11-19-2021

 Thanks to Dr. Woell and the school board  for the awesome turkey lunch yesterday for American Education Week.  Also thanks to Jen S for facilitating it.

During Friday's lunch the students will be getting their turkey lunch. Thanks to the lunchroom supervisors for supervising this special lunch and to Ellen for working with Kurt & Elise from Sodexo, and Dr.Woell for making this happen. 

The Turkey that Kerry and her class put together and for the hallway looks great. Thanks to all of the staff who contributed feathers to state what they are grateful for.  It looks like we have a lot to be thankful for.

When we get back from Turkey Break the 8th grade students will be taking their graduation pictures on Tuesday November 30th in the Multi-purpose room.  This event should be complete by lunch that day.

Thanks to Kim for all of the hard work she puts into report cards.  Please make sure that report cards get passed out at the end of 8th period when we call students back for a special homeroom.  

6 strategies for building empathy in the classroom.  

https://blog.tcea.org/what-empathy-how-practice-empathy-classroom/

Thanks to all of our club supervisors, Jessica, Lynette, Chris, Jen H, Alex, Colleen, Michelle F, Danielle, April and Sherry.  I appreciate the time and effort you are putting into these extra-curricular opportunities that students enjoy/need.

Thanks for meeting in the subject area meetings on Wednesday.  I enjoyed my time with the math team and the discussions we had on curriculum and assessments.

Morning line-up/duty will switch to inside after Turkey Break and recess will also be staggered with 5th and 6th grade having recess at the beginning of the lunch period and 8th and 7th at the end.  

Using oral history projects to boost SEL.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/using-oral-history-projects-boost-sel

I hope everyone enjoys a restful break with their family.  You deserve it.

"The best teachers have three things in common: They are all about the students. They always bring positive energy into the classroom. They are relentless about getting better." ~ via 'Essential Truths for Teachers'

11-12-2021

 It's been a long week. Thanks for finishing off parent teacher conferences with a bang with in-person and Zoom meetings.  Communication with parents is essential and remembering that we are in a partnership with them to help their child will result in good outcomes.

Speaking of positive feedback, I cannot remember a time when so many staff members came up to me about an assembly.  Hats off to Melissa for organizing the assembly and to April, Morgan, Danielle and Angela for all of their help making it a success.  Obviously thanks to Frank and Tony for all of the set-up and takedown and thanks again to our very own Rich and Bill for their service to our country.  Honor Flight Chicago and the Carol Stream Police Color Guard made the first assembly in two years even more special.  

Michelle and Kathy did a great job organizing a Caudill book talk with our students as an activity for students when they were not in the assembly.  Getting students motivated about reading is always important. 

How to embed SEL in your lessons:

Please read Kerry's email about Turkey feathers and consider adding one of your own.  What a great idea!

The How of building deeper relationships with your students.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-building-deeper-relationships-students

Sue has done a great job transitioning over the last two days as a Benjamin Staff member.  Getting thrown out in the rain with an umbrella for her first morning duty shift and getting to know the students in her class are just two examples of the great job she has done already.

Don't forget about your wellness appointments tomorrow.  Thanks to Jen s for getting this event set up and organized.  I also realize that people will have health screening appointments and even booster shot appointments that will conflict with the days planned activities.  Just go to your appointment and join back in with the learning fun when you are finished.

This guide helps students to write a developed & analytical lit essay. from Duckworth.

https://bit.ly/30b2dkQ

Thanks to Dan, Matt, and Nicole for the great job they are doing with the Winter sports season.  Also thanks to everyone who signs up for scorekeeping and supervisor roles.  We need everyone to make this work.  

Thursday, Nov. 18 is the staff lunch provided by Admin and BOE. This will be the REAL turkey feast as Jen is ordering it from Sportys. Then, we have the "leftovers" option on Friday, Nov 19 with the turkey sandwich from Sodexo. The Google form was sent to everyone. 

Marzano's 9 Instructional strategies

https://bit.ly/3n3YzlR

Thanks to Todd for helping to kick-off our Fastbridge meeting tomorrow with our math, ILAR and Sped teachers.  I appreciate his expertise in introducing this program. 

Let's make better slideshows

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/slideshows/

 Everyone please make sure you look over your schedule for tomorrow to see where you need to be throughout the day and please make sure you sign in and out in the office on the attendance sheet.  You need your iein number as well.  

"The greatest happiness is to know the source of unhappiness." -- Fyodor Dostoevsky

"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." -- Henry Van Dyke

11-5-2012

 Thanks to everyone for doing an outstanding job at P/T conferences. Parents I talked to said things went well and the conferences were starting and finishing on schedule. Also thanks to Kim for checking all the parents in and helping set-up our awesome PTA dinner.  Please make sure your Zoom link is working for Tuesday and that if you have a new computer that you have tested your camera and mic like Greg has mentioned.

This Monday at the school board meeting we will be honoring the school board for School Board Appreciation Week.  Angela is setting up a Kudoboard like we did for Matthew Turek.  Melissa or I will be sending out directions today.  If you could please take a minute to input a message before Monday it would be greatly appreciated.  

Push students past simple recall into deeper thought and engagement by adding this short follow-up question to your repertoire.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/question-teachers-should-ask-often-possible

We are gearing up for the Veterans Day Assembly this Thursday.  I look forward to having our first assembly in a long time and celebrating our Veterans.

Dr. Woell will be sending out a summary of our Evaluation Committee meeting last Wednesday.  Please read it over and feel free to ask either of us if you have any questions.  Thanks to the teachers that served on the committee.

Teachers need more Than Good Wishes

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FDCnL1bWQAAD6WM?format=jpg&name=large

Please see Greg's email on adding the facility calendar to your account.  Also we have started to have outside groups use our gym on the weekend.  I have checked with Tim and they will be following the same process as you do if they are entering the building.  As an example, Community Fellowship will be using the gym this weekend.  When they come in their group leader will be entering through door 1 and signing in on the clipboard.  If you see a name on the clipboard when you are leaving the building don't set the alarm (just like always).

Thanks to Colleen, Lisa K and Janice for securing the outdoor ed grant for next year.  Their timely efforts will pay dividends for us next year!

Here's one way to finish each class as strongly as you started it—try an optimistic closure, which helps students connect, reflect, and look forward as you wrap for the day.

Thanks to Ellen for putting together the newsletter each month, also for putting up with late article she is always waiting for (mine lol)

Sherry did a great job with her Day of the Dead celebration for Spanish class this year.  Having the food in the gym was a great accomodation and I love having the parent volunteers in the building.

How PE can help kids bounce back from isolation.

https://www.edweek.org/leadership/kids-are-feeling-isolated-phys-ed-may-help-them-bounce-back/2021/11

Congratulations to April as she became a grandma this week, expanding our Bengal Family!

Please remember to check out one of the podcasts I sent out on Wednesday for our annual podcast learning meeting.

Please consider signing up for our wellness day on November 12th.  It is a great opportunity for you and your spouse!  Thanks to Jen S for sending out the reminders.

"The only reality you can control is the one you're willing to face." -- Karen Marie Moning

"Sometimes I am two people. Johnny is the nice one. Cash causes all the trouble. They fight." -- Johnny Cash