1IuCjc22YjeBaLrsF29UbBTq3wsJwKZD__P_yaydcp7yCztUQaL7eLHmG66_wTlyGT0zBUDfHrg86rYgyvNK6Vo6tRfm8LcjHpGE2J0LddaBV_fbaL6IFJZT45RZduoeruotpl7YPlM1M.9h01EUobYzk5kx_bzqMe9fMV56HJJnU02PcK3dCQg6E&dib_tag=se&hvadid=713540661286&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9024391&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=2395070141212621050&hvtargid=kwd-93154087260&hydadcr=22536_13730665&keywords=culture+code+book&mcid=a7546c74d8e93906b32252584d1c0a71&qid=1744833112&sr=8-1

✦There 100% needs to be validity in the inference

✦How to work smarter, not harder

-Design assessments strategically and you can get information efficiently

-Know the purpose for all assessments

✦You can learn one thing about something; then you can learn multiple things about something; and soon you will understand relationally

✦Teach to the test = teach with the end in mind

✦Why Teach? You won't know until you meet the kids

✦Resource: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/practiceguides

Assessment is basically 'show me what you know'. Figure out where you're going, where do we need to go, and where do we need to end up. It is NOT all about the content.

✦Small groups can help even the highest of students grow and learn something new and help those students are struggling to ask more questions.

✦How to work smarter, not harder

-Collaborate.

-It's not all about you. It's about the team. You can bring more in as a team, you can get more done, and you work better together.

✦Don't walk alone; take everyone with you.

✦Why teach? The stories you get to go home with & the impact you have on your students.

✦Resource: https://www.amazon.com/How-Do-You-Hug-Porcupine/dp/1442412917/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XJhQp-rTviSSZslncn6qCXeYpJ_7RjGNzy1YwxZF-DRU7F9VqOVBb-WQ6eU_Tp3RCHAKcC6Tc9FwYRGqzlk-Jcz6ojXyu8ywTJ3cDjl0XoMl0KcYxu0r-rIm0BJHBOtI_KhO3VgD_1pRTBTlnTjSMw.DfTQTAzrqN6sRBVjDRd3TdFA9thOADXk0ldPfIwSr-c&dib_tag=se&hvadid=598613896497&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9024391&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=3813818720141061189&hvtargid=kwd-26185102581&hydadcr=22566_13531289&keywords=how+do+you+hug+a+porcupine&mcid=bcdd65bc9a31356f9813d0a20d939268&qid=1744833183&sr=8-1

Estimation of quality, nature, and ability. Snapshot of a student on a particular day in a particular state.

✦How to work smarter, not harder?

Having a process that the whole team is on the same page with. Working alone is not working efficiently and it's not seeing the whole picture for students.

✦"No valid assessments, only valid interpretations." - Dylan Wiliam

✦All students are gen-ed students first with assessment, some may just need more laser-focused assessments (special ed, ELL, etc.)

✦Respect your impact. Students will look to you and that impact will go a long way. Assessment has its place, it's ultimately up to what you do with it (intervention).

✦Why teach?

Teach because kids need you. When you teach you instantly change a child's life once they walk into the classroom.

✦Resource:

https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374533555

Wide range - from informal/ pure observation to more standard assessments and everything in between. Depends on what you are looking at you start assessing immediately.

✦How to work smarter, not harder

-Being strategic and knowing what resources to use and when

-Using the resources around you (new teacher looking up to veteran teacher)

✦Be careful with who you surround yourself with, positive not the negative. Negative can bring you down.

✦Being in the school and around the students there will be so much positive

✦Why teach? You might be the only one who believes in a kid when no one else does. You can help them achieve goals they never thought they could.

✦Resource:

-BehaviorSnap (app)

-Time to yourself to just reflect

-Take care of yourself

Any time of life where you have a goal and you have to assess whether or not you've been able to complete that goal. To look back and say - I'm here and I need to do this to get there.

✦How to work smarter, not harder

Rubrics - no guessing games. Know you don't need massive amounts of school and homework, use formative assessments to adjust instruction.

✦Create your own rubric to determine goals and see if students are meeting those goals.

✦When students know goal ahead of time, they can reach the goal, and feel successful when they do.

✦Procedures and routines from the get-go!

✦Why Teach?

Teach for the kids. Give them an opportunity to show off their strengths and their gifts.

✦Resource: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Again-Power-Knowing-What-ebook/dp/B08H177WQP/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3928T6DUOTQQ9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.iNIpNXOlAAZnzi0O3OB6n-pDUOhbBmKbGZmR5A7NmaL--22RYD8sCNj6UpStaRT3zBGbBSNHbsG7qs9QsDjtz8y0S4voeXKCvDdjPwiFbecAj6QKNVQ6Ty8g0RmbMmdRNF5YMRqkaIoWSm7GgVftCmYldKSrywo1yz5JvgLKHTzE3hUtFyk03oP81cuytXQgMqZQ3NBiFnJ6j2pQx7aAIHy0mp-2LO9EElgNl5TabCQ.ynhS-CMIhTIvZfZ3yV6NLTo4xJM6N0eKInBzCEHjT1U&dib_tag=se&keywords=think+again+adam+grant&qid=1746744696&sprefix=think+again%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-1

Assessment is necessary. It is a tool to determine what students know and what they are ready to learn next.

