12-21-2018

I want to thank everyone for the restaurant gift card. It will be put to good use over break!

Thanks to Jen S. for setting up the wonderful breakfast this morning.  Hopefully, you enjoy/enjoyed it, depending upon when you read this.

I'm looking forward to the talent show today.  Chris and Lynette worked extremely hard to get the acts ready for their shining moment on stage.

Thanks to Angela for allowing us to use her room for the chair massages.  Also, she led the HOPE Group in this excellent podcast.  Her students talk about a variety of topics.  Definitely worth a listen.
https://benjamin.bendist25.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=780978&type=d&pREC_ID=1180158

Jessica has led the Tiger Times staff in another spectacular, hard-hitting, investigative edition of their newspaper.   I particularly like the article in which Natan takes a controversial stance on running being good for you!

I appreciate the effort and hard work that Michelle and Kathy put into running the bookfair this winter.  Despite some obstacles, they, along with some key parent volunteers, raised $2,000.  I thank you and Buddy thanks you.

6th-grade Team put on their annual Sock Hop on Thursday which correlates a unit of study they are completing in ILAR right now.  The addition of the video took it to the next level.

Thanks to Alex and Colleen for organizing the student council winter dance Thursday night and to Marcia, Bill, and Lyn for chaperoning. Students were excited and busily decorating after school. Speaking of decorating, Alex and Colleen should also be recognized for all of the excitement this past week with the kids trying to win the student council dec-a-door contest and dressing into the theme days, they made the school environment electric!

Melissa and Matthew put on the largest attended concert of my tenure here at Benjamin Wednesday Night.  The place was packed and the performances brought the house down.  Special thanks to Todd, Heather, and April for helping out and obviously to Melissa and Matthew for the work they did with their students.

Thanks to Jenny Harvel for working to provide home-bound tutoring to one of our 8th-grade students. This is a student that needs the little extras and leads me to my next entry.

 The following is a re-post, something I wrote in the past (November 5, 2010) that I am reposting now. It is a post I wrote about the loss of my father, how it affected my life, and how it relates to the job all of you do at Benjamin every day.  I am doing this for two reasons:

1.  I keep a lot of my personal feelings close to my vest, but after being in my 5th year at Benjamin I feel comfortable in sharing part of what makes me ...me,...with you. Since it is the original post, there are references to EJH (my old school).  I want to be clear that after the time I have spent here, I can 100% say that my observations about teachers behaviors hold true here at Benjamin.
 2.  After sitting through the data meetings yesterday I think the theme coincides to some of our conversations on students that are affected by circumstances.

One last note, this is not a downer, even though I start by talking about my father's death, the title of the post is Making a Difference...something you do every day. After re-reading this, I also think my grammar and punctuation has improved over the last 8 years, at least a little bit!  😀 Have a great holiday and I hope you spend time relaxing with family and friends.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SI3X04STR4YAXUTNbVh1Xk-t1HxWaEjL/view?usp=sharing

12-14-2018

Thanks to Sherry for filling in and translating a parent meeting for us yesterday.  I'm also excited to see how her tamale party goes today.

Mark Bradbury shared this thought-provoking article from NPR on a later school start time for teenagers.  https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/12/676118782/sleepless-no-more-in-seattle-later-school-start-time-pays-off-for-teens

Chair Massages anyone?  We will have 10-minute chair massages in the conference room on Thursday 12-20 from  11 am - 1pm. There will be a sign-up sheet that goes out this morning and 24 slots to fill. It is first come first serve.  Happy Holidays.

Teachers perspective on Carol Dweck's Mindset.
https://au.educationhq.com/news/55796/carol-dwecks-mindset-gave-me-a-reality-check/

Thanks to Betty and Melissa for attending the board meeting on Monday to hand over their check to the Honor Flight Chicago representative. 


Keriann showed off these awesome Math Rap Videos at the Math subject area meeting on Wednesday after school.  Even if you don't teach math you have to check them out.

Thanks to Jessica for helping to lead the Assessment Taskforce.  We even had people fighting in PST to be on the committee.  It is a very short commitment.  We have Lauren Dunne, Cathy Arens, MJ, and Jessica.  Please let me know the 5th and 8th-grade representatives today.  

