10-1-2021

“If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original.”

― Ken Robinson, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

“The fact is that given the challenges we face, education doesn't need to be reformed -- it needs to be transformed. The key to this transformation is not to standardize education, but to personalize it, to build achievement on discovering the individual talents of each child, to put students in an environment where they want to learn and where they can naturally discover their true passions.”
― Ken Robinson, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

“For most of us the problem isn’t that we aim too high and fail - it’s just the opposite - we aim too low and succeed.”
― Ken Robinson, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

“Failing is often the best way to learn, and because of that, early failure is a kind of necessary investment.”
― Chip Heath, Switch

“And that’s the first surprise about change: What looks like a people problem is often a situation problem.”
― Chip Heath, Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

“Knowledge does not change behavior,” he said. “We have all encountered crazy shrinks and obese doctors and divorced marriage counselors.”
― Chip Heath, Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

“Life has three rules: Paradox, Humor, and Change.

- Paradox: Life is a mystery; don't waste your time trying to figure it out.

- Humor: Keep a sense of humor, especially about yourself. It is a strength beyond all measure

- Change: Know that nothing ever stays the same.”
― Dan Millman, Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives

“Moderation? It's mediocrity, fear, and confusion in disguise. It's the devil's dilemma. It's neither doing nor not doing. It's the wobbling compromise that makes no one happy. Moderation is for the bland, the apologetic, for the fence-sitters of the world afraid to take a stand. It's for those afraid to laugh or cry, for those afraid to live or die. Moderation...is lukewarm tea, the devil's own brew.”
― Dan Millman (Author), Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives

“Where are you? Here
What time is it? Now
What are you? This moment.”
― Dan Millman, Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives

“If we create a culture where every teacher believes they need to improve, not because they are not good enough but because they can be even better, there is no limit to what we can achieve.—Dylan Wiliam”
― George Couros, The Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity

“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.”
― George Couros, The Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity

“We like to think of our champions and idols as superheroes who were born different from us. We don’t like to think of them as relatively ordinary people who made themselves extraordinary.”
― Carol Dweck, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

“no matter what your ability is, effort is what ignites that ability and turns it into accomplishment.”
― Carol S. Dweck, Mindset: The New Psychology Of Success

“What matters most in a child's development, they say, is not how much information we can stuff into her brain in the first few years. What matters, instead, is whether we are able to help her develop a very different set of qualities, a list that includes persistence, self-control, curiosity, conscientiousness, grit and self-confidence.”

― Paul Tough, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character

“The idea of building grit and building self-control is that you get that through failure,” Randolph told me. “And in most highly academic environments in the United States, no one fails anything.”
― Paul Tough, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character

“Everything that happens once can never happen again. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

“I don’t live in either my past or my future. I’m interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living now.”

― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

“When each day is the same as the next, it’s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

9-24-2021

 Our Coaches have really been putting in overtime lately.  Dan, Kerry, Matt, Bill and Joe all  had games/meets yesterday and more importantly have helped to guide their students in hard work and sportsmanship.  

Please make sure that you finish your online health trainings that are due very soon.  

How art powers social change.

Print or digital reading for young students...

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/58279/in-print-or-onscreen-making-the-most-of-reading-with-young-children

I appreciate the staff that has been working on the Master Schedule Committee and continue to brainstorm ideas that will benefit our students and learning in general.  

Data meetings took place yesterday and once again it was great seeing staff work together to help give students the support they need.  Parental contact and communication is always a vital piece to helping students learn and keeping parents informed of student problems/missing work helps put teachers and parents on the same team to support the students.

How to find, read and use academic research.

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/academic-research/

Please make sure that you give the office your student roster for clubs.  Also make sure that you have students pay the club fee ($15 although some club sponsors charge more due to club costs)

I will put PTA  membership forms in your mailbox as they may not have been given them earlier in year as I thought.  

