10-28-2022

The buses going home after school were pretty empty Thursday! With art club, jazz band, Newspaper Club, Project Lit, maker space club and basketball all taking place after school it was a very busy place with great opportunities for students!

Thanks to Colleen, Alex and student council for putting on a great spirit week this week. It was great seeing the students and staff get into the halloween spirit.

Guiding students to ask great questions.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/guiding-students-to-ask-great-questions

Thanks to Joe H for covering the Chess Club practice on Wednesday night. We do have a coach hired and over 20 students showed up for the first practice.

Thanks to 8th grade for facilitating a schedule for the high school 8th grade testing this week.

Why students should write in all subjects,

https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-students-should-write-all-subjects

Looking forward to the first home basketball games Friday night! Special thanks to Rich Feffer for coming back to do the scoreboard and Marcia for staying to do the book. Also thanks to the supervisors (can't find the sign-up genius so I don't know who it is)

Thanks for all of your hard work in getting ready for the start of parent/teacher conferences next week. The first dinner will be provided by the PTA .

Choir had a great time performing at the Wolves game last Friday Night!

I stop by teams before November 4th to answer questions you may have on the curriculum map and data analysis work you will be doing on Institute Day.

Thanks to Melissa, April and Danielle for working hard on auditions this week. I look forward to seeing the cast list on Friday evening.

How do you know you are a person that has lived a life and not just a brain ....The Boltzmann brain paradox,

https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-boltzmann-brain-paradox-fabio-pacucci

I wanted to pass along a story I was told this week from a staff member. In Joe's PE class he picked Elpida and Jonathon to be the captains for the class and pick teams for their activity. This was a great experience for both kids but Jonathon had a huge smile plastered on his face. When Kendra asked him if he liked being captain he said "Yes, its the first time I've ever been chosen to be captain in my whole life!" Don't forget, the small things that you do everyday for kids can have a huge impact on them!

"Technology has replaced a lot of things in the classroom. 

It will never replace a smiling teacher greeting kids as they walk into class."

by 

@SteeleThoughts

 and 

@ToddWhitaker

"The task is not to see what has never been seen before, but to think what has never been thought before about what you see everyday." -- Erwin Schrodinger

"To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing and be nothing." -- Elbert Hubbard

'Steal' some time and give it freely and exclusively to your own self." -- Albert Camus

10-21-2022

 The PE department received some new cardio equipment!  Thanks to Dr. Salamone for securing the grant to make this happen. 

 

Thanks to the PTA and Lunchroom supervisors for helping to supervise the very popular Ice Cream Treat Day on Thursday.

4 Ways to shift the focus on learning and not on grades.

Everyone please do a test run on Zoom.  If you have not used it recently you may need an update that will require Vanessa's help.  We need to get this done before Parent Teacher conferences so please do this next week.  

Tuesday evening we had a great turnout for our district Multi-cultural Night.  Thanks to Betty and the rest of the ML team for making it a fun night for many of our district families.  Also thanks to Angela for being on hand to take a variety of event and green/screen photos.

Best of luck to our Choir as they are singing at the Chicago Wolves Game tonight.  With families the Benjamin Squad is 60 strong!

We had an awesome sports awards ceremony on Wednesday night to honor our Fall student Athletes.  Thanks to Kerry, Dan, Courtney, Bill, Matt and Joe  for all of their hard work and special shout out to Matt and Joe for winning back to back conference championships.

Melissa and I want to thank you for your thoughtful Boss's Day/Principal Appreciation  gift.  I am sure it will be put to good use.

Thanks to the social studies teachers for attending Wednesday's after school meeting and talking briefly about the new standards.  I am going to be asking all teachers to start chipping away at the curriculum maps starting at the November 4th institute.  More details to follow.  

Setting the bar high for all students and helping them meet the goal

https://www.edutopia.org/article/using-asset-based-approach-instruction-and-assessment

Thanks to Megan P for arranging for 4 authors to Zoom with our 7th grade students this week.  What a great experience to get students excited about reading.  

"The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles." -- William Penn

"If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going." -- Irwin Corey

"So we shall let the reader answer this question for himself: who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?" -- Hunter S. Thompson

10-14-2022

 A huge thank you to our subs and teaching assistants covering different roles this week.  Tom, Holly, Alicia, Jen R, Jill, Jen M, and Sue we couldn't do it without you!

I also want to thank Mark, Jim, Bill, Alex, Dan, Jignasa, Colleen, Lauren and Jen that went to outdoor ed this week.  Without your willingness to do this kids would miss out on this amazing learning/social opportunity.  Thank you!

How to get students to use their planners.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-get-students-use-their-planners

I have been able to do a lot of first round observations but am behind on my formal notes!  Thanks for your patience as I catch up from a crazy week.  

Josh has been working hard getting ready to launch his maker club.  I appreciate all the prep work and organization he is putting in ahead of time to ensure a smooth start.  

For those of you that have asked, Tony is recuperating nicely after his operation and appreciates your well wishes.   

Thanks to our lunch duty subs Nicole, Carrie, Sue and Courtney as well as our regulars Jen H and Joe H for keeping our lunchroom running operating at high efficiency.  

Speaking of high efficiency, huge  shout out to Vanessa for always running around and problem solving our tech needs, problems and projects.  

Giving student choices to increase engagement.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/giving-students-choice-classroom-increases-engagement

It was great having Michael Miles out again this week sharing his musical talents with our students.

Appreciate all of our Fall coaches for a job well done this season and congrats to Matt and Joe for leading the boys soccer team to the conference championship.  

I am grateful that Dr. Salamone was able to share her expertise with our teachers last week and our teaching assistants this week at our early release day. I also appreciate the work that teachers completed on curriculum maps this year.

Getting fast thinkers to slow down.

 https://www.edutopia.org/article/getting-fast-thinkers-slow-down

Thanks to our ELA Committee who participated in another curriculum presentation this week.  I appreciate your input and your communication back to your team so we are in the best position  to make a great choice for our students.  

I was excited for the theater production announcement of Mary Poppins as the Benjamin musical this year.  I know that Melissa, Danielle nd April will knock it out of the park this year as always.  

7 healthy Tips for a better night's sleep

https://blog.ed.ted.com/2016/08/23/7-healthy-tips-for-a-better-nights-sleep/

"Three enemies of personal peace: regret over yesterday’s mistakes, anxiety over tomorrow’s problems, and ingratitude for today’s blessings." -- William Arthur Ward

"A team is not a group of people that work together. A team is a group of people that trust each other." -- Simon Sinek

"The more you say, the less they remember." -- Anatole France

10-7-2022

 Blog will be a little different today just want to cover two topics:

First, just a reminder of two funding opportunities.  I know that sometimes you think of projects or classroom activities that you would like to implement and you are looking for a funding source.  I have attached the Foundation Grant Application Guidelines  and the Application that Mrs. Szada talked about at our Staff Learning Meeting on Wednesday.

foundation grant guidelines

Foundation Grant Application

Next, Lisa Kuehn just sent me an informational sheet about how they can help fund a project through donors choose.org.  Lisa and Janice have had great success in the past funding a variety of projects.  I will send the pdf they sent in an email but here is a summary.

How does it work?

1. Teachers ask.

To help brainstorm project ideas and identify what your in-person and remote classrooms need, finish these sentences:

To teach an upcoming unit, my students need_______.

To bring my dream learning activity to life, my class needs _______.

To make my school a more vibrant and engaging place for students, my school needs _______.

The grant writing team will create your project page on DonorsChoose. Then, with your input, we will write your project description and select your items from the DonorsChoose vendors (Amazon, Best Buy, Frey Scientific, etc.) .

2. Donors choose.

Donations to your first project will be matched for the first 7 days! You share your project in your network (like on social media, via email, and in person) while we let our community of supporters know about your new project via email blasts and posts on district social media.

3. Students learn.

Items will begin to ship directly to the school as soon as your project is fully funded and usually all items are in your classroom within 1 week. We will thank donors on your behalf and share photos of your students using their new resources.

Giving Tuesday is November 29, 2022.

We’d love to create a DonorsChoose project for you and promote it on Giving Tuesday.

Next, a week does not a year make but I do need your help in keeping the culture of our school safe and orderly. 

Please make sure we are reinforcing procedures and teaching expectations.  This is so important in letting kids know that we have high expectations of them not just academically but behaviorally as well. Some examples: Lining up at the door quietly before you let students in the classroom, walking in orderly way in the hallway, using a pass for students when they need to get a drink/fill their water bottle or go to the restroom, only allowing one person out of class at a time, stepping out in the hall during passing period, checking bathrooms when you can, sending kids to the library and not the hallway to work in small groups (if you can't see them they are unsupervised)  requiring students to listen to announcements, enforcing that study skills is a quiet orderly environment for student to get work done and get assistance etc...

Rewarding Positive Behavior: 

 Giving specific verbal praise for students doing the right thing, doing a job well done and helping others. 

 Handing out Fish Slips to reward positive behavior.  

Finally and most importantly, continuing to build positive relationships with all students (especially the ones that don't make it easy) on a daily basis.  You are the most important factor in guiding your students to make good decisions at school and when they know you are in their corner they will move mountains for you.  

Please don't take these words as me thinking you are not doing your job. These are just reminders that all of us doing these things consistently together  as a team makes our school stronger.  

9-30-2022

Thanks to the ELA Resource Adoption Committee, I appreciate their preparation and questions  they had for Wednesdays presentation. 

 5 must haves for your classroom library

https://www.edutopia.org/article/5-must-haves-your-middle-school-classroom-library

Please make sure to send me your student growth goals by Monday if you are on cycle.  Let me know if you have any questions.  

A phone call home makes all the difference.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/phone-call-home-makes-all-difference

Thanks to Dr. Salamone for running the BPAC meeting on Wednesday night.  The EL parents that were there appreciated the presentation and the ability to ask questions about our programs.  

Explicitly teaching expectations to your students sets up a classroom that can thrive all year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OdxVchUiXQ

Our sports teams are on a good "run" with individual school records in the boys and girls 2mile and our Varsity Soccer and Volleyball teams getting vitories yesterday.  

