1-25-2019

I want to thank Dan and Matt for the coaching job they did yesterday.  The Bengals were beat soundly, which makes their effort, positivity and good example they set for our middle school girls more impressive.

Great article Angela found on teaching students "how to think".
https://www.edutopia.org/article/4-ways-develop-creativity-students


Please make sure your review the E-learning day letter that Dr. Ehrhardt sent out yesterday.  I will make my way around teams on Monday and Tuesday of next week to answer any planning questions you have.  Please continue to plan during your team and plan time as this can go in effect starting Feb. 1. This also means that if we have a cold day next week we will have to make it up.




I'm getting a lot of 2nd round evaluations done this week and next.  Please make sure that you schedule your next observation if you are on the evaluation cycle and please check your alternative evaluation to ensure you are making progress.  Finally everyone on cycle, please make sure you are checking on your student growth goals.

Challenge Read of the week:  Science and Memory
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/01/same-neurons-may-map-physical-space-and-memories/580357/?utm_campaign=the-atlantic&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_content=edit-promo&utm_term=2019-01-18T12%3A15%3A17

The 175th Benjamin Anniversary committee met last night and came up with a lot of ideas to kick off the planning. Special thanks to Lauren Dunne and Melissa LaMantia who were the BMS representatives.

Cool library display and article BOOKFLIX
https://bookriot.com/?p=251910


Michael Miles was in to perform and teach our students again this week.  I know staff is busy, but I strongly suggest that when he comes back in the spring, you use your plan time to sit in Melissa's classroom.  This is really a special opportunity for our students.



Thanks to Jessica and Lauren for all of their hard work in getting NJHS off and running.  They will have their first full meeting on Monday morning and then hopefully get the new inductees confirmed that evening.  (pray for good weather)

How to cite sources without leaving google docs.  Good for your student research papers.
https://shakeuplearning.com/blog/cite-sources-google-docs/

Greg gave a new update on the Illinois Assessment of Readiness  (the artist formerly known as Prince...I mean PARCC).  It is pretty thorough so I will send out a detailed email next week.  Two takeaways are that Pearson will be delivering the assessment again this year which means there are a lot of similarities to years past.  Also, the test is shorter with two 90 minute sessions for ELA and three 60 minutes sessions of math for all grade levels.  More to follow.

Wisdom is the ability to see both sides and weigh them appropriately.


Thanks to Tim, Frank and Tony for being relentless in keeping up with the school grounds during this nasty weather.




Yesterday had a lot of challenges, but sitting in a PST meeting and having a mom tear up about how her son earning Student of the Month was such a powerful and positive event for him and their family, really Made My Day.  Please don't forget the impact that even the simplest things have on our students and their families. You are making a difference.

1-18-2019

Chris Fernandez was recognized at the school board meeting with her BB300 students for the outstanding job they are doing with their news broadcast. As you see from Chris's email she is also working to get the broadcast to 5 minutes or under and has changed the Pledge of Allegiance in the video to a shorter, more middle school age appropriate version.  Please make sure you have the link ready to go on time and that your students are listening while watching.


The 7th-grade team is heading to Main Event for their Reward Trip today.  I heard Jim talking trash to Cathy and Adrienne about how he was going to destroy them in laser tag!

Great Article Jessica found on relationship focused education.
https://www.ajc.com/blog/get-schooled/what-schools-focused-improving-relationships-rather-than-test-scores/EGWNqCQI3A5QeGH0QkUEtJ/



Congratulations to the JV boy's basketball team as well as to Mr. Tylk and Mr. Baker as they won the conference championship over the weekend.  They worked very hard to achieve this goal.  Nice Job!



Please remember to check on your progress if you are completing an alternative evaluation so that you know you are progressing towards your goal.  Teachers on regular evaluation please make sure you have scheduled your next observation.

Jim Thorpe, an American Indian from Oklahoma had his track shoes stolen while representing the U.S. in the 1912 Olympics. He found shoes in the trash, wore an extra sock due to size issues, & won 2 gold medals. Mindset matters. You can do it!




