9-22-2017

Learning is not a spectator sport..from Carnegie Mellon University>
https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2015/september/moocs-vs-oli.html

I would like to thank all the social studies teachers for meeting with me and articulating how our curriculum fits with the new social studies standards as well as possible ways to move forward.

How to follow your passion.

https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/a-brutal-truth-about-following-your-passion-and-doing-what-you-love-that-few-people-admit.html?cid=sf01001&sr_share=twitter

Sherry's students had the Rube Goldberg machines in action again this week. It's always amazing to see the contraptions students come up with.

Life imitating art.

Megan D. set up this very attractive and inviting learning environment for her students.

Important and relevant for middle school & high school faculty, parents and students.
https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/17/09/insta

Betty did a great job of hanging up motivational posters all over the building. Even having her students making some of them.

Thanks to MJ for riding the Septran bus with one of our students this week.  It has been interesting.  

Two rules for Success.

Congratulations to Laura P on her upcoming wedding and thanks to social committee for having the celebration yesterday during lunches

A classroom full of Risk-takers.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/classroom-full-risk-takers


Pineapple Chart is coming your way soon.  The pineapple is a symbol of hospitality which represents you being hospitable by inviting other teachers into your classroom.  Thanks to Melissa for working on this great idea and for the treat connected to it that will be in the lounge this morning.

How to Study Smarter..
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-smarter-ways-to-study-1502810531?mod=e2tw

9-15-2017

Please make sure that you complete your health training modules for Marcia on Canvas.

The power of a Genius Hour: 1. Students generate a fresh question. 2. Create something cool. 3. Share it.

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2017-09-04-how-to-build-community-leaders-of-today-and-tomorrow-through-student-genius-hours

PTA will be having a membership contest based on your homeroom classes.  More details to follow soon.  They are also selling spirit wear which you can find at this link.  http://www.epiapparel.com/

What do students learn from live theater...turns out quite a lot.
http://educationnext.org/the-plays-the-thing/#.WbaSVAq3nR0.twitter

Thanks to April for also putting together a Benjamin Spirit Wear order. Order at the link below.  https://www.customink.com/g/ubk0-00b5-1dwa

Helping Children Succeed Paul Tough

Thanks to Melissa for organizing the bus evacuation drill today.  It starts at 8:40am this morning.

Please let me know if you have any questions about student growth goals or the evaluation cycle.  I'm ready to set up formal observations for people doing the traditional evaluation.

People are Breaking Out...Sherry Anderson will be doing a digital breakout with her 6th and 8th period classes today and Keriann just purchased a breakout kit for her class.  Find out more about BreakOut EDU at https://www.breakoutedu.com/about

No Raccoon Left Behind    #NRLB

More FiSH rewards have been ordered and should be arriving soon.  Please make sure you are handing out Fish slips to well deserving students who are displaying the concepts of Play, Be There, Make Their Day, and Choose Your Attitude.



Thanks to Gail for beginning the check-in check out procedures with the identified group of students.  This really helps get these students turned around.

Jessica E. teaching Students to Set Goals:


Social Studies Teachers please remember to review the new standards before our meeting on Wednesday.



The Pineapple Chart is Ready!  Melissa will be sending out an email with the explanation of what a pineapple chart is and then you can start filling out the chart in the lounge.  I look forward to seeing teachers learning and observing each other.

The same pattern of thinking that has gotten us to where we are now will not get us to where we want to go. #GrowthMindset #quoteoftheday

9-8-2017

Thanks for bearing with me and my allergies for my underwhelming presentation overview of Creative Schools by Ken Robinson at our Learning meeting.  Notes will be coming soon, but one of our takeaways about measuring growth in different ways can be done through this portfolio website Fresh Grade or through Canvas in their portfolio option.
https://www.freshgrade.com/



I am looking forward to getting hit by chocolate pies today during each of the recess periods.  Thanks to Mrs. Pasker, Michelle and Kathy for organizing the event with the book fair fundraiser.

The Fake Growth Mindset by Carol Dweck
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/12/how-praise-became-a-consolation-prize/510845/


Megan P is tearing it up on twitter, highlighting some of her classes achievements and adventures.  You can follow her @peterson2teachU

Every moment spent in the classroom has an opportunity for growth:
http://nagc.org/blog/teacher%E2%80%99s-corner-lesson-plan%E2%80%A6-what-leave-what-leave-out


Thanks to everyone who has turned in their summer curriculum work.  If you have not done so already, please do so soon.



