Mattoon
CUSD #2
The Paradigms
The core paradigms aim to create a school culture at Riddle Elementary that fosters leadership skills, character development, and personal responsibility in students, preparing them to be effective leaders and citizens in their communities and beyond.
Paradigm of Leadership
Everyone can be a leader.
At Riddle Elementary, the shift in how we SEE leaders influences what we DO to highlight the strengths of all students and staff. As a result, the impact of this paradigm shift positively affects the results we GET.
“We care, learn, lead, and grow…together!” Our school’s mission statement is the driving force behind the paradigm of leadership. It is visible throughout our school and is evident in our actions. Classroom and personal mission statements, personalized by students and staff, shine the light upon our unique talents and skills.
In our classrooms, students recite their mission statements and reflect on how these words empower them to find greatness within themselves. Our adults are inspired to serve as role models by demonstrating a life guided by the 8 Habits. Families have created mission statements to showcase their values and focus on what matters most. The leadership paradigm paves the way for us to positively impact our practices, behaviors, and attitudes.
Paradigm of Leadership
Spotlight Stories
Community Learning Walks
Riddle Elementary School opens its doors monthly to community members and staff/students from area schools for “Learning Walks.” Guests are invited to explore the students’ Leadership Notebooks to learn more about WIGS, goal trackers, and celebrations. Then the hosts of the Learning Walks, students from various grade levels, begin the tour with a discussion about the 8 Habits. Students share personal stories of how each habit has positively impacted their lives. During a Learning Walk, guests are invited to explore classrooms, observe instructional strategies, and have conversations with students about their experiences in our school.
Paradigm of Leadership
Spotlight Stories
Meet Mrs. Harley: School Counselor and Coordinator of Riddle Elementary Learning Walks
A Community Learning Walk is an opportunity to see the greatness within our school. Each month, we invite the citizens of our community into our school for an informative student-led tour and presentation. Mrs. Harley coordinates each Learning Walk and selects student leaders to represent Riddle Elementary. She intentionally invites students of all abilities to participate as tour guides. Mrs. Harley’s inclusive practices demonstrate her belief that EVERYONE CAN BE A LEADER. By empowering students to use their voices to share the greatness within our school, she has significantly increased their confidence, self-esteem, and courage to share. Mrs. Harley states, “Each student has unique leadership qualities and Riddle Elementary gives students the opportunity to explore and excel in those areas. I love to see the excitement of the students when they step into these leadership roles. Riddle continues to build up students and prepare them for the future.”
Paradigm of Potential
Everyone has genius.
At Riddle Elementary, the “genius” in all students and staff is intentionally highlighted. Everyone has the opportunity to follow their passions and demonstrate their leadership skills.
Adults at Riddle lead the Lighthouse Team, which helps facilitate decisions and discussions about how our school uses Leader-in-Me to make a positive impact. Members of the Lighthouse Team serve as leaders of the three action teams: Leadership Learning, Creating Culture, and Academic Systems. These action teams help ensure that the 8 Habits have a presence within the school throughout the year.
Students have the opportunity to make a positive impact upon our school by joining the Lighthouse Team or the Junior Lighthouse Team through an application and interview process. When the number of applications quadrupled, adult leaders at Riddle Elementary made the decision to add students to their Leadership Learning, Creating Culture, and the Academic Systems teams. In the 23-24 school year, these student teams will be formed.
Riddle students use their voices to improve the culture and climate of our school. In addition to the Leader-in-Me Leadership Model, students often “self-start” smaller teams such as the Kindness Cafe and the RES Squad. Both groups have decided to meet during their recess time to follow their vision of making our school a better place. Each month, we celebrate reaching our potential during our “Winning” assembly. Students and staff give “shout outs” to those who exhibit the 8 Habits.
Paradigm of Potential
Spotlight Stories
Meet Landon & Mrs. Drake: Members of The Riddle Elementary STEAM Team
Paradigm of Change
Change starts with us.
When we want to make a difference in the world. We turn to the Paradigm of Change. With the mindset of “Change Starts with ME,” students and staff at Riddle Elementary contribute to the excellence of our school.
