February 1, 2019

WAY TO GO!!!  To date (and yes, I am STILL testing and making up testing!) our students ALL showed growth on the Winter MAP TEST!!  WHOO HOO!

6th grade Math up 3.7/ 6th grade ELA up 2.6

7th grade Math up 3.9/ 7th grade ELA up 1

8th grade Math up 3.5/ 8th grade ELA up 3.6

WAY TO GO!!  AWESOME JOB GVMS!

I am going to step away from student engagement for a minute to reflect on our influence on our students.  Every day we are with our students to encourage them to create change, empower thought, challenge their minds, and help them to become the BEST and most successful people that they can be.  I am going to take a break from student engagement and simply focus on KINDNESS.    

It was just Great Kindness Challenge week and kindness is more critical now than ever.  We MUST model this to our students, to one another, to our families that we work with.  It can be hard.  It can be a challenge.  And, yet, it is a MUST.  Again, we spend most of our awake time with EACH OTHER.  Make it a kind time with one another.

How do we foster that in our students too?  Take a look at THIS EASY article for things to HELP you promote teaching kindness in our classrooms and yes, I am sending to parents too =).  

Let's chat for a sec....Let's focus on good first instruction!

Obviously, focusing on good (great, honestly, would be better!) instruction makes everything better- mastery by our students, engagement levels, grades, test scores, etc.  We have already discuss ways to deliver material AND another critical component is to check for understanding.  How do you KNOW that they know the material? Simply asking the class, "anyone have questions?" doesn't work.  Here are some ideas to check QUICKLY!!

• Whiteboards! And oldie but a goodie.  Super easy peasy to have them hold it up to share their answers with you.
• Sticky notes out the door!  Easy peasy quiz to gauge how they understand the standard you presented.
• Academic conversations take place and you monitor to either record or write down information.

Check out THIS article (it's a little long, but worth it!) for more ideas!

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

(216)

• SUPER awesome shout out to our campus monitors and parent volunteers for always keeping our school safe and keeping kids out of trouble! ~Alex
• SUPER awesome shout out to Katherine for letting me borrow snap cubes! ~Sue
• SUPER awesome shout out to Heather, Peter, Megan and Karen for taking our kids to Stanford! ~KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to Angie for working so hard with our kids and parents all of which takes a lot of time! ~KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sandy, Dustin, Dave, and Kevin for always having my back and looking out for me!  Love you guys/gals! ~Carol
• SUPER awesome shout out to Heather T for taking my MAP testers that take FOREVER! ~Julie
• SUPER awesome shout out to my English Dept this week!  I love how willing everyone was to help each other out and knock out testing!  Special shout out to Heather T for rounding up all the ones who didn't finish! ~Aubry
• DITTO to above! ~KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue for jumping in and helping out my kids in the library while they were waiting for me! ~Katherine
• SUPER awesome shout out to my Secret Pal!  I appreciate your thoughtfulness! ~Katherine

January 25, 2019

Wow.  What a start to 2019.  I have to say, it certainly hasn't been an easy year all the way around.  To be honest, I am really struggling to try to remain positive at all times.  I am trying to send positive post cards, leave notes of encouragement and more to all of our staff every chance I get and it definitely makes me happy to do that!  I am also blasting Taylor Swift EVERY chance I get, much to Kendall's dismay =)

I am trying to really take advice from THIS ARTICLE, including taking short walks during the day, remembering to take a deep breath, and laughing out loud.  Try it!  Got some ideas to share, please do!  

Also, just for laughs.....this is one of my FAV songs that makes me smile and always puts me in a better mood (and has been my ring tone for YEARS!).  Yes, I am a middle schooler and yes, Kendall is rolling her eyes =)

Continuing our discussion on student engagement (one of THE MOST important things in teaching), building relationships with our students is CRITICAL to how effective we are as educators.  We cannot simply close the door, turn our back, ignore the signs, or pretend that our kids DO NOT need us.  They do.  Plain and simple.  So how can you build these relationships with 30+ students in your class?  Some ways can be simple.  Check out THIS ARTICLE on some of the "golden rules" of easy peasy ways to make SIMPLE connections.  C'mon people.  Don't they deserve it?  Don't YOU?

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

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

(209)

• SUPER awesome shout out to Lynn for making our schedule work during MAP Testing! ~Julie
• SUPER awesome shout out to Heather T. for helping me with the bizarre choices on the NWEA site for MAP testing! ~Julie
• SUPER awesome shout out to Heather T for helping me with the revision of the tutorial schedule, testing schedule and Soul Shoppe schedule! ~KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to Gwynn and Tamia for helping with TAP when we have been short staffed! ~Uma
• SUPER awesome shout out to Heather T for taking MAP testing make ups for me!!!  I owe you AGAIN!! 
• SUPER awesome shout out to Heather T for helping to organize the Stanford Trip! ~Peter
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue for taking care of the revised MDTP and guiding 6th on when to administer! ~KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to ALL STAFF who allowed students to come during tutorial to complete their MAP Testing!  It greatly helped the Math Dep! ~Sue
• SUPER awesome shout out to Jason for always helping me with tech issues and being a super supportive person! ~Paula
• SUPER awesome shout out to Tamia and Carol for getting a jump on the tutorial feedback! ~KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue for her support, kindness, hard work, and dedication throughout the last 18 years! ~Paula
• SUPER awesome shout out to Dustin for always having my back for the good and bad times! ~Paula

