3-27-2020

I want to start off the blog by saying how impressed I have been by everyone's effort to help students and each other this past week.  For every lesson, zoom, flipgrid, screencaster, activity, extra effort and assistance that I know about, there are ten more that I don't know about.  You guys are truly the best, all while doing this within your own unique family/home situations make it even more impressive. There is no blueprint for this and   the district admin is trying to stay a little bit ahead of the curve.  Please make sure that you continue to reach out to me with your questions and please let me know if there are things that I am not doing that you think you would benefit from.

I know Zoom is exploding right now, however recently some meetings are getting hacked by people using vulgar language and sharing their screen with inappropriate images. However there are some easy ways to prevent this from happening.  Most of these are happening at public meetings with the link shared with many people on social media.  There are easy ways to protect your meeting , read the following article:
https://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/2020/03/20/keep-the-party-crashers-from-crashing-your-zoom-event/


Thanks to the SS teachers who attended the TCI Zoom meeting.  Hopefully it was helpful to learn the digital platform in different ways.



The lost art of deep listening and 35 life-affirming albums.  Two articles to help you get through the quarantine. 
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-03-17/coronavirus-deep-listening-music-albums
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-03-25/coronavirus-best-albums-deep-listen-quarantine


Different ways to use video conferencing with students :


Appreciate and miss our teaching assistants who have been doing a great job of completing PD while they are away.  They will come back smarter and ready to help their students. 


Isolation can breed anxiety...ways to come together when you are apart.
https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/20/03/creative-connections-while-apart






10 things we learned about teachers this week. 
https://www.boredteachers.com/humor/10-things-weve-all-learned-about-teachers-this-past-week



More strategies to help anxious learners.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/simple-metacognitive-strategies-help-anxious-learners-succeed









Please enjoy next week and recharge, look for the positives like more time to connect with your family, read, watch some movies...try something new..something you have wanted to do, but haven't had the time....and we will be in touch with updates. 

“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.” -- Lyndon B. Johnson

3-13-2020

Just want to reiterate my appreciation for the hard work that all of our club sponsors and coaches are doing.  We will be clarifying information on events, practices, competitions and activities in the coming days and will be ready to pivot if and when things change, which is totally possible.



Thanks to Michelle and Jim A who helped out last night to alert me and supervise some students that were in the building.

How finding your passion connects to growth mindset.  Good article.
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200306-the-surprising-truth-about-finding-your-passion-at-work?ocid=global_worklife_rss

Thanks to Greg for putting on the training for the IAR on Wednesday.  Please let me know if you have any questions regarding testing.  I have ordered more headphones and we will have graph and scratch paper available in the office. 

Ways to Promote student voice.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/simple-ways-promote-student-voice-classroom


Thanks to Lyn who, with some of our students, highlighted some student artwork at the Board Meeting on Monday night.

Don't wait to take care of yourself!
https://www.happify.com/hd/3-signs-you-need-to-schedule-self-care-stat/

Thanks to Megan D for all of the help she provided to organize the Foundation Trivia Night last weekend.  Also thanks to everyone who attended and/or sent in baskets.  It was a really fun night that will benefit our students. 




Thanks to Michelle F and to Kathy for hosting the Caudill party to celebrate student reading outside of school which also raises their achievement.  Way to go!


Thanks to Marcia for her guidance and attention to news/updates to keep our district alerted with the latest information on health and safety. 

Thanks to everyone for preparing for possible e-learning days that may (or may not) be in our future. 



Thanks to Tim and the Maintenance Crew for all of their efforts at keeping our school safe and clean.  We appreciate it.

Congrats to Megan P for guiding her students into reading 98 books over the second trimester.



All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.” – Galileo Galilei

I subscribe to Disney Minus - it's just that one scene of Bambi's mother dying. $99.99 a month. Conan O'Brien

3-6-2020

Kudos to Bill and Mark who came up with a very innovative unit project for the 1950's that their students will complete in the month of April. 

How making music can help kids cope with trauma. 
https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/53880/how-making-music-can-help-students-cope-with-trauma

Thanks to the lunch supervisors who on top of their regular duties are also doing extra duties to serve out of the small gym and move the students back to the multi.



Thanks to Ellen who was operating solo in the office while Kim was recovering/working from home. 

A Google image search tutorial for students to explore copyright and important usage questions. 
https://www.commonsense.org/education/lesson-plans/drilling-down-in-google-image-search-copyright-and-why-it-matters

Thanks to Michelle for organizing the Caudill Reading program and celebration.

food for thought:


Thanks to the 5th grade team who ran an innovative reward trip yesterday in house with some virtual reality and other fun activities. 

How to make grading more effective and efficient. 
https://www.edutopia.org/article/7-strategies-make-grading-easier

I am looking forward to the Foundation Trivia Night this weekend.  Thanks to all of the teams/individuals who donated items for the raffle.  Also, thanks to Megan D for all of her efforts to coordinate things on behalf of the foundation and school district. 

The key to creating positive habits. (Habits of Mind Alert)
https://www.success.com/the-key-to-creating-positive-habits/


I am still in need of summer school teaching assistants.  Please see me if interested.  I am hoping to have it fully staffed by spring break. 

What happens to your brain when you get positive feedback.
https://www.inc.com/john-brandon/heres-what-happens-to-your-brain-when-you-get-positive-feedback.html?cid=sf01001


Lauren G did a great job of getting parent volunteer readers into her class all week for Read Across America week. 



Melissa L did a great job of unlocking an unbelievable  opportunity for our 8th grade musicians.  She has secured the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to work with our students in a variety of ways including a rehearsal, a Master Class and a performance.  We are one of only 6 schools in the state that they will do this with.  Thanks to the 8th grade team for being flexible and working with Melissa for this to happen. 



Thanks to Melissa F and the 5th grade team for organizing the dare graduation earlier in the week.  Students were excited to see the real bloodhound that the officers brought in!


I appreciate the meaningful conversation that I had with teachers in the ILAR and Math subject area meetings on Wednesday.  What is always apparent to me is that teachers at Benjamin care about their students, their educational experiences and how they perform. 

Using growth mindset with our EL students:


I appreciate the work that Sherry is doing to revise our letter for 6th grade students considering Spanish for their 7th and 8th grade year.  This will help families in the decision making process. 

Graphic Novels are real books....
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/dont-be-afraid-to-let-children-read-graphic-novels-theyre-real-books/2020/02/27/ed374b92-4dd7-11ea-9b5c-eac5b16dafaa_story.html

The 8th grade teachers will be travelling  to enchanted castle on Friday for an exciting reward trip of game play and adventure, and the students are also looking forward to their trip!

3 tips to use data effectively.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/3-tips-use-data-effectively

Just a reminder that we will have our IAR training on Wednesday with Greg.  I will have the revised schedule to everyone by then as well.  Special thanks to Kim for getting all of the accommodations/test rooms and all other information entered into SIS.




Congratulations to Colleen and Kerry who earned IDNR grants for outdoor ed and a trip to the Shed Aquarium!  Also thanks to Janice and Lisa for making it happen. 



"We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master." -- Ernest Hemingway