Monday Musings - Digital Citizenship

I feel that this quote by Krissy Venosdale affirms the work that we are doing with Digital Citizenship to help prepare our students. Over the past few years with our iPad implementation, we have seen students try a number of different things to push the limits with technology rules and many of you have heard/seen how students can get themselves into trouble online (with social media outside of school). Sure, we can create rules for them and then punish them when they break a rule, but are we really teaching a lesson then? If a child was writing swear words with a pencil, would you take that away and never let them use the pencil again?  Obviously not, because that punishment would be absurd.

The same applies to technology.  Yes, we have rules, but we also need to look at misuse as opportunities for students to learn why their misuse was or could be harmful and how to use the online tool appropriately.  The digital citizenship lessons from Common Sense Media are a start...it's likely that you'll have many more opportunities for digital citizenship lessons in those teachable moments that you hear or notice something a student is doing (whether inside or outside of school).

If you'd like to find more online resources to help build your understanding of teaching digital citizenship, here are some that I have found helpful:

• How You Can Become a Champion of Digital Citizenship in Your Classroom
• Even Our Youngest Students Need Digital Citizenship Skills

posters you can download from Krissy Venosdale

Friday Focus - September 25

Great Things I Noticed this Week:
*While proctoring MAP testing make-ups, it was great to see students proud of their scores (for those that increased from last Spring). You have all done so much work in conferencing with students on their learning goals that they really have developed an ownership of their learning and progress!
*Heard at recess...a student told me he was going to be gone tomorrow for a family trip out of town for a wedding, but emphasized that he was sad about because he didn't want to miss school!

I've been able to see great things in the Writers' Workshop World...

*Writers workshop session in which 4th graders were writing out the many ideas and small moment topics that they could write about. I was amazed at how focused they were and how many pages filled with ideas that many students had. For those that were struggling to come up with ideas, the teacher was circulating to conference with those individuals to help brainstorm.

*During the active engagement portion of a writing lesson 5th graders were sharing with a partner about moments with strong feelings that they can write about as a part of learning the difference of seed vs watermelon stories. 

*1st graders learning the touch and tell strategy for thinking/planning their story. During the active engagement part, students took turns telling their story to their partner, touching each finger for each part of their story to plan what they would write on each page. 

*I enjoyed our discussions looking at student on-demand writing during the norming meetings. I feel I have a much better understanding of the writers expectations and am excited to see how much progress our students will be making this year (some of you have already expressed how much growth they've made already!)

Events Next Week: Homecoming Week :) :)

Monday - Packer Day
12:30-2:00 I'll be in the lab for MAP make-ups/completions. If you have any stragglers still left, please send them down within this time frame. 

Tuesday - Time Warp Tuesday (just warning you...I like the 80's!)

 -Student fundraiser packets/$ due

Wednesday - Hawaiian Wednesday

Thursday - SuperHero

Friday - Dodgeland Pride

1:10 Homecoming Assembly (I'd recommend having backpacks packed up before hand...just in case)

2:20 Early dismissal

4:00 Parade line-up

4:30 Parade

"Nuts & Bolts" Notes:

• Please update your iPads to iOs9. 
• Just a reminder from Kay/Christina on Tech Tuesdays:  The Technology Department’s Tech Tuesday’s have changed from "sit and get" to personalized learning :) The first Tech Tuesday will be Tuesday, October 6th from 3:15 to 3:45 in the KASCADE Room (door by the salad bar in the commons). Ms. Abegglen and Ms. Lee will be there to help with technology integration questions, Mr. Modaff and Mr. Wallesverd will be around for the hardware/software questions. 

Blogs, Tweets & Pins...Oh My!

*25 Attention Getters to Calm a Noisy Classroom
*The Optimistic Heart of Digital Citizenship
*How Many Pieces? (in reference to how many pieces of writing in a unit)

Monday Musings - Sept 21

In trying to decide what to write about this week, I looked back to my post last year at this time and realized it may be good for me to re-share this with you all...

I recently had a conversation with a couple of teachers in another state that are also implementing a new mandated evaluation system.  It was interesting to hear their thoughts on it as they both came from different schools with one principal that only did the required classroom observations and the other whose principal was in her classroom more often that what was required.  One of the teachers shared how she found the idea of principals being in classrooms for informal observations to give informal feedback as similar to the process of changing how she grades her students.  In the past year she made the change from grading everything that was turned in to using daily assignments/activities as an opportunity to provide students with feedback to grow and then grading them on only certain assignments/quizzes/tests when she knows that they have had enough opportunity for feedback to demonstrate mastery.  She said she was appreciative that her principal had the same mentality when he was in her classroom, giving her informal feedback so that the 1 formal observation was not a "gotcha."

I hope this is how you all feel. It is certainly my intention to be in classrooms as frequently as I can (although I feel it is not as frequent as I want) so that I can know all of your students, know your style of teaching, your strengths and what areas you are working to improve so that I can provide you with informal feedback.  I am on a "treasure hunt," not a "witch hunt."

