3-21-2020

Thanks to Lauren for supervising the concession sale at the BB game last night.  Chocolate brownies can always help make the day better.   Of course I always appreciate the great job that Dan and Matt do in coaching our Benjamin Teams.


Walking the Walk with Habits of Mind.
https://www.habitsofmindinstitute.org/using-habits-of-mind-to-ensure-the-school-culture-is-a-supportive-one/


I always appreciate the support I receive from everyone when problems arise, special thanks to Todd, Nicole and Melissa L for their assistance recently.

Start a math book club.
https://www.pbs.org/education/blog/reading-can-expand-what-kids-think-about-mathematics?utm_source=ptwitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sdfy20

Thanks to everyone for participating in kindness day...one cool lesson that happened was Adrienne  creating kindness books, where every students wrote a positive comment about all of their grade level peers and then she compiled them into their own books complete with their picture on the cover. Awesome Job!



Don't forget to sign up for Trivia Night on March 7th.  There are only a few tables left.  It would be awesome to have a table or two filled with Benjamin Staff!

The power of Rap and Hip-Hop in the classroom.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/power-rap-and-hip-hop-classroom


Don't forget to spend your PTA money.  There was student incentive  money and the special project money that Mrs. Jeffries coordinated.  Lets get that $ spent to help our students!

Teacher Half-time interview:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1230212294728175616  

Thanks to Kim for coordinating all of the accommodations among other things for our state testing.  Special education/EL teachers please reach out to her with your student accomodation data and who you will be testing.  I am figuring out testing rooms.

Ken Burns in the Classroom.  A variety of awesome resources including some great Black History Month resources.
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/kenburnsclassroom/home/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=kenburns_2020

Thanks to Jessica for sponsoring  Newspaper club last night, she always leads an excellent newspaper staff and she also has an extreme tolerance for unique music playlists like the one made up of video game songs and other fun tunes.



Melissa did an excellent job of following the Michael Miles performance day with a multimedia presentation of all the musical artists Michael had mentioned or performed.  This made for a highly engaging and interactive two day music lesson.

Teachers Essential Guide to Teaching with Tech
https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/teachers-essential-guide-to-teaching-with-technology

I want to thank Betty for the job she is doing with setting up our AR/VR glasses for student use. They are available for use in the maker space. This is just the latest thing she has done to push technology and innovation in our school. Thanks!



Thanks to Tim for doing an awesome job in the Directions room while Laura has been gone.  I appreciate how hard he has been working!

A delicate balance support and access.
http://www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol14/num25/low-income-students-and-a-special-education-mismatch.aspx?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=Social-Organic&utm_medium=social

The trimester ends on Thursday Feb 27th. Please make sure you do everything you can to reach out to students and parents to communicate missing assignments so they can be turned in before grades are submitted.. Thank you for going the extra mile.



Please make sure Kim knows no later than today where you are going on February 28th for the county institute.  She will be tuning in this documentation to me and the ad center.  If you are staying in house I need your agenda by today.  Thanks

“The reading of all good books is like conversation with the finest (people) of the past centuries.” – Descartes
"You always have time for the things you put first."

2-14-2020

Please RSVP  for The Foundation Trivia Night on March 7th. Better yet, get a group together for a table or join my team.  The flyer with more information is available in the office.  It is a fun night!

Teaching Black History in culturally responsive ways.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/teaching-black-history-culturally-responsive-ways

Congratulations to Megan Peterson who was officially approved as a full time teacher at the board meeting on Monday night.  She will be joining the 7th grade team and taking over the ILAR reins when Adrienne retires!



Hopefully everyone has had a chance to meet Vanessa.  She has been absorbing Benjamin knowledge from Ellen B and applying her tech knowledge by jumping right in to help solve problems!

Black History literature connections from our TCI.
https://www.teachtci.com/black-history-month-literature-connections

Melissa, April and Danielle did a great job presenting the play preview to the school board and a packed multi full of parents.  I can't wait for the full show in March. 



I am very grateful that Jessica, Lauren, Colleen and Alex  have agreed to have NJHS and Student Council participate in the WCCHS leadership summit on March 24th.  This should be a great experience for our young Benjamin leaders. 

