Gator Run Friday Focus - October 18, 2013

This is a great article based on a speech by the author, Neil Gaiman: Why our future depends on libraries, reading and daydreaming  It's a little bit long, but worth a read (especially if you love reading and care if our students love reading). 

And one more article that I feel is quite relevant - Simple Ways to Cultivate Happiness in Schools

• Teachers, we need your assistance with making sure that the students clean up their tables and the floor before lining up.  Please ensure that you have assigned sweepers for your class.
• Collaborative Learning within teams is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.  Please continute to work on your instructional units with your teams..
• Our next SAC meeting is Wednesday afternoon at 2:15.
• Family Night at the Carolina Ale House on Wednesday from 6:00 - 8:00 PM.  Hope to see you there!
• Early Release Day is Thursday.  We will have a staff luncheon provided by the Carolina Ale House. 
• Thursday is the last day of the 1st quarter and also Student Council Elections.
• Friday is a Planning Day - 1st Grade, Administration and Support Staff will be providing breakfast at 8:00.  We will also have a brief meeting at 9:00 in the Media Center. 

Quote of the Week - "You can be "effective" (i.e. raising scores) without engaging students." - Cristina Milos.  What do you think about this statement?

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

• Is from Sioux City, Iowa
• Went to the University of Florida
• Enjoys scrapbooking and reading 
• Trained to be an Emergency Medical Training before teaching
  

Gator Run Friday Focus - October 11, 2013

I promoted the book, Through the Cracks, a few weeks ago but only one person borrowed it from Ms. Felton or myself.  It is a short children's book with a powerful message that I believe will resonate with you.  Check it out!

• We have our first Family Night of the year at Carolina Ale House on Monday night from 6:00 - 8:00 PM.  I know that it is sometimes difficult for people to attend night time events but it sure would be great to have a nice representation of staff members from our school there.  I hope to see you there!
• Book Fair continues next week through Wednesday.
• We had a Faculty Collaboration scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in the Media Center but the Book Fair is still going on so we will cancel for now and try to reschedule within the next few weeks.  I would like to discuss what Ms. Felton and I have seen so far in our Snapshot Observations.  I apologize for not coming around the past few weeks but our schedules filled up.  We will be coming around next week for more Snapshots.  
• Team Leader Day is next Wednesday.  
  

Quote of the Week - "I wish to do something Great and Wonderful, but I must start by doing the little things like they were Great and Wonderful." - Albert Einstein.  What little things are you doing as if they were Great and Wonderful?

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

• From Hollywood, FL
• Attended FAU
• Enjoys going to the beach, swimming, long distance running, shopping for produce at the Farmers' Market
• Was the captain of her high school football cheerleading team
• Her family has a business making horse racing saddles
• Her father-in-law raced for (and once owned) a NASCAR Cup team

Gator Run Friday Focus - October 4, 2013

In last Friday's Focus I brought up two ideas, a school museum and a film festival, and I asked that you brainstorm how we might implement these in the school.  I have done some research and found an article on school museums, which I have attached in an email to you, and another which shows short film examples of what students can create using simple apps - Five-Minute Film Festival
Check both of these out when you have a moment.  I know that our students would thrive if given the opportunity to create. 

If you haven't signed up with TeachingChannel.org yet I suggest that you do so.  There are a wealth of strategies and ideas there that are shown to you through the use of videos.  You can input your interests and they will email you videos that align with those interests.  I just received this video last week - Choosing Collaborative Groups  I know that this is for older students but you might be able to gleam something from viewing it.  

• We have data meetings next week: K and 1 on Monday; 2 and 3 on Thursday and 4 and 5 on Friday.  Please bring your completed data sheets with you.  
• Next week's Faculty Collaboration has been moved to October 15.  Team Work has been moved to next Tuesday, October 8.  
• RtI meetings are next Tuesday.  Please remember that you need to identify students who are not responding to your current instruction so that we can discuss strategies to try to reach them.
• Our Fall Book Fair kicks off next week.  There will be a teacher preview on Wednesday after school and then an Evening Book Fair on Wednesday night.  It would be great to see teachers out on that night.

Quote of the Week -  “You cannot get better at reading if you don’t spend time reading; it’s just that simple.” - Frank Serafini.  How much time are your students reading and talking about reading during the school day?

