Gator Run Friday Focus - December 12, 2014

BYOD, or Bring Your Own Device - What does it mean?  I'm sure that you saw the email from Mr. Acosta detailing how to access the wireless network.  Being a BYOD school will allow us to move closer to a 1 to 1 ratio of students to devices while we continue to pursue future computer purchases.  Here is an article that might help explain the direction that we are going in: BYOD  I know that not all of you will be comfortable with this right away, but please understand that this is the direction that our school (and all of education) is moving towards.  Our students are on their devices outside of school a lot.  This is their method of communication and research.  While this might not be a world that we are all a part of, we need to understand that this is our students' world.  There are numerous possibilities that will now exist for you when you are ready to take the leap.  One example is that you would be able to utilize student response apps or websites in a fun way as formative assessments to understand if your students "get" what you are teaching them.  You might pick up some ideas if you attend Elyane Hollander's or Lynn Mitchel's sessions during next Thursday's Teachers Training Teachers event.  We will further discuss this when we return from Winter Break.  

• Holiday parties continue next week.  Please see our CAB Calendar for scheduled dates/times.  
• Thursday is an Early Release and the last day before Winter Break for students.  That afternoon we will be holding a Teachers Training Teachers professional development.  This will take place from 1:30 - 3:00.  You will have an opportunity to visit several of your colleagues' classrooms and learn what they have prepared for you.  I am sending out a copy of the flyer for this PD.
• Next Friday is a Planning Day.  Mrs. Knapik and I would like to meet with our primary teachers for a brief discussion about writing and math in your Team Leader's classroom.  We will adhere to the following schedule: 8:30 - 1st Grade; 9:00 - 2nd Grade; 9:30 - Kindergarten.  

Quote of the Week - "Start strong, stay strong, and finish strong by always remembering why you're doing it in the first place." - Ralph Marston.  Let's finish the first half of the school year strong.  Think about our amazing students and have some fun with them next week!

I know am probably beating a dead horse with a number of you, but I am going to keep pushing you to become active on social media.  I personally utilize the following sites for the following reasons:

• Instagram allows me to post pictures of things that are happening in our school.  This has created a whole new connection with our students outside of the school day.  Our students love to see themselves mentioned on Instagram.  I'm pretty sure it's why I get invited to classes so much lately!  (And no comments on the number of selfies that I post!)

• I have been posting numerous pictures to our school's Facebook account.  Facebook is mostly used by our parents and allows them to see inside of the school on a regular basis.  I hope that this transparency helps them to feel more a part of our awesome school.  

• I know that I talk about Twitter a lot and I have encouraged all of you to participate.  Twitter is the way that I feel connected to educators throughout the world, sharing ideas and learning from each other.  You are really missing out by not being a part of the educational community that exists on Twitter.  I honestly believe that I have learned more from my few years being active on Twitter than in all of my previous years in education.  The walls of the classroom and the school are being torn down people.  Don't get left behind. 

Gator Run Friday Focus - December 5, 2014

• Team Leader Day is next Tuesday.

• 4th and 5th grade Spelling Bee is next Tuesday afternoon.
• Our next PLCs are next Wednesday afternoon.  
• Puzzle Pins for Autism will be on sale next Thursday and Friday outside the cafeteria.
• Kids of Character are due to Ms. Felton next Friday.

Quote of the Week - "If you can see a positive side to everything, you'll be able to lead a much richer life than others." - Celestine Chula.  I know that at times this year seems like the most difficult, overwhelming school year ever.  I totally understand the stress that everyone is under (I feel it too).  However, working together is the only way that we will get through this.  We cannot always dwell on the negative.  It will overtake you and you will never be able to see the positive (and believe me, there are many positives to what we do).  I'm sure most of us didn't get into education in its current state of accountability and testing but this is the job as it currently stands.  My advice to you (and to myself) is to try to stay positive and rely on each other as we navigate through the remainder of the school year.  Time goes by extremely fast and when we get bogged down in the negative aspects we are missing out on the many amazing things that are happening in our school.  Let's not look back and regret that we didn't appreciate the time that we have together.  

Video of the Week - I am going to answer the question again - "Why Genius Hour?".  Please take a look at this video.  This is a young lady in Mrs. Carafiello's class was so passionate speaking about her topic - memory.  She conducted an experiment with her class and had all of enthralled with her presentation.  I know that there is limited time in our week but if we can carve out some time for our students to choose what they would like to learn we will reap the benefits of motivated children.