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November, 2004 Volume 1, Number 2
In This Issue · Earl’s Corner · MYD Conference Arizona FAQS Need an answer to a question quickly? Go to the Frequently Asked Questions. Hundreds of questions can be answered when you need it – NOW. Discussion Forum Educators, parents and students participate in discussions related to various components of MYD. As a community, we can learn about each other’s perspectives and help each other. What’s New on the Website Additional resources developed by the Office of Special Education to help with unique student situations. www.pbis.org/main.html Paradise Valley Unified School District developed a parent brochure that is distributed by all the schools using MYD. www.makeyourdays.com/keystosuccess-information.htm Websites: Parents Teachers Our school would like to use MYD Contact Us: 480 419-0605 Email	Earl’s Corner Twenty-some years ago when I started training teachers in Make Your Day I struggled with the notion that anyone could articulate the system better than I. For several years, my ego kept me from accepting changes that enhanced the philosophy and made Make Your Day better for kids. This is no longer the case for me; however, it seems that educators who have implemented this program through the years may, at times, struggle with some of these same issues. As you read this newsletter, the hope is that even if the current version that you are using of Make Your Day is effective that some of the innovative changes that will be discussed would be considered. There are four significant changes that I would ask each school to consider. If these are already part of your system, I would ask you to serve as a resource for other schools who might be implementing these changes. Let’s address on of these changes. One – Student Committee: Both at the elementary school and the middle school, we have discovered the largest pay-off for Make Your Day comes when the students feel the greatest level of ownership. As the original system was developed by kids, for kids, we should continue to utilize the talents and insights that our kids may provide. This is best accomplished by creating a representative body of students who meet weekly with a supervisory teacher or administrator to discuss issues related to Make Your Day. It is best to create a team of students similar to those students in the movie Breakfast Club. Students who make their day every day represent a different perspective than students who struggle to make their day. Students who have experienced all five steps may offer us the greatest insight into the basic structure. This committee should be willing to recognize both the strengths and the weaknesses of Make Your Day. Some schools create a format during this meeting in which students must present a balanced view of the various elements. Not only will these students be able to disseminate this information to their peers, but the student body at large will feel that they have a voice that will be heard. Several refinements of the program have occurred as a result of this form of student feedback. For example, this committee can be utilized to meet and greet new parents and new students to provide an orientation from the students’ perspective. In the upcoming newsletters, I’ll discuss the other three significant changes. Hint: The next newsletter will discuss that the objective of Make Your Day is not to Make Your Day. Meet and network with educators from other schools, districts and states. Leave the conference with more than one good idea that you can easily implement. Take advantage of the Early Registration that ends November 30, 2004.