Matthew Turek did a great job at the beginning band meeting tonight, getting students and parents excited about playing music. Corey was on hand to help out with his Tuba skills and we had 3 Benjamin Alum helping students as well.  

30 behaviors that will make you unstoppable.
https://journal.thriveglobal.com/30-behaviors-that-will-make-you-unstoppable-ae749e04443e


Thanks to Nicole for sending out the data summaries for our grade level meetings yesterday and to Kim for getting the letters out to parents.  I appreciate the time and effort everyone pours into those meetings to do what is best for all students.  Also, just a reminder to all teachers that a parent should be called any and every time their child is receiving a failing grade in your class.

10 wordless videos to teach problem solving.
http://speechisbeautiful.com/2017/03/10-wordless-videos-teach-problem-solving/?utm_content=bufferff95c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_campaign=buffer


What generosity was shown for our Hurricane Harvey charity drive.  The guys filled up the van and was able to deliver the donations to the truck going to Texas.  Special thanks to Melissa for organizing this under Operation Bengal Care.

If you are feeling smart this morning, a good, but lengthy and complicated article on thought experiments:
https://www.farnamstreetblog.com/2017/06/thought-experiment-how-einstein-solved-difficult-problems/

I was able to get in a few classrooms this week, Mark B had his students engaged at the highest level as students first watched as he started writing two unnamed lists on the overhead.  The more he added the kids tried to figure out what they could add to each column until they could name the lists.  Student brain power was working overtime!  This is just one example of the great work you guys are doing everyday in the classroom.  Thank you!





There is some great work up in the hallways.  Danielle's Bio's, Colleen and Lauren's Bio Poems, Chris's Ways We Use Math, Melissa's Helping Hands, and April's Airplanes and Data Posters are just some of the great examples of student products created in these first few weeks of school.





The slow death of the electric guitar and why you should care:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/classic-apps/the-slow-secret-death-of-the-electric-guitar-and-why-you-should-care/2017/06/22/5a2fce5c-2920-11e7-b605-33413c691853_story.html?utm_term=.243b0a90bd53


Just a reminder of the agenda of our two upcoming Wednesday Meetings:

Wednesday September 13th Early Release 1:45-4:00pm  Student Growth Goals (I will be available for individual meetings with teachers as well as teachers working on their own to finish writing your student growth goals.  

Wednesday September 20th  Subject Area Meetings  Social Studies Teachers Meeting 1: Analyzing Illinois Social Studies Learning Standards/compare curriculum 2:45-3:45pm

Radiolab Podcast on two new technologies in our near future that can have scary repercussions.  Listen to when you have about 30 minutes...educational and entertaining, I promise
http://www.radiolab.org/story/breaking-news/

Grade level Team please return the PARCC individual scores to the office so we can get them sent out to parents.  There will be a copy made for the individual student record that you can access at any time.

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect."  Mark Twain

9-1-2017

HR Teachers please make sure you let kids know of the items needed on the list for our Hurricane Harvey Collection.   We will collect through Wednesday and then get them to Glen Ellyn  where a truck will be packed and heading for Texas.  Thanks to Melissa for organizing this Operation Bengal Care donation.

12 Tips on how to practice from Wynton Marsalis.
http://www.openculture.com/2017/04/wynton-marsalis-gives-12-tips-on-how-to-practice-for-musicians-athletes-or-anyone-who-wants-to-learn-something-new.html


Congratulations to Colleen Morgan for being in the Naperville Glancer for the great job she does as a teacher and a mom.  Log onto social media and vote for her so she can win the 1 million dollar prize! (not sure how much she can really win but 1 million dollars is always an attention grabber)



It was great getting into the classrooms this week and seeing teachers and students in action.  Lauren's "what this bag means to me" lesson, April's "song that represents me" lesson and Bill's close reading lesson are just a few examples of the great teaching taking place everyday at Benjamin.  
History Youtube Playlist...over 50 history related video lessons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG_Q50JDeLo&list=PLfzs_X6OQBOy2rs4mrV2O9t3vNB4RF_Es&index=1&utm_content=bufferc9057&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer



Thanks to Rich, Dan, Matt Tylk, Bill, Danielle and Corey who have been doing a great job coaching our VB, CC and Soccer teams.  Special thanks to Matt, Dan and Rich who were left without a bus yesterday at Christian Liberty and to Keriann who helped organize a way home for them and some of our student athletes.

9 ways to get teens to read:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/9-ways-to-get-teens-reading?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social


Please make sure we are making an effort to be in the halls during passing period.  Your presence makes a big difference as students walk from class to class.

10 signs of a 21st century classroom:
https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/10-signs-21st-century-classroom?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow



Thanks to Lori P and Matt Turek for picking up the 5th grade lunch duty to help Jessica and Jen H.  I really appreciate it.

Maybe we need a little less balance:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/22/well/mind/maybe-we-all-need-a-little-less-balance.html


Thanks to Jessica and Todd for organizing the Aimsweb testing yesterday.
 Getting this beginning data is important in helping students make growth.  Thanks to all staff that helped out.



Thanks to Michelle and Kathy H for helping out with the bookfair.  Your assistance was vital in raising profits for more books for the LMC.

Don't Teach Alone!
https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/17/08/dont-teach-alone?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=Usable+Knowledge



Thanks to the Special teachers for presenting the Fish Philosophy to all of our 5th grade students.  We need all teachers help in using the Vocabulary of Be There, Make Their Day, Play and Choose Your Attitude as well as Passing out Fish Slips to reinforce the positive behavior displayed by most of our students.

I told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said I was being ridiculous - everyone hasn't met me yet.

Rodney Dangerfield (1921 - 2004)   

There is no greater importance in all the world like knowing you are right and that the wave of the world is wrong, yet the wave crashes upon you.

Norman Mailer (1923 - 2007), Armies Of The Night

8-25-2017

I want to thank MJ for putting in extra effort to have the beginning of the year run smooth for her students.  Getting special combo locks, working with her ta's, communicating with teachers and the parents of her students has gone a long way to make a great beginning of the year.



Thanks to Marcia for speaking to our staff at the staff learning meeting about our nut-free students as well as working the bengal card desk at this busy time of year for sports physicals.

How to make kids smarter backed by science.

http://time.com/12086/how-to-make-your-kids-smarter-10-steps-backed-by-science/?utm_campaign=time&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com

I had quite a few teachers talk to me about how great Matt Turek and the summer band sounded at our opening assembly.  Congrats to Matt for also Getting a Go Fund Me Page funded for mics and tuners.

Pretty cool reading fireplace in Megan's room.


Alex has set up a student council fundraiser that will take place in the gym today through PE classes today.

Thanks to Lynette and Jen for being so accommodating at the beginning of the year with pictures, assemblies and fundraisers taking place in the gym.

Useful and practical advise for all educators.
https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/17/08/turning-high-expectations-success


I appreciate the reading teachers spending valuable time during the institute to go in-depth with the new My Perspective curriculum.  It will go a long way in the year to come.

New staff can get their key cards from Kim and email log-in info from me if you do not have it yet.

Good read for parents of teens/tweens. Have smartphones destroyed a generation?
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/09/has-the-smartphone-destroyed-a-generation/534198/


The Scholastic book fair will be starting on the 29th.  If we sell enough books i will be dressing up like a cowboy and getting chocolate "cow pies thrown at me.  If I see a long line of teachers buying books I'll now where I stand with the faculty! :)



Thanks to Michelle F for putting together the book fair schedule together.  I look forward to getting down there and getting suggestions on good books from the students.

Are you in your sweet spot or "Ikigai"?


Open House is Thursday.  This is a great opportunity to talk to parents about your class, expectations, and curriculum.

Thanks to Ellen T and Kim for all of the hard work that they have put into making the start of the school year get off to a great start.  We appreciate all of the extra effort!



I appreciate our conversation about Grit on Monday.  Here is the Grit Scale that you can take yourself.
https://angeladuckworth.com/grit-scale/

Who doesn't want Siri to sing Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.  Try it if you have a minute...or not.
http://www.openculture.com/2017/08/siri-can-sing-queens-bohemian-rhapsody.html

6-2-2017

I would like to thank all of the staff for a wonderful school year.  I feel blessed that I get to work with such a high caliber staff that truly puts kids first on a daily basis.  I hope you have a wonderful summer and enjoy time away with your family.  I am available all summer, if you feel like coming in on and discussing summer curriculum, projects/ideas that you have.  See everyone at the luncheon!