Working with Unique Learners by Leah Evjen-Bryan, Resource Teacher
At Hope Lutheran School, we have a diverse style of learners and every student is unique. As the Resource Specialist/504 Plan Coordinator, I work with children individually and in small groups to help them blossom into the unique children God has created them to be. More and more lately, I have become curious about how best to support children with weak executive function skills, so I recently completed a continuing education course in evidence-based strategies for managing ADHD. My favorite speaker was Dr. David Nowell, a renowned neuroscientist and ADHD expert, who coined the acronym “HEDYDT?” a strategic behavior inquiry process that asks, “How exactly did you do that?” One strategy that I learned was that of changing the language we use to bring us to a place of metacognition or awareness. Questions elevate metacognition, thinking about our thinking. Good questions help us direct our attention and can lead to self-regulation.
Let’s walk through an application of this process together. For instance, when looking in Gradelink you may notice a zero or several zeros. “How exactly did you get that zero?” you may ask your student. Through the process of inquiry, you can discover your child’s motivation, the considered payoff, as well as how exactly an event occurred. You may find out that they started their work, but the bell rang, so they shoved the assignment in their binder and forgot to turn it in. Starting with “how” rather than “why” partners with the child to find new solutions. Together, you can illustrate what has gone right and emphasize the ability to make other choices. This simple change in language can help them use metacognition to think of new plans for success while strengthening weak executive functioning skills.
As the opportunity presents, try this out at home. Start with “how” and partner with your child to build executive function skills. If you are curious or would like more information check out:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/david-d-nowell-phd
Eagle Excellence Fund Gifts Multiplied!
A group of generous Hope families have stepped up to provide matching gift funds for gifts given to the Eagle Excellence Fund between now and December 31st. We are aiming to raise $30,000 this year to support technology and academics at Hope. Your gifts will transform our computer lab into an Innovation Lab with cutting edge technology. It’s easy to give on our website or by submitting a check to the school office in the return envelope.
Calendar of Events – Click Here
Tues. 11/16: 6:00 PM All School Open House – Register Here
Wed. 11/17: 8:40 AM Chapel for K-4 & 9:05 AM Chapel for 5-8 Led by Julie Hill from Living Water
Fri. 11/19: Free Dress Day
Wed. 11/24: 8:40 AM Chapel for K-4 & 9:05 AM Chapel for 5-8 Led by Grade 3 / Last Day of Trimester 1 / K- 8 Grades Early Dismissal / Preschool & ESC “XTRA Closes at 3:00 pm
Thurs. & Fri. 11/25 & 11/26: School & ESC Closed for Thanksgiving Break
Mon. 11/29: School Closed for Trimester 1 Grading Day / Preschool Open & ESC “XTRA” Open with Pre-registration Here
Chapel Guest Speaker for Wednesday, November 17
This week our chapel speaker is Julie Hill from Living Water International. Did you know that over the past eight years, our Hope congregation has raised more than $100,000 and built thirteen wells providing clean water all over the world! We have an opportunity to build another well this year so we can provide clean water for a community in need. Consider joining in this awesome cause. Click HERE for details and to give!
Athletic Events – Click Here
Hope athletes’ sports calendar is coming out soon. Girls 6/7/8 grade basketball starts November 22nd – practice is 3:30 to 5:00 pm at West Christian gym. Boys 7 & 8 grade basketball will start December 1st – practice is 7:00 to 8:30 pm at Seattle Lutheran Gym.
All-School Open House – Tonight – November 16, 2021, 6 pm
I encourage you to refer a new family to Hope School and invite them to meet us tonight at our All School Open House. It’s never too early to think about learning opportunities for your student(s) for the coming Fall. Families will meet the administrative staff, teachers from preschool, elementary and middle school, and hear about how Hope School is conducting in-person in this uncertain time of Covid19. To attend the event, register through this link: https://forms.gle/1coHMjAJCEh1gowF6.
Game Drive – Giving Tree
Once again this year we will be providing gifts for families in need from the public schools in West Seattle. We will be collecting NEW GAMES to be included in each family’s bag of gifts. You can help by sending your child’s favorite unwrapped game to school between now and DECEMBER 1st. Other items needed are boys underwear and boys socks (all sizes).
Thank you so much for your support!
Winter/Christmas Performances
We have good news to share about Hope’s upcoming Christmas and winter performances…. The show(s) must go on! We are restructuring the concerts slightly and putting in place some parameters around attendance, but we are thrilled to add these performances back into our December schedules. Performance dates and times are:
- Tuesday, Dec 7 6:00 PM – Kindergarten through Grade 2
- Wednesday, Dec 8 6:00 PM – Grades 3-5
- Friday, Dec 10 6:30 PM – Preschool Sea Stars and Orcas
- Tuesday, Dec 14 7:00 PM – Middle School
Audiences will be limited to immediate family members only (household members) of the performing class to allow space for all our families to join us. Audience members age 3 and older must remain masked at all times and we encourage everyone to remain socially distanced in household groups as much as possible. Students are encouraged to wear Christmas apparel for the performances. We look forward to it!
LEST 2022
L.E.S.T. stands for Lutheran Elementary Schools Tournament and has been a staple for Hope Lutheran students for 60+ years! This year, it relocates to Tacoma after being held virtually last year. It will be held from February 17th -19th, 2022. Students from Hope’s 5th -8th grade will compete in various types of activities, ranging from basketball to knowledge bowl, math to swimming, robotics to art, along with numerous others. We are in the process of confirming coaches and selecting competitors for all teams, and will have more information including tentative schedules for Hope competitions in early January. If you have questions, please reach out to Tim Allen at tallen@hopeseattle.org. The L.E.S.T. 2022 website is www.lestnorthwest.org.
