Gator Run Friday Focus - April 11, 2014

Say what you will about the Marzano iObservation tool and how it applies to each of us.  I have my own concerns with how the tool is utilized as well.  However, the one thing that we cannot argue with is that the iObservation tool contains great teaching strategies.  Robert Marzano compiled research from multiple sources to generate his list of effective strategies.  This research shows that if you use these strategies in a purposeful manner, your students will show an increase in academic achievement. 
No one expects you to utilize all of the strategies during an instructional week, let alone an entire lesson.  However, being conscious of the strategies that you do use and their effectiveness will certainly make you a better teacher.  We can all certainly say that we have been using some of the strategies for a long time, but are we deliberate in their use?  Do we plan for these strategies and monitor to see if they are working for all of our students?  Do we make adjustments to our lesson based on this monitoring?  Author and education researcher John Hattie states, "Know thy impact".  Teachers make an impact in so many ways that could never be fully captured and I am certainly all about the relationships that are forged and the love that is shared.  But I also believe that we should know, and be able to speak about, how what we do with our students positively affects their educational outcomes.  Would you be able to speak about your use of instructional strategies and how they are making a difference for your students?

• We will be receiving visitors from the District on Monday to assess our facilities.  They will be here the entire day and walk through all of the classrooms.  
• There are several FCAT inservices on Monday: 8:30 as a refresher for paras; 9:00 for new paras/office staff; and 2:20 for test administrators.
• Report cards go home on Tuesday.
• 4th Grade Spelling Bee is Tuesday at 2:15.
• Our Drama Club will be performing The Wizard of Oz to 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at 8:30 on Wednesday and at 6:00 PM on Thursday.
• SAC is meeting next Wednesday at 2:15.  
• Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is next Thursday.
• No school next Friday!

Cool App of the Week - Phoster.  This app allows you to create posters using your own photos.  You can choose from amongst many different templates/backgrounds.  Phoster allows you to type words/phrases on top of your photo.  This is a cool way for you to get your message out there.  Here is one that I created for this week's Quote:

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

• Is from Franklin, PA.
• Went to school at the University of South Florida.
• Loves the beach, reading, kayaking, biking, camping and traveling.
• Bike toured 8 summers before having children.