I know I have shared with you each year, but I want to just say again that when I am in classrooms I 

am in there with my "coaching hat" on.  If I send an email or seek you out afterwards with a follow-up question, it is a reflective question or a question to help fill in the gaps of what I may have missed because I was only in your room for a short period.  I'd like to pose a question that may stretch your thinking...it is not meant to intrusive or evaluatory, it is simply a question for you to reflect on why you do what you do.  Unless I specifically say, "I have a concern..." then you have nothing to be concerned about, because I'm just trying to wear my "coaching hat."

Friday Focus - September 18

Image from 

pixteller.com

Great Things I Noticed this Week:

*As students started whispering on the carpet, instead of getting louder to get their attention the teacher lowered her voice almost to the point of whispering which got all of the students' attention back on track! 

*Quick review questions asking students to show expanded, standard and word form for numbers...but they showed the teacher in 1 second for each by making an action that they had learned for each to remember the difference for each. A great way to add kinesthetic movement to help them remember each!

*1st graders SO excited to share all of their "small moments" stories that have already been writing during writer's workshop. It is amazing to see how far they are already getting!

*A class discussion student digital citizenship, specifically on private vs public information and what is ok to share, when, etc. 

Digital Citizenship chart

Events Next Week:

Tuesday - I will be out of the building in the morning
Wednesday - Grade Level Meetings - in the D.O. Conference Room so we can get there and get started on norming quickly
*3:15 - EP Training on SLO/PPG/Surveys (remember this is a review of previous trainings so it is optional. I will email out all the info afterwards too)
Friday - I will be at CESA 6 most of the day for the Learning & Assessment (DAC) meeting

"Nuts & Bolts" Notes:
*Have you noticed a new face in our building? "Miss Alicia" (her last name is Hahn, so it's easier to call her this versus mixing her up with Mrs. Hahn!) is joining our support staff for two hours a day to help with some of the students in Ms. Peters room, especially during the lunch/recess hour. She is actually a parent so she probably won't look that new to some of you.
*As you are completing your F&P Benchmark assessments, please keep the packets that you use to record notes on students. We are finding that when just the benchmark recording page (showing which level for fall/winter/spring) is sent on to the next year's teacher that it would be helpful to also have the packets from each story read.

Blogs, Tweets & Pins...Oh My!!
*The Power of the iPad in Kindergarten
*How to Handle Students who Lie and Deny

Monday Musings - Sept 14

It's been two (almost full) weeks with your students; by now you should have their names memorized, have an idea of who gets along with who, who cannot handle sitting by their friend, which ones seem to be natural leaders, which ones love reading, which ones struggle with stamina, etc.  And of course...by now I'm sure you have figured out which student may require more attention from you than the others. You know who I'm talking about. Whether you recognize them from previous incidents int he hallway or the playground from last year or parents said something at open house that raised a red flag for you, you know who these students are. I like to secretly refer to these students as my "frequent flyers;" the students that may frequently need a visit with me. I try to seek them out during the day early on; either in the hallway or in the classroom, for a positive check-in visit before they need to come and see me in the office. 

Each of these students have a different story, a different reason for the challenges they bring to school. For many of them, you may be the first smile they see each day, the only adult giving them positive feedback, the only source of daily structure or you may just be the only one that notices that they need a new backpack or pair of shoes. Whatever their story may be, I ask you to spend a couple of extra minutes with this child each day to build a relationship to help this year be the year of success for him.  As Rita Pierson said in her TED Talk, kids don't learn from people they don't like. 

In addition, I challenge you to make a parent contact home this week...a positive one, welcoming them to this school year, your class and share what strengths you see in the child. Do this now, before you have to make a phone call about a concern. I know it takes extra time, but the impact it can have for the child, the family and yourself will be the reward in itself. If you're just not sure what to say, here's a post to help you get started: The Power of the Positive Phone Call Home.

Friday Focus - Sept 11

Great Things I Noticed this Week:

 *A class discussion on growth mindset: creating a chart of comments/thoughts people have with a fixed mindset and turning it into a comment for a growth mindset.

*A quick 5 minutes of the literacy block to help students get to know what books are in the classroom library: partners were each given a basket to "bookshop" and then share out to the class what books were in the basket and one they'd like to read. I couldn't believe how little time it took, yet it helped everyone know what books are there!

* Kindergarteners excited about their Daily 5 stamina...it always amazes me to see what those little 5 year-olds are capable of! 

*Continuing to rehearse/reinforce classroom procedures in several different settings. I appreciate your patience to help students develop and instill those routines with extra time now at the start of the year to save you time in the long run.

