4-6-2018

Thanks to Jessica for organizing the engineering expo trip today to Madison, Wisconsin.  This should be a fun and educational trip.

Helping students identify their values through writing prompts.
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/helping-your-students-identify-their-values-maurice-elias?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

Big thanks to Jen H, Lori P, Matt T, Bill W, Lynette W, Courtney M, Rich F, Jen P, Jen V, Jim A and Corey M for helping with the very popular transition to selling ala carte items in the lunchroom.  We will go through one more change today which will be selling all lunch students first, without letting them buy ala carte items and then calling all students up to buy ala carte items separately.  This should help Ellen T out on the back end as she has been doing a tremendous job balancing the numbers.

The importance of Purpose in education.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/importance-purpose-education

Thanks to the teachers that have submitted foundation grants.  There is still time to get one submitted.  These grants are a great way to supplement your classroom resources. 

Jessica found this great article.

https://www.chronicle.com/article/We-re-Teaching-Grit-the/242854

Thanks to Mark, Jim, Colleen, Lynette and Jen V who have been working hard to pack up supplies/materials for the upcoming renovations. 

The 30 best science websites.

https://www.weareteachers.com/best-science-websites/

 Thanks to Frank and Tony who have been putting together the large order of flexible furniture that has been delivered intermittently throughout the last week.  Getting this done on top of all the other work they have been doing is impressive. 

Incorporating spoken word into the classroom.  

https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/18/04/lifting-youth-voices-through-spoken-word

Thanks to Michelle Fiorini for bringing big-time author Blue Balliett in to talk to the 5^th and 6^th grade students.  They were enthralled with her talk about the writing process…and the ghosts that she has seen!

Angela and Colleen have been taking advantage of the virtual reality Zspace stations in the maker space.  I appreciate taking a risk on this new technology that will hopefully help learning as much as their engagement. 

I want to thank everyone for their hard work to execute PARCC testing. From administering the test, to pulling together special lessons for PE and Specials as well as the tech work from Angela, Kim, Ellen B and Greg has made it smooth sailing so far.  Obviously, the most important work is the work that everyone is doing daily to get the students learning, PARCC or no PARCC the rigor and engagement that you employ with your students is making a difference.   

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.