Sunday, October 25, 2015

Obvious to You, Amazing to Others

One thing educators are consistently reminded of are the great things being done around them.  We see teachers with creativity we wish we had, leaders with strength we want to emulate, parents with patience we long for, and more.

And when we are surrounded by others like that all the time it's easy for us to begin wondering where our gifts are.  What do we have to offer that is worth anyone's time?

The video below is a video I came across this summer and it kind of changed the way I view all of that.


Every one of us has something that we view about ourselves as ordinary or obvious.  But the thing we must remember is that we are here on this Earth with gifts and abilities that are unique to us.  And we can view as the most ordinary thing ever, can be something that inspires someone else.  That pushes someone else.  That encourages someone else.

So let's take a moment to reflect and think about all the amazing qualities we posses and stop being so hard on our gifts.  You are here because you are amazing. Because you hold worth.  And most important, because you matter.  Don't ever doubt that.

Book Talk

This week we will not have a book talk so that you can focus on parent/teacher conferences.  But my advice would be to keep reading because we only have two weeks left!

Important Things This Week

Sunday - Grades due TONIGHT
Monday - Trainings/Work in Rooms/Parent Conferences Begin (refer to schedule in email)
Tuesday - Begin Red Ribbon Week; Becky Harrison on Campus for Admin
Wednesday - Photos (information below)
Friday - Dress up as Favorite Book Character

Team Planning

(TEAM PLANNING THIS WEEK will be an open time for you to complete conferences)

Tuesday - Kinder
Wednesday - 3rd
Thursday - 2nd
Friday - 1st

Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans should be updated through November 6th

This Week's Student Video


Blogs/Articles




Rockstar Educators

Cassie Reynolds - Cassie has such a huge heart for her kids.  Every conversation I have with her seems to revolve around what she can do to encourage, inspire, push her students.  But not only that Cassie pushes herself.  She attends EdCamps, Trainings, Tweets, Blogs, Classroom Champions, and so much more.  Cassie is a Rockstar for her love for kids and continually looking to grow and never be satisfied.

Becky Madison - There are few people I know with a heart as big as Becky's.  Becky buys clothes for our neediest kids, drives students to doctor appointments, finds resources, hosts food fundraisers, and so much more that no one sees.  I am thankful every single day we were able to steal Becky away to Navasota because her love and compassion is something so needed.  Those kids adore our nurse and it isn't hard to see why.

Birthdays

October 31 - Kevin Bradford

Pictures

This Wednesday is picture day!  All PE classes will go to the Teaching Theatre (next to the Library) on Wednesday.

We will be set up taking photos in the gym.  It will probably be an all day affair.  We will start at 8:30 and call classes down one at a time via your classroom phone.  There is not a "set" schedule, so we appreciate your patience and flexibility.

We will make sure to get our youngest kiddos before their lunch and recesses.  We will try our hardest with the older grade levels.

Please have your students lined up in ABC order before they come down to the Gym.



Well there ya go!  So this week, find ways to celebrate those around you and on your team.  Find sneaky little ways to show them that they're amazing and that you appreciate them.  We all needed to be reminded of our worth from time to time. Give compliments AND accept compliments




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Sunday, October 18, 2015

Trial and Error

The further we get into the school year, the further we learn the concept of trial and error.

I am constantly reminded of my faults.  Of the things I could do better, try harder at.  We are our toughest critics and we so clearly see the faults in ourselves.

The biggest thing we can do though it to know that it's through those trials and errors that we grow and learn the most.

As I said in a email I sent out earlier this week, I love so much the walkthroughs we do together.  It's so great to walk into classrooms with other teachers and hear about the great things that they see, that sometimes I don't even notice!!

There are so many times we can sit and focus on what we could be doing better, but these walkthroughs are constant reminders of the unique and special abilities that ALL of us bring to this team and how together we grow stronger.

Book Talk

This Wednesday we'll be on the next Chapter of "Crash Course".

Upcoming Learning Opportunity

This upcoming Saturday is EdCamp Katy.  I LOVE edcamps and can't wait for this one!  If you'd like to attend and didn't sign up, that's ok!  You can still come.  So far I've heard from Doris, Theresa, Cassie, Jessica, and Haven!  If you'd like to go too on Saturday let me know and you can carpool with us!

Important Things This Week

Monday - Short Staff Meeting at 3:45pm
                School Board Meeting at 6:30pm
Tuesday - Eric Sheninger will be on Campus All Day and working with staff at 3:45pm-4:45pm
                Reading Vertical Meeting at 3:15pm
                Education Foundation Dinner - 6:00pm
Wednesday - Anti-Bullying Day, Wear Orange

Team Planning

Monday - Kinder
Tuesday - 4th
Wednesday - 3rd
Thursday - 2nd
Friday - 1st

Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans should be updated through October 30th

Blogs/Articles




Rockstar Educators

Amy Glaab - If you've spent any time with Amy or in her room you know what a asset she is to this campus.  She is passionate, creative, and great with kids!  She works tirelessly to provide new and exciting ways for her students to learn because she is never happy with the status quo or the way things "always have been done".  Amy has so many resources and ideas and is one of the best at classroom management and connecting with those most difficult children.

Kheli LaBlue - I am so very grateful to have someone like Kheli on our team.  She is one of the most patient people I have ever met.  But more so than that, every time she speaks to a child or adult she has such compassion in her words.  Kheli has a true love for children and is someone I wish I could have learned from when I was in the classroom!  She is a powerhouse and rockstar for sure!

Birthdays

October 24th - Lauren Neutlzer


This weekend I came across this video from Barbie and Mattel.  They're working on rebranding and I thought this video was so powerful.  We need to take time to empower our girls and remind them that they can be anyone and anything they dream of!  So often they're taught they have to fit in stereotypical roles and jobs, but the truth of the matter is they don't!  Let's find ways to empower the girls on our campus to dream big!

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Sunday, October 11, 2015

Darkness

There are times in all of our lives when we feel we're surrounded by darkness.  When we feel like are lights are being drowned out and we're not sure how much longer we can hold on.  When one hit comes after another.

This morning I heard something I thought was pretty profound.  It said "A seed can not germinate in the light.  It must start in the dark where there is no light.  It must come to life in the darkness.  As it grows it then needs and finds the light.  So, don't be afraid of the dark".

How true is that?  We grow the most in our times of struggle.  In our times of pressure and pain. It isn't fun, it isn't easy, and it sure as heck isn't comfortable.  But in the end we always grow and we always come out better.....stronger.

Keep in mind that everyone is struggling with something.  Reach out, be a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, arms to hug, hands to high five, and more.  We need to step up and support wherever we can.

Book Talk

This week we'll be covering the next TWO chapters in Kim Bearden's book "Crash Course.

Upcoming Learning Opportunity

I reached out to Hope King who is a teacher at the Ron Clark Academy.  You may have seen me share a few of her periscopes or her website.  She is a force to be reckoned with and a bright shining light of encouragement.  Hope has agreed to do a Google Hangout (video chat) with any interested staff on this Wednesday, October 14th at 4pm.  If you'd like to join, Hope will be giving a message of encouragement and answering any of your questions about how to building exciting learning opportunities into your classroom!

Important Things This Week

Monday - Pumpkin Painting at 3:45pm in Cafeteria
Tuesday - Bilingual Meeting at 3:15pm, STEMscopes for K-5 at 4:00pm, PTO Meeting at 5:30pm
Wednesday - Becky Harrison on Campus, Book Talk, GHO with Hope at 4:00pm, Hispanic Heritage Program 5:30pm
Thursday - Hot Dog Cookout at Laredo Heights 5:30pm

Campus "Look-For"

Last week Aaron talked to you about incorporating writing across the curriculum.  This week as we do walk-throughs we're gonna be looking for writing throughout the day in all curriculum areas.  Kathy French is also working on our writing wall, with more info to come! 

Team Planning

Monday - 5th
Tuesday - 4th
Wednesday - 3rd
Thursday - 2nd
Friday - 1st

Weekly Video


Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans should be updated through October 23rd

Becky Harrison

Becky will be here on Wednesday.  You need to bring your Data Folders to the Team Planning room during your conference.

You will also need to bring:

1.        All district unit assessments report in quintile reports.  Each core subject- every unit test given.  I need these for each teacher, each subject.
2.       I-Station individual student reports
3.       Moby Max screening data for each student 
4.       A list of each teachers student with a reading level with a grade  level number, if possible.
5.       A copy of each teachers intervention sheets from their binders.