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

• Grew up in Washington, DC and then Boca Raton
• Went to school at the University of Florida
• Loves the outdoors - beach, mudding, boating, hiking and traveling
• Plays the piano and building Legos
• Has a Bachelors Degree in Advertising
• Is an identical twin

Gator Run Friday Focus - September 27, 2013

I have two ideas that I would love to incorporate into the school somehow possibly this year.  One is a school museum where each class can create a display and/or artifacts based on some area of research.  The other is a film festival where students, groups of students or classes create a short films.  I would love to discuss these ideas with interested people.  Please start brainstorming now.  Discussion dates to come.  I encourage you to share any ideas that you might have for fostering creativity and innovation at the school. 

Did you know that young learners who use gestures outperform their peers in problem-solving tasks?  Students also learn better when their teachers use gestures.  Research published in Child Development showed that 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade students learned new math concepts faster when teachers used hand motions to illustrate concepts.  Here's a very short article with more information - Why Teachers Should Use Hand Gestures  How can you be deliberate with using gestures in the classroom?

• BAT 1 for 5th grade on Monday
• Boosterthon continues next week, culminating with the Fun Run on Wednesday.
• We are holding a Teach Like a PIRATE book study on Monday afternoon.  If you are interested in participating, please make sure that you have read the section of the book dealing with Passion.
• ESE Data Day is Tuesday.
• We will be holding a Flexible Learning Spaces discussion next Wednesday.  
• There is a NESS meeting next Thursday afternoon in Mrs. Heyman's classroom.

Quote of the Week - "Negative people have no power. None. We put it on a platter and hand it to them. This must stop." - Todd Whitaker.  Smile everyone!  And don't give your power away to those who don't deserve it. 

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

• Was born in St. Petersburg, Florida.
• Graduated from Hialeah Miami-Lakes High School.
• Enjoys boating, free diving, scuba diving, jogging and line dancing.
• Knows ASL (American Sign Language). 

One more thing (always remember the choice is yours):

Gator Run Friday Focus - September 20, 2013

Book of the Week - Through the Cracks - This is an amazing book that highlights what can happen when we don't make school engaging for our students and don't adhere to their emotional and intellectual needs.  The students in the story literally shrink and fall through the cracks of the school because they are bored.  The students then grow as they are exposed to learning that allows them to be expressive and to work collaboratively.  Ms. Felton and I both have copies of the book for anyone interested in reading it (and then passing it around).  I highly recommend it!

• Please make sure to complete a "No Aftercare" slip for those students who will not be attending that day.  This can help our aftercare staff finalize their attendance in a timely fashion.
• BAT 1 is next week.  Please utilize the schedule sent out by Ms. Felton.  
• Articles for next month's newsletter are due to Mrs. Thompson on Monday.
• We have a Collaborative Learning session scheduled for Tuesday.  Your team will be discussing the guiding principles/expectations that were created at Wednesday's Team Leader meeting.
• Our first SAC meeting is Wednesday at 2:15 in the Media Center.
• Thursday is an Early Release Day.  We have several trainings scheduled for that day. 

Quote of the Week - "High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectations." - Charles Kettering

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

• From Ohio
• Went to school at Barry University
• Used to snowboard before injuring her knee
• Loves doing things with her children
• Is related to General Lee

Oh yeah, one more thing -

Gator Run Friday Focus - September 13, 2013

     This summer Principals attended a workshop led by Dr. Marcia Tate, author of Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites.  Dr. Tate was probably one of the most engaging presenters that I have encountered.  Our day with her flew by because she constantly kept us moving and learning.  Dr. Tate has compiled a list of 20 Instructional Strategies That Really Work!  Her work is based on research based on activities that stimulate the brain.  I want to incorporate her strategies within this blog throughout the school year.  Dr. Tate's list of strategies are not brand new or anything that you might not have seen before but they are good reminders of what you can incorporate into your classroom to ensure that you are reaching all of your students.
     The first strategy that I want to mention is so important to me - Music, Rhythm, Rhyme, and Rap.  One of the pieces of research that Dr. Tate shares is that "Music has the remarkable ability to energize, relax, set the daily mood, stimulate student brains, inspire, and make the learning fun." (Jensen, 2009a).  We have incorporated this strategy a few times this year - first in our Faculty Collaborations as you enter the Media Center to begin our learning and also on Fridays as we have played music as everyone enters the school.  I have also witnessed music being used in several classrooms: in Mrs. Heyman's class as she and the children sang songs, including an amazing rendition of "Getting to Know You"; in Mrs. Fritzius' class when she led her class in the soon-to-be classic "Noun Town"; and in Ms. Prudente's class as the students worked in centers with peaceful, new age music playing in the background.  Dr. Tate's book lists several instructional activities in using Music, Rhythm, Rhyme, and Rap in the classroom - you may borrow my copy if you are interested.  How will you incorporate this strategy into your instruction to engage students' brains?

