Let's Crash this Course

The time is near....the arrival of Kim Bearden!

But even more exciting for me, is seeing/hearing/feeling the excitement on campus.  I can't wait to see the incredible things you all are going to do on Monday for our kiddos.  And I can't wait for you to meet and hear from Kim Bearden as well.

We've all worked so hard and tirelessly with NO BREAK for months!  And our week long break is near!!

Let's fill this week with amazing lessons, belly laughs, big hugs, high fives, cheers, celebrations, and most of all, love.

Holidays can be a tough time for so many of our kids.  The uncertanity of food or shelter.  The potential of being stuck with family who may be verbally or physically abusive.  And so much more.

Let's wrap our kiddos with lots of patience, kindness, and love this week.

I am right now, sitting in an airport on my way home from a conference called Miami Device...and this conference was very different for me.  First of all I was incredibly torn to be gone for several days while you all were working tirelessly at campus.  And on the other hand, I found myself tearing up many times as I shared stories of the work you guys were doing for kids, or as people came up to me to ask about some of you because of the tweets or blog posts they had seen.

The work you do is impacting far more than just the students and families of Navasota.  It may be hard to believe, becuase it's still hard for me to fathom, but I see it every time I travel.

You guys are incredible and there is NO team that I would rather be a part of.

A friend of mine, John Spencer, shared this video this week.  I fell in love with it.

Team Planning

There will be no team planning meetings this week.  Our Camp leaders have worked tireless this year with most of them not even getting a conference period.  This week, they'll have that 7:45-8:30 time to hang out in classrooms and visit with kids in a different element.

As administrators we will be dropping by and checking in with teams and team leaders all week this week.

BECKY HARRISON will be here on Thursday.  Please know where your kids are academically, what you're doing to help them, interventions, and data.

Book Fair

Book Fair begins this week!  This is a great fundraiser for our library!  Book Fair will also be open at STEM night! Tell your kiddos!

Important Things This Week

Monday - Crash Course Day (training with Kim Bearden after school)

Tuesday - Nesloney is gone at AIE Conference (for priority schools)

Science Vertical Meeting - 3:15pm

STEM Night - 5:00-7:00pm

Wednesday - Nesloney is gone at AIE Conference (for priority schools)

Thursday - Becky Harrison on Campus

Friday - Fire Drill

Blogs/Articles

How You Can Help Victims of the Paris Terror Attacks

12 People on the Kindest Thing a Stranger Ever Said to Them

Evaluate and Elevate Your Why

Rockstar Educators

Geralyn Jackson - Geralyn has one of the biggest hearts on our campus.  She is always looking to help kids emotionally, financially, and physically.  She steps up everywhere she's needed and will never back down to celebrate or help out a kiddo.  When I met Geralyn a year or so ago, I knew she was something special, and she re-proves it every single day.

Evangelic Sipp - Evangelic is such a creative force.  She's always looking for better ways to do things and isn't afraid to ask for help.  She's also got such a heart for her kiddos.  She always has a smile on her face even when she's at her wits end.  I love talking with her because she's always got such a great attitude and belief in her students potential and ability.

Birthdays

Cassie Reynolds - November 17

KVon Lambert - November 23

Dorothy Sargent - November 24

Andrea Day - November 28

Let's make this week the best week of the school year so far!  The Kids Deserve It!

Lift Up Your Hands (When You Can't)

One thing that I've written, read, and spoken about on many occasions are the hidden battles everyone faces.  The fact that each of us has our own craziness going on in our lives yet we still show up each and every day ready to give everything we have for these kids.

It's hard and it can become exhausting.  Especially if you're trying to do it on your own and you're not leaning on those around you.

One thing I personally lean on is my faith.  I know not everyone believes what I believe, and that's the great thing about living in this country we live in, that we can all choose to believe what we wish.