Interactive Periodic Table shows how elements are used.

http://www.openculture.com/2017/07/interactive-periodic-table-of-elements-shows-how-the-elements-actually-get-used-in-making-everyday-things.html

Please help Michelle and Kathy pump up the bookfair for next week.  If they reach their goal then I will be dressing up like Buddy the Elf!

Melissa had the 5th-grade students singing like angels in the small gym this week.  All in preparation for the caroling field trip to the assisted living facilities on the 17th.  I have been to this field trip before and the residents LOVE the opportunity to see and hear our students.  

The US physical activity guidelines have been updated for the first time in 10 years.  Check them out.

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a25059791/physical-activity-guidelines-updated/?utm_campaign=socialflowTWRW&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social-media

Adrienne is organizing the ugly sweater competition for Friday, she also somehow has enough ugly sweaters to outfit the whole staff!  Please see her if your fashion sense is too cool.

Educating children for the jobs of the future.

https://www.raconteur.net/business-innovation/educating-children-jobs-future

If the Bears win against the Packers Monday is Bear Day.  Dress Appropriately!

5 Life Lessons to Learn from Reading The Alchemist.  What?  You have never read The Alchemist?  What is Wrong with you?

https://addicted2success.com/life/5-life-lessons-to-learn-from-the-alchemist/

Next Friday, the board and admin team will be serving breakfast starting at 6:15am.  Set your alarm and bring your appetite!  The reason for the earlier start is the WCCHS Choir will be performing for us again but they have Finals and need to get back.  

12-7-2018

Thanks to Ellen and Kim for organizing the teacher lunch yesterday.  It was awesome. 

Great article everyone should read on the power of reading in class and student choice. 
https://medium.com/@heinemann/transforming-the-first-ten-minutes-of-class-ab1f19a18cf9


The basketball team thanked the Pep band for playing for them and pumping up the crowd.  What a great show of respect and gratitude. 

Thanks to Melissa and Matt Turek for leading the band and choir this weekend to support the PTA's Sweets with Santa. 

How to take Cornell Notes

Thanks to Alicia Wisted our super-sub who has been filling in for Adrienne the past two weeks. The consistency she has provided for the students has been much appreciated. 

Teens reveal their experiences with social media.  Video, infographic and key findings.  Please check them all out.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/social-media-social-life-2018


Thanks to Todd who gave a great presentation Wednesday after school.  Teaching/reminding us of tools and strategies to use to help these hard to reach students is valuable time spent. 

Alex found this cool Ted Talk on Mindfulness.  Check it out.

I'm creating a "This is Benjamin" video for our website.  I will be popping into some classrooms today to capture some footage.  There won't be any sound as I will have music and voice-over narration to the finished product.  Thanks for your understanding.

The power of "chunking" to help your busy schedule. 
https://www.tonyrobbins.com/productivity-performance/power-of-chunking/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Editorial&utm_content=Power%20of%20Chunking

I will be featured on today's BB 300 news episode.  Thanks to Chris for churning out these video announcements each week. 

Pretty cool video of what New York was like in 1911 with a very rare and clear video.
http://www.openculture.com/2018/04/immaculately-restored-film-lets-you-revisit-life-in-new-york-city-in-1911.html

Greg will be pushing out the 5 Essentials Learning Survey link to devices soon.  The student and teacher survey will be open from December 11th-February 15th.   Thanks in advance for giving your honest feedback. 

A starter kit for differentiated instruction from Cult of Pedagogy.
https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/starter-kit-differentiated-instruction/

Thanks to April for pushing the Hour of Code to new heights this year and to all of the Special teachers for executing the lessons this week. 


Summer STEAM is just around the corner.  Well not really, but the planning is about to begin. If you are interested all we need is the Title of your session, a short description, and intended grade level.  The rest of the planning can take place later. 


If you are looking for some crafty items for the holiday, head over to the Holiday Bizarre at Evergreen after school today.  It is a great way to kick off your weekend. 

Pretty funny How to Survive December in the Classroom list.
https://www.boredteachers.com/humor/how-to-survive-december-in-the-classroom