September 29, 2017

We continue our mission to Teach LIKE A PIRATE!  The next focus is CRAFTING engaging lessons.  Yes, this requires planning, preparation, and presentation.  Of course it does.  YOU have to actively turn up the heat. YOU have to bring energy to your lesson through enthusiasm and showmanship.  We all know that we get tired.  If you are so tired, every day, that you can't bring the heat, then let's talk.  Layer in as many engaging strategies and techniques as can reasonably fit.  Make it so that OUR students WANT to come to school and are dying to come each day.

ENGAGEMENT is a topic that we will ALWAYS be addressing.  

What if we asked our STUDENTS how best they learned?  What if, we sent THEM a quick Google survey (or by hand!) to ask them and then USED those strategies to TEACH in your classroom?  This has DEFINITELY happened in many of our classrooms! Check out THIS ARTICLE on how middle school students spoke out on student engagement and what mattered most to them.  It's a SUPER easy read!

We CANNOT stress how important student engagement is. The payoff is LIFE CHANGING!!  We have asked these questions over and over AND they're worth asking again:

WOULD YOU WANT TO BE A STUDENT IN YOUR CLASS???

IF YOUR STUDENTS DIDN'T HAVE TO BE IN YOUR CLASS, WOULD THEY SHOW UP ANYWAY??

MAP Testing window CONTINUES and make ups will take place with us in the library! Thanks for your patience with this!

*PLEASE PLEASE be sure that you select the CORRECT name test for your grade level when you set up your testing sessions:

Grades 6, 7, 8:

Growth: Reading 6+ CA 2010 V2

Growth: Math 6+ CA 2010

CLICK HERE for resources and step by step instructions (with screen shots) as to how to administer if you need them!

Check out some of the NEW Tweets that are ALWAYS going on around campus!  Stop by and see what's happening in your colleague's classrooms!  These pics below are updated WEEKLY!  Aren't following everyone yet?  Follow US @GVMSVIKINGS and we have everyone's Twitter handle! =)

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!  KEEP THEM COMING!  We love the "I Noticed..." and will add as many as we can!
Click HERE to add! (49)

• SUPER awesome shout out to Trevor for keeping our upstairs clean! ~Carol
• SUPER awesome shout out to Elizabeth for making Challenge Day even happen!! ~K&C
• SUPER awesome shout out to Ryan, Lacey, Katherine, Dan, Alex, Alisa, Kristy, Josiah, Jacob and Barb for participating in Challenge Day too! ~Elizabeth
• SUPER awesome shout out to Jason for always checking in when I have been out and helping our family during this hard time! ~Dustin
• SUPER awesome shout out to Rosa for taking care of all the PE clothing issues! ~K&C
• SUPER awesome shout out to Carol and Olvera for helping with my lesson plans when I was writing them with puking kids at home! ~Dustin
• SUPER awesome shout out to Dalal for being so supportive and on top of things with MAP testing! ~Lorraine (and K&C!)
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue for letting me use her classroom and test my kids!  You are the best! ~Tamia
• SUPER awesome shout out to Alex Chalmers (our Tech guy) for always taking time out of his busy day to answer a question! ~Ken
• SUPER awesome shout out to Christen for running IEPs quickly and keeping on track! ~Sue 
• SUPER awesome shout out to Allison for making sure I am on track with dates and staying organized to help me! ~Dustin
• SUPER awesome shout out to Julie for helping with 6th grade MAP make up tests! ~K&C
• SUPER awesome shout out to Susan, Michele S., Rosa, Annette, Elizabeth, Ken, Cristina, Alex, Tamia, Anita, Don, Alisa, Sue, Lynn, Ryan, Kristy, Dalal, Jamie, Kimberly, Katherine M., Dave M., Josiah, Jacob, Peckham, Lacey, Julie, Christen, Amy, Aubrey, Allison, Heather T., Carol, Karyn, CL and KC for writing 336 GOOD NEWS REFERRALS for SEPTEMBER ALREADY!! Let's keep this party GOING!!

 **SEE BLOG AS IT HAS WAY MORE DATES**

*Wednesdays are College Days
*Mondays/Fridays are GVMS Spirit Days!