RtI (Response to Instruction)

We are all familiar with RtI (Response to Intervention), but how many of us stop to think about the other RtI, Response to Instruction?  After having an opportunity to visit each of your classrooms at least twice this week, I can see the quality instruction that occurs in all classrooms.  But just because we taught it doesn't mean they learned it.  How do you know if a child has learned what you taught?  What do you do if you determine they haven't learned it?  With these questions in mind, I'd like to have a conversation about this at our grade level meetings next week.  We will develop a list to be shared in next week's staff nuts and bolts.  Maybe one of you will even be a "guest blogger" to explain your favorite practice or procedure to the entire group.  As Brian Fleischman would say, "We are our best resource."  Let's use the time that we have together in team meetings to help everyone become a better educator.

Calendar
Monday, September 28th       Packer Day! Wear your Green and Gold!
                                                  MAPs makeups starting at 9:00 in the STEM lab (Students should                                                         bring their own device for testing.)
                                                  School board meeting 7:30PM
Tuesday, September 29th      CPI training 7:30-8:30AM
                                                  Shoo the Flu
                                                  Taste it Tuesday! (There'll be some great stuff in the lounge to try.)  
                                                  Practice 4:15-5:15PM
Wednesday, September 30th Workout Wednesday (Wear your workout clothes to school!)
                                                  CPI training 4:15-5:15PM
Thursday, October 1st           Wellness meeting 8AM
                                                  PTO meeting 2:30PM (Primary School)
                                                  Practice 4:15-5:15PM

Tweets, quotes, and blogs

"The key to life is accepting challenges.  Once someone stops doing this, he's dead."- Bette Davis, actress
"People who fail to regard the truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in matters that are great."- Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist

(from Ben Gilpin @benjamingilpin)

They Look for Me (from @Jonharper70bd)
"Patience is the best remedy for every trouble."- Plautus, playwright
"It is more difficult to stay on top than to get there."- Mia Hamm, professional soccer player

(from theberry.com)

"Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor."- Truman Capote, American writer
In honor of Yogi Berra's passing- "I really didn't say everything I said."

(from fouroclockfaculty.com)

"Empty pockets never held anyone back.  Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that."- Norman Vincent Peale, minister and author
"To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong."- Joseph Chilton Pearce, writer

BLT notes from 9.21.15 (link is for Merton staff only)
Family smore for 9.25.15
@mertonint on Twitter
#mertonint on Twitter
Merton Intermediate Facebook page

Great things I saw this week:
*6th grade team working together to develop a plan to curb excessive missing homework!
*Becky and Carey chaperoning the 7th and 8th grade dance with me with no incidents and a profit for the Student Senate!
*Jim Hannon working extra hard all last week to make sure we were prepared for all three Family Information Nights and the 7th and 8th grade dance!
*Mitchell B. (6th grader) helping me out with the lunch line on Monday.  He might just take my spot!
*Your efforts at the Family Information Nights last week still resonates with me!
*Mr. Wagner playing from his vinyl collection (I got to hear "Billie Jean") to provide a brain recharge in Science!
*Procedures and expectations in LA providing a wonderful environment in all grade levels!

Thursday grade level meetings
What an awesome experience I had at our grade level meetings.  You brought student work to share and learned some awesome ideas from one another while sharing.  We will continue having this as a part of our weekly meetings.  The #onenewthing was great for celebrating some of the risks you are taking in your classroom all the while receiving support from your teammates.  We will continue having this as part of our weekly meetings, too.  What if you asked your students to share their favorite/best work sample or #onenewthing with classmates?  Wouldn't that be a great way to build a cohesive classroom?  If you give it a try, I'd love to come in and visit and take part, too.

Have a terrific weekend.  Arrowhead homecoming.  Badgers vs. Hawaii.  Beautiful weather.  Enjoy your time with family and friends.
Jay