Episode Details

Happy Friday!

As we close another week at Mena Public Schools, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all our dedicated staff members for the incredible work done throughout the week to reach our performance targets, mission, and vision. Your commitment to fostering a supportive and enriching environment for our students did not go unnoticed, especially the Read Across America activity. This week, our Wrap-up focuses on crucial educational strategies that are essential for the success of our students and the efficiency of our teaching methods. We will delve into defining Tier I instruction, underscoring the importance of not allowing students to make mistakes in Tier I instruction without addressing them. This focus is pivotal in ensuring that our foundational teaching practices are as effective and impactful as possible, setting our students on the path to success from the very beginning. I will also provide you with calendar voting results.

What is Tier I Instruction?

In our pursuit of educational excellence at Mena Public Schools, we are focusing on what is happening in classrooms and what curriculum materials are being used. This is in our effort to make sure Tier I instruction is the best it can be for our students. We often employ terminologies and concepts that are fundamental to our instructional strategies and the use of the term Tier I instruction plays a critical role in setting the groundwork for our students' learning journey. However, it is crucial to recognize that our interpretations of such terms can vary widely, even among our dedicated staff. Assumptions about common understanding can sometimes lead to discrepancies in application and expectations. To bridge any gaps and ensure we are all aligned in our educational approach, I would like to invite you to participate in a Thought Exchange about Tier I. This Thought Exchange seeks your definition of Tier I instruction. By gathering these insights, we aim to harmonize our understanding and application of this vital concept, ensuring a cohesive and effective learning environment for all our students. What is your definition of Tier I instruction? Please respond to this as your definitions will help our district create an overall better understanding.

Congratulation Inflation

I have been a part of literacy training all semester and am taking online classes to better understand the Science of Reading. Part of the training includes observing videos of lessons and providing feedback. I have noticed in the videos how teachers will say things like “good job” or “nice work” even when what the student did was incorrect. While I worked at the coop and observed classrooms, I would notice this happening sometimes, and, assuming the teacher knew their content, I would theorize that educators were so eager to encourage students that they inflated the number of affirmative statements they would make. I called it congratulation inflation.

Our commitment to fostering a nurturing, supportive environment for our students remains paramount. In our pursuit of excellence, we recognize the invaluable role that positive reinforcement plays in motivating our students. However, it is essential to strike a delicate balance between celebrating achievements and providing constructive feedback, especially if we are reinforcing bad habits with our feedback.

This trend we might call congratulation inflation refers to the well-intentioned practice of offering abundant praise to students