But yesterday while driving to Houston, I heard this new song by one of my favorite singer/songwriters, Mark Shultz.  It's called "Lift Up Your Hands (When You Can't".  You can see a little of the lyrics below (as well as the entire song embedded in this post).  Here's a few....

"Well I know that your heart is past broken

and it feels like you've got nothing left

and you can't find your song cause you can't even speak

you're just tying to take the next breath

and you find yourself here in this moment

we have all gathered to praise

and though you wish that you did, you got nothing to give

it's enough that you're here anyway

so let me stand up and sing of His goodness

let me lift up a song in your place

cause i know that He'll always be with us

even when we can't see His face

I'm gonna sing to the one who is faithful

though the battle is not over yet

and I'll be your voice til your able

and I'll lift up your hands when you can't."

When I heard this song I immediately thought of you guys.  As the captain of this ship, it's my job to look after you.  To help you.  To lift up your hands when you can't.  I take that job very personally and know that I have a lot to learn and a lot of growing to do to be great at it, but I'm trying.

I wanted the intro to the blog post this week to be one where you know that at any point, when you need to cry, to vent, to seek out help, all of us in that front office are there to do just that. We want ALL of us to succeed, and if one person has fallen overboard then we haven't done our job.

So please don't ever be afraid to see us out.  Cause we're here to lift up your hands when you can't.

Crash Course

We have the final two chapters to read this week, in preparation for Kim Bearden being at Webb on Monday the 16th!  The book talk this week will be on TUESDAY at 3:45pm.

NOMINATIONS FOR DINNER WITH KIM ARE DUE BY EMAIL TO ME ON TUESDAY!!!

Team Planning

For TP this week you'll need to bring your data binders, before/after school tutoring plans, and one station to share with the team.

Monday - 5th Grade

Tuesday - 4th Grade

Wednesday - Veteran's Day Program

Thursday - Kinder; 3rd Grade from 3:30-4:15pm

Friday - 1st Grade

Important Things This Week

I will not be approving any absences for Monday or Wednesday as we already have people out for PD.

Tuesday - Ident-A-Kid will be on campus.  That doesn't affect any of your planning I just want you to be aware

Math Vertical Meeting at 3:15pm

Wednesday - Veteran's Day Program - 7:45am in Cafeteria (just like PTO fundraiser)

Kinder will leave cafeteria at 7:35am to prepare for Field Trip

Thursday - Nesloney will be out. 

Friday - Nesloney will be out.

PreK Field Trip (Garrett will be attending)

Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans are due through Thanksgiving

Blogs/Articles

The Day I'll Finally Stop Grieving 

Strengthening Executive Functioning Development with Students with ADD

Academic Choice: Comprehending and Retelling a Story

When Was The Last Time You Just....Played?

Rockstar Educators

Anna Wilkerson - Anna is a 4th grade Math/Science teacher here.  She's very quiet, but does a great job in her classroom and comes with a wealth of knowledge.  I've watched her grow and bloom so quickly with her students and she takes advice hungrily!  Plus this weekend I got to see her in action at the Houston Zoo (where she used to work) and could see her love of people and animals shine even brighter.  We caught a big winner with this one and I really encourage you to get to know her!

Jeanette Enriquez - Jeanette works in our front office with Annie.  I don't know what we would do without her.  She's always got a smile on her face and willing does anything asked of her, but even more importantly she does it WELL!  Jeanette feel into our laps through a series of circumstances, but we are so glad that she did!  If you haven't told Jeanette how much she means to you, do it this week!

Birthdays

Melinda Colin - Saturday, November 14

We are in the midst of the month of thankfulness.  Make sure those around you, including your families, know how thankful you are for them.  Find little ways to celebrate them and remind them.

Maura Pavlock sent me this video this week, and I absolutely loved it and knew it'd be the perfect way to end this week's post.  Let's make it another amazing week!

