Gator Run Friday Focus - April 25, 2014

     Recently I was at a restaurant with my family when I overheard a conversation between one of the wait staff and a customer.  Apparently the waitress was also a teacher and was talking to the customer about her class.  I really shouldn't say "talking" because she was complaining about the students' behavior and using words that I found appalling to use about children.  She made it very clear that she did not like her students and she also disparaged her school in the process.
     I am at the sports fields in Weston many nights during the week with my children.  As you can imagine, parents speak with each other about school.  I also overhear the children talking about school.  A few days ago I overheard a girl tell her father about something that happened at school in the hallway in between classes.  It seems that the girl's teacher was talking to another teacher and complaining about her class.  This teacher called her class "obnoxious" and said that she wished she had a different class.  I wonder how this affected the girl?
     My point of relating these stories is to remind all of us that everyone is listening: students, parents, and community.  What message are each of us sending out about our profession?  When one educator speaks in a negative way about education it demeans all of us.  How are you "telling the story" of yourself, Gator Run, and our profession?  I hope that your message is one of love and respect. 

• FCAT continues next week for our 5th graders.  
• Team Work is scheduled for next Tuesday afternoon.
• Interim Reports go home next Thursday.  

Quote of the Week - "If you can't learn and have fun at the same time, then I'm not sure you have a good understanding of either." - Randy Pausch

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

• Was born and raised in Pembroke Pines, FL.
• Went to FAU.
• Loves cooking and going on weekend getaways as much as possible.
• Is a third generation teacher.
• Was just married on New Years Eve in Ireland.  

Gator Run Thursday Focus - April 17. 2014

I was reflecting this past week about this school year and about the differences that I have seen from my previous locations to Gator Run.  One of the biggest is the size of our school and the disconnect that seems to exist in various pockets throughout the school.  I have noticed several times this year staff members passing each other in the hallways without acknowledging each other.  I wonder if this is because some of us truly don't know each other.  What are some ways that each of you can reach out to others here at school to just say Hi?  How can you make a connection with someone else on staff who you really don't know much about?  I am hopeful that more of you will make the transition to Twitter over the summer so that we can help build these relationships via social media.  My belief is that our connections via this format will then be fortified in person at school.

One of the highlights of the past year for me has been Team Leader days when my office is taken over by the grade level chairs.  It's a great feeling hearing my office alive with conversation and humor.  The best moment was after dismissal after the most recent TL day and coming back to my office and finding Ms. Clabby still hanging out.  As I walked in, she looked up from her computer and jokingly said "welcome to my office".  I thought this was so cool and I started thinking about how much I miss a lot of people stopping by and hanging out.  I'm wondering how to make this happen more often and with more people.  I am asking myself the reflective questions - What are some ways to get more of you to visit on a regular basis and discuss ideas/strategies? and How can I make my office more inviting for more people to come by and seek out advice and/or talk out a problem or situation or to just talk about life?  I will be challenging myself to create more of these opportunities for next year. 

• FCAT will begin next week.  Please adhere to the schedule next Tuesday through Friday that Ms. Felton sent out.  Let's send positive vibes and love to our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students and teachers as they show everyone how much they have learned.  #GatorRunRocks
• The Principal's Honor Roll Celebration is Monday at 8:00 AM.
• Interims are due to Team Leaders on Wednesday and to Ms. Felton on Friday.

Quote of the Week - "We rise by lifting others." - Robert Ingersoll.  What a great opportunity that we have each day to make a difference in another's life.  Who will you lift up today?

Here's a great reflective tool that I found on Twitter this past week:

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.

Gator Run Friday Focus - April 4, 2014

At Tuesday's Faculty Collaboration, Ms. Felton led us in an activity where we had to recall the qualities of each of our favorite teachers.  She asked if each of us exemplified those qualities that we had shared.  She also mentioned that teaching is indeed a popularity contest and that students will work harder for teachers that they like.  So I ask each of you to think deeply about what your students think of you.  Truly try to look at yourself from their perspective and try to see how you come across in their eyes.  I was in Mrs. Bryce's classroom yesterday for an awesome lesson on point of view.  Mrs. Bryce had her students watch a clip from the movie, Toy Story, three times.  Each time she had them think about the scene from each of the character's perspective.  Do the same.  Put yourself in your students' shoes and try to see you as they see you.  Where do you think you rank against the other teachers here at Gator Run?  Would you classify yourself as one of the best teachers?  If so, what are the qualities that you exhibit that others should model?  If not, why not?  What do the best teachers do that you can emulate?  How come some teachers make a great connection with their students and others seem to keep their students at a distance?  Bridge the gap and become your students' favorite teacher.  They deserve it.

• Report cards are due to Ms. Felton by Monday.
• We are holding auditions for our 5th Grade Talent Show.  These will take place in Mr. Weiner's room each morning next week from 7:30 - 7:55.
• Team Work is scheduled for next Tuesday. 
• Kindergarten Round-up is next Wednesday.
• We have a Family Night at the Carolina Ale House next Wednesday night beginning at 5:00 PM.
• Author Ridley Pearson will be here next Thursday to speak to our 4th and 5th graders. 
• Team Leader Day is next Thursday.  We will be visiting Indian Trace Elementary.

Quote of the Week - "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde


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

• Is from Guatemala City.
• Went to school at FIU.
• Loves competitive powerlifting.
• Repelled from a glacier during a trip to Alaska. 
• alsdkfja
• alsdkfj

Gator Run Friday Focus - March 28, 2014

As we move into the 4th quarter of the school year, this is a good time to think back to our opening Collaboration during the summer.  Our motto at that time was "Don't be boring, be awesome!".  Our students deserve the very best each and every day.  I thank you for bringing the awesome so far this school year.  Let's make the end of the 2013-14 school year the best possible.  We have FCAT coming up in a few weeks.  Once this is over, I encourage each of you to take some risks and try some new things out, whether it's Genius Hour, student blogging, incorporating more opportunities for students to build and create, or whatever you and your students would like to try.  I have stated that Gator Run Elementary would be the leader in innovation in Broward County Schools.  The only way for this to happen is for each of you to take the next step and try something out of your comfort zone.  You have my full support in trying something new.  Just be sure to invite me so I can see some of the awesome things that are happening throughout our school!

• Specials Grades are due in Pinnacle by Tuesday.
• We have a Faculty Collaboration on Tuesday at 2:15 in the Media Center.  We will talk about refocusing for the last quarter of the school year.  In addition, Kerri Gordon from PuzzlePins will be here to talk about the pins that she and her daughter make for Autism Awareness.  She will be selling the pins here at school one day coming up.
• The SSYR Ice Cream Celebration is Tuesday.  
• Spring Pictures will be taken on Thursday and Friday.  See the schedule that Ms. Felton sent out. 
• Report cards are due to Team Leaders by Thursday.

Quote of the Week -

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

• Is from Marlton, New Jersey.
• Went to school at Auburn University in Alabama.
• Enjoys running, traveling, skiing, blogging and creating things for her class.
• Was a state finalist in three sports each year in high school - swimming, soccer and track!

Gator Run Friday Focus - March 14, 2014

     As we move toward better parent communication, I want to encourage you to utilize social media to offer our families an insight into what is taking place in our classrooms and throughout the school.  Social media is basically any tool such as Twitter and Facebook that allows us to connect and reach others almost instantaneously.  Ms. Felton and I had parents of students that attended the 4th grade St. Augustine field trip sign up for Remind 101, which is an app that allows you to send mass anonymous text messages.  We sent parents texts throughout the trip to inform them of our stops and to ensure them that everyone was safe and having a good time.  In addition, we both posted pictures on Twitter.  I especially love the idea that these Twitter pictures could provide conversation between students and their parents about what took place on the trip.  The response from parents has been overwhelmingly positive. 
     I want Gator Run to take full advantage of social media and to tell our story.  We will be sharing pictures and ideas from the school via our school's Twitter account and my own personal account.  Start thinking of ways that you can take advantage of this with your students' parents.  Imagine the conversations that can take place when parents get to see pictures and comments about what happened in your classroom.  Students would no longer be able to answer the question "What did you do in school today?" with "nothing".  Let's all start spreading all of the great things happening here at our school.  #GRERocks

• Early Release Day next Thursday.
• We have a Faculty Collaboration next Thursday afternoon at 1:30 in the Media Center. 
• Evacuation drill next Tuesday at 9:15.
• SAC meeting next Wednesday at 2:15 in the Media Center. 
• Planning day next Friday. 

Quote of the Week - "You can feel the energy when you come in.  I love the positive environment." - spoken to me by the parent of two of our students. 


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

• Was born in NY but grew up in Florida.
• Graduated from University of Florida.  Go Gators!
• Enjoys cooking, eating, traveling, going to the beach, and exercising.
• Is extremely afraid of heights, but would be willing to conquer that fear if given the opportunity.

Gator Run Friday Focus - March 7, 2014

• The second of our 4th St. Augustine field trips will be Tuesday and Wednesday. 
• We have a Team Leader meeting next Tuesday.  We will be going to Country Isles Elementary.
• Collaborative Learning is scheduled for next Tuesday.
• Our PTA General Meeting is Wednesday at 8:30 AM.  A big "Thank you!" to Mrs. Heyman and Mrs. Krauss for presenting on the FCAT to our parents. 
• Fiesta Book Fair Night is on Wednesday from 5:30 - 7:30 PM.  We would love to see you there!
• Newsletter articles are due to Mr. Acosta by Thursday. 

Quote of the Week - "Be who you are and say what you mean. Because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind!" - Dr. Seuss.  What a wonderful message that we should all follow.  This reminds me of two of The Four Agreements by author Don Miguel Ruiz.  They are "Be Impeccable with Your Word" and "Don't Take Anything Personally".  A great read if you get a chance - I have a copy on my desk if you are interested. 

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

• Is from Hollywood, FL. 
• Went to school at the University of Central Florida. GO KNIGHTS! 
• Enjoys reading, traveling, and attending musical events and plays.
• Owns three animals: two cats and a hedgehog.