The River’s Song Is Sweet

Teachers,

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

The River’s Song Is Sweet  —

Sometimes life can be tough. There is so much that happens around us and too us that it makes it hard to focus on the thing in front of us. Something happens at home with s child or a member of the family. Sometimes it happens to us when we have a set back or something presents itself that is hard to get around or get away from. It happens. We are all human and life happens. It happens to all of us. So how to we handle situations that happen and take our focus away from our daily schedule? I heard a saying once, “The river’s song would not be so sweet without the rocks.” What are our expectations of others when problems happen. How do we help them? How do we help our littles ones in our class each day that have life happen to them on a daily basis? Sometime life can be tough. I think the answer to this is to know that we are loved by those around us. To know that someone or many someones are around us and make the difference in our lives so we know that we have somewhere to feel safe and know that there are people that will keep us going with the things that should and do matter in our lives. Our students have these things happen and we need to know that they need a soft place to land at our school. It’s funny, but sometimes, as a teacher, I did not think about students when they left the classroom. It was just like the student that sees us in the grocery store and does not realize we do not live in the school or that we could show up somewhere else besides school. Our student’s songs are sweet and we need to keep them sweet, with or without the rocks. And just know that you are all an important part of our school. You are important to everyone at our school. Everyone needs a soft place to land, and I hope you feel that our school is one of those places also. You make everything happen at our school.  You help create and maintain the culture we have here. 

Quote I’m pondering —

“Life is not designed to make things easy for us, but present challenges that help us grow.”
– Terry Laughlin

What I’m Watching —

A Study on Praise and Mindsets

Just a reminder about how we praise and what our personal mindset is can determine what and how we learn.  

Favorite Article This Week —

How to Take Risks In A System Not Built For It (What Teachers Can Learn From Elon Musk)

Interesting idea from an amazing thinker. How do we teach our students to take risks  hat will further their opportunities in life? How does this relate to education?

A Big Thank You —

Thank you Preschool. Thank you for starting our little ones off on the right foot and having them know which foot it is and what letters spell the word foot. I was able to sit in on a parent meeting tonight and be able to watch to amazing interaction and love you have for the students and parents. Thank you for taking the time to teach the parents and students. Thank you Preschool for preparing students for success. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Have a wonderful weekend.

PBIS Again

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

PBIS Again —
I just found out I need to tell you to change the signs in your rooms. So you can change them. I would like to start out with the Responsible sign. After you change it, will you take a moment and remind your students what responsible means. I have been working on a cheer for the students to help them remember the five parts of our PBIS plan. I have it below so if you want to cheer with your students to help them remember the 5 behavior points, please do. I will be starting to make some short videos about each of the 5 words in the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Plan. I will start with Responsible in October. I will use students and teachers in the videos to help remind students how they need to act at school. I will send them out so you can show them to your students. They will start in October.

Remember the Principal’s 200 club cards. They should be handed our when students are doing something from PBIS that they need to be recognized for. This does not mean just at assemblies. I just had more printed up so I will be putting 2 in your box each Monday. Please hand them out 2 during the week. They do not need to be just for your students. If you see another student doing something amazing, please give them one. if you need more, I will give you more. Reward good behavior often and students will respond. We will Rise!

Cheer:
Teacher: At Dixie Sun we are…
Students: Responsible and Respectful!
Teacher: We will be…
Students: Resourceful and Safe!
Teacher: Dixie Sun is…
Students: United!

Quote I’m pondering —
“When a flower doesn’t bloom you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” - Alexander Den Heijer

What I’m reading —
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
I found this book many years ago after reading a column Malcolm wrote in the New Yorker magazine. I started reading it and as my team talked about it we decided to do our own team book study. We discussed the chapters and how we could use it in our classroom. We started doing our own little research projects with our students. We found that birthdays, generally, do matter. We found that the more we practiced with our students they remembered what we were doing. It changed my mindset on not just teaching, but providing new opportunities for students who normally would not have these opportunities. I lent out this book so I purchased it on my iPad to read it again. When I get it back, it will be lent out again, if you want to read it.

Favorite App/Website This Week —
Wunderground
Do you ever want a great weather app? I am not a fan of the one that came with my phone so i offer you weather underground. It is my go to weather app. It shows rain percentages, wind speeds, of course temperature, along with sunrise/sunset, nearby hurricanes and tropical storms…why would we need that???…, local road cameras to see what traffic is like in St. George, and other weather needs. The weather is changing so this might help you to remember your raincoat and galoshes, or your sun dress. Enjoy.

A Big Thank You —
Thank you Preschool teachers. I spent Thursday night with the Preschool teachers, preschoolers, and parents. What a wonderful program we have here that prepares our littlest students for kindergarten and life in general. The love they have for each student and the fun activities they prepare to help students meet their learning targets and GVC’s. Thank you Preschool teachers for all you do. You start our students off with a very positive experience so they love learning as they continue the positive experiences in the rest of our school. You are amazing. Thank you.

I appreciate all of you and your hard work. Have a wonderful weekend.