Students with learning disabilities give their teachers some heartfelt advice. (Via Brain Highways)

Posted by Upworthy on Wednesday, November 4, 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

What Students Really Need to Hear

How Can We Teach Math to Encourage "Patient Problem Solving"

Why Play Should Be Part of Every Child's Day

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

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

4 Ways to Have Your Best Year Ever in Math

Why Kids Still Need 'Real Books' to Read

How Connected Educators Can Transform Schools

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!

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

Styrofoam Cups in Math

Everyone Fails, It's What You Do Next That Matters

Keep Climbing, Never Stop

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!

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

How to Weave Growth Mindset into School Culture

Books + Reading = Something Special

60 Things Students Can Create to Demonstrate What They Know

Story of a Young Life Turned Around By Great Teachers

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?

No One Left

Wow, what a week it was!  First off all, thank you to all the many kind words spoken this week!  This is one powerful team who works tirelessly to make the whole ship look good and run smoothly.  We have days we hit choppy water, and large waves that come our way, but we still float and we still steer in the direction of success!  Thank you to all of you for being on this journey.  Just like a puzzle, if any of us were missing, this puzzle wouldn't be complete.

This week I encourage you to...

1.  Smile as much as possible.  You can never underestimate the power of a smile.

2.  Take time to say hello to someone on staff you don't know very well.

3.  Write a quick note of encouragement to a fellow staff member (or send a You Matter Gram)

Here are some updates for this week!

Book Talk

Don't forget to stay up to date with Kim's book, "Crash Course".

Team Planning

Here are this week's team planning times

Monday - 5th Grade

Tuesday - 4th Grade

Wednesday - 3rd Grade

Thursday - Kinder

Friday - 1st Grade

This week is a SCIENCE vertical meeting on Tuesday at 3:15pm in the library.  Make sure your team rep is there!

Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans should be updated through October 9.

PD Opportunity

EdCampKaty (October 24) and TCCA (October 17) are coming up quickly.  EdCampKaty only has a few spots left!  If you've signed up to go let me know, as I will also be at both events and if we need to carpool we can!

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!

Twitter

Here are a few great people to connect with this week!

Principal El - Principal in Deleware

Tom Murray - State & District Digital Learning Director in DC

Daisy Marino - Educator in Texas

Blogs/Articles

Here are some great blogs/articles to check out this week!

Please Don't Call Her Bossy - It's Leadership

But, But.....I'm Too Busy To Blog

Rockstar Educators

Here are our two rockstar educators this week!  Find a way to celebrate them!!

Mallory LaPlant - Mallory is our school secretary but she is so much more than that.  Mallory works so much harder than many people realize and always does it with a smile on her face and great attitude.  She loves kids, but she also loves the staff.  I am so very thankful to have someone like Mallory on our team.

Tammy Boyd - Tammy is a force to be reckoned with.  Tammy is a 5th grade ELA teacher.  She often doesn't even know how amazing she is.  She loves her students so deeply and has such a passion for teaching, especially reading.  Tammy works countless hours and worries deeply about each and every student.  We need people like Tammy in this world!

Every single day we have a chance to be awesome.  To be our best.  When I was in DC this weekend, I was sitting a table with a fellow administrator from Minnesota, a teacher from Michigan, a technologist from North Dakota, and a man who works for the Department of Education with Arne Duncan.  What did we talk about?  You guys.  Yes, really.  I had to tell them story after story about the hard work you all do every single day.  As I said at the beginning of this post, it takes every single one of us.  We will never be successful as a unit until we embrace our own uniquness and strengths and realize that it takes ALL of us.

Thank YOU for all that you do every single day.  Thank YOU for the countless hours, tears, blood, and sweat you put in.  You make Webb Elementary what it is, and you're the ones changing lives that will be felt for years to come.

Remember to stand up for others.  To be their voice.

While touring the Holocaust Museum today I saw this quote....

"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists and I did not speak out, because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out, because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me.  And there was no one left to speak for me"

- Martin Niemoller

Don't keep quiet.  Speak up.  Speak out.  Choose love.

Here's a brand new Kid President video: