Gator Run Friday Focus - October 16, 2015

I am so excited that the District has decided to add teachers to our principal learning experiences this year.  All of the academic departments have coordinated training that will focus on early literacy and numeracy.  So each principal has a Kindergarten and a 1st grade teacher joining them for a 1/2 day once a month.  Crystal Coyle and Tristan Hanley will be participating for our school.   We visited Westwood Heights Elementary this past Tuesday.  We discussed how we are implementing the shifts in reading and math in our schools and we also visited several classrooms. The group will be meeting at Gator Run next month on November 3rd.  I will let you know which classrooms we will be visiting beforehand.

A special thanks to our 4th grade team for their efforts with our Student Council and to Coach Cliff for his work with our Safety Patrol.  Major kudos to Mrs. Bryce, Ms. Fanella, Mrs. Mitchel, and Mrs. Sherwood for their work in putting together the Induction Ceremony for our Student Council and Safety Patrol.  Our students felt important and our parents were very impressed.  Amazing stuff ladies!

If you haven't updated your hallway bulletin boards recently, please so so.  We always need current student work displayed. 

Article of the Week - Formative, Summative, Interim: Putting Assessment in Context  My principal sub-cadre group is working on formative assessments as our learning focus for this year.  I think that this is a good article to ensure that we know which assessments should be used for each purpose. 

Next Week at a Glance:

• NESS Meeting on Monday at 2:15 in Mrs. Heyman's room.
• Next Wednesday is Wear Pink Day.  Let your students know!
• Kids of Character names are due to Ms. Felton by Wednesday.
• Thursday is an Early Release Day.  We have a Faculty Focus scheduled for that day from 1:15 until 3:00.  Del Vecchio's will be providing lunch that afternoon.
• Friday is a Planning Day.  Ms. Felton and I will be meeting with some of our grade level teams that morning.  Details to come at the beginning of next week.  

Quote of the Week:  "Failure is an event, not a person. Yesterday ended last night. Today is a brand new day...and it's yours." ~ Zig Ziglar.  Always remember this for yourself and please work to teach this to our students. 

Gator Run Friday Focus - October 9, 2015

As you know, I was out a few days this week in Orlando.  I am thrilled and humbled that I was chosen to participate in a second year of the State of Florida's Commissioner's Leadership Academy.  This year I will be a Facilitator in Training, with the goal that I might someday be able to train others in the feedback process that I shared with all of you during pre-planning week.  I will be visiting five schools throughout this year to practice my feedback skills.  I am hopeful that this will make me a better administrator and better able to help each of you become the best you can be.  I am happy that I will be working with a few of you in the upcoming weeks so that we will both become better in our roles and I hope that more of you will want to work collaboratively in this process.  It's all about feedback, support and growth.  This school is so big and sometimes people can feel isolated and in need of knowing how they are doing.  If you feel like you are in need of feedback, support or coaching, please reach out.  Mrs. Knapik, Ms. Sanchez, Ms. Felton and I are all here to support you in your goals. 

Next Week at a Glance: 

• Team Leader Day next Tuesday.
• PLCs are next Thursday at 2:15.
• Boosterthon Fun Run next Friday!
  

Quote of the Week:  Here are two for you regarding feedback.  Feedback is crucial. 

Gator Run Friday Focus - October 2, 2015

I am seeing a lot of great things with mathematics instruction these past few weeks.  Any time you can make math relevant and hands-on, you are helping our students connect with the content.  Visiting third grade classrooms has really been enlightening.  The data projects they are doing are awesome and I love what Ms. Dousdebes did with having groups of students create graphs using the floor tiles.  My lunch time conversations with students throughout the years provide me with insight into their thoughts on math.  Often it is not a favorite subject for them because as they tell me "I'm not good at math".  Now, obviously there are many individuals that will struggle with math.  However, we need to make math come alive if we are ever going to have hope to reach all of our students.  GoMath is simply a resource and not the only means that we have to teach the standards that we are responsible for.  I encourage you and your teams to determine how best to deliver the content that will ensure that our students meet the standards for your grade level.  Please do not teach solely from the Go Math series.  If you are struggling with teaching math and only teach math through the textbook, please seek out support from teammates or colleagues or me.  I would love to work with you to help make math come alive for our students. 
Next Week at a Glance:

• Boosterthon Pep Rally next Tuesday.  8:20 for Grades 3-5 and 9:05 for K - 2.
• PLCs are scheduled for Thursday at 2:15. 

Quote of the Week:

Thanks to Ann House for sharing this one!

Gator Run Friday Focus - September 25, 2015

Teachers, it is crucial that you are addressing student need via small group instruction.  With the various learning styles and ability levels of your students, you need to reach them this way.  We should be seeing small group instruction during literacy and math.  We definitely want students to work collaboratively and to grow independently.  However, they will not reach their potential nor will you truly be able to provide them what they need without small group instruction.  Please reach out to your teammates and/or Mrs. Knapik if you need assistance. 

