5-22-2015

8 ways to redirect off task behavior without interrupting your lesson:  (I have seen a few teachers utilize #4 this year!)
http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/2015/05/8-ways-to-redirect-off-task-behavior-without-stopping-your-lesson.html

A huge thank you to Melissa and Jessica for working so hard to make the relay recess a success today.  I am looking forward to my first relay!

Also thanks to Colleen and Alex for generating the excitement of the "golden ticket".  The kids are pumped.  I'd also like to thank the brave volunteers who are going to get "pied" (is that a verb?)

Much gratitude goes out to Michelle F for finishing the Parcc testing and helping to organize the book fair.  Doing the make-ups is not an easy job and I appreciate it!

How to generate good ideas.  great article

https://zapier.com/blog/find-good-ideas/?utm_content=buffer3e7cc&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Thanks to Manny and Frank who have been working extremely hard as usual to make sure set-ups are done, items are fixed, and problems are solved.  Most importantly for "being there" when we need you.

Congratulations to the Anderson family on the announcement of the soon to be new edition (not Bobby Brown) to their family!

Thanks to Matt and Doreen for working so hard to bring another championship home last weekend as the Girls Soccer Team brought home both the regular season championship and the playoff's.  You know your school has had a good year when your athletic director is telling you that you have to buy new banners for the gym!

Melissa and Mark put on an awesome concert on Wednesday evening.  The gym was packed and their students played/sang wonderfully for a great evening of music.  

MJ will have to lead a learning meeting on cooking next year. Because of her meals she presented to a district family at the foundation raffle, the family has decided to donate an additional $100 because the meals were so delicious, well balanced and complete.  Great job!

Thanks to Greg for presenting the Maker Space for our learning meeting on Wednesday.It was informative and keeps our students on the cutting edge of technology.  The following is something you might hear a student say next year.  "Mrs. Dunne, can Alex and I go to the STEAM room and work on some Makey Makey"?  :)

Everyone you will ever meet, knows something that you don't.

Bill Nye

5-15-2015

Thanks for your excellent attention to detail and positive attitude as you lead the students through the EOY PARCC testing.  Thanks to Greg and Ellen for getting us through all of the technology hurdles.  This was a real team effort that everyone should be proud of.  We will send out a make-up schedule that will start early next week.

12 surprising ways to get organized.
http://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/12-surprisingly-effective-ways-to-get-organized.html?cid=sf01001

A huge shout out to John, Bill and Abby as they brought home the Championship for both Girls and Boys Track Teams.  A lot of hard work and dedication went into helping the kids stay focused and performing their best.  Great job guys!

In praise of the boring class period:  (a really good read)
http://www.teacherwithapassport.com/blog/in-praise-of-the-boring-class-period

Thanks to Melissa and Jessica A as they are working on a lot of NJHS events lately.  Yesterday the 6th graders pulled off a huge upset of the 8th grade boys at the dodge ball tournament.  Smoothie and cupcake sales all lead up to the recess relay benefiting the ACS.  Most importantly, they are developing leadership skills in our students as they organize these events.

How sweet it is.  First Jill bakes a ton of awesome cookies and then John is bringing in Pizza's for the staff.  Thank you both for being so generous in food, spirit and collegiality.

Thanks to Christine, Keriann, Cathy and Rich for working hard to revamp our summer math program. Information will be going home soon with the summer reading program.  These programs really help our students not lose ground by practicing.

Thanks for listening to the initial Fish Presentation on Wednesday.  I am excited to see how we can apply these four terms to our school setting next year.

Today's is the big game and I am expecting everyone to step up to the plate, give their best effort and work hard for a victory!  JK, I am looking forward to a fun time for all.Thanks to Jen for helping to put it together.  Student spectators will be seated between first base and the right field and third base and left field line for safety.

5-8-2015

Parcc testing starts again on Monday.  The tickets and seal codes are in your mailboxes.  Thanks to Greg for running those off and to Greg and Ellen for running the update on the devices.  Please make sure that you log on to the Pearson Access Next site today if you haven't done so already.  Make sure you switch over to EOY. Make sure that you can access your class.  We are on the same schedule as the first PARCC testing with the exception of Wednesday when we are on a different schedule due to an early release.  This was placed in your mailbox on Wednesday.  Please remember that the EOY has a different script that you will use. Please read through it ahead of time.  All of the special teachers will be in the hall this time as runners and extra assistance, but will not be assigned to be in a certain classroom.  I also found out that there is a 23 question survey that the students will have to take when they complete the math and ELA sections of the test.  Thank you for getting the students ready for this exam.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

100 stores that give discounts to teachers:
http://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/2012/12/18/100-stores-that-give-a-teacher-discount/

Bill and Danielle did an awesome job of preparing their students for their debates.  The kids did an unbelievable job, I was blown away.  

What Schools can learn from Google about Nurturing Creativity:
http://www.edudemic.com/google-nurturing-creativity/?utm_content=bufferf76fa&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Today's articulation lays the groundwork for a successful year next year.  Thank you for being prepared to discuss students in a constructive way.  

Techs future in Education:
http://www.knowledgeworks.org/sites/default/files/A-Glimpse-into-the-Future-of-Learning-Infographic_0.pdf

Thanks to Lynette and Jill for the hard work they put into getting the talent show ready.  I can't wait to see the 7th and 8th grade students shine.

This one is from Dr. Ehrhardt, great article on Accelerated learning for adults from Tim Ferris
http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenkotler/2015/05/04/tim-ferriss-and-the-secrets-of-accelerated-learning/

Thanks to all of the departments for working so hard on Wednesday.  I was in the ILAR meeting and we got much accomplished.
9 quotes from students on teachers that changed their lives:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/05/quotes-teacher-appreciation-day_n_7209884.html?utm_content=bufferc43c9&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

thanks to Adrienne for running the 7th Grade career fair last week.  I had a chance to meet with the parent volunteers beforehand and they were very excited for the opportunity to talk to our students.  

As track and soccer wind down, a big thank you to John, Abby, Bill, Matt and Doreen for all of their hard work this spring sports season.  

Epic guide to student engagement:

http://ajjuliani.com/epic-guide-student-engagement-classroom/

Keriann proves that math runs in the family as she had her daughter teach her class the quadratic formula.

https://denebxserve3.denebcorp.com/webmail/api/download/attachment/5ddac126-0fab-47fb-a485-22a173fe32d3/8765/0-1/Quadratic%20Formula%20by%20Evalyn%20(3)%20and%20Mariella%20(4mo).mp4?version=37319&sid=395bd882ae917c7b133921c1e77880a1d812f7e32c852532de81a1a9bb4a0219&mode=view

The two positions that we had open for next year have been filled:  Lauren Giacalone will be filling in for Danielle DeChristopher in 5th grade and Courtney Milner was officially hired on Monday by the school board to be our 7th and 8th grade resource teacher.  These additions will bring great talents and ideas to our staff.  

I hope you enjoyed the food and other festivities this week (including today's lunch).  You deserve all of it and much more.  Having such a dedicated staff makes student learning fun and my job easier.  Keep up the great work.  

5-1-2015

We had the future 5th graders in the building yesterday and they loved every minute of their experience.  Thanks to Melissa Lamantia and the 5th grade teachers for planning the event.  Also thanks to Chris, Melissa F, Lauren G, M.J., Lynette, Mike D, and Melissa L that were here last night for the 4th grade parent night.  It helps put some minds at ease when parents can connect a name to a face for the people that will be helping their children next year.

Great Critical Thinking web resources:  http://cybraryman.com/criticalthinking.html

This Wednesday we will be meeting in departments. Please do not forget to email me the agenda you plan on following.

The all-time best science sites:  http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2014/03/01/the-all-time-best-science-sites/


Thanks to Jen V for taking the reigns on the 8th grade vs. staff softball game.  The kids seem to be surprisingly optimistic on their chances vs. this athletic powerhouse of a staff.  A detailed schedule will be coming your way soon.

The all-time best social studies sites:  http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2014/02/27/the-all-time-best-social-studies-sites/

The 8th grade was a-buzz after they returned from their visit to West Chicago High School.  What a great experience for the students who are able to relieve some anxiety,by seeing the students, classes and teachers at WCHS.

Blooms Taxonomy According to Pirates of the Caribbean:

I was transported to the 60's beat poetry scene yesterday as I heard students recite, Frost, Poe, Silverstein and some original poetry in Moreno's Beat Cafe.  The lights were dimmed, bongo drums were played, coffee cups(filled with fruit punch) were drank from as we snapped in appreciation of the students as each finished.  What a great job Adrienne did in creating an engaging learning experience for students.

Teaching is Dead, long Live the Teacher....http://pairadimes.davidtruss.com/teaching-is-dead-long-live-the-teacher/

Thanks to Adrienne for putting together the 7th grade career day for this afternoon.  Students will be able to hear from a variety of professions as parents come in to give presentations.

Watch This!

Food, food and more food.  We have quite the spread next week.  Tuesday we will celebrate Cinco De Mayo(sign up in the lounge), Thursday lunch provided by the admin/school board and Friday lunch provided by the PTA in honor of teacher appreciation week.

I'm looking forward to the Davinci Assembly with the 6th grade tomorrow morning.  I have heard wonderful things and am looking forward to my first experience with it.

Just an fyi...

4-24-2015

Gameification:  Engaging students with narrative.
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/gamification-engaging-students-with-narrative-alice-keeler

Thanks to the 8th grade team for providing a wonderful opportunity for their students.  The sky box was an added bonus on a day that the students won't soon forget.  

The Skype the 6th grade class did with the San Diego Zoo was really spectacular.  From the awesome technology, to the exotic animals (Australian sugargliders to name one) to the excellent speaker, the students were engaged from beginning to end. To top everything off I was amazed at the students knowledge they expressed in asking and answering questions.   Big props go out to our 6th grade team, Michelle F, Greg and Ellen B for making this happen.  

Arizona State to offer a full freshman year online and you receive credit.  Interesting article on the future of online higher education learning:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/23/us/arizona-state-university-to-offer-online-freshman-academy.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0

If anyone can spare an hour or two, the PTA is looking for volunteers to work at their next Chef's Night Out at Menchies Yogart.  They have shifts open from 6:30pm-8:30pm on April 29th and 30th.  I know Adrienne had a blast last time and the money they raise ends up going back to our school.

Creativity is in everything, especially teaching:  An excerpt from Sir Ken Robinson's new book:  Creative Schools

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/04/22/sir-ken-robinson-creativity-is-in-everything-especially-teaching/

We want to welcome a lot of visitors today as Midwestern University medical students will be in PE classes all day to show our students a variety of health and medical topics with hands on activities.

We will also be welcoming the West Chicago Color Guard as they will give a demonstration for our 8th grade students during recess and then follow that up with a clinic after school.

Hope everyone had a great Earth Day on Wednesday.  Checkout these awesome pictures of our planet:

http://mashable.com/2015/04/22/earth-day-photos/

Thanks to Lynette and Jill for overseeing the tryouts and practice of the talent show.  It takes a lot of work and coordination to corral all of our talented students.  

Watch the skyline of New York being built from the 1500's to present day with this 52 second time lapse video.  

http://www.nytimes.com/video/nyregion/100000003637210/sky-pods-show-rise-of-new-york-skyline.html?action=click&gtype=vhs&version=vhs-heading&module=vhs&region=title-area

Thanks to listening to my presentation on Gifted Facts and Misconceptions.  Please let me know if you have any feedback on the draft of the handbook.  Future learning meetings will focus on the differences between Gifted/talented and high achievers as well as differentiation.

10 ways to finish the school year strong:

http://www.justintarte.com/2015/04/10-ways-to-finish-school-year-strong.html

Thanks to Coleen and Alex for organizing tonight's student council dance and for everything they have done this year for student council.  If you are bored there are still chaperon spots available.

4-17-2015

Thanks to Jessica E for taking some of her students to the Engineering Expo at the University of Wisconsin Madison.   what a great opportunity for these students.

Good article!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/04/16/the-most-powerful-classroom-innovation-by-the-1-million-teaching-prize-winner/


It takes a village...wow, the track meet last night was impressive!  Thanks to John and all of the teachers who made it happen.  The kids did a great job in the events as well.

The Roomba for your Lawn...not so fast Astronomers' say.
http://www.wired.com/2015/04/irobot-lawnbot/

Angela's baby shower was awesome.  Thanks to everyone who came together and celebrated with Angela and her family.

Unlimited screen time for students....interesting read:
http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2015/04/why-you-should-let-students-have.html

Jessica A and Mike did an awesome job of presenting the Stem and tech literacy courses for the school board on Monday.

Librarians Rocking technology!

and an article on if libraries were arranged like youtube instead of the dewey decimal system.
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/what-exactly-is-a-library-terry-heick?utm_content=blog&utm_campaign=what-is-a-library&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow&utm_term=second-image

 Thanks to the 8th grade team for working hard to put together the White Sox game for the students next week.

Learn to talk a new language with Hello Talk

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2015/04/learn-new-language-with-help-of-friends.html?utm_content=bufferdaa31&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#.VTDqefnF-So


Thanks to Coleen and Alex for all of their hard work that they have done to plan and organize the Student Council Convention Trip to Springfield today.



Mark your calendars and get your dancing shoes out of the closet.  Next Friday is the student council dance and all are invited to help chaperon.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

4-10-2015

Thanks to the 5th grade team who will be conducting CogAt testing on Monday and Tuesday of next week.  This will help us get valuable information on our soon to be 6th grade students.

If anyone has any questions on the enrichment identification matrix please let me know and I can go to team/department/individuals to explain.  Hopefully this will create a consistent framework for student placement in which appropriate instruction can take place.

Strategies for strengthening the brains executive functioning skills:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/strategies-strengthening-brains-executive-functions-donna-wilson-marcus-conyers

Thanks to Jessica Adams and Mike Droste for presenting their programs at this Monday's school board meeting.  Sharing some of the great ways that teachers are using technology to engage student learners will be great information  for the school board to hear.

Thanks to Jamie P for presenting with students Abby C, David F, Julia N and Niku M at Tuesday's PTA Parent Presentation.  Their presentation about Windows 8 was informative and entertaining.

Successfully "flip" your Social Studies Classroom:  http://tigerpd.blogspot.com/2015/04/successfully-flip-your-social-studies.html

I am reading all of the responses to Wednesday's department agenda.  It is important that we get our curriculum updated online so that it is current and actually represents what we teach.  This will be a process that will take some time.  The good news is that we have the outstanding teachers and teaching practice that is taking place, now we just need to get it documented.

NJHS will be hosting a cupcake sale next week.  Get your orders in now! :)

3 Simple Techniques to keep negativity out of your life:
http://addicted2success.com/life/3-simple-techniques-to-keep-negativity-out-of-your-life/

Thanks to Michelle F for organizing drop everything and read for today.  Reading is the foundation of all learning, so having the whole building reading for 50 minutes will be a great way to spend our time and increase our knowledge.

It's great to have Danielle and Angela back with us.  Your expertise and experience make our school stronger.

Exploring the legacy of the Civil War at 150:
  http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/blog/2015/04/06/civil_war/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=DiscoveryEd

Thanks to Nicole for running the Healthy Beginnings program.  What a great way to promote health and fitness.  It's not too late to join this session, email her today.

6 things to consider before you start a Maker Space:
https://www.edsurge.com/n/2014-10-10-6-things-to-consider-before-starting-your-makerspace 

Why a Maker Space:

quotes of the week: