September 27, 2019

**First 5 people to tell me what Mustard, Mayo and Ketchup stand for within this blog win a PRIZE*

                                   

I recently went to a training about small group instruction and the benefits of doing so in your classroom for a portion of the period/day.  We have been in several classrooms in all grade levels and in all subject areas that are utilizing small groups to reach ALL of our students.... SUPER effective and reaches SO many of our students!  How, you ask?  It builds student confidence, increases academic success and achievement, and helps to bring students up to grade level much faster than whole group instruction.  Click HERE for an easy read!

So I "stole" the visuals and the ideas that can be used, WITH PLANNING ahead of time, with ALL of our classes and students!  Check some of these out and yes, we WILL be reviewing this at an upcoming faculty meeting!  Until then, feel free to click on any of the links for some examples....

1. Middle Grades Math 6-8 example
2. Generic SGI Weekly Planner example
3. Students grouped by RIT score (MAP data report)
4. OpenUp Math Data Template
5. Middle School Math Standards Mastery by Unit (helpful to know what to focus on in small groups)
6. Sites for formative assessments: NoRedInk (ELA/ELD), Quizizz (any subject), goFormative (Math)

Obviously, we have mentioned over and over again, how IMPORTANT student engagement is in our classrooms and EASY ways to make it happen without stressing you out!  Check out THIS ARTICLE with simple ways to evaluate what's going in your classroom, including the academic and behavior impact along with 8 tips.  We know it can be hard AND we know the pay off is TREMENDOUS!!

How do you feel when you aren't engaged in a PD or meeting?  Checked out and bored? Imagine how our students feel when THEY aren't engaged?

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• SUPER awesome shout out to ALL STAFF who helped with the traffic mess this week!  You all ROCK and we REALLY appreciate everyone stepping up to cover and care for each other! ~Carol, KC, 
• SUPER awesome shout out to ALL for the birthday wishes, love and gifts!  I am WAY spoiled! ~Kristen
• SUPER awesome shout out to DAVE F for telling the 6th grade kids I was a movie star- half of them believed it!! ~Cristina
• SUPER awesome shout out to CRISTINA and HEATHER for checking on me to prevent me from crumbling! ~Uma
• SUPER awesome shout out to HEATHER and her TA for surprising me with a colorful anchor chart made just for my math class!  I didn't even ask for it and love it! ~Ryan
• SUPER awesome shout out to GWYNN, ROSIE and SANDI for being everyday warriors and helping to hold down the fort! Couldn't do it without you~ Uma
• SUPER awesome shout out to MEGAN and KC for helping me when I was down!  It takes a village! ~Lorraine
• SUPER awesome shout out to CHRISTINA, KEVIN, and JASON for making English Collab day full of ideas and communication! ~Megan
• SUPER awesome shout out to RIC for providing humor! ~Uma
• SUPER awesome shout out to CHRISTINA for trying to tackle the difficult question of what's really on the SBAC! ~Mike Hynes =)
• SUPER awesome shout out to JAMES for giving up his prep to help a TAP student! ~TAP Team
• SUPER awesome shout out to JAMES for helping with Aeries grade book! ~Uma
• SUPER awesome shout out to CARLA and KARYN for always helping with TAP students! ~TAP Team
• SUPER awesome shout out to MEGAN for doing the difficult job of Department Chair and wearing the hats well! ~ The Quixotic Haberdasher =) 
• SUPER awesome shout out to LYNN for organizing ALL of the field trips and schedules for 6th grade!
• SUPER awesome shout out CRISTINA for spending time giving me some feedback on my kids! ~Dustin
• SUPER awesome shout out to ROSA and AIDA for the break when we got back from Rush Ranch! ~Julie
• SUPER awesome shout out to JULIE for attending the 6th grade field trip for Cristina! 

September 20, 2019

MORE TALKING PLEASE!!  YES!  We LOVE to hear the learning, the conversations, the sharing and the growing when we come into classrooms!  WE LOVE IT!  Need the conversation cards?  We will be HAPPY to make them!  Remember what is on the students desks in Heather Phillips' classroom?  They WORK!  

Take a look a THIS ARTICLE  with some more points, ideas, and effectiveness!!

We have said, since day 1, we are NOT looking for quiet classrooms when we come and visit!  Why, you ask?  Well, here it goes:

*Students learn more from each other on a daily basis.  Think about it.  Don't you learn more from discussing something versus being "talked at"?

*It improves classroom climate

*Students feel ownership to their classrooms

*Off task behavior declines

Take a look at THIS easy article on some recommendations for discussions in your classroom.  As always, PLEASE let us know if you need discussion cards handy to have on your desks to give students ideas on continuing academic conversations!  We are happy to print, laminate and cut!!

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• SUPER awesome shout out to ELIZABETH for making Challenge Day happen for our kids and our staff!
• SUPER awesome shout out to PETER S., PETER P., KAREN, JAMES, DAN, ALEX, KARRON, ALLISON, RYAN, SANDY, CAROL, KEVIN, DUSTIN, STEPHEN, LARISSA, CHRISTINA, MEGAN for participating in Challenge Day and opening yourself up to the experience and supporting our students!!!
• SUPER awesome shout out to ALISA, PETER, LIZ, and SARJ for accommodating our Challenge Days in the gym!  Much appreciated!
• SUPER awesome shout out to ALISA, PETER P., JAMES, PETER S., KIMBERLY, BRENDA, LIZ, KEN, ALEX, and KEVIN for help with the Thursday yard duty when we were ALL out!!  MUCH APPRECIATED!
• SUPER awesome shout out to LORRAINE for being there when I needed extra help! ~Megan
• SUPER awesome shout out to ROSIE for helping with cross walk with me daily!! 
• SUPER awesome shout out for my birthday treats!  ~Anonymous 
• SUPER awesome shout out to ALEX for helping me with all of my computer questions! ~Kimberly
• SUPER awesome shout out to MIMI for trying to fix my shirt!
• SUPER awesome shout out to RIC for helping us set up for all of the Challenge Days!

September 13, 2019

Super shout out to Megan for the engaging strategies that we can all use!  I can't wait to see them in action in your classrooms!  She has more to share, so I plan to "bribe" her to do it again!

Speaking of that, I found this great article and site with some awesome ideas as well and pictures to go along with it!  Even with SO little time to spare to make your lessons and delivery creative, does it really matter anyway?  YES!  ABSOLUTELY!!  Take a look HERE about 19 more ideas to help make it happen!

ENGAGEMENT is a topic that we will ALWAYS be addressing.  We CANNOT stress this enough:  Higher engagement = Higher academic achievement and lower behavior concerns.  That's really so simple and all there is to it.  Students who have to "sit and get" are bored and have completely tuned you out.  Completely.  

Calling on one student when you ask a question means that YOU have given the others the permission to be turned out.  Is that seriously what you want?  Stop reverting back to this and just calling on one student at a time.  It just tells the other students that they don't have to learn, listen or pay attention.

HERE is a easy read article to help generate effective questions and help you GET AWAY from calling on one student at a time!

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• SUPER awesome shout out to MEGAN for the faculty meeting strategies!
• SUPER awesome shout out to ROSIE for continuing to help me with after school yard duty!
• SUPER awesome shout out to DAVE O. for the CK-12 info!  You Rock! ~Tara
• SUPER awesome shout out to TAMIA for the doorbell!  You are amazing! ~Tara
• SUPER awesome shout out to ROSA for the Leadership shirts!  You are awesome!
• SUPER awesome shout out to LIZ for covering my yard duty! ~Heather
• SUPER awesome shout out to BRENDA for putting me back on the bike rack duty! ~Julie
• SUPER awesome shout out to DAVID!  We are so happy to have you on the 6th grade team! ~Karron
• SUPER awesome shout out to CARLA for her calmness!
• SUPER awesome shout out to WHOLE STAFF!  It was amazing to witness all the comradery between staff!  Teacher helping teachers.  A high level of positive energy in the school and less negativity is definitely what we need!  GO VIKINGS! ~Alex

September 6, 2019

What is Academic Discourse or Academic Conversations with students and why are they SO POWERFUL??  We MUST get our students to SHARE WITH EACH OTHER!!!!

Don't you learn more from your friends, colleagues, peers, etc than you do when you "sit and get"?  C'mon, be honest.  You know you do =)  Our kids DO TOO!!!

Check out this video with links HERE for guides, ideas, and getting students to TALK!

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?

THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT FEEDBACK

*Feedback can be guidance, information, advice, praise or support.  It's information about how we are doing to reach our goals!  This is why we come into classrooms weekly!

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

*The feedback OUR students give OUR teachers can be more powerful than the feedback OUR teachers give OUR students.  Think about that for a sec!

*When we give a grade as part of our feedback, OUR students only see the grade.  Feedback is SO much more powerful!

*Effective feedback occurs during the learning, while there is still time to act on it!  Then REFLECT and CHANGE if needed!

*Most of the feedback that OUR students receive about their classroom work is from other students- and much of that feedback is wrong.  Their discussion aren't wrong, just the information sometimes!

*OUR students and OUR teachers need to know their learning target- the skills that they're supposed to learn, otherwise feedback is just someone telling them what to do! 

We all need people who will give us feedback.  That's how we improve. ~Bill Gates

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• SUPER awesome shout out to ROSIE for helping me with the cross walk after school!!
• SUPER awesome shout out to the TAP TEAM for springing into action to help a student in need! Great Job! ~Someone who would not be able to do what they do as well as they do =)
• SUPER awesome shout out to JASON, GWYNN, MARLYS, TIFFANY, and LYNN for taking care of a stressed student on Thursday!
• SUPER awesome shout out to KAREN and the ENGLISH DEPT for working together to get SpringBoard books checked out! ~Megan
• SUPER awesome shout out to JASON for help with Chrome Book issues during MAP Testing! ~Julie
• SUPER awesome shout out to JAMES for all of the positive emails going home!!
• SUPER awesome shout out to KC for making the staff meeting like someone's birthday party! ~Lynn
• SUPER awesome shout out to LYNN for organizing ALL of the 6th grade events and plans!
• SUPER awesome shout out to CRISTINA for buying 6th grade teachers cups and filling them with goodies! ~Lynn
• SUPER awesome shout out to LARISSA for helping me with Google Classroom! ~Kimberly
• SUPER awesome shout out to RYAN as I am happy to have my partner back!  It's going to be a great year! ~ Karron
• SUPER awesome shout out to JASON for helping during 1st period prep and Lorraine for her help with MAP testing! ~Marlys
• SUPER awesome shout out to MEGAN and LYNN for leading our MAP training!
• SUPER awesome shout out to KAREN who is more than a ROCK STAR with the management of the books and chromes going out along with the History pilot program.  Thank you so much! ~Carol
• SUPER awesome shout out to DUSTIN for being the go to guy, love having you on the history team! ~Carol