Next Week at a Glance:

• Fall individual pictures will be taken on Monday and Tuesday.  
• There will be a Boosterthon Staff Meeting in the Media Center on Tuesday at 2:20.  This is a huge fundraiser for our PTA and teacher involvement and promotion is key.  This year we are raising funds for shade structures for our outdoor areas.
• Our 1st School Advisory Council meeting of the year is Wednesday at 2:20 in the Media Center.  

Quote of the Week: "Until you value yourself, you won't value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it." - M. Scott Peck.  Now is good. 

 

Gator Run Friday Focus - September 18, 2015

I wonder how we are doing with one of my "What ifs" from the beginning of the year -

“What if” – each of us started simply each day by greeting each other with a smile and by saying “Good Morning”?

 
Next Week at a Glance:

• NESS Meeting on Monday at 2:15 in Shari Heyman's classroom.
• No School on Wednesday for Yom Kippur.  Happy New Year to all who celebrate.
• Interim Reports go home on Thursday.
• PLCs are scheduled for Thursday at 2:15.

Quote of the Week:  "We see people and things not as they are, but as we are." - Anthony de Mello.  I had a few meetings with parents this week and I think of this quote often as I remember that we are all just people, even if our agendas are different.  I try (and often fail) to analyze my perceptions to ensure that I am truly listening to others and to understand where they are coming from.  

Gator Run Friday Focus - September 11, 2015

     I wanted to take a moment to address the lack of bells ringing in the school this year and to explain myself a little bit.  I have doing a lot of reading and having conversations with other educators on how we need to change what 'school' is and should be.  Most of us who have been through 'school' and worked in a school feel that it has to remain the same as it was when we grew up and how it has been for years.  I feel that some changes are in order.  It's quite amazing that it seems like the entire world has changed in the past decades, whether it is with technology or advancements in the medical field or simply with how we communicate with each other.  However, 'school' has not changed that much really in the past 50-60 years.  We have seen minimal progress but the concept of 'school' still remains the same in most people's minds.  Some concepts which need to be addressed are the concept of homework and its benefits or the idea that learning only takes place inside a school building.  (Regarding homework, I am not opposed to it as long as it is meaningful and part of the learning process.  I am against giving homework 'just because' or if it is busy work.  Make it meaningful or don't assign it.)  To me the most dangerous words in education are "That's the way we've always done it."  It's OK to challenge the way things are. 
     In the course of my reading and connecting, I heard about some principals who decided to turn off the bells in their schools.  The belief that children (or even we adults) need bells to signal when school starts and ends seems antiquated.  Turning the bells off removes some of the institutionalization of school.  There are no bells in real life, so what are we training our students for? 
     I know that I have many critics out there for this concept (and for some of my other ideas!).  Please know that anything that I do is because I care an awful lot about our students and am always willing to try new ideas out that will better their lives.  I also trust all of you to be innovative and to try new concepts out in the classroom so I hope that you will respect me when I want to try something new out as well.  I am sure that some out there believe that it isn't working, but I promise you that for every one who doubts this idea, there are others who are happy that the bells aren't ringing any more.  Remember that I am All In on you so please be All In on me. 
     If you still aren't convinced, here's a news article about some schools doing the same thing - No School Bells

Next Week at a Glance:

• No School Monday for Rosh Hashanah.  Happy New Year to all who celebrate!
• Team Leader Day on Tuesday.
• Interim Reports are due to Team Leaders on Tuesday and to Ms. Felton on Friday.
• Next Thursday is an Early Release Day.  We will be having a Faculty Focus from 1:15 - 3:00.  Details to come soon. 

Quote of the Week: "Never forget."  Enjoy today and every day. 

Gator Run Friday Focus - September 4, 2015

This has been an amazing first two weeks of school!  Thanks to each and every one of you for all you do to make our students feel welcomed and loved.  Let's keep it up.  Please help us out by making sure that the following happen:

• Doors must be locked at all times.  Our students' safety and your own safety are paramount. 
• Please work with students to memorize their lunch numbers.  This will allow the cafeteria line to move more smoothly.
• Make sure to have students use the restroom before lunch and specials. 

All In:
Thank you to Lori Knapik and Stacy Morse for calling names in the car pools.  We are all sweating and struggling out there, but these two ladies are giving their all to help make sure that our dismissal goes smoothly.  Thank you Lori and Stacy for being #AllIn!

Next Week at a Glance:

• No school on Monday.  Enjoy your holiday weekend!
• Book fair kicks off.  I hope that most of you can join us for our Book Fair Night on Wednesday at 5:30.  Our students love nothing more than seeing their teacher at school events. 
•  PLCs are scheduled for Thursday at 2:30.

Quote of the Week: Something to think about as you build relationships with your students.