AR Plan Update

          On our campus we have had an issue with absences and tardiness. Our campus improvement plan has stated that we need to improve our absentees by 1% and improve on tardiness. This seems reasonable with regard to absences as we have improved slightly every year. Were we seem to have the biggest issue improving has been with tardiness. We have a very high number of students that are tardy. 

          The second semester of the 2011-2012 school year I asked about having a no tardy/ absentee bubble party. Through this incentive program students would be allowed to get an extra fifteen minutes of recess and bubble at the end of the semester if they had no absentees and had not been tardy and absentees included excused absentees as well. If you were not there excuses of not you didn't get to go.  It was done every nine weeks.

          The way that I came up with this idea is from another school in a neighboring district. I had heard that they had done a no tardy bubble party as this school had a huge issue with tardiness. So I figure if we changed it up a little then it might work for us as well. I talked to one class from each grade level and pitched my idea and asked for feedback. What I found is that the younger kids loved the idea of bubbles, the older kids liked the idea of time out of class. So this worked for everyone.

          I pitched my idea to the assistant principal who loved the idea but wanted to know how I was going to pay for it. So I get the  PTO involved. I pitched my idea they loved it and bubble party was born!

          After doing this at the end of last year we saw that absentees improved slightly, although the improvement with regard to tardiness was out standing. We improved on in this area by about 20%. This year we are again trying to promote this incentive program. What we are doing differently is we are promoting it more. The classroom teachers are talking about it, we are talking about it during our morning round up time, and we are adding the bounce house. The bounce house was added because after talk to the students again I found that bubbles didn't seem to be enough incentive. When I asked them what they thought would help make it better one student said "Why can't we do bounce house also?" Great idea! This year we are adding this in hopes that we will have an even better response. 

EDLD 5326

School has started! This first week is always so busy although I am excited to be back, I now have to find the balance again. I don't know about you but during the first week I have a hard time balancing back to school, family, and this program. It is something I need to work on.

            This early morning web conference is good because I can get it done while the kids are still sleeping and then there aren't a bunch of interruptions.  I don't know about anyone else but the transition from black board has been a challenge. This first weeks  web conference has helped me understand the black board better. I would like more details about what to expect on the mid term. Community relations is something that can be a challenge.