Gator Run Friday Focus - October 25, 2013

One of my favorite things to do is to have lunch with our students.  It allows me to get to know them better and to find out what's important to them.  I learn a lot about what they like and don't like about school and how we might be able to make things better.  Having lunch with them helps me build relationships which I believe is a cornerstone of education - students won't learn as much from us if they don't like us.  Every year I invite all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students to eat lunch in my office sometime during the school year.  I have already begun to do so this year.  Here is a short blog post on why teachers should eat lunch with their students - Why You Should Eat Lunch with Your Students

At the beginning of the school year I encouraged teachers to join Twitter as I feel that Twitter is an important avenue for professional development.  I have learned more on Twitter about education in general in the past 5 months than I have in any of the previous years that I have been in education.  Reading about and reflecting on multiple perspectives on education has shaped my beliefs.  If you would like to learn about how you can get more out of Twitter, please let me know and I will sit down with you and show you how to do so.  Educators who actively participate on Twitter receive continual support, encouragement, resources, links and more.  

• Team Work is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.  
• Author Adam-Troy Castro will be here on Wednesday to speak to our 4th and 5th grade students.
• Our next Teach Like a PIRATE book study will take place next Wednesday at 2:30 in the Media Center.  If you are interested in participating, please make sure that you have read the section on Immersion.  
• Batty Bingo is next Wednesday evening.
• Thursday is Fall Festival Treat Day.  Please make sure to remind students that masks and accessories are not permitted. 
• Make-up Picture Day is next Friday.  Any staff members with children at Gator Run who wish to have their picture taken with their children should let Ms. Felton know ASAP.

Quote of the Week - "If you love the road, don’t worry about the destination and if you love the destination, don’t worry about the road."

Think Like a Detective - Can you determine the Gator Run teacher based on the following clues?

• Is from Medellin, Columbia
• Went to Normal Mariano Ospina Rodriguez and Nova University
• Hobbies include traveling, running, scuba diving, and reading.
• Started working as a teacher at the age of 17.  
• Lived on an island for 7 years working as a teacher in different levels.