9-7-2018

Thanks again to everyone for the super job you did at Curriculum Night.  I've heard nothing but positive comments from parents and teachers.

5 digital tools to save time in the classroom.  (couple pretty cool ideas)
http://ditchthattextbook.com/2018/08/20/5-digital-tools-to-save-time-in-the-classroom/



The intruder and fire drill were well executed.  Thanks for your preparation and attention to these drills.  Also, thanks to Melissa L for organizing and scheduling all of the drills.

I made a short video yesterday after school of all the positive messages and student work that students get to see in the halls.

Thanks to Michelle and Kathy for all of the work they did to help with the book-fair.  Because we passed the goal of $2500. I will be dressing up like a character from a novel on Wednesday September 12th.  I don't want to have all of the fun so Wednesday will be "dress up like your favorite character from a novel day" for all students and staff that wish to participate.  

Stress and the Growth Mindset

https://www.edutopia.org/article/science-behind-student-stress?utm_medium=socialflow&utm_source=twitter

Don't forget to turn your cash into Lauren to contribute to the Social Fund.  Also, please purchase your 2018-2019 PTA membership.  

Congrats to Bill and Keriann for the wonderful job they did in hosting our first home cross country meet in the hot temperatures Tuesday afternoon.  Also thanks to all of the staff that signed up to work!

Lady Reacting to a skateboarding trick.  Pure enthusiasm and joy.

Thanks to Lynette, Corey and Jen for being flexible and allowing pictures and magazine presentations take place during PE.  Making the schedule work helps everyone and we appreciate it.  

Good article on the art of thoughtful disagreement.  

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/appreciate-art-thoughtful-disagreement-ray-dalio/

If you are on cycle this year, please start thinking about your student growth goals and setting up your first observation with me or turning in your first two documents for your alternative evaluation if you choose to go that route.  I am also available to have a planning meeting to brainstorm ideas.  

Matthew did a great job at beginning band night last night, the word is out, as it was packed with 5th grade families and West Chicago High School student volunteers.  

“Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today.” -- Ernest Hemingway

"I've got pretty big dreams for your kids this year"

Anonymous Benjamin Teacher

8-31-2018

Thanks to the Mindset summer team (Debbie, Laura P, Melissa L,  Megan D, Megan P, Angelica, Julie and Courtney) that put together the district presentation on Monday.  Being able to have students tap into their unused potential this year will increase their talents and skills.

Watch this 2 minute video Melissa l found as a 4 year old explains the value of reading!

Thanks to Ellen and Kim for all of the hard work they did to get everyone off to a great start to the school year.  We couldn't do it without you.



Thanks for your attention and ideas at our safety meeting this week.  We will send out a short and specific email to everyone on how we will run Thursday's lock-down drill as soon as we hear back from Officer Mowrer. 

What happens when schools prioritize Art.
https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/50874/what-happens-to-student-behavior-when-schools-prioritize-art


Thanks to Bill, Keriann, Matt Tylk , Corey, Dan and Kerry for all of the hard work they have put into the start of the fall sports season.  The kids will benefit from your coaching and guidance.  Special thanks to Marcia for going to the tryouts and first practices to make sure all students had their sports physical. 

If you are looking for a new great podcast.  I recommend Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell.  He has done three seasons.  Listen in your car or on the weekend when you are doing work around the house.  I have attached Episode 10 from season 3 but you can find all three seasons online or wherever you find podcasts.
http://revisionisthistory.com/episodes/30-analysis-parapraxis-elvis

Thanks to Mark and Colleen for running the 6th grade outdoor ed meeting last night.  The information they provide puts many parent minds to rest on what is for many their kids first overnight trip. 



Due to Curriculum Night being scheduled for Wednesday, September 5th and that we just had a learning meeting this week, we will not have a Learning Meeting on Wednesday.  I will send a meeting schedule for the month of September soon. 

The two biggest barriers to good decision making are your ego and your blind spots. Together, they make it difficult for you to objectively see what is true about you and your circumstances and to make the best possible decisions by getting the most out of others.

Speaking of Curriculum Night, the parent letter and schedule will be going out today.  What a great opportunity to show parents how your class will be run this year and what experiences their children will have with you. 

The Holstee Manifesto:  Life-cycle video.

The Specials Team trained our newest Bengals in the FISH Philosophy yesterday.  Melissa L, Lyn and April did a great job of discussing each of the four principles. 



Matthew and Corey did a great job with Summer Band and with adding the pizzazz we needed for our opening school assembly.  Thanks

How to be remarkable.
https://seths.blog/2007/01/how_to_be_remar/

I was able to get into a lot of classes yesterday and was amazed at the job everyone was doing as they finished up going over guidelines and expectations for the year, setting the stage for student success.


Congratulations to Todd for  winning the State of Illinois, Those Who Excel Award of Merit.  Even though he downplays the significance, we are lucky to have him in our district helping our students and staff!