Learning and growing are highly valued in our school. Most of our staff development is led by teachers within our building. Staff attends in-person or self-paced PD pathways, created by MCUSD2 educators. When our students heard about our in-house professional development, they offered to share their expertise. A group of fourth graders led a professional development opportunity student accountability partners for teachers. Student Leaders also taught the teachers to use a Cricut machine, sewing machine, and code a Sphero robot. Teachers earned professional development credits for attending.
The Student Lighthouse Team chose to make a positive impact by providing toys, games, and craft kits to a children’s hospital. They obtained the hospital’s wish list, coordinated a fundraiser, and purchased over $700 in much-needed supplies. Students organized the fundraiser, created their own Market Day, and oversaw the purchase of supplies themselves.
Paradigm of Change
Spotlight Stories
The Student Lighthouse Team mentored the Junior Student Lighthouse Team throughout the Market Day project. Students created their own fliers for Market Day. They selected “high traffic” locations around the school to increase visibility. The students pictured above sold Valentines for $1 each. They created over 200 and made a huge contribution toward their purchase of items for the Children’s Hospital.
Students led professional development for MCUSD2 staff. They created their own interest forms, educational presentations, and sought feedback to improve their next session. Teachers were equipped with new skills to assist them in decorating their classrooms and enjoyed learning from the expertise of students.
Paradigm of Motivation
Educators empower their students to lead their own learning.
Highly motivated students and staff see better results. At Riddle Elementary, we have always put great emphasis on improving our Reading and Math skills. The Paradigm of Motivation gives us the boost we need to maximize our growth.
Through our goal setting, lead measure trackers, accountability partners, and scoreboards, we are able to keep our focus on our Wildly Important Goals. Our public scoreboard is located in the main hallway. Every student passes by the scoreboard at least four times per week, sometimes multiple times per day. Each classroom has a tracker to keep tabs on their lead measures. Accountability talks take place between staff members and student partners. Every student votes upon school-wide celebrations. We sure know how to celebrate our hard work!
Some of our celebrations, include shaving our Assistant Principal’s hair, putting pies in our principals’ faces, covering teachers and staff in silly string, bringing “anything but a backpack” to school, extra recess, dress-up days, and lots of sweet treats. Every student who improved their math and/or reading scores was invited to put their name on our scoreboard. Our whole school participated in our WIG celebrations and contributed to choosing the rewards.
Paradigm of Motivation
Spotlight Stories
Meet Mrs. Renshaw, Mr. Wheeler, and Miss Washburn: Academic System Team Leaders.
As leaders of the Academic Systems Team, we take our academic growth in Math and Reading very seriously. Our team works closely with students to ensure that they have fun, motivating ways to track their lead measures and achieve their WIGs.
Paradigm of Education
Educators and Families, Partner to Develop the Whole Person
A family is the child’s first teacher. Recognizing the importance of partnering with families and honoring their commitment to the education of their children is a key component to our success at RIddle Elementary. Together, we develop the whole child.
Families are always welcome at our school. They frequently join students for lunch and volunteer in classrooms. Our ‘Watch D.O.G.S.' program gives dads and other caregivers the opportunity to serve as role models in our school. The active Parent Teacher Organization partners with teachers to enrich the educational experience of our students.
We seek input from our families through our use of the MRA Survey from Leader in Me. As we develop of school and district action teams, parent representatives are being added. During Student-Led Conferences, caregivers partner with their child and the teacher to better understand goals and contribute to a plan for maximizing learning.
At Riddle Elementary, our families enjoy “Family Mission Statement Night” and “7 Habits Parent Academies. We consistently strive to build and nurture positive relationships with our families.
Paradigm of Education
Spotlight Stories
Focusing on Families | Programs: Healthy Families and 7 Habits Family Academy
Riddle Elementary provided on-site educational opportunities for our families. This deepened the connection between our schools and family-to family.
At the beginning of the & Habits Family Academy, 50% of the participants indicated that they had "no knowledge" of the 7 Habits of Successful Families. Upon completion of the program, 100% of the participants indicated "at least some knowledge" or a "good amount of knowledge" about the 7 Habits.
Please watch the video below to learn more about the Riddle Healthy Families Program and hear testimonies from the participants.