• Please don't dismiss your class until Mrs. Sweeney makes the announcements dictating each group's dismissal.  
• Interim Reports are due to Ms. Felton on Monday and will go home on Friday.  
• Team Collaboration is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.  Please remember that this is scheduled for your team to develop and/or flesh out your thematic units.
• Team Leader Day is on Wednesday.
• Open House for 3, 4 and 5 is scheduled for Wednesday evening.  
• We have a Boosterthon meeting for our faculty next Thursday at 2:20 in the Media Center.
• There will be a Boosterthon pep rally next Friday: 8:20 for K, 1 and 2 and 9:00 for 3, 4, and 5.

Quote of the Week - “Why are we doing this?” - What high school teacher Jyothi Bathina had on the board in her  classroom throughout the year; “Unless I could answer [this] question, I had no right to teach the material,” she says.  Something to think about.
 
Think Like a Detective - Can you determine the Gator Run teacher based on the following clues?

• Born in Fair Lawn, NJ
• Went to school at the University of Miami
• Loves to spend time with grandsons, traveling and reading
• Raises money for Miami Children's Hospital

Gator Run Friday Focus - September 6, 2013

Most of you have probably seen this posted outside my office this week.  The You Matter Manifesto was created by Angela Maiers, an educator and motivational speaker.  Angela believes that everyone, children and adults, have an innate need to matter, to be noticed.  Angela says that the need to matter is in our DNA.  Students come to Gator Run each day hoping that they will be noticed for who they are.  That is a big reason why I try so hard to remember each child's name and something unique about them.  There is something powerful about hearing your name mentioned, about being noticed, about being heard.  How many of our students truly feel like a genius?  Why shouldn't they all feel that way?  I promise you that I will let each of you know in some way that You Matter.  How will you go about noticing your students?  How will you let them know that they matter? 

RtI

Let's make sure that we identify students in need of interventions early on in the school year.  The RtI (Response to Intervention) process can be extremely beneficial if we bring up those students who are not benefiting from our current instruction.  The biggest shame that I have ever seen in schools is when a teacher notifies us at the end of the year that a child is in danger of being retained.  We need to rely on formative assessments as we move forward and not wait until the end of the year summative assessments.  This quote from Dr. Justin Tarte puts this into perspective - "Formative assessments are the preventive check-ups throughout the year; summative assessments are the autopsy. Which do you prefer?"  If we wait until the end, we have wasted a child's entire year when interventions could have been put into place and we could have brainstormed ways to reach him/her.  We also put pressure on next year's teacher, who will have to start the RtI process over again.  Don't wait until it's too late - your students' lives are counting on you!

• As we prepare for our upcoming Open House nights, please remember the following: 
• Make the focus on what is taking place in the classroom and what you will do to help your students.  
• Inform parents that you are excited to welcome them into the learning process and their participation is vital for their children's success.
• Make it fun and enjoyable - don't spend so much time on rules and procedures.  Instead focus on how awesome this year will be. 
• Let's talk about collaboration!  Please know that I will be promoting this concept any chance I get and with every group.  Students and parents have already started talking about collaboration with me and the excitement is building.  Don't get left behind! 
• Innovation - discuss some of the new things that you will be attempting this year.  I promised our community that we will become the leaders in innovation.  The time to start is now.  Why not now?  Why not here?  Why not us?

• We will hold an Edmodo discussion on Monday at 2:20.  If you are not using it yet, you should come to at least see the level of conversation that students have in this format.  Edmodo opens up a whole new world of collaboration. 

Quote of the Week - "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." - John Lennon.  Do you find yourself always wishing for the weekend?  Or for that special event or trip?  Life is happening while you are wishing - enjoy every moment of every day.  Who knows how many moments we actually have.   

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

• From Bogota, Columbia
• Went to school at Florida International University
• Is a political news junkie
• Loves spending time with two granddaughters
• Has a translation degree