*I took diligent notes during our math training today. You can find them here (please excuse any typos...I didn't spellcheck).
*I did not schedule WIN times, because I wasn't sure if we would do WIN this year with the new Math Expressions, but after today know that we will probably need to. We will need to figure this out at each grade level to determine how it will work...whether it's starting early or waiting until later in the year when we figure things out. The beginning of the year inventory will be a guide to help determine who needs what intervention.
*I did not schedule your library times this year, so you'll need to see Ms. Krueger to schedule your class library time.
*We are using google calendar again for scheduling the computer lab. Please keep in mind that we will have SRI/SMI testing September 6-28, so we will need to get those assessment times priority. Here's the screencast I made last year to schedule in google calendar (in case you forgot how). If you forgot your google password then see this video again to laugh about it (and then contact Brad to reset your password).
Aug 28, 2012
Aug 26, 2012
Monday Memo - August 27
"Nuts & Bolts" Notes:
*While Mrs. Lauth is on maternity leave her substitute in the elementary will be Lisa Blanton. Lisa will only be here on Mondays and Wednesdays (she works in Neosho on the other days).
*There are several sign-up sheets in the mail room: Time for me to read to your class, Detention duty, District Newsletter, Committees, etc. Please make sure to sign up for each.
*I forgot to include the certified recess duty schedule in your handbooks. That doesn't mean you're "off the hook!" ;) It's in your mailbox.
*You'll notice that we don't have a grade level meeting scheduled during our in-service days to determine our new goals for the year. This is because we already have a jam-packed schedule, so we will be discussing goals and if any changes will be needed for the math section of our report card (on September 25).
*If you're looking for a book to read on the first day of school, I have several to loan out since I'll be reading the Bucket Filling books. I have: First Day Jitters, The Night Before Preschool, The Night Before First Grade, The Kissing Hand, and Miss Nelson is Missing. Just let me know if you're interested.
*For the first 2 days of school, here is the "Recess Orientation" Schedule to mark in your lesson plans:
Wednesday: 9:30-9:45 5th Grade
10:15-10:30 5K
12:30-12:45 1st Grade
Thursday: 9:30-9:45 4th Grade
10:15-10:30 3rd Grade
12:30-12:45 2nd Grade
Please come with your class to these so we are all on the same page with the recess rules and feel free to chime in if Sarah or I forget something.
For Open House:
*In your mailbox you will each find 1 copy of a grade level specific handout for parents on what students will learn for Math/Language Arts with the new common core standards. I thought this might be great to give to parents at Open House, but I will leave it to your discretion to review and see if you want to share it that night or not. Here is where I found them online.
*I have several ideas from Pinterest below, but here are some other tips/ideas for Open House:
-Have a welcome message for families on the board or doorway that also tells them what to do (ex: Find your desk, put supplies away, etc.)
-Have a sign-in sheet for parents (you will need to turn in totals to Marie).
-Have a sign-up sheet for parent teacher conferences in October (then when you send home that form later it will just be a reminder...the majority of the scheduling will already be done!)
-Have a stack of papers on each desk: parent contact information, student interest survey, whatever froms you typically send home during the first week of school.
-Have an index card or "Open House Parent Note to Teacher" on each desk so that if a parent has a concern you can ask them to write on the card. You can tell the parent that you can follow-up with a phone call or conference to discuss their concerns (not at Open House).
-Have a Classroom Scavenger Hunt or Open House Activity on each students' desk.
-Provide parents with stationary to write a special note to their child (maybe the first "drop" in their bucket?)
-Share your wish list (items you hope to have donated for the class). This could be apples hanging from a tree or small slips hanging by magnets on your whiteboard.
Ideas for Open House:
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| Read about this idea here |
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| Idea for seeking donations |
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| Download this handout here |
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| "Task" for students at Open House. Read more here |
Idea for the first day(s):
*Looking for books to start off your year? Donalyn Miller (author of The Book Whisperer) gives a great list of books here that help to build community at the same time.
 |
| Find the slides for all these ideas here |
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| Read about this idea here |
 | ||||
| "Math about Me" read about it here |
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| People Bingo |
*Ok, this one is just purely for humor...a comedian talking about forgetting your password, because we've all been there!!!
Aug 17, 2012
Monday Memo - August 20
A few random notes:
I've read a number of books by Jon Gordon and have never been disappointed. His books are quick reads, but always inspirational with powerful, positive messages. I recently read The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work. Who doesn't encounter issues of complaining, whether it's your spouse, a colleague or even yourself?
- Please don't put your extra student desks in the hallway yet. We still have Registration Day on Tuesday, August 21 which always brings in new students to our lists. Also, Mr. Schimmel will be waxing the hallway floors the following weekend (starting the evening on Friday, August 24). He cannot do this if there are desks/other furniture in the hallway.
- If you plan on coming in at night to work, it may be wise to call and make sure that Mr. Schimmel didn't start on a hallway early. If he does, you won't be able to walk down it!
- Mr. Schimmel has 6 bulletin boards that we can put up in the hallways to display student writing (at a lower level for students to be able to read them). Please let me know if you would like one outside your classroom. First come first serve.
- There are several 4 drawer file cabinets up for grabs by the receiving area. Let me know if you would like one and we'll have it put in your classroom.
- As you are reorganizing classrooms for the new year, if you have anything you don't want you can put it in the staff lounge (there's already a pile of free stuff on the table). Everything from the stage over the summer (last year's freebies) has been donated, so this will be a new batch.
- If you need to put tape on your floor for anything, please see Kenny for tape that you can use. Any tape other than floor tape (which he can give you) wrecks the floor.
- A reminder from Mrs. Thompson's email: If you have a parent documentation log that you currently use, please don't prepare it for this year. There will be a standardized one that we will be providing for you.
And now, a Friday Focus Reflection (originally posted on my other blog):
I've read a number of books by Jon Gordon and have never been disappointed. His books are quick reads, but always inspirational with powerful, positive messages. I recently read The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work. Who doesn't encounter issues of complaining, whether it's your spouse, a colleague or even yourself?
Complaining is very prevalent, however, the negativity it spreads is like cancer. In Gordon's book, he shares the cost of negativity:
- Negativity costs the U.S. economy between $250 to $300 billion every year in lost productivity according to the Gallup Organization.
- 90% of doctor visits are stress related, according to the CDC, and the #1 cause of office stress is coworkers and their complaining, according to Truejobs.com
- A study found that negative employees can scare off every customer they speak with--for good (How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath).
- Too many negative interactions compared to positive interactions at work can decrease the productivity of a team, according to Barbara Frederickson's research at the University of michigan.
- One negative person can create a miserable office environment for everyone else.
This list could go on, but I'm sure you get the point: Complaining breeds negativity, and negativity makes it difficult to accomplish anything. So, how do you handle the Complainers? One could imagine handling complaining this way...
Gordon's book is all about putting The No Complaining Rule into effect with suggestions to do instead of complaining (replacing a bad habit with a better practice):
1. Practice Gratitude
2. Praise Others
3. Focus on Success
4. Let Go
5. Pray and Meditate
(The list with descriptions can be found here).
The most memorable part of the book for me was an explanation from the "yard guy" on how he eliminates weeds. Instead of attacking the weeds with chemicals he uses an organic mixture that "creates an environment where the good grass can grow healthy and strong." This allows the grass to grow and spread to the point that the weeds get crowded out and can no longer grow.
What does this "organic mixture" look like in schools? For the adults, I see this as building on teachers' strengths, creating an environment in which teachers are constantly learning together and from each other. Teachers share new ideas, or read some of the same books together, and even observe each other's classrooms to help improve the teaching and learning in their own classrooms. For students this is also building on strengths and positives, versus focusing on wrongdoings and consequences. For many schools this is being done through PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) or character development programs. This year our school is going to use the "Bucket Fillers" theme, which I thought of the entire time I read The No complaining Book. We already have a positive culture in our building, but I am excited to see what this theme will add to it as we focus on praising others and celebrating our success.
I would highly recommend anyone read this book. You can find additional resources here whether you have read the book or not. And I challenge you to take a Complaining Fast. Start with just a day and then try a week of No Complaining! Focus on the things you "get to do" instead of "have to do" and turn your complaints into solutions.
Aug 13, 2012
August 13 Memo
It's hard to believe that the school year is quickly approaching! I have seen many of you in the building already preparing for the new year (and making me feel behind!) Here are some updates and some resources to share with you:
"Nuts & Bolts" Notes
*If you click on the "Schedules" tab on my memo blog you'll see that I'm adding all the schedules for the year as I complete them. These will also be in your binders, but I know that many of you are already wanting to plan. I have also printed out an individual class schedule that is in your mailbox. I made the specials schedule all on one google doc this year, which is a different format for us. Please let me know if you have any questions on it.
*Disclaimer--the schedule is NEVER perfect! Even with more of Mrs. Kopfer's time for our elementary music classes, we still had some MS/HS class times to work around which puts kinks into it. A couple of other priorities in scheduling is making sure that 4/5th grades have a READ 180 block (at separate times), Mrs. Bader's 5K class is split to attend specials with 2 other classes so they're all at the same times, and with Mrs. Hendricks co-teaching for Literacy/Math in Mrs. Zastrow and Mrs. Larson's classrooms those schedules had to be opposite. I do wish I could give you all the dream schedule you want!
Resources from Pinterest/Twitter/Blogs I follow:
*As you're preparing to launch Daily 5/Cafe again this year, here's a great series of blog posts on Getting Started.