Congratulations to Mrs. LaMantia and Mr. Turek for the excellent job they did leading the band and choir students in the Music Fest at WCCHS.  This was a great experience for all of our students.

Turning Math into a Game.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/turning-math-game?utm_medium=socialflow&utm_source=twitter


Angela Anthony has put together some awesome Google drive/docs training videos for our students. I would not be surprised if Google starts recruiting her to come out to Silicone Valley!  Seriously, these are going to be a great tool to help students and teachers!



Please make sure that you use your plan and team time to start organizing your E-learning plans. The administration is also working on clearing some additional time for you to prepare properly for these new learning experiences.

Hack your Happiness.  How a middle school in Schaumburg is making gratitude part of the curriculum.
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/wellness/video/hack-happiness-learning-gratitude-changing-illinois-middle-school-59996985


The assessment planning committee is working hard to make a good decision on what testing company the district should use to accurately assess and progress monitor our students.  This includes viewing presentations, talking with surrounding school districts and talking to our current assessment provider. Thanks to Jessica, Cathy, Lauren, Melissa, MJ and Megan Peterson for their hard work.



PE will be roller skating starting on Tuesday.  I'm looking forward to watching Mr. Wadman doing his triple lutz!  Thanks to Jen and Lynette for setting up this opportunity.



I hope everyone enjoys their extended weekend.

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” - #MLK

1-11-2019

For the first Post of 2019 Here is a Video that I Created for our Benjamin Home Page.  If you have 10 minutes (9:35 seconds) please check it out.  It began with over 54 minutes of footage.  I hope you like it and please give me any input for improvement.

12-21-2018

I want to thank everyone for the restaurant gift card. It will be put to good use over break!

Thanks to Jen S. for setting up the wonderful breakfast this morning.  Hopefully, you enjoy/enjoyed it, depending upon when you read this.

I'm looking forward to the talent show today.  Chris and Lynette worked extremely hard to get the acts ready for their shining moment on stage.

Thanks to Angela for allowing us to use her room for the chair massages.  Also, she led the HOPE Group in this excellent podcast.  Her students talk about a variety of topics.  Definitely worth a listen.
https://benjamin.bendist25.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=780978&type=d&pREC_ID=1180158

Jessica has led the Tiger Times staff in another spectacular, hard-hitting, investigative edition of their newspaper.   I particularly like the article in which Natan takes a controversial stance on running being good for you!

I appreciate the effort and hard work that Michelle and Kathy put into running the bookfair this winter.  Despite some obstacles, they, along with some key parent volunteers, raised $2,000.  I thank you and Buddy thanks you.

6th-grade Team put on their annual Sock Hop on Thursday which correlates a unit of study they are completing in ILAR right now.  The addition of the video took it to the next level.

Thanks to Alex and Colleen for organizing the student council winter dance Thursday night and to Marcia, Bill, and Lyn for chaperoning. Students were excited and busily decorating after school. Speaking of decorating, Alex and Colleen should also be recognized for all of the excitement this past week with the kids trying to win the student council dec-a-door contest and dressing into the theme days, they made the school environment electric!

Melissa and Matthew put on the largest attended concert of my tenure here at Benjamin Wednesday Night.  The place was packed and the performances brought the house down.  Special thanks to Todd, Heather, and April for helping out and obviously to Melissa and Matthew for the work they did with their students.

Thanks to Jenny Harvel for working to provide home-bound tutoring to one of our 8th-grade students. This is a student that needs the little extras and leads me to my next entry.

 The following is a re-post, something I wrote in the past (November 5, 2010) that I am reposting now. It is a post I wrote about the loss of my father, how it affected my life, and how it relates to the job all of you do at Benjamin every day.  I am doing this for two reasons:

1.  I keep a lot of my personal feelings close to my vest, but after being in my 5th year at Benjamin I feel comfortable in sharing part of what makes me ...me,...with you. Since it is the original post, there are references to EJH (my old school).  I want to be clear that after the time I have spent here, I can 100% say that my observations about teachers behaviors hold true here at Benjamin.
 2.  After sitting through the data meetings yesterday I think the theme coincides to some of our conversations on students that are affected by circumstances.

One last note, this is not a downer, even though I start by talking about my father's death, the title of the post is Making a Difference...something you do every day. After re-reading this, I also think my grammar and punctuation has improved over the last 8 years, at least a little bit!  😀 Have a great holiday and I hope you spend time relaxing with family and friends.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SI3X04STR4YAXUTNbVh1Xk-t1HxWaEjL/view?usp=sharing

12-14-2018

Thanks to Sherry for filling in and translating a parent meeting for us yesterday.  I'm also excited to see how her tamale party goes today.

Mark Bradbury shared this thought-provoking article from NPR on a later school start time for teenagers.  https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/12/676118782/sleepless-no-more-in-seattle-later-school-start-time-pays-off-for-teens

Chair Massages anyone?  We will have 10-minute chair massages in the conference room on Thursday 12-20 from  11 am - 1pm. There will be a sign-up sheet that goes out this morning and 24 slots to fill. It is first come first serve.  Happy Holidays.

Teachers perspective on Carol Dweck's Mindset.
https://au.educationhq.com/news/55796/carol-dwecks-mindset-gave-me-a-reality-check/

Thanks to Betty and Melissa for attending the board meeting on Monday to hand over their check to the Honor Flight Chicago representative. 


Keriann showed off these awesome Math Rap Videos at the Math subject area meeting on Wednesday after school.  Even if you don't teach math you have to check them out.

Thanks to Jessica for helping to lead the Assessment Taskforce.  We even had people fighting in PST to be on the committee.  It is a very short commitment.  We have Lauren Dunne, Cathy Arens, MJ, and Jessica.  Please let me know the 5th and 8th-grade representatives today.  

Interactive Periodic Table shows how elements are used.

http://www.openculture.com/2017/07/interactive-periodic-table-of-elements-shows-how-the-elements-actually-get-used-in-making-everyday-things.html

Please help Michelle and Kathy pump up the bookfair for next week.  If they reach their goal then I will be dressing up like Buddy the Elf!

Melissa had the 5th-grade students singing like angels in the small gym this week.  All in preparation for the caroling field trip to the assisted living facilities on the 17th.  I have been to this field trip before and the residents LOVE the opportunity to see and hear our students.  

The US physical activity guidelines have been updated for the first time in 10 years.  Check them out.

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a25059791/physical-activity-guidelines-updated/?utm_campaign=socialflowTWRW&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social-media

Adrienne is organizing the ugly sweater competition for Friday, she also somehow has enough ugly sweaters to outfit the whole staff!  Please see her if your fashion sense is too cool.

Educating children for the jobs of the future.

https://www.raconteur.net/business-innovation/educating-children-jobs-future

If the Bears win against the Packers Monday is Bear Day.  Dress Appropriately!

5 Life Lessons to Learn from Reading The Alchemist.  What?  You have never read The Alchemist?  What is Wrong with you?

https://addicted2success.com/life/5-life-lessons-to-learn-from-the-alchemist/

Next Friday, the board and admin team will be serving breakfast starting at 6:15am.  Set your alarm and bring your appetite!  The reason for the earlier start is the WCCHS Choir will be performing for us again but they have Finals and need to get back.  

12-7-2018

Thanks to Ellen and Kim for organizing the teacher lunch yesterday.  It was awesome. 

Great article everyone should read on the power of reading in class and student choice. 
https://medium.com/@heinemann/transforming-the-first-ten-minutes-of-class-ab1f19a18cf9


The basketball team thanked the Pep band for playing for them and pumping up the crowd.  What a great show of respect and gratitude. 

Thanks to Melissa and Matt Turek for leading the band and choir this weekend to support the PTA's Sweets with Santa. 

How to take Cornell Notes

Thanks to Alicia Wisted our super-sub who has been filling in for Adrienne the past two weeks. The consistency she has provided for the students has been much appreciated. 

Teens reveal their experiences with social media.  Video, infographic and key findings.  Please check them all out.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/social-media-social-life-2018


Thanks to Todd who gave a great presentation Wednesday after school.  Teaching/reminding us of tools and strategies to use to help these hard to reach students is valuable time spent. 

Alex found this cool Ted Talk on Mindfulness.  Check it out.

I'm creating a "This is Benjamin" video for our website.  I will be popping into some classrooms today to capture some footage.  There won't be any sound as I will have music and voice-over narration to the finished product.  Thanks for your understanding.

The power of "chunking" to help your busy schedule. 
https://www.tonyrobbins.com/productivity-performance/power-of-chunking/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Editorial&utm_content=Power%20of%20Chunking

I will be featured on today's BB 300 news episode.  Thanks to Chris for churning out these video announcements each week. 

Pretty cool video of what New York was like in 1911 with a very rare and clear video.
http://www.openculture.com/2018/04/immaculately-restored-film-lets-you-revisit-life-in-new-york-city-in-1911.html

Greg will be pushing out the 5 Essentials Learning Survey link to devices soon.  The student and teacher survey will be open from December 11th-February 15th.   Thanks in advance for giving your honest feedback. 

A starter kit for differentiated instruction from Cult of Pedagogy.
https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/starter-kit-differentiated-instruction/

Thanks to April for pushing the Hour of Code to new heights this year and to all of the Special teachers for executing the lessons this week. 


Summer STEAM is just around the corner.  Well not really, but the planning is about to begin. If you are interested all we need is the Title of your session, a short description, and intended grade level.  The rest of the planning can take place later. 


If you are looking for some crafty items for the holiday, head over to the Holiday Bizarre at Evergreen after school today.  It is a great way to kick off your weekend. 

Pretty funny How to Survive December in the Classroom list.
https://www.boredteachers.com/humor/how-to-survive-december-in-the-classroom

11-30-2018

Basketball won some exciting games yesterday!  Thanks to Matt Tylk and Dan B for doing a great job coaching. We also had Mr. turek and the PEP Band, bringing down the house. What a fun time!



What a Cool idea!  Book Vending machine where kids earn tokens and choose their free book.


Thanks to Michelle Fiorini for meeting with Mrs. Pasker as she gets ready to run the December Bookfair.  There will be a few coverage lapses in the library during the bookfair since it is in the Gym lobby.  I will help out covering the library as well, so I can sharpen my book scanning and shelving skills!

Melissa Falkos is hosting officer Castillo in her room for Too Good for Drugs!  This is a great learning experience for the students to talk to an actual police officer.


Jessica and Chris were fighting off heat issues in their rooms like rockstars the last two days. I'm thankful for their patience as they worked through the different problems. 


April, Sherry, Melissa and Lyn are ready for Hour of Code. They will be showing an awesome video that April found and then will be doing coding games and activities the next day. I want to thank them for joining educators across America (including Josh at Evergreen!) in getting students practicing this skill.

Ellen Behrman's Awesome Tiger Cruise Video. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE2D3pleIgE


If you haven't had a chance yet, take a mini field trip outside today to see the new stair railing, sidewalk and wall that were just replaced.  These improvements greatly enhance the safety of our students.

Tips to use your phone less.

Thanks to Namita for doing an excellent job in the office Tuesday and Wednesday in Ellen's absence. Also thanks to Kim for getting all the grades set and imported for report cards.

6 ways to help students understand math.
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/ways-help-students-understand-math-matthew-beyranevand?utm_medium=socialflow&utm_source=twitter


 Good luck to Joe Splinter and our chess team as we host a huge Chess Tournament this Saturday.

Thanks to Bill Wadman for supervising the Northwestern Accelerated Weekend at Benjamin this weekend.  I am excited to hear about the experience from the kids on Monday. 

How drawing something is a massive benefit to your memory.
https://digest.bps.org.uk/2018/11/22/the-act-of-drawing-something-has-a-massive-benefit-for-memory-compared-with-writing-it-down/

Good luck to our 8th grade and 5th grade team as they take their reward trip today. These special excursions are a great reinforcement to the majority of our students that are doing things right!

The cafeteria manager has gone bananas!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2018/11/26/why-this-school-cafeteria-manager-has-gone-bananas-kids-love-it/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.063552781197


I enjoy watching the BB300 announcements in a different classroom each week. Thanks to Mrs. Dunne for hosting me today.