• Early Orientation: The importance of holding a dedicated orientation session for new students before the rest of the student body returns.
• Peer Buddies: Assigning a student "welcome committee" or peer buddy to help new students navigate the social and physical landscape of the school.
• Seamless Administration: Ensuring all enrollment, scheduling, and logistical details are handled efficiently to prevent first-day stress.
• Teacher Preparedness: Providing teachers with brief profiles on new students to help personalize their welcome and support.
• Ongoing Support: The value of scheduling follow-up meetings with new students and their families to ensure a successful integration.

Highlights:

• Rethinking Introductions: Moving past the "stand and introduce yourself" format to more personal, engaging methods.
• The Power of Mentorship: Assigning a "buddy" to new staff members to provide immediate support and connection.
• Personalized Welcome Resources: Creating thoughtful welcome packets that go beyond HR paperwork to include fun facts and local tips.
• Engaging Activities: Using low-pressure team-building activities to help new and veteran staff connect.
• Continuous Celebration: Subtle ways to make new staff feel seen and appreciated throughout the year.

Listen in to learn how to make your new staff feel like they truly belong from the very start.

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In this special recap episode, we dive into the Fitting Five, a collection of valuable articles designed for modern school leaders. We'll explore four key topics: the growing influence of AI on student connection and the need to prioritize authentic relationships; how to be a proactive, purpose-driven leader by taking control of your day; shifting student motivation through a policy of reassessment over simple redos; and why Contextual Intelligence (CQ) is the most valuable skill for leaders in the age of AI, surpassing traditional IQ and EQ.This episode is packed with inspiration to help you lead with purpose, clarity, and genuine human connection in a rapidly changing world.

Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost--6612702/support.

Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.

In this episode, we're diving into a powerful topic inspired by Dr. Brian Davidson's work on non-cognitive skills. We'll explore why factors like grit, self-discipline, and resilience are just as important as traditional academic knowledge (the 3 Rs). Research from experts like Angela Duckworth and Martin Seligman shows that self-discipline is a better predictor of academic success than IQ.We'll discuss why, despite this growing body of evidence, our education system has largely focused on cognitive skills. This episode is a call to action to take a more holistic approach to education. What if we had classes designed to explicitly build self-motivation, perseverance, and resilience? Join us as we explore the transformational power of cultivating these "it" factors in our students to prepare them not just for academic achievement, but for success in life.

You can read the article that inspired this episode here: https://www.creativitypost.com/article/lets_start_teaching_the_skills_that_matter_most

Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost--6612702/support.

Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.

In this episode, we continue our monthly deep dive into the Fitting Five, focusing on a thought-provoking article that redefines what it means to be a truly effective leader in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. We'll be exploring why the classic combination of IQ and EQ is no longer enough and introducing a new, critical form of intelligence that is becoming the ultimate differentiator for success: Contextual Intelligence, or CQ.With AI handling data and routine tasks, the most valuable human skill is shifting. CQ is the ability to understand the bigger picture, read the unwritten rules, and apply knowledge in a way that is deeply relevant to a specific environment. For a school leader, this means making decisions that are not just correct on paper but are also sensitive and effective in practice, reminding us that the most valuable form of leadership will always be uniquely and profoundly human.

You can read the article that inspired this episode here: https://www.fastcompany.com/91349501/in-the-age-of-ai-iq-and-eq-are-no-longer-enough-heres-why

Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost--6612702/support.

Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.

In this episode, we continue our monthly deep dive into the Fitting Five, focusing on a critical aspect of school leadership: student motivation. We’ll be exploring a powerful strategy highlighted in an EdWeek article titled, "What Would Motivate Teens to Work Harder in School? The Chance to Redo Assignments." The article argues that a thoughtful redo policy can boost student motivation. We take this a step further, adding that our opinion is to focus on reassessment, not just a "redo" of assignments.

The goal is to ensure students have multiple opportunities to show they have mastered a standard through varied assessments, shifting the focus from simply chasing points to true learning and ownership.This approach builds crucial skills like resilience and accountability and empowers students to become active participants in their education. It communicates to students that their learning journey is more important than their initial performance and fosters a school culture where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth, not as failures.

You can read the article that inspired this episode here: https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-would-motivate-teens-to-work-harder-in-school-the-chance-to-redo-assignments/2023/02?utm_source=li&utm_medium=soc&utm_campaign=edit

Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/your-morning-boost--6612702/support.

Learn more about our sponsors at awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com.