10 strategies to help strengthen instruction.
https://esheninger.blogspot.com/2018/09/10-strategies-to-strengthen-instruction.html

Thanks to Angela for helping guide a group of us through the gmail transition on Wednesday and countless individuals before and after. 

Adapting history into musical theater from PBS.
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ham16.soc.ushis.historytheater/hamiltons-america-adapting-history-into-musical-theater/?utm_source=ptwitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sdfy20

If you are staying in-house please send me your agenda for the upcoming county wide institute on February 28th.  If you are going out please make sure Kim and I know where you are going and that you have followed all proper steps to register and attend. 



Don't forget about kindness day on Tuesday!   Here are some ideas. 
https://www.edutopia.org/article/simple-ways-encourage-kindness-students-all-ages

Huge thanks to Tim, Tony and Frank for putting in the extra hours to keep the grounds clear and safe during this winter blast!

School transformation in the 21st century with Habits of Mind.
https://www.habitsofmindinstitute.org/school-transformation-in-the-21st-century/

Best of luck to Matthew and the band students as they participate in the solo and ensemble contest this weekend.  I know he has been working hard to make sure they are ready. 



I look forward to working with Joe Pisano next year as he was hired as the new principal of Evergreen for the 2020-2021 school year.

"Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet." -- Bob Marley

2-7-2020

A Big thank you to April, Kerry, Megan and Matthew for presenting at the staff learning meeting on how they have integrated Habits of Mind with their students.  The whole purpose of HOM was to have a tool that would increase student engagement, achievement, accountability, and critical thinking while not adding to your plate. I think they did a great job showing that the work they did with HOM in their classroom, helped them and their students!

Alright Dungeons and Dragons nerds out there.  How D&D can help students with their Social Emotional Learning.  (I am proof that this works!...or maybe not)
https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/51784/how-dungeons-dragons-can-help-kids-develop-social-emotional-learning-skills


Thanks to Nicole for speaking at our meeting and planning the school-wide kindness day.  Please think about how you can contribute on February 18th.  #weareallinthistogether 



Thanks to Megan P and all other teachers who participated in World Read Aloud Day on February 5th. It's not important if you missed February 5th, what is way more important is if you can include reading out loud as part of your normal practice for middle school kids!


Thanks to Melissa Falkos for integrating AR and VR in her classroom with the assistance of Angela.  It's great when teachers are willing to go outside their comfort zone to bring tech skills and higher levels of engagement to their classroom.  Shout out to Betty for planting the seed at the beginning of the year. 

Boosting student engagement in math.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/strategy-boosting-student-engagement-math

I'm excited that the 6th grade team are having students participate in podcasting currently.  Many of them might also choose to represent Benjamin in the NPR podcasting contest. 

Teaching Kids Media Smarts during "Breaking News". 
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/teaching-kids-media-smarts-during-breaking-news

Thanks to Greg and Angela for traveling to the different teams to teach about our great Gmail migration adventure.  I, for one have been looking forward to saying something to Kerio for awhile.



Thanks to Jen H for doing a fabulous job in her first week helping our success track students.  It takes a lot of persistence with the students and a lot of varied communication with our staff to keep track of priority assignments.



Melissa, April and Danielle are ramping theater club into high gear with some outstanding rehearsals and set/prop/costume work.  They present a preview for the school board on Monday. 


Thanks to Dan and Matt Tylk for pushing our three levels of girls basketball team to increase their skill, will, teamwork and sportsmanship as they continue to have a very successful season.  Also thanks to supervisors and scorebook/clock workers.  We couldn't do it without the very important supporting cast. 

Scientists Show How Gratitude Literally Alters The Human Heart & Molecular Structure Of The Brain #happinessadvantage
https://www.collective-evolution.com/2019/02/14/scientists-show-how-gratitude-literally-alters-the-human-heart-molecular-structure-of-the-brain/


I never get tired of watching the creative things that Sherry's 6th grade STEM students do with their Sphero projects.  I had a blast watching them earlier this week. 


All student growth goals reflection/update should be in my hands by now unless we talked about an extended deadline. 

The best thing you will watch this week!

“How we choose to act changes who we choose to become.” -- Seth Godin