January 18, 2019

Take a minute to watch this video from Kid President!  You know I love him and love to share his videos!  This one is great =)

Yes, we as educators must ensure that our students are independent, engaged, and successful.  So how do we guide them to become more independent learners?  Take a look at THIS ARTICLE for three strategies to help foster this including, inspiring them, helping them to set goals, and having them evaluate how they are doing!

I recently read THIS short article and, though it says it's for administrators, is really for anyone especially those in education.  Take just 5 minutes to read it and remember that we ALL need to take care of ourselves in order to be successful in our campus!

EVERYONE feeds off of positive praise and recognition!  Have YOU taken a moment to praise a student, send a positive card home to a student, compliments/thanked a colleague, written a Good News Referral to a student or staff member?  It takes LESS than 5 minutes to spread a little kindness and positive vibes around here so let's step up to the plate!  Still not convinced?  Check out THIS ARTICLE for the 7 effects of positive praise for students AND peers!!!

Love to read??  Love to buy books for yourself?  Barnes and Noble is having a special event on Saturday, January 19 at 10:00! Pre-K through grade 12 educators, join the in the store every Saturday and Sunday in January and enjoy 25% off most books, toys, games, movies, music, and more.  Plus, shop online at bn.com on Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 27 and save 25% on most orders.

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

(200)

• SUPER awesome shout out to Cristina for the beautiful GV Elements table.  You are ROCKIN it this year with so many great ideas!  6th grade and GVMS are so lucky to have you!!  ~Lynn and KC =)
• SUPER awesome shout out to Kevin, Larissa and Liz for offering to cover my class the other day during 4th period! ~Lynn
• SUPER awesome shout out to Michele Silva, Susan, and Brenda for getting the certificates together for awards!  I really appreciate it! ~KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to GVMS FAMILY for supporting and loving on your girl through pregnancy #2! ~CL =)
• SUPER awesome shout out to Ms. Tiffany for stepping in the help when I am doing an IEP and teaching new methods of math! ~Lilia
• SUPER awesome shout out to Tamia and Ryan for working as a team with me! ~Carol
• SUPER awesome shout out to Rosa and Brenda for taking care of the emergency contact info in classrooms! ~KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue for connecting with students and teachers! ~Carol
• SUPER awesome shout out to Kevin and Julie for covering my classes for me! ~Lynn 

January 11, 2019

A new year brings a refreshing new start to our daily life AND to your teaching life!  Take a moment and try ONE NEW THING this year!  Take a risk!  Try coding, make room for collaboration, try starting each period with a 1 minute breathing exercise, model mindfulness, MAKE MISTAKES and learn from them!  Take a look at THIS EASY ARTICLE about easy ways to try something new to make your teaching more effective!

New Ideas for ENGAGEMENT!  Until we are at 100%, WHICH WE ARE NOT, we will CONTINUE this conversation as high levels of engagement directly link to higher achievement, LOWER off task behavior, and all around happier students!  

As we start a new year, let's implement new and rejuvenating experiences within our classrooms!  Let's make it AUTHENTIC with purpose! Take a MINUTE to check out THIS ARTICLE to help make your life easier and our kids' experience and education more meaningful!

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!

(194)

• SUPER awesome shout out to English Department on AR- 2173 FlipGrids total this year!  Way to be flexible and try something new!! ~Heather T
• SUPER awesome shout out to Heather T. for the ZEN book!  Come by my office and check it out!! ~KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to Cristina and Carol for their kindness and support! ~Tamia
• SUPER awesome shout out to KC for providing a sub so I could get my head above water!! ~Tamia
• SUPER awesome shout out to Carla for always listening to my rantings! ~Tamia
• SUPER awesome shout out to Rick V. for jumping into all things GVMS to support while Christine is on maternity leave!
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sandy for the Movie Nights, Spirits Weeks, Student Store and activities!  Way to go! ~Sue
• SUPER awesome shout out to Julie for covering my yard duty! ~Tamia
• SUPER awesome shout out to KC for perky, timely and entertaining meetings! ~Sue
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sandy for all of time and effort she puts into Leadership and creating such school spirit!! ~Kimberly
• SUPER awesome shout out to my Secret Pal for the awesome gifts! ~Lynn
• SUPER awesome shout out to Lorraine for sharing the vocabulary website with the English Department- the kids are loving it! ~Heather T
• SUPER awesome shout out to Katherine and Anita for all of your hard work with our kids that are struggling emotionally and socially!  You all are amazing! ~Heather T.
• SUPER awesome shout out to Cristina for the AMAZING Periodic Table of GVMS!  It's ABSOLUTELY beautiful!!!!