Cougar New

Smallville-

Certainly doesn’t feel like Fall just yet, does it?

When typically predictable patterns (yes, that’s redundant) do not perform up to our expectations, we all get a little discombobulated. For example, when the calendar says “The First Day of Fall,” we typically look for cooler weather and begin anticipating all that comes with it; changing foliage, pumpkin spice, Uggs, holidays, ACL, Football, vests, scarves, etc. Then, when we walk outside and are smacked in the face with the blistering heat of a 100-degree day, we cannot help but be disappointed because what we are experiencing is not meeting our expectations or part of the plan. The benefits and celebrations of Fall, which we look forward to, now seem unattainable or distant all due to the continuation of this current heat wave.

Kids, adults, and everybody cannot help from being out of sorts. Consistency is comforting.

This is why we strive so hard to begin and end each class on campus the same way regardless of what subject or grade level is being taught. Kids crave consistency and perform much better when they know what is coming their way. Much like toddlers who need a consistent bedtime routine to wind down for the night, our students need a consistent routine in their classes to set aside middle school trials and tribulations to learn effectively. Students enter each class during the day and begin their “Do Now” and know that for the next 7-10 minutes, their job is to focus on the task and evolve into students.

After the “Do Now,’ students know what to expect in each class as each teacher on campus will have the Agenda predominantly displayed with the day’s “Learning Objectives,” “Language Objectives, “and “Success Criteria.” Students see it, prepare for it, and have one tiny bit of anxiety erased from their minds because they know what will happen. They can also expect plenty of collaboration, accountable talk, academic language, and fun and engaging activities during the class. Afterward, we wrap the whole process in a bow, and students answer an “Exit Ticket” before they head off to the next class. The process repeats, albeit in a different room with different students learning different subjects. Each time keeping them grounded and better prepared for all the world has for them.

We can’t control the weather or the disappointment of not being able to break out the Argyle yet, but we can provide our kids a consistent routine that will help them deal with that which we cannot control.

Please enjoy this video sent to me by a man whom I have the utmost respect for and love with every ounce of my being, Dr. Charles L. Nelson, my father, mentor, friend, and the reason I am who I am today. Fall in the South

Enjoy your weekend, and don’t fret; fall is coming.

Matthew Nelson

matthew.m.nelson@austinisd.org

(512) 841-6705