Gator Run Friday Focus - January 31, 2014

Please make sure that you are reading the newsletter each month and visiting our website when we direct our parents there.  This will help to ensure that you are current with the information that our parents are receiving.

Regarding grades, please make sure that you have a minimum of 9 per quarter in each subject area.  Scores entered into Pinnacle should be a reflection of both summative and formative assessments (i.e. student grades should not be predicated solely on end of chapter tests, end of story tests, etc.).  

For those of you that are interested in learning another language there is an amazing free app called Duolingo that you might want to check out. 

• Team Leader Day is Monday.  We are going to Eagle Point Elementary to visit classrooms and to collaborate with the Team Leaders from the other elementary schools in the Cypress Bay Zone.
• Class pictures are next week.  Please adhere to the schedule from Ms. Felton.
• We have a Faculty Collaboration next Tuesday.  Some of our teachers will be presenting formative assessments that they use in their class.  We have a few other items to discuss as well. 
• Interim reports are due to Team Leaders on Monday and to Ms. Felton on Wednesday.
• Next Thursday is an Early Release day.  A few of our teachers attended an amazing training this past week with Marcia Tate.  They will be sharing some of what they learned with all of us on Thursday from 1:30 - 2:30.
• Teachers, please make sure that students do not leave items at Gator Run Park. 

Article of the Week - This is a good article on how to cultivate grit within your classroom -  Perseverance and Grit I recommend it.

Quote of the Week - "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Aristotle.


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

• Grew up on Long Island, in Port Washington, NY.
• Spent four years in the mountains of New Hampshire, at Dartmouth College.
• Is in the first stages of learning about photography and loves political television. 
• Her secret dream is to live on a farm with many Cavalier King Charles spaniels.  

Gator Run Friday Focus - January 24, 2014

Formative assessments: we are still looking for teachers to present at next month's Faculty Collaboration.  Please email me with the formative assessments that you are interested in presenting.

Congratulations to Lynn Mitchel and her class for completing Code.org's extension activity project. They earned $1000 with Donors Choose!  The prize is still available to any other classes who are interested.

• Spirit Week is next week.  Our Spirit Walk is next Friday.
• Family Night at the Weston Town Center on Wednesday at Del Vecchio's, Burger Zone and Udder Sweets.  Come on out if you can!

Quote of the Week - Be awesome today and everyday!

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

• Born and raised in Jericho, New York.
• Graduated from SUNY at New Paltz.
• Enjoys sports, dancing, cooking baking and reading by the pool or on the beach.
• Keeps a Kosher home
• Danced at the World's Fair in NY in 1965.  

Gator Run Friday Focus - January 17, 2014

Something that I have been thinking about lately is how we are making sure that all of our students are understanding what we want them to learn.  Our focus these upcoming weeks will be on the use of formative assessments to help us determine where students currently are in the learning process.  Some reflective questions that I would like each teacher to think about are:

• What formative assessments do you use on a regular basis?
• How do you know when students need extra support?
• Do you allow students to dictate when they need the extra help?  What about those students who have too much pride to ask for support?
• What do you do when a student doesn't do well on a summative (end of lesson/end of unit) assessment?  Do you allow students to take an alternate assessment or do you simply give a 'bad grade'?
• How often do you communicate student progress with parents?  What does that communication look like?

I guess that this can lead into another discussion regarding letter grades and the weight that they hold, or don't hold, but I will save that for another time.  Please think about the questions above as you go forward.  Data chats are coming up soon and I am very interested in where each teacher stands with these questions.  As we determine what the "Gator Run Experience" truly is, student and parent communication regarding academic progress will be a pillar that we build our vision on.  

This is a cool article that I read last week - 7 Ways for Teachers Beat the Sunday Blues
I don't think many people understand how teachers feel on a Sunday.  Maybe some of these strategies can help ease your anxiety when you wake up each Sunday.

• No school on Monday!
• We have our next Family Night at the Weston Town Center on Wednesday starting at 5:00 PM.  This will be at 3 of the restaurants - Del Vecchio's, Burger Zone and Udder Sweets. 
• Newsletter articles are due next to Mr. Acosta next Thursday.
• Team Leader day is next Thursday.
• Our Honor Roll Celebration is next Friday morning.  

Quote of the Week - "I am not a teacher, but an awakener." - Robert Frost.  I love this way at looking at teaching. 


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

• Was born in New York and moved to Miami when she was 1.
• Went to FSU.
• Loves to explore on the computer and spending time with family.
• Got a yellow lab puppy this school year. 

Gator Run Friday Focus - January 10, 2014

I want to start something new to help with our communication with our families.  I am going to record a new video for our website each week.  I have made information videos in the past but now I am going to include students.  Each week I will ask a teacher to pick five students.  Each of those students will interview five different teachers throughout the school to provide a very brief summary of something that's happening in their class.  I believe that this will raise the level of excitement into what's happening here at Gator Run.  I will email teachers each week to let you know when to expect your student interviewers and when your students will be interviewers.

I read a great book over the break that relates to the message outside my office this week.  The book is entitled One Word That Will Change Your Life by Dan Britton, Jimmy Page and Jon Gordon.

The message of the book is that we should pick one word that will motivate us throughout a year.  A summary from the publisher puts it this way:
     One Word that will Change Your Life will inspire you to simplify your life and work by focusing on just one word for this year.  That’s right! One Word creates clarity, power, passion and life-change. The simple power of One Word is that it impacts all six dimensions of your life – mental, physical, emotional, relational, spiritual, and financial. Simply put, One Word sticks. There is a word meant for you and when you find it, live it, and share it, your life will become more rewarding and exciting than ever.
I chose the word "believe" to guide me in 2014.  I want to always remember to believe in my abilities, to believe in the strengths of others and to believe in the love of my family.  If you are interested in reading this book (it will take less than one hour to read), I will have a copy on the whiteboard outside my office.  Feel free to borrow it and return it to me when you are done.

• BAT 2 is next week.  Please follow the schedule that Ms. Felton emailed this week.
• Report cards are due to your Team Leader on Tuesday and to Ms. Felton on Thursday.  
• We have a Faculty Collaboration next Tuesday at 2:15.  Our Essential Question will be "What does parent communication look like at Gator Run Elementary?"

Quote of the Week - “Being average means you're as close to the bottom as you are to the top." - legendary basketball coach John Wooden.  Sounds like our message this year - Don't be boring.  Be awesome!

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

• Is originally from Pittsburgh, PA.
• Went to USF
• Enjoys golf and gardening.
• Loves to decorate and loves sports cars.