February 16, 2018

I am going to take a break from student engagement and simply focus on KINDNESS.  Seriously.  We just celebrated Random Act of Kindness week and it 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.  Not rocket science and super easy to take 5 minutes to do at the beginning of each period.

Have you heard of this?  BE ON THE LOOK OUT!!  

Do you know what a JUUL is?  I certainly didn't.  And I still wish I didn't, however, JUULs are becoming more and more popular, especially among teenagers.  They are also SUPER easy to purchase.  While you are supposed to be 18, there are MANY places near us (7-11, Power Mart, and more) that have no problem selling to our Vikings.  What is a JUUL you ask?  Take a look at THIS SHORT VIDEO and informational piece about what they are, how addicting they can be, and why our kids may have their hands on them.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE SHOTS FROM TWITTER AND AROUND OUR CAMPUS THIS WEEK!   SEND US A TEXT TO COME VISIT AS WE LOVE IT!!

    

    

    

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!  KEEP THEM COMING!  We love the "I Noticed..." and will add as many as we can!

Click HERE to add! (162)

• SUPER awesome shout out to Heather T for all of her HARD WORK and support with testing and English! ~Aubry and Megan 
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue for the intra-mural donations, bubbles, ensuring MAP Math was done,and ALL that you do.  DAILY!!! ~ALL OF US!!
• SUPER awesome shout out to our staff for being so kind to let students make up Math MAP Test! ~Sue
• SUPER awesome shout out to Cristina and Julie for continuously checking in with Nikki! ~KC and CL
• SUPER awesome shout out to all of the amazing teachers I work with!  I appreciate all of you! ~Tiffany
• SUPER awesome shout out to Alisa and Nate for taking the idea of intra-murals and RUNNING with it! ~KC and CL
• SUPER awesome shout out to Carol for the interactive History maps! ~Julie
• SUPER awesome shout out to Alex and Jason for being on top of a new student who needs our support! ~KC, CL and EB
• SUPER awesome shout out to Susan for working with Brenda to get a task completed by the deadline! ~Michele R.
• SUPER awesome shout out to Carol for the work she has done with our two students from France!  Way to go! ~Dave M.
• SUPER awesome shout out to Rosa, Mimi, Elizabeth, Brenita, Ken, Cristina, Alex, Don, Sue, Lynn, Kristy, Megan, Jamie, Kimberly, Katherine, Nate, Julie, Aubry, Jacob, Heather P., Allison, Heather T., Carol, Barb, and Admin for writing 212 Good News Referrals for February!

February 9, 2018

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???

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

HERE ARE SOME OF THE SHOTS FROM TWITTER AND AROUND OUR CAMPUS THIS WEEK!   SEND US A TEXT TO COME VISIT AS WE LOVE IT!!

         

     

    

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!  KEEP THEM COMING!  We love the "I Noticed..." and will add as many as we can!

Click HERE to add! (157)

• SUPER awesome shout out to all the teachers who helped me with my request for clipboards!  SO AWESOME to have such a supportive staff! ~Kristy
• SUPER awesome shout out to Lynn, Heather P., and Katherine who immediately jump on new ideas to support students! ~Sue
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue and Lorraine for being so supportive of a student having an emotional day!  A little kindness goes a LONG way! ~Christen
• SUPER awesome shout out to Carla for being a well skilled juggler who supports students and staff!  She's always helping someone! ~Christen
• SUPER awesome shout out to Cristina for her awesome mandala project and sending all of her plans to everyone! ~Don (and KC!)
• SUPER awesome shout out to Ms. Terry for all the help she provides our RSP kids in class!   She keeps them on task to finish their work! ~Cristina
• SUPER awesome shout out to Dave F. for offering to team teach 6th grade History with Nikki! ~KC and CL
• SUPER awesome shout out to our ELA Department and Heather T. for sending out the group text to exercise and share! ~Julie
• SUPER awesome shout out to Lynn for handling a situation that happened when I had a sub! ~Julie
• SUPER awesome shout out to Cristina, Alex, Josiah, and Julie for helping Nikki (sub for Lacey's position) with lesson plans since there weren't many! MUCH APPRECIATED!!  ~KC and CL
• SUPER awesome shout out to our English Department for collaboration, open communication and walking adventure! ~Heather T.
• SUPER awesome shout out to Dave F., Sue, Tamia and Jason for taking the conversation of tutorial even further! ~All staff
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue for taking make up MAP testers! ~KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to Sue, Heather T., Megan, Katherine, Christen, Lynn for opening their classroom to a teacher at Dover! ~KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to Dustin and Lorraine for letting me observe students in your classrooms! ~Heather T.
• SUPER awesome shout out to Rosa, Mimi, Brenita, Ken, Cristina, Alex, Don, Sue, Lynn, Megan, Jamie, Kimberly, Kristy, Katherine, Nate, Aubry, Jacob, Allison, Heather T., Carol, Barb, And Admin for writing 94 Good News Referrals for February!

February 2, 2018

This week, partially due to the full moon and it's effects, I decided that I would write 5 post cards to students daily about their progress, their positive attitude, etc.  My goal is to send to the entire 980 population by the end of the year. =)  I know a few others that do the same and they were my inspiration!

I am determined to make this happen!  Care to join me?!?!  We have them in the front office so just let me know and we can do it together!  It truly has made me feel good to send these out!!

Tell me and I forget.

Teach me and I remember.

Involve me and I learn.

