It’s the beginning of the end for Aimee Conrad.
The Willard School first grade teacher is in the first weeks of her final year teaching before retirement, after beginning her career in 1994.
Conrad could spend a lot of time reflecting on 30-plus years in her role, but for now, there is still work to be done, so she’s focused on goal-setting – not just for herself, but her kiddos.
Even at such a young age, first graders are starting to grasp the idea of achieving a goal, so Conrad’s objective is to inculcate that, because it’s something they’ll need their entire life.
“They think about strengths they already have that they feel confident about and things that they’d like to build on,” she said. “And it’s very concrete. It might just be sticking with reading for longer tomorrow, or writing more tomorrow, or spelling it myself instead of asking for help next time.
“But it’s important to start having them to think about that.”
On an early fall Monday morning, Willard School in River Forest School District 90 is humming with similar thinking, that goals are important.
Take the weekly town hall in the school auditorium, emceed by principal Christine Gerges and assistant principal Jennifer Pasia, who also fulfills that role at Lincoln School.
Monday’s topic was kindness, and there isn’t the feeling that that sentiment is either a concern or a demand for students, but rather something to achieve.
“Sometimes, one act of kindness can change the way someone feels,” Gerges said after the youngsters had filed into the auditorium, quickly and (mostly) quietly.
Kindness can start with one small choice, she said, before Pasia cued up a video that showed an act of kindness on the street, that led to another, and another.
After the video, Gerges asked the students what kindness is at Willard School.
Don’t let anyone feel unincluded, one student said. Another pointed to the Buddy Bench out on the playground, where students sit until they can find someone to play with.
She ended with a goal: Before heading home, do one thing that is super-kind.
The youngsters beamed, clearly thinking about how they would accomplish that before they boarded their bus or walked home.
Goals don’t have to be about kindness. They can be about academic pursuits, like the third graders in Katie Till’s classroom.
Today they are writing, so a reporter stepped to the front of the room and asked how many enjoy that task.
Almost all hands shot up.
That’s good. The kids have their own writing goals – maybe even becoming writers themselves as grownups.
“I like to write,” said Eleanor. “I would want to write books, but I would also like to write songs.”
Alicia said she likes to write about fantasies, mysteries … and unicorns. Would she like to become a writer someday?
“Mmmm, maybe,” she said.
Jack said he wasn’t sure he’d want to become a writer for a job, but he’s sure of one thing.
“I love writing for fun,” he said.
Till’s job, like Conrad’s, is to build on that. But goal setting for her is data-driven, based on the D90 curriculum.
“We have finished up many of our pre-assessments, so I’ve been taking that data to try to help me formulate my own goals for the students,” she said. “They are introduced to many new concepts in third grade. We look at multiplication goals, goals in their writing, reading comprehension goals.
“We really monitor those goals during small group time, groups that are targeted toward student needs.”
In Gerges’ office, she and Pasia reflected on their own goal setting, which is holistic in the sense that they both are considering the needs of every student and every teacher throughout the next nine months.
“Each day brings something new,” Pasia said, noting her goals are “having priorities, still finding times for all the people in the building, making sure to connect with students.”
Gerges, in her third year as Willard principal, said time provides the opportunity for her to consider what she’s done, which informs the immediate future.
“In Year Three, you’re able to start honing in on your skill, and your ability to really invest in the students and the families and the teachers in a different way,” she said. “One of our big goals is around belongingness and inclusion and really making sure all students are seen and valued and have a place here.”
Hence, the town hall, but also school and PTO clubs, for example.
This school year will eventually come to an end, though. For Conrad, she’ll depart with final memories, but she’ll also proffer advice for first-year teachers.
“Tomorrow is a new day,” she said with a hearty laugh.