February 26, 2016

So I am IN.  I can NEVER resist a challenge (unless it's to lose weight and then I have no comment) so thanks to Kris Corey for the challenge on her blog, I AM IN!  Here is the 1, 2, 3, 4 5 Connected Educator Challenge!

1.  What has been your ONE biggest struggle this year?

Seriously.  One?  I struggle with so many things from time management of family vs. school to keeping my cool.  I think my biggest struggle is keeping my patience with people who truly don't understand that I try to MAKE DECISIONS in the best interest of our students and staff.  Always. 

2.  Share TWO accomplishments you are proud of this year

Again.  Seriously?  Just two?  I have SO MANY!

I am so proud to have all of our new students and staff here (from 6th grade to Christine, to Elizabeth, to Rosa/Mimi/Kristy/Aida to more!) and to have figured that out- the rotations, the class limit, the schedule, the supervision, and more.  It was so hard to grasp, build, and create and yet, it worked.  It's not perfect, and we already know what to change for 16-17.

I am also proud of the collaboration among our staff!  The sharing, stealing, borrowing, and WORKING TOGETHER has been AWESOME and makes my heart happy DAILY!  I love that the classified staff (Campus monitors, noon duty, office, custodial) jump in to help anywhere at anytime!

3.  What are THREE things you hope to accomplish before the end of this school year?

I hope that we can accomplish collaboration that works for our staff!  

I hope that we can build a schedule that supports more students with labs, creative outlets for electives, keeps our staff intact, and makes more people happy!

I hope to grow the community support with our DOGS program and outside support from PTC and C3.  I love getting more and more eyes and ears to keep our kiddos safe!

4.  Give FOUR reasons you remain in education in today's rough culture.

I love our kids.  Period.  The test every one of my boundaries and yet, I still love them. 

I love our staff.  Period.  It has been a two year journey of building trust both ways and I love the POSITIVENESS (is it a word??) that we continue to spread.

I love that we can continue to make more POSITIVE changes to support our students from the multiple people watching out for their safety to the D.O.G.S. to the counseling support and more.

I love being a cheerleader for our students and staff.  Yep.  I said it.  I am loud, obnoxious, jazz hands and sparkly and that's what you get =)  Everyone needs a cheerleader!!

5.  What FIVE people do you hope will take the challenge to answer these questions? 

I know that you are all busy and the first 5 ROCK STARS that take this challenge have a prize waiting for them from me!!  EMAIL ME YOUR ANSWERS!!

Please review with your students the appropriate way to handle our chrome books.   We have had MULTIPLE KACE tickets for chrome books being damaged.  We will be adding a contract piece in the agenda for next year but we must be diligent in ensuring that all staff monitor how our students are using our technology.  Thank you!

Every classroom utilizes a variety of reading practices.  Take a look at THESE 11 Alternatives to "Round Robin" and "Popcorn" Reading so that students STAY engaged and don't check out during the instruction.

Have you checked out our Fish Moments?

BE THERE: Thank you to Sue for organizing the Academic Olympics again! So awesome! Thanks to Carol, Dave F., Gigi, Allison, Wendy, Dalal, and Anita for being at the Academic Olympics and judging/supervising/announcing, etc!

PLAY: We need MORE SCHOOL SPIRIT so we went out and found a NEW company to help us with this challenge! The book for new spirit wear is in the mail room so if you want an item in there, write the information on the front page!

MAKE THEIR DAY: Thanks, Kristy Love, for sharing your labs and ideas with your team! You Rock! Thanks to Ric for rockin' the cleaning and our super star team of Rosa, Mimi, Kristy, and Aida all day long supervising and taking care of business! The FLIPPED Faculty Meeting information will come to you this weekend...Be on the look out!

CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE: LET'S STAY POSITIVE PEEPS! KEEP ON SMILING! 

February 19, 2016

Now that I have your attention, we are moving more towards a flipped faculty meeting (thanks for the push Alex!).  Though we send out a LOT of information ahead of time, we really want to have a flipped meeting that spends more time collaborating with one another over questions you and your department/team may have regarding the material that is sent out.  Therefore, there will be more of an expectation for you to take time to read and review what is sent as we won't spend time going over all of it!  This should truly make our meetings more efficient and perky =)  Take a look at THIS ARTICLE that I read so that you know where I am coming from!

Over the weekend, I was able to read THIS great article that we ALL know about middle school students.  I am sharing it with our families too and wanted to pass it along to our staff.  It truly shares some things you need to know!

We have a new club in town!  Welcome "Vikings Against Tobacco" Club that meets under the guidance of Mrs. Love, 7th grade science.  They recently put together this video warning others of the dangers of tobacco!  Take a look!

Ever wanted more ideas on how to personalize the learning of students who are really needing that individual attention?  Take a look at a quote from THIS ARTICLE about differentiation and 27 ways to check for understanding.  Here's a sneak peek: "Differentiation is a kind of personalized instruction, where teachers adjust process and product, according to a student's readiness, interest, and learning style.  Planning of the learning starts with the content, and the content remains the same for all students."

Have you checked out our Fish Moments?

BE THERE: Thanks to ALL TEACHERS for being at conferences yesterday! It was awesome! Thanks to Carol, Dave M., and Sandy for registering our 7th graders for 8th grade ONLINE! Thanks to Lynn, Julie, Don, Cristina, Amy, Katherine, Joe, and Lacey for registering our 6th graders for 7th grade ONLINE!

PLAY: Thank you, Sue, for the awesome pens! I can't believe you are thanking US...Seriously. You are a lifesaver to our campus!

MAKE THEIR DAY: Thanks to C3 Church for sponsoring Chik Fil A Lunch today for our ENTIRE staff! They use our facility every Sunday and want to give back to our GVMS community! Thanks!
Mark your calendars for Saturday April 30th for the Spring Fling- you HAVE to come! I will bring the tickets to the next faculty meeting! It's SO much fun!

CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE: LET'S STAY POSITIVE PEEPS! KEEP ON SMILING! 

February 12, 2016

Whew!  It has been a WHIRLWIND of things going around here....

We are entering SBAC/CAASPP testing season and we reviewed the teacher testing administration guide (quickly) at our February faculty meeting.  Please review it HERE so that we don't have to read it slide by slide and we can sign off on the affidavit.

Fall 2016 CUE Conference is coming so check it out HERE and see if you are interested in attending!!  It's an AMAZING conference!

Ever wanted more ideas on how to personalize the learning of students who are really needing that individual attention?  Take a look at a quote from THIS ARTICLE about differentiation and 27 ways to check for understanding.  Here's a sneak peek: "Differentiation is a kind of personalized instruction, where teachers adjust process and product, according to a student's readiness, interest, and learning style.  Planning of the learning starts with the content, and the content remains the same for all students."

Check out some of our kids at RHS Shadow Day!

Have you checked out our Fish Moments?

BE THERE: Thanks to Gigi and Science Dept for presenting on Tuesday! Thanks to Sue for already planning the SBAC cards =) Thank you to Cristina, Lynn, Lacey, Dan P., Liz, Josiah, Tamia, Dustin, Dalal, Dave M., Jason, Allison, Paula, Carol, Sue, Lorraine, Heather, Pozzesi, Gigi, and Elizabeth for entering your Student of the Month names! Here's the link again! Thanks to Rochelle for setting up and taking care of Shadow Days... we are working to streamline them more for next year so thanks for your patience!

PLAY: Hope your week leading to Valentine's Day was fun!

MAKE THEIR DAY: Thanks to C3 Church for sponsoring Chik Fil A Lunch on February 19th for our ENTIRE staff! They use our facility every Sunday and want to give back to our GVMS community! Join us for lunch! :)
Mark your calendars for Saturday April 30th for the Spring Fling- you HAVE to come! It's SO much fun!

CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE: LET'S STAY POSITIVE PEEPS! KEEP ON SMILING! 

February 5, 2016

Happy February!

We have a busy yet short month upon us from benchmarks, to parent conferences (invite only), to two holidays, to the Academic Olympics!  Hang on to your hats!

We are entering SBAC/CAASPP testing season and we will be reviewing the teacher testing administration guide (quickly) at our February faculty meeting.  Please review it HERE so that we don't have to read it slide by slide and we can sign off on the affidavit.

I know I have published this before and it's WORTH the read again.  Take a look at these 5 Tips for Avoiding Teacher Burnout so that we get to see your smiling face each day!  Want some ideas on Time Management skills so that you don't get burned out?  Check out these EASY IDEAS and suggestions to help you along the way!  Email Nelda Taylor, our Ed Tech, to help you with some of these as she will sit side by side with you and go over some of these!

Speaking of that, check out THIS LINK for 50 of the BEST Teaching and Learning Apps to use in the classroom!

Have you checked out our Fish Moments?

BE THERE: Thanks to Carol, Sandy, Dave M., Lynn, Julie, Cristina, Don, Susan, Katherine, Joe, and Lacey for having their students take the elective interest survey! It has helped in planning for next year! Thanks to Kevin for helping me with the final eval training on Thursday! Thank you to ALL OF THOSE that have been covering each other's classes due to illness. So appreciated!

PLAY: Thanks to Dave F and his leadership crew for planning a Spirit Week! Thanks to Elizabeth for spearheading Great Kindness Challenge!

MAKE THEIR DAY: I just personally want to thank ALL of you from the bottom of my heart for the efforts you are putting in to support our kids. We have had a HUGE increase in parent requested meetings/IEPs/504s/SSTs and more. Often, they bypass me and you and contact DO directly (which is always directed back to me and then to you) and it can be frustrating. THANK YOU FOR BEING SO PATIENT!!
Mark your calendars for Saturday April 30th for the Spring Fling (you HAVE to come! It's SO much fun!) and Saturday, June 4th for end of the year social (staff and adults only) at Carol's house to celebrate our end of the year party! We can't wait to try out that awesome pizza oven! Also, we are looking at Thursday, August 11 for our staff back to school retreat! Sue has reserved the clubhouse at her complex (complete with pool and spa!) for the day! It will be for buy back only and you will be fed!! Save the date!

CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE: Okay. For real. What is going on with the germs and COOTIES around here?!?!?! 

LET'S STAY POSITIVE PEEPS! KEEP ON SMILING!