9-4-2015

For those of you on cycle, this is your formal invitation to set up a meeting with me for evaluation this year.  Just stop by to schedule a date and time for us to meet.  When we sit down we will talk about your evaluation and the student growth component.  Please give consideration to if you are doing a traditional evaluation or an alternative.  If you are doing traditional evaluation our meeting will serve as a pre-conference for your first observation and a brainstorming session for your growth component.  If you are doing an alternative evaluation we can go over form 1 and 2 as well as brainstorm your student growth component.  When you stop by to schedule this initial meeting we can discuss the positives and challenges of both evaluation formats to help you decide which way you would like to pursue this year.  Please come to me in the next two weeks to get this meeting on our calendars.

Really good article on 4 skills to teach students(not just on the first five days of school) anytime.
http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/08/21/four-skills-to-teach-students-in-the-first-five-days-of-school-alan-november/

Thanks to Greg for spending the day giving a tour of the Maker Space.  It will be open for business next week and we will make announcements to inform the kids.

No Genius Left Behind

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/angela-maiers/no-genius-left-behind_b_8046806.html

Please make sure you are handing out fish slips to reward students when you see them Making someone's day, being there, playing or choosing their attitude"  Our prize drawer is restocked and we are going to have students redeem them on Friday at the end of the day.  We are working on bigger prizes for students that save their slips. We also put "off the hook" slips in the lounge so you could recognize your peers when they do something nice for you.

6 non-teaching books every teacher should read.

http://www.edutopia.org/discussion/6-non-teaching-books-every-teacher-should-read

Thanks to Alex and Colleen for running the magazine sale for student council.  Students will get a chance to reverse dunk tank(water pours on top of me from above, think Flashdance...well maybe don't think Flashdance as I am no Jennifer Beals) me on Friday, September 11th.  Teachers can also volunteer for this luxurious position. 

In case you missed the email from Greg, this is an awesome website for a virtual tour of a Space Station.

http://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/virtual-tour-iss/

Please make sure you have your newsletter articles in to Ellen, if you have not done so already.  

Intrinsic Motivation in Student Writing

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/intrinsic-motivation-growth-mindset-writing-amy-conley

I put some PTA Spirit Wear Order forms in the lounge.  Check it out to get some additional Benjamin Bling.

Our Wednesday Schedule for this month needs to be revised again.  Wednesday, September 9th is an early release day and Wednesday, September 16th we will have our staff learning meeting.

In case you didn't realize today is Force Friday so I will leave you with 15 quotes from Star Wars That you can Use in Everyday Life.  Feel free to use number 9 against me at anytime throughout the year.

http://www.starwars.com/news/15-star-wars-quotes-to-use-in-everyday-life

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday weekend and that you get to spend some time unwinding with family and friends.