Events Next Week:
 Monday - Boy Scouts will be sharing info in the gym during noon recess. Please share this with your class during your class morning announcements.
Tuesday - Fundraiser Kick-Off assembly in the gym at 2:25. It may be wise to have kids packed up before hand just in case.
Wednesday - Staff Meeting 3:10 in the IMC (agenda includes digital citizenship and norming process for writing)
Friday - Staff Social Lunch (I will be organizing for Jimmy Johns...please plan to have your orders in by Wednesday)

"Nuts & Bolts" Notes:

• Bus Dismissal procedure: please have students line up in their bus lines at the end of the day. The bus drivers are going to be keeping their doors closed to not let students on buses until ALL of the buses have arrived. This helps to ensure student safety as buses are still arriving. *If bus 8 is late we can have the others go to their buses, but then have the bus 8 line wait and then walk them down so they don't go running. 
• WI DPI has announced the name of our new state testing...drumroll please...   Wisconsin Forward.  I have no other news to share, just the name. 
• iOS9 is coming out next Tuesday but Mr. Modaffand Mr Wallesverd have asked us to hold off on updating so they can test it out first. Keep this in mind for  yourself and for your students' iPads. 
• One more XPD call...please let me know if you're interested in leading an XPD this year (or want to nominate someone that I can help ask to lead one!)
• Please let me know if you plan to have students use the online resources through ThinkCentral...it no longer allows you to add students, requiring me to upload them. It's not a problem, I just don't plan to do it unless you're going to use it. 

Blogs, Tweets & Pins...Oh My!!!
*Be Sure To quick reflection for end of a lesson (1 minute video clip to see)
*Find Your Marigold
*Why Your Students Can't Stay Seated, Organized, or Focused(And What to do About It)
*We Are All Reader Leaders
*‏@lsmith0917  seeking feedback plays such an essential role in continuous growth-even when hard to hear sometimes! #educoach

Monday Musings - Sept. 7

*Last year my Monday Musings posts pretty much disappeared from my weekly routine, replaced by piles and piles of work I was behind on. This year I hope to not let that happen again!

We only have 4 days completed in our school year, but I recognize that these were some of the most important days. We know how important it is to build relationships with students and for our students to build a classroom community that supports learning for one another. While much of my time in these first 4 days was running from room to room to read to classes, I caught glimpses of best practices in setting up classrooms for success: 

• Class meetings
• Team building activities
• Partner activities to get to know each other better
• Whole class ice breaker activities to get to know one another
• Students sharing things about themselves with items brought from home
• Developing class and individual learning goals 

All of this while still building routines/procedures within the classroom to set the stage for success this year. It is amazing to see what you can accomplish in just 4 days!

I appreciate all of your hard work to kick off the year to a solid start in classrooms. I appreciate the welcoming smiles/greetings by all staff in the hallways to help direct parents/students to the right rooms, and all of the extra help offered throughout the day at lunch, recess, dismissal, etc. 

Friday Focus - Sept 4

Whew!!! What a Week! We made it through the first week of school...standing ovation for everyone! Don't you forget how tired you are this time of year?  Not only do we have to get the kids back into the routine, but we have to get used to scheduled bathroom breaks for ourselves and building up our standing or dress shoe stamina...but you made it!! Flexibility - So I can't single out certain people but EVERYONE and how flexible you have been this week...modified schedule (music classes affected), me being in classrooms for read aloud and thus hard to find, recess orientation, new dismissal time, new announcement procedure, etc. Thanks for always showing grace and patience to me, but also to your co-workers. Never giving up - So I know how much fun it is going over the rules and procedures 67 million times but you guys are doing great and your probably want to keep at a little longer. Events Next Week: Monday - Labor Day homework: relax, you deserve it! Tuesday - 3:10-3:30 MAP training part 2. Now that you have Casper focus set I'll walk you through what YOU will do to proctor the test to your class. I'll keep it brief, I promise...the hard part is over (bring BOTH devices) For your future lesson plans, please mark down: Tuesday, September 15 2:15 Fundraiser Kick-Off Assembly "Nuts & Bolts" Notes: If you haven't done so already, please turn in your schedule to me. Are you interested in teaching an XPD or have a topic that you hope to learn from in an XPD? Please let me know if you're interested or have a suggested. Dr. Thompson needs to get this schedule put together soon.   Check-In on Launching Writers Workshop: Do you have materials figured out and placed in easy to access spots? Do your students know where they are? Have you started teaching those routines that will help keep the mini lesson mini and the active engagement efficient/effective? This includes transitions to the carpet (possibly assigned carpet spots), teacher cues to signal your writers, partners for the active engagement, etc.                   I can't wait to see our writers get started...I'm bummed that I don't have my own class to launch this with, so let me know if you ever want an extra hand in your room. I'd be happy to help. Blogs, Tweets & Pins...Oh My! *Praise the Process: a great 6 min video clip showing how Writers Workshop feedback can help students to develop a growth mindset HERE *Note about the "Pins" in this post...MOST are from our own classrooms!!! Student-Made Selfies!