5-24-2018

4 Reflection Questions for the End of the Year.
https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/8267

Egg drop challenge excitement in the 5th grade.


Thanks to Jessica for another great edition of the Tiger Times and for throwing the end of year Pizza Party for her reporters.



Thanks to Bill, Keriann, Sherry, Ellen T, Melissa and Matt for all of their help in making this years Graduation a success.  Also, thanks to the many staff members that attended.  It means a lot to the students.


8th grade Clap Out.  Thanks to Kim and Randy for putting together the awesome mix-tape song.



Thanks to Kim for being the certificate and diploma wizard as the end of the year winds down and the award season heats up.



Thanks to Michelle Fiorini for completing the last Gamer's club and wrapping up the end of the year in the Library with recognizing our library volunteers.

Please make sure you complete your room check-out by Tuesday and don't forget to turn in your extra duty form for next year.


Lyn has done a tremendous job again with this years yearbook.  I know how much work it takes to put out such a quality book that I am sure the kids will enjoy.

Thanks to Alicia and Jill for doing a great job filling in for Mark and Lori respectively this week and to Julie Seeman for doing a great job in 5th grade at the end of the year.  I marvel at how talented our staff is.

As Cheryl's email from Debbie yesterday indicated you will have the opportunity to read Mindset over the summer by Carol Dweck.  It is a great read and we will be working on some of the  mindset concepts next year.  Thanks to Debbie, Melissa, Courtney, Megan D and Megan P from our staff  for helping to facilitate these activities next year.


We wish Mr. Feffer the best of luck in his sabbatical year next year.  I'm sure it will be an adventure filled with family, growth, travel and learning.

Commencement speech by Bill watterson the Creator of Calvin and Hobbs...a longer article but a good one
https://www.brainpickings.org/2013/05/20/bill-watterson-1990-kenyon-speech/

I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend, I am looking forward to our Student Award Celebrations and District Staff Celebration at Evergreen on Tuesday.  It is important to celebrate all of our growth and accomplishments this year.

“When people have no faith in you, you can respond in one of two ways: You can accept their opinions as fact and live whatever small life they have selected for you. Or you can dedicate yourself to proving them wrong.” – Lou Holtz

"Unless there is opposing wind, a kite cannot rise." -- Chinese proverb

5-18-2018

A big thank you to Jessica and Lauren for all of the work they have been doing with NJHS which culminates with today's relay recess.  I'm looking forward to a great event which helps out the American Cancer Society. 

Thanks to Sherry who has been translating documents and was our emergency translator for a parent meeting yesterday.  Going above and beyond to help is much appreciated. 


If you haven't seen the video of Betty's dad on his honor flight trip, here it is. 

Sherry put on quite a fiesta on Tuesday.  What a great way to bring together parents, older students and younger students to celebrate the Spanish culture with food and music.  Thanks to Mr. Turek for helping with the music.


 Congratulations to Danielle and her family on the addition of her daughter born on Tuesday.  What an exciting time they will have  this summer. 

Colleen Morgan's science class was cooking pizzas with their solar ovens on Wednesday, what a great hands on science experiment.


April Tepe did a great presentation for our school board on Monday as she gave an overview of the IMSA Fusion classes including great help from 5th grade student Addison. 

Thanks to Ellen, Kim, Tim, Frank, and Tony for all of the hard work they are doing to help with all school picnic today.  I'm sure it will be a fun event.  If you can help serve before you eat let Ellen or Kim know. 

The 6 rules of listening.
http://www.openculture.com/2018/05/erich-fromms-six-rules-of-listening-learn-the-keys-to-understanding-other-people-from-the-famed-psychologist.html


I will send out the extra-duty sign up on Monday for next year. 

Please remember to start thinking about room clean up.  Melissa and I will be checking rooms before the end of the year, Marking your furniture and taking a picture of how your room is set-up also helps the custodians to get it set-up the way you want it at the beginning of the year. 

Why you should wake up at 4am and beat the Zombies.
https://addicted2success.com/motivation/why-you-should-wake-up-at-4-am-and-beat-the-zombies/


Thanks to Keriann, Courtney, Bill, Matt Tylk, and Corey for presenting the spring sports awards last Wednesday night.

Good luck to Matt Tylk and Corey as the Bengals enter the weekend soccer tournament as a 2 seed!

A good story is the best teacher.
https://wordsgrow.wordpress.com/2018/05/14/once-upon-a-time/


A big thank you to Namita for the great job she did with our success track kids. 

"In going where you have to go, and doing what you have to do, and seeing what you have to see, you'll dull and blunt the instrument you write with. But I would rather have it bent and dull and know I had to put it to the grindstone again and hammer it into shape and put a whetstone to it, and know that I had something to write about, than to have it bright and shining and nothing to say, or smooth and well-oiled in the closet, but unused."
Ernest Hemingway

5-11-2018

We will keep it simple.  Thanks for all that you do, hope you had a great week!  Check out this link of why teachers are so awesome!(you will have to "skip" the news stories in-between)

http://abc7.com/education/teacher-stories-that-will-warm-your-heart/1968125/

5-4-2018

Don't forget summer curriculum writing proposals are due today.