Twitter

Here are some new people to connect with:

Sanee Bell - Principal in Katy, TX
Estin Talavera - Blind National Speaker (amazing kid)
Tony Vincent - Educational Tech Guru

Blogs/Articles




Rockstar Educators

Sherri Desern - Our first RE is Sherri.  She is a Kindergarten teacher.  Besides the fact that she's incredibly patient and always loving and kind, this week she had a freak accident happen on the playground with one of her little kindergarteners.  She was calm, level-headed, and did exactly the right thing in a situation where so much could have been done wrong.  Her students are so lucky to have her, as we are!

Andrea Day - Andrea is a powerhouse in the classroom.  She's engaging, exciting, and cares deeply about her students.  She takes new ideas and runs with them.  She gives high-fives to strangers in Wal-Mart!  And she's a huge help on car rider line every day.  She's such a strong and needed asset to our team!  Oh, and as of Friday, she's ESL certified too!  Double Bonus!


I wanted to end with this video I saw on Facebook this week.  Sometimes we just have to stop, bust a move, and enjoy the moment!



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Sunday, October 4, 2015

We Work Together

As we enter into our next week something keeps coming to my mind.  The reminder that our work isn't easy and was never promised to be easy.

Each one of us has to deal with difficult children every day. Children who are difficult either because they've never known anything different or because they are hurting so very bad.

We have a choice though.  We can't choose to live in our classroom alone and try to "ride it out".  We have to lean on each other, we have to reach out for help, we have to sometimes sit there and say "I don't know what else to do, please help me".

We are in this business together, and together we must bond to be able to make it through.  Take time this week to check in on your teammates.  Make sure they're doing ok, that they don't need a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen, or more.  Let's work and bond together to keep this train chugging along!

Book Talk

This week we'll be covering the next TWO chapters in Kim Bearden's book "Crash Course.

Upcoming Learning Opportunity

I reached out to Hope King who is a teacher at the Ron Clark Academy.  You may have seen me share a few of her periscopes or her website.  She is a force to be reckoned with and a bright shining light of encouragement.  Hope has agreed to do a Google Hangout (video chat) with any interested staff on Wednesday, October 14th at 4pm.  If you'd like to join, Hope will be giving a message of encouragement and answering any of your questions about how to building exciting learning opportunities into your classroom!

Important Things This Week

TODAY - Grades Due
Monday - Fire Safety During PE (all groups will go to PE)
Tuesday - Social Studies Vertical Meeting & ESGI Meeting for PreK-K teachers of Webb/Brule/HP
Wednesday - Team Leader Meeting & 2nd-5th Grade After School Quintile Meeting
Friday - Jo Anna Moreland on Campus during Conference Periods


Team Planning


Monday - 5th
Tuesday - 4th
Wednesday - 3rd
Thursday - 2nd
Friday - Kinder

Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans should be updated through October 16th

PD Opportunity

EdCampKaty (October 24) and TCCA (October 17) are coming up quickly.
Rattler Time & Data Binders

Make sure you're utilizing Rattler Time to work students on skills they're struggling on.  You should also be adding new data pages into your binders to keep track of the TEKS you're working on with your students.  These should be kept up to date DAILY, as Becky and myself will be checking them.  If you need any help, let us know!  I will be coming by and checking data binders early this week.

Twitter

Here's a few great people to connect with/learn from on Twitter!  Don't ever be afraid to Tweet someone with a question! 

Spike Cook - Principal in New Jersey
Joy Kirr - Educator in Illinois
Paul Solarz - Educator in Illinois

Blogs/Articles





Rockstar Educators

Here are our two Rockstar Educators this week! Find a way to celebrate them!

Deborah Gonzales - Deborah stepped up tremendously this week.  In addition to filling every gap we had, she never complains and always finds a bright side.  She is full of life and loves these kids so deeply.  Deborah is also always full of great ideas and needed suggestions!  If you haven't given her a high five this week, you should!

Geraldine Williams - I'm sure you all know who Gerry is!  She is full of life, energy, and passion.  But most of all she's full of love.  Gerry can make any of us laugh but at the same time always has something poignant to share as well.  Even in the midst of one hit after another this year, Gerry shows up every day with a smile on her face and ready to face whatever comes.  Gerry reminds me every day of what true joy looks like.



In closing, I'd like to make this week, the week of high fives.  Yes, high fives.  Let's give out lots of high fives to kids walking down the hall correctly (wether we know the kid or not), to teachers we see in the hall, to parents who are walking by, to everyone!  What joy would be spread just by the simple act of a smile and high-five???  How many high fives will you give this week?








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