Gator Run Friday Focus - February 26, 2016

I mentioned this at our Faculty Focus yesterday but I want to address this again here for everyone.  I don't place a lot of emphasis on FSA results or any data we collect in isolation.  Too much is made of how our students perform on one standardized test, which minimizes so much of what we do on a regular basis.  We need to change the conversation in education to include the great work we do each day.  This week reminded me of what is more important.   Cyndi looked through our FSA results and found out that this is how we ranked out of all elementary schools in Broward:

7th in ELA; 6th in Math; and 10th in Science.  While this is awesome and should be celebrated, there is a much better way to judge our school and what we are doing.  Our visitors from Gulliver Prep in Miami were completely blown away by everything that they saw.  The compliment they gave us strengthened my belief that we are on the right path.  They told Cyndi and I that it was great to see a school that was doing what they hope to be.  Wow!  Coming from a school like Gulliver, that's amazing.  They want to send another group to visit us soon.  Kudos to all of you for creating the type of environment where students feel loved, respected and eager to learn each day!

Next Week at a Glance:

• FSA Writing for 4th and 5th grade is on Tuesday.
• PLCs are scheduled for Thursday at 2:15.

Quote of the Week:

Bad things happen:

- Every day.

- To everyone.

The difference is in how people deal with it.  

Gator Run Friday Focus - February 19, 2016

FSA scores were released last week.  We are an "A" school once again.  Here are our results:

Please know that school grades were calculated without learning gains, which will be included for this year.  Cyndi is going to briefly present how gains will be calculated at next Thursday's Faculty Focus.  

Next Week at a Glance:

• Book fair continues until Wednesday.
• We are hosting a Math Night with Mathnasium next Wednesday from 6 - 8 PM.  Hope you can join us!
• Next Thursday is an Early Release Day.  I'm looking forward to seeing the Book Buddies and STEM activities.  We are excited to host a group of teachers from Gulliver Elementary in Miami that day.  They are very interested in seeing what our STEM Day looks like.  
• We have a Faculty Focus on Thursday afternoon.  More information to come but there will be food!
• Next Saturday, February 27th isThe City of Weston's Movie in the Park.  Join us at Weston Regional Park at 7:30 PM for Minions!

Article of the Week:  Cool article on how to launch Genius Hour projects with the world - Launch Genius Hour

Quote of the Week: Thanks to Carron Newcomer for sharing this one!

Gator Run Friday Focus - February 12, 2016

This has been an very difficult week here at Gator Run but we are a strong school with a lot of love.  Thank you to all of you for making our school such a special place where students feel welcomed and loved each and every day.  Thinking along those lines, I want to encourage you to take part in a social media campaign that began last year.  Last February, educators began sharing their stories and sharing their love of teaching through the #LoveTeaching hashtag.  Over five million people interacted with the campaign through the #LoveTeaching hashtag on Twitter.  It reached across four continents.

During the week of Valentine's Day, from February 14th to the 22nd, tap into why you #LoveTeaching.  Write a blog post, compose a tweet, post a picture, take a video.  Use the hashtag #LoveTeaching and also #BrowardK12 so that we can easily follow fellow Broward educators.  This is a great way to share your story, become inspired, and make connections.  We need to show the world why we love what we do.  

Next Week at a Glance:

• No school on Monday.
• Our next SAC meeting is Wednesday at 2:20 in the Media Center. 
• Book Fair Night is Wednesday from 5:30 - 7:30 PM.  Hope to see you there!
• PLCs are scheduled for Thursday at 2:20. 

Quote of the Week: "Trying times are not the times to stop trying." - Ray Owen

Gator Run Friday Focus - November 13, 2015

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported me in person at last night's TedX event.  I appreciate it more than you know.  Thank you to those of you who sent wishes of support because you couldn't make it.  There will be a video soon and I will share it with you as soon as I get it.

Next Week at a Glance:

• Have a great week.  I will be in Washington, DC on our 5th grade trip.  If you are interested in following our trip via pictures and updates I will be posting to Remind, please sign up for notifications via https://www.remind.com/join/gre2015dc
• Interim reports go home on Thursday.
• Kids of Character names are due to Ms. Felton by Friday.

Quote of the Week: 

Gator Run Friday Focus - November 6, 2015

What an amazing visit this week from the principals and K and 1 teachers from our Sub-Cadre.  Thank you to all of the teachers whose rooms we visited.  The biggest compliments were for the rooms that we visited in which the students were responsible for their own learning.  In those rooms, teachers were either working with a small group of students while the other students were involved in meaningful independent work or the entire class was engaged in small groups or individually on their assignments while the teacher circulated throughout the room, providing feedback and asking questions.

