Halftime!

Back when I was a high school basketball coach, halftime adjustments were my greatest challenge.  If we were playing well, I wouldn't want to do anything to mess it up.  We'd make a change or two, but the basic game plan would stay the same.  If we weren't playing well, I would try to do something to change up our defense or offense to be more successful.  Sometimes the adjustments were great and other times they weren't.  But basketball is just a game.  What we do as educators for our kids is life.  This year we have had a great first half.  Take a moment to reflect on what has gone well.

(Seriously pause right now and reflect.)

There are some great things to celebrate, aren't there?  Now, take a moment to think about a change, or two, that you would like to make for the second half.  It could be with curriculum, or delivery, or a relationship with a student or colleague.

(Seriously, take another dramatic pause for reflection.)

I'm sure you have some great ideas.  Share them with a colleague or family member.  Ask for someone to check in on you to see how the changes are going, or reflect on it on your own.  Please know that I am here for you to give you support or the constant gentle pressure you need to keep improving.  As Dr. Max Goodwin of New Amsterdam (the only show Jen and I watch together) would say, "How can I help?"

Great things I saw this week...
Dance routines in PE
Read alouds in lots of classes (I enjoy listening to you read and sharing your thoughts as much as the kids do!)
8th grade behavior for the AHS counselors (They were impressed, too!)
TEDTalks in 6th grade
Boys basketball teams in action
The smiles on faces of students sharing their improved MAP scores with me, and the smiles on the faces of those who work with those students.
The effort of Carey, Jackie, and the Student Senate students for Kindness Week and the Kindness Olympics.
The kids, and all of you, having a great time yesterday with Kindness Olympics.
Individual halftime conversations with staff.

Calendar
Intermediate School Special Events

Saturday, January 26th
EdCampMadWI (at Sun Prairie High School)
Staff get together

Monday, January 28th
BLT meeting 4:15
School board meeting 7:00

Tuesday, January 29th
Jay in Madison for AWSA webinar (Anyone up for a GOOSE pass for helping cover lunch and recess duty?)

Tweets, quotes, and blogs
Are you focusing on the race or the training? (from George Couros)

“If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” – Mister Rogers

Must Education Feed Your Soul? (From Jon Harper)

#ReclaimingOurCalling #UndergroundBookClub (from Brad Gustafson)

The fear of being laughed at makes cowards of us all.

Mignon McLaughlin, journalist and author

#InnovatorsMindset Instagram Book Study 1.27.19-2.9.19 (from George Couros)

If you're so inclined, Adam Welcome is having a contest for schools and districts to have him as a free keynote speaker.  Adam is the co-author of Kids Deserve It!.  This form is being used for the contest.

#mertonint on Twitter

#MertonProud on Twitter

Merton Intermediate School Facebook page

mertonint on Instagram
Student assembly from 1.17.19

Family smore from 1.17.19

Thanks for a great first half.  I'm looking forward to an even better second half!
Be the spark!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell