11-20-2020

 Thanks to Heather G for doing an outstanding job filling in for Mark this week.   It is nice to know we have an internal solution in these situations.

Teaching kids media smarts when watching the news.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/teaching-kids-media-smarts-during-breaking-news?utm_source=%5Btwitter%5D&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=&utm_term=&utm_content=

Melissa arranged for a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to Zoom with our students.  It was fun having a professional musician present and answer questions from our students. Very inspiring for our young musicians. 

Kids leave messages for their military dad serving overseas by using the Ring Doorbell. 

Just so you know the custodians have switched to working these hours during the normal school year.

Mayeli 2pm - 10:30pm

Maria 2pm - 10:30pm

Arie 3pm - 11:30p

For Thanksgiving week we will have the building closed on Thanksgiving Day but you can come in the rest of the week, or you could do this bizarre thing outside the teaching world called TAKE A BREAK!

Just me? 

Thanks to Dr. Woell and the school board for helping to celebrate the weirdest American Education Week ever by getting some Pot Belly for everyone tomorrow. Thanks to Jen for organizing it and to all of you for your tireless service to children.  

Good teaching is not just about best practices. Good article:

https://www.edutopia.org/article/good-teaching-not-just-about-right-practices

The PTA  had a Zoom meeting tonight  I passed along your gratitude for the many supplies they have purchased in recent weeks and also for making the process so easy.

Saw this from a teacher on Twitter:   :)

I'm going to finish all of my grading today. ⓘ 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴

Thanks to Kim and Ellen for working together to get the grades out to families and to you guys for working through the Kami issues.  

7 questions to continually ask yourself.  

https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/7-valuable-questions-you-should-consistently-ask-yourself

Thanks to the Team Leaders for meeting several times this week and giving up your plan time to help get decisions get made for when we return from Turkey Time.  Hopefully this schedule will help students, parents and teachers. We will send it to parents tomorrow and start it on TUESDAY, December 1, with kids.

I always read those travel books before I travel.  Here is some that I have read in preparation for my Thanksgiving break travels:

Thanks to Kathy Hansen for staying busy in the LMC, with coordinating loaners, getting books ready and labeling keyboards, you made me tired just watching you this week. 

Thanks to Nicole for putting out the nice looking version of the schedule for staff and to Ellen for changing the template for students and fixing the bells.  

5 ways to support students with ADHD during remote learning

https://www.edutopia.org/article/5-ways-support-kids-adhd-during-remote-learning

I have been calling a lot of parents lately to try to help keep kids on track.  

Emails get reactions. Phone calls start conversations.

Simon Sinek

Remote Learning makes it harder to build relationships with parents. Here are some ideas.

https://www.chalkbeat.org/2020/11/17/21564443/parent-teacher-relationships-remote-learning

I hope everyone has a relaxing break.

"My destination is no longer a place, rather a new way of seeing."

-- Marcel Proust

11-13-2020

 3...2.....1....take a deep breath your conference marathon is almost over.  Nice job by all staff for putting in the time and effort on these worthwhile conversations with families.

Focusing on Feedback in Distance Learning

https://www.edutopia.org/article/focusing-feedback-distance-learning

Thanks to Megan D for organizing a special COVID 8th grade t-shirt.  They look great and I'm sure the kids appreciate it.  

For our music teachers!

Thanks to Melissa for organizing our virtual veterans day celebration and to Angela, Chris, Danielle Matthew, and April for working together to make it happen.  The video was outstanding.  It is below if you didn't get to see it.  

I never shared this awesome parade that Sherry did with the help of Angela and Megan P.  Such acting talent by our staff and the kids had a blast.  

https://www.wevideo.com/view/1897323615

How about a round of applause for our teaching assistants.  They have been tremendous over the past couple weeks of in-person instruction and will adapt to giving online support for the near future.  We couldn't do it without you.  

Jessica did a great job with her crack reporters on this latest issue of the Tiger Times. Please consider her request to incorporate it into lessons if possible.  Also thanks to Jessica for sharing the snapshot feature in AR, hopefully teachers can use that to motivate students.

