2-23-2018

Article on Resiliency after Violence.  First part of the article particularly strong on talking with students during these tough times.
https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/18/02/resiliency-after-violence

What a Victory! The 5th/6th grade girls basketball team won a come from behind game in overtime last night against a very tough Aurora Christian!  Great coaching by Dan and Matt.  Also thanks to Jessica and Lyn doing the supervision and talk about tough...Mr. Wadman doing the book and the clock at the same time.

How arts-focused field trips can help our student test scores.
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brown-center-chalkboard/2018/02/16/an-unexpectedly-positive-result-from-arts-focused-field-trips-in-school/

Thanks to all of our teaching assistants.  I continue to be amazed at the job they do in the classroom and in all of the extra duties they do like homework club, lunch duty and helping students on the bus to name a few.  We are lucky to have such a strong support staff.

The Brain changing power of Conversation.
https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/18/02/brain-changing-power-conversation?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=&utm_term=&utm_content=

Speaking of strong staff...I know Matthew hates being complemented so I won't say that we are all proud of him winning the IEA New Teacher Award and just say that we are awestruck by his ability to assemble a dagwood sandwich while supervising 5th grade lunch duty, with his lunchbox hanging around his neck. Oh and I guess he is a pretty decent band teacher that has done an amazing job of improving our band program.  Make sure not to complement him when you see him in the hallway! :)

Article on the power of music.
https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/04/28/schopenhauer-on-the-power-of-music/

Thanks to Marcia for keeping us informed with all of the medical updates that she has been receiving for our students.

Helping students make good decisions:
https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/18/02/making-good-decisions

Hope Group will be working with Angela to make improvements to our courtyard.  That makes two projects for the courtyard as former student and potential Eagle Scout David Fatheree will also be working on an outdoor classroom area in the courtyard this summer.



Great work to Michelle and Kathy H for promoting and organizing such a big Caudill celebration.  Anytime we can get the students reading from their own interests for pleasure, we are ahead of the game!

How to handle the fear of failure.
http://www.openculture.com/2011/05/paulo_coelho_on_the_fear_of_failure.html


On the evening of March 1st I have a representative from Northwestern Center for Talent Development coming in to talk to parents about the available enrichment programs they have to offer their children.

"In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety." - Abraham Maslow


Jessica is doing a great job facilitating the newspaper club.  I have had more reporters from the Tiger Times come to me with hard hitting, investigative reporting questions this year than I can ever remember happening previously.

“A mind is a fire to be kindled, not a vessel to be filled.” — Plutarch