In this conversation, Larissa and Lindsay discuss the role of arts and elective classes in developing the whole child. They highlight the importance of belonging and connectedness, shared experiences and a sense of responsibility, learning soft skills and reinforcing job skills, overcoming challenges and building resilience, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, and learning life skills and the consequences of choices. They emphasize the significance of electives and arts classes in providing a more robust educational experience and acknowledge the impact of teachers in creating safe spaces for students.

Resources:

Article: https://www.branchingminds.com/blog/4-ways-electives-and-arts-classes-support-mtss

Takeaways:

--Arts and elective classes provide opportunities for students to work with their creativity, develop self-expression, and foster a sense of belonging.

--These classes offer a safe space for students to explore their interests and develop a shared sense of responsibility.

--Electives and arts classes help students learn soft skills and reinforce job skills that are important for their future professional lives.

--Students in these classes learn to overcome challenges, build resilience, and develop critical thinking and emotional intelligence.

--The experiences and skills gained in electives and arts classes contribute to the development of the whole child and should be valued in education.

Learn more about MTSS and Branching Minds by visiting our website Branchingminds.com, or Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things MTSS with this link. (https://hubs.la/Q02g9lwV0) Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn @BranchingMinds.

Lindsey Helton, an elementary school principal, discusses the importance of attendance and shares strategies for addressing attendance issues. She emphasizes the need for a strong home-school connection and student-led conferences to empower students and improve attendance. Lindsey also highlights the challenges of high mobility and the importance of treating people with respect and assuming positive intent. She believes that elementary education is the foundation for future success and encourages schools to focus on getting students on grade level.

Resources:

Attendance Works: https://www.attendanceworks.org/

Student Led Conferences: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/student-led-conferences-resources-ashley-cronin

Additional Reading: https://www.branchingminds.com/blog/mtss-in-tracking-and-supporting-student-attendance

Takeaways:

--Building a strong home-school connection is crucial for addressing attendance issues.

--Student-led conferences empower students and improve attendance.

--High mobility can be a challenge in addressing attendance.

--Treating people with respect and assuming positive intent is foundational to effective leadership.

--Elementary education is the foundation for future success and should focus on getting students on grade level.

Learn more about MTSS and Branching Minds by visiting Branching Minds Website , or Sign up for our weeklyNewsletter on all things MTSS with this link. Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn @BranchingMinds.