~Ben Franklin

Sound familiar?  We have all heard this quote and MUST truly drill it into our teaching.  Seriously.  We STILL have so many teachers that are spending all 52 minutes talking AT our students.  AT THEM!  Why aren't you making them work harder?  How can we be MORE intentional with our teaching??  How can you incorporate movement since NO ONE loves to sit for close to an hour?  Please take a moment to read THIS ARTICLE about ways to make it a natural thing in your classroom!!

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??

HERE ARE SOME OF THE SHOTS FROM TWITTER AND AROUND OUR CAMPUS THIS WEEK!   SEND US A TEXT TO COME VISIT AS WE LOVE IT!!

       

       

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!  KEEP THEM COMING!  We love the "I Noticed..." and will add as many as we can!

Click HERE to add! (146)

• SUPER awesome shout out to MANY TEACHERS and STAFF for checking on each other during block schedule to give a break! ~Don and Sue
• SUPER awesome shout out to Jason for attending a meeting regarding tutorial and taking it even further! ~Sue
• SUPER awesome shout out to Carol for taking time to guide me on supporting my EL students! ~Barb
• SUPER awesome shout out to Ken for really being a great listener for one of our students who just received devastating news in her family =( ~KC and EB
• SUPER shout out to Christen for helping us with a super struggling student! ~KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to Kristy for ALWAYS being there when I have questions!! ~Barb
• SUPER awesome shout out to Jason for constantly helping me after school with that cross walk!  I appreciate it! ~KC
• SUPER awesome shout out to Heather T for her work in our English Department!  She is facilitating conversation, exemplifying best practices, and being inviting, positive colleague! Maddie Bauer was right about you! ~Jason
• SUPER awesome shout out to Josiah for continuing to come to GVMS with a smile on his face in spite of the hard loss in his family.  He remains strong and positive with our students, putting them first! ~Aubry
• SUPER awesome shout out to Heather T for organizing an informal collab that helped organize all of our grade level writing and resources in one area! ~Julie 
• SUPER awesome shout out to Don for already writing 11 Good News Referrals for February already!!
• SUPER awesome shout out to Annette, Karen, Ken, Alex, Tamia, Alisa, Sue, Lynn, Ryan, Kristy, Megan, Jamie, Kimberly, Katherine, Josiah, Lacey, Julie, Christen, Sandy, Aubry, Allison, Heather T., Paula, Carol, Barb, Susan, Michele S., Michele L-R, KC and CL for writing 223 Good News Referrals for January!

January 26, 2018

Need a smile?  C'mon.  Everyone does!  Just take a minute to smile and to breathe.  Sometimes it's the hardest thing to do.  Let's take a moment to remember the GOOD in our lives AND on our beautiful and positive campus!  Let's keep the positive and good and kind going!!

ANNNNDDDDDD here we are with more and more ideas on effective teaching strategies for our students.  These are SIMPLE.  EASY.  NOT COMPLICATED.  seriously,  give them a try!  Easy strategies from simply believing in them and validating their self worth, to creating an active learning environment, and enabling our students to become active citizens, read THIS ARTICLE for more!!

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??

WALKTHROUGH DATA

Take a moment to review this walk through information.  What POSITIVES that we can notice on campus??

WHAT DOES OUR DATA SHOW?  HOW CAN WE REACH ALL STUDENTS????

Check out some of the UPDATED 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! =) 

SHOUT OUT to Kimberly, Tamia, Amy, Christen, Josiah, Dave F., Sue, Pozzesi, Jamie, Alisa, Liz, Heather P., Ryan, Lacey, Katherine, Anita, Cristina, Lynn, Heather T., Lorraine, Kristy, Alex, Dustin, Carol, Elizabeth and K & C for posting as many great things about GVMS as we can!  WE LOVE to brag about what's going on at GVMS!  

    

    

SUPER HERO SHOUT OUTS!  KEEP THEM COMING!  We love the "I Noticed..." and will add as many as we can!

Click HERE to add! (138)

• SUPER awesome shout out to English Department for their AWESOME collaboration, sharing of ideas, planning/scheduling collab time to FOCUS on OUR students and THEIR teaching practice!!! ~KC and CL
• SUPER awesome shout out to Annette for taking time out of her schedule to help the French students understand block schedule! ~Karen
• SUPER awesome shout out to Annette for going out of her way to help our new students from France! ~Carol
• SUPER awesome shout out to Barb for taking time to better understand the EL standards! ~Carol
• SUPER awesome shout out to Mrs. McKenna and our garden growers for getting our garden really going!! ~Kristy
• SUPER awesome shout out to Lorraine for showing love and concern to some very despondent students during her prep and being so kind to listen, respond and then encourage! ~Josiah 
• SUPER awesome shout out to Lorraine for calming a student down and putting things into perspective for them! ~Carla
• SUPER awesome shout out to Aubry, Sue, Kristy, Heather T., Don, Carol, Heather P., Jamie, Nate and Christen for answering the question from the email/blog correctly!  Your prize will be given at our next meeting!  THANK YOU for actually reading the blog!
• SUPER awesome shout out to Julie, Carol, Katherine, Sue, Dustin, Brenda, Dave O., Elizabeth, Sarj, Tamia, Alisa, Annette, Karen, Aubry, Lorraine, Megan, Allison, Heather T., Cristina, and Lynn for their attendance and contribution to our Open Forum with our Superintendent!  It was MUCH appreciated!! ~KC&CL
• SUPER awesome shout out to Annette, Ken, Alex, Tamia, Sue, Lynn, Katherine, Josiah, Julie, Christen, Heather T., Paula, Carol, Susan, Michele S., Michele L-R, KC and CL for writing Good News Referrals already!  We have 91 written for January already!