Designed for staff that work at MYD Schools and have not received the training or for staff who would like a
review. Parents and students are also welcome to attend.
Phoenix, AZ
August 3-4
Kennewick, WA
August 17-18
Tacoma, WA
August 21-22
Everett, WA
August 24-25
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Making Every Month
Count
After spring break, the
atmosphere in many schools can change. If you ask most students and teachers how much time is left before summer, they can tell you the days,
hours and minutes remaining. The change of seasons and thoughts of vacation can cause both students and teachers to lose focus. The most
effective method used in MYD to avoid this springtime lull is to refresh and renew.
Just as schools have re-upped the program after winter
break, those schools who re-up after spring break experience a higher level of compliance and focus. It isn't necessary to start over, but it
may be beneficial to establish the rationale for the various components of the program. A reiteration of the school rule and the implications
in each classroom clarifies any late-year confusion that students may have. It also allows the teacher an opportunity to restructure their
setting if there has been slippage. If expectancies for the last three months of school are not explicitly spelled out, the structure can and
will suffer.
Although, it is important that all grade
levels refocus and recommit, it is imperative that the highest grade within the school articulates the structure. Many of the oldest students
begin to lose their commitment and loyalty to their school as they now see themselves heading to the next stop in their school journey.
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They often feel that they have little to
lose because they won't be there next year anyway.
As academics wind down, it is important to
fill the void with activities that encourage focus. Free-time, additional recesses, movies, and parties will require the greatest teacher
focus. Allowing your students to create the structure for those activities is not only consistent with the philosophy of the program, but gives
you a greater chance for peaceful coexistence.
Next month, we will visit techniques for assessing
successes and failures for the school year, along with making decisions about modifications to MYD for the next year.
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Cheryl's Two Cents More
Support
Based upon feedback from the
research, we are providing additional opportunities for collaboration and support. There is a new ListServe that will allow educators
to share ideas and techniques on topics such as student committees, homework, and whatever else the group deems important. Find the link on the
website.
Also, we have a new phone number that will allow
anyone to call with questions. Please feel free to contact us at:
1 866 MYD QUESTION
1 866 693-7837.
As always, email support is readily
available: EarlandCheryl@makeyourdays.com.
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Lucille Umbarger School staff in
Burlington-Edison School District, Washington, has developed a description of MYD at their school that describes their goal, the ownership and the
collaboration of the school community.
Make Your Day...
...a school wide citizenship program, where students and staff do
what is expected and their best without interfering with the learning, safety or well-being of others.
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sss
What
About
This
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Student Questions
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Points are a waste of time. Why do we
have to do them? (Asked by two students in a gifted program at an elementary school in Arizona.)
There are two types of students who always receive a great deal of teacher attention. One group is students who
whip through their work, help the teacher, and earn excellent grades. ("That's us," they said.) The other group of students who
receive a large amount of teacher attention are those with behavior challenges. (They nodded in agreement.)
What about those students who don't fit into either group, but they come in every day and work their
hardest? When do they have an opportunity to be recognized for their efforts? Points. Every period of every day, they have the
opportunity for their efforts to be noticed. Everyone gets to take credit for what they've done - I earned 43 points because I learned how to
write a complimentary letter, but I need to work on staying on task.
Are points a waste of time when everyone has the opportunity to take credit for their
work? These young ladies decided that it was OK to take the time because they realized that many of their classmates didn't have the same
opportunities they did to be recognized for their efforts. |
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