Helping students with their writing and research skills by using interdisciplinary instruction.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/month-month-guide-interdisciplinary-instruction

Just a reminder to turn your student growth goals into my mailbox by October 1, and feel free to start setting up your first observation with me at your convenience.  

Using ongoing formative data to measure growth.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/celebrating-student-growth-formative-data

I appreciate the work Angela and Danielle have been doing to help our staff with tech and general problem solving.  

It's not the time in your life, it's the life in your time." -- Bruce Springsteen

“Whatever you do, always give 100%. Unless you're donating blood.” -- Bill Murray

9-17-2021

 I went to the PTA meeting tonight, if you haven't done so already please submit your PTA membership.  They always do a lot for our staff.  It would also be great if we could get a teacher or two to attend some of the meetings.

Our new sub Marilyn has been a great help in the building already.  Please say hello if you see her in the hallway. I am still actively looking for teaching assistants and more regular subs.

It's great to have Courtney back in the building.  She has already been busy attending to the needs of the students on her caseload and communicating with 7th and 8th grade team.  

The Importance of Extracurriculars:

https://www.edutopia.org/article/enduring-importance-extracurriculars

Data meetings are on the 23rd.  Please be ready to discuss students who may be struggling and possible ideas to try out in class. 

How EdTech can help students with 21st century skills. 

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2021-09-01-beyond-the-basics-how-edtech-can-provide-students-with-essential-21st-century-skills?utm_campaign=EdSurgeSproutSocial&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com

Thanks to everyone for attending the SASED instructional coaching meetings that were held on Wednesday.  Jason and Michele did a nice job of presenting an overview of this great opportunity for teaching improvement.  

Teaching the Work of Living Poets makes work more exciting and inclusive for students.  

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/57806/how-teaching-the-work-of-living-poets-can-make-english-class-more-exciting-and-inclusive

Jen H has done a stellar job of creating a schedule for three different grade levels of students to deliver synchronous and asynchronous instruction learning opportunities while communicating with teachers.  As mentioned before when we have a large group like this we may need to prioritize academic work to be completed.  

I am grateful for my team leader meetings as they are a great sounding board for ideas and have important insight for me to consider when making decisions.  I appreciate their knowledge and opinions greatly.

Our first mentee meeting was a great success.  Melissa gave a detailed ALICE overview and I went over the evaluation process.  Thank you to all of the mentors for going over the monthly topics and just your support in general of these new teachers. 

Something to think about... a shift in workflow

https://catlintucker.com/2021/09/sustainable-student-led-workflows/

If you did not conduct the severe weather drill procedures with your class today please make sure you do so tomorrow.

Please make sure you submit your $$$ for the social fund.  Thanks to Lauren Dunne for organizing all of this as usual. 

5 Characteristics of effective science teachers from a researcher who trains them.  

https://theconversation.com/5-characteristics-of-an-effective-science-teacher-from-a-researcher-who-trains-them-165211

Please let me know if you have any questions on your student growth goals (people on cycle).  I am happy to work with you to make them meaningful for your students.  

6th Graders enjoying their outdoor lunch!

 "Hope is not what we find in evidence, it's what we become in action."

-- Frances Moore Lappé

"Concentration comes out of a combination of confidence and hunger." -- Arnold Palmer

A step backward, after making a wrong turn, is a step in the right direction." -- Kurt Vonnegut

9-10-2021

 I'm a little behind schedule but I will be meeting with new teachers next week on the teacher evaluation cycle.  All other teachers on cycle should be thinking about regular/alternative options as well as starting to work on your student growth goals.  

Jen Riconosciuto has done a tremendous job filling in for Courtney the first three weeks of the school year.  I have received multiple complements about her work ethic and attention to detail. I appreciate her stepping up when she knew we were shorthanded. 