Check out the STEM Back to School Parade Congrats to Sherry, Angela, and Megan for an Awesome Job!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIiv1g0z42g

Thanks to Jen and Joe for working with the PTA for organizing a Fun Run for our students in October.

Check out this great artwork that student Stephanie A did for April!

If you can help out with HW club please sign up on the link Nicole put together below.  

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12vCHkWb2lJA6DZ06M1Xtp6UX0NK_oZ3dH8k5_a1M0Yo/edit?usp=sharing

"Love not what you are but only what you may become." -- Miguel de Cervantes

"I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape." -- Charles Dickens

"One of the greatest discoveries people make, one of the great surprises, is to find they can do what they were afraid they couldn't do." -- Henry Ford

9-23-2022

 Congrats to our Fall Sports Athletes and coaches as they all had games/meets last night.  I do apologize for the late start with eligibility.  I will be talking with students on Friday unofficially from the grades Ellen pulled and letting them know next week we will be pulling it for real.  Please make sure you are calling parents for any student that is receiving an F grade.  

7 things a teacher can say to create a supportive classroom. 

https://www.edutopia.org/article/7-things-teachers-say-create-supportive-classroom

Please let me know if you have any interest in coaching our chess team.  I can talk with you about details and am open to being flexible with the structure/times of the practices.  

Thanks to everyone for using your time wisely on our Subject Area meetings on Wednesday.  Time is valuable, especially time together.

Ice Cream Treat day was a big success.  5th grade was especially pumped for this PTA fundraiser.  

If you are not failing you are not learning. Interesting article!

https://www.edutopia.org/article/if-youre-not-failing-youre-not-learning

In case I haven't mentioned it, If  you are on cycle please schedule your first formal observation and let me know if you have any questions on your student growth goals.  Someone has pointed out that October 1st is a Saturday, so goals will be due on October 3rd!

Thanks for everyone pitching in to help with our dismissal the last two days.  It was just another great example of teamwork from our Benjamin staff.  

I want to thank everyone for their input in our grade level data meetings and PST members for attending multiple meetings throughout the day.  Special shout out to Nicole and Todd for their competency and professionalism in running these meetings. 

I appreciate Jessica's flexibility in making the school store work for students and staff.

exercises that help students focus on reading

https://www.edutopia.org/article/exercises-help-students-focus-reading

The fish slip store will be open on Fridays during 2nd period for 5th grade students and the recess portion of lunch for all other grades.  We will do our first drawing next Friday.  Please remember to use Fish slips as a positive reinforcement for students who are shining their positive light, making smart choices, working hard or setting an example for others.

Thanks to Kim for working her magic with our sub situations this week and to Ellen for helping ease our transition back to scanning ID's for lunch.  This is obviously on top of the great job both of them are doing in the office to help make our school run smooth each day.

If you have an announcement on the days where we have the BB 300 please email it to Chris F and it will just run a day later as they record their show a day ahead of when it views.

A list of what 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students think we should do more often.  Pretty Smart.

I want to wish Kathy H a very special 70th birthday.  She was letting me know that she realized she was not only the shortest (thanks picture day line-up!) staff member but also the oldest.  I would say the best things come in small packages and with experience comes wisdom!

9-16-2022

 Thanks to Melissa L for representing me/Benjamin at the PTA meeting last night.  It is much appreciated.

Please don't forget to set up your first observation with myself and/or Melissa if you are on cycle this year.  

Thanks to Chris for organizing the BB300.  The new and old crew looked and sounded great.

  Thanks to Betty and Julie for their work in preparing and presenting PD on our early release day on Wednesday.  Also thanks to Danielle for helping me get ready for the ELA Resource presentation.  

Why Students forget and what you can do about it.  Research Based.

https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-students-forget-and-what-you-can-do-about-it

The Bengal Cafe is back in business.  Thanks to Megan D for keeping this worthwhile learning activity going for our core students.  Recruiting some 5th grade helpers was a great idea as well.

Using Empathy Maps to Build Relationships

Thanks to Kerry and Kendra for putting up their Lightning Bug Tree and inviting students and staff to contribute a lightning bug to spread positivity or to set a goal.  You can either write a goal for the year that you have for yourself or how you will let your light shine. Lightning bugs can be found in the silver bin outside room 104.

Don't forget to pay your social fund and PTA $5.00 membership fee.  

It's great seeing all of the clubs starting and kids getting to explore a variety of interests.  Thanks to all of the sponsors for their hard work before and after school.  

Thanks to Morgan for doing a great job of getting the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grade and jazz band students off to a great start. 

Thanks to the lunchroom supervisors and subs for going through the computer scanner training on Wednesday.

"Good advice is something a man gives when he is too old to set a bad example." -- Francois de La Rochefoucauld

There is a lesson in each experience. Learn it and become wise. Every failure is a stepping stone to success. Every difficulty or disappointment is a trial of your faith. Every unpleasant incident or temptation is a test of your inner strength. March forward hero! -- Sivananda

"For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'." -- John Greenleaf Whittier