Strategies to get reluctant students to share their cameras.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/strategies-encourage-students-turn-their-cameras

Thanks to Lauren D for organizing the Jimmy Johns today.   She is truly a one person Social Committee.....no I mean it...she is the only one on the committee...like the only person ....not a metaphor....Ok, i'll stop now #doingitalone #allbyherlonesome  #noonewantstoshareintheaggravation

Can Do Descriptors.  A free tool for EL differentiation in your classroom.

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/can-do-ell/

Thanks to everyone for using the RLP day to its fullest and to April for suggesting the optional meetings. many participated and shared great ideas.  You guys are truly each others greatest resources.  

Thanks to Kim and Ellen for their hard work today getting the letters out and for everything they do to help our school run smoothly.

6 Ideas for infusing choice in math classes

https://ditchthattextbook.com/math-choice-boards/

 A big shout out to my morning lot crew, door crew, and afternoon parking lot and bus crew.  You guys made it happen and made it look easy.  Some of you have asked me for letters of reference for jobs at the United Center. I created a form letter that you can fill in your name.

Ways to give students screen-time breaks:

https://globalnews.ca/news/7448123/students-screen-time-covid-19/

As we move into remote learning next week I want to thank you for the hard work you put into hybrid instruction....as Arnold said "We will be back"   well, he said "I'll be back" but that doesn't fit the point I am trying to make.  Remember, before we moved into hybrid you guys were saying "We're just getting good at this" (Remote Learning)  You have the skills, remember your tools and lets make connections with those kids.  Your adaptability is tremendous and I appreciate all you do to help students.  Let me know how I can help you, help your students.  

You have to be fast on your feet and adaptive or else a strategy is useless." -- Charles de Gaulle

"Most of the problems in life are because of two reasons, we act without thinking or we keep thinking without acting." -- Zig Ziglar

11-6-2020

 Thanks to everyone for doing a stellar job on Zoom conferences last night.  I know it is a quick turn around for school today, and I appreciate it. Parent/Teacher conferences are a wonderful opportunity to connect with parents and get kids on the right track.  Also thanks to Kim for setting up the Sign-up Genius and Daniele for getting the Zoom links organized.  

SS teachers infographic Now to Inauguration:

Thanks to Todd for spearheading the new online translation service and to Angela for getting it up and running.  This will be accessible for all staff and will make communicating with parents that speak other languages so much easier.  

The benefits of writing and gratitude:

 https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/52762/how-writing-down-what-youre-thankful-for-can-be-good-for-mental-and-physical-health

MJ did a great job of showing her kids about the election  as they had to go to a voting both, fill out a ballot for lunch options, sign their name and wait for results (not as long as our country has).  

Veterans Day is Wednesday and even though our students will be off because a Remote Learning Planning Day Melissa has organized a way to celebrate our Veterans with the help of Chris F, Matt Turek, April, Angela, and Danielle.  There will be a video with a special choir and Band performance, reading of Flanders Field and other background information all tied up in a special BB300 Wednesday edition.  We will ask that you share it within normal means and w will also share through social media.  Special shout out to our Veterans Rich and Bill.  

Twitter Quote: 

 Remember: Students -- particularly in middle school -- often struggle to develop positive work behaviors and habits. So, that kid in your class with a dozen missing assignments doesn't need a bigger consequence. He/she needs a well-planned intervention.

Operation Bengal Care will again be collecting leftover Halloween candy to send to our troops via Operation Care Package a Veterans Organization that ensures that our troops are remembered.  There will be a box in the office and in various first periods.  

You had one job!

Fire drills are November 16th and 17th at 2:00pm. Mark your calendar.  

Increasing student engagement in remote learning. 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/strategies-dramatic-arts-can-enhance-student-engagement

Thanks to Marcia and Megan S for Keeping the "Moving to and from" remote list updated through their emails and to you guys for making it work.  Just a reminder, that parents will soon get a "round 2" survey from Dr. Woell to decide if they want to be remote or in person for second trimester.  (November 16th to February 25th). We may see people choosing to switch from remote to in-person and vice versa.

"Write your Sad times in Sand, Write your Good times in Stone." -- George Bernard Shaw