Friday, September 27, 2019

I Had A Vision

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday

I Had A Vision —
I have been thinking about Interventions quite a bit and thinking of where it is going has become more and more clear. I am seeing the interventions changing over time and as more students fill their gaps teachers will be remediating their Tier 1 content while aides fill in gaps. Over the next few years, I am hoping it will look like this throughout the year. At the beginning of the year we assess student needs in literacy and start our intervention groups. After a month or two, the intervention groups will get smaller and end up being a couple groups that can be managed by the Aides. If there are only now or two groups the other aides can help with remediation of Tier 1 concepts. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? As soon as the interventions taught reach where the grade level should be in their Tier 1 lessons, it becomes Tier 1 and the aides can help with differentiation. That is the dream. That is the vision. I want to Intervene aides out of their intervention jobs and have them help remediate Tier 1. There will always be 10-15% that will need an intervention, but that is a better issue than 50%+ in interventions. You are all amazing. Thank you for all you are doing with the interventions.

Quote I’m pondering —
I think that the most proud moments I’ve had in my career are after failures, when you kind of learn that the sun also rises and the world keeps spinning when you fail and when you succeed. -- Christen Press 

What’s Happening —
This Coming Week
In Two Weeks
Mon. Sept. 30 - Service Dog Training
Wed. Oct. 2 - Walk to School Day
Wed. Oct. 2 - Parent Learning Walk 9:30 am
Wed. Oct. 2 - TAT Second Grade 8:00 am
Fri. Oct. 4 - PTA Jog-a-Thon
Fri. Oct. 4 - Reflections Starts
Mon. Oct. 7 - Pie With The Principal 9:30 am
Tue. Oct. 8 - Jog-a-Thon Money Due
Tue. Oct. 8 - PTA Meeting 12:00 pm
Wed. Oct. 2 - TAT Second Grade 8:00 am

Oct. 17-18 - Fall Break 
Oct. 28 - Nov. 1 - Red Ribbon Week

Favorite Article This Week —
Interesting article that Timothy Shanahan wrote. Everything we do with students should be

A Big Thank You —
Thank you Third Grade. Thank you for all you have done with interventions. I appreciate how well you work together as a team. Talking every day, keeping in touch with students, and helping each other. Thank you for all you do to help some of your students that need a little extra. Taking into account some of the baggage they come with and giving them a little extra support. Thank you for building relationships with the students. Thank you for all you do for kids. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Happy Kids

Teachers,
Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday.

Happy Kids —
I went to a training this week and the first slide up was this saying, “Happy kids don’t punch you in the face.” True. So how do we keep kids happy and still teach the lessons we need to teach? The suggestion was to use the Rich Theory. Resources. Make sure students have the resources they need to succeed including basic needs and good teachers. Intimacy. Each student needs to have at least 1 person to have a relationship with. Sometimes we are it. They also need social skills that are not always taught at home. We become the ones to help with that. Competence. Students need to feel capable to do at least one thing to be successful. There is no need to master it, they just need to feel capable and be successful. Truly successful. Not a gimme. They can feel when someone is not genuine. Health. Achieving and maintaining good health. Are they eating at home? Are they drinking enough water throughout the day? Are they exercising? The absence of sickness is not health. These are 4 basic needs we can help to make our students successful and happy. Academics are so much easier when these 4 things are met. I understand that we cannot always fill all these needs. We do the best we can, we teach, and we care. Students Matter. Teachers Matter. You matter to those around you.

Quote I’m pondering —
My life cannot implement in action the demands of all the people to whom my heart responds. — Anne Lindbergh 

What’s Happening —
This Coming Week
In Two Weeks
Sept. 23-27 - Just Say Hello Week See email for activities
Mon. Sept 23 - Community Council 12 pm
Tues. Sept 24 - Storytelling Starts
Wed. Sept 25 - TAT Third Grade 8:00 am
Mon. Sept. 30 - Service Dog Training
Wed. Oct. 2 - Walk to School Day
Wed. Oct. 2 - TAT Second Grade 8:00 am
Fri. Oct. 4 - PTA Jog-a-Thon
Fri. Oct. 4 - Reflections Starts
Coming Up
PTA Jog-a-Thon Money turned in on Oct. 8
Red Ribbon Week Oct. 14-16
Fall Break Oct. 17-18

Favorite Video This Week —
Who are our kids? Who will save the kids that come into our classrooms? Yes, another tear-jerker.

