Friday Focus - February 26, 2016

Great Things I Noticed this Week:
*Just in case you didn't already see the news, check out this awesome honor for Mrs. Kuhn! Dodgeland Teacher Gets SHAPE Grant
*1:1 reading conferences focused on students' individual goals, having them pull out an envelope with their goal/strategy written down to give them focus
*Students writing persuasive book reviews that had me hooked from their first sentences wanting to read the books they were recommending.
*I was a part of several parent/teacher conferences that had concerns to be shared, but each started out by sharing the positives and gains that have been made so far this year.

Events Next Week: Read Across America week :)
Monday - PJ Day
Family Reading Night 6:00pm

Tuesday - Crazy Socks
*I will be involved with high school ACT testing in the AM.   Please keep classes quiet in the Office hallway all morning due to ACT testing groups in the District Office/elementary office conference rooms.

Wednesday - Wear Red, White & Blue
*I will be involved with high school ACT testing in the AM.   Please keep classes quiet in the Office hallway all morning due to ACT testing groups in the District Office/elementary office conference rooms.

Thursday - Dress as your favorite book character

Friday - Hat Day
4K playgroup 9:00 (in case you see visitors in the hallway)


Blogs, Tweets & Pins...Oh My!!
*The SLO Mid-Year Check Point
*How To Break Free of the Dreaded Teacher Slump
*@senorfolsom

A7: empathize with where they're at in their journey, be a present listener, and celebrate every step, regardless of size #educoach

Friday Focus - February 19, 2016

Events Next Week:
Tuesday - Teachers from another district will be visiting our district all day to to learn from our 1:1 initiative so you may guests wandering the halls or asking questions. We are scheduling specific stops so if you haven't already aware of your classroom being on the schedule then you won't have to worry about drop-ins.

Wednesday - Workout Wednesday

Thursday - Mid quarter (send progress reports home for those not attending PT conferences)
PT Conferences 4-7:30.

Friday - Kohls Wild Theater performance in the elementary gym at 1:00pm for grades K-5

Blogs, Tweets & Pins...Oh My!!!
*Writing conferring strategy- I Want to Give You a Compliment

Friday Focus - February 12, 2015

Some of you have heard how I feel about the month of February...I often get the "drearies" at this point of the year. With winter not ending/Seasonal Affective Disorder symptoms, being stuck inside and everything else, February can be a difficult month for a lot of people.  When I get the "drearies", I start to think about those things which are my passions.  Reading, writing and running come to mind.  But my greatest passion, outside of my family, is our school, the students and staff that I get to be with every day.  Even on my worst day, the days full of time away from kids, I know that as soon as that meeting is done, I can stop into a classroom and get re-energized.  Dodgeland is the driving force behind me trying to do and be my best everyday.  And sometimes I might fall short, but tomorrow provides another chance.  My passions are driven by the students, you, and my PLN (face to face, Twitter, and Voxer) as you all challenge me daily to be better.  

Events Next Week:
Monday - No School/Professional Development Day (buses leave by 7:30 to go to Mayville for DARTCamp...bring a device!).

Wednesday - Workout Wednesday

Friday - Staff Social Lunch (4K/5K)

*Future date: Friday, Feb 26 at 1:00pm Kohl's Wild Theater performance

"Nuts & Bolts" Notes:
*Just a reminder: Our Feb 15th PD day afternoon will focus on writing and I would like us to start out by celebrations. I've heard many great stories about specific students making progress, a catchy lead to start out a piece, a great comparison in the writing, etc.  Please be on the look out next week for specific pieces of writing that give you cause to celebrate so that you can bring an example to our meeting on that day. 

*As you're scheduling your P/T conferences, please let me know if you want me to be present for any. My schedule is already filling up.
If you have any students that you have concerns regarding possible retention and I'm not already aware if them, please let me know so we can start the SIT process. 

*If you're looking for additional resources to help nurture your students' growth mindset, Class Dojo has made some great video clips to help with this: Growth Mindset Episode 1   Episode 2  Episode 3  Episode 4

Blogs, Tweets & Pins....Oh My!!!
*5 Big Themes for 2016 iPad Learning
*How Showing and Telling Kids 'I Believe in You' Can Empower Them at School

*Lance Bagstad ‏@lbagstad  13h

13 hours ago

Engage kids when they hit the doorway. Don't lose valuable instructional time.

*@urban_teacher  5h

5 hours ago

If we teach our students emotional learning and self control.....They can master absolutely anything!

13 hours ago

Engage kids when they hit the doorway. Don't lose valuable instructional time. #awsa201613 hours agoEngage kids when they hit the doorway. Don't lose valuable instructional time. #awsa2016

Friday Focus - February 5

Great Things I Noticed this Week:

• Kindergarteners sharing their "how to" writing pieces...written with capitals, periods, spacing and the details of how to do something of their choice. They had detailed pictures to go with each step. 
• 1st graders using the opinion writing checklist to evaluate a sample piece of writing together as a class and then individually picked one or two parts of the checklist to go back into their writing to work on. 
• As I make my rounds in the morning, I can't help but notice how so many of you start out your students' day by greeting them with a smile as they enter the room. This is such an easy way to start their day off on the right foot.  I also notice how much students can already accomplish with their bell work or individual reading during those first 10 minutes of the day (while you're getting your procedural things done). This has actually given me the idea to possibly record some classes in the morning to put together a short video clip to show how important it is to be to school on time (to help prevent tardies).  

Events Next Week: JRFH Jeans week (donation envelope is in the mailroom)
Wednesday - Workout Wednesday
Grade Level PLC meetings - please be ready to discuss student mid-year data. We will look at MAP, F&P and anything else you have so we can focus on how to help our struggling learners and how to challenge our higher level students. Please also bring your laptops.

Friday - Energy Conservation Theater presentation 1:30-2:00 (K-2), 2:05-2:35 (3-5)

"Nuts & Bolts" Notes:
*We had to change the date of the Art Show to March 22, 4-6:00pm.
*Our Feb 15th PD day afternoon will focus on writing and I would like us to start out by celebrations. I've heard many great stories about specific students making progress, a catchy lead to start out a piece, a great comparison in the writing, etc.  Please be on the look out next week for specific pieces of writing that give you cause to celebrate so that you can bring an example to our meeting on that day.
*Repeat of Ms. Justmann's email: The month of April is Autism Awareness Month and April 2nd is World Autism Day.  Again this year, you can purchase an autism awareness t-shirt to show your support and spread awareness. The t-shirt is $11 and there is a picture of the shirt on the order form. You can find the order forms located in each lounge and in the elementary office. Please have your orders in by Friday, February 12.

Blogs, Tweets & Pins...Oh My!!!
*Helping Young Readers Become Independent