*Kohls has partnered with TED-ed on a contest for educators to share lessons. The chosen lessons will be professionally animated and live on ed.ted.com. You all have amazing ideas to share, so if you'd like to do this you can find out more info here.
*An "oldie, but a goody"...10 Tips for the First Days of School from Harry and Rosemary Wong. I used to review my Harry Wong book before the start of each year.
*The "Motherload" of SMARTBoard files http://www.jmeacham.com/smart.board.htm Includes some bucket filling files.
*August is "Connected Educators" month and has been filled with free online webinars. You can find recordings of the kick off here.
"Nuts & Bolts" Notes
*If you click on the "Schedules" tab on my memo blog you'll see that I'm adding all the schedules for the year as I complete them. These will also be in your binders, but I know that many of you are already wanting to plan. I have also printed out an individual class schedule that is in your mailbox. I made the specials schedule all on one google doc this year, which is a different format for us. Please let me know if you have any questions on it.
*Disclaimer--the schedule is NEVER perfect! Even with more of Mrs. Kopfer's time for our elementary music classes, we still had some MS/HS class times to work around which puts kinks into it. A couple of other priorities in scheduling is making sure that 4/5th grades have a READ 180 block (at separate times), Mrs. Bader's 5K class is split to attend specials with 2 other classes so they're all at the same times, and with Mrs. Hendricks co-teaching for Literacy/Math in Mrs. Zastrow and Mrs. Larson's classrooms those schedules had to be opposite. I do wish I could give you all the dream schedule you want!
Resources from Pinterest/Twitter/Blogs I follow:
*As you're preparing to launch Daily 5/Cafe again this year, here's a great series of blog posts on Getting Started.
*An "oldie, but a goody"...10 Tips for the First Days of School from Harry and Rosemary Wong. I used to review my Harry Wong book before the start of each year.
*The "Motherload" of SMARTBoard files http://www.jmeacham.com/smart.board.htm Includes some bucket filling files.
Aug 10, 2012
Friday Focus - August 10
I know I haven't shared a Friday Focus post with you all summer, but I thought I'd start again to share my reflections from the Regional Summer Teacher Academy (but I'm not promising I'll get one posted the rest of the summer!).
I was amazed at the amount of teachers that gathered for our Regional Summer Teacher Academy to network and continue learning in August. Our students are so fortunate to have such committed teachers! Our Dodgeland teachers represented well at the academy in attendance and in sharing great ideas for literacy, standards based teaching an learning, and technology.
This year we had Hal Urban as our keynote speaker. It was great to hear Hal speak after having read his book, Lessons from the Classroom. For his keynote session, Hal spoke about "Positive Words, Powerful Results." What a perfect message as we move into the year with our theme of "Bucket Filling." Here are some of the powerful quotes I enjoyed from his session:
"We often underestimate the power of our words."
"Kind words cost little, but accomplish much."
"We live in an ocean of words, but like the fish in water we are often not aware of it." ~Stuart Chase
"Words have the power to destroy or heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world." ~Buddha
"Words are choices."
"A careless word may kindle strive, a cruel word may wreck a life, a timely word may level stress, a loving word may heal and bless." ~Unknown
As I listened to Hal speak, I recalled the following quote (found on Pinterest, of course!):
As I reflect on his message and this quote, I can't help but think of how truly important we are in our students' lives and the impact we have on them just in how we talk to them!
If you attended Hal's session and want to add your thoughts/reflections, feel free to add your comment (you'll have to go to the actual blog site: www.johnsonmemo.blogspot.com and click on comment).
I was amazed at the amount of teachers that gathered for our Regional Summer Teacher Academy to network and continue learning in August. Our students are so fortunate to have such committed teachers! Our Dodgeland teachers represented well at the academy in attendance and in sharing great ideas for literacy, standards based teaching an learning, and technology.
This year we had Hal Urban as our keynote speaker. It was great to hear Hal speak after having read his book, Lessons from the Classroom. For his keynote session, Hal spoke about "Positive Words, Powerful Results." What a perfect message as we move into the year with our theme of "Bucket Filling." Here are some of the powerful quotes I enjoyed from his session:
"We often underestimate the power of our words."
"Kind words cost little, but accomplish much."
"We live in an ocean of words, but like the fish in water we are often not aware of it." ~Stuart Chase
"Words have the power to destroy or heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world." ~Buddha
"Words are choices."
"A careless word may kindle strive, a cruel word may wreck a life, a timely word may level stress, a loving word may heal and bless." ~Unknown
As I listened to Hal speak, I recalled the following quote (found on Pinterest, of course!):
As I reflect on his message and this quote, I can't help but think of how truly important we are in our students' lives and the impact we have on them just in how we talk to them!
If you attended Hal's session and want to add your thoughts/reflections, feel free to add your comment (you'll have to go to the actual blog site: www.johnsonmemo.blogspot.com and click on comment).
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