Gator Run Friday Focus - April 24, 2015

What You Might Have Missed on Twitter this Week:

I still strongly believe in the power of Twitter as a means of educators throughout the world connecting and collaborating with each other.  I know that many of you find resources on Pinterest and Instagram.  I used Instagram myself to connect with our students and parents.  My thoughts are this: Pinterest and Instagram contain the "stuff", activities that are easy to learn and share; Twitter is the conversation about the "stuff", meaningful dialogue with fellow educators who are attempting new and innovative strategies in their schools and classrooms.  I have learned so much via Twitter that has completely changed my views on education and what we can do at Gator Run.  I hope that a few more of you will join us.

Check out this amazing learning space - The Best Kindergarten You've Ever Seen

Blunt Educator is a great person to follow on Twitter.  He doesn't hold back and says it like it is.  Here's a recent quote from him - "If you think certain rules at school don't apply to you, don't get upset when students act like some of your rules don't apply to them."

Cool article on standing desks in the classroom - How Standing Desks Can Help Students Focus in the Classroom

Next Week at a Glance:

• Our 5th graders will be taking the Math portion of the FSA next week.  The downstairs classrooms and ESE and ESOL students will take the test on Monday and Tuesday and the upstairs classes will do so on Wednesday and Thursday.
• 3rd grade portfolio testing will take place in the Cafeteria next Tuesday - Thursday.  
• Team Collaboration is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.  Please remember that this is time for your team to plan and discuss upcoming formative assessments.
• Interim Reports go home on Thursday.  
• Volunteer Breakfast is next Friday.

Quote of the Week - "A key to growing as a teacher is to keep company mainly with teachers who uplift you, whose presence inspire you and whose dedication drives you." - Robert John Meehan.  Who are you spending your time with?  Is the person a positive influence on you and your career? 

Gator Run Friday Focus - April 17, 2015

I had a chance to work with my son, Maddox, on an assignment for his class.  He had a choice in what type of project to complete and Maddox chose to make a PowerPoint.  He has never worked in PowerPoint before so I showed him how to select a template and I modeled how to create his first slide, including how to highlight a portion of a word, finding an image online and inputting it into a slide.  During this time I resisted the urge to create more than the first slide for him.  I think it is our natural instinct as adults who have not grown up with technology to want to turn over power to our children.  We believe that they think like us and that technology is a separate part of their lives, when, in reality, technology is their life and there is no separation.  Within a span of five minutes, Maddox had learned how to create a basic PowerPoint presentation.  I share this with you to demonstrate that our students can do anything if we give them the opportunity.  Resist any fear you might have with using technology with your students.  Truthfully, they can all teach us something.  Remember, technology is life for them. 

• 5th grade is taking the ELA portion of the FSA next week.  Students take the ELA and Math assessments on their computers.  Half of the classes will take the assessment on Monday and Tuesday and the other half on Wednesday and Thursday.  
• NESS meeting on Monday at 2:15 in Mrs. Heyman's classroom.  
• Interim reports are due to Team Leaders on Tuesday and to Ms. Felton on Thursday. 
• PLCs are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.  
• Kids of Character names are due to Ms. Felton by Wednesday.
• Kindergarten Roundup is next Friday morning.
• I hope that you can attend our first ever Multi-Cultural Festival next Friday night.  The parents who have created this event have put a lot of hard work into it.  I can't wait!

Quote of the Week - "For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Gator Run Thursday Focus - April 2, 2015

Next Week at a Glance:

• Our 3rd and 4th grades continue with FSA testing next Tuesday and Wednesday.  Please adhere to the schedule sent out by Ms. Felton and know that Specials will come to classes until we give the all clear.  
• We will have a Faculty Collaboration next Wednesday afternoon in the Media Center.
• Report cards are due to Team Leaders on Tuesday and Ms. Felton on Thursday. 
• Next Friday is Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.

Quote of the Week - Saw this last night on Twitter - "Time doesn't exist.  Clocks exist."  Appreciate each moment.  I beg you not to count down the days remaining - please don't wish away time that you will wish that you had back later in life.