You survived October!

No, seriously, give yourself a pat on the back and high five all the people you can find. October can be a difficult month in the world of schools. The honeymoon is over, and everyone is ready for a break. Hang tight! November and December have built-in breaks, but there is still plenty of work to be done in your classroom.

This month, our focus will be on lesson planning. We've talked about setting positive expectations. We've reviewed classroom management strategies and pitfalls. This month, we will dig in to the nuts and bolts of planning your lessons using the standards, student-friendly language, and engaging activities.

Backward Design for lesson planning means literally starting with the end in mind: what do you expect the students to be able to know/do/demonstrate at the end of a module or unit? What standards are they mastering? Once you know your answers to those questions, you build out your module or unit overview and then build each day's lesson from there.

We'll talk more about Backward Design and practice in our Connections meetings. Then you'll show off your knowledge in November and December through our Canvas course.

As always, your BT Mentor and I are here to support you and answer questions you may have.

Keep growing,

Lydia

It’s tough when students seem more interested in distracting each other than learning, but there are strategies that might shift the dynamics in your classroom.

1. Incorporate Movement: Boys, especially in a class where they outnumber the girls, often have a lot of energy. Look for ways to channel that into productive activities. You could try more hands-on or movement-based learning, like gallery walks, station rotations, or even simple brain breaks. Let them move but with intentional goals that you've created!

2. Leverage Competition Positively: Boys tend to thrive in competitive environments. You could use this to your advantage by introducing friendly academic competitions, group challenges, or even individual goals that allow them to "compete" in a way that supports learning. It could be a trivia game, speed problem-solving, or creative projects judged by peers.

3. Set Clear Expectations and Routines: Be firm and clear about your behavioral expectations, and make sure those two students know the consequences of disturbing the class. Structure and routine can help minimize opportunities for off-task behavior. You might even consider assigning leadership roles to them in class activities, giving them a sense of responsibility.

4. Create a Seating Arrangement: Consider changing the seating arrangements to balance the class better. Pairing these boys with quieter students or separating them can sometimes help reduce the temptation to act out.

5. Small Group Work: If possible, split your class into smaller groups where quieter students, like the girls, may feel more comfortable engaging. Rotate groups often, and mix the boys with different peers to break up the "ego-heavy" dynamics.

6. Build Relationships: Sometimes, a little one-on-one conversation with the students who are disengaging can go a long way. Check in with them individually to understand their interests and what might be holding them back from participating. Showing that you care beyond just classroom performance can motivate them to rise to your expectations.

By combining these strategies, you can hopefully balance the energy in your class and create an environment where all students feel encouraged to participate.

Submit questions about teaching, work-life balance, discipline, and more. Examples:

• What do we do if there's a lockdown?
• One of my students told me he hated me. I can't get past it. Ideas?
• I don't know how to respond to an angry parent. How do I navigate this?
• Do you have any suggestions for making friends with teachers I don't know?

View the Southwest District BT Newsletter here: BT Corner