I understand that my views on homework are not shared by everyone and I respect that.  To me homework seems to be one of those aspects of school that we perpetuate because "that's the way it's always been done".  I do believe that there can be some meaningful homework, but when we start infiltrating on time that children can and should be spending on family and outside interests to just give busy work, then we are wasting their time.  I'm also not a big fan of preparing them for the workload that they will receive in middle school.  So, because middle school provides an inordinate amount of homework and eats away at students' free time, we have to do the same?  In case you are interested in others who seem to agree with my viewpoints here are some articles on the subject:

Homework: An Unnecessary Evil?

More Parents, Students Saying No to Homework

Forget Homework: t's a waste of time for elementary-school students.

Homework is making our kids miserable: Why the classroom staple is a colossal waste of time

Can You Imagine A World Where You Never Had To Do Homework Ever Again?

Kids have three times too much homework, study finds; what's the cost?

Next Week at a Glance:

• Interims are due to Team Leaders on Monday and to Ms. Felton on Friday.  
• Team Leader Day is on Monday.  
• Field Days for the following grades are next week: Monday - 5th; Tuesday - 3rd; Thursday - 1st; Friday - K.
• No School on Wednesday.
• Report Cards go home on Thursday.
• PLCs are scheduled for Thursday afternoon.  

Website of the Week: Curriculet From their website, Curriculet allows you to embed a layer of questions, quizzes, and rich media annotations into any reading assignment.  You can also track mastery of literacy skills and Common Core standards in real-time.  There is a video on their homepage which explains it a bit better. 

Quote of the Week: Just remember that the person doing the talking is the person doing the learning.

Gator Run Friday Focus - October 30, 2015

Last Saturday a great group of educators from Gator Run participated in EdCampSoFlo, or EdCamp South Florida.  Edcamps are organic, participant-driven professional learning experiences
created by educators, for educators.  Basically educators who attend decide if they would like to lead a learning session or just be a participant.  We joined educators from across South FL at Pinecrest School in Fort Lauderdale.  It was an amazing day of learning that left me inspired and motivated to do even more for our students.  I am proud that Gator Run was well represented at this event.  A big shout-out to the following: Laura Pantin, Jessica Siegel, Tristan Hanley, Monica Dousdebes, Melissa Lopez, Jackie Sherman, Maite Hernandez, Angela Davis, Elayne Hollander and Cyndi Felton.  These ladies were active participants in the learning.  There will be another EdCamp coming in April.  More information to come!

Next Week at a Glance:

• We were finally approved to receive a 2nd Assistant Principal.  We will actually be sharing an AP with Fox Trail Elementary.  I will be interviewing soon.
• Reports cards are due to team leaders on Monday and to Ms. Felton on Thursday.  
• Data chats for K-2 are on Monday and Wednesday.  Please refer to the schedule sent out by Ms. Felton.
• Our Sub-Cadre Principal and teacher group will be visiting on Tuesday.  We will be meeting in the Media Center so Ms. Hollander will be coming to classrooms that day.  We will be visiting K and 1 classes with the teachers and principals in the AM and in other classes in the afternoon.  Please refer to the schedule previously sent out.
• Health screenings for K, 1 and 3 are Wednesday and Thursday.  These will take place in the Music room. 
• Our next Family Night at the Carolina Ale House is Wednesday from 5:30 - 8:30 PM.  Hope to see you there!  The kids and their families love seeing us outside of the school setting.
• 4th Grade Field Day on Thursday.
• Friday is 2nd Grade's Field Day and 5th Grade's Colonial Day.

Website of the Week: Hstry is a free digital learning tool to create interactive timelines.  It promotes collaboration and engagement in the classroom.  This was shared with us at EdCampSoFLo last Saturday.  

Quote of the Week: "If you cannot be positive, then at least be quiet." - Joel Osteen.  I know that it's difficult sometimes, but we all have our own hardships.  Please be careful with your words.  

Gator Run Friday Focus - October 23, 2015

Website of the Week: Check out Newsela.  As its website says, Newsela is an innovative way to build reading comprehension with nonfiction that's always relevant: daily news. It's easy and amazing. Newsela

Video of the Week:  Thanks to Sara Crowther for sharing this one!  I think you will love it. 
Brain Video

Next Week at a Glance:

• It's hard to believe that the 2nd quarter begins on Monday.  
• Data Chats will be on Tuesday and Wednesday next week for 3rd - 5th grade.  Please refer to the schedule emailed by Ms. Felton.
• Our next SAC meeting is Wednesday at 2:20 in the Media Center.  
• We have a Family Night at the Carolina Ale House next Wednesday for Pre-K - 2nd grade.  I hope to see you there!  Our kids and families loving seeing us outside of the school setting. 
• Specials grades are due on Thursday.
• Next Friday is Fall Festival/Treat Day.

Quote of the Week:  "It's not what you look at that matters it's what you see." - Henry David Thoreau.  Choose to see the best in each other and our students.  I know I sometimes get mocked for this practice, but I'd rather go through life believing that every person has good and positive intentions within them.