party time: what, how, and why we celebrate

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Party Time:What, How, and Why We Celebrate

Presented by: Genevieve Amaris, Enose Christmas, Kelsey Gernert, and Monica Sorensen

WELCOMECongratulations to our “Early

Birds”!

Please describe in one word how receiving your certificate made

you feel…

“Celebrate what you want to see more of. “

-Tom Peters

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Why do we celebrate?

“Celebrate what you want to see more of.”-Tom Peters

We want to see…

ParticipationTeamwork

Punctuality and PreparednessCreativity and a “Can Do” Attitude

...So we will celebrate participants who demonstrate these qualities with Free and/or Almost Free incentives!

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Why do we celebrate?

“Creating a can-do climate for both students and staff starts with a school-wide culture of success, usually beginning with a collaboratively created vision of that school climate.”

“Positive school climate approaches build on staff and student assets and tap those assets to contribute to school-wide improvement initiatives.”

Source: Pillar IV, TD Secondary

Simply stated, celebrating success breeds success! We can motivate and engage our students by

highlighting what they are doing right, rather than focusing on what is wrong.

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Why do we celebrate?

“Research has shown that the implementation of punishment, especially when it is used inconsistently and in the absence of other positive strategies, is ineffective. Introducing, modeling, and reinforcing positive social behavior is an important step of a student's educational experience. Teaching behavioral expectations and rewarding students for following them is a much more positive approach than waiting for misbehavior to occur before responding. The purpose of school-wide PBIS is to establish a climate in which appropriate behavior is the norm.”

Source: www.PBIS.org

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

What Do We Want to SEE in our DN Middle Schools?

Quick Audience Poll:

What specific behaviors do we want to see from Middle School students?

What are model qualities of a Middle School Teacher?

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

What can we celebrate?

Attendance Students AND Staff

Grades Honors Improvement

Behavior “Caught Being Good”

Growth Academic Personal

Extracurricular Excellence Capitalize on student interests

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

What Motivates Middle School Students?

What motivates YOU?

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Now what Motivates Middle School Students? Table Activity #1: 5 minutes

Think all the way back to Middle School...

Jot down your top 3 priorities.

Fast forward to High School. Did those priorities change?

Think/Pair/Share.

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

EDIT: What Motivates Middle School Students?

NOTE: This slide is due to be revised. The team has been looking for info/research presented in a previous STF Institute session on the unique needs of Middle School students.

Middle grades learners represent a unique challenge.

Particularly vulnerable at this stage in life both to positive influences that can lift them onto a winning trajectory and to negative influences that can bring them down

to new lows.

Community, camaraderie, supportive relationships.

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

The Voice of Experience: Celebrating at Charles R. Drew Middle

SCHOOL PROFILE

Location: Miami

# of Students: 252

Free and Reduced Lunch: 99%

Diplomas Now! (2nd Year)

• Talent Development

• Communities in School

• City Year Charles Drew Middle School Dress to Impress Luncheon

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

The Voice of Experience: Celebrating at Charles R. Drew Middle

“Celebrate what you want to see more of!”

• Attendance

• Behavior

• Course Performance

• Teachers and Staff

Time to stretch your legs!

INSTRUCTIONS:1) Blow up your balloon

2) Locate table with matching balloon3) Move to table quickly when asked

First seated table group will receive a prize!

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Connecting Expectations to Celebrations:Table Activity #2- 10 minutes

As a group, please brainstorm the following:

REASONS to celebrate in a Middle School Whole School Grade or Team Level Individual

HOW we celebrate Where? When/Frequency? $$$

EFFECTIVENESS of celebration Desired outcome?

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Create, Share, and Vote

Please write the group’s favorite celebration scenario on the provided piece of chart paper.

Choose one group member to present to the room.

Now…VOTE

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

“Great idea, but how do I pay for it?”

Fundraising Ideas

Don’t assume that the answer is “No”: School District School Administration

Mutually beneficial relationships: Educational Partners Local Business Community Groups

Close to home: Staff Parents Students

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Table Activity #3- 5 minutes

As a group, please brainstorm the following:

Celebrations that cost nothing

Fundraising options for celebrations that would cost money

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

The Voice of Experience: Celebrating at Charles R. Drew Middle

Free• Recognition

• Privileges

• Experiences

Almost Free• Small Incentives

Don’t Forget!

The importance of collaborative planning for DN celebrations:

DN Partners, Community, EESAC, School Partners, Parents.

We’re moving again!

INSTRUCTIONS:1) Please get up and move to the

perimeter of the room2) School teams choose a table and sit

3) Remaining participants will count off and be placed in work groups

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

Let’s Party!Table Activity #4- 30 minutes

Celebration Planning ToolObjective: Leave this session with an actionable plan

for a specific Middle School celebration that you want to execute at your school.

Be creative, and have fun!

CALENDAR What? When? Who? How?

Facilitators will circulate to answer questions and give suggestions.

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

All good parties must come to an end…

• SHARE• REVIEW• AWARDS

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

And the winner for

“Best Celebration” is…

Diplomas Now Summer Institute | July 8-9, 2013 | Baltimore, Maryland

“Celebrate what you want to see more of.”

Looking Ahead• Next Steps: Executing Celebrations

Wrapping Up • Why?• What?• How?

Thank you!

Comments, Questions, and Contact Info:Genevieve Amaris at gamaris@jhu.edu Monica Sorensen at msorensen@jhu.eduEnose Christmas at echristmas@cismiami.orgKelsey Gernert at kgernert@cityyear.org