3-1-2019

Thanks to Michelle Fiorini  for organizing the Caudill Book Party and author skype yesterday.  Motivating students to read good books is an important practice we want to continue.

13 student internet/youtube challenges that students know about.  This article is intended for parents but teachers would benefit from knowing about these challenges that range from funny to harmful.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/viral-youtube-challenges-internet-stunts-popular-with-kids

Please check the March Meeting schedule I sent out this week via email. 

Todd found this article on the growth mindset.  "Why late bloomers are happier and more successful"
https://qz.com/1556797/why-late-bloomers-are-happier-and-more-successful/


Thanks to the 5th grade team for running the Too Good for Drugs Graduation ceremony on Monday.  Special thanks to Melissa Falkos for having officer Castillo teach the curriculum in her class this year.  Yes, that is McGruff the Crime Dog!



Best books of the year according to the NYT critics.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/04/books/critics-favorite-books.html?mc=contentTWdom&ad-keywords=auddevgate


Lynette and Jen have been busy leading the students in healthy cooking lessons.  Chicken fajitas, salads, mac and cheese and brownies have kept the students engaged and full!



Thanks to Angela and Chris F for attending the ICE technology conference in Schaumburg.  I look forward to the new ideas you will share with staff. 



Lyn was working with students after school to finish painting the unfinished mural hallway by the gym.  It's looking great and I am looking forward to seeing the completed project.

New study bolsters the argument for the importance of arts in education.
https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/faint-art-new-evidence-bolsters-argument-arts-education
 

Whether you are out of the building or working in house I hope you have a great day of learning and growth.  I will have pd sheets in the office. 



“I wonder how many people I've looked at all my life and never seen.” ~ John Steinbeck

2-22-2019

I was able to see April's IMSA class give their invention presentations.  They did a great job of creating prototypes connected to the internet. 


22 diverse book choices.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/22-diverse-book-choices-all-grade-levels


Thanks to Jen H, Heather F, Jen P, Melissa R, Bill, Lynette, Courtney, Jen V, Jim, and Lori P for the job that they are doing with lunchroom supervision.  You guys are the best!

Understanding a teachers Long term Impact
https://www.edutopia.org/article/understanding-teachers-long-term-impact


Tim gave me the following link to send to staff.  It is for nominating a custodian for Custodian of the Year which could give one of our guys/ladies a chance to get recognized and earn some prize money.  Please consider submitting a nomination.  https://www.cintas.com/customer_applications/custodianoftheyear/

What Teachers and Coaches Can learn from Each Other.  (Great Article)
https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/52825/what-teachers-and-sports-coaches-can-learn-from-each-other


Team leaders were able to get your input and along with your feedback from the last learning meeting, we were able to set the new guidelines for E-Learning with Dr. Ehrhardt. He will share these guidelines with you today.

Huge study shows professors attitudes affect student grades.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/02/huge-study-finds-professors-attitudes-affect-students-grades/

In case you didn't hear from your team, we have some special education teachers that will be changing roles next year.  Alex will be teaching the 5th/6th grade resource class, MJ will be teaching the Core class currently taught by Kerry and Kerry will be teaching the Core class currently taught by Alex. Since they are all in the building together they will be able to learn from each other as this year winds down and bring their own new ideas to the programs next year!

Fake math vs Real math
https://blog.heinemann.com/fake-math-versus-real-math-411


As I am finishing up the non-tenure summative evaluations, just a reminder to tenure staff on observation cycle to please be completing your alternative evaluation or scheduling any final observations with me.



I am looking forward to Trivia Night on Saturday Night.  Thanks to Megan D for helping to organize Foundation/School related donations. 

Work before passion

“Offer me something I’m passionate about and I’ll show up with all of my energy, effort and care.”

That’s a great way to hide.

Because nothing is good enough to earn your passion before you do it. Perhaps, in concept, it’s worthy, but as soon as you closely examine the details and the pitfalls, it’s easy to decide it’s better to wait for a better offer.

What about considering the opposite?

“Offer me a chance to contribute, and I’ll work hard on it, with focus, and once I begin to make progress, I’ll become passionate about it.”

Work before passion measures our craft in terms of contribution, not in an idealized model of perfection.

Passion comes from feeling needed, from approaching mastery, from doing work that matters. 

The Varsity Basketball team played great last night cheered on by the outstanding Pep Band!  Special thanks to Lauren Dunne for supervising NJHS Concessions, Kerry and Megan for doing the scoreboard, Michelle for supervising and to Andrew for making his coaching debut with our Bengal 5th/6th grade team!



Thanks to all staff for the work you are doing to make sure your curriculum maps are updated and accurate for our website.  Having everything accurate and up to date by the end of this year would be great.  Please let me know if you have any questions. 


Thanks to Jen and Lynette for all of the work they are doing to prepare and execute their Healthy Cooking Units.  I'm exhausted just watching them prep.

2-15-2019

Melissa, Danielle, and April did a wonderful job on Monday night as the theater cast and crew performed two songs from Newsies for parents and the school board.  It was a wonderful sampler of what is to come in mid-March.



Betty always does a wonderful job teaching in our learning meetings.  Always informative and always engaging.  Thank you. 

Is social media hurting you?

https://www.tonyrobbins.com/health-vitality/social-media-hurting/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Editorial&utm_content=Social%20Media%20Hurting

Thanks to Colleen and Alex who with the help of student council kids brightened everyone's day yesterday with the Valentines Cart!

When dealing with difficult situations and stressful situations, the adult in the room needs to model appropriate reactions.


Jessica, Lauren Cathy, MJ, Megan P., and Melissa F were busy after school on Wednesday watching presentations from STAR and IReady testing companies.  Gathering information to make their recommendation on our future assessments. 

Decoding the Teenage Brain in three Charts.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/decoding-teenage-brain-3-charts?utm_source=Edutopia+Newsletter&utm_campaign=4ab871569e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_021319_enews_decodingtheteen&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f72e8cc8c4-4ab871569e-85034659


Ellen and Kim did a great job with "Everyday's a Party"  pasta celebration.  The staff enjoyed carb-loading to get through the rest of the day. 

Using psychological science to help children thrive.  Journal article by Angela Duckworth (Grit) 
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1745691618804194

Thanks to Lauren and Melissa L for coming up with great ideas for Benjamin's 175th anniversary at the planning meeting on Tuesday night.  It will be a big celebration of our outstanding history!

Smithsonian Scholars pick their favorite 11 books of 2018. 
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/smithsonian-scholars-pick-their-favorite-books-2018-180970823/


Good luck to Matthew and our band students that are competing at the IGSMA solo and ensemble contest this weekend. 

The man at the top of the mountain didn’t fall there. – Vince Lombardi

2-8-2019

Melissa L had some 5th grade students showcasing their talent.  Make sure you watch both videos.  Something special.

I hope to see staff at the Foundation Trivia Night on February 23.  Registration is open for tables until February 15th.  Please consider a donation of time or talent if you have a conflict with the event.  I am trying to think of how I can top the Principal on the Roof  experience from last year!

Teaching is just like performing magic.  Please read.
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/01/what-classrooms-can-learn-from-magic/425100/

Michelle F found this great flyer about the importance of reading. 



I am working on evaluations please make sure your student growth data is in. 

3rd time is a charm with the Benjamin NJHS induction ceremony.  Jessica and Lauren did a wonderful job putting on a beautiful ceremony.

I don't post political things in the blog but this 5 minute clip isn't pro democrat or republican it is just pro make sense about fixing the campaign process.

As I mentioned in the learning meeting all purchases using this years funds will be cut-off on March 21st.  This is a hard deadline and includes all purchases made through PO's and P'cards.  Please plan accordingly.

In jazz, there’s no script: You have to figure things out as you go along. Sometimes you need to sit back and let others drive things; other times, you blare it out yourself.

Thanks to all of the staff for the great input at Wednesday's learning meeting.  We will use this to make our E-learning days a valuable experience.  Ellen has the eblast announcement reminding Parents about the HW deadline that will go out Friday morning.  Thanks for giving extra effort to make sure as many students as possible complete these assignments.

Using Playlists as a blended learning strategy.
http://esheninger.blogspot.com/2019/02/blending-with-playlists.html


Please make sure that you have let Kim  know where you will be for the March 1st County Wide Institute. If you are at a conference that will cost $ you also need to fill out the proper paperwork.
If you are staying here you need to have an agenda that you plan on working on related to curriculum and instruction.  I am going to contact Laura P so that we have CPDU's available towards that topic.



Thanks to Angela who did a great job presenting to the ad council and new superintendent, Dr. Wools about the great things our students are doing with technology.  He was definitely impressed.

If you have ever been to a committee meeting this video might make sense.

The 6th grade will be heading to the Museum of Science and Industry today to explore STEM topics.  A big shout out to Lauren and Sherry for organizing this learning experience for our students.



Bill Wadman is putting the Blast in Winter Blast as he runs the halls supervising his energetic group. These students are happy and active!