September 7, 2018

Have you ever sat and thought about how we have the best job ever?  Do you ever question it sometimes?  It's human nature, we understand!  Check out THIS ARTICLE about 11 reasons why we have the BEST JOB EVER, including how middle school students tell it like it is, they have a ridiculous sense of humor, you have an endless supply of humor at any part you go to, and more.  It's an easy and fun read, AND a FABULOUS reminder of our WHY.  What is your WHY???  WHY do you do what you do??  WHY do you want to work with our students?

Things to Remember About Feedback

1.       Feedback is not advice, praise, or evaluation. Feedback is information about how we are doing in our efforts to a goal. This is why we come into classrooms DAILY!!

2.       If students know the classroom is a safe place to make mistakes, they are more likely to use feedback for learning. If our staff know it is okay to make mistakes and it's safe, then you all will take more exciting educational risks!

3.       The feedback students give teachers can be more powerful than the feedback teachers give students. Think about this!!

4.       When we give a grade as a part of our feedback, students routinely read only as far as the grade. Feedback is much more meaningful!

5.       Effective feedback occurs during the learning, while there is still time to act on it. And then change if needed!

6.       Most of the feedback that students receive about their classroom work is from other students – and much of that feedback is wrong. Their discussions aren't wrong, just the information sometimes!

7.       Students need to know their learning target—the specific skill they’re supposed to learn—or else “feedback” is just someone telling them what to do.

“Data doesn’t belong to the teacher.  The data belongs to the student and is on loan to you.”  --Damen Lopez

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 Megan for helping me with MAP Testing! ~Marlys
• SUER awesome shout out to Sue for ALWAYS being willing to lend a helping hand and putting positive postcards in my box!~ Marlys
• SUPER awesome shout out to Tamia for being an awesome Dept Chair! ~Marlys
• SUPER awesome shout out to Cristina for being a great co-teacher! ~Marlys
• SUPER awesome shout out to Julie, Heather, Karron, Katherine and Ryan for your help and advice with a difficult parent!  ~ Lynn
• SUPER awesome shout out to Jason for coming to my rescue during Friday dismissal! ~KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to Anita for sharing her ideas and checking in on me as a new team member! ~Karron
• SUPER awesome shout out to Ryan for coming in to support during an IEP~ Tamia and KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to Lorraine for helping me with the SBAC bulletin board!  You are a super hero! ~Heather T.
• SUPER awesome shout out to Rosa for helping me with a student who needed to work in the main office! ~Julie
• SUPER awesome shout out to Admin for coffee at B2T Night! ~Sandy
• SUPER awesome shout out to Elizabeth for always being able to talk about how to help students! ~Sandy
• SUPER awesome shout out to Tom and Larissa for letting me borrow supplies for a project!  I think our Science Team works so well together! ~Ken
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue, Megan, Admin, Cristina, and SPED squad for collaboration! ~Marly
• SUPER awesome shout out to Voz for sharing his "grabber" with me! ~Lynn
• SUPER awesome shout out to Alex, Jason, Dustin, and Carol for helping me bring things in from my car!~ Sue
• SUPER awesome shout out to GVMS Staff for being flexible for students to complete MAP Testing, especially those that were going on IS! ~Sue
• SUPER awesome shout out to Lynn for organizing our field trip to the marsh! ~Ryan