Build Social Emotional skills in any class with these 13 powerful activities.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/13-powerful-sel-activities-emelina-minero

As a reminder we will be running the lockdown drill portion of the ALICE procedure today with the DuPage County Sheriff. Thanks for prepping the students to take this seriously and thanks to Melissa for organizing it.  

Thanks to Dan Baker for handling all of the madness with fall sports. In addition to the normal duties this entails, handling inside mask communication and bus schedule changes has really kept him busy.  I appreciate his efforts. 

I am looking forward to our Instructional Coaching sessions on Wednesday with SASED. Michelle Capio and Jason will give short presentations and be ready to answer your questions on how their services can help our students.

Thanks to Jessica for continuing to spearhead communication and problem solving with our STAR reports.  

KOBE BRYANT’S 10 RULES 1. Get better every single day 2. Prove them wrong 3. Work on your weaknesses 4. Execute what you practiced 5. Learn from greatness 6. Learn from wins and losses 7. Practice mindfulness 8. Be ambitious 9. Believe in your team 10. Learn storytelling

Thanks to Mark and all of the teachers that are involved with the planning and supervision of the Outdoor Ed Trip taking place in October. Great planning now pays dividends later. 

I will be meeting with the new teachers on Wednesday in our first monthly Mentee meeting.  This is only for the new teachers and not for the mentors.  But I do want to say thanks to our mentor teachers for all of the help they have given already to help our mentees know the lay of the land.  

Please continue to pass out Fish slips as a way to complement and reinforce positive behavior  with our students.  

Keep in mind your Zorro Circles and Social Investment practices as we move deeper into the school year where stressors can pile up and behaviors may become more frequent.  

Social Studies is a great opportunity to to talk with students about the events of September 11th, 2001 in a grade appropriate way. 8th grade will be conducting their regular movie/discussion which I know makes an impact on their students.  

9-3-2021

 Curriculum Night was a great success.  I heard many positive comments about teachers and the night in general.  Thanks to everyone for the work you put into your presentations and the extra time you spent answering parent questions.  Also thanks to Ellen for running the office and helping parents with schedules and more.  

Thanks to Michelle and Kathy for the wonderful job they did hustling in the bookfair.  They made over $3000 in sales and earned money and books for our library.  We appreciate your dedication to our library and student reading.  

I appreciate our teaching assistants so much.  Kendra, Holly, Debbie, Sam, Michele S, Carrie, and Michelle D have been done a wonderful job supporting our students and our teachers.  I really appreciate the flexibility you showed in adjusting your schedules to help support the positions we are still trying to hire for.  You guys are the best.

Teaching assistants aren't the only ones pitching in Nicole, Jen H, Megan D, Todd, Melissa, Jen R, Betty and the list goes on and on.  I have seen  so many staff members put in extra time and effort to help other staff members. The care and support you show each other is why Benjamin is a special place to work.

Thanks to Jessica and Alex for volunteering to enter ELA and Math Star scores for our students we are monitoring.  It is appreciated.  

Please make sure you get your vaccine info to Marcia and don't forget to complete your trainings.

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Superb Speech on the Life of the Mind, the Art of Creative Reading, and the Building Blocks of Genius

https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/08/31/emerson-the-american-scholar/

  

Please see Dan Bakers email on signing up for sports supervision if you can.

I was able to get in some classrooms this week.  This is the favorite part of my job.  Rich, Melissa L, Jim and Mark all created great environments for student learning and questioning.  

7 things teachers can say to create a supportive classroom environment.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/7-things-teachers-say-create-supportive-classroom

SASED will be stopping by team meetings on Wednesday the 15th to talk about instructional coaching.  

Thanks to Chris for pushing out the BB300 already this year.  

Enjoy your extended weekend.  Since I am a former history teacher...here is a short video on the history of Labor Day......it's 3 minutes....you have time

"Don't stumble over something behind you." -- Seneca the Younger

"The biggest reward for a thing well done is to have done it." -- Voltaire

"Happiness is good health and a bad memory." -- Ingrid Bergman