Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Change is an opportunity

I'm in my 31st year as an educator and I can honestly say that I don't do anything today the same way I did 31 years ago.  I started as an educator before computers were in schools.  Voicemail and email were not means of communication.  The world wide web wasn't even the country wide web.  But these are just a few of the technological changes.


The biggest changes for me have been since I became an administrator.  I have been able to be someone who encourages changes for the benefit of our students.  We have built relationships as a staff with one another and with our students.  Strong relationships serve two purposes- they allow for open and honest conversations and they allow for taking risks.  Any change is risky, so having relationships with others to collaborate with and learn from is vital.  Have we tried something that didn't work.  Absolutely!  But we are educators so we learn from our actions, either what to do or what not to do, and then put that into play in the future.

(from Karama)

I've noticed that change impacts people in different ways.  I have seen people, myself included, be overcome by something that seems so minor.  I have also seen people, myself included, be unaffected by something that is really major.  What is minor to some is major to others and what is major to some is minor to others.  It's something I keep in mind whenever we discuss changing anything in our school.



Above all else, change needs to include open conversations.  People need to be heard.  Listen for understanding, not to provide reasons or excuses.  These conversations will provide the impetus for real change to occur.  And don't get discouraged if the change doesn't happen right away.  It takes time for real change to have an occur and for the impact to be felt.

(from Monday Meditation)

I challenge you to keep the focus on the process and not the end result.  You might have an end result in mind when implementing change, but there can be twists and turns along the way.  I hope that each change we consider in our schools keeps the focus on the students.  If it doesn't have a positive impact on the students, why even consider it?  So, what changes are you considering?

Friday, February 23, 2018

Struggles

We work hard, but are we working harder than the kids?  Sometimes we don't let our kids struggle enough, and sometimes we don't let ourselves struggle, either.  How many times have you dialed 5555 instead of trouble shooting on your own first?  As we move through February, take the time to struggle and to allow our kids to struggle, too.  I admit, I like to try to provide answers sometimes because it's faster.  But who is the learner in that situation?  Nobody.  Sit down next to the student, or a colleague, and work through the question together.  And don't give them the answer.  Leave for a minute, or 3, and then come back and check on their progress.  Repeat as necessary.  That's when the learning really will happen.

Great things I saw this week...
Students and staff helping one another out in Homework Club.
Watching teachers in action while being an instructional assistant (Our IAs are amazing, by the way!).
The joy on a student's face as she read me her argument essay.
Stations being used in math class.
Music at lunch time.
Listening to the jazz band in the morning (I didn't see it, but I heard it).
Visitors from Oostburg in awe of our school.
The learning lounge being used more and more.
Conversations about our kids and how we can connect better with them.

Calendar
Tuesday, February 27th
4:15  Homework Club

Thursday, March 1st
4:15  Homework Club

Friday, March 2nd
Health screening
Student Senate carnival

Saturday, March 3rd
EdCampElmbrook

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
Because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
Edward Everett Hale,
writer and clergyman

Why Schools Should Focus More on "Innovation" Than "EdTech" (from George Couros)

(from Pinterest)

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow,
poet and educator

"There are risks and costs to a program of action.  But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction."
John F. Kennedy, 35th president of the United States

Hope is Not a Strategy (from George Couros)

They can because they think they can.
Virgil,
poet

Always Err on the Side of Positive (from George Couros)

The better part of one's life consists of his friendships.
Abraham Lincoln,
16th US president
Family smore for 2.23.18

Because we teach...(taken, word for word, from Pernille Ripp's most recent post)
On my computer hangs a post-it note that says, "Which child are you giving up on?"  Inspired by a conversation Lisa Meade shared, this simple note is my constant reminder that in our school we don't give up on anyone.  That in our school, we seek out all of the kids.  That in our school we don't want invisible children.  That when we think we have done enough, there is always more to do.

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

Friday, February 16, 2018

We teach with our heart

It was Valentine's Week, the week that brings us closer to the ones we love.  It's also the week that can break your heart.  As educators, we wear our emotions on our sleeves, even those of you who don't think so.  I can see it.  Wednesday was a great day for our kids in Merton.  There was learning, some candy, and the feel of a normal school day.  The energy was high because it was Valentine's Day and there was a planned field trip for our 7th and 8th graders the next day.  We even had a fire drill, something that has become routine for all of us.  And then I saw the news about the school shooting in Florida.  I remembered Columbine and Sandy Hook.  The schools and what happened at those schools is something that none of us will ever forget.  And now we add Marjory Stoneman Douglas.  I think you all know how much I care about the safety and security of our school, our students, and our staff.  Please do me a favor.  Think through our safety plans- fire, tornado, intruder- and make sure to let me know if you have any concerns about any of them.  I know we are prepared for an intruder.  I don't want to scare the students, or you, but you just never know when something could happen.  Know that Ron, Mike, John, the school board, and I think about the security of our schools, sometimes even in our sleep.  As we have time together today, don't hesitate to talk to one another about our plans and if something comes up that's a concern, please come and see me.  I'm here until 4:00 today (It's a great day for hockey in Madison!) and I'll be out and about all day, except for a few meetings and an 11:30 run in the fitness room.

Great things I saw...
Strategy groups in the learning lounge, almost all day long.
Spanish students gearing up for the placement test at Arrowhead.
Great conversations with staff for midyear and formal observations (hint, hint).
Winter Olympics in the gym.
Sheriff Kelly's presentations to our students and staff.
Tubing trip for our 7th and 8th graders.
The BLT continues to push our school to be better in every way.
The work you will be doing today (I just know it's going to be a great day of learning).

Calendar
Monday, February 19th
No School
6:30  School board meeting

Tuesday, February 20th
4:15  Homework Club

Thursday, February 22nd
Arrowhead Choral festival
4:15  Homework Club

Friday, February 23rd
7-9PM  Mardi Gras dance
  • Important future dates
  • February 28th- Student Senate carnival training
  • March 2nd- Student Senate carnival
  • March 13th- concerts
  • March 16th- Merton Art Show 4-7PM at St. John's church
  • March 19th-31st- Forward exam (schedule under development)
  • April 12th- NJHS induction
  • April 19th- High School Musical Junior
    • 6th-8th see in the AM
    • 3rd-5th see in the PM
  • May 11th- Grandparents Day
  • May 15th- concerts

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
Moving From "Stealing" to "Remixing" With Credit (from George Couros)
(from Pinterest)

The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg. ... Dreams are the seedlings of realities.
James Allen,
writer
The Next "You" (from George Couros)

(from Pinterest)

(borrowed from @PrincipalJ's nuts and bolts)

Family smore for 2.16.18

Have a great Friday, and a great long weekend!
Be the one!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell

Friday, February 9, 2018

What adjustments did you make?

Education is all about adjustments.  Today is a perfect example, isn't it?  Now that you have the day, and the weekend, to reflect, is there anything that you want to adjust about what you were going to do with the kids?  I know that this post morphed since I began writing on Wednesday.  In fact, here it is, almost 10:30 and I haven't sent this out to you.  That's a change, one that seems small but it was still difficult to make the change.  So, any chance you'll be making a change for your learning on Monday?

Great things I saw this week...
Passionate conversations with students about expectations for success.
Students taking ownership of their learning, and even teaching their classmates.
Outdoor recess!
Google expeditions and Google AR.  Can you believe what you can do with these tools for the benefit of our kids?
Staff coming in early to learn about Google AR.

Calendar
Monday, February 12th
4:15  BLT meeting

Tuesday, February 13th
12:10-1:00 7/8 Resource officer assembly
1:10-2:00  5/6 Resource officer assembly
4:15  Homework Club

Wednesday, February 14th
8:00  WIN Wednesday with Corinne and Sarah

Thursday, February 15th
7th and 8th grade field trip
Grade level and specials meetings

Friday, February 16th
Professional development
  • Important future dates
  • March 13th- concerts
  • March 14th, 15th, or 16th- Whitewater Wheelchair basketball (tentative)
  • March 16th- Merton Art Show 4-7PM at St. John's church
  • March 19th-31st- Forward exam
  • April 12th- NJHS induction
  • April 19th- High School Musical Junior
    • 6th-8th see in the AM
    • 3rd-5th see in the PM
  • May 11th- Grandparents Day
  • May 15th- concerts
Tweets, quotes, and blogs
The Road Right in Front of You (from George Couros)
"You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down."- Mary Pickford, Canadian actress and Academy Award winner
"We call them leaders because they go first." (from George Couros)

Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.
John Cotton Dana,
librarian

(from Pinterest)

I was never afraid of failure, for I would sooner fail than not be among the greatest.
John Keats,
poet
The True Power of Technology (from Pernille Ripp)
Family smore for 2.9.18

I have had a wonderful conference, but I miss the kids and I miss you.  In speaking with principals from around the state, I realized even more how lucky I am to have the opportunity to serve you, our students, and our community.

Have a wonderful long weekend, and I'll see you on Monday!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell