August 31, 2018

Have you ever looked through an "at-risk" student's file and seen a DRAMATIC change in their smile from Kindergarten until now?  What do you think is going on?  What happened?  Did you know that there is a HUGE DRASTIC change in many of our students around the 3rd or 4th grade and it can carry on through middle school?  Take a few minutes, come down to the records room, pull out a student's file that you know is already at risk, and check out their photos, report cards and more....

How do we inspire our students, all students at-risk or not, to WANT to come to GVMS each day?  How do we encourage them to wake up excited that we get to hang out together?  ENGAGEMENT, CARE, SYMPATHY, EMPATHY and LOVE.  Not rocket science.  Our students are more alike than we think and they need what we ALL need.

Take a look at THIS article on some VERY easy ideas to continue to reach all of our students.  

We have gone over student engagement multiple times and it's a topic we will visit A LOT!  Student performance and student behavior is SO MUCH more positive when you foster these with high levels of student engagement.  It creates an emotionally and intellectually safe classroom, decreases behavior and boredom concerns, and increases academic performance.  Check out THIS ARTICLE for easy peasy ways to increase student engagement!   We CANNOT stress how important student engagement is. 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??

Back to School Night was an overall positive experience for all and a great night!  If there are suggestions or feedback that you want to share, please email me!  Thank you!

Soul Shoppe is COMING and we are excited for the positive impact for our students AND our staff!  Need to remember what it's all about?  Check out their website at www.soulshoppe.com

The dates that they are coming to GVMS are:

September 25, 26

October 2, 3, 9, 10

March 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20

Once we get more of a confirmed timelines and bell schedule, we will share it.  In the meantime, please put a note in your calendars!

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

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• SUPER awesome shout out to Michele, Michele and Susan for staying for B2S Night and all your help!! 
• SUPER awesome shout out to Heather T for the SUPER HERO data display case!  THANK YOU for making that happen before B2S Night too!
• SUPER awesome shout out to Lorraine for making beautiful curtains for my classroom! ~Megan
• SUPER awesome shout out to Heather T for always going above and beyond to help me! ~Megan
• SUPER awesome shout out to Lorraine for providing cute door curtains for the English Dept!  Jason- yours are coming! ~Heather T.
• SUPER awesome shout out to Karron for starting this year off making sure we felt like a team!  It feels like she has been a Viking all along! ~Ryan
• SUPER awesome shout out to Tamia for lunch date this past Friday and Dustin for setting up Fantasy Football! ~Lynn
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sandy, as well as, the rest of our History Department for helping with Mr. Fulton's class while he is out! ~Carol
• SUPER awesome shout out to Karen and Annette for checking out all of the History textbooks!  It was crazy but you both kept your smile! ~Carol
• SUPER awesome shout out to Tamia and Carol for the invites to the lunchroom on Friday! ~Sue
• SUPER awesome shout out to our Math Department for implementing the new adoption, ROCKING IT, and working on the timing of the lessons! ~Sue
• SUPER awesome shout out to Heather T for arranging the 504 meetings! ~Sue
• SUPER awesome shout out to Carla for helping me get my caseload on track!  She is keeping me on track! ~Lilia
• SUPER awesome shout out to Carol for taking on dept chair like a champ and keeping History informed.  Also thanks for helping Fulton's sub and checking in with all of the History teachers! ~ Sandy
• SUPER awesome shout out to Rosa for coming into my classroom to help!  She is always available for us! ~Kimberly