✦How to work smarter, not harder

Have a good work-life balance. Set boundaries for yourself and prep so you don't drop the ball at home or school. Work for the future and lean on your teammates.

✦Be extra nice to secretary and custodian

✦Listen to your team/ coworkers - "It's all about us"

✦Take risks and know it's okay to make mistakes.

✦Why teach?

Teaching can be so fun, you can be funny, and you are also impacting the future.

✦Resource: https://www.amazon.com/Out-My-Mind-Eric-Staller/dp/B000OJQPEW/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2TZUIR392HHGG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hMu3xcV1ky2N0BnOCceFTa89mG3xA72uTkx2tK4iwAnHB47tnGuklKmBI-JBiOcoaNMlmsH5mxV8uH0A0a2C_Y42lmek5Yd0cLCEeYEAOR-2oM7gc7m1vHa6un_a2fZbQmAm8ghTkeP-3ERi3Iqh-e2GEAc8T2vgW_w_N3QxEEhR2ALmbR4ep-A0R3bx_yvgh_7umtbUscvhluOBRhcfS4FvyQfN9gEF6RMFoFdrWsk.N7mAOT3bSoc2qyjx15pM-Y9W7Z1MLWs-HHPE7D9FnPs&dib_tag=se&keywords=out+of+my+mind+book&qid=1746744764&sprefix=out+of+my%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-6

Assessment is asking can students apply the knowledge. Not how they show the knowledge but can they actually show they know it.

✦How to work smarter, not harder

It's important to start slow at the beginning of teaching. Take a little piece at a time and do your best with it, don't feel like you have to do it all at once.

✦Think about the smallest thing you can do to make the biggest impact.

✦Everyone's journey is different but we're all heading in the same direction.

✦Just know and care about the kids.

✦Why teach?

This is the time we need teachers most. Being in these students lives as a constant can have a huge impact on them and can help them become the person they want to be. We get to touch so many lives.

✦Resource: https://www.amazon.com/Deeper-Learning-Strategies-Depth-Longer-Lasting/dp/1412952042/ref=sr_1_6?crid=NBHBHYBE3OE0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fmYmPpn26hyCitIwK1VWMKDbXQbqSYziRNjCQN_bX3p1UNYDbxOopFo78lsunshQcr_IYxDY7CD2mc4DXcSZLJYv4lQZUIB_Gjx3rCt1aH-RboZsisOk2eSyNBUjeRmnXyJSWf9maoKWr-8JhMN-iy2kHxZgxUg8XBR88UQsKGQ3txJZzFvCllHzUl2YN2JOiZFehpXLx4gjV5XxatNQu532y7qvDIOgrEX1zj1P060.Juuj5uRuxFv7hPbtFgmLXNdw5fJnjgRMveWWioyMLuk&dib_tag=se&keywords=deeper+learning&qid=1746745933&sprefix=deeper+learning%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-6

✦(2.)Observing, watching your students, getting to know your students, day to day interactions with your students, connecting with them. Sometimes these are the assessment strategies that are more important than paper and pencil.

✦(5.)Just how excited the mentors were when they were getting to talk about what they do. These are people who truly love their jobs in education and getting to spread the word about education. I was just so shocked at how much insight I gained on the profession by getting to listen to the guests speak.

✦(6.)Easy to Love Difficult to Discipline, The Culture Code, How Do You Hug a Porcupine, Despite the Best Intentions, and (not a book, but...) IES guides. I chose these because I don't read anything like these books and I want to gain more knowledge, I want to dive deeper, and I want to gain the knowledge these books have to offer. I also chose the porcupine book because it would be great in a classroom!

✦(7.) Question #1: What is a belief you once held about education, working in the classroom, or teaching that you have now changed? Question #2: What is the riskiest thing you have tried in the classroom that actually seemed to work/ click with your students? What did you and/ or your students learn from this?

Making observations - what are students mastering and where are they still struggling. It's not really about paper and pencil - more day to day and what you notice.

✦How to work smarter, not harder

-Be a team! Divide and conquer - play onto your team's different strengths.

-Small groups are worth it! Students are much more willing to take risks during small groups.

✦Sometimes we are also assessing what students need emotionally and socially to be an academic learner.

✦Forming relationships with students, parents, and staff is one of the most important things you can do. Your students are your family, so take that time to form those relationships.

✦You don't have to love everyone on your staff but you need to love something about everyone on your staff.

✦Why teach?

The impact. Teaching is so important - you are responsible for helping every single student think about what they could do in their life. You can know you played a role in helping someone to achieve their dreams.

✦Resource: https://www.amazon.com/Despite-Best-Intentions-Transgressing-Communities-ebook/dp/B01289SANE/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24CSCZM9YBLFJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.enN5MGtV7JBhX0osCh3vTXOPiKc_FpMaVBsdNI1qFSAVlF8RRFsUQnDmFwnzvfMh2f7x06UUp7mrLHsZxj7Zqg-DHrV1im6guCHlzEh9hgC7eE_3Jcef6yqDE7kD-cwu_5Nz5Q_I-8mCDX13P11s8w.gWzC4A5TwrfmfgiR7Yp6Qf52jyDKD5BGJSHJmOtOhlI&dib_tag=se&keywords=despite+the+best+intentions&qid=1746746828&sprefix=despite+the+best+intentio%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-1