Sunday, November 26, 2017

Thanksgiving reflections

Thanksgiving- a time to think about what you are thankful for and to thank those who have helped to make your life better.  I am thankful for...
  • Jen- She is my rock and my navigator and my everything.
  • Lauren- She makes me want to be a better dad and educator every day.
  • My parents, Liz and Joe- They were, are, and will always be my favorite teachers.
  • My brother, Brian, and my sister, Priscilla- Their success as parents and in their occupations makes me want to be better every day.
  • Each of you- I am fired up to come to school every day to see you work the magic you work every day in your classrooms and in all the extra things you do to connect with our kids.
Thank you for all that you do for our kids, and each other, every day!

Calendar
Monday, November 27th
3:30  Eye doctor appointment
7:00  Board meeting
Tuesday, November 28th
4:15  Homework Club
Wednesday, November 29th
8:30  TILT meeting
12:30  Math meeting
4:15  BLT meeting
Thursday, November 30th
8:00  Coaches' meeting
Grade level and Specials meetings
2:30  Google hangout
4:15  Homework Club
Friday, December 1st
Half day
Wonder movie!

Quotes, tweets, and blogs
Are you more focused on the "new", or the "better"? (from George Couros)

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
Nelson Mandela,
activist and political leader

WONDERful Ways to Promote Kindness in the Classroom (from Scholastic)



Nobody Wants to Be "Fixed" (from George Couros)

So Much More Than Letters and Numbers (from George Couros)

As I Plan My Lesson (from Pernille Ripp)

I hope that you enjoyed your time out of school these last 5 days.  I know that I did.  I spent time with family and friends and was unplugged more than normal.  I need to do that a little more often.  Anyway, this week is going to be a great one, I can just tell.  I need to ask you two favors for Monday morning.

  1. Get out of your classrooms and into the hallways.  Our kids have been away from us for 5 days.  Some of them had a great time.  Others might not and are looking forward to seeing us.  Like my #prinicpalsinaction t-shirt says, "Smiles, high fives, and changing lives."  Let's make that our motto for Monday and the week to come.
  2. Please show this video of the picture book "We're All Wonders".  It's a nice way, I hope, of prepping our kids for the movie "Wonder" on Friday, especially those who haven't read the book.
See you all tomorrow!
Be the one!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell
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Friday, November 17, 2017

My bus ride

"The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry."  This quote from "To A Mouse" by Robert Burns couldn't have been more true on Wednesday.


From time to time, I'll ride a bus with the students after school.  Wednesday was one of those days.  My intent was to assist the driver with some behaviors as well as to get an idea of the climate of the bus.  Normally when the ride is over the driver brings me back to school.  Well, the driver and I got in a conversation and the next thing I knew I was at the bus terminal in a town other than where our school is.  The last minute of the ride went something like this.

Driver-  Thanks for riding along today.  It was the quietest ride of the year.
Me- No problem.  Just keep me informed if you're having an issues or you'd like me to ride again.
Driver- Do you have a ride back to school?
Me- Yes.  My wife should be here shortly to pick me up.

I got off the bus.  It's pitch black due to day light savings time so I walked closer to the driveway entrance to stand under the street light.  And then I texted my wife and daughter of my predicament.  I didn't have the heart to tell the driver that I was expecting him to take me back to school after the last stop.  You see, I didn't have a ride back to school.  My wife came to pick me up and we had a good chuckle all the way home.

I learned two lessons on that ride.
#1.  Be more specific when riding a bus that you will need a ride back to school after the last stop.
#2.  Spending a few extra minutes with our bus drivers develops a relationship that allows the drivers to know you really care about the kids and about them.

Next time, I may just drop off my car at the bus terminal, ride a bus to school, and then ride a different bus home.  That way I can build a relationship with another driver.  And I won't have to have my wife come pick me up.
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It's Thanksgiving week!

I don't have much to share this week except I am so proud and grateful to work with each and every one of you every single day.  We will have a fantastic Friday today and a terrific two day week next week.  I know that you will have meaningful experiences for our students leading up to Thanksgiving because that's what you do every day.  The more we make the next three days like any days of the school year, the more our kids will learn and perform for you like they always have done.  Let's make this the best three days of the school year so far.

Great things I saw this week...
Even in tough times, the staff was able to get together, talk about kids, and laugh about the crazy things that happen to us every day.
Therapeutic toys in 6th grade.
Math stations with mini-lessons.
Kids writing and reading every day, with choice and voice.
Having a chance to cover a math class and reconnecting with kids.
Great discussions in team meetings.
Do you even know how lucky I am to get the opportunity to visit your classrooms and do observations?
Conferences the last two weeks.  I had great discussions about you all with families every night.

Calendar
Monday, November 20
Move it Monday- wear some workout gear
BLT meeting 4:15-5:15
Tuesday, November 21
No Office Day, as much as possible.
Wednesday, November 22-26
Enjoy Thanksgiving with family and friends.

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
Problems are guidelines, not stop signs.
Robert Schuller,
clergyman and speaker

Maybe Next Year (from Pernille Ripp)

I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be who I want.
Muhammad Ali,
boxer
11 Ways to Build Capacity and Never Stop Growing (from David Geurin)


"You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give." 

— Eleanor Roosevelt

Only Schools Can End Schools (from George Couros)

The risk is the challenge.
Mario Andretti,
auto racer
Today I cried... (from Kelley Begley McCall)

Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.
Grandma Moses,
folk artist


3 Myths about "Empowering" Students in Schools Today (from George Couros)

#mertonint on Twitter
Family smore for 11.17.17

Once you school is over today, do me a favor.  Reach out to a family member of friend you haven't been in touch with in a while.  Give them a call or invite them to coffee or lunch.  Focus on the relationship you had, or have, with them.  Catch up, listen, and smile.  And then I challenge you to do the same with one of our students next week.  Find the one, or two, or ten, that you think might be having the most difficult time leading up to our long Thanksgiving break.  Connecting with them might just make next week the best two day school week they could ever have.  You may know that a few of your colleagues are reading Kids Deserve It along with me.  This week we did flipgrid videos.  Full disclosure- your colleagues did their videos but I haven't done mine yet.  The power of the messages in this book reminds me of each of you.  If you haven't read the book and you'd like to, let me know if you'd like a copy of the book.  I know a guy.  And if you like the message of the book, maybe you would like to show off the message by wearing a shirt or sweatshirt.  Here's a link to some options, if you're interested.
See you all soon!
Be the one!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell
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Friday, November 10, 2017

Conferences

On Wednesday night, at the end of 5th grade conferences, I was involved in #ohedchat, a chat of educators from the state of Ohio.  The question, and my response, was one I think about often at family conference time.  Please take a moment to reflect on my response.


A6 Face to face is more powerful than a phone call is more powerful than an email or text. Make time to talk to someone face to face.



Q6: Moments of connection bond us with others. Groups bond when they struggle together. Reflect and share.

I must say, the power of a face to face conversation does something no other means of communication can do.  When I'm asked, "Are family conferences important anymore?"  My unequivocal answer is YES!  Thanks to all of you for your time with our families to set goals with our students, celebrate our students, and build relationships with our families.

Calendar
If you're on cycle, don't forget to schedule your observation!
Monday, November 13
Strategic planning 6PM

Tuesday, November 14
Power Day
Homework Club 4:15

Wednesday, November 15
Culver's Night 4-8PM

Thursday, November 16
Grade level/Specials meetings
Homework Club 4:15
6th, 7th, and 8th grade conferences 4:30

Friday, November 17
No Office Day!

Great things I saw this week...
Staff being patient with students struggling both academically and behaviorally
Staff stepping up to help out
Students and Michael preparing for Veterans' Day
Your efforts at family conferences
Staff supporting one another
Keeping the kids first

Quotes, tweets, and blogs
(from Pinterest)

How do you focus on being innovative while still teaching the curriculum? (from George Couros)


You build on failure. You use it as a steppingstone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.
Johnny Cash,
singer and songwriter

#mertonint on Twitter

I look forward to our Veterans' Day celebration this morning.  I look forward to making phone calls home today so please give me the name of one student from each grade level.  I'd love a staff member's name, too.  Keep the kids front and center with all that we do today.  Find that one student or staff member that needs you to Be The One and then Be. The. One.
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

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Friday, November 3, 2017

Icebergs

This has been one of my favorite weeks of the school year.  Why?  I've had to face a number of challenges, both with students and adults, and it made me really sit back and reflect, more than I normally do.  As we approach the holiday season- it is November, by the way- behaviors of all in our schools begins to change or heighten.  Often we only see what's on the surface but, like an iceberg, there are underlying issues and situations that are the real reason for the behaviors.  Remember precipitating factors from our CPI training?  That's what I'm writing about.  See the graphic below about some of these factors.
(from rippleeffects.com)
There are many more than just those that are listed here.  And as I said in our training, don't become a precipitating factor yourself.  In one of my Voxer groups this week, a conversation occurred about how relationships can have an impact, both negative and positive, on the behavior of students and adults.  I challenge you to build one relationship in November using the 2X10 strategy (If you don't know what this is, just ask me!) or by having me take over your class to foster a relationship with "that kid".  Who is up for the challenge?  Extra credit- Blog about the difference this relationship has made for the student, you, or your class.

Great things I saw this week...
BizTown for our 5th graders (animoto is here)
Coaches and staff working together for our kids
6th grade trip to the Cave of the Mounds
Flexibility of staff to help out one another
Laughter in classrooms
Cleaner hallways
Jennifer's efforts for this year's book fair
Kids reading
Kids supporting one another in math
Family meeting about High School Musical Jr.

Calendar
Monday, November 6th
4 way stop from 8:15-8:45 (Anyone able to help?  You'll get to leave at 3:45 some day in the future!)
8:00AM  #KidsDeserveIt Twitter chat in the library (All are welcome!)
9-11  PTO grants
6:00PM  Strategic planning

Tuesday, November 7th
4:15-5:15  Homework Club

Wednesday, November 8th
8:00  Staff meeting (Sarah and Corinne are leading us)
1:15  A-team meeting
4:30  5th grade conferences

Thursday, November 9th
Jeans for Troops ($5 donation for wearing jeans)
Grade level/ Specials meetings
4:15  Homework Club
4:30  5th/6th grade conferences

Friday, November 10th
9:00  Veterans' Day breakfast
10:00  Veterans' Day assembly
11:00-11:45  Veterans visit classrooms


Tweets, blogs, and quotes
Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.
William Jennings Bryan,
political leader and orator

(from Pinterest)

We Got This (from Pernille Ripp)

Orly Wahba: Kindness and consequence

Letter to a Tired Teacher (from Danny Steele)

(from Pinterest)



#mertonint on Twitter
Family smore for 11.3.17

Conferences are next week.  It's an opportunity to...
discuss the successes of students.
build relationships with families.
set goals and plans for student struggles.
discuss specific skills you are focusing on.
develop partnerships with families.
share what you are doing with and for students.
share examples of student work.
share student developed goals.
open the door for future communications.

Be the one!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell


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