9-8-2017

Thanks for bearing with me and my allergies for my underwhelming presentation overview of Creative Schools by Ken Robinson at our Learning meeting.  Notes will be coming soon, but one of our takeaways about measuring growth in different ways can be done through this portfolio website Fresh Grade or through Canvas in their portfolio option.
https://www.freshgrade.com/



I am looking forward to getting hit by chocolate pies today during each of the recess periods.  Thanks to Mrs. Pasker, Michelle and Kathy for organizing the event with the book fair fundraiser.

The Fake Growth Mindset by Carol Dweck
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/12/how-praise-became-a-consolation-prize/510845/


Megan P is tearing it up on twitter, highlighting some of her classes achievements and adventures.  You can follow her @peterson2teachU

Every moment spent in the classroom has an opportunity for growth:
http://nagc.org/blog/teacher%E2%80%99s-corner-lesson-plan%E2%80%A6-what-leave-what-leave-out


Thanks to everyone who has turned in their summer curriculum work.  If you have not done so already, please do so soon.



Matthew Turek did a great job at the beginning band meeting tonight, getting students and parents excited about playing music. Corey was on hand to help out with his Tuba skills and we had 3 Benjamin Alum helping students as well.  

30 behaviors that will make you unstoppable.
https://journal.thriveglobal.com/30-behaviors-that-will-make-you-unstoppable-ae749e04443e


Thanks to Nicole for sending out the data summaries for our grade level meetings yesterday and to Kim for getting the letters out to parents.  I appreciate the time and effort everyone pours into those meetings to do what is best for all students.  Also, just a reminder to all teachers that a parent should be called any and every time their child is receiving a failing grade in your class.

10 wordless videos to teach problem solving.
http://speechisbeautiful.com/2017/03/10-wordless-videos-teach-problem-solving/?utm_content=bufferff95c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_campaign=buffer


What generosity was shown for our Hurricane Harvey charity drive.  The guys filled up the van and was able to deliver the donations to the truck going to Texas.  Special thanks to Melissa for organizing this under Operation Bengal Care.

If you are feeling smart this morning, a good, but lengthy and complicated article on thought experiments:
https://www.farnamstreetblog.com/2017/06/thought-experiment-how-einstein-solved-difficult-problems/

I was able to get in a few classrooms this week, Mark B had his students engaged at the highest level as students first watched as he started writing two unnamed lists on the overhead.  The more he added the kids tried to figure out what they could add to each column until they could name the lists.  Student brain power was working overtime!  This is just one example of the great work you guys are doing everyday in the classroom.  Thank you!





There is some great work up in the hallways.  Danielle's Bio's, Colleen and Lauren's Bio Poems, Chris's Ways We Use Math, Melissa's Helping Hands, and April's Airplanes and Data Posters are just some of the great examples of student products created in these first few weeks of school.





The slow death of the electric guitar and why you should care:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/classic-apps/the-slow-secret-death-of-the-electric-guitar-and-why-you-should-care/2017/06/22/5a2fce5c-2920-11e7-b605-33413c691853_story.html?utm_term=.243b0a90bd53


Just a reminder of the agenda of our two upcoming Wednesday Meetings:

Wednesday September 13th Early Release 1:45-4:00pm  Student Growth Goals (I will be available for individual meetings with teachers as well as teachers working on their own to finish writing your student growth goals.  

Wednesday September 20th  Subject Area Meetings  Social Studies Teachers Meeting 1: Analyzing Illinois Social Studies Learning Standards/compare curriculum 2:45-3:45pm

Radiolab Podcast on two new technologies in our near future that can have scary repercussions.  Listen to when you have about 30 minutes...educational and entertaining, I promise
http://www.radiolab.org/story/breaking-news/

Grade level Team please return the PARCC individual scores to the office so we can get them sent out to parents.  There will be a copy made for the individual student record that you can access at any time.

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect."  Mark Twain