April 29, 2016

Here is our plan for next week and CAASPP testing, so PLEASE make sure that you know where to send your students if they need extra time:

We will be taking ALL the "spill overs" in the library next week unless you want to or are willing to keep them or have them test on the next assigned day. We will be borrowing Dave's chrome books for ELA as we did with Kristin's for Math. If we have WAY too many students, we will move into a classroom to continue. Thank you for your help!

Please continue to help us by sending students to other classrooms to work or for a time out. If they are officially class suspended, please send them as usual. We are really trying to support SBAC testing and the back office is getting WAY too crowded!

This graphic can be really hard to see and the article is much better. Click HERE to read about 15 differences between a teacher-centered and student-centered classroom. Our goal is to have EVERY classroom at GVMS be and stay a STUDENT-CENTERED CLASSROOM!!! Check out the article to see the list!

I know this is ANOTHER article but I loved it....Do we think our grading system is fair? Is it working for ALL of our students? Check out THIS ARTICLE for a QUICK read on zeros, the ten point scale and more. It's definitely something to think about ;)

What does a modern educator look like? I am glad you asked... THIS ARTICLE describes the photo in more detail to include thoughts and practices such as seeing yourself as a "co-learner", allowing yourself to fail, feeling secure to ask colleagues for help, embracing change and more. We are getting there GVMS!

Yes, it can be a little scary. Yes, it can be a little nerve wracking. Yes, it can be a little uncomfortable. And yet, we DO need to OPEN OUR DOORS! Why do we, as teachers, need to watch others in action? Because we LEARN so much! Check out THIS AWESOME ARTICLE on the reasons why: to see the successes, the failures, the learning experiences and more! This is happening more and more on our site and we could NOT be more excited!!

Mark your calendars!! Here are some dates to remember:

April 25-May 13 SBAC
April 29 No School :)

April 30 Spring Fling

May 11 Guitar Night

May 16-May 20 Teacher Appreciation Week

May 19 Spring Concert

May 20 Sport O Rama/Teacher Appreciation Lunch

May 26 8th grade trip to Allan Witt/8th grade dance

May 27/30 No school

June 2 8th grade promotion/minimum day

June 3 Teacher workday

June 4 End of year party at Carol's house

August 9 WEB Day

August 11 Staff Retreat- Technology, Google EVERYTHING, Illuminate, TEAM BUILDING!

October 25, 26, 27 Challenge Days for 7th and 8th graders

Have you checked out our Fish Moments?

BE THERE: Thanks to ALL TEACHERS who let kids stay and also helped with testing and more! SUPER appreciate it! Thank you to WENDY and SUE for covering for Sarj!

PLAY: Tell me what the GVMS stands for on the back to get yours...and no, it's not just Green Valley Middle School silly!! :); We still have some up for grabs!!

MAKE THEIR DAY: Have someone to nominate for ROCK STAR TEACHER? Email Kristen ASAP or click HERE!  
Thanks to TAMIA for taking an IEP on Monday that wasn't even hers, making sure the parents were taken care of, and covering Dawn's testing group!
Thanks to LYNN, JOE, DAN P., KEVIN, SARJ, ELIZABETH, POZZESI, LORRAINE, DON, CRISTINA, JULIE, SHAWNA, KIMBERLY, KRISTY, TOM, HEATHER, GIGI, SUE, ALLISON, CAROL, DAVE M., DALAL, KEN, CHRISTEN, TAMIA, PRISCI, and LACEY/TRACY for already completing the Student of the Month for the last month for MOST IMPROVED! We have so many to choose from and that's AWESOME!  PLEASE pick one ASAP if you have not done so! The link is HERE!
Thanks to all SECRET PALS that are still making other people's day! PS- Mine is a ROCK STAR and I totally appreciate her/him!! :) 
Thanks to RIC for all his double duty that he has been doing to ensure we are clean and covered!

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