Good luck to Lynette, Jen, Corey, Heather F and Kim L as they take our 8th graders to Sportsfest at WCCHS.

Teach Thyself Resources....To improve yourself as an educator check out these twelve pages which include: Blogs, Chats, Hashtags, Webinars, YouTube, Videos, MOOCs, How To, PLN-PLC, Podcasts, and My Technology pages
https://cybraryman.com/teachyourself.html

The NJHS fundraising machine keeps trucking, dodge-ball, Bear rescue bundt cakes, Relay shirts, thanks to Jessica and Lauren for working so hard on these efforts.

The citizenship award ballot of 8th grade nominees will be in your mailbox shortly, please make sure to vote for your picks and turn them into my Inbox by end of the day on Monday!

Research Tested Benefits of Breaks
https://www.edutopia.org/article/research-tested-benefits-breaks


Thanks to Ellen for putting together the un-birthday celebration and for the new SOM bulletin board!

Thanks to Chris for working hard on all of the 4th and 5th grade grade gifted and talented identification matrix's. 

New Master Schedule for next year coming soon!


Thanks to Sherry and April for their thorough and engaging presentation on Wednesday at the staff learning meeting.  Sharing ideas with each other can lead to thought, reflection, growth and the realization that there are multiple ways to reach our students that are unique and connected to our personality and teaching style.

Thanks to Colleen Morgan for her work yesterday with the 6th grade students and their wind skimmers.  Hands on science in action.

We are lucky to have Jim Reuter Executive Director from the Carol Stream Park District with our PE classes today to present their anti-graffiti  campaign to our students. 

Thanks to MJ for working with me to get our summer school set for this June.



On Thursday May 10th at 8:30am Tim will be delivering all the scarce donations to the Glen Ellyn facility. If you have anything for SCARCE make sure it makes its way down to door 2 by Wednesday, May 9th.   

Thanks to Courtney, Bill, and Abby for running a great track meet on Tuesday.  It is a lot of work, special thanks to current and future AD's Keriann and Dan for helping out and to all staff volunteers who made the meet run so smoothly.  

Taking care of yourself should be a priority.
https://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/8232



Thanks to Michelle for scheduling the summer reading presentations for May 23rd.  

Thanks to Bill, Megan and Keriann and Mark for the extra effort they are putting towards helping Namita and our 8th grade success track students.  

May the 4th Be With You, Where to start reading Star Wars Books.
https://nerdist.com/star-wars-books-where-to-start-reading/?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=nerdist&utm_content=Where%20to%20Start%20Reading%20STAR%20WARS%20Books


Next week is Teachers Appreciation Week and we are celebrating by having as many activities and schedule interruptions as humanly possible!  On a serious note I appreciate the unique and varied talents of the staff here at Benjamin.  Separately we are able to reach a wide variety of students, together we are making a real difference in all of our students lives.  Thank you!

4-27-2018

Betty's dad, Gerald Nordegren is on Honor Flight Chicago on May 9th.  It is so great that him and other veterans of the Korean War will be honored in this way.  If there is a spare 5 minutes at the end of class she can take cards to him and the other veterans but today is the deadline!  Bring them down to her if you can.

Lauren and Jessica  put on a fun night for the kids with their 3v3 basketball tournament  fundraiser for NJHS Thursday night.  Neela 3-d printed the trophies!

Thanks to Melissa L, Melissa F, Chris, MJ, Danielle, and Matt for making 4th grade students and parents feel comfortable in their first steps in their transition to Benjamin Wednesday during the student visit and Parent Night.  

The specials team spearheaded a make Your Mark on the World bookmark project last week.  Yesterday I saw the finished project and I am impressed!  Please make sure they get passed out to your students.  

Marla and Ally at the IPA Recognition Breakfast.

Megan P had her students celebrating National Poem in Your Pocket Day with student poems (in their pockets) and on the sidewalks!

 

JFK on Why artists and Poets are Indispensable to the American Public.  

http://www.openculture.com/2017/05/john-f-kennedy-explains-why-artists-poets-are-indispensable-to-american-democracy.html

PLEASE, PLEASE sign up to work the Track Meet on Tuesday May 1st.  Courtney really needs your help!

Thanks to Adrienne and the 7th grade team for organizing the Career Fair Friday.  What a great experience for our students and a wonderful opportunity for parents to come in and volunteer.  

How well do your grades represent student learning?  Article for reflection.  

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/accurate-grades/

The 8th grade team and students are heading to Wrigley Field today to see the Cubs play.  What  a great experience for the kids who may have never been to a professional game and have only seen the White Sox or Kane County Cougars game.  😄

Dr. Ehrhardt got to jam with Michael Miles!  

April Tepe's 5th grade students share some of their projects from their IMSA Fusion class.

Take Your Child to Work Day.