Rut or groove

I have to start out with a weird story.  As I was thinking about what to write this week, I realized that what I was going to write I actually wrote one year ago.  So, instead of rewriting my thoughts, I decided to share them with you again below.  Sometimes it's important to look back and repeat something, and other times it's not.  I hope this is important enough to repeat.

We are in the midst of our third week of school.  Procedures should be in place, with a tweak here and there and a reminder from time to time.  When that happens you might find yourself in a groove or a rut.  Which describes where you are?  It is great to get into a groove as an educator, but doing the same thing over and over, even if it's good stuff, can get you into a rut.  And if you stay in the rut long enough, it might look a bit like the car above.  So how do you stay in a groove without it turning into a rut?  Here are some suggestions.
*Challenge yourself not to do the same thing every day.  For example, Kahoots are effective but not all of the time.  Have the kids develop review games sometimes instead.
*Don't talk to only the same staff or students every day.  Make a connection with someone new every week, or day, so that you get to know more of the great people in our school.
*Open your classrooms to others, and visit other's classrooms, too.  There are amazing things happening in our school every day.  Stop in a classroom and check it out.
*Connect with educators outside of school.  We don't know what we don't know.  Sidle up to someone at a conference.  Connect on a Twitter chat, or two.  Join a Voxer group.
Let's make it a "groove"-y year!

Great things I saw this week...
Students and staff helping each other out.
The excitement of archery in 5th grade.
6th graders building their skimmers.
Measurement activities in math class.
Lots of kids reading.
A variety of staff conferring with students about their work.
5th grade Family Information Night
Watching LA teachers and students while learning from Brenda
Math excitement during Homework Club
7th and 8th grade Family Information Night
Mrs. Tylke and her work with Boosterthon
6th grade band working on "Bringer of War"
The look on Andrea's face when she saw me dressed as a pirate (Ask her about it.)
5th graders and 7th graders doing archery at the same time
Watching Matt play basketball with the kids during gym
Skimmers in the cafeteria
True concern for the well-being of our students during grade level meetings

Calendar
Learning rounds with Brenda and Jay started this week
Ask me if you want to know what this means!

Intermediate School Special Events

Monday, September 24th
First BLT meeting  4:15PM
6th grade Family Information Night 5:30PM
School board meeting 7PM

Tuesday, September 25th
Boosterthon kickoff 8:45-9:15ish
Adjusted schedule for the morning

Saturday, September 29th
EdCampMiddleSchool at Concordia

Thursday, October 4th
Boosterthon fun run

Thursday, October 18th
Invitational only conferences from 4:30-8:00

Thursday, October 25th
All day PD day from 8:00-4:00

Friday, October 26th
No school

Tweets, blogs, and quotes
Forget Lawnmower Parents- I Was a Lawnmower Teacher (from We Are Teachers)

A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.

Jackie Robinson, baseball player

One Important Question That Leads to Student Empowerment in Schools (from George Couros)

Today I was coached (from me)

#mertonint on Twitter
#MertonProud on Twitter
Merton Intermediate School Facebook page
mertonint on Instagram
Family smore from 9.21.18

Thanks for another great week.  Mini-observations will start next week.  Nothing will be announced, but if you get an email from me with notes and the tagging of evidence, remember that I will not only include the "I noticed..." and "I wonder..." statements, but also one of the four questions I mentioned at grade level meetings.  You'll then need to either respond in writing or set up a brief meeting for a discussion with me.  Thanks for always being prepared and for having your teaching point there for the kids, and me!
Be the spark!
Jay
Take care of the kids.  Take care of each other.  Take care of yourself.- John Gunnell