A Big Thank You —
Thank you, Alma and all the Reading Paras. It has been a stressful time as interventions were getting up and going. There was confusion with a few things and yet you came through with lessons and great attitudes. Thank you for helping teachers and students as this new plan helps students fill in holes to be more successful. Thank you for helping the teachers so they are able to reach more students and teach the ones most at risk. Thank you for coming in not knowing what to do and just doing whatever you need to help. Thank you for all you do for our school. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Assemblies

Teachers,

Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday

Assemblies —
I think assemblies are the bane of my existence. Not what we have them for, but the whole management of it. So in talking with the 5th grade they set me straight and here is the plan we will follow from here on out. We will face the direction of the playground. The persons doing the assembly will be in the center of the cafagymatorium and not to one side. If you have your class sit in two lines it is easier to get to students, if needed. Please monitor your students. If there are students you know will need some guidance during the assembly, please put them close to you. Jeff and Harvey will have chairs at the yellow lines for teachers to sit on. We want to keep an aisle in the middle for access for whatever is needed. 
Facing the front we will have the first grade on the right side of the cafagymatorium starting at the green line and going to the yellow line. Behind them will be the second grade. On the left side will be 3rd grade green line to the yellow line. Behind third will be fourth grade. Fifth grade will stretch across the back in their chairs from yellow line to yellow line in 2-3 rows starting on the green line in the back.
Assemblies will be far and few between and will be kept to Fridays, when possible. I really appreciate your patience as things come up and we are learning what is the expectation and norm at Arrowhead. It might be a good idea to practice going into the cafagymatorium and help the students know where they will go and what they will do in an assembly. Up to you. 
WE are in the middle of having a new sound system installed in the cafagymatorium and having a projector mounted also. This will make it easier for presentations and programs you will have in the cafagymatorium. As soon as it is completely installed we will have training for the team leaders. 

Quote I’m pondering —
When you renounce something, you're stuck to it forever. When you fight something, you're tied to it forever. As long as you're fighting it, you are giving it power. You give it as much power as you are using to fight it.”
— Anthony de Mello

What’s Happening —
This Coming Week
In Two Weeks
Tue. Sept. 17 - Picture Day
Wed. Sept 18 - TAT Fourth Grade 8:00 am
Wed-Thu Sept. 18-19 - Dixie State Students
Thu. Sept 19 - Hogle Zoo Visit - 2nd Grade
Fri. Sept. 20 - Jog-a-thon Fundraiser Start
Fri. Sept. 20 - Meet the Masters 8:15 am
Sept. 23-27 - Just Say Hello Week
Mon. Sept 23 - Community Council Meeting
Tues. Sept 24 - Storytelling Starts
Wed. Sept 25 - TAT Third Grade 8:00 am

PTA Jog-a-Thon Friday, Oct. 4


Favorite Article This Week —
What we teach should be about the learner. What are their needs? What is best for them? 

A Big Thank You —
Thank you, Jeff and Harvey, for keeping this school running. It is true that the custodians and the secretaries actually keep the school running. We appreciate all that you do for Arrowhead. Keeping the school inside clean and sparkly for the students and helping keep students safe. We appreciate all you do to keep the outside safe and keeping our school looking amazing. We appreciate your hard work in the morning (Jeff) and in the evening (Harv). The school runs smoother with you here. Thank you for being amazing custodians. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.

Friday, September 6, 2019

Pie With The Principal

Teachers,
Here is your weekly dose of “5-Point Friday

Pie With The Principal —
Monday is Kim’s first Pie with the Principal meeting. It is something the is doing to get to know the community a little better. It is a forum so parents can ask questions and help them understand anything that is happening at our school. It is also a great time to do a little PR with the parents so they feel comfortable to come to talk with her or with you. It also gives Kim an understanding of what the community needs and is thinking about. Kim is also going to initiate Parent Learning Walks throughout the year. This will be a time when a few parents that sign up can walk through the school to see the great learning and teaching that is going omg in this amazing school. She will talk about something to look for in the classrooms that have to do with students. It is a great way for parents to see what their students are doing. Encourage parents to attend the forum on Monday. It will start at 9;30 am in the library. She will have a few of them throughout the year so parents can come and discuss issues and eat a piece of pie.

Quote I’m pondering —
Stop beating yourself down. You DESERVE to feel good about yourself.— Mel Robbins

What’s Happening —
This Coming Week
In Two Weeks
Mon. Sep 9 - Pie with Principal 9:30 am (parent meeting)
Mon. Sep 9 - Teacher Training (out at 1:15)
Tue. Sept. 10 - PTA Meeting 12
Fri. Sep 13 - Tuacahn Assembly 10:30 am
Fri. Sep 13 - Staff Luncheon
Tue. Sept. 17 - Picture Day
Wed-Thu Sept. 18-19 - Dixie State Students
Fri. Sept. 20 - Jog-a-thon Fundraiser Start
Fri. SEPT. 20 - Meet the Masters 8:15 am
Sept. 23-27 - Just Say Hello Week


Favorite Article This Week —
I know it is the beginning of the year and we have a lot to do. This is not only for what to do when you are behind, but it is also for doing things that will help you with any frustration. One of the biggest ones is the first thing. Identify something you can do immediately.

A Big Thank You —
Thank you first grade for being the first one to dive into interventions. All grades have worked to get the groups working. I appreciate all the work first grade has done to make it work with each class to make sure students are getting everything they need. It is wonderful to see how you work together as a team and get things done. I appreciate your willingness to adjust for every need students have. Thank you first grade for your work